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Woking
Jul 18, 2024 15:33:01 GMT
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Post by agl on Jul 18, 2024 15:33:01 GMT
Woking apparently facing administration. Losing £25k a week at the hands of "well intentioned but naive" owner who was chasing the dream of promotion to the football league. Always thought of them as a club of similar stature to ourselves.
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Woking
Jul 18, 2024 16:21:22 GMT
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Post by martyntrumpcaster on Jul 18, 2024 16:21:22 GMT
Thanks for sharing the news.
Good story about this on the BBC website.
I guess this is where (growing?) wealth disparity in the lower leagues is really dangerous. It encourages reckless ownership and spending which risks clubs futures.
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Woking
Jul 18, 2024 16:35:05 GMT
Post by Eddie Gray's left foot on Jul 18, 2024 16:35:05 GMT
I noticed early in the season they held a play-off place, but when I looked near the end of the season they had dropped into the bottom 4.
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Woking
Jul 18, 2024 20:14:49 GMT
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Post by league2 on Jul 18, 2024 20:14:49 GMT
Woking apparently facing administration. Losing £25k a week at the hands of "well intentioned but naive" owner who was chasing the dream of promotion to the football league. Always thought of them as a club of similar stature to ourselves. I'd say they a slightly bigger club than us usually get about a 1,000 more for home games than us and have been a bit more consistent than us over the last ten years
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Post by Churton Blue on Jul 18, 2024 20:39:08 GMT
Thanks for sharing the news. Good story about this on the BBC website. I guess this is where (growing?) wealth disparity in the lower leagues is really dangerous. It encourages reckless ownership and spending which risks clubs futures. BBC Story Woking's owner has said the National League club will go into administration if a buyer cannot be found in the next few weeks - and he is willing to sell for £1. A £600,000 loan from owner Drew Volpe's parents has given the Cards a lifeline to begin the new season next month. Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, Volpe revealed he had invested "over £3.425m" in the club since taking over in 2021. When asked if the club would now be in administration without the loan from his parents, Volpe said: "Yep, 100%"." The bottom line is I'm not made of money, so I couldn't keep on doing this for a fourth year straight," he added. "Between tax stuff, insurance, some other liabilities, the numbers add up real fast – to a scary, scary degree. "Once it's in your veins it's hard to stop, you want to keep chasing that promotion - but I realise now I can't keep doing it. I don't want to be eating out of a dumpster outside of my apartment." The Cards are due to begin the new season away at Altrincham on Saturday, 10 August. Volpe said the loan from his parents would ensure the team could start the league season, when money would begin coming in from gate sales on matchdays. But Volpe said he was now more confident a deal could be reached for new owners to rescue the club after making "great progress" with takeover talks. "Obviously we're still bringing on new investment, which should be happening in the next couple of weeks, but at this moment we are fine," he added. "It's absolutely been sleepless nights, a lot of worry, but for now we're safe. "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't dire straits until [we got] the money into the account. "The reality of it, is that the club's going to be sold for probably £1 - based on the liabilities that we have, the money I sent over will be able to pay off almost all of that and then we'll have games and money will be coming in."Ironically when Chester FC proposed a Salary Cap a few years ago Woking were one of the few clubs to show any support. Trying to compete with ‘money to burn’ clubs who lose 2 to 4 million getting promoted has proved their undoing. Torquay Utd have trod the same path of overspending to compete leaving scores of debts to local companies when they went into administration. Previous owners of Woking FC also massively overspent and the club has lost over £8 million in the last 20 years. The powers that be in the National League misleadingly claim there is no problem. This despite over 25 clubs that have played in the fifth tier since its inception being subsequently liquidated. If you add in administrations and ground losses the picture is one of financial carnage over the last 45 years.
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Post by proudblue on Jul 19, 2024 12:53:29 GMT
Woking apparently facing administration. Losing £25k a week at the hands of "well intentioned but naive" owner who was chasing the dream of promotion to the football league. Always thought of them as a club of similar stature to ourselves. I'd say they a slightly bigger club than us usually get about a 1,000 more for home games than us and have been a bit more consistent than us over the last ten years www.footballwebpages.co.uk/woking/attendances/2023-2024A lot of their attendances last season seem little or no bigger than what we get and their average attendance looks like it was propped up by Southend’s away following and a New Year’s Day derby against Aldershot.
