Former Goals Soccer CEO Rogers leaves board

East Kilbride-based Goals Soccer Centres said former chief executive Keith Rogers, an executive director, has stepped down from the company’s board.

Current goals CEO Mark Jones said: “On behalf of the company I would like to acknowledge and express our sincere gratitude to Keith for his invaluable and constructive contribution to the board over the years and we wish him well in the future.”

Former Rank Group casinos executive Jones joined Goals as chief executive in May 2016 following a turbulent year in which its share price lost more than half of its value.

Then, in June last year, Inter Milan chief executive Michael Bolingbroke joined the firm as senior independent non-executive director.

In a trading update for the year to December 31, 2016, Goals said group sales increased by 1.3% to £33.4 million and like-for-like sales rose by 0.6%, broadly in-line with market expectations.

“Additionally, football volume stabilised and ended the year positively, recording a year-on-year increase of approximately 1%, which was aided by a strong second half performance of +3.1% and reflects an improved customer experience, driven by the arena modernisation programme, with upgraded ProTurf pitches, new LED lighting systems and renewed stadia boards which saw 136 pitches upgraded during the period,” said Goals.

“With our robust trading driven by the implementation of our strategic plan, a strong balance sheet and solid growth prospects, we look forward to delivering continued progress in 2017, as we move our focus to upgrading our UK clubhouses to the new Clubhouse 2020 format and the opening of our second centre in the US in February 2017.” 

Goals chairman Nick Basing said: “I am positive that we have turned the corner with this result.

“The new refocused strategy under strong new executive leadership is working and I hope momentum will build further in 2017.”