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Post by mehewmagic on Aug 30, 2021 20:05:22 GMT
This is part of the trouble, the season wasn't lost just over 46 lots of 90 minutes on the pitch. It was also about the cr*p going on behind the scenes for the 273 days that the season lasted... Good point, I understand what he meant, now. I think we all sort of got there in the end. TBH I just stuck the dates of the first game and last game in the net to work out how long in days the season was. Then my eye was caught by the equivalent in seconds (over 2 million), minutes etc, and it looked interesting to think of it like that. We may not have been in the rele zone for long, but in our hearts we were there ages before (there is a song in there somewhere...) and whilst going down on GD (AND a GD of only -11), with 50 points, was highly unusual, it was also negligent in it's own way.
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Post by mehewmagic on Aug 30, 2021 19:53:08 GMT
Brilliant post MM. I don't agree with some of it (Hamer) but most of it, it is spot on in my opinion. It is an uncomfortable read because it shows how bad things are. I can see the hurt and pain in your words. Thanks. Sorry all for slow follow up but my kids gave me COVID-19 so my energy levels have been up and down a bit! I haven't followed the forums for several years now, so apologies for not being on here usually, and no disrespect, but once school starts I won't be back on - LOL. I do read occasionally. Re Steve Hamer - maybe I should have written something broader, like 'in my limited personal experience of him'. I'm not interested in politics and lack of definite knowledge so I genuinely don't know all of that stuff, but I can say from my limited personal experience of him he came across as a decent guy, and this is after my first ever contact with him being a very snotty email passed through Keith Brookman not long after the takeover. My point is that that first (and only email) encounter did not totally blindside me or define what (admittedly little) I later saw in him as someone interested in the history and heritage of lower level football and lower level football supporters. That's all I can judge him on - he certainly was a 'friend' of lower level supporters in general.
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Post by mehewmagic on Aug 29, 2021 21:55:24 GMT
I was more or less with you until the Steve Hamer bit He came across in personal experience as a decent guy. I can't vouch for any other stuff / all the politics BS, but in terms of being a supportive old school football fan, in my experience he was that.
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Post by mehewmagic on Aug 29, 2021 20:58:12 GMT
Time to step up please
by Martin Bull
(note - not written for a publication; just need to get it down on paper and out of my head)
It’s hard to know how to write this article without appearing to be, (a) reactionary to poor results over the past two years, (b) getting personal – believe me this is not personal, but purely analytical and ethical, and/or, (c) appear overly critical / not supportive.
It's therefore worth pointing out that these issues are not new and if I appear critical it is only because I am knowledgeable about organisational structure and ethics, and that I truly believe we CAN be run better, and that we, as Gasheads, deserve to be able to support a club that is well run.
The bottom line is that Bristol Rovers FC is currently a very badly run organisation.
That has to stop, and the buck must stop at the top.
To start on a route to being a decently run organisation at least two main figures in the club need to be replaced; especially the ‘leaders’ of the administrative and strategic side, and the footballing activity.
I have spent almost 35 years following, supporting and writing about the Gas but I won’t be going to any matches until Martyn Starnes (the Chief Executive Officer - CEO) and Joey Barton (the Manager) have left our club.
The former has personally overseen our massive decline since the double promotion of 2014-2016, effectively sacked the leader of those promotions (call it constructive dismissal if you wish after promises of infrastructural development were not forthcoming…), personally appointed several unsuccessful managers since (and sacked / led Paul Tisdale to leave within a few months), brought in the structure that enabled Tommy Widdrington to perform roles that not only led to poor signings but also to Tisdale leaving, and has led the entire and complete disintegration of relationships between supporters, volunteers and the club, including numerous long standing groups, who despite probable flaws in one of them (the Supporters Club), will be here in some form or another for far, far longer than any temporary employee will ever be.
