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Post by hungdrawnandquarters on Jun 8, 2019 11:05:05 GMT
Problem is, it's a wonderful thought, fans Club to own the fans Club, but when everyone realises how much they'd have to financially commit to, goes a bit quiet. Exactly this, which is why many of these things are happening at a lower level of the football pyramid as the finances at this level would be an extremely difficult thing to achieve. The German 50+1 model is a great example of how things could be achieved unfortunately I think it’s to late for the English game to model its self on something similar. I believe the fans could achieve smaller things at this level and help the club progress but this would need the owners to be receptive of ideas and some small outside investment from us as fans. Wether they would be receptive of the ideas I don’t know, we don’t have enough information currently and we don’t know what the owners plans are moving forward. Are they already working on things to move the club forward? Are they just happy to cover loses at the moment without big investment? Are they looking to sell up and get out? We just don’t know players get paid far too much really, I'm a great believer in people being paid a fair wage but football us crazy, how players in the third tier can be worthy of £4000 a week I don't understand. I saw a French third tier team last year over there that level isn't all full time. I guess the obsession to make the premier League the best in the world and bring in the best foreign players filters down through the pyramid. I do think it's sustainable though, club's need sugar daddies prepared to lose money just to survive. I fear eventually we'll get premier League reserve teams in the EFL because all the other teams have folded and they are the only people that will be able to afford the wage demands. It's a symptom of football being more and more about money.
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Post by CrispPusher on Jun 8, 2019 11:24:35 GMT
Hi all! Blame roady for this thread! As a fan base we aren’t half great at moaning, being sarcastic and bashing the club whilst sitting on our hands. Roady made a good point that we need to act and not just talk. I’m no millionaire or billionaire but I have the passion to try to make measurable improvements. Therefore I wanted to start a thread about genuine positive ideas for creating a better more sustainable and enjoyable BRFC. I’m willing to help in anyway possible. I would just like this to be the base for any money making ideas, improvements etc etc All ideas welcome! Wouldn’t it be nice for something positive to happen and us turn around and think “WE DID THAT!” LETS MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Saw this the other day and thought it was interesting, shows what can be done if fans contribute to making the club greater. 5 minutes in shows how they renovated their own ground. Got promoted to the German first division this year. Portsmouth fans had a great opportunity to do something like that, but they sold out to the Disney bloke at the first opportunity and now complain about lack of investment.
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Post by wertongas on Jun 8, 2019 11:35:40 GMT
From the awayyyyyyy end terrace right round to the guinesssssss stand to be replaced with a large wraparound temporary stand. The sort you see hierdoor in when non league teams draw a big team in the cup or Gloucestershire cricket once upon a time. You could also get rid of that pathetic family tent and replace with same but extended along with another big screen ( has the first one arriveert yet?) This will completely transform visually our ramshackle Ground for very little outlay whilst we wait and wait and wait and wait for our new ground at Filton. As pointed out before any stand at the away end will obstruct viewing from the dribuild, only way it could be overcome is by building a two tier stand onto the end of the dribuild, could put fitness center and coffee shop under it to bring in some decent revenue but probably need a couple million investment for that.
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Post by orgasmic on Jun 8, 2019 11:40:26 GMT
Mobile food/drink vendors Stalls inside the ground Park and ride 50/50 to pay for roof An example of another EFL clubs efforts An example of a German teams efforts Incentivise the staff Not a bad starting point really. In fairness as well the conversation about whether DS would welcome this has been constructive. I probably forgot a few ideas too so I would say his point has validity but this thread is offering a tonic to it. Fair points but how many contributors? A lot of ideas from the man who started the thread and fair play to him and everyone who’s come up with something. I’m yet to see one of the many people who would be fantastic at running our club chip in with anything yet though.... Not many...I guess that could in part be down to the sub debate on whether it would be welcomed by DS. If people don't believe it would be welcomed, why contribute?
