Wings CEO, Paul Barnes, shares his programme notes which can be found in the latest edition of the Wings matchday programme:
I am absolutely delighted to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer at Welling United. As many of you will know, this club gave me my first senior role in football, and I’ve seen first-hand how much it means to everyone connected with it; from the players and staff to our loyal supporters and volunteers. To now have the opportunity to help lead Welling United forward is a real privilege and one that I take with great pride and responsibility
We all know that recent times have not been easy. The transition of management, changes within the playing squad, and the fight for consistency on the pitch have brought challenges for everyone involved. These periods of change can test the patience of any club, but they also reveal its true character.
I was at Dartford on Saturday and, despite the difficult circumstances, the travelling support was simply outstanding. Yet again, we had a fantastic following away from home, as we have throughout October, and your commitment, passion, and loyalty never goes unnoticed. The players and staff feel it, and it genuinely makes a difference. On behalf of everyone at the club, thank you for continuing to get behind the team.
October also presented another obstacle for the club. With so many away fixtures, the opportunity to generate revenue and income, which helps us implement new initiatives and improvements, has been limited. We are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated people working hard behind the scenes to find creative ways to support the club during these
periods.
A special mention must go to our very own Marie, who organised an amazing Halloween Party at the weekend. It was extremely well attended and a fantastic example of the community spirit that makes Welling United so special.
Supporters will quite rightly be wondering about the long-term plan for the first-team manager position. As you will have seen, we recognise there is no time to waste, and the
search for the right person to lead our team has already begun. It is vital that we appoint someone with the right experience, leadership, and understanding of what this club represents. Our ideal candidate will have experience managing at Step 3 or above and will align with the values of Welling United and our community. We are a proud, hard-working club, and anyone representing us must embrace that identity. We look forward to identifying the right person to galvanise us on the pitch and start putting points on the board. We will, of course, keep supporters informed as this process progresses.
There are many areas of the club we need to address and develop into a more efficient model that helps us create a sustainable future for Welling United. We have some brilliant people who will play a vital part in achieving this, and together, with unity and belief, I am confident we can build something successful for everyone connected to the club.
Enjoy the game, and thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Paul Barnes
Chief Executive Officer
