Tomorrow the club board will appoint a new chairman after Mike Smith announced his resignation last Saturday evening.
The decision comes at a crucial time for the club. Unexplained losses of £450,000 last year proves the club needs stability and financial nous at its helm. The vacancy opens up an opportunity for new investment and fresh ideas in order to take the club into a different, more positive, direction.
So who could be in the running for the role?
Chris Ingram
In 2002, Ingram saved the club from administration. He owns the Laithwaite Community Stadium and rents the ground to Woking for £1 a year, with frequent rumours/reports that redevelopments plans are in motion. He has acted as chairman of the club before.
Peter Jordan
Jordan, the majority shareholder at the club, has been a driving force off the pitch for a number of years, providing financial investment but also running ground operations. He has also been one of the club’s main sponsors with Calor Gas. Like Ingram, Jordan seems to prefer not having the limelight of chairmanship which is why Smith was originally appointed.
Geoff Chapple
Mr Woking FC, Chapple was appointed as Commercial Manager in 2008 before being appointed onto the board as Director of Football. He has been the chairman of Farnham Town. Whether he has the financial nous and cash injection that the club needs is to be seen.
Andrew Laithwaite
Laithwaite has become one of the main sponsors of the club recently with his business Laithwaite Financial Services. The new hospitality lounge was sponsored by Laithwaite and at the start of the 2015-16 he sponsored the ground to become ‘The Laithwaite Community Stadium’. He would, clearly, bring financial experience and likely financial backing.
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