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Post by eastgas on Jun 8, 2019 12:34:01 GMT
Fair points but how many contributors? A lot of ideas from the man who started the thread and fair play to him and everyone who’s come up with something. I’m yet to see one of the many people who would be fantastic at running our club chip in with anything yet though.... Not many...I guess that could in part be down to the sub debate on whether it would be welcomed by DS. If people don't believe it would be welcomed, why contribute? This would need to be the start point before any serious discussion could take place. I think there would be many many good ideas put forward and many people willing to help move things forward if the owners were open to new ideas and help from fan groups. This really needs to be your first step opening dialogue with the owners to sound them out
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2019 12:41:41 GMT
Not many...I guess that could in part be down to the sub debate on whether it would be welcomed by DS. If people don't believe it would be welcomed, why contribute? This would need to be the start point before any serious discussion could take place. I think there would be many many good ideas put forward and many people willing to help move things forward if the owners were open to new ideas and help from fan groups. This really needs to be your first step opening dialogue with the owners to sound them out Remind me again what ken masters does....
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Post by nsgas on Jun 8, 2019 14:25:40 GMT
If the club was being run at break-even and only paying the players what it could afford, then I would happily donate money to help improve facilities. As it is we are in the ridiculous position of losing £3.3m a year. The millions wasted on out of control spending since the Al Qadis took over could have built a couple of very nice new stands without any help needed from supporters.
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Post by gashead1981 on Jun 8, 2019 14:48:07 GMT
To outright purchase the club, The shares are available for £1, but you would need £15m to secure the debt and that doesn’t include future expenditure and a current loss rate of £3.3m.
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Post by Kingswood Polak on Jun 9, 2019 10:37:16 GMT
All this talk about raising money etc for the club. It's already being done and has been for several seasons by the FFSC. This was started on the forum by JontheStripe and has been supported on here by myself and others since the start. It's only a tenner a season and we have sponsored players shirts, had hospitality meets, given out prizes etc etc. And now to my point. In spite of loads of posts on here I believe the largest number of members we have had is around 200 and yet it has always been noticeable that loads of regular and prolific posters on here have never bothered to pay a tenner and join. May I suggest when Parrot announces next season's FFSC that everybody on here joins and then we can start to make some serious money for the club we all love. Come on JTS, Parrot and Hugo, let's really go for it! UTG! In total agreement plus there is the social side to it where the FFSC will do a couple of hospitality games and sponsor the game, it’s a great way to meet other forum posters. Once you get to know others, it then helps when reading their posts, you tend not to say some of the daft things that you would, to someone you don’t know. I would ask that all posters join up. It really is a great way to help the club and in the knowledge that all monies will be spent to help the club and absolutely nothing to the guys the do the work and admin. Great shout bidefordgas
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Post by Kingswood Polak on Jun 9, 2019 10:47:19 GMT
Mobile food/drink vendors Stalls inside the ground Park and ride 50/50 to pay for roof An example of another EFL clubs efforts An example of a German teams efforts Incentivise the staff Not a bad starting point really. In fairness as well the conversation about whether DS would welcome this has been constructive. I probably forgot a few ideas too so I would say his point has validity but this thread is offering a tonic to it. Fair points but how many contributors? A lot of ideas from the man who started the thread and fair play to him and everyone who’s come up with something. I’m yet to see one of the many people who would be fantastic at running our club chip in with anything yet though.... Who said anything about running the club ? The truth is that you can approach the club but, going on past experience and hearing from people who have had meetings with the club, they have been told it’s not welcomed. Message vaughan on gasheads and he will tell you. The closest thing we have is the Fans Forum sponsor club aka FFSC & that has been very helpful, without being seen as intrusive. I don’t think anyone is saying they could, nor have the ability, to run the club but more that they would like to help. It also brings fellow fans together.
