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Post by yattongas on Mar 1, 2024 9:07:16 GMT
Did anyone ask why do we bring everyone back for corners? Doesn't seem to be any comments on any questions direct to MT? Yes . basically we’ll carry on doing it this season but hopefully we won’t have to next season with different players . Ie those that attack the ball aerially better in the team. |
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Post by outsidehitter30 on Mar 1, 2024 9:19:58 GMT
This was a post meeting question I asked TG last night I had been asked by two people to pose.
"Why is there no financing on season tickets available?"
TG said - Most of the smaller clubs use the same finance company & they had pulled there support for all the smaller clubs but were still trading with the bigger clubs. This had caught the Rovers by surprise as it wasn't expected! He did'nt expect to be able to get anything in place in the short term!
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Post by gashead1981 on Mar 1, 2024 9:21:37 GMT
I was there last night. It was a good meeting in all. Abdullatif was happy to chuck TG under the bus for his previous operational mistakes and it appears hes become a bit of a PA rather than a CEO. It was me who questioned him on the finance side of his model for the club. My questions were how were the stands going to be funded at the ground, the training ground built/remodelled to Cat 1 status? His reply was a mixture of selling some land at The Quarters, investments from established partners and the owners own pockets. He said that his family have very good relationships with banks through their previous projects for low rates of interest on any monies borrowed. He stated the The Quarters is around 30 acres in size of which only 5 is currently in use. The plan is to sell around 5 acres for housing to fund the Cat 1 academy. I asked how much he expected to raise (3 times!) from that to go towards the project? He said it would be around £8m. I also asked him if the money spent was going to go on the clubs balance sheet as debt or is it gifted by the owners with the debt capitalised and he dodged that question. He was insistant that infrastructure was the key to building us as a ready made PL club which is sustainable in the championship. My impression is that The stadium is what is important to the 3 year model, EG, start building next year with the hope to be there by the time the stand is completed with the TG a much longer and larger project. I also detected that if they go get to the championship with the infrastucture built it is where these owners will exit and get their money back. Just my opinion, but thats my impression. He explained the pricing structure well, but it still isnt satisfactory in some area, especially with the kids pricing. Abdullatif blamed the lack of seating and facility but that still doesnt equate for the pricing model for getting kids into the ground especially with the SW now complete. It urgently needs to be looked at IMO. I did ask a small question about structure and who the 2 new directors were but i wanted to get into the finances really. I thought it was telling when TG was asked why he didnt write the programme notes anymore and no addressed the elephant in the room that it wasnt his job anymore really because Abdullatif is now in charge! Or thats how I saw it at least and it was a waffly answer about them wanting to control output. |
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Post by dudelebowski on Mar 1, 2024 9:27:36 GMT
Which one of these names is “the owners son” aka Satan himself that some people frequently refer to?
Just curious.
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Post by purdownpoacher1 on Mar 1, 2024 9:32:25 GMT
Yes I went . Investing 30-35 million into club , 30-40% coming from selling land for housing at quarters . Owners son spoke well and was very open . Cat one training ground academy is the aim . He waffled a bit about kids prices and tried to compare Man City and Man Utd with us and the Teds. Basically, kids will choose us over them if we’re doing better than them . But then says it’ll take 3-5 to get to Championship with a decent enough stadium to stay there. So in the meantime, just swallow the high prices I guess 🙄 Good night though and the future sounds bright , but talk is cheap. oh yeah , and we’ve signed a few commercial deals which will be announced soon. Big screen being installed in summer. Thanks for that yatton ! Interesting🤔🤔🤔💙 |
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Post by purdownpoacher1 on Mar 1, 2024 9:35:00 GMT
JCH didn’t sign because he moved the goal posts at the last minute asking for more money. Just like I said (guessed) all along ! Exactly as I also said. But most wouldn’t have it🤷🏻♂️ Dodged a bullet with that one, very pleased we didn’t sign him 👍💙 |
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Post by gasify on Mar 1, 2024 9:36:33 GMT
There was something that Abdullatif said about the quarters that I picked up on. Could be something, could be nothing. He said that they were thinking of building a stand there so that people could watch the under 21's. Now, someone jump in with the wording of that covenant. Is it fans cannot watch a sporting event or we cannot charge for fans to watch a sporting event? I missed that bit. |
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Post by gashead1981 on Mar 1, 2024 9:36:49 GMT
I was there last night. It was a good meeting in all. Abdullatif was happy to chuck TG under the bus for his previous operational mistakes and it appears hes become a bit of a PA rather than a CEO. It was me who questioned him on the finance side of his model for the club. My questions were how were the stands going to be funded at the ground, the training ground built/remodelled to Cat 1 status? His reply was a mixture of selling some land at The Quarters, investments from established partners and the owners own pockets. He said that his family have very good relationships with banks through their previous projects for low rates of interest on any monies borrowed. He stated the The Quarters is around 30 acres in size of which only 5 is currently in use. The plan is to sell around 5 acres for housing to fund the Cat 1 academy. I asked how much he expected to raise (3 times!) from that to go towards the project? He said it would be around £8m.
