Cheltenham Town could make profit, says chairman Baker

Paul Baker's time as Robins chairman has seen them win three promotions

Cheltenham Town chairman Paul Baker says the League Two club are on target to make a "small profit" for the first time in five years.

The Robins have published their figures for the six months to November and they show a marked turnaround after the club were close to administration in 2009.

Baker told BBC Gloucestershire: "The club made big losses in recent years.

"We wanted to get to grips with the situation. Maybe twice in my 13 years as chairman have we made a profit."

He continued: "Cash flow is looking positive at the moment, especially as losing the two home games before Christmas [against Lincoln and Stockport] was a major worry for us.

"We lose on average £10,000 when a game is moved from a Saturday to a Tuesday but the FA Cup run helped.

"By beating Morecambe [in the first round] we got £18,000 and the gate receipts from the game at Southampton in the second round were about £40,000, so that helped cushion the blow, and we are operating well within our overdraft facility.

"There is a long way to go, but we have managed the playing budget very well and all areas of expenditure are very tightly monitored.

"As long as gates do not go horribly wrong and we don't have to incur huge expenditure which we are not expecting I am confident we can close the season with a small profit, which would be a fantastic achievement.

"If we can reach the play-offs as well, it will be have been a remarkable season."

The Robins are eighth in League Two ahead of Saturday's home game with Accrington Stanley, and Baker says there is scope for manager Mark Yates to add to his squad.

Last week Yates landed Blackpool's Ashley Eastham and Dagenham's Phil Walsh on loan.

"We have given him a wage budget for loan players and he is within that at the moment so there is room for him to bring one more player in," Baker said.

"He has done incredibly well since being appointed and I think the squad he has put together is testament to that.

"He has brought in players who are younger and fitter, and can play in a number of positions, and we have been fairly lucky with injuries."