|
|
Post by alancfc on Mar 27, 2018 10:01:45 GMT
This season has exposed our vulnerabilities in the business that is football; continually having to speculate cash each and every year, with no guarantee of success. The majority of football clubs are essentially failing businesses, bar the exceptional elite, that are propped up by individuals willing to spend cash in vanity. We do not have such luxury; our current situation is only alarming because we do not have an investor, would a deficit of £100K to any owner in our league be crippling?
Flip that on its head. If an owner can spend £100k more on their club than it earns, how can we realistically ever compete for the signatures of the best players in a league, irrespective of the level of that league? .
We opted for a Fan Owned Football club, and I remain glad that we did, however we ALL forgot the most basic of business lessons. The majority of start-up businesses fail. Not because their initial product or service was poor, like us it’s normally to the contrary, but due to their lack of long term investment; which should be funded through their short term success.
So we are now left with a double edged sword; no investment to improve our ability to increase the quality of our product and not enough cash to be able to match the short term expenditures our competitors. Continue like this and we will only enviably fail in the future, once and for all.
I, as others do, only see one viable option to secure the long term future of our club; large scale, sustained investment in the Youth Academy. Currently it operates on a pittance in comparison to our expectations of its output (£130K+ for Hughes, £X amount for Jones and Crawford) and much of its budget is thanks to the ‘sponsorship’ of Swettenhams. With the exception of Callum McIntyre, I believe our youth teams are run entirely by volunteers and kudos to them for that, however we need to be able to recruit additional paid coaches to increase the potential of our academy. I’m sure many of our current volunteers would jump at such a chance. Then there’s the increase in equipment, investment in our coaches through FA courses etc and on costs of a potential increase of our scholarship numbers.
We however would need to fund this increase, and I would be hesitant to expect this to come from the operating budget, considering our current mishandling. I would be interested to know whether other fans would be willing to contribute to a £10/20 per month Academy Builder, with the proviso that it remains completely ring fenced?
1000 fans together could fund an increase of £120K per annum.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2018 10:09:56 GMT
Definitely, £10 a month from me, But would have to be Ringfenced!
|
|
|
|
Post by btb on Mar 27, 2018 10:38:59 GMT
It's a no brainer for me. The foundations are in place and we have seen what next to nothing funding can achieve. But sadly there are some nuggets out there who thought it was a better idea to sign Ben Mills than fund the academy to the tune of 10 to 15k per year so what chance does it have?!
|
|
|
|
Post by superman on Mar 27, 2018 10:40:18 GMT
A very laudable idea. In principle I would support this. The problem that we seem to have is that we are now asking people to consider supporting an increasing number of different initiatives some of which are wholly or partially ring fenced. Back the Blues, Squad Builder, a recently suggested monthly one with 50 percent going to infrastructure projects, and now this one for the Youth Academy. All great ideas which I would love in principle to support, but getting 1000+ fans to support each and every initiative might be overly ambitious. Four initiatives at £10 per month is near enough £500 pa. There needs to be a clear prioritization of need going forward. At the moment we are still in survival mode. Hopefully in 15 months the situation will be much more stable and planned fundraising for specific projects be initiated without the need to fire fight.
|
|
|
|
Post by puffthemagicdragon on Mar 27, 2018 10:43:59 GMT
Funding the Youth Academy has to be the way forward for the Club. Never mind the enthusiasm and support we have seen for our Youth Team this season, but they can be the future of the team going forwards. No they may not have the experience of older players (but look what that has cost us this season) but I for one would support a team with some of the youth team breaking through into the ranks of the first team, and playing with heart and soul and passion for the club any day!
|
|
|
|
Post by Al on Mar 27, 2018 10:50:36 GMT
Might be a better idea to better promote the Youth team games as fundraisers for the Youth Academy. When we have over 1,000 people in attendance in the cup game v Gateshead a few weeks ago, instead of money going into the clubs bank account it is paid into a ringfenced fund for the running and continued development of the Youth Academy. They are one off games, people can pay what they want to get into the ground.
Running alongside that there is the opportunity to sell more Hospitality up in the LL, Club Shop, etc.
The challenge would be agreeing with the League, and opponents to play matches later in the evenings (for mid-week cup games), and with our partners to get the Bar open, and upstairs open for food etc?
I think you would get more support off people making one-off payments to watch the youth team, then setting up direct debits.
|
|
|
|
Post by alancfc on Mar 27, 2018 10:55:33 GMT
A very laudable idea. In principle I would support this. The problem that we seem to have is that we are now asking people to consider supporting an increasing number of different initiatives some of which are wholly or partially ring fenced. Back the Blues, Squad Builder, a recently suggested monthly one with 50 percent going to infrastructure projects, and now this one for the Youth Academy. All great ideas which I would love in principle to support, but getting 1000+ fans to support each and every initiative might be overly ambitious. Four initiatives at £10 per month is near enough £500 pa. There needs to be a clear prioritization of need going forward. At the moment we are still in survival mode. Hopefully in 15 months the situation will be much more stable and planned fundraising for specific projects be initiated without the need to fire fight. This is of course is all theoretical, but your correct that the numerous initiatives are indeed conflicting. The priority is to raise enough cash to sustain us until the start of next season, no doubt, but I'm interested to see what the level of support their would be for this. I've back the club with cash as have many, but I haven't seen any value by return of it and like many I'm getting a little fed up of funding obscure initiatives. |
|
|
|
Post by gezzer on Mar 27, 2018 11:39:55 GMT
There are an increasing number of clubs who are closing/restructuring their academies due to the EPPP rules which were introduced in 2012, most recently Tranmere who through the years have made millions by bringing their own youngsters through and selling them on. The following link gives an insight into why they felt the need to restructure: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43342943 |
|
|
|
Post by dmcnally on Mar 27, 2018 11:52:51 GMT
Rather give my £10 to an infrastructure fund. A 3G pitch, if managed correctly, would provide a steady income stream to the club. The youth academy is more of a risk to rely on for income as you’re relying on the next Sam Hughes to make some cash. There will not be a Sam Hughes every season, as Cal McIntyre has said himself, so I’d prefer to invest into something long term such as a 3G pitch with a steady income.
