Last summer's transfer window

The trouble is, we signed them whilst in the Championship. And as we currently sit in the bottom 3, therefore it's a disaster.

They may come good in League One, but people are just guessing. But they were signed to compete in the Championship, by a club that "wasn't worried about relegation".

 

It's an interesting point regarding those two teams. But to counter your argument, after a defeat away to the Blunts (after a fairly successful run that's generated a bit of hope in an otherwise bleak season), we now have people coming out saying double relegation is on the cards again, and I don't think that will happen. I think Loko is right in that our budget and facilities will help us in League 1. It won't guarantee an immediate return to the Championship, far from it. But we will be well placed to stave off relegation when compared to at least half the league. And I don't think we'll lose the 10+ players that people are projecting, and I don't think we'll sink like a stone. It will be a rebuild year. And I think for Poya's sake and ours, he probably needs to leave with dignity come May. A struggling season in league 1 with Poya at the helm doesn't bear thinking about.

 

I understand that, but I'm responding in relation to the claim that we will lose all our players and go straight down again to league two. Some players perform on confidence. Look at Brittain and Walton, two players that someone in this thread claims 'wouldn't play them in the Sunday league'. If we'd gone up to the Prem last year those same people would probably be saying we should give Brittain a go in the Prem because he's earnt it. We signed Brittain and he was flying from the start, he's now poor in comparison. The opposite could happen next year with Benson if we go down - maybe that's his level?

 

It would make a big difference in terms of me renewing my season ticket. Since 1966 I've endured many downs in terms of my relationship with the club, but I've genuinely never thought something shady was going on (if it wasn't so, then they should provide a proper explanation). As others have pointed out, their 'business model' might stand more of a chance if it wasn't run on what I term a 'casino' basis, where any aspiration in terms of building a competitive team is sacrificed to the premise that, if you spin the wheel often enough, you might end up hitting the jackpot. Desperate stuff, and I would honestly prefer to be in a lower division than endure the futility of the current set up.

 

Irrespective of contract situations I reckon we will lose most, probably all of the following if we are relegated;

Collins
Helik
Mads
Styles
Woodrow
Morris
Kane
Plus none of the crop of loanees would return

 

Yes I would probably agree with most of that though I feel a max exodus is almost inevitable. I would be very surprised if more than 2 who started yesterday will be lining for us in L1.

When we go down I don’t see us getting relegated again. I think we will start poorly and then meander to mid table when the dust settles. It will be a rebuild and a significant one. Whether we go forward or backwards from there depends on who we manage to attract.

 

That’s my view. I’ve pretty much decided it will be away games only for me.

 

Do we have a 'top eight' budget taking into account the financial mess we are apparently in, and the probable plunge in season ticket revenue? And owners who won't invest? Can't see it myself.

 

Money?

 

i can’t see us paying a fee for anyone this summer. I think people who think we will be big hitters financially are in for a bit of a rude awakening.

 

you would imagine us to have lost 10 million over the last 2 seasons and with a severe reduction in income to come I’m not sure why people think we will be spending our way out of the division.

 

I think everyone realises what we’re up against financially. Just look at last season, so that blows it all out of the water. However the owners complete lack of understanding of the club & football in general, to suggest last season was unsuccessful because we didn’t sell any players is a disgrace to be quite honest. And to moan about how much it cost us to play in the play offs, well that just tells you everything you need to know.

Last seasons success presented us with an opportunity this season to kick on & start establishing ourselves in this league & build to something bigger. But that lack of understanding I talk about & the owners inability to alter a plan that was never going to work at this level has set us back years.

It won’t be a quick return to this league like last time, it’s going to take us years to come back to this level, but by then we’ll be even smaller as a club & will definitely struggle to establish ourselves.

 

But if we sell Collins, Helik, Styles, Woodrow etc we would have plenty in the coffers. It would be counterproductive to also sell Kane for an extra 750k when he will be essential to our midfield engine in league 1.

 

Baffled how we’ll have a top 8 budget in L1? We are trying to claw back a £4m loss and will lose £6m in revenue just by going down. Add on the loss of 5k season tickets and I can see our budget being bottom half to be honest.

 

You have more faith than me. Without doubt.

 

Unless we move people on we will have a top 8 budget by default it’s why a fire sale seems inevitable

 

I don't think anyone has suggested that cash, or having one of the biggest budgets automatically equals success. You stated that 'budgets mean little' and that's all I was disagreeing with.

And I wouldn't ever base my own club's trajectory on how much cash we have or don't have. I'm not partaking in a debate about what will happen regards incomings and outgoings this summer, or whether we'll be promoted next season. Because as it stands, there are eight games left of the current season and, most importantly, I have absolutely no idea who will stay, who we'll sign or what division we will be in. So it'd be pure speculation and I just don't understand the point of it.

Others in this thread believe this season is already over, and beyond that even, they're willing to predict doom next season too. I often wonder why folk with that mindset support BFC. Because whilst I've been lucky enough to live through arguably the most 'glorious' years of the club's 135-year existence, I've experienced way more defeats than I have wins. I've seen us relegated four times. Seen us in administration. Seen us constantly sell our best players. Never seen us spend big money.

 

All fair points and while I think relegation is almost a certainty I don’t think we will drop further next season and wouldn’t expect you to discuss work on here.

Your last statement is completely disingenuous. We have always sold the odd player to survive and no one will argue with that as you say it’s always been done. To base your whole focus on making money from player sales rather than any notion of sporting progress or achievement is a relatively new thing.

 

All this talk of big budgets. If we have one of the bigger budgets then the club needs £10m capital to survive.

Do people think the owners are up for a £10m injection? Unless players are moved on for significant sums the club is in a very sticky position. The club went in to admin for just over £2m, admittedly when turnover was only £5m.

Maybe Chien et al will change their operating model and start use their capital. Without it the future looks pretty bleak regardless of which division we are in.

Projected losses of £12m in four years does not look like a sustainable model.