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Post by Jomo on Jun 9, 2019 11:06:22 GMT
If the club was being run at break-even and only paying the players what it could afford, then I would happily donate money to help improve facilities. As it is we are in the ridiculous position of losing £3.3m a year. The millions wasted on out of control spending since the Al Qadis took over could have built a couple of very nice new stands without any help needed from supporters. What out of control spending have they done exactly that could have paid for 2 new stands?
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Post by scdave on Jun 10, 2019 15:18:50 GMT
In order not to duplicate suggestions here are some I have passed on to the club;
3rd kit - rainbow design. The Bristol Pride festival saw 50,000 people attend. Should be good publicity for the club,(similar to the pink shirts), a potential good earner and could possibly attract a new potential audience. Tom G advised he worked with LBGT groups in Brighton so has ideas.
Will writing service. Pretty morbid but how many minutes applause have we had in the last 3 years. If the club had a linked solicitors, the club could ask for say 1% of estate to be donated to the club. The sols would extra custom. ( potential for other services - house move, divorce, etc. Tom G has contacted sols but they have been slow in responding.
Bank acc - the Bristol & West acc raised around £30k pa at its peak, with adults and kids acc getting 5% interest and the club getting 1% of the total interest. Tom G investigating.
Turnstile opening times. At 1.30 around 60 people enter the ground. By 1.45 about 80 fans in the ground. If not a FL regulation, why not open at 1.45. Would save around £4k a year on wages ( turnstile operators, stewards, pasty hut staff etc). Only around 60 fans would be involved in delay.
Colour leaflet showing Pirate Leisure products issued with 50/50 winning envelope and internet sales to try and promote new sales.
Contracts - why a year to end of July? Why not 10 months to end of May? If we must pay a player to end of July why not announce the retained list later and ensure players take part in community or hospitality type events in May and early June? If LEDs and Sincs were to officially say goodbye last Thurs at the Nations League game, I'm sure more than 11 people would turn up.
Season Tickets - why not raise the price by £5 and give a voucher to anyone who buys one b4 end of May for say "free" pint at Nations League game and Open Day? Possibly would help to attract larger audience.
2pm kick off in winter- would save on floodlight costs and could prevent call offs. Remember Hartlepool game called off at around 3.20. If only 30 mins left, the game might have been completed.
Portable Bars near away end for large away following? Believe club have explored.
PDF adverts on website (for kid a quid etc) fans can then print a copy and put up in work, school, clubs etc to help advertise events.
Leaflet drops - when Trish was employed by the club she used to do a newsletter telling people in the local area when there were games, so they could avoid car parking issues but also FC and SC events at the Mem. There used to be about ,5 or 6 social events each month back then.
One lady and her friend turned up for a chicken in a basket meal to watch an Elvis tribute. They had no affiliation to Rovers, rugby or the Mem. With the next three years they booked a whole table (12 people) for each chicken in a basket meal, booked Christmas meals and lunches for work do's and around ten women went to watch a game in the stands. All this just because of a leaflet drop.
Re portable catering this has been raised by SC and has a wealth of H&S concerns.
I have been told delays at pasty huts not helped by the need for one person to deal with money, another to deal with food. It would mean person dealing with cards/ cash would have to wash hands after every transaction if they handled food even with gloves on.
Overall, I think fans suggestions are good but H&S and licencing laws (and money), the PFA, and official suppliers like Macron, restrict what the club can do. As an ex-SC committee member, I find a lot of fans say what should be done, but do not offer the time to do it themselves.
When the Share scheme started, there were lots of volunteers, Rik and Sladey, Tim Blake etc who were co opted to the SC. Personally, I think this the way forward. Fans can spend as much or as little helping on certain projects.
It is very well saying an independent SC is the future, like a co-operative or the Gas Trust, but I think it will run out of steam very shortly. Young fans have the chance every year to join the SC and help it evolve, but not many people want to take the time and effort. If people want to change, then they have to put themselves forward.
