The Official structured dialogue meeting thread

He had to do that anyway, he knew that when he bought the club, how much he spends on them is up to him, I want to know about WTF has happened with the signing of players and managers and why are we in the situation we are in. He may well have answered those questions but nothing has been posted about that yet so I'll wait to hear what was said.
While I’d also be interested in hearing answers to those questions it does strike me that it’s a bit like asking “Well which fecking idiot left the stable door open then?”.

And won’t achieve very much apart from providing further ammunition to the moaners. Maybe the focus now should be on rounding up the horses rather than everyone standing around shouting at each other, finger pointing and apportioning blame?

That said the questions are perfectly valid.
 
Yeah, I'm sure there'll be some hangover, but with the number of loans and out of contract players we don't need to carry a large legacy. The in contract players or the ones we take options on will include a number of our more saleable assetts (probs Grimmy, Marvin, Gabriel and Jerry) or future salable assets (e.g. Lyons, Carey) - the baggage we carry forward will be contingent on the quality or otherwise of the recruitment in summer.

The non playing staff are a drop in the ocean (aside from Big bad ben obvs) generally in the overall budget. Don't forget, Badlan replaces John Stephenson and Critch ran quite a large coaching staff that included an experienced manager within it, so it's possible future costs there would be less compared to 2020/21. The only 'extra' staff I'm aware of (as full time appointments) would be the other lad from Cov and Sean Mcginley in the media job. I'd be suprised if any of the non playing staff outside the manager and the CEO were paid the kind of wages that would trouble the average footballer.

The academy stuff doesn't make any income (outwith player sales) so you'd likely not budget for that based on league performance in the same way you would the cost of the first team squad - i.e. if your plan is based on player development, you can't afford for that plan to be contingent on league position as the league position is bound to fluctuate, especially at the level of spending we're at - relegation at some point is an almost certainty somewhere along the line...

I think the key point is - if every club in League 1 ran to break even (i know they don't but...) we'd be maybe about 8th in terms of spending based on the crude measure of crowd size whereas in the Championship we're competing against clubs with bigger crowds AND legacy money from the Prem - arguably we should be able to get get near to break even AND compete much easier in League 1.

Whether I'm talking shit or not, we won't know till a) we get relegated (we're not down yet!!!) and b) till we can compare the accounts for this year and next year, but that won't be till summer 2025!

Relegation will be a football tragedy, but I'm not convinced it will be a financial one. If we're losing 4m+ in the championship with (minumum) 7m extra income, we're actually losing more than we generally lost in league one, including NAPM (1.4m loss in 2017 and 2.1m loss in 2018 according to accounts) and Covid seasons (where the income was lower again) - therefore, actually, LEague 1 next time, with crowds and hopefully a promotion challenge and so on, we could well do better in terms of the balance sheet alone.

I think the point is - the development etc shouldn't be contingent on where we are in the league as the insane finances of football swallow the additional benefits of promotion as the cost of treading water is much higher in the championship as compared to competing in LEague 1... so Sadler's investment total for stadium and training ground will likely not alter unless we get to the Premier League and win the 100m lottery (and don't bother to compete)
I think you would be amazed at how many non-playing staff there are. We'll see in a couple of months when next accounts are published.
 
But did they talk about poor management and player recruitment - all I want to hear from last night.
 
What are they all? Do you mean suits or coaching staff?
Not many suits.
Some coaching staff, which I see around the Academy.
Lots of people doing all sorts of day to day jobs in the background that were never there before.
There are lots of simple things that need to be done post match for example repairing broken seats. Mundane but employees nonetheless.
 
Not many suits.
Some coaching staff, which I see around the Academy.
Lots of people doing all sorts of day to day jobs in the background that were never there before.
There are lots of simple things that need to be done post match for example repairing broken seats. Mundane but employees nonetheless.
👍
 
I have heard he said Quitchley leaving caused a lot of problems and they got a lot wrong after that, which is fine, but things weren’t looking that great on the recruitment of players front from the January before that.

It sounds to me that we aren’t set up or have the funds to be a fully fledged Championship club and our finances put us firmly as league 1.

