The scenes. Isn't it strange that Chien Lee hasn't been seen at Oakwell since I think it was Portsmouth at home last December? Also what is Conway's ongoing daily involvement? I get him filling in last season following GG's departure and keeping things ticking over but we now have a new CEO in place who should be overseeing the day to day running of the club but yet Conway appears to be an ever present. I heard a couple of months ago that Conway and Lee have fallen out, could that explain Lee's absence? I don't expect Lee to be here frequently but thought he might show his face towards the end of last season's fantastic promotion effort or certainly attend a match at the start of this season. 'The plan' has also changed from the Cryne days, back then a few loan players supplemented mainly players from ages 22-25 who had played a decent number of games at both L1 or L2 level and had both youth and to an extent experience on their side. The club would now appear to have lowered the age range for new signings as most of the players are 19-22 (Radlinger aside), with less game time and overall experience. How they could not see this season was an accident waiting to happen with this plan is beyond me. To an extent it comes down to pure greed, thinking they could get away with doing things on the cheap. Conway stated that every penny raised from player sales would be reinvested back into the team and we now know that not to be the case unless they spend big in January. There was also talk about developing the commercial side but again has anything significantly changed since they took over? A few others on here have posted about this over the last couple of days, but have they also completely underestimated what it is going to take to just even survive in the championship and are now looking for a quick exit strategy? I wouldn't say it's out of the question.
Fair point, but we don't know what has been going on behind the scenes. They could have already been sounding out new owners. If they are looking to get out and no one wants to buy the club in the short term then they are going to keep running costs to an absolute minimum as we are seeing. I'm not sure what timescales would be considered quick for a takeover when taking into account all the due diligence and EFL approval etc needed but would estimate 6 months? There's no substance to this, just IMO they will be gone in the next 12-18 months.
I'm nervous about completely agreeing with this as we just don't know. Reports on transfer fees are all over the place with 'undisclosed' and 'rising to' so you never know 100% what we've received or paid out. Complete guess work on my part but if we brought in £6m revenue from promotion plus close to £9m in transfer fees, then I bet we're not far off investing all that in to fees and wages for the 12 new recruits as well as contract rises for the existing squad. We know from the Supporters' Trust night that budget was still available for January, so imagine that's £2/£3m in the coffers. They haven't invested every penny back in to the squad that's for certain, but a lot of it has gone back in. Just in the wrong areas as we all agree on.
I would be very nervous if any of this was true. At least Patrick did his best to get us good owners, but would suspect if these guys want out and quickly they would sell to anyone. For these reasons I hope they don’t, but also hope they learn and adapt quickly
They've not fallen out mate, I was told at the time of the takeover that Lee is a very quiet partner and that Conway is much more hands on. It was the same set up at Nice.
If you’re accounting for new wages though don’t forget you also have to consider wages saved on those players who’ve exited...
I know mate. It's all f.ag packet and not entirely accurate at all. But I think you'd be surprised how much we've spent was more my main point. I don't think Raddlinger came cheap so possibly took Pinnock and Lindsay's wages combined.
It seems odd that we've not seen them together at a game in ages, they sold their joint venture Nice and the press have changed from them buying Partick together to it now being Conway and Zuk with no mention of Lee.
i don't get this we lose 6 million as though we are suddenly 6 million in debt if we go down and have to sell players we are not. yes we wont get 6 million back in wages with players relegation clauses kicking in. but we haven't spent that 6 million on wages. the players already here will be on there old lower pay contracts ,new ones will have to include relegation clause The six million which by the way there is no evidence we have even used ,it will almost certainly have been used the TV money to secure the loan that was took out. . but if we have spent it , the vast percentage of that would be the transfer fees with some of it cough ...... "saved for a rainy day " trademark Paul Conway. if we go down we will be in the same place financially as we were before we got that money no ? but with saleable assets if need arose according to da plan schematics
The six million as I understand it is the total extra revenue from various sources which being in the Championship brings across the full season. I've never understood it as a magic pot that accrues to the club from the outset?
You doubt it very much but you don't know (just like I don't know). We do know he took some serious convincing to sign and maybe wages got it over the line? Brought in as our #1 so £7/£8k a week isn't far fetched. We'll never know though.
After relegation release clauses I could see Pinnock and Lindsay being on around £4k a week each and nearly £250k each a year? Couldn't you? Pinnock was only signed from Forest Green and didn't go straight in to the first team.
2016/17 average league 1 wage was reported to be £2300 a week, with Wigan at highest at just over £5k, so you’re probably not far wrong(even maybe a little high)