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Post by northender on Jan 1, 2018 11:50:13 GMT
You are right agl there may not be an alternative to fan-owned but at the least we should review the plusses and minusses and attempt to iron out any issues. It means getting a wide range of views and an evaluation of the success levels of every iniative tried and every aim drawn up in the original planning. A large task but by no means impossible. Otherwise we can muddle on inventing new money-raising schemes expecting the same 12/1300 people to contribute and hoping against hope that we can sell-on a youth graduate every couple of years.
If it transpires that private ownership is deemed to be the way forward then the club has to devise a time-line and strategies to work towards that.
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Post by bb93 on Jan 1, 2018 20:37:36 GMT
As fans it’s very easy to want to blame other people but the fault of the current situation is not Marcus Bignot, it’s not Mark McGuire it’s not even Jon McCarthy.
The fault lies with us the fans. We have one of the lowest budgets in the league and there is a lot of evidence to show that in football wage budgets and finishing positions are correlated. The attendances we get are always going to fluctuate based on how the club is performing, where we’ve really gone wrong is we didn’t grow the non football income enough in the early years. In the early years when we had spare cash it should have been invested into profitable non football income streams. Sutton make an abolsute killing out of their 3G pitch for example. However, we didn’t and now people want to blame successive managers for coming 21st with the 21st biggest budget. Yes you get miracles like what Askey is doing with Macclesfield but it shouldn’t be expected it should be a nice to have when it happens. Our job is to grow the budget to give whoever is in charge a chance to compete.
The people on the board should be doing this task but the problem is the elections to the board are a farce, candidate a says ive been a fan since x and I’ll devote all my time to the club. Candidate b says I’ve been a fan since y and I’ll devote all my time to the club. There’s no promises made of what they will actually achieve and without them how can they be judged when it comes to reelection how can we be sure we’re electing the right people. The candidates should be made to write what they will achieve in their term and when they’re up for re-election they can be judged against it.
TLDR
We need a bigger non footballing budget to compete in this league
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 2, 2018 7:31:52 GMT
As fans it’s very easy to want to blame other people but the fault of the current situation is not Marcus Bignot, it’s not Mark McGuire it’s not even Jon McCarthy. The fault lies with us the fans. We have one of the lowest budgets in the league and there is a lot of evidence to show that in football wage budgets and finishing positions are correlated. The attendances we get are always going to fluctuate based on how the club is performing, where we’ve really gone wrong is we didn’t grow the non football income enough in the early years. In the early years when we had spare cash it should have been invested into profitable non football income streams. Sutton make an abolsute killing out of their 3G pitch for example. However, we didn’t and now people want to blame successive managers for coming 21st with the 21st biggest budget. Yes you get miracles like what Askey is doing with Macclesfield but it shouldn’t be expected it should be a nice to have when it happens. Our job is to grow the budget to give whoever is in charge a chance to compete. The people on the board should be doing this task but the problem is the elections to the board are a farce, candidate a says ive been a fan since x and I’ll devote all my time to the club. Candidate b says I’ve been a fan since y and I’ll devote all my time to the club. There’s no promises made of what they will actually achieve and without them how can they be judged when it comes to reelection how can we be sure we’re electing the right people. The candidates should be made to write what they will achieve in their term and when they’re up for re-election they can be judged against it. TLDR We need a bigger non footballing budget to compete in this league Bang on with every word.
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Post by bonecrusher on Jan 2, 2018 10:42:37 GMT
As fans it’s very easy to want to blame other people but the fault of the current situation is not Marcus Bignot, it’s not Mark McGuire it’s not even Jon McCarthy. The fault lies with us the fans. We have one of the lowest budgets in the league and there is a lot of evidence to show that in football wage budgets and finishing positions are correlated. The attendances we get are always going to fluctuate based on how the club is performing, where we’ve really gone wrong is we didn’t grow the non football income enough in the early years. In the early years when we had spare cash it should have been invested into profitable non football income streams. Sutton make an abolsute killing out of their 3G pitch for example. However, we didn’t and now people want to blame successive managers for coming 21st with the 21st biggest budget. Yes you get miracles like what Askey is doing with Macclesfield but it shouldn’t be expected it should be a nice to have when it happens. Our job is to grow the budget to give whoever is in charge a chance to compete. The people on the board should be doing this task but the problem is the elections to the board are a farce, candidate a says ive been a fan since x and I’ll devote all my time to the club. Candidate b says I’ve been a fan since y and I’ll devote all my time to the club. There’s no promises made of what they will actually achieve and without them how can they be judged when it comes to reelection how can we be sure we’re electing the right people. The candidates should be made to write what they will achieve in their term and when they’re up for re-election they can be judged against it. TLDR We need a bigger non footballing budget to compete in this league Bang on with every word. Good points - I don't think we need a bigger budget to stay in this league though. We should have enough to be mid to low table.
