THANKS to Saddlers Insight, during January a number of questions were put to various members of staff on a variety of subjects regarding Walsall Football Club.

Every query that has come in has been answered and the response has been emailed back to the supporter who emailed in their question.

A selection have appeared in our Official Matchday Programme - 'White & Red'.

However, at the end of each month, more questions will be published right here on www.saddlers.co.uk. So, if you have a question, just email: daniel.mole@walsallfc.co.uk.

You may have a question to ask the coaching staff or the youth department. You may have a ticket office query, a question for a Club Official, or you may just want to find out more about stadium operations, the Media Department or the Conference & Events side of the business. You may even want to ask one of our players what their favourite colour is!

Whatever your question, simply email daniel.mole@walsallfc.co.uk with 'Saddlers Insight' in the subject header and your name and location. Alternatively, write to: Saddlers Insight, Banks's Stadium, Bescot Crescent, Walsall WS1 4SA.

This Q & A session is the sole copyright of Walsall Football and cannot be replicated, in part or whole, without prior permission.

January Questions

Hi All,

I have always wanted a definitive answer on the subject of the clubs ticket sales.

Thanks for the opportunity to finally get this answered.

Rob Perks

When I attend an away game in League One, does Walsall FC make any money?

If a supporter buys a ticket for an away game in League One direct from Walsall FC we are entitled to take a 5% commission on the value of that ticket sale and have to pay the remaining 95% over to the away club. Walsall FC take no commission for tickets sold to Walsall supporters directly by the away club.

Is there any difference if the tickets are brought in advance?

The cost of away tickets is completely governed by the away club in question. Walsall FC have no say in the matter. Some clubs do offer a reduced rate for advance purchase (as Walsall FC do) but some clubs do not. There is no hard and fast rule.

Is it true the club is charged for any tickets they have requested, but returned unsold?

No, these are simply returned to the opposition club.

Does the club get a 50% of revenue from all cup ticket sales, or is this just the FA Cup? Is this share direct ticket revenue, or after official costs such as FA charges, and policing the home game, etc?

The revenue the club derives from cup games varies greatly between cup competitions and according to the round in which the club is participating. For all competitions this revenue will be net of allowable expenditure, such as Gatemen and Stewards, Police, Floodlighting, First Aid/Ambulance, Visiting Teams expenses, Match Officials, etc. As a rough guide this net revenue is split as follows:

COMPETITION	HOME CLUB SHARE	AWAY CLUB SHARE	FA**/FOOTBALL LEAGUE SHARE*	VARIATIONS
FA Cup (Rd 1 & 2)	50%	50%	0%**	See below.
FA Cup (Rd 3 to 6)	45%	45%	10%**	The split slightly varies for semi-final & final ties.
Carling Cup	45%	45%	10%*	The split slightly varies for semi-final & final ties.
JP Trophy	45%	45%	10%*	None

In addition to cup games the Club must pay a 3% levy to the Football League out of the net revenue of each home league game.

Stefan Gamble, Financial Director

I'd like to ask Jeff Bonser what he thinks of this season after all the talk beforehand of this being our "promotion push", please.

Tim Wilkes

Tim,

Looking at the season so far, I thought we had a very bright start to the campaign, which unfortunately we were not able to build on. Our home form let us down and this was one of the reasons behind bringing in a new management team.

As is sometimes the way, we have suffered injuries to key players at key times. At the moment, four of our most experienced players in Stephen Hughes, Stephen Roberts, Michael Ricketts and Rhys Weston are all battling back against injury. Any team in this division would miss players of this quality.

On the positive side, it has given a number of our younger players the opportunity to gain first-team experience, which can only bode well for the future.

When you appoint a new management team, as we have done recently, you have to look forward and not backwards.

I have a good feeling about Chris Hutchings and Martin O'Connor and firmly believe that they are the best men to move this club forward.

Jeff Bonser, Chairman