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Woking
Jul 19, 2024 13:13:36 GMT
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Post by highpeakblue on Jul 19, 2024 13:13:36 GMT
Given how local so many of those teams are and that it it is a higher league, not that impressive.
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Woking
Jul 19, 2024 13:40:23 GMT
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Post by league2 on Jul 19, 2024 13:40:23 GMT
I'd say they a slightly bigger club than us usually get about a 1,000 more for home games than us and have been a bit more consistent than us over the last ten years www.footballwebpages.co.uk/woking/attendances/2023-2024A lot of their attendances last season seem little or no bigger than what we get and their average attendance looks like it was propped up by Southend’s away following and a New Year’s Day derby against Aldershot. If you look back over the years there attendances are about 1,000 higher than ours ,not so much last season though.
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Woking
Jul 19, 2024 15:18:10 GMT
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Post by agl on Jul 19, 2024 15:18:10 GMT
Not much sympathy when you hear him talk about trying to compete with Wrexham and Notts County. Factoring in a cup run is madness 😎. I seem to recall when we played them in NL they got about 1800. Always enjoyed going there. That stand behind the goal is impressive. Jamie Menagh's winner on a Tuesday night comes to mind, otherwise can't recall us getting anything there.
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Post by Si on Jul 19, 2024 15:25:40 GMT
Not much sympathy when you hear him talk about trying to compete with Wrexham and Notts County. Factoring in a cup run is madness 😎. I seem to recall when we played them in NL they got about 1800. Always enjoyed going there. That stand behind the goal is impressive. Jamie Menagh's winner on a Tuesday night comes to mind, otherwise can't recall us getting anything there. Michael Twiss winner live on Sky....some interesting scenes behind the goal when that flew in!
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Woking
Jul 19, 2024 16:02:36 GMT
Post by Eddie Gray's left foot on Jul 19, 2024 16:02:36 GMT
I'd say they a slightly bigger club than us usually get about a 1,000 more for home games than us and have been a bit more consistent than us over the last ten years www.footballwebpages.co.uk/woking/attendances/2023-2024A lot of their attendances last season seem little or no bigger than what we get and their average attendance looks like it was propped up by Southend’s away following and a New Year’s Day derby against Aldershot. We have lost 10 consecutive games against them since a Jamie Menagh wonder goal gave us a 1-0 win at theirs in 2014.
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Post by The Angry Agenda on Jul 19, 2024 20:05:25 GMT
They can't have blown all that money from the 91 cup run already!!!!
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Post by ch66seals on Jul 20, 2024 19:07:28 GMT
Surprising given their run from the Conference to the Champions League in 6 seasons under the tenure of Jay Cartwright
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Post by tonya on Jul 20, 2024 23:42:50 GMT
Remember Twiss goal like it was yesterday and Jamie Menagh goal. Both top level. My brother started following them and his son also which is admirable since all his friends support Premiership clubs. I knew someone who played for them at the end of his career when we were in the Conference and he told me how the owners at the had no ambitions of promotion because they couldn't afford to. Unfortunately current owner had plenty of ambition but no financial sense. In comparison to Woking both historically and currently we are a far bigger club both in terms of success on the pitch and structure. We have a far better ground and the fan ownership has created more stability.
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Woking
Jul 21, 2024 4:58:34 GMT
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Post by agl on Jul 21, 2024 4:58:34 GMT
Remember Twiss goal like it was yesterday and Jamie Menagh goal. Both top level. My brother started following them and his son also which is admirable since all his friends support Premiership clubs. I knew someone who played for them at the end of his career when we were in the Conference and he told me how the owners at the had no ambitions of promotion because they couldn't afford to. Unfortunately current owner had plenty of ambition but no financial sense. In comparison to Woking both historically and currently we are a far bigger club both in terms of success on the pitch and structure. We have a far better ground and the fan ownership has created more stability. If they go bust we should put in a cheeky offer for that huge stand and transport it to the Deva. Could well be visible from across the border. Massive.