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Post by Hannibal on Jan 2, 2018 11:02:17 GMT
Teams like Barnet and Dagenham rarely have crowds of over 2,000 and 1,500 respectively, but they generate large sums through investing in their infrastructure. Barnet have their gym and a sports science facility (funded by Kleanthous) and Dagenham have cash-generating things going on at the club. We need to somehow generate money from the fact that we've got a long lease on the ground. This is where the board should be channelling their expertise (if they have any).
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Post by gezzer on Jan 2, 2018 11:56:42 GMT
Not sure how having a long lease on the ground will generate money (unless we can build 100s of student flats). The 100 club is a great idea if it takes off and the Stagecoach deal could bring in 100k per year if granted both at little outlay to the club. We should be thrashing our assets to bring in money, the car park could be used for all sorts ie, Circus, classic car meets, Chester Beer Festival, car storage for the dealers nearby, farmers market, antiques fair, overnight lorry park (facilities needed). Why not do up the executive boxes and rent out as office space during the days (easy £100+ per office per week)Market Blues Bar and Legends Lounge as meeting space (already being done but need more). These are just the easy ones, all thought of as I write this thread imagine the possibilities if a few heads got together with some "Blue Sky" thinking
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scott
Junior Member
Posts: 63
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Post by scott on Jan 2, 2018 12:20:51 GMT
Whether we stay up or go down, we need to review everything we do and look at how we can improve. Do we provide our commercial partners with a decent service? I don't think we do. We should be promoting them more on social media sites especially match sponsors. If I sponsored a match I would be disappointed with what I got for my money but if you chucked in a bit of social media attention I would be very happy.
Get ex players down to the ground and on the pitch at half time and before Jeff Banks pops up and says some people are shy, there must be loads of ex players who are not shy. Just ask them the question when they are invited, would you have any problems speaking on the pitch at half time!
We seem to have a tea, of the week most weeks now get them on the pitch at half time having a little knock around, something little like that just enhances the matchday experience. Now we have a classroom at the back of the family stand, could this be utilized on matchday for somewhere for parents to take their kids to before the game and put some entertainment on for them? When I was on the fundraising committee I used to get a prize from Nandos and they were always wanting the club to contact them as they wanted to get involved on matchdays. Could even put some of the club shop stuff in the classroom to try and sell to the kids.
We need to be hammering social media, local press, email and the clubs website to advertise up and coming matches and stuff that is happening at the club.
I'm getting the impression that people are getting fed up of giving to a squad builder fund as we never really know how much has been raised and where it all goes to. So how about making a list of various improvements that need making at the ground and have a ground improvement fund? Update the fans each week on how much money is in the pot and what has been spent of it and what on. At least it is something the fans will be able to actually see where there hard earned money has been spent on.
Now we have a long term lease with the car park included we need to start raising money from hiring it out. The potential stagecoach deal is a great example of how we can raise some non football related income into the business for us.
Our Community ethos - I bet there are loads of jobs that need doing at the club and we keep saying we don't have enough volunteers. I bet there are organisations in the area who have people who want to volunteer there services for a number of reasons, could be people retired and looking for something to do to people unemployed and looking to enhance their skill set. Lets get people within the community involved, help them to help us.
There are so many things we can do better and now is the time to review everything at the club.
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 2, 2018 12:28:10 GMT
I am sick of the continuing trend of local businesses, local branches of national businesses and our own fans not being communicated with, thus the club losing out on sponsorships, partnerships, cash.
It literally hasn't changed in three years. All good ideas above, but all ideas that have been put forward time and time again to be simply ignored.
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Post by Deva Chanter on Jan 2, 2018 15:25:08 GMT
The "Partnership" page of our official website - which is supposed to be where you would go to find out about becoming a commercial partner of the football club, or if you are interested in hiring our facilities out for corporate events, birthdays, weddings etc - has been a "coming soon" landing page for NINE MONTHS.
Staggering really considering over TWO YEARS ago our chairman promised in his election manifesto and I quote - "we need a corporate website to showcase our hospitality offerings and we need it now. We can't wait." What exactly has he been waiting for, then?