I also asked him if the money spent was going to go on the clubs balance sheet as debt or is it gifted by the owners with the debt capitalised and he dodged that question. He was insistant that infrastructure was the key to building us as a ready made PL club which is sustainable in the championship. My impression is that The stadium is what is important to the 3 year model, EG, start building next year with the hope to be there by the time the stand is completed with the TG a much longer and larger project. I also detected that if they go get to the championship with the infrastucture built it is where these owners will exit and get their money back. Just my opinion, but thats my impression. He explained the pricing structure well, but it still isnt satisfactory in some area, especially with the kids pricing. Abdullatif blamed the lack of seating and facility but that still doesnt equate for the pricing model for getting kids into the ground especially with the SW now complete. It urgently needs to be looked at IMO. I was also there las night! It was a really good meeting. I both agree & disagree with some of your interpretation of what was said:"Abdullatif was happy to chuck TG under the bus for his previous operational mistakes and it appears hes become a bit of a PA rather than a CEO."At times he definately did. Car parking charges, lack of infrastructure and south stand issues were the things that came to mind. Put it this way, it came across as "this is what i'm doing and this is his mess". "He stated the The Quarters is around 30 acres in size of which only 5 is currently in use. The plan is to sell around 5 acres for housing to fund the Cat 1 academy. I asked how much he expected to raise (3 times!) from that to go towards the project? He said it would be around £8m."
As exec VP he will have to know numbers and I would expect him to. He said the money wasnt coming from him, which is understandable and accepted, but he will certainly know the numbers on what financed is raised, how and from where (in fact he touched on that) and where that will sit on the balance sheet. "I also detected that if they go get to the championship with the infrastucture built it is where these owners will exit and get their money back. Just my opinion, but thats my impression.I agree with this completely! They will be gone within 3 to 5 Years! Add value then leave. BTW Gashead81 Abdulatif said it was the best question of the night. I agree completely. Well asked, & pushed about the financing.  |
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Post by gasify on Mar 1, 2024 9:38:55 GMT
Did anyone ask why do we bring everyone back for corners? Doesn't seem to be any comments on any questions direct to MT? Yes . basically we’ll carry on doing it this season but hopefully we won’t have to next season with different players . Ie those that attack the ball aerially better in the team. I wish that they had video's it. Matt Taylors responses were good and I agree with what he said. Need to win the ball 1st more. However, his facial expressions when Abdullatif was saying things made me laugh. Some of it, he reacting like it was the first time he had heard it... |
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Post by gashead1981 on Mar 1, 2024 9:40:09 GMT
This was a post meeting question I asked TG last night I had been asked by two people to pose. "Why is there no financing on season tickets available?" TG said - Most of the smaller clubs use the same finance company & they had pulled there support for all the smaller clubs but were still trading with the bigger clubs. This had caught the Rovers by surprise as it wasn't expected! He did'nt expect to be able to get anything in place in the short term! To offer finance you have to be FCA regulated. An outside company can be employed to do that for you but they may have to be some kind of corporate partner and be vetted by the EFL or they may have looked at the numbers from their end and decided it wasnt worth their while. It would be interesting to know how many bought on finance last year and what the finance companies kick back was from the club. |
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Post by faggotygas on Mar 1, 2024 9:45:21 GMT
Thinking about tonight’s claim that we’ll be spending 30-35m on the quarters creating 13 pitches and an indoor dome to make cat 1 academy and the stadium rebuild. Surely just the first part is going to cost £15 million (at least ) ? 500k a pitch at a guess plus the dome which must be at least a few million? Just the south stand was 3.1 M . Not sure the numbers stack up . Blimey glad you're not running the club A grass pitch is about £100k, possibly less if you are creating a few at once. A domed artificial pitch is £1million tops, and can be hired out when the club aren't using it. |
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Post by Gassy on Mar 1, 2024 9:46:03 GMT
£30-£40m on stadium and training ground sounds like proper stands being built. Especially if the car park will be out of action for the East stand.
