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Gloucestershire Business News

Paul Bence quits board at Cheltenham Town FC

After seven years on the board, Cheltenham Town Football Club (CTFC) vice chairman and prominent county businessman Paul Bence has stepped down from the EFL League Two football club's leadership team.

The move at the EV Charger Points Stadium by the man behind the club's main sponsor came as the Robins struggle in the table in 20th spot, only two above the relegation zone, having lost six of the initial 10 fixtures since the 2024-25 season began.

CTFC has been in the EFL since 2016, but dropped from League One last season after its opening 11 games saw no goals scored, marking an EFL record.

But to fans of the club, the announcement of Mr Bence's departure will come as no shock: amid the club's relegation from League One at the end of last season, Mr Bence indicated that he would be resigning following a handover period.

No statement has been issued by the club on this departure though, while CTFC's next annual accounts are not due until the end of February next year.

As the managing director of the George Bence Group, Paul Bence (45) stepped in as an unpaid director in 2017 when he made clear his plan to try and push the club's commercial renvenue up.

He said at the time: "It's very different to running a builders merchants day to day and I have been absolutely fascinated with how the club is run," adding that the board was run by fans and was unpaid, doing the work "completely out of love".

He added: "We are a family business of 164 years, born and bred in Cheltenham". After six generations of the family, Mr Bence stepped in to the role of MD in 2010 amid what he described as "a very dificult time for the economy", but staffing levels have built up to now surpassing 100. In addition to  Cheltenham and Bourton-on-the-Water, the business has a presence in Ledbury.

Taking on the role of commercial director, Mr Bence pushed for the club to boost revenue through non-football events at Whaddon Road and in 2022 he oversaw the purchase of the Seasons Complex at Swindon Village, a training ground facility which was the former Eagle Star Sports and Social club and which had been leased by the club since 2013.

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