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Post by moldred on Jan 3, 2018 1:05:06 GMT
I can't believe you're all blaming MC Carthy the Board Bignot etc The start of all your problems began with Wagner and his stupid video Is it 3 home wins since then #karma
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Post by prodigal on Jan 3, 2018 23:27:34 GMT
Getting rid of Neil Young was the catalyst for the demise of the community club we were starting to believe in after 3 great years.
Along with the original board members, Young fitted the club model perfectly, winging it at times like the rest of us ( and spending a bit more than some would have liked ), but with so much enthusiasm and commitment, that we just kept rolling on like a juggernaut into new territory.
Then we hit Conference National, before we were due, and found ourselves in a division that takes a playing budget of around £2M to win it, with £350k in our back pocket.
Young had never managed at this level before ( or the previous 2 for that matter ) and it was going to be a steep learning curve for him, and on top of that, we had lost most of our title winning squad, because many of them wanted to stay part time.
We should have stayed part time, stuck with Neil, and let him have the season he deserved for his own improvement, enjoyed the new sights and not minded if we got relegated, because after all we had rocked up there too early anyhow.
Then someone decided , we needed to try and win this thing or get thereabouts, and suddenly Young wasn't good enough for the club anymore, football league now, was what we wanted, Jim Harvey started turning up at the club ( shameful of the Chairman ), Burr must have been tapped up in readiness, we know the rest, and are we any better for it?
When Neil Young left we were 21st, at the end of that season, we were 21st, now we are 22nd, we have got absolutely nowhere on the field for all our changes, and off the field the club has just gone progressively backwards, we sold the ethos of the club down the river, when we stabbed Neil in the back, we found the hill too steep for the progress bus in the Conference because the engine was second hand and we couldn't afford the oil, so what did we do......we sacked the driver.
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Post by eyeswideopen on Jan 4, 2018 7:30:01 GMT
Getting rid of Neil Young was the catalyst for the demise of the community club we were starting to believe in after 3 great years. Along with the original board members, Young fitted the club model perfectly, winging it at times like the rest of us ( and spending a bit more than some would have liked ), but with so much enthusiasm and commitment, that we just kept rolling on like a juggernaut into new territory. Then we hit Conference National, before we were due, and found ourselves in a division that takes a playing budget of around £2M to win it, with £350k in our back pocket. Young had never managed at this level before ( or the previous 2 for that matter ) and it was going to be a steep learning curve for him, and on top of that, we had lost most of our title winning squad, because many of them wanted to stay part time. We should have stayed part time, stuck with Neil, and let him have the season he deserved for his own improvement, enjoyed the new sights and not minded if we got relegated, because after all we had rocked up there too early anyhow. Then someone decided , we needed to try and win this thing or get thereabouts, and suddenly Young wasn't good enough for the club anymore, football league now, was what we wanted, Jim Harvey started turning up at the club ( shameful of the Chairman ), Burr must have been tapped up in readiness, we know the rest, and are we any better for it? When Neil Young left we were 21st, at the end of that season, we were 21st, now we are 22nd, we have got absolutely nowhere on the field for all our changes, and off the field the club has just gone progressively backwards, we sold the ethos of the club down the river, when we stabbed Neil in the back, we found the hill too steep for the progress bus in the Conference because the engine was second hand and we couldn't afford the oil, so what did we do......we sacked the driver. Top post
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Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 4, 2018 7:46:30 GMT
Getting rid of Neil Young was the catalyst for the demise of the community club we were starting to believe in after 3 great years. Along with the original board members, Young fitted the club model perfectly, winging it at times like the rest of us ( and spending a bit more than some would have liked ), but with so much enthusiasm and commitment, that we just kept rolling on like a juggernaut into new territory. Then we hit Conference National, before we were due, and found ourselves in a division that takes a playing budget of around £2M to win it, with £350k in our back pocket. Young had never managed at this level before ( or the previous 2 for that matter ) and it was going to be a steep learning curve for him, and on top of that, we had lost most of our title winning squad, because many of them wanted to stay part time. We should have stayed part time, stuck with Neil, and let him have the season he deserved for his own improvement, enjoyed the new sights and not minded if we got relegated, because after all we had rocked up there too early anyhow. Then someone decided , we needed to try and win this thing or get thereabouts, and suddenly Young wasn't good enough for the club anymore, football league now, was what we wanted, Jim Harvey started turning up at the club ( shameful of the Chairman ), Burr must have been tapped up in readiness, we know the rest, and are we any better for it? When Neil Young left we were 21st, at the end of that season, we were 21st, now we are 22nd, we have got absolutely nowhere on the field for all our changes, and off the field the club has just gone progressively backwards, we sold the ethos of the club down the river, when we stabbed Neil in the back, we found the hill too steep for the progress bus in the Conference because the engine was second hand and we couldn't afford the oil, so what did we do......we sacked the driver. Top post
Yep. A few of us said at the time we won promotion to Conference North "let's consolidate" and build the club to a position so that we are ready to hit the Conference but it never happened that way and we've been paying for it ever since.
