A major priority for next season.....

Without wishing to appear to be knocking the club, why has there been nothing about ST renewals? I would have 'signed up' in April as I did last year but it seems this wasn't an option. The club should strike whilst the iron is hot and get renewals sent out.

 

Agree with that, but I get the impression that Flitcroft's not just talking about (more) money - I think it's a change of emphasis towards thinking like a Championship club (his recovery strategies for example) and maybe getting away from short term contracts - which, depending how you account for them, don't always mean more money upfront.

A change of attitude if you will.

I'm very interested to see how that goes down with those in charge, it'll give us a good idea of where we are going as a football club.

 

If we can't then we might as well pack in. What's the point?

I doubt we'll appoint anyone to the board and I doubt we'll appoint anyone to the marketing department either.

We should be investing some of the Stones/FA Cup money on things like the scoreboard and electronic ticketing system to give us a basis to move forward. The rest should go to Flitcroft.

 

Give Flicker what he wants and give it a real good go next season. If we're mid table or above we're more likely to attract potential buyers.

 

Agree.

I wonder if we're the only club in the league that hasn't announced it's season ticket prices...

I'm looking forward to getting my sponsored shirt. Expecting it to turn up in a jiffy bag.

 

How could they send out renewals we didn't know until Saturday which league we were in for prices!

 

Every other club did. Including Huddersfield and Peterborough.

 

Hehe. Prophetic.

 

I expect there will be announcements with regards to the management team and STs before the weekend.

 

You're asking fans to show some faith. Do you honestly think that had we been relegated the ST price would have gone down? There would have been a freeze at best (and quite rightly so). But by buying in April it allows you to buy at this season's price (it's a common approach).

 

Blank compliments slip in the bag, half opened, stuffed through letter box.

 

I thought it was the first time you'd done a shirt sponsorship?

 

The whole structure of the club needs action now. flicker is right and we need to start behaving and operating as a championship club not a cottage industry.

From his side that obviously means the playing staff and the way we train , prepare and look after our primary assets... the players!

im sure he has also witnessed our piss poor marketing strategies and general financial lack of get up and go.

 

A couple of weeks ago someone linked to an article about German football. One of the biggest differences between their set up and ours is how much money they generate from corporate and sponsorship. A huge percentage of their income came from these initiatives. I think it would be extremely beneficial to head hunt one of these marketing managers who fancies trying their luck in England. Obviously, we're not going to get Bayern Munich's marketing manager, but clubs throughout the German league are all bringing in huge sums from sponsorship. Find someone who knows how that can be achieved and get them working for us.

 

Think you're spot on. My interpretation is that he wants the players to be treated as championship players and that will help prepare them better. To scrimp on that is a false economy and probably means you get less effort. And you can't argue based on the different approach Flitcroft has brought. The extra thousands undoubtedly spent on training facilities, hotels, travel etc (and heard Tony Coton had been brought in a few times too) has saved approx. £5m in revenue.

And that's the mindset change that needs to take place. A little bit of clever investment, a better devised strategy, better communications, more forward thinking can save and drive more revenue. It's not just extra cost if it makes a return.

And this is my biggest issue (well..one of). Yes, I know we didn't know what division we were going to be in... but why not offer Cranie a contract extension mid season, same with Mellis and so on?

The downside you could argue is that we are stuck with players on long contracts. But... because we aren't the biggest payers, most other clubs can easily come in and trump our salaries. The risk is relatively small. And if we can negotiate contracts with clauses that protect us in the event of relegation, like most other clubs do, I can't see the issue.

The players are assets and should be viewed as that and not potentially crippling costs. All we do with this short term view is do ourselves out of transfer revenue.

The Butterfield sale was an embarrassment. Stones wasn't much better and they are but just the latest before we even start on exit clauses.

We can't keep going into summers with half the squads contracts up for renewal. And if we only ever think a 2 yr contract is enough, that's exactly what we'll get.

 

"The players are assets and should be viewed as that and not potentially crippling costs. All we do with this short term view is do ourselves out of transfer revenue."

That.

 

I don't expect anything to change on those fronts...

 

Why do we need lots more money? We finished in the top 6 with the same players (in fact a few less) than Hill had.