Morning
On a side issue from management, I read the FFP rules about finances in the various leagues:
http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/FLExplainedDetail/0,,10794~2748246,00.html
We have been talking about the issues Dean faces over his next move with the club but the rules make interesting reading. Due to the transitional stage the rules are at there isnt a real penalty for us this season if we stay up but next season is when all the fun will start in that regard. So it is logical if there are to be any big losses to sustain us here they should happen now before we would get penalised for them. Its like the way Man City spent huge at first with the aim of lowering it as the FFP penalties come into effect. These are penalties linked to the losses issue and not the failure to pay taxes and the like which is already in effect but isnt our primary concern.
If we stay up when these rules are in place then failure to comply would involve a transfer embargo which would put us in a very tough spot as we then rely on having a strong deep squad which we dont have right now. Therefore we have to build up our squad to be able to meet this need, hence spend now not later.
Staying in the Championship (and complying with the rules) will mean a nice bonus every year from the promoted club's penalty taxes which they will no doubt incur as they spend to succeed. This may not be huge but if we are well run then it could help top things up a bit.
Promotion to the PL I wont even joke about.... so relegation would mean we wouldnt get any of those penalty taxes I mentioned above but no other real penalty. We would have to comply with the League 1 rules regards players wages as a percentage of turnover, which would be about 60%. Looking at our League 1 accounts I reckon we spent about 90% of our turnover on wages (based on the FY11 numbers as FY12 has promotion bonuses in them).
http://www.htafc.com/documents/2011.12-accounts-notes238-588996.pdf
Therefore we would breach those rules (maybe even moreso now with Championship contracts signed) and so could face a transfer embargo. In fact relegation to League 1 is penalised as there is no grace period for failure to comply like there is from the PL (where you get parachute payments aswell).
So in short, we need to spend now, spend big enough to survive and not have to spend big in a few years.
Hoyle's Golden Gamble
posted on 22/1/13
What gets me is all the goody two shoes calling all us 'moaners' not proper fans...
When Town do well, I praise them, if we are unlucky, I say hard lines, and if we are rubbish, I tell it how it is.
All those who won't hear a bad word said, you know who they are..the one's who say you can't call a blackboard a blackboard, you can't have a golly on the jamjar anymore...they hug trees and leave their dogs' poo all over the place...they don't agree with kids having competitions because some might be 'affected' because they didn't win..ffs !
If it cr-ap, it's cr-ap and no amount of psychological wishywashy tree hugging blurb will ever hide the truth.
So, yes we are rubbish at the moment, yes I am highly delighted we are in the Championship...yes I think Deano has put his money in and he is a 'saviour' after the previous useless Chairmen we've had...but....
when it's not working, why hide it ?
That blooming lot down at the JSS, Clibbins and co, are totally out of touch with the mood of the fans...they are too busy doing airy fairy stuff that's just a distraction from the number one priority...the football team...that is why we are all here isn't it ??
posted on 22/1/13
...and they are ones who bring their blooming picnic baskets to game, that tut tut when you shout, or if you need to get past them in the stands....the flipping paper napkin brigade.............
Rant over, feel a lot better now...thanks
posted on 22/1/13
Jacko, taking the idea of "it not working" I was wondering which parts you meant?
Obviously on the pitch its falling apart right now and I dont think anyone can disagree with that.
In terms of atmosphere I dont disagree that its not as good as it used to be. On the pitch failures have a huge impact on that as people are more up for being vocal and lively when there is something decent to watch. The thing is almost every set of fans talks about this as an issue so not sure whats the problem and whats the solution.
In terms of the business side of things I personally think we are doing well, just looking at the increase in commercial revenues alone we are clearly more focused than we were.
The charitable side of things seems a bit of a distraction but then again I would rather support a team that did this sort of thing than one who wouldnt.
In terms of supporters in general their profile has changed so much from the old cow shed days. In many ways its a good thing as it wasnt exactly safe to bring young kids in those days, I certainly had a few lucky escapes. The pricing is a continuing and worsening issue and this is almost totally linked to players wages as they are the area that have increased beyond all sense and fans are being put upon to pay for that. The only thing that will save football from eating itself is footballers wages reducing by a considerable margin.
posted on 22/1/13
“i dont think we have very many that anyone would pay even a reasonable price for at this moment in time..”
Haven’t you heard? The club has attached a price tag of £3m to one Jack Hunt, that famous mythical creature, the wing-back… Jack of all trades and master of none!
