Local businessman Mark Luby recently returned to The J.Davidson Stadium boardroom in an executive capacity after joining the club's investor group.

Mark has since taken time out of his extremely busy schedule to answer some questions about his new role with the Robins, as well as looking forward to the 2025/26 season and beyond.

How has it felt since the news of your return and investment broke, coupled with a whirlwind few weeks at the club? We've had a co-chairman stepping down, a challenging end to the season and the recent changes in the football staff.

I'm delighted to be back involved with the football club. I didn't want to leave, but one of the driving factors to me stepping away last year was selling my business. I knew I wouldn't be able to give the time needed while that process was ongoing, but it was always my intention to return. It's great to come back in when more local people, like myself, are getting involved. It's a real positive for the club and the community.

Football is an ever changing world and you have to always be ready to adapt to varying situations. People come and go, but I've now got a role to fulfil, a job to be getting on with and it's a really exciting time to be involved again.

Since stepping away previously, how have you seen the club evolve from the outside looking in?

I've been away from the club for a season, but my involvement remained as a fan. I was bitterly disappointed that we didn't reach the play-offs again. However, we're continuing to make steps in the right direction. Another season with an average crowd over 2,000 is fantastic and something that we can continue to build on.

A very recent change is around the Director of Football role at Alty – is the club actively recruiting a replacement?

The straight answer to that question is no. Presently we are not looking to recruit a Director of Football. We've looked at the position in terms of where it sits within the football club, the upsides, the downsides, and ultimately we've decided it's the manager who will have the final say on the recruitment of the playing squad.

In which case, how closely will you and the board be involved in footballing matters moving forward?

I'll be working on pretty much a daily basis with Phil, especially over the close season while we're retaining, recruiting and releasing players. I'm working very closely with Phil, dealing with agents and all the things that go around that part of the process. The board will be involved helping out as well, but ultimately the manager is in charge of recruitment. 

Looking ahead to next season and beyond, is the ambition still firmly set as promotion to the EFL?

If the ambition wasn't promotion to the EFL it would be pointless us all carrying on, wouldn't it? I still, like many Alty fans, carry the sense of injustice from the Football League voting system in the 1980s.

One hundred percent, the focus of the manager, squad, board and absolutely everyone involved with the club is reaching the EFL.

How will the new investment shape the club’s ability to compete and grow sustainably, both on and off the pitch?

Making any club sustainable through its own revenues is an extremely difficult task, and the investment will give us some stability for the coming seasons. The most important thing is that the club is always here. We're custodians of the club and we can't ever take decisions that put the club at risk.

You were instrumental in delivering the Fan Zone during your previous spell at the club – a project that’s been hugely popular. Are there any similar developments or ideas in the pipeline?

I'm delighted that the fan zone has been a huge success. I believe the fans love it, which is great. We want to extend the fan zone and are looking at a few options for doing so. We probably won't be able to sort anything out before the start of the new season, but we are committed to making the matchday experience as enjoyable and positive for everyone who comes through the turnstiles.

We'd like to put an away fan zone in to drive new revenue for the club. We're also looking at fixing up the Pop Side so it's back to full capacity. I know the stadium very well from my previous role on the board. We have plans, but everything takes time.

Supporters always value transparency and communication. Are there any plans for a Board Q&A or open forum in the near future?

I like to consider myself an open person, and would be happy to talk to fans about anything going on at the football club that I can do, at any time. Transparency and communication with the fans is hugely important for the football club, and is beneficial for everyone involved.

Myself, and the board, would certainly be interested in exploring the possibilities of a Q&A with the fans in the near future.

What drives you personally to commit time and energy to Alty – especially given the demands and challenges that come with being on the board of a football club?

As I mentioned, I recently sold my business, so that has freed up a lot of my time I didn't have previously. I absolute love being involved with the club, I've a huge enthusiasm for it and have followed the club as a fan for many years.

Football is a funny thing. It grabs hold of you and pulls you in. It's good fun, I enjoy it, it's hard work, has lots of ups and downs and it's a massive part of the wider community, which is very important. I'm local resident. I've lived in the Altrincham area my entire life. It's my local football club and it's my town. If I can give something to the club to help then I'm more than willing to do that.

Finally, you’ve been an Alty fan all your life, you were at Wembley for both FA Trophy wins. How do you manage the balance between your passion as a fan and the business decisions required in a boardroom role?

You have to take the emotion out of some decisions, and I don't find that difficult at all. It's the same in business, sometimes difficult decisions have to be made. It's not a ruthless side, it's just a fact.

For 90 minutes on a Saturday when the team is playing I'm a fan like everyone else, living every minute of the game as a fan. But outside of that you have to detach and separate yourself from that emotion and work within the reality of a given situation.