We can all sit here getting angry about how the club is currently being run but the truth is, quite simply, it is just how it is. And no amount of fan protest and squabbling is going to change that. Anyone who thought the new owners/investors were buying the club as a plaything, with the intention of propelling our little club into the highest realms of English football were living in cuckoo land. They're business people. They are here to bolster and diversify their portfolios. They are here, ultimately, to make money too. And our recent track record of turning over a nice profit sits very comfortably with them. It's what attracted them here in the first place. But that approach will not work in the Championship. League One, maybe. Championship? Definitely not. The Championship is the Premier League MKII. To compete, you need to spend and probably run at a loss. Unfortunately, our club will never carry the leverage to be run like many other clubs (the football finance bubble will burst eventually, though). However, while ever the current board are in charge, we will continue with the same philosophy. In the end, I believe they will pass the club on. Probably sooner than we even expect. I am just as annoyed as the next supporter (remember we are supporters, we offer support to the club when things are not going well). I think the spreadsheet is nonsense. Of course, it finds a few gems. But there have been many many others who were not gems. But stats never tell the full story. You could stick me up front for some tinpot club in a tinpot league on the other side of the world and I can bet I could get at least a couple to bounce in off the back of my head. Doesn't mean I'm a great goalscorer, though. I'd bin the spreadsheet tomorrow. Invest in a scouting department. Invest in facilities. Invest in the academy. You can't even blame the players. Many of them that have been brought in (dare I say most?) are not good enough to play in the Championship. They must know they aren't good enough, and that is when heads drop and we get smashed 5-1. They know, they're not stupid. I don't blame Stendel. He's the best thing at the club and if we don't give him what he wants then we risk losing him. We WILL be relegated, too. The top and bottom of it is that the club is run as a business. While many of us like to think our natural level is in the Championship, I don't think it is any longer. We are a top half League One club. We might have the occasional run in the Championship, but long term we can't compete. I know what I am doing when I pay my money on a Saturday afternoon. I go to go games now because I still enjoy watching football. If we win or lose, my life will go on. I understand the situation. I'll still buy a t shirt. Nothing will change in January. Expect more kids. I see glimpses from a couple, and I feel sorry for them. 20 years old up against seasoned pros. Their manager desperately barking orders at them (out of passion, the bloke cares just as much as us). When I was 20 I was still a kid. Chances are, we will be in League One again next year. And that is disappointing. But maybe that is just our level. If you can't accept what our club is these days, spend your money more wisely. We live in difficult times and it makes sense to keep your money. I hope for an upturn in fortunes but I just think it will only delay the inevitable. We are a League One club.
Why do you think clubs of a similar size in Luton and Charlton don’t feel it necessary to follow some grand plan but won’t run at a massive loss? I’m probably at the point where I will buy a ST in L1 but pick and choose in the Championship as the enjoyment level seems to hover around 0.
It's not a grand plan. Our wage structure can attract players that are either 1) young, 2) terrible, or 3) both. Question is can they update the wage structure to attract decent, experienced players, whilst the club still lives within its means?
Hopefully these owners will find a formula to make money and make our club successful. I would love to keep watching my club in the Championship every week but as long as this isn’t possible we keep our league status whatever happens . I among a few others on here have been going when we had crowds of four and five thousand and on occasions less . If the Championship is at last getting beyond our means without putting the existence of the club at risk so be it as far as I’m concerned I’ll still go . What we had in Patrick Cryne was someone who would have made sure the club functioned as a league club as the bare minimum, I don’t want the club put at risk for anything and if it means selling players to do so fair enough imo. It’s nothing new as far as I’m concerned I watched the Sales of Mick Butler,Stewart Barraclough , Anton Otulakowski, etc etc to keep the club going and I’ll do it again . All those that say they will abandon the club if the owners do this or that is up to them , We have done well over the years to survive as we have without attracting the big money of other club and their investors , some even on the brink of going bust . A lot of these will be saved because of their ability to make money in future but clubs such as us or Bury could be the e d for us . I’m not wishing for a spending spree we can’t sustain nor do I think these owners will put their own money in and not expect anything in return . If this club has to learn to survive on player sales, attendance revenue and whatever tv money we get then we need to start putting in the foundations and not have to depend on hoping money people who have no affinity to our club or town . If they’re investing then invest but don’t put us at risk with it .
Aren't the owners of all clubs business people? Just because you're in business, it doesn't mean you have to become a robotic money magnet and upset everyone along the way. Spend loads or spend nothing? That seems to be people's argument, but why can't there be something in between?? You can't have a business if your product is utter ***** and you're alienating your most loyal customers. They're surely devaluing the club with their antics?
