4NCL - The Four Nations League

Nigel Johnson letter: reply

Nigel Johnson’s recent letter in the British Chess Magazine raises a number of points which merit a reply:

Split Weekends

We have dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to finding a single site location for the league. However, it has proved singularly difficult to find a venue of sufficient capacity to cater for the present size of the league on a single site basis on the financial terms (free venue and commission on room take-up) which enable us to keep entry fees lower than would otherwise be the case. A further problem (that we have encountered with, for example, Telford) is that hotels in “tourist” areas are only willing to accommodate the league in the winter months (typically October to March), no doubt on the basis that they can make more profit from, for example, wedding parties and coach tours paying the full rate for rooms and for venue hire.

Moreover, as unpaid volunteers, there is only so much time that we are able to devote to the running of the league in general and to the search for a new hotel of the requisite size on suitable financial terms in particular. That said, we repeat what we have always said – if there is anyone out there who is willing to help us in the search, we would be only too pleased to hear from them!

Although the split weekend venue approach has to an extent been forced on us, it does give us a number of significant advantages not available with a single site, not least:

The reduction in risk to the league should a hotel “walk away” from the current arrangement
Better playing conditions generally because of reduced congestion
The ability to cope more easily with the steadily increasing flow of new teams wishing to enter as the league grows in popularity and prestige (we already have five new teams confirmed for next season, over two months in advance of the entry deadline).

Finally, in light of the extra weekends over which the league is now being played, we hope to release dates for the 2004/2005 season over a year in advance to give tournament organisers the chance to plan ahead in good time, and we are already consulting widely in this regard.

Finances

4NCL is a limited company, and so its financial status is a matter of public record at Companies House for those who are interested. Furthermore, the team representatives on the board have full and unfettered access to the league’s financial information. In terms of the season just ended (all numbers to the nearest Ł1,000), income to the league amounted to around Ł14,000, comprising principally entry fees (Ł9,000) and commission from hotels on room take-up – see point above (Ł4,000). Expenses came to around Ł13,000, comprising mainly running expenses of Ł7,000 (for example FIDE/BCF rating fees, arbiter expenses, equipment hire), prizes of Ł4,000 and administrative expenses of Ł3,000 (for example website maintenance fees, accountancy fees, BCF yearbook and Chess Moves entries). In line with our usual practice, we set aside around Ł1,000 as a “rainy day” reserve to cover, for example, needing to pay for venues on an emergency basis should our existing hotel arrangements come to an end. This reserve, which we have been building gradually since the creation of the limited company in 1997, now stands at around Ł7,000, and we plan to build it up further to provide the league with a measure of financial stability should unforeseen emergencies arise. This reserve is for the benefit of the league and cannot be used for any other purpose, as set out in our articles of association.

Captains’ Meetings

As far as captains’ meetings are concerned, we have always been of the view that if there are no particular issues to discuss there is limited value in having a meeting – but equally, we are always happy to have a captains’ meeting if the demand is there.

Far from seeking to reduce consultation with team captains, we welcome constructive input and comments in the spirit of improving the league still further. Indeed, one of the principal reasons for having team representatives on the board is to encourage this dialogue, and we repeat the request we have often made – if anyone has anything at all that they wish to discuss, please feel free to get in touch with the team representatives, or indeed any other member of the board, contact details for whom are to be found on the league’s website.