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Woking
Jul 22, 2024 17:00:43 GMT
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Post by martyntrumpcaster on Jul 22, 2024 17:00:43 GMT
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Post by Neil Hunt Nonsense Potter on Jul 23, 2024 7:50:59 GMT
Again, this shows the shit show of English football. The make or break mentality of owners who then leave the club to pick up the pieces. I'd love to play in the Football League again, but not at the cost of waking up every morning wondering what drama would unfold that day.
We may be a small club at tier 6 of the pyramid, but we've just got back from a fantastic weekend away supporting our club knowing that we face the season competitive and debt free. As someone who lived through the Barnes, Guterman, Smith and end of the Vaughan years that is a miracle.
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Post by Si on Jul 23, 2024 8:35:47 GMT
Again, this shows the shit show of English football. The make or break mentality of owners who then leave the club to pick up the pieces. I'd love to play in the Football League again, but not at the cost of waking up every morning wondering what drama would unfold that day. We may be a small club at tier 6 of the pyramid, but we've just got back from a fantastic weekend away supporting our club knowing that we face the season competitive and debt free. As someone who lived through the Barnes, Guterman, Smith and end of the Vaughan years that is a miracle. I absolutely agree, but the problem is we have a sizable amount of wet the bed fans that after a few iffy results start shouting on the social about Stuart Murphy and saying fan ownership doesn't work. Our model has it's limitations for sure, and some extra outside investment would be nice, but what we already have is most definitely something to be proud of and never undervalued/under appreciated.
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Woking
Jul 23, 2024 12:23:50 GMT
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Post by thetheremin on Jul 23, 2024 12:23:50 GMT
Again, this shows the shit show of English football. The make or break mentality of owners who then leave the club to pick up the pieces. I'd love to play in the Football League again, but not at the cost of waking up every morning wondering what drama would unfold that day. We may be a small club at tier 6 of the pyramid, but we've just got back from a fantastic weekend away supporting our club knowing that we face the season competitive and debt free. As someone who lived through the Barnes, Guterman, Smith and end of the Vaughan years that is a miracle. Yes. Never underestimate how important this is. Our time will come.
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Woking
Jul 23, 2024 12:36:03 GMT
Post by The Angry Agenda on Jul 23, 2024 12:36:03 GMT
Again, this shows the shit show of English football. The make or break mentality of owners who then leave the club to pick up the pieces. I'd love to play in the Football League again, but not at the cost of waking up every morning wondering what drama would unfold that day. We may be a small club at tier 6 of the pyramid, but we've just got back from a fantastic weekend away supporting our club knowing that we face the season competitive and debt free. As someone who lived through the Barnes, Guterman, Smith and end of the Vaughan years that is a miracle. Yes. Never underestimate how important this is. Our time will come. Sadly unless there's a major shift in football I don't think our time will come, and Woking are an example of why. There's two many clubs/owners at lower/Non league level throwing silly money and getting promotion or getting into the football league. Clubs like ours can't compete with that as we're blown out of the water when it comes to the financial side, and unless some sort of salary cap FFP comes in, it will just continue as owners don't look at the likes of Woking and see the warning signs, they just carry on spending.
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Post by yoshimitsu on Jul 23, 2024 13:35:08 GMT
Yes. Never underestimate how important this is. Our time will come. Sadly unless there's a major shift in football I don't think our time will come, and Woking are an example of why. There's two many clubs/owners at lower/Non league level throwing silly money and getting promotion or getting into the football league. Clubs like ours can't compete with that as we're blown out of the water when it comes to the financial side, and unless some sort of salary cap FFP comes in, it will just continue as owners don't look at the likes of Woking and see the warning signs, they just carry on spending. Maybe our hopes of league football are just that. But there’s no doubt that we have the potential to be a long term national league team. And even then if that’s a pipe dream in reality, we have a stable and economically sound club to support.
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bobbyblue
Junior Member
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Post by bobbyblue on Jul 23, 2024 13:45:49 GMT
As someone said when we reformed as a supporters owned club. Can't guarantee what league we will be but can guarantee we will always have a club.