The latter is simply not the right person to lead the footballing side of the club. The bottom line is that not only have the results under Joey Barton been appalling (and strangely worse than his two much maligned predecessors, one of whom never had a real chance to make changes like JB and BG have), but that his ‘professional’ attitude and methods of heavy criticism of players, referees and his predecessors is not what we need, and it clearly isn’t working either. The latter is damaging the reputation of our football club, and even us as supporters.
For me, the personal life and morals of JB is an significant extra factor, and I don’t just mean the two currently unresolved court cases. His entire adult life has been a litany of public and professional trouble, including broken limbs, numerous court cases, time in jail, addiction (including gambling issues, which incidentally is currently a growing safeguarding issue with young adults), FA charges, red cards and public spats with managers, staff and players.
This is not tittle-tattle; these are facts that anyone can find out. He has had two decades to address these so this is clearly not a case of a young man making mistakes (like many of us have) and then trying to sort them out (like many of us also have). This is still continuing and shows no sign of being addressed. This is not an individual who should have ever been employed by our club, nor any football club proclaiming to be a family club or being run intelligently or successfully.
The 2020/21 relegation was the lamest relegation in our almost 140-year history and it is clear who in a decision making and strategic capability is responsible for this; Martyn Starnes, via the overall responsibility of and (potentially negligent) oversight of Wael Al-Qadi.
And, yes, I do include the 2014 relegation into non-league in my analysis of ‘lamest’ relegation. Whilst 2014 was obviously the physical nadir of our Football League history, it wasn’t without some fight; with 50 points, going down on Goal Difference (of only -11) and being in the relegation zone for just 54 minutes of the entire 393,120 minute season (a grimly savage quiz question surely?). That relegation was also strangely our saving grace as an ethical resurgence under Darrell Clarke finally brought some humility to our club and the realisation that we are not really a ‘big club’ and certainly not a well run club.
The 2021 relegation season garnered just 38 points, our lowest ever since three points were given for a win, although it is fair to point out that the disastrous 1980/81 relegation would have been worse, with just 28 points (equivalent). That was at least from the second tier though, a place we’ve not visited for almost three decades now (more appalling stats on that another day…). Goals scored (40) were the lowest in the league, as was the amount of wins (just into double figures with 10). Three managers, plus a caretaker twice, and a left back as top scorer. Ouch.
Most managerial changes in the second half of a season at least accomplish a ‘dead cat bounce’, however short. JB managed nothing, and alienated players at precisely the time he needed them on his side. Results and public knowledge suggest that the players were not on his side and still aren’t. When he was appointed on the 22nd of February 2021 Rovers were 19th and although that was hardly a huge position of strength, it was at least outside of the relegation zone and no-one at that point in time would have been willing to accept just eight more points from the 54 still available, nor 10 losses in the final 12 games and relegation confirmed several games before the culmination of the season.
The start of this season has not been any better, leading to an overall record of four wins, three draws and 17 losses, including no victories away from the Mem.
It is fair to assume that none of this could have been handled better and that the poor results over 24 games have been due to the players / previous managers / referees / injuries / ‘cancer’ in the club / need for a clearout? (delete as you feel applicable)
Slippery slope time.
I’m fed up with new managers of ANY football club saying that they need their own staff, their own players, and their own systems before they will take any personal responsibility for poor performances. It’s akin to a Willy Wonka golden ticket to abrogate all responsibility before you’ve even tried. What other profession in the world would allow that?
And if I hear the phrase ‘clear out the dead wood' again I think I might strangle the cat (relax; I don’t actually own a cat). The time and money such exercises take is astronomical, especially if you change managers around once a year. Surely the sign of a resilient and adaptable manager is coaching / improving / working with most of what you've got? Of course, each manager will make changes, and there is natural churn at the end of contracts and in transfer windows, but the philosophy that ‘we must have immediate and complete control before any results can be achieved’ sounds more Taliban than resourcefulness.
The hideously inexperienced BG was afforded such a ticket when appointed, with Rovers in a play-off place and fans strangely happy to accept a rapid plummet away from success because a future of free-flowing football had been assured by those who run our club. BG was given free rein to dismantle a successful system / team before he had actually replaced it with anything, and even when he did unleash his own players and own system, the results were the same. Fact.