Id be surprised, but very curious to see these plans.
All sounds like it was really positive and the updates we all needed, but I won't get excited yet. Been through this rollercoaster a few too many times
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Post by oldmarket65 on Mar 1, 2024 9:49:07 GMT
Did anyone ask why the ground capacity is 12500 . However away allocation is a mere 1300. This means we are losing 50k per game and up to 500k per season in lost revenue.
For example Derby will be 9000 plus instead of a 12500 sell out . The same v Bolton Reading Pompey Charlton . Barnsley & Wigan would of brought a lot more .
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Post by gasify on Mar 1, 2024 9:49:42 GMT
I was there last night. It was a good meeting in all. Abdullatif was happy to chuck TG under the bus for his previous operational mistakes and it appears hes become a bit of a PA rather than a CEO. It was me who questioned him on the finance side of his model for the club. My questions were how were the stands going to be funded at the ground, the training ground built/remodelled to Cat 1 status? His reply was a mixture of selling some land at The Quarters, investments from established partners and the owners own pockets. He said that his family have very good relationships with banks through their previous projects for low rates of interest on any monies borrowed. He stated the The Quarters is around 30 acres in size of which only 5 is currently in use. The plan is to sell around 5 acres for housing to fund the Cat 1 academy. I asked how much he expected to raise (3 times!) from that to go towards the project? He said it would be around £8m.
I also asked him if the money spent was going to go on the clubs balance sheet as debt or is it gifted by the owners with the debt capitalised and he dodged that question. He was insistant that infrastructure was the key to building us as a ready made PL club which is sustainable in the championship. My impression is that The stadium is what is important to the 3 year model, EG, start building next year with the hope to be there by the time the stand is completed with the TG a much longer and larger project. I also detected that if they go get to the championship with the infrastucture built it is where these owners will exit and get their money back. Just my opinion, but thats my impression.He explained the pricing structure well, but it still isnt satisfactory in some area, especially with the kids pricing. Abdullatif blamed the lack of seating and facility but that still doesnt equate for the pricing model for getting kids into the ground especially with the SW now complete. It urgently needs to be looked at IMO. I think it is a bit harsh to put numbers on it. He said 30-40% and when he said the £8M figure, he specifically said don't quote me on that number. I agree that they are here to add value to the club and then sell up. I can't begrudge them that. Football is so different to any other business. Almost all Championship clubs, if not all Championship clubs make a loss. The model is broken. When speaking to him afterwards, he said that he had been in meetings with the Premiership teams and he was shocked that Premiership clubs were arguing over having to increase the pot for the lower league. The figure he mentioned was £500k. He said some premiership clubs are refusing to pay an additional £500k and the make millions of pounds in profit. Football is broken. I blame Jimmy Hill, Sky Sports and the Premiership. There is no sustainable business model that doesn't include Premiership football. |
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Post by DrFaustus on Mar 1, 2024 9:52:31 GMT
Does anyone else think, "Yeah, ok. I don't believe you"?
Might be just me overdosing on the cynicism biscuits.
Hopefully wrong etc.
Onwards and round and round.
