We held our AGM at Barrow Raiders last week and the presentation of our 2018 accounts.

While the raw numbers showed an improvement on the year previous, there was significant director investment and donations from the public that kept us afloat during our mid-season crisis.

With relegation from the Championship looming, the financial concerns are amplified.

There is a very real possibility of a six-figure reduction in central funding and that will present obvious challenges.

We need to retain or recruit a competitive team to bounce straight back but at the same time we cannot put the club in jeopardy.

If we don’t get the competitive team then there is a very real possibility that we lose our fanbase that we have tried so hard to improve. It is a difficult balancing act, but I feel we must err on the side of ambition.

While this season has seen growth in many areas, including crowds, commercially and our community work, it is still a struggle to balance the books.

With only one home fixture remaining and with a wage bill that doesn’t go away, it is vitally important that our income streams are boosted by off-field events.

This Saturday we are hosting a PRIDE event. Equality and diversity has forever been associated with rugby league and we are very much an inclusive club.

All members of the public are welcome for the musical event that also offers many side attractions for the whole family.

I’m sacrificing a hospitality day at Wembley for the Challenge Cup final to man the bar, so I hope that it is worth it and I am rushed off my feet.

Looking ahead, we have our presentation evening on Sunday, September 8 at the Kill One following the Batley fixture.

Tickets are priced £7 and while it won’t be a celebration, it will be an opportunity to let the players know that they are appreciated as they haven’t been found wanting for lack of effort.

We have the Barrow Raiders Golf Open at Barrow Golf Club on September 14 and we are looking for teams of four to register to compete for the inaugural trophy.

The same day we host a Cancer Care event at The Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium as we continue our partnership with such an important charity.

Cloud 9 have kindly allowed us to organise a 80s night on Friday, September 27 and all the £5 entrance fees will come straight to the club.

Supporting these events will ensure that we don’t start to dip in to funds that are ring-fenced for next season. By attending you are basically, even at this early stage, boosting our promotion prospects.