I didn’t become a Rovers fan to witness great football (I can hardly see the other end of the pitch from the Blackthorn!), I became a Gashead due to the history, the locality, the laughs, the passion, the camaraderie, the roar at a tackle, and because we were funnier, more respected and more humane than that noisy lot over the river.
The occasional success and skilled player was a bonus, but the knowledge that we would fight to the end was important; especially when getting thrashed at Peterborough… again. If I wanted great football I’d watch the Champions League on slow-mo on a huge plasma TV in the living room that’s bigger than Screen Three at the Orpheus, whilst stuffing my fat face with Frazzles and a six pack of Wagon Wheels from the poundshop.
I’ve stuck with Rovers through thin and thinner, but I’m now at the lowest ebb.
History is repeating itself with JB, and this time it’s even more public because he repeatedly blames players, referees and especially previous regimes, even to a point of potential slander proceedings from Ben Garner. The starting XI at Barrow looked like a team that JB owns and as we apparently now have only four players left from Garner-era signings (out of circa 15), crunch time is upon us.
Recently JB has now even started talking about the effect ‘Bristol Rovers’ is having on the opposition, repeating the tired old narrative that it’s harder for ‘big’ clubs like us to get results. Whilst I appreciate JB is partly suggesting that it is ROVERS who need to deal with this, and that it is OUR players who need to sort themselves out, I dislike the use of a weary insular idea that we are somehow big and there to be shot down. Drawing any attention to this so-called fact is akin to the man in the street who starts off a sentence with ‘Now, I’m not racist, but…’ – you just know that what is about to be uttered is not going to help anyone. We are not special, we are not memorable, we are not in the thoughts of others; in fact many of our lower league colleagues have far more glorious histories that ours, both historically and recently, but we are often so far up our own deep and dark back passage that we can’t physically envisage this inconvenient truth.
Oldham Athletic, Swindon Town and Bradford City have all been in the Premier League (i.e. since 1992), and the later played in the League Cup final as recently as 2013. In this Millennium, current League One clubs Bolton Wanderers, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Wigan Athletic have all been winners or runners up in the FA Cup or League Cup. Ipswich Town even won the UEFA Cup in 1981.
We are tiny and unsuccessful, and all this talk of being a big club defies the statistics. We’ve never even won the Football League Trophy! [Port Vale, Carlisle Utd (both twice), Chesterfield, Crewe Alexandra, Wrexham, Mansfield Town, and Salford City all have]. We are a badly run, low achiever and the quicker we acknowledge it, re-embrace the humility we found under DC, and learn from the Brentford’s and Wycombe Wanderers’ of this world [controversial choice – forget 2012 – yes, I was there and yes I’m still struggling to forgive…] the better.
I really do have a problem when certain people are given overwhelming, nay imprudent, support but zero challenge. There is always a place for constructive challenge, even when someone or something needs loving support. A lot of my work is in schools, especially with Headteachers and Governing Bodies, and the crux of a Governor’s role is to ‘Challenge and Support’ the school / Senior Leadership Team. That simple ethos can be extrapolated to nearly all aspects of life, be it work, family, or friends; we are here on earth to support each other, but also at the appropriate time, and in the right way, to offer challenge, be it with our kids, friends, family, work colleagues, Governments or even strangers.
BG, with zero managerial experience, seemed to be almost untouchable until finally sacked, and that has continuing via JB, even though the man sandwiched in between them – Tisdale; the man who was more of an ideal fit for Rovers - was not afforded that support, and ultimately the undue influence of Tommy Widdrington’s ‘role’ as a de facto DoF during the winter 2020 transfer window led not only to relegation for the club, but also a personal relegation for him in June 2021 to a role “…in charge of creating a loan department, that will be tasked with establishing relationships with other clubs. Tommy will also be responsible for mirroring the first-team philosophy, that will be set by the first-team Manager, across the Academy structure.” Mea culpa.