Of course I’m delighted we are growing off the pitch with the training ground and the East stand, we have all wanted that and should have been done years ago but as I have said before He knew that when he bought the club that both of these things were priorities and had to be done, neither of them were suddenly a great surprise to him that came out of the blue. He also, as a supporter wants the team to do well but the last 15 months have beeen a struggle and I realise Quitchley leaving threw a spanner in the works but it shouldn’t have resulted in the debacle we have seen since.

I’d like to chat to a few I know who went to get the full picture, we are a million times better off than under the stains but I don’t think it hurts to want to know how our owner and board are performing
 
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Gossip...

Sounds alright to be fair and I'm pleased the board have taking some of my recent comments on board and made it more or a mini fans forum tonight

It's a start......

Avftt rules OK....the real voice of the fans
We'll see
Gossip...

Sounds alright to be fair and I'm pleased the board have taking some of my recent comments on board and made it more or a mini fans forum tonight

It's a start......

Avftt rules OK....the real voice of the fans
Read a comment that Mansfords wages will reduce when we're relegated... is that true? and if so? By what percentage
 
@hertfordseasider remember that they have taken action to address the recruitment situation by replacing the existing recruitment department and bringing in the ‘Coventry Lads’. The people brought in come with a good reputation 👍

That decision is not going to bear fruit immediately, but it’s a positive action that has been taken by the board to address a recognised issue.

I’m not really sure you can ask much more of them that that, can you ?
 
@hertfordseasider remember that they have taken action to address the recruitment situation by replacing the existing recruitment department and bringing in the ‘Coventry Lads’. The people brought in come with a good reputation 👍

That decision is not going to bear fruit immediately, but it’s a positive action that has been taken by the board to address a recognised issue.

I’m not really sure you can ask much more of them that that, can you ?
Well we will see this Summer because they're gong to be working overtime. To be honest I'm pretty much resigned we will go down this season so the recruitment of a new manager and a shed load of players that will see us challenging for the top two spots will be of the upmost importance and then if we get promoted back we are far more savvy than this time.
 
Apparently the training ground is looking like £22 million. Coupled with half of Revoe that’s £40 million before a single shovel is in the ground and delays and costs start impacting the project.

In the meantime BR needs maintenance and further improvements as does Squires Gate.
But if Squires Gate is sold after new training ground built, surely he will recoup a good few million as likely to be OK for housing?
 
I have heard he said Quitchley leaving caused a lot of problems and they got a lot wrong after that, which is fine, but things weren’t looking that great on the recruitment of players front from the January before that.

It sounds to me that we aren’t set up or have the funds to be a fully fledged Championship club and our finances put us firmly as league 1.

Of course I’m delighted we are growing off the pitch with the training ground and the East stand, we have all wanted that and should have been done years ago but as I have said before He knew that when he bought the club that both of these things were priorities and had to be done, neither of them were suddenly a great surprise to him that came out of the blue. He also, as a supporter wants the team to do well but the last 15 months have beeen a struggle and I realise Quitchley leaving threw a spanner in the works but it shouldn’t have resulted in the debacle we have seen since.

I’d like to chat to a few I know who went to get the full picture, we are a million times better off than under the stains but I don’t think it hurts to want to know how our owner and board are performing

You intimate that we should be a 'fully fledged Championship club' ... how do our attendances match up in that division?

I don't know, hence asking.
 
I have heard he said Quitchley leaving caused a lot of problems and they got a lot wrong after that, which is fine, but things weren’t looking that great on the recruitment of players front from the January before that.

It sounds to me that we aren’t set up or have the funds to be a fully fledged Championship club and our finances put us firmly as league 1.

Of course I’m delighted we are growing off the pitch with the training ground and the East stand, we have all wanted that and should have been done years ago but as I have said before He knew that when he bought the club that both of these things were priorities and had to be done, neither of them were suddenly a great surprise to him that came out of the blue. He also, as a supporter wants the team to do well but the last 15 months have beeen a struggle and I realise Quitchley leaving threw a spanner in the works but it shouldn’t have resulted in the debacle we have seen since.

