Questions for Dane Murphy

What would be the likely outcome if for any reason no supporters were were allowed entry for the full season? 249 is a lot of money for very little return. Even for only half a season of football, in truth.

 

1) When would you expect larger gatherings to happen again at Oakwell at a rough guess?

2) Will fans be able to get a refund if some of the offers such as iFollow don't happen?

3) What plans will be put in place to make sure iFollow can cope with the increase in demand so there is no lag on coverage?

4) Is the 25% capacity idea branded about in the press something you'd do for your own season pass holders or do you believe it should be nobody or everybody who's allowed?

5) Why haven't you offered fans the chance to pay in monthly interest free installments?

 

It’s understood that for games played behind closed doors members will get to view home and away games on iFollow. How does this work for those that share households? For example if 3 adults buy from the same household that’ll be around £750 minimum for effectively a iFollow membership. Would these people be eligible for some kind of refund if this was the case?

I would imagine that the number of households that have more than one season ticket holder is pretty high.

 

The club is asking supporters to gamble a considerable sum of money with the potential for nothing in return. On top of this the club is applying emotional pressure to supporters to forego a refund for matches not played. What finances are the owners planning on putting in to their company during this period?

What pay cuts did senior management at the club take? Same question regarding players.

 

Given that the club owners, according to their recent letter to the EFL, are concerned about the "potential failure of their enterprise", what guarantee can the budding next season ticket buyer be supplied with by the club to reassure them that their outlay won't simply lead to a loss of their money ?

 

Why can’t supporters watch zoom when the questions are posed?

 

It sounds like the club will have lost a large sum of money this season. The last time that we played in League 1, the club lost around £3m, That sum will be dwarfed by our losses this time around, assuming we are relegated at the end of the season. The traditional way that the club copes with that situation is to sell playing assets, but it is likely that the marketplace will have been disrupted this time because of Covid19 and the shutdown, and that route could even be closed. Just how much trouble is the club likely to be in next season, and how does the board and owners intend to manage those adverse conditions.

I am a fan of more than 50 years and I would hate to lose my club. Because of that, I have already renewed my season ticket for 2020-21 season. However, there will be many others who will not, and that can only increase the cash flow problems for the club. How can you reassure the doubters and ensure that they dig deep for the club that we all love?

 

You have made a lot of promises of an extra this or an extra that if people buy tickets. If someone buys the reserved plus ticket they're promised a shirt, an NHS shirt, name on captains armband, in tunnel, ifollow match videos for behind closed doors games etc.
Last season you sold tickets with promises of benefits in return. This was found to be false promises so what can you say to supporters reluctant to believe these new premises are ever likely to happen?

 

Might be but adds to the closed book our new owners seem to have. Was just an odd paradox to see give us questions for other people to ask when zoom is quite an open forum.

 

Has the club used the CBILS / any other government funding?

what has it used this money for?

have the owners put in additional cash injections to assist with cash flows? If not, why not.

 

Do they take any pride in our results on the field? Or do results only matter due to the financial implications they then bring?

It seems to me that the owners are solely focussed on the amount of money relegation/promotion is worth, rather than the actual thrill of winning football games.

 

Hey Gally. Listen back to the recording I made of the meeting with Dane. Listen to the question asking how much of the money we'd made from player sales has been used on the new recruits.
Dane says about 95%
But he quantifies that. That 95% not only covers the transfer fees for the players, it also covers their wages for the entire duration of their contracts. You'll be able to give the exact quote.
If most player wages are covered for the next three or four years then that would give us plenty of capital at the moment to ride out this current period.
So why the stories in the press that we're running out of money?
Does Dane still stand by those comments at the previous meeting?
I'd probably start with this one.

 

I buy a car therefore I own it.
If it breaks down it is my responsibility to repair it. If it gets dirty I have to clean it. I have to spend money to put petrol in it to keep it on the road. Etc etc.
Did the current owners of BFC buy it to let it fall apart or do they have the same responsibilties as me to keep my car on the road ?

 

Why should I part with my money?

What happens to the club if I don't?

How much does the club make out of me if I decline the season ticket offer and watch via iFollow instead?

 

How can we get the Miami Vice look on a lockdown budget?

 

I've just bought my season ticket as the club appears to need our support right now.

However I was planning / had budgeted for supporting you with another £150 or so.

Given that the club may have some financial difficulties with the 30% or so reduction in income - how do I best make sure I do my bit to keep the club in business, make sure we have the right players and make sure we progress this coming season without having folk rattling buckets outside the ground for another rescue package.

How do you want me to spend my extra £150 with the club.