I am very concerned that JB simply is NOT the right person to lead us anywhere upwards, even to an Ian Atkins style return to mid-table anonymity rather than constant membership of the bottom feeder’s club. Mediocrity would be welcome in some ways (Atkins brought in most of the players who became the famous 2006/7 promotion winners and JPT finalists), but I fear that the damage will already be done by then.
Where have all the recent rejects gone?
This section is a bit of an aside so skip to the money shot at the end if you prefer.
Whilst I realise that examples of rejected players ending up at clubs at a higher level, or at least the same level, doesn’t necessarily mean they were great players and should have been retained, it is a small piece of factual evidence that needs to be taken into account. Maybe effective work could have been done with them and maybe they will work better with different man management, tactics, teammates, formations, facilities, or atmospheres?
You might expect that a lot of our recently released / sold players have gone down to a lower level, but in reality most haven’t. I won’t dwell on Brandon Hanlan going to League One Wycombe Wanderers just before the transfer window closes because it’s such recent knowledge and was also a thorny monetary/contractual situation, but what about the rest?
• David Tutonda – Playing for Gillingham in League One. • Max Ehmer – Returned to play for Gillingham in League One.
Barton’s extremely public humiliation of BRFC captain Ehmer is well known and well documented, but whatever perceived problems JB may have apparently had with the young Ehmer at QPR in the early 2010’s, I wonder if a player can rack up almost 400 appearances with League One clubs by complete accident and if they cannot, then maybe that experience and previous endeavour should be respected and revived, rather than torn apart in the middle of a relegation run? Whilst the Gills’ experienced manager, Steve Evans, is sometimes considered a loose cannon by certain supporters his circumspect and mature reaction to the return of a player who snubbed him just a year previous was telling, and maybe an approach that JB could try? “My thoughts are not to speak about Max’s time at Bristol Rovers and his disagreements with Joey Barton, because one thing I have is respect for both men. Everyone can read a story and believe one side of it, but there is always two sides. Max comes back into the Football Club; Kyle Dempsey will remain as skipper but I’m sure Max, with his experience and knowledge of everything around Priestfield, will be an outstanding help to young Kyle, alongside Stuart, who played a massive role last season too… Max Ehmer is simply a top-class central defender in League 1. Simple.”
• Jonah Ayunga – Playing for Morecambe in League One. The No.9 we no longer have in the squad? • George Williams – Playing for Cambridge United in League One. • Jack Baldwin - Playing for Ross County in the Scottish Premiership. • James Daly – Playing for Stevenage in League Two. • Ed Upson – Stayed local with Newport County in League Two. • Ali Koiki – Playing for Northampton Town in League Two. • Ben Liddle - Playing for Queen of the South in the Scottish Championship. • Josh Hare – Returned to Eastleigh in the National League. • Mark Little – Stayed local with Yeovil Town in the National League. • Abu Agogo – Playing for Southend Utd in the National League.
And of course the elephant in the room… will Ben Garner continue his early results at Swindon Town, whilst in a partnership with Ben Chorley as a Director of Football? Whilst Chorley has a huge amount of experience as a professional footballer, he has none as a DoF so that pairing will be fascinating to watch. Swindon didn’t even have enough players to play pre-season friendlies, so anyone who suggests that JB had no chance of hitting the ground running in the 2021/22 season, let alone in February 2021, is frankly delusional.
I always found it strange and disappointing that amongst ALL the talk about BG and his amazing experience as a coach, complete with almost sycophantically positive quotes from people in high level football such as Tony Pulis and Rickie Lambert, I never heard any mention of yoking him with a proper Director of Football, preferably with experience, just as Paul Trollope was so successfully braced with Lennie Lawrence. It almost felt like it was SUCH an obvious discussion to have that no-one actually went ahead with it, as if everyone assumed someone had already organised it. Tommy Widdrington was not a true DoF and was yet another example of not organising a clear, reliable and mutually agreed structure. Does anyone honestly believe that a hugely experienced lower division manager like Paul Tisdale would have taken the job if he knew such obfuscation in transfers was going to occur?