UT(F)G 🏴☠️🤡
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Post by gasify on Mar 1, 2024 9:52:40 GMT
Did anyone ask why the ground capacity is 12500 . However away allocation is a mere 1300. This means we are losing 50k per game and up to 500k per season in lost revenue. For example Derby will be 9000 plus instead of a 12500 sell out . The same v Bolton Reading Pompey Charlton . Barnsley & Wigan would of brought a lot more . We don't need to ask that. We know that. You cannot give extra tickets to away fans in the South Stand as there is no way to keep them apart. Oh, he also said after that they were working with the council to get additional access to the south stand. The access way that was mentioned on the South Stand thread seems to be legit. |
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Post by gasify on Mar 1, 2024 9:55:17 GMT
Does anyone else think, "Yeah, ok. I don't believe you"? Might be just me overdosing on the cynicism biscuits. Hopefully wrong etc. Onwards and round and round. UT(F)G 🏴☠️🤡 Absolutely. What was said about the new stadium. Will believe it when we are sat in it. This was very much a PR stunt. I don't think it would have happened if we were in a play off spot. We can only judge when we see what resources Matt Taylor is given over the summer. |
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Post by yattongas on Mar 1, 2024 9:55:41 GMT
Thinking about tonight’s claim that we’ll be spending 30-35m on the quarters creating 13 pitches and an indoor dome to make cat 1 academy and the stadium rebuild. Surely just the first part is going to cost £15 million (at least ) ? 500k a pitch at a guess plus the dome which must be at least a few million? Just the south stand was 3.1 M . Not sure the numbers stack up . Blimey glad you're not running the club A grass pitch is about £100k, possibly less if you are creating a few at once. A domed artificial pitch is £1million tops, and can be hired out when the club aren't using it. quick google at 2019 prices: *How much does it cost to build a natural turf pitch? A full-sized, natural grass sports pitch will cost £120,000 on average, however natural turf pitches can cost between £50,000 – £350,000 depending on the pitch specification, performance level and location. Pitch renovation generally costs between £15,000 – £20,000 for a full-sized annual pitch renovation. The main factors that will impact the overall pitch cost are: Size and dimensions of the pitch or pitches Scope of earthworks required Chosen drainage and irrigation systems Amount of sand required for amelioration into top soil Environmental mitigation methods Floodlighting, fencing and equipment requirements Additional work is also often required in the form of ancillary equipment (team shelters, pavilions, spectator areas) and civil engineering (access pathways, hard standings, roadways and car parks), so this may need to be factored into your costs. Please get in touch if you’d like an example of a detailed breakdown of project costs, or a quote on the cost of building a natural turf pitch for your needs.* Just have a look at the land those 13 pitches will be sited. That’s a LOT of work and costs. I’m sticking with 500k for decent standard pitches at the quarters . |
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Post by stuart1974 on Mar 1, 2024 9:58:24 GMT
Blimey glad you're not running the club A grass pitch is about £100k, possibly less if you are creating a few at once. A domed artificial pitch is £1million tops, and can be hired out when the club aren't using it. quick google at 2019 prices: *How much does it cost to build a natural turf pitch? A full-sized, natural grass sports pitch will cost £120,000 on average, however natural turf pitches can cost between £50,000 – £350,000 depending on the pitch specification, performance level and location. Pitch renovation generally costs between £15,000 – £20,000 for a full-sized annual pitch renovation. The main factors that will impact the overall pitch cost are: Size and dimensions of the pitch or pitches Scope of earthworks required Chosen drainage and irrigation systems Amount of sand required for amelioration into top soil Environmental mitigation methods Floodlighting, fencing and equipment requirements Additional work is also often required in the form of ancillary equipment (team shelters, pavilions, spectator areas) and civil engineering (access pathways, hard standings, roadways and car parks), so this may need to be factored into your costs. Please get in touch if you’d like an example of a detailed breakdown of project costs, or a quote on the cost of building a natural turf pitch for your needs.* Just have a look at the land those 13 pitches will be sited. That’s a LOT of work and costs. I’m sticking with 500k for decent standard pitches at the quarters . Not sure we can fit 13 full sized pitches, maybe some half sized ones too which would reduce costs. If anyone can find Womble's attempt at laying out pitches from the Quarters thread last year, it'll give an idea of the site. |
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Post by vaughan on Mar 1, 2024 10:00:05 GMT
My take is that Abdullatif is spending 3 weeks out of 4 at the club (stated), acting as pseudo Chief Operations Officer. He needs a Tom Gorringe for his legacy knowledge and to get things done. After his elevation as CEO, for Tom, it must now feel like a demotion. I suspect that Tom will persevere in role until he finds another role in football industry. It is what happens in business, following Mergers and Acquisitions.
TG did not refer to new owners once. The mood music was strained to say the least. TG's promotion was a Wael decision and that ship has sailed. Let's face it, the execution of the South Stand project was poor and the new owners will not entrust future infrastructure projects (see focus) to him or others under his wing.
Sorry to sound harsh, but if owners intend to spend millions of their own money, they will want to keep decision-making in-house.
The Academy Cat 1 objective, allied with the creation of development team, seemed naive to me. We need to compete with City, Southampton and Cardiff for talent, but we need to play kids in 1st team by age 20 max, not stockpile them for u23 development squad. There is a brilliant interview on YouTube with Chris Robinson (ex Chelsea) on perils of Academy football. He thinks U21, U23 development squads have minimal return, as the standard of competitive football is so poor past U18s.
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