During Thursday night’s fans' forum at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham Town owner Mike Garlick affirmed that the club is now in a solid financial position, explaining that they “don’t have to sell anyone” unless they choose to. Garlick spoke alongside manager Steve Cotterill, chairman David Bloxham, and financial director Clive Gowing, addressing supporters’ questions about transfers, investment, and the club’s future.
Garlick, who took majority ownership in August last year after a long tenure as chairman of Burnley, emphasized a cautious approach to player sales. “It’s not that we won’t sell, but we don’t have to,” he said. Cotterill echoed this, noting the benefits of having the option to sell players on their terms rather than out of necessity. “There’s already been a big turnover in my short time here—about 14 or 15 players have left, with only around five arriving. You want to sell when the time is right, so you can manage replacements effectively.”
Supporters inquired about possible pre-season matches against Garlick’s other clubs, St Joseph’s in Gibraltar and Antequera CF in Spain, but he quickly ruled these out due to scheduling conflicts. “Gibraltar’s season starts differently, so their players wouldn’t be in training when we are. The same applies to the Spanish club, whose season begins in September. However, we remain open to arranging such fixtures at other times.”
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Cheltenham Town will still travel to Spain for their pre-season training camp from July 4 to 11, inviting supporters to attend and show their support.
Sustainability was a central theme of the forum. Garlick laid out his plans to direct investment towards improving facilities both at the stadium and training ground. “We want to enhance matchday experiences and upgrade essential infrastructure—things like fixing leaking toilets and refurbishing parts of the stadium and training facilities,” he detailed. He stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility, contrasting Cheltenham Town with the average club in their league, which reportedly loses around £2.5 million annually. “We’re not in that category. It’s a balancing act between investing in the squad and ensuring the club remains financially sustainable. We want to avoid situations like Bury’s collapse.”
Looking ahead, Garlick outlined a measured, long-term strategy. “I can’t promise we’ll be pushing for the play-offs at Wembley by this time next year, but we will fix the foundational issues that need addressing. Over the next five years, the priority is stability and sustainability. The most important thing is that the club remains secure and continues to operate responsibly.”
When asked about potential player movement between Cheltenham and Garlick’s other clubs, he noted limitations but hinted at possibilities. “From the Spanish club, the level is lower as they play in the third tier, so only standout players could move here. With Gibraltar, since the players are technically British internationals, we could see some transfers.” Cotterill added that sporting directors from St Joseph’s had already visited Cheltenham’s staff and were impressed by what they saw.
The forum also covered the future of The Main Stand. Garlick acknowledged the challenges, saying, “It’s tricky. We need to progress the club and ideally secure promotion to attract more fans and potential investors. Maybe, by some miracle, if we reach the Premier League, many problems would solve themselves.”
Overall, the forum reinforced a vision centered on financial prudence, gradual progress, and sustained investment in both the playing squad and infrastructure—ensuring Cheltenham Town’s long-term success and stability.