Not to say we don’t look to invest in both. Just where I feel my money is more important to right now. Without this academy ring-fenced fund they’re still producing some decent players so let’s look to add a new revenue stream in the form of a 3G community pitch.
|
|
|
|
Post by dabberblue on Mar 27, 2018 12:33:03 GMT
Back in the 1960s at Sealand Road the reserves / A Team used to play before the first teams home fixture. Admittedly this was on a pitch behind the main stand but there was always a decent crowd who turned up early to watch them before the first team took to the pitch. Not sure if logistics would work out these days but if there was something else going on for the fans food & drink wise it could be an earner......?
|
|
|
|
Post by iandychesterfc on Mar 27, 2018 12:42:26 GMT
This is something to put to the working groups / board - People have their own opinions on what is important and should be able to contribute to whatever fund they see as being important to them - be it 1st team squad, academy, 3G or Bar builder.
|
|
|
|
Post by Oaks Blue on Mar 27, 2018 13:39:29 GMT
Rather give my £10 to an infrastructure fund. A 3G pitch, if managed correctly, would provide a steady income stream to the club. The youth academy is more of a risk to rely on for income as you’re relying on the next Sam Hughes to make some cash. There will not be a Sam Hughes every season, as Cal McIntyre has said himself, so I’d prefer to invest into something long term such as a 3G pitch with a steady income. Not to say we don’t look to invest in both. Just where I feel my money is more important to right now. Without this academy ring-fenced fund they’re still producing some decent players so let’s look to add a new revenue stream in the form of a 3G community pitch. The leadership at the club have ignored any steady income streams since reforming. What makes you think this old/new board are going to try a different strategy this time? I hate to be critical but there's no new ideas here. Just the same old stuff that doesn't get listened to or followed up on |
|
|
|
Post by dmcnally on Mar 27, 2018 13:44:39 GMT
Rather give my £10 to an infrastructure fund. A 3G pitch, if managed correctly, would provide a steady income stream to the club. The youth academy is more of a risk to rely on for income as you’re relying on the next Sam Hughes to make some cash. There will not be a Sam Hughes every season, as Cal McIntyre has said himself, so I’d prefer to invest into something long term such as a 3G pitch with a steady income. Not to say we don’t look to invest in both. Just where I feel my money is more important to right now. Without this academy ring-fenced fund they’re still producing some decent players so let’s look to add a new revenue stream in the form of a 3G community pitch. The leadership at the club have ignored any steady income streams since reforming. What makes you think this old/new board are going to try a different strategy this time? I hate to be critical but there's no new ideas here. Just the same old stuff that doesn't get listened to or followed up on Because we HAVE to change, adapt and grow in order to secure the long term future of the football club. |
|
|
|
Post by Oaks Blue on Mar 27, 2018 13:45:59 GMT
The leadership at the club have ignored any steady income streams since reforming. What makes you think this old/new board are going to try a different strategy this time? I hate to be critical but there's no new ideas here. Just the same old stuff that doesn't get listened to or followed up on Because we HAVE to change, adapt and grow in order to secure the long term future of the football club. I hope you're right and the club go down the sustainability route. If they mess it up this time we might as well lock the gates in my opinion. Fans patience is running out |
|
|
|
Post by dc2cfc on Mar 27, 2018 14:15:05 GMT
The Youth part of the club is fantastic but we really need to start planning for a training ground/4G pitch facility.
A monthly direct debit or community share scheme would be the best way forward. (Plus any potential grants)
Planning for it surely needs to start over the summer months as we can’t get to May 2019 with still potentially nothing in the process...
To have: Grass/4G pitches, changing rooms, canteen, community rooms, classrooms, gym etc etc would be absolutely massive for the club and it would be something us fans would have as our own.
Could even have bricks with peoples names on who have contributed donations towards it on the walls of the training ground !!
|
|
|
|
Post by tinagsdog on Mar 28, 2018 11:40:10 GMT
donating to the youth is a MUST look how well they're currently doing and the money they could bring in... Sam Hughes a prime example, his fee has kept us alive.
|
|
|
|
Post by exiled on Mar 28, 2018 16:25:58 GMT
The Youth part of the club is fantastic but we really need to start planning for a training ground/4G pitch facility. A monthly direct debit or community share scheme would be the best way forward. (Plus any potential grants) Planning for it surely needs to start over the summer months as we can’t get to May 2019 with still potentially nothing in the process... To have: Grass/4G pitches, changing rooms, canteen, community rooms, classrooms, gym etc etc would be absolutely massive for the club and it would be something us fans would have as our own. Could even have bricks with peoples names on who have contributed donations towards it on the walls of the training ground !! A good idea, similar to the facilities FC United have ,could also help the youth teams finances by using it free of charge .Plus extra revenue for the club hiring it out. |
|
|
|
Post by chestertaffy on Mar 29, 2018 14:53:31 GMT
Some great ideas here, I would support all ideas that would help the fantastic Academy and PDC program move forward, nothing better than seeing local home grown players who have come through the academy ranks playing first team football.
|
|
