Billy Bean + new CEO

I was just wondering if Billy Bean has actually been to a game this past season. The media gave all the hype about his connection but I've not even seen an interview or tweet involving barnsley at all.

Also in regards to a new CEO i think coming upto six months since the official announcement GG was leaving and we still have no one in post. Surely this time of year is when one is needed most overseeing sponsors contracts and raising revenues and identifying players in consultations with other staff.

 

Somebody's doing a good job with the contract extensions

 

Don't know for certain of course, but every time I've seen him, Paul Conway seems to be very heavily involved.
Never had the pleasure of meeting him, but it appeared to me, that he's fully committed to the concept.
I suppose you could say that everyone on the board should feel the same way, because they hold an investment, but
he seems to be slightly different, more hands on if you like.

We were originally told that until a new CEO was appointed, he would take up those responsibilities. On matchdays, he can be seen flitting between different areas of the Stadium, presumably checking that everything is going as well as it
can be, because improving the fans matchday experience is one of the new owners main priorities.

Yes he's bothered about the commercial aspects of the Club, but he comes over as genuinely concerned that the
fans are also happy. I've seen him at home games, stop to chat to supporters near to the Club shop a couple of times and his presence at away fixtures has not gone unnoticed. He appears to be a shrewd businessman,but I honestly believe that deep down, having now become more closely involved, he's also become a genuine Reds fan and until such times as a new CEO is unveiled , he will continue to do a good job covering in that role.

 

Wow, had to go fetch my glasses and reread this post, a truely positive post about the owners (not a pop at you).
Rare as hens teeth, nice to see for a change.

 

Big believer in what can't speak can't lie, or actions speak louder than words LK. Our Grace and Chien Lee have been
seen at games, but the latter seems to be more concerned with Nice, whilst Paul Conway is very visibly heavily involved at Oakwell.

To promote the business I was in, I came into contact with " marketeers". Their mantra was,if you are not fully
committed and enthusiastic in what you are doing, don't bother trying, because you will not succeed.


With what we saw last season, allied to present attempts to tie key players down to longer contracts and the prospects
of some new additions coming in, personally, I can't be anything but hopefully upbeat at the prospects of "us " being able to look forward to our return to the Championship.

 

Maybe Conway plans to permanently leave California to live in tarn In all seriousness since he's been a stop gap in the Ganaye role he can't be faulted. He's kept us running smoothly leading to a promotion and we've already had a few contract extentions.

 

I think that there was a lot of suspicion and speculation regarding the motives for the purchase of the club,there haven't really been any huge improvements to the stadium or so called matchday experience, then of course there was Morias !!
We're still none the wiser really are we ?
Our promotion season has done a great deal to lift the mood and in the appointment of Stendel the club definitely got it right, I'm encouraged that we haven't jumped straight in to appoint a new CEO as it indicates a more measured approach than when we went for Morais.
Never seen Paul Conway at Oakwell but to hear that he's engaging with the fans and may have become a fan of the club, the town and the support doesn't surprise me.
I'm Barnsley born and bred but haven't lived there for most of my adult life, I travel around quote a lot in my job and rose tinted specs aside I can tell you that our town, club and it's people are amongst the friendliest, most straight talking and most humorous I've found. Think anyone who spends any time to get to know us would find it difficult not to be a fan of our club.

 

Well said, spot on pal

 

Morais was a forced appointment - the board likely expected the rat Hecky to stick around, him having just accepted a new contract. Trying to find a suitable replacement at short notice mid-season, it's understandable why they would appoint somebody with the qualifications of Morais.

The matchday experience has seen improvement, particularly in the family area, so I wouldn't agree at all that we are none the wiser about the owners' intentions at all.

