... the moment Hecky walked out AFTER the takeover. He must have known a lot that we didn't. Including the fact that despite the supposed wealth of the owners, no investment would be forthcoming.
Didn't he say that? That he was worried the things that had pi55ed him off about the previous regime wasn't gonna change but get worse and he had to take the opportunity that presented itself? I said all along - imagine how bad it must've been for him to do that.
I think there have been lots of signals that things aren’t good in this club. - Hecky’s departure was maybe the first - overdraft facility during transfer window suggests we didn’t already have one and now under these owners they wouldn't even support short term cash flow loans. - Miranda controversy- did we agree a deal and renage as the selling club suggests? - appointment of Morais seemed an odd one and signalled the foreign preference for a coach - Stendel controversy - two sides to every story on the sacking but it didn’t shine a positive light on our club - Stendel controversy Pt 2 - fall out with Hearts - lock down on communications and engagement with fans - no recognition or acknowledgement of the on field issues or signs that we could fix these issues despite having months to do so. - leaky bucket news from club - have we ever had a squad this big? - Bambo failed drug test - fishing in the same narrow pond for signings I’m sure there’s others
Or maybe the Leeds offer was a once in a lifetime role that he just couldn't turn down? We have invested. We just haven't invested very well.
I think his issue, as it was before, was the process. I know it's been done before & to death but we've now had Johnson/Hecky/Stendel all have a pop at the transfer strategy/recruitment process. Struber's said similar things early doors too. So I agree we've spent money. But if I sell my house then buy ten tents with the money it's not investing. That makes no sense but I'm sticking with it.
But investment at our current level would still fall way short for the Championship. FFP says you are allowed to make a 13 million pound loss each year. Our record transfer fee is still Georgi Hristov. We're basically being told we don't belong at this level. Realistically we can't compete with the majority of clubs in financial terms. I agree recruitment has been dreadful but even with amazing recruitment, on our budget we would always struggle.
I think he had issues with the football club but it's a long shot to suggest that was mainly down to the new regime as they weren't around for very long were they and he was applying for jobs before they took over. It's also true that the Leeds offer was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The truth is probably a blend of all of the above. We've sold a house and bought ten tents that with some magic beans will morph in to houses. If we'd have bought eight tents and a couple of mobile homes they might have all morphed together. That also makes as much sense.
Definitely not down to the new. But he saw they were a continuation of the old - remember recruitment hasn't really changed in 5 years - and coupled with the Leeds job thought 'aye, get out'.
I would say they’ve bought a cheap job lot off eBay of ‘build your house by numbers’. Got the kits back and there’s not enough parts to complete all houses, but hopefully in time will be able to build a couple.
It depends how you define investment. Is speculating on the Stock Exchange in the hope that the share you buy will grow in value investing? Your money does not help the company to grow, it is the things that are intrinsic to the company that will decide if it will grow and ultimately if your share will appreciate in value. The scattergun approach of our recruitment suggests to me that our player purchases aren't designed to enable Barnsley FC as a club to grow organically, rise up the pyramid and attract more paying punters and sponsorship as a result. It seems to be based on the premise that sooner or later you'll unearth a John Stones whose value as a player will more than compensate for the bad investments you have made on the way to unearthing that gem. To some degree our performances on the pitch are irrelevant - even this season there are players who stand out as starring in an otherwise poor team and these will be the ones sold on for a profit.
At the risk of strangling the metaphor, the trouble is that we have sold the houses before they have grown much above the foundations. We could have alternatively completed the build, had the benefit of living in them for a year or two and then sold them at a higher value.