The eagle eyed may wonder why I have not mentioned Wael Al-Qadi in this, albeit briefly once in passing.
Wael Al-Qadi is the sole owner of the mass majority of the club, and was previously a joint owner with his family, so does therefore bear ultimate responsibility for any failure (or success), but whilst his culpability may be over arching and disappointing, especially when appointing a CEO who refused to work with, and later ousted, a thoroughly decent Chairman (Steve Hamer) and now leads an imperious regime behind the scenes, the day-to-day hands-on responsibility has not been his.
His reputation and performance, although tarnished, is not irretrievably broken like Martyn Starnes’ is. There is still time for Wael Al-Qadi to lead BRFC to become a well run club, or at least a decently run one.
Time to step up please...
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Post by mehewmagic on Jul 28, 2021 1:48:41 GMT
they could have just put out their statement without the offensive "Victimless Crime" bit EVven if anyone then thought it was poor, it MAY have bought them some breathing space. Instead the club have embarrassed themselves and caused even more bad publicity, by looking even more f**king clueless by putting that crass (mis)quote in their statement If anyone doesn't find the victimless crime bit out of touch with any sort of decency, then I probably don't want to converse with them And once more for the hard of understanding . . . It’s supposed to read “Victimless Prosecution”; this has been explained over and over, it’s the proper legal term for this type of prosecution. The club should have run the statement past a solicitor (or at least a proofreader) before publishing it, but I reckon it was an honest mistake by someone who is not au fait with legal terminology. I don’t seriously believe for one second that there was any dark intent behind this gaffe, like some people seem to be hinting at . . . But it clearly was: a) unnecessary (to add the extra bits) b) inflammatory, and c) unprofessional and ignorant Sadly I don't see it as quite so innocent, as it does seem to be adding those bits for only one purpose, namely to defend the defendant and downplay the seriously of the case by suggesting that his wife is not supporting the charge (despite being the one to call the Police in the first place, due to an alleged assault perpetrated on her).
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Post by mehewmagic on Jul 28, 2021 1:36:16 GMT
If you do not want to read or participate in a particular thread then don't click on it - easy! what if hes innocent of both crimes ? We can still debate the wider issues, like intelligent, caring human beings. Including his long track record of violence to other people.
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Post by mehewmagic on Jul 28, 2021 1:25:55 GMT
Could cost the club a third of its gate by the poll, so lets say 8000 average and 50/50 between tickets and season tickets. So they could lose potentially 24k max (at 18 quid a ticket) every home match until resolved. In theory. Money talks wael. Sadly I doubt that many people will follow through on it. However, reduced income is one of the ONLY things our club really does listen to. Several managers in the past have gone once crowds go down. It hits the cash flow pretty hard.
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Post by mehewmagic on Jul 27, 2021 1:08:43 GMT
This makes a total mockery of the community trust and all the inclusion initiatives. That’s the problem with them, when it becomes inconvenient, it’s ignored. It shows a total lack of empathy together with a lack of basic morals and principals. I’ve been in a volatile relationship where my partner at the time hit me, kicked me, punched me, threw objects at me including a set of carving knives. I said nothing until one night I ended up in the BRI with a lacerated hand from having to grab a knife blade first to prevent an attack. One friend told me today, who is gas through and through, how he grew up watching domestic violence around him and how it’s affected him and how he appalled at the clubs stance. You see, it isn’t cancel culture in full swing. Domestic violence is a horror story for anyone who has had to deal with it and for the club, my club, to lift a rug up and sweep it under hurts. I’ve never been ashamed to be a gashead, not even in non league, but today, I feel appalled by the lack of communication and the apparent support of JB regardless of his guilt or the lack of it. Possibly the best ever post on Gaschat. And also one of the saddest.
