GIVEN the current economic climate, Dean Hoyle admits he could have picked a better time to take control of a football club.

But Town’s chairman-elect is tackling the credit crunch in the same way Jon Worthington ploughs into a challenge.

Dimitar Berbatov’s £30m move from Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United might suggest otherwise.

But clubs throughout the land are feeling the effects of a financial crisis experts predict will get worse before it gets better – and Town are no exception.

With 16,265 season-ticket holders for their centenary campaign, they are at least less dependent on turnstile income than some of their rivals.

And while fans everywhere are cutting back on their spending when they get to the grounds, Hoyle says he’s happy with sales of programmes and golden gamble tickets on matchdays, but is keen that fans continue to support the On The Move lottery, explaining: “It’s got more difficult because pubs and clubs were our main point of sale, and many are closing down.”

But he has noticed how fewer away supporters are attending games, cutting another useful income source.

Meanwhile businesses across the country are cutting back their budgets, so it’s becoming harder to sell corporate packages.

As the boss of £110m-turnover Card Factory, Spen Valley-based tycoon Hoyle knows more than most about making – and managing – money.

But with an annual wage bill believed to be more than £3m and the expenditure on Gary Roberts, Ian Craney and Tom Denton exceeding the £200,000 package which took David Mirfin to Scunthorpe United, Hoyle, who replaces Ken Davy as chairman next season, accepts he and his fellow directors may have to dig a little deeper into their own pockets than originally planned.

“I think it’s fair to say that while people could see previous recessions coming, this one has taken most of us by surprise,” said the 40-year-old lifelong Town fan.

“The scale of the problem and the speed with which it’s happened has been nothing short of astonishing, and it’s clear that it is having a major effect on everyone.

“People are worrying about their jobs, mortgages and savings, and with the cost of living rising so alarmingly, serious decisions about expenditure are being taken.

“Leisure activities are areas where expenditure can be saved, and it’s becoming evident that people are cutting back.

“Take last Saturday’s game against Leicester City. They brought 2,490 fans, which is good going, but had the game been this time last year, you’d have expected more than 3,000.

“Multiply the missing 500 by the admission fee and you’re talking £10,000, which is a significant sum, and when you consider the drop in away spectators over 23 games, it’s an even larger amount.

“Of course money generated through the turnstiles can only take a club so far, and that’s why income via corporate activities and sponsorship is so important.

“But the economic climate is having an effect there as well, and we’ve already had a few firms cancelling executive boxes.”

Hoyle believes a key part of taking Town forward is engaging local businesses and making them feel part of what he terms the “Town family”, and he’s looking forward to a networking event which will take place at the Galpharm next month.

“It’s being backed by Chadwick Lawrence, one of our existing business partners, and it’s a chance for local firms to get together and discuss what’s going on,” he explained.

“Hopefully it’s going to become a regular thing, and it’s certainly our intention to support the people who support us.

“It’s a case of us going one step further to engage supporters and businesses, and that’s what we’re striving to do. We want to become a true community club.

“We’ve got a fantastic tradition and a history we’re all proud of, but we can’t live off it. We have to be innovative in driving the club forward.”