I’d like to chat to a few I know who went to get the full picture, we are a million times better off than under the stains but I don’t think it hurts to want to know how our owner and board are performing
I agree he knew they infrastructure projects needed to be done, but equally he did also say that he wouldn't be bankrolling the team so it can't come as a total surprise to fans either? He definitely said his focus would be on youth development, hence why he needed the training facility and why a youth coach in Critchley was appointed.
I actually think we need to get back to that philosophy - get the new recruitment team from Coventry working on bringing in promising young players and develop them. Appoint a manager that fits in with that strategy. The most encouraging thing from the meeting last night about on field stuff was that we won't be keeping MM and we'll be looking to bring someone in that returns us to the strategy we were working to when NC was here.
We aren't going to be able to compete with much bigger clubs any other way I'm afraid, which is precisely why the two off-field projects are so important.
 
3rd from bottom and that's only while Luton are at Kenilworth Rd, and Rotherham.
Both those clubs need to rely on gate money or a sugar daddy. BFC should be in a position to exploit Blackpool the destination, not by away fans (I'm not in favour of 5000 away fans making noise), but by having facilities to attract punters whether that's concerts, a sports village with bars and attractions or anything you can think of.

There is a lot that could be aspired to as I've always held the belief that only a few Ft's can be self-sufficient and progress and BFC is one.
 
I agree he knew they infrastructure projects needed to be done, but equally he did also say that he wouldn't be bankrolling the team so it can't come as a total surprise to fans either? He definitely said his focus would be on youth development, hence why he needed the training facility and why a youth coach in Critchley was appointed.
I actually think we need to get back to that philosophy - get the new recruitment team from Coventry working on bringing in promising young players and develop them. Appoint a manager that fits in with that strategy. The most encouraging thing from the meeting last night about on field stuff was that we won't be keeping MM and we'll be looking to bring someone in that returns us to the strategy we were working to when NC was here.
We aren't going to be able to compete with much bigger clubs any other way I'm afraid, which is precisely why the two off-field projects are so important.
Has he not also said that he wants C/ship football? That seems at odds.

Hopefully they can find the fine line between the present and the future because they need to.
 
Has he not also said that he wants C/ship football? That seems at odds.

Hopefully they can find the fine line between the present and the future because they need to.
Yes but he was very clear about the way to achieve that, and it wasn't by bankrolling the team. I'm not really disagreeing with anyone, just saying that he was very up front about it so as disappointed as I am this season, and as frustrated as I've been with our inability to sign players, it hasn't come as a total shock. He's most definitely not a Dave Whelan or Jack Walker, but I do think long term he'll be good for us and will create the environment for us to progress.
 
Yes but he was very clear about the way to achieve that, and it wasn't by bankrolling the team. I'm not really disagreeing with anyone, just saying that he was very up front about it so as disappointed as I am this season, and as frustrated as I've been with our inability to sign players, it hasn't come as a total shock. He's most definitely not a Dave Whelan or Jack Walker, but I do think long term he'll be good for us and will create the environment for us to progress.
Not a case of bankrolling. Simple bringing 1 player in who is fit rather than 4 wages for crocks who don't play would help. Though I accept that's filed under mistakes made. Mindblowing it was allowed to happen.
 
3rd from bottom and that's only while Luton are at Kenilworth Rd, and Rotherham.
But that's under a manager people hated and charging silly walk on prices.

We're 21st despite an absolutely terrible season.


If we had done a nobber like deal and or created a buzz, priced it right and been doing well, we could easily have got 11k+ home fans and averaged maybe 14k+ overall.
 
Not a case of bankrolling. Simple bringing 1 player in who is fit rather than 4 wages for crocks who don't play would help. Though I accept that's filed under mistakes made. Mindblowing it was allowed to happen.
Yes absolutely, the position we find ourselves in is 100% down to a string of very poor decisions that board have made over the last 12 months. There's no getting away from that, and the point you make about 1 fit player vs 4 crocks is spot on. It makes no logical sense whatsoever. We've wasted so much money this season and that's the reason we're staring relegation in the face.
My point about bankrolling the team was just a general one, I think we have a budget that we'll stick to no matter where we are in the league. We just need to spend it much more wisely.
 
But that's under a manager people hated and charging silly walk on prices.

We're 21st despite an absolutely terrible season.


If we had done a nobber like deal and or created a buzz, priced it right and been doing well, we could easily have got 11k+ home fans and averaged maybe 14k+ overall.
Maybe. Be interesting to see what happens next year, or if they think they got it right financially.
 