My involvement came because I played football with Robbie Sparks. A lot of people don't know him, but he was the person who started the fans initiative Raise the Roof. Robbie spoke to Ron Craig and Geoff D and they just said go for it. Four of us started doing Golden Goal tickets on the coaches, car boot sales and raffles. Then Steve Burns suggested the 50/50 co opted us to the SC we got the Blackthorn roof and the rest is history.
I try and tell fans on here when we are short of sellers. Not one person has volunteered just to help just as cover 3-4 timed a season. When we are short it means around £50 at least is potentially lost for programme/50/50 sales is if I can't sell in the pubs they may leave at 2.50 and not have time before kick off to wait in a queue for a program or 50/50.
There must be fresh blood out there with time who could help. If not they should support the initiatives in place.
Ie Jamie's bid on the side. If you have any unwanted football items ( not just Gas, donate them to the SC and he will sell on eBay. This had raised over £2k
I have held a post match 50/50 draw in the clubhouse bar since relegation to the conference and helps sponsor first year pros (including Russe and Kilgour). This has also raised over £2k for the club.
Small fry I know, but fans initiatives can work if we all support them.
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Post by scdave on Jun 10, 2019 15:24:58 GMT
This would need to be the start point before any serious discussion could take place. I think there would be many many good ideas put forward and many people willing to help move things forward if the owners were open to new ideas and help from fan groups. This really needs to be your first step opening dialogue with the owners to sound them out Remind me again what ken masters does.... Not sure if I have added the quote correctly (sorry I am a bit of a Luddite), but when I was on the committee Ken raised over £50k in funding for the community dept. Cannot comment on alleged leaks as at committee meetings he and Brian often could not answer questions from other committee members due to confidentiality agreements.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2019 18:13:58 GMT
Blimey every aspect of the club seems to be shrouded in confidentiality agreements.
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Post by baggins on Jun 10, 2019 18:17:14 GMT
Blimey every aspect of the club seems to be shrouded in confidentiality agreements. Source?
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Post by Antonio Fargas on Jun 10, 2019 18:20:37 GMT
Blimey every aspect of the club seems to be shrouded in confidentiality agreements. Not sure you're allowed to reveal that.
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Post by Jon the Stripe on Jun 10, 2019 19:34:35 GMT
All this talk about raising money etc for the club. It's already being done and has been for several seasons by the FFSC. This was started on the forum by JontheStripe and has been supported on here by myself and others since the start. It's only a tenner a season and we have sponsored players shirts, had hospitality meets, given out prizes etc etc. And now to my point. In spite of loads of posts on here I believe the largest number of members we have had is around 200 and yet it has always been noticeable that loads of regular and prolific posters on here have never bothered to pay a tenner and join. May I suggest when Parrot announces next season's FFSC that everybody on here joins and then we can start to make some serious money for the club we all love. Come on JTS, Parrot and Hugo, let's really go for it! UTG! Good point Dave and i hope you are keeping well. It appears we roughly end up with the same 150 ish each season which is a shame, we could do so much more but its very hard encouraging others to join in.
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Post by Jon the Stripe on Jun 10, 2019 19:43:01 GMT
FAO Quartered: I believe you started this thread and i saw it the other day and was about to offer some advice. But, all your posts seem to have disappeared, may i ask why? I genuinely thought we had someone in yourself to 'have a go' What happened my friend?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2019 19:48:05 GMT
FAO Quartered: I believe you started this thread and i saw it the other day and was about to offer some advice. But, all your posts seem to have disappeared, may i ask why? I genuinely thought we had someone in yourself to 'have a go' What happened my friend? oh yes well spotted. Been paid to keep quiet by WAQ or transferred to Walsall?
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Post by Jon the Stripe on Jun 10, 2019 19:51:03 GMT
FAO Quartered: I believe you started this thread and i saw it the other day and was about to offer some advice. But, all your posts seem to have disappeared, may i ask why? I genuinely thought we had someone in yourself to 'have a go' What happened my friend? oh yes well spotted. Been paid to keep quiet by WAQ or transferred to Walsall? Good one, but seriously it concerns me , he appeared so positive and determined.
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