Is the club finished?

Genuine discussion point.
Majority owned by foreign investors, who don't invest capital in the business. A ownership/board dispute waiting to be heard in court. Financial losses for 3 out of the last 4 years. The company has very few assets. Poor leadership of the company over the past 15 months, the latest debacle being associated with a imaginary currency concern from the USA. Leading to yet more negative headlines and a supporter/customer base becoming more disillusioned and dismayed.
When there are so many alternatives to spending one's time and money, is Barnsley Football Club, needed?

 

Nearly 10,000 Barnsley fans at the game Saturday says to me that if we can get it right on the pitch then no matter what is happening off the pitch the fans are still there in good numbers.

 

No.

 

I would suggest there are clubs in worse conditions than ours. I'm not suggesting we're free from risk and have no chance of folding but I think we're probably good for the foreseeable future.

 

I don't really care what goes off mate. My main gripe is that millionaire businessman won't plug a gap they created.

 

I don't think the club is finished but it needs a reset both financially and, judging from the latest actions, morally.

10,000 fans generate annual revenue of circa £2m-£2.5m. The club needs more money than that from fans alone hence the importance of having the right brand and image.

The fans are showing amazing support despite the recent debacles on and off the field. It's just such a shame that those in charge seem to have an inability to make good decisions on any subject be it sponsorship, fan experience, transfer dealings or supporter engagement.

Despite the recent sales the club is still looking at a sizeable hole in its finances, without support from the owners the prospect of administration is not remote.

 

Finally. An admission or realisation that the owners weren't going to rescue all the deficit from season ticket holders, merchandise and player sales and would have to inject some funds themselves.

 

I don’t believe looking at the images that there was 10000 there, anyone who went think it looked full enough for 10000?

 

The season ticket sales and attendance on Saturday suggest their is the necessary support to sustain a football club utilising a viable business model.
For the past three seasons the business model has not been viable. We have made substantial losses and the money has run out. There has since been a board restructure and it's yet to be seen if the model this board is operating is any more viable.

It seems to me that a professional football in the town is (needed is probably the wrong word) both desirable and sustainable. I don't know if the same can be said under its current guise and ownership. Let's hope so as starting from scratch would be very difficult.

 

There wouldn't have been. The attendance is tickets sold not attendees. Lots of season ticket holders will be on holiday. Similar attendances will be announced after the summer holidays where there are clearly more people actually there.

 

I was sat in the West Stand and the East and Ponty looked as full as I can remember seeing on the TV towards the back end of last season.
I’m sure some season ticket holders weren’t there, during the holiday season and all, but 2000 pay on the day supporters is feasible I reckon.

 

A few weeks ago I outlined what I hoped for the season. And that essentially I'd be content staying in the league, becoming solvent, or at least buying enough time to be so at the start of next season, showing progression on the pitch and that we simply instilled a base level of competence, decency and morality in the activities we undertake and the decisions we make. That would allow us to shift from talking so much about off field matters and it became about what was on the pitch.

I didn't think we could go off the rails from such a low bar of expectation so badly by week 2.

I don't think the club is finished, but I think there will be a good number who are just tired of having to battle with their consciences so often and so deeply when all they want to do is go and watch some football on a clean seat, see their friends and family and maybe have a drink and a munch of something to eat. Of course there will be others who don't see anything wrong, or wilfully choose to ignore the negatives and let downs because of the spin offs that meet their needs. And that's their choice.

But christ, it just shouldn't be this difficult all the time with the most basic things.

 

10,000 there easily for me

 

I suspect a few ST holders weren't there and were on hols, but the lower parts of the stands on the camera angles looked very sparse. Of course, the upper parts of stands can be more densely populated, but if you weren't at the ground (and maybe if you were), I can see why you'd question whether their were 10,000 in attendance.

Bit strange that the electronic advertising hoardings weren't working properly on the right side of the Ponty towards the west stand.

 

Out of 12 of us regulars/season ticket holders 6 were at a wedding 4 on holiday.

 

There can be a sell-out crowd for every game but if the Club/Company/Organisation is not being well-managed by the Owners/Investors/Partners etc then there will be problems.

I'm probably not the only one who who has concerns about what is happening at the 'top!'

 

Yeah get that they are counted and loads will be on holiday but it looked very sparse, I don’t think we ever announced how many season tickets were sold? Last I remember we passed 6000 I think

 

I think Mido kicked a ball at one and it stopped them working properly. Made a lovely noise though.
Seemed to be an intermittent fault to be fair as they came back on by the end of the first half then a different bit stopped working second half.