Let’s be truthful here, we need an owner who has a long term vision. As I said yesterday the bankrolling a club the size of ours isn’t sustainable as there isn’t a magic money tree and owners often get bored. A self sustainable club is exactly the right model. It can take years for that to happen but I think Sadler is trying to make that happen, and with the off field projects, that’s going to go a long way to making this happen.
 
The question has to be "ok,grand, thanks for backing the club - how do we get better value in the future for the money invested in the playing squad compared to the last 12 months"

Cos, we're going down and the last 3 sets of transfers have basically yielded Lyons who looks like he might be an asset in the future and nowt else. For a club who apparently invested in recruitment strategy and data, that's not ideal.

I want to know what our footballing identity is and how we're going to make sure we don't end up with two successive managers with totally different playing strategies, neither of whom have the tools with which to execute their plan cos that's been the underlying problem this year and one that if we don't solve, we'll be forever searching for 'a new Critchley' and the owner will be pumping in dead money to tread water.

I shall look forward to the minutes as streaming such an event is obviously way beyond the capacity of a 21st century club.
Great post.
According to Peterborough's statement on their relegation, us getting relegated will cost SS about £10m. We're in this position because of the lack of care & consideration with regards to the manager appointments & a very amateur player recruitment policy.
The visions of a new training ground & a new stand should have come well behind what we're doing (not doing) on the playing side - it's been a shambolic season.
 
@hertfordseasider remember that they have taken action to address the recruitment situation by replacing the existing recruitment department and bringing in the ‘Coventry Lads’. The people brought in come with a good reputation 👍

That decision is not going to bear fruit immediately, but it’s a positive action that has been taken by the board to address a recognised issue.

I’m not really sure you can ask much more of them that that, can you ?
I completely agree with you about the new recruitment team but identifying the players that will improve us is one thing, meeting their value financially is a different thing all together.
 
Great post.
According to Peterborough's statement on their relegation, us getting relegated will cost SS about £10m. We're in this position because of the lack of care & consideration with regards to the manager appointments & a very amateur player recruitment policy.
The visions of a new training ground & a new stand should have come well behind what we're doing (not doing) on the playing side - it's been a shambolic season.
Can you link the Peterborough statement?

It’s possible the £10M is a reference to lost revenue, which is not really what TD53 is talking about.

If you look (in general terms) at the ‘Middle of the Road’ Clubs who are trying to compete in and around the mid table & above, then..

L1 Clubs are losing £1-2M per season

Championship Clubs £10 -£20M per season

And EPL Clubs upward of £100M per season…

So losses sustained are higher the higher up the leagues you climb … Of course revenue increases, but that’s only part of the equation.
 
Maybe. Be interesting to see what happens next year, or if they think they got it right financially.
I'm not confident on pricing at all, we've seen a repeated failure to hit a price point that resonates.

The friendly prices were shocking last season, this season is crap pricing.

The category system actually provided a range of prices and at least offered lesser game for less. But the top end was too high and we had on the day prices and it was similar to now. Also top end pricing was used for Cardiff at home first day when we needed to fill the stadium and capitalise on the feelgood.

At least with that system casual fans could be attracted to some games if price was an issue.

We've had almost no fill the stadium type deals, which given our past struggles, lost generation and missing out on promotion crowds due to covid, with a sell out playoff game and 30k to Wembley.... I find bizarre that a fan owner isn't trying to get the stadium full.

Ffs we're not a normal club and we need more rebuilding than most.

We just need to break peoples habits and get people through the door however possible.

Success can do it but can't be guaranteed, so can price if it's a deal people feel is a bargain. Obviously if you can do that and have sucess then you've cracked it.

The nobbers have shown what a positive pricing marketing campaign can achieve, it created a massive buzz.

So too can a single game.

30 isn't marketable at all, if we did 1 game at 15 or even a tenner. Pushed it massively in person and social media.

Yes we don't make as much money for that game but if we get far more fans attending, you've got them through the door, they might get the buzz, that's how it works. Or a deal specifically targeting new fans.

We've seen very little and given our history it's hard to understand why, if any club needs it it's us.
 