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Post by jimianto on Jul 23, 2024 13:57:29 GMT
Again, this shows the shit show of English football. The make or break mentality of owners who then leave the club to pick up the pieces. I'd love to play in the Football League again, but not at the cost of waking up every morning wondering what drama would unfold that day. We may be a small club at tier 6 of the pyramid, but we've just got back from a fantastic weekend away supporting our club knowing that we face the season competitive and debt free. As someone who lived through the Barnes, Guterman, Smith and end of the Vaughan years that is a miracle. I absolutely agree, but the problem is we have a sizable amount of wet the bed fans that after a few iffy results start shouting on the social about Stuart Murphy and saying fan ownership doesn't work. Our model has it's limitations for sure, and some extra outside investment would be nice, but what we already have is most definitely something to be proud of and never undervalued/under appreciated. No doubt. But the 1200 (or so) core is what will keep us going. We all know many of this group and we see them home and away, season after season. For me, that's the fantastic thing about being a Chester fan - being part owner of a club that I love and knowing there are other like minded fans. The day trippers and moaners come and go (alright some of the moaners don't), but while we have the determined core group, which will hopefully grow and the current business model, we should be alright. Being a Chester fan rarely rewards us with too much success, but when it does, isn't it brilliant?! COYBs.
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Woking
Jul 23, 2024 14:04:29 GMT
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Post by jamieablock on Jul 23, 2024 14:04:29 GMT
Will never forget gojng here about 7 years ago, sure we were 2 down and got one back and we hit the cross bar last minute. Stand behind the goal best bit about the club
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Post by agl on Jul 23, 2024 17:41:32 GMT
Yes. Never underestimate how important this is. Our time will come. Sadly unless there's a major shift in football I don't think our time will come, and Woking are an example of why. There's two many clubs/owners at lower/Non league level throwing silly money and getting promotion or getting into the football league. Clubs like ours can't compete with that as we're blown out of the water when it comes to the financial side, and unless some sort of salary cap FFP comes in, it will just continue as owners don't look at the likes of Woking and see the warning signs, they just carry on spending. Hardest part for us is getting out of NLN. I think we would do OK in NL. And if not, then at least it's a change of scenery for a season.
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Woking
Jul 24, 2024 1:46:27 GMT
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Post by weareblues on Jul 24, 2024 1:46:27 GMT
Hope they pull through decent club never forget how steep that big stand behind goal is there Goes to show how much money you got to spend in the NL to attempt to compete crazy how much that leagues changed since we was last in it don’t see much difference with top half NL & league 2 these days
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Woking
Jul 24, 2024 9:41:13 GMT
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Post by deesideblue1 on Jul 24, 2024 9:41:13 GMT
If they go bust can we transfer that stand to the Harry Mac?
I mean Port Vale nicked our roof so it’s only fair.
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Woking
Jul 25, 2024 22:24:58 GMT
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Post by tonya on Jul 25, 2024 22:24:58 GMT
If they go bust can we transfer that stand to the Harry Mac? I mean Port Vale nicked our roof so it’s only fair. It would transform our stadium which unfortunately resembles a subbuteo stadium. It would symbolise ambition and a new beginning. We would happily call it the Westminster Stadium if the Duke could finance it. For him a small step into his piggy bank, for us a major step.
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Post by Neil Hunt Nonsense Potter on Jul 26, 2024 12:55:01 GMT
If they go bust can we transfer that stand to the Harry Mac? I mean Port Vale nicked our roof so it’s only fair. It would transform our stadium which unfortunately resembles a subbuteo stadium. It would symbolise ambition and a new beginning. We would happily call it the Westminster Stadium if the Duke could finance it. For him a small step into his piggy bank, for us a major step. We've got bigger priorities than a massive stand behind a goal that would be half empty every week. We need a disabled viewing platform and a fanzone first.
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Woking
Jul 26, 2024 13:57:28 GMT
Post by Curva Nord on Jul 26, 2024 13:57:28 GMT
Disabled platform could go in the brand new big stand, problem solved, get it built
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