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Post by oldnotdecrepit on Jan 4, 2018 10:47:08 GMT
Sorry, I thought letting Neil go was the right decision, and I think reluctantly he welcomed it! He looked miserable and was very down at the end of his tenure and left us with his record intact. Also he had second opportunities at Altrincham and Stockport and didn’t enjoy either. Neil was a fantastic manager where players were not on long contracts, if at all, and where he could ship in and ship out part timers. That strategy cannot work in this league. However I’d have preferred to see him as a Scout here rather than Halifax.
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Post by Si on Jan 4, 2018 13:14:04 GMT
What is the actual aim of the 100 Club? A hundred businesses pay 1k to be part of a club, but what benefits does that club offer? They all meet up every now and again and maybe see some opportunity to share expertise? Doesn't really seem worth paying a grand to be involved in, but perhaps I've missed something?
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Post by Al on Jan 4, 2018 13:36:22 GMT
What is the actual aim of the 100 Club? A hundred businesses pay 1k to be part of a club, but what benefits does that club offer? They all meet up every now and again and maybe see some opportunity to share expertise? Doesn't really seem worth paying a grand to be involved in, but perhaps I've missed something? They used to do something similar a few years ago when I did an apprenticeship at the Boat Museum with all the local attractions. I think it was called, Days Out in Cheshire?
Anyway, they'd often meet up once a month to network, work on offering similar deals, sharing each others leaflets, sharing ideas etc.
Seemed quite popular at the time, not sure if they paid someone for it though. If we've found a niche in the market and there are definite takers for it then great. Ideally we need that Corporate Website up and running for advertisement purposes for potential 100Club investors.
All we've been told by MM is that he's had a lot of positive meetings with many companies about it. Whether that gets followed up with a confirmed investment though is another story.
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Post by Oaks Blue on Jan 4, 2018 19:00:52 GMT
What is the actual aim of the 100 Club? A hundred businesses pay 1k to be part of a club, but what benefits does that club offer? They all meet up every now and again and maybe see some opportunity to share expertise? Doesn't really seem worth paying a grand to be involved in, but perhaps I've missed something? Sounds like a bit of an under the table way of selling shares to local businesses to me. Very strange!
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Post by northender on Jan 5, 2018 17:07:47 GMT
Most of the last few posts have been a breath of fresh air and a lot of interesting ideas are being floated and scapegoating is being relegated.I suspect there is a lot more 'blue sky' out there if we but look for it. Hopefully someone at the club is taking note and it may be worth while to trawl CFU and this website to invite constructive ideas for club development, especially financial. And not say to posters 'if you want this to happen then you have to turn up and do it', as not everyone with good ideas wants that level of involvement or can afford the time or has the skill set; it doesn't make the idea redundant or bad. On the other hand if you do volunteer then you have committed to time and action. Maybe there is a case for putting the two together a bit more often?
I detect a feeling here that the speed of our early success, for all the feel-good factor, has been counter-productive. In a similar vein, and as I have mentioned before, a relegation, though painful at the time, can be a godsend if handled properly. One thing is certain-without a huge cash investment and better management at some point in the foreseeable future we will go down and we will be forced to regroup. We need the developmental thinking and action to start sooner rather than later.
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Post by gezzer on Jan 5, 2018 17:38:25 GMT
Keeping up with the positivity. I know NFBF wont post on here because of the crap he gets but I think its worth sharing the first part of the round up of the SB meeting today: I’m delighted say that the Senior Blues kicked off the New Year with a packed room for our January meeting. Geoff Leith opened the meeting with information on our days out this year. The trip to Manchester City’s ground has been confirmed as has the trip to St Asaph, the day out at Southport Flower Show is pencilled in for mid-August. The latest figure for The Senior Blues Foundation was announced by our treasurer Vic Croft, and I’m delighted to say, now stands at over £8,000.
Well done you guys - keep it up
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