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Post by mehewmagic on Jun 15, 2020 19:17:52 GMT
Last chance saloon soon.
UTG
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Post by mehewmagic on Jun 11, 2020 19:04:09 GMT
What do you give the man who has (almost) everything on Father's Day?
A book about Rovers of course, or maybe one about our favourite Bristolian artist Banksy, or even better... books on both.
Sadly my own father departed when I was younger but in memory of my Dad, Vic Bull, who took me (partly by accident) to my first Rovers match in 1980, I'm offering a FREE copy of one of my books about Banksy's street work to anyone who buys one of my five other books until Father's Day (21st June).
Just go to my webshop HERE, order any book and I'll also send you a brand new copy of 'Banksy Locations (and a Tour) Vol. 2', a sexy hardback book with over 380 pages AND a tour of his Bristol artworks!
Everything has FREE delivery in the UK, and discounted rates for the rest of the world.
I'm also offering a FREE copy of any book to up to three people in the UK who would love to give a book to their father but cannot currently afford it. I know how it feels as I have young kids who burn a hole in your pocket! [LOL]. This is a sincere offer and a perk of being your own publisher - just email me HERE and ask. Get them all here Happy Father's Day to all those Dads out there.
martin
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Post by mehewmagic on Mar 7, 2020 17:55:46 GMT
Southend has the longest pier in Britain, surrounded by a wide sea.
To be clear - that's a joke... I wish no personal harm to BG
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Post by mehewmagic on Mar 7, 2020 17:53:50 GMT
Genuine question... Why did you defend Wael "a lot" when all the evidence, admittedly some of it given on here unofficially yet not believed, was to the contrary? To be clear, I'm not saying anyone should abuse him or says he's rubbish, but to me the evidence has been very clear for about three years. It was a chance purchase without the backing, character or experience to make it a success. Finally, a BTW. I only saw the Starnes Q&A today, by complete accident, as I've been out of the loop for months now. Disingenuous is not a strong enough word to use. I had a personal run-in with Hamer many years ago, but at least he was an honest man in many ways and was an old fashioned 'fan' at heart who supported numerous supporter led initiatives. Dont mistake my displeasure at the owners with any support of Hamer/Masters. They are a worse alternative. I dont like or trust Hamer in the slightest. Sorry I've now accidentally confused everything... I tacked that on just in case I was accused of commenting after yet another defeat, rather than several days ago.
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Post by mehewmagic on Mar 7, 2020 17:51:19 GMT
It will all come good.
I have no evidence for it, but it will.
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Post by mehewmagic on Mar 7, 2020 17:33:27 GMT
Don't know if Wael ever reads this forum or if anyone is a friend of his on facebook or whatever but the owner needs to be told that Starnes' behaviour is P*ssing people off almost as much as the dire football being served up. Both are costing him money as fans stay away. This sort of thing is watering people off more than the football. And it watered the last 2 managers off too. We are f**king directionless from top to bottom. I've defended Wael a lot, but his leadership is water poor on every level and he needs to buck his ideas up pretty quickly. Genuine question... Why did you defend Wael "a lot" when all the evidence, admittedly some of it given on here unofficially yet not believed, was to the contrary? To be clear, I'm not saying anyone should abuse him or says he's rubbish, but to me the evidence has been very clear for about three years. It was a chance purchase without the backing, character or experience to make it a success. Finally, a BTW. I only saw the Starnes Q&A today, by complete accident, as I've been out of the loop for months now. Disingenuous is not a strong enough word to use. I had a personal run-in with Hamer many years ago, but at least he was an honest man in many ways and was an old fashioned 'fan' at heart who supported numerous supporter led initiatives.