 

Don't really want to debate who we could or couldn't have employed after the rat Hecky but there were a good few managers with Championship experience available at the time who may have kept us up. For me Morias was a punt that didn't work but that's history now and we move on.
Did a much better job when targeting Stendel who again was an unknown entity to us and the football league but they obviously did their homework a bit better second time around.
As for the match day experience I sit in the East Stand and can't see how very much has changed but I suppose that options are fairly limited. I'm not complaining, just saying that I can't see any differences from what my experience has been under PC to what it is now.
I'm still in the dark as to why a Chinese billionaire would buy an English football club at the lower end of the second tier in a town which had it's heart ripped out by the tories and has struggled to recover ever since. I'd love to hear a statement of intent so we know where we're going thats all.

 

Beane as I understand it is a minor shareholder and isn’t likely to take a huge interest in the day to day.

Paul Conway is different - and as a stop gap for the ceo he’s not done too badly has he?

We will lose Davies, which would have happened regardless, but if we keep everyone else, recruitment shouldn’t be a massive job. Some will come in.

 

Because we were one of the few clubs left worth investing in.

What appeal do clubs like Blackburn, Burnley and Wigan have that we don't?

Yes, Barnsley could be seen as a deprived area, as could my own locality, which was also dependant on coal mining, so a successful football club wouldn't go amiss in improving the profile.

What more of a statement of intent do you need that an automatic promotion in your first full season as an owner?

 

Beane works alongside Cryne is what Conway once said.

 

To me , statements of intent are not dissimilar to any political parties manifesto. At the time pledges are made, there are so many unknown future factors that could serve to undermine you, that if things do go wrong, it is probably inevitable that mistrust, criticism, frustration and disaffection will usually ensue.

It's much better to drip feed information when you are sure that your goals are achievable, or alternatively don't say anything. That way, you avoid alienating anyone who's aspirations you have happened to raise on the back of any perceived promise(s).

 

Imagine if Mr Lee said "Europe in 5 years"

If I owned the football club, I would make only one promise - 'I will do my best'. That's all you can do, and it's less likely to be be used as a stick to beat you at a later date.

 

Totally agree FT. Look at the mess Boris has got himself into over a " promise" he probably knew was undeliverable.
Empty rhetoric , or just saying what you think people want to hear, doesn't serve any useful purpose.

I've been reading a biography on the late Liverpool manager Bob Paisley. He said that when talking to
the Board, he never gave them false hope by making any empty promises. Cloughie was the same.

Their success was built on making sure they only signed players that they had total confidence in and who knew
their way round a football pitch. Graeme Souness had been at Liverpool for a matter of days and nobody had told
him how he was expected to play. He therefore approached the boss to ask. Paisley fixed with him with a withering
stare and told him, that he hadn't spent a fortune on him, to now have to tell him how he should play.


He'd been impressed with his efforts at Middlesbrough, so all he asked him to do, was to interact with the talent around him, get involved and enjoy himself. That way, instead of making any empty promises to the Board and the fans, Paisley knew that he had the collective talent at his disposal, to bring success to the Club.

 

Im not disputing Paul Conways efforts i just find it strange six months on we've not nailed the position. I would even have thought James cryne could have learnt the position pretty quickly from within and free paul conways time up too.

 

Simple he brought the club because it was debt free.

 

I would hope they have a suitable candidate in mind DR. Might be that they could be waiting for whoever it is,
to serve notice to leave their current role. Depending on the levels of responsibility, some employers can insist
on anywhere between three and six months notice being served.

Alternatively, they might have already lined up their targets regarding incoming players and are content to let Paul
Conway and James Cryne finalise those deals, as well as the new contracts for existing squad members.
That way , as thrifty businessmen, they are saving part of a salary, prior to any new person coming in, in readiness
for the new season.

 

Having considered Brentford and Middlesbrough as potential investments, they must have been absolutely delighted
to discover that in Barnsley FC's case, the saying " if something looks too good to be true, it usually is", certainly didn't apply.

Due to the prudent financial management of our late owner, they acquired a solvent Club with the potential to develop. Must have been a right blow when we were relegated, but now we're back where we belong, their plans can now hopefully begin to evolve in earnest.