Is worrying enough that so many clubs are "fur coat no knickers" and fans just accept it if the teams doing OK. Even more worrying that some owners have so much brass, that they can just give clubs away and would sooner lose millions than have the hassle of running them any longer. At least this guy is wanting to hand the club over to someone with the funds to carry it forward. One day someone will turn off the lights and post the key through the letterbox.
I expect them to enjoy it, but also accept that there is a bit of risk involved in the way their club is achieving that bit of success.
To be fair, most Sunderland fans would have to rack their brains to remember any success. The ridiculous debt level (with interest payments of £8m a year!) haven't achieved anything much on the pitch, it's just a sign of a badly run club and a warning to others: be careful what you wish for.
Racking their brains to remember success is dead right. Last won the League in 1936. Two FA cup wins in 1937 and 1973.
IMO this is a fine example of what the new owners were alluding to during their press conference. That is to say - they are not going to throw countless millions at the club and get into a dire situation like Sunderland and a host of other clubs have done. Spending will be done carefully. But what they didn’t say is that there wasn’t money to spend - did they? IMO - the squad will be built slowly. Young or relatively young players will be brought in - many of these from the continent. Gone are the days of the Potts, Hourihane, Scowen, Mallan etc - some of the young players brought in to the club in the future are likely to cost Barnsley a fair bit more than what these players cost us. Eg - of the British based players - I can see players of the like of George Hirst being a target.
Exactly. So what's the point of spending beyond your means just to be able to sit at the top table and entertain the big boys at home? No thanks. Success? ...all they've managed to do is successfully line the pockets of players and agents.
By success I mean getting into the top flight and the big pay out. That's all clubs aspire to, and worry about the rest later.
Pretty much sums up what the new owners were alluding too when they said we were such a well run club. Relegation might be a stark reality right now and half (arguably more) may not be good enough at this level - but at least if we do go down we're not in the situation they are. Players on £70K a week, interest payments of £8 million a year, debts of £137 million - no thanks. Give me the role of the underdog with a wage structure of £5K a week over the above all day every day. If that makes me a happy clapper with no ambition then so be it.