£3m would be quite a high bid for a hybrid!
posted on 22/1/13
Have we actually received a bid of £3M or is that the club telling people to sod off unless they pay over the odds???
If its the latter its a meaningless number as the reason most player sales are "undisclosed" is to hide any embaressment for how much players are traded for.
posted on 22/1/13
I've nothing against bumping up the commercial side of things...but unless it converts to making money available to improve the playing squad, what's the point ?
The object of HTAFC is to be a professional football club...we've waited too many years, under too many chairmen and managers to get back to Division 2 as was to risk blowing it in one season.
12 league games without a win, and not any hard luck stories in that either, you don't need a degree in nuclear science to suss out the summat is up !
What the fans want to see is some positive action to redress this...but as yet...zilch. We have some pretty good players at the club...adding more good players doesn't appear to be the solution..it seems..most people have worked that out already.
I sincerely hope Grayson finds a magic formula, because 3 games in 8 days coming up could see the current crisis descend into a catastrophy...
posted on 22/1/13
cardiff top of the league by 10 points have been buying..
im not sure he is even in their thoughts as a premier league player next season, just looks like an addition to get them over the line this season..
we need to change things to stay in this league.. I dont believe that is going to come from the management team and too many players are too comfortable in this "losing" team..
2 choices, sack the management team or bring in a couple of new faces to freshen it up and get some competition going..??
posted on 22/1/13
I think the truth of the matter is that the system (?) Grayson is trying to get the lads to play doesn't work and doesn't bring the best out of any of the players.
Seeing and hearing of some players' upset and anger after Warford doesn't equate to players who do not care, more about players who are fookin fed up and frustrated....
..but I'm only assuming... Something is definately not right though..
posted on 22/1/13
Blimey, I was only saying on New606 that these days fans jump down your throat if you dare to question Dean Hoyle,Simon Grayson and the rest of the clan.
Some people seem to think Dean knows best about everything but it's simply not true. Yes he's invested a large wad of cash in Town but that doesn't mean he always gets it right. Clibbens got a bit of stick on twitter last night and rightly so, but I think he takes it quite well and takes the feedback onboard.
I've only stated today that for some the season ticket isn't giving value for money, right now if you paid 499 for a season card in the DG lower you'd have been better off paying on the gate, that may change in the last few games but even if it does you have to question the big cash outlay
posted on 22/1/13
Well Bob....
There are more than a few questioning Grayson & his efforts, &.
The bloke who set him on !
You go to a pub on a regular basis, (any pub)
The is always off, for whatever reason, It's not enjoyable, The regulars moan, They moan because in the Autumn months everything was fine.
The place was a happy environment, The bar staff seemed to have a 'team spirit', The was most certainly very good, The food always tasty & hot,
All in all very good value for money........
That applies to a Cafe.
A restaurant,
anywhere you go, where you pay your hard earned to be entertained as in wanting to see value for money.
If it all goes 'glands' up...surly staff, Pathetic meals, a 'take it or leave it' attitude , what do people do...
They stop going.
If football clubs are/or have become.. a business like I keep getting told, Then the same applies.
Hoyle is no 'rookie' in any shape or form.
His non action had many Town fans annoyed even though the team were doing very well positional wise for 2 seasons...
The football now is worse...
The 'Cafe' owner doesn't even bother making sandwiches or turn on the Tea urn, That side is 'franchised' out.
People are walking out of the 'Cafe' grumbling,
They are unhappy, Maybe that 'All Day breakfast', apart from being poor quality isn't worth the asking price either. The rest of the public - who don't go to 'that' cafe- can't understand why people still patronize the place.....
in real life, That cafe shuts darn....
It's no good.
people find somewhere where they feel a lot happier, And who would blame them.
I want my cafe back...The way it used to be.
regular opening times I'm used to.
Have a choice where I want to sit...,
And most of all,
Be happy with the food I'm getting, at a fair price.
If we were getting defeated every week ( we just about are ) But really trying, narrow defeats against far superior quality sides..I'd be there every week cheering them on, giving as much financial & verbal support as possible...( I did it from about 1972 through to 1987)
People told me I was 'simple' ..'Crackers'.. 'Why do you waste your money' etc etc..
Never.
Never was the football as drab to watch as it is now, or the admissions so high relative to the take home pay.
That's why I'm moaning.
moaning is the 1st stage of..
Protest.
Protest is the thing that brings about change (or awareness )
We clearly need change one way or another..
Sooner rather than later.
Other wise the 'Cafe' may as well shut darn as far as I'm concerned.
As more seats become empty, That indicates more people are thinking the same.