I think the problem is that we and our chairman want different things. We're looking up the league, we want to at least be in the second string. We want to be a force to be reckoned with again. But that's not GS's main concern. He and PC are looking to make us self sufficient. They're trying to sort out an almighty mess and it looks like they've decided that any further injection of cash is financial folly. If being self-sufficient means hanging around the middle of this division for a few years hoping to drop on a decent side for next to nothing then so be it. If paying for itself means the club dropping another division and finding its true level then that's the way the cookie crumbles. Of course that's not the official line and it's better to say nothing than to lie. Come the time for season ticket renewals the projected number of die-hards will still be queueing at the box office clutching their hard earned cash and trading words of optimism for the coming season. Or will they? Oh, they'll be there alright but will they be there in the numbers projected? How many who have had the same seat for years have you heard say, "Enough is enough" recently? I think it's ok to make assumptions when you've played at the same level since before some ST holders were born but we're in decline and it's a vicious circle, lower gates = less cash for playing staff = performances like last night = lower gates and so on until we level out somewhere more suited to little old Barnsley. I think our days of pride and passion are over for the forseeable future. Unless we're very lucky and manage to dig out a few diamonds of our own (and it looks like that's going to have to include a decent manager) on a shoestring then we're going to have to lower our expectations. Whether the resulting turnstile income will be enough to keep us from dropping out of the league altogether remains to be seen.
Good summary and as good an explanation of why I've not been to a game for weeks as anyone could write. my expectation is to spend my time and money on other things until Cryne and Shepherd change their strategy. or I'll see you in 2010/11 season.
RE: Good summary It is a good summary. I have no confidence in this situation being turned around by the regime we currently have in charge. And I have never wanted rid of anyone at this club before, apart from Kevin Donovan. Our current league postion isn't a disaster ... but that may not be the case in a few months. I can feel the club imploding ... and I can see us going into a lengthy 'footballing ice age' - by which time I'll be too old to get really drunk before & after the matches. It's the responsibility of the chairman.
Asking for investment would be a start. and Im not talking about buying a wire brush to get the rust off the East Stand bog trough, or food parcels for the needy playing staff. we need to concentrate on what matters, football. I'll help where I can, perhaps starting with drafting an application for residential planning permission for the Academy pitches.
Great expectations That's the problem, we all want to be where Sheff Utd are now, but because we aren't we're taking the proverbial ball home until someone comes in and spends big again. Maybe it's us that need to wake up? Maybe GS and PC have it bang on, perhaps the only way is to get out of this financial mess first. Trouble is many of us don't like that idea, we want instant success. I Agree with Mill Hill - the Premiership spoiled us and turned us into the arrogant fans we like to slag off Wednesdayites for being. The Donny Rovers fans must be laughing in their caravans and rightly so. We are bitter, twisted and delusioned generally, and saying you won't watch them until someone splashes the cash is the worst kind of attitude that will virtually guarantee the club well and truly dies. Not having a go at you or anyone in particular, that was a good piece and I think you hit the nail on the head about different expectations between management and the fans. I don't agree that therefore the pride and passion must be over however. Why we can't we have pride and passion watching a mediocre Div 2 club? We did it for years when I was a kid.
RE: Great expectations I remember when it was 10 bob to get in as well. free at half time. its between 19 and 22 quid these days. I'm loyal in the sense I could never support another team, but the thought of another 10 years in the wilderness of Leagues 1 and 2 whilst teams around us are moving forward makes me question if cutting our cloth to get self sufficient is, well, worth it. my old man never goes, hasnt been for 20 years. I never thought that could happen to me...but, well, it can.
RE: Great expectations I agree on the cost side, I can't understand the pricing policy either. So you have a point I didn't consider - if they want us fans to adjust to lower standard of football then adjust the prices accordingly. Sounds fair.
RE: Great expectations Ok to a certain extent, but I have to ask a question about the fans wanting instant success. Can we clarify what is meant by 'instant' ? We were relegated in the 1997/1998 season (I think) and since then have been to all intents and purposes in decline. That relegation season is now seven years ago and isn't quite 'instant' anymore. I agree with some of your post and probably started watching Barnsley a couple of years after you (I think you were a couple of years ahead of me at the Oaks). During that time I watched some excellent soccer and some *****, but still remained loyal as I could always just about find the cash to go to the games. The trouble is that now the fans are expected to pay a bloody good whack to watch ***** and I can understand their frustration. I don't think this is all down to fans expectations and them necessarily wanting instant success. Yes they want success, but more important I think they want the direction of the club to change so that there is light at the end of the tunnel. If improvement is possible I think most fans would sit it out for the long haul and be patient in the hope of eventual success. However, these days there isn't really any light at the end of the tunnel and we have seen seven years of decline. There really does need to be a change if the club are to progress. Windy's bit about the expectations of the club management and the fans being poles apart is spot on. The club need to recognise this and at least consider the fans when making decisions as not all fans will be a cash cow that can be milked for ever. Without things like kids for a quid there will be no new blood to replace disillusioned old farts like myself. Hope all that lot makes some sense.
Ah but. We're not a division 2 club. We're division 3 and struggling at that. I suppose my point is that I don't beieve this strategy will work, I think it could kill us. I think the potential fall in revenue over the next few seasons could be greater than the investment needed to halt the decline. I think they've taken the riskier road. It's down to how far you think you can push the die-hards and I think they've got it wrong. There's no reason why the hundreds of fans who post on this board should be generally any different to the thousands who don't and if I were GS or PC I'd be taking the growing, "I've had enough" lobby very seriously. As it is I don't think they're listening.
RE: Ah but. exactly - I wasn't going to go last night....but then half an hour before kick off I got that all too regular guilty feeling about not going which I always get, and succumbed as usual.....but that was definately the last straw, I will NOT be attending any more league cup/DAF cup matches in the future as it has been a case of the straw that broke the camels back. I very nearly didn't renew my season ticket this year, but read as above and succumbed - next year if this continues I wouldn't be so sure in myself. I consider myself one of the 'Die Hards' you refer to and i would estimate about half of us must feel the same as me, season ticket sales next year may well be down - I would prob hate myself for it, but I just can't justify the expense at the moment and more than that feel as though they are takin the **** and it has to stop.
easily your most intelligent post ever i hate to admit it but i agree with everything you say. i reckon PC said, "ok this is the 2nd and last time i bail you out. i'll only do it this time if you make yourself self-sufficient". i don't blame him either
Then again... perhaps he just cannot takeover the club himself at the minute as Isoft needs him. For me, more risk management should have been done when Ridsdale took over..ie checks and balances on what he was doing. Info has it that Cryne wanted Wilson, but Shep wanted Ritchie so as to make it easier to turn the finances around. Shep got his way, but at what cost?
i dunno i try and play devils advocate when everyone goes apeshit at the club and manager but i'm starting to worry. i get the impression that GS is firefighting rather than being able to lead the club. not a criticism of him, more an impression i get
RE: Great expectations S.M, you want the directors to invest their money, large amounts of it in BFC, basically you want them to give their money away as no-one makes anything out of football, yet you yourself will not put your hand in your pocket for £20 every two weeks. That works doesn't it.