I think it's been a string of errors that have led us to this point by the board. Critchley leaving was a blow but cmon this season isn't down to him and its a cop out to say anything else. Poor recruitment both manager and players, no forward thinking in recruiting players and managers for a set style of play to keep some continuation of squad and the flip flopping from Critch to Apples then to horrific Mick ball in my opinion may have sealed our fate. I hope we get out of it but either way we need to start recruiting for our style of play not for a certain managers and I hope we do.
For balance, off the field, the board have done great and seem like they will carry on with that so a big thanks is owed to them for that.
 
He’s set it out pretty simply and the maths seems to add up to me. Why don’t you explain to us all why you think it’s incorrect ?

Losses of £3-5 million per annum, £40-60 million on infrastructure. Over a decade that’s £90 million + as a conservative estimate.
With bigger losses if we get relegated - which makes it even more of a disappointing season
 
Can you link the Peterborough statement?

It’s possible the £10M is a reference to lost revenue, which is not really what TD53 is talking about.

If you look (in general terms) at the ‘Middle of the Road’ Clubs who are trying to compete in and around the mid table & above, then..

L1 Clubs are losing £1-2M per season

Championship Clubs £10 -£20M per season

And EPL Clubs upward of £100M per season…

So losses sustained are higher the higher up the leagues you climb … Of course revenue increases, but that’s only part of the equation.
BFC: It's mentioned in para 6, of the attached, although there isn't any detail to backup the club statement. That will obviously form a part of their civil action - if they decide to pursue the case against Reading etc.
Whatever the figure, relegation is going to cost the club millions & this sum will obviously grow, season on season, if we don't bounce straight back.
https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/f...medium=internal&utm_campaign=related-stories#
 
BFC: It's mentioned in para 6, of the attached, although there isn't any detail to backup the club statement. That will obviously form a part of their civil action - if they decide to pursue the case against Reading etc.
Whatever the figure, relegation is going to cost the club millions & this sum will obviously grow, season on season, if we don't bounce straight back.
https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/f...medium=internal&utm_campaign=related-stories#
The only way relegation is positive is if we reduce prices but have retained some fans from the championship journey.

We then have a great season at the top end and either go up automatically or by the playoffs ideally if we could guarantee it, but obviously you can't. Or at least the very next season went up after nearly going up the season before.

Having fans in attendance during a promotion push could be hugely beneficial and having that sellout home game and Wembley if its the playoffs or even just an automatic promotion.

The place would be sold out and also if you then got promoted with games to go you could basically have a big celebration and and fill the stadium and capitalise on the feelgood factor.

We missed that last promotion due to covid and it was a huge loss. Many underestimate the cost of it, it gets all the casuals attending and many get the bug.

We'd then be bouncing into the championship with bigger crowds from the off, covid kind of ruined it last time for us and we then immediately put prices up and failed to capitalise on what should have been a huge buzz where all casuals want to attend.

So actually if things go right relegation COULD lead to a huge positive.
 
BFC: It's mentioned in para 6, of the attached, although there isn't any detail to backup the club statement. That will obviously form a part of their civil action - if they decide to pursue the case against Reading etc.
Whatever the figure, relegation is going to cost the club millions & this sum will obviously grow, season on season, if we don't bounce straight back.
https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/f...medium=internal&utm_campaign=related-stories#
OK…. It’s essentially a ‘set your stall out for a legal claim’ figure, which is quite different to how things would impact the owners pocket directly each season.

If you are just looking to tread water for a while and consolidate, then L1 is a cheaper place to do that than in the Championship. As a club, we can very comfortably afford to sustain L1 football, but (at least at the minute) the Championship has perhaps been too rich for us and we can’t afford to sustain the sort of losses £15-£20M per season, that Clubs like Knob End are being hit with, just to bobble around in Mid-Table obscurity.
 
The only way relegation is positive is if we reduce prices but have retained some fans from the championship journey.

We then have a great season at the top end and either go up automatically or by the playoffs ideally if we could guarantee it, but obviously you can't. Or at least the very next season went up after nearly going up the season before.

Having fans in attendance during a promotion push could be hugely beneficial and having that sellout home game and Wembley if its the playoffs or even just an automatic promotion.

The place would be sold out and also if you then got promoted with games to go you could basically have a big celebration and and fill the stadium and capitalise on the feelgood factor.

We missed that last promotion due to covid and it was a huge loss. Many underestimate the cost of it.

We'd then be bouncing into the championship with bigger crowds from the off, covid kind of ruined it last time for us and we then immediately put prices up and failed to capitalise on what should have been a huge buzz where all casuals want to attend.

