Season after season of asset stripping and a managed decline have brought us to this. BFC is dying

I said ‘tried’ to live within their means.

There is a huge difference between propping up a club making losses, and purposely losing money with ridiculous wages to turnover percentages.

 

I like Phillips when he’s involved, but he’s in and out like a fiddlers elbow isn’t he? I’m not sure he could get away with that at a higher level, or his lack of any genuine pace, unless he has much better players looking after him.

BFC in league one is the best he’s regularly managed to date in his career. Does he have another gear?

 

What makes you think developers want to build in the Oakwell area? There's been the old school site and the old brewery site available for years now; the only thing developing is weeds.

 

Nothing makes me think that.
I was explaining early in the thread what I thought 'they' (other posters) might be implying.

 

Definitely edging their bets here.

 

Well he isn't Knorr because he's got no know how.

 

I think like Russell (and I like them both) they appear lazy.
Imho we can accommodate one but not two of this kind of player in midfield.
Technically both good players and one capable of wonder goals but we just can't play two of this type.

 

I agree. Two slow paced players in a team that’s not blessed with pace anywhere really.

 

Progression as a club examples. Why they exist is a separate debate but here are the things i see not progressing. Maybe some going backwards.

1. Development of the ground. Whoever owns it there should be some leadership in developing the infrastructure. Seems some parts are genuinely deteriorating and no longer accessible.

2. The social facilities on game day. An example is to move outdoors for the fans social club from Redfearns. Surely progression would be to have developed something for modern ages. It was even better 40 years ago.

3. Car parking. It is a constant issue that access in and out is a significant issue, unpleasant and one which is worse now.

4. Comms from club. I am not a big champion of them telling us everything. However the information to fans seems inconsistent and infrequent. In an age where we have online tech we seem to communicate less. Maybe its just perception but club officials ie CEO seemed more visible in the previous eras than today.

5. Changes for kids ST prices.

6. Game day experience basics. Scoreboard, concourse facilities, prices.

7. Replica shirts and merchandise. Store content and switch to modern online access seems to have been poor.

8. Open day event. Even in recent times during Wilsons second spell we had a good family day or two. Seems now its half hearted and lacking in content.

Ill add a few on the playing front:-

1. So we were proud of the Championship status being our most common position in the football ladder. Are we improving on this or moving back to the average being tier 3?

2. Relative for the time and era, are we signing players in the current pool with the same standing and quality as Redfearn, DeZeouw, Hignett, Ward, etc. We didn't improve last season and not so this player for player.

3. Have we developed players from Academy recently or even found young players that going forward command and secure a 1m price tag, maybe 500k say? The value of footballers has progressed massively but our ability to secure these 5-10m players seems to have gone.

I could go on. There are of course valid reasons for this and maybe some excuses too. But my point isnt why, its just to state facts as i see them.

It would now only be fair to ask you to share your examples of what you appreciate as the things that the club have progressed and moved forwards. I respect balanced views.

 

Not sure where that's going Andy. The council own the structures and land. And are basically landlords. The football club are tenants.

 

Who owns the brewery and houses, is that the council or club?

 

'some are trying to make'

 

Not sure who owns the brewery but there's piece of land between the brewery and Harborough Hills the council wanted to unlock the development potential of the area and this is owned by Sam Smiths, presumably to block expansion of the Brewery when it was owned by John Smiths. Sam Smiths are still clinging on to it even though the Brewery has long been flattened.

 

They’re obviously not trying to kill the club. if they were they wouldn’t be pumping millions in every year to keep it running.

I also don’t think they’re particularly inept at running a football club. I just think running a football club is extremely difficult, bordering on impossible. Especially if you’re trying to reduce the need for you to pump in millions every year.

 

I'd be curious to see how much other clubs have spent relative to us over the last 3 seasons who are considered challengers for the playoffs. I don't disagree that its not easy. It's even more difficult if you don't have a robust strategy and genuinely talented people at the helm.

It's noble that they are lumping in millions and millions... But it's also stupid to do so in the way they are doing it and the result it is having.

Given they are putting money in as equity and they clearly do want to get promoted, there's an argument you just say, right, 2 years, lets spend 5 years of investment and try and gain an advantage. It's higher risk, but I think they might win people over. I'm not sure I'd advocate it necessarily, but this death by a million cuts isn't very enjoyable, and looking st the half empty stands despite people paying fir their seats... It seems its not an uncommon sentiment.

The longer we stay in league 1, the longer they burn through £5-8m a year to stand still at best, the harder its going to be to get promotion and the bigger the losses they'll incur. I don't know how much play money parekhs dad has given him, but he's getting through it pretty quickly.

 

Worrying that some posters on here who appear to understand the mechanics of business far better than most of us say the figures don't add up. add to this the over inflated squad size which is clearly an avenue to cut costs as is the over inflated coaching team and 2 + 2 starts not to = 4. lots could be done in these areas to cut costs but appear to get worse not better. I've said on here recently that in my opinion Clarke isn't managing as we don'took any different to the way Collins played and got sacked for,so who's pulling the strings.We shy away from any manager who would be strong and want to control the team, I've long felt this is why Duff jumped ship. Also despite posters listing many decent free championship level players being available during transfer periods we end
up with a squad which still puts square pegs in round holes. It's not difficult to see why the OP thinks there's something going on because if there isn't this lot are inept to a criminal level.

 

It was always going to be a tough ask to get promoted this season.

Birmingham throwing money at promotion
Wrexham similar and with a manager who knows how to win promotion
Huddersfield strong squad
Rotherham looked like they had recruited well but not so much now.
And teams like Mansfield and Stockport on the up

We have a half decent side not one I think is capable of promotion mid table at best missed our chance under duffs failed promotion and had a hangover since.

 

We need some one in at the top end of the club who knows how to run a football club on a daily basis.

 

I’d say Brum, Wrexham, Wycombe & Hudds are looking nailed on as top four. Bolton are sure to make play offs too with strength of their squad which leaves only one place. Stockport have been impressive recently and are a club on the up, they’ll be thereabouts. We’re one of a whole host of other clubs trying to sneak in I reckon. January recruitment is key….if we’re not to far behind by then looking at our next few games.

 

Forgot about Bolton tbh they will be there abouts come end of season. Xmas period looks tough for us and with Clarke and the current strike force I can see us dropping to mid table so yes January will be big. I didn't expect much from us this season if I'm honest.