Gareth Ainsworth and Andrew Howard were among the attendees as the Wycombe Wanderers Trust formally launched their community share scheme at Adams Park on Thursday night.

Howard gave a short presentation to kick the meeting off before fans were invited to put questions to the Wanderers manager and chairman on any subject they wished.

The chairman’s talk began with him outlining that the club’s three aims were survival, stability and success, with success defined as financial control, control on the pitch and investment in the future of the club.

Howard stated that in the summer the club’s sole aim was to get to 55 points in the current campaign, and to achieve promotion to League One in three years time.

And while things are moving ahead of schedule on the pitch, with Wanderers currently in an automatic promotion spot in League One, he told how off the pitch the club has managed to cut an expected loss of £447,000 for the financial year to an estimated loss of £137,000 come June.

Part of the reason for the losses being cut came from an increase in attendance, match day spend and use of Adams Park for conferences.

Cash flow is still a pressing concern for Wanderers and Howard plans to make better use of Adams Park on non-match days alluding to an event that is planned to be held at the ground in October which will bring in half of the money that Wasps bought into the club yearly.

Howard also announced that a group named Wycombe PALS has been set-up to coordinate volunteer work for the club which will provide help and expertise in the following areas: commercially, property, match day, hospitality, media, retail and admin.

When questions were invited from the healthy turnout of Wanderers fans the main talking points centred around the state of the Adams Park pitch which Howard stated will be restored over the next three years while firmly dismissing the possibility of another ground share.

Chairman of the Trust Trevor Stroud then took to the stage to launch the club’s share scheme officially and invite those present to make pledges.

The share scheme is aimed at raising a total of £2million over the course of five years with people contributing money via a one-off sum or yearly or monthly payments.

A minimum investment of £100 over the five years and maximum contribution of £100,000 are the limits, with Howard already having pledged the maximum amount it was revealed on Thursday night. 

The Trust are selling 2million shares in the Trust, not the club, for £1 each, and the shares do not have any connection to the club. 

The money raised will be at the Trust's discretion to give to the club as they wish. Stroud and Howard have been very clear on the need for working capital in the club and that, in all likelihood, is how the money will be used. 

In the community share scheme document, which is available from the Trust, it states that the money will also be used on specific projects around the club such as upgrading the floodlights and facilities at Adams Park, restoration of the pitch or other projects around the club, but they have stated it is not a player fund.

Further details of the scheme can be found here.