So actually if things go right relegation COULD lead to a huge positive.
No. What you have described is salvage, not opportunity.

Staying up, a proper get behind manager with a perm No 2 (not a nomad), sensible ticket prices thought out for fan base growth and retention of the best players in addition to the obvious ins and hey presto, the place is buzzing.
 
OK…. It’s essentially a ‘set your stall out for a legal claim’ figure, which is quite different to how things would impact the owners pocket directly each season.

If you are just looking to tread water for a while and consolidate, then L1 is a cheaper place to do that than in the Championship. As a club, we can very comfortably afford to sustain L1 football, but (at least at the minute) the Championship has perhaps been too rich for us and we can’t afford to sustain the sort of losses £15-£20M per season, that Clubs like Knob End are being hit with, just to bobble around
If (looking more likely when) we get relegated, and if the funding model doesn't drastically improve, sadly we may have to accept that for now, L1 is our level 😭 . We live in hope that the chickens come home to roost at Nobender Land!
 
No. What you have described is salvage, not opportunity.

Staying up, a proper get behind manager with a perm No 2 (not a nomad), sensible ticket prices thought out for fan base growth and retention of the best players in addition to the obvious ins and hey presto, the place is buzzing.
Forget losses I'm on about building fans.

Being in a relegation battle in the championship and struggling won't attract fans like a successful promotion push in league 1 will.

People don't get excited over failure or the odd win.

Sucess attracts casuals.

I'd rather stay up as there's no guarantees of coming back up, but if I could choose a scenario that's realistic, going down and bouncing back with fans in attendance is far more likely than us staying up and reducing prices and doing well in the championship.

That Wembley occasion was only attended by hardcore pool fans last time, it's usually 30k, those people remember that day forever and then some attend the following season.

If it happened again it would be a huge boost for our fanbase. We've been through all sorts of shit, a winning occasion at Wembley would be a massive help to us growing. So too an automatic promotion.
 
You intimate that we should be a 'fully fledged Championship club' ... how do our attendances match up in that division?

I don't know, hence asking.
I think that's what we should be striving for, we got there quickly, and because of the last 18 months we went from looking like we would become comfortable in the division we all know what happened next, which is a real shame because I think given time and resources there's no reason, with the new East Stand, attractive pricing why we couldn't sell 10,000 season tickets and add 1 to 3 thousand per game depending on the game and of course we will always get good away support. If we could average 14 to 15 thousand (I know we're not there yet) but for me that would be perfectly acceptable as a fully fledged Championship club.
 
I agree he knew they infrastructure projects needed to be done, but equally he did also say that he wouldn't be bankrolling the team so it can't come as a total surprise to fans either? He definitely said his focus would be on youth development, hence why he needed the training facility and why a youth coach in Critchley was appointed.
I actually think we need to get back to that philosophy - get the new recruitment team from Coventry working on bringing in promising young players and develop them. Appoint a manager that fits in with that strategy. The most encouraging thing from the meeting last night about on field stuff was that we won't be keeping MM and we'll be looking to bring someone in that returns us to the strategy we were working to when NC was here.
We aren't going to be able to compete with much bigger clubs any other way I'm afraid, which is precisely why the two off-field projects are so important.
I agree with that but we must also get experienced players who will help the younger players and........ not be made of balsa wood!
 
I think that's what we should be striving for, we got there quickly, and because of the last 18 months we went from looking like we would become comfortable in the division we all know what happened next, which is a real shame because I think given time and resources there's no reason, with the new East Stand, attractive pricing why we couldn't sell 10,000 season tickets and add 1 to 3 thousand per game depending on the game and of course we will always get good away support. If we could average 14 to 15 thousand (I know we're not there yet) but for me that would be perfectly acceptable as a fully fledged Championship club.
Fair enough.

I think we need to find a way of engaging the local fanbase to boost attendance ... one that doesn't rely on giving tickets away at cheapo rates!!

Football is a business, like any other. At its heart is a budget. Income vs Outgoings.
 
Gossip...

Sounds alright to be fair and I'm pleased the board have taking some of my recent comments on board and made it more or a mini fans forum tonight

It's a start......

Avftt rules OK....the real voice of the fans
did you go today Phil?
 
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