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Post by mehewmagic on Mar 7, 2020 17:22:33 GMT
I met with Tom Gorringe at his request about 2 years ago just to touch base. I've only spoken to him once since when he provided a prize for the FFSC draw. There was no desire on either side to have or allow any kind of official engagement here. I explained at the time that ANYONE can make an account and post here but that no special treatment would be given. As far as I'm concerned that remains the case. I think its actually a positive that that the club dont use this forum and that we continue to be fully impartial, though I do understand we could benefit from some official input from time to time! They don't see us as fans. To them, we are just customer's to be milked. At last someone realises. I can 100% guarantee that 'behind the scenes' no-one genuinely cares about GASHEADS and it is just a job for them. They just do not care and have no affiliation for us. Simple. We are an economic commodity and they have made very very damaging medium term and long term decisions based on this belief.
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Post by mehewmagic on Mar 7, 2020 17:16:42 GMT
Don't know if Wael ever reads this forum or if anyone is a friend of his on facebook or whatever but the owner needs to be told that Starnes' behaviour is P*ssing people off almost as much as the dire football being served up. Both are costing him money as fans stay away. If he knew it won't change a thing. It's rotten.
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Post by mehewmagic on Jan 19, 2020 22:56:27 GMT
Like others have alluded to , our training ground is the same training that was in use during our back to back promotions. I’m not saying that it’s great but come on , this is hardly breaking news is it ? True, however the lack of progress on real trg facilities directly led to DC getting so wound up that he became quite a poor and embittered manager at the end, And was also a clear reason why GC left. At some point surely we need to sort this out, and sooner rather than later. I certainly agree it's not new, but that doesn't make it less relevant. Non-league Martin O'Neill turned us (Championship Rovers) down in 1991 directly after seeing where we trained.
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Post by mehewmagic on Jan 19, 2020 22:39:18 GMT
You'd go back to the last few days of Higgs ownership? Because you thought we had potential? Oh dear. We had approved plans for a decent stadium and just needed somebody to fund it which the ALQ's promised they would, with debts "only" around £2m(?). Now we have no stadium plans and debts of £10m+. Hush your mouth! A 'cheap', pretty much perfect stadium, near a railway station, dual carriageway, motorway & quite a lot of existing parking. A bloody chance of a lifetime. Surely we didn't get THAT close did we? Pocket money for landsdown (in fact the players they sold last season were close to £30million). I realise it it is totally unacceptable and against the grain to mention this (TBF our history is not the fault of the current owners) but... I've been a gashead for 32 years and this was the first time we got close. I can hardly even imagine how gasheads of 50 years standing must feel.
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Post by mehewmagic on Jan 19, 2020 22:23:26 GMT
You cant win - its Waels club but we must come up with the future plans before we can have say even as paying customers - it's like saying you cant complain about a product in sainsburys without giving them a viable alternative to purchase instead! We are being treated like customers so I'm going to f**king act like one!!! I don't owe wael sh**!!! Actually being treated like a customer would actually be better! Imagine being treated like this by a high street brand - you wouldn't shop there again would you! They take us for granted and abuse our loyalty! Disgusting! I certainly agree with your opening gambit. I find that so strange; that people are not really allowed to point out serious weaknesses and lack of progress unless they either A - buy / invest in the club themselves B - can say who would buy the club instead of the current owners C - have a huge masterplan of exactly how they would run the club / finance it D - know the secret formalue of Coca-Cola
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Post by mehewmagic on Jan 19, 2020 22:18:24 GMT
As I said why would NH & co allow the club to go into Admim when the Mem was worth £25m over a poxy, in relative terms, £2m debt, something would have most likely been worked out we'd have a found a white knight. Even if we had gone into Admim it's not like a sum which would have totally sunk a club of our size, when the likes of Bolton have survived Admin it's only small clubs like Bury, with a near £4m debt, and Hereford who've gone completely, even both of them look like reforming and keeing their stadiums. I can't be bothered to argue with you because it's obvious you have no idea what you're talking about. Have you run out of pithy soundbites and funny putdowns? TBF topper may not have put the point across perfectly but he has a point. When exactly did it become established fact that without a takeover we would have folded / been in admin / bankruptcy / loss of stadium / Armageddon etc? There are many many examples in football when a relatively small debt, compared to assets, did NOT lead to Armageddon.
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