OK, the season is over and frankly I feel quite relieved by that. Normally I would feel excited by the summer, I'd look forward to seeing who we're chasing and who comes in and who leaves. However the last several transfer windows have shown us that we're not going to be major players in the market. I don't think that situation will improve this summer, in fact I think it's going to be worse, possibly much, much worse.
Personally I think we're going to have several problems this summer, starting with a lack of money to buy anyone good OR pay high enough wages to attract good players to us. We just aren't a club that looks like success is just around the corner and it may be years before we are with the numbers being bandied around (eg 182 million in debt now according to some sources).
So a rebuild of the squad is going to have to be done either from within (the development squad etc) or on the very, very cheap from without piece by piece rather than a wholesale restructure which is what I believe we need and desperately.
Add in the uncertainty about Eddie. (is he selling us or not?) There have been reports that he didn't pay the last set of wages and the Warburton family lent us the money. If that's the case then can he still fund anything and if so does he want to?
I suspect we're going to be at best a mid-table Championship club until we find a new owner and chairman or some sort of miracle happens akin to Man Utd's 'Class of 92' from our youth team. (Which is about as likely as me becoming the next President of the USA in my opinion).
I realise I sound very pessimistic right now but I truly feel not even Neil Lennon will be able to make us promotion contenders next season unless there are major changes behind the scenes. Perhaps in a few days I'll feel more optimistic. I rate Neil as a manager highly but the fact he signed Eidur and Emile on contracts for next term suggests to me he's so short of funds and options that he had no choice. It also suggested that he doesn't feel the 'fringe' players from the Development Squad are going to be ready, at least not for the start of next term. I foresee difficult days ahead. We've seen them before though and I think we'll get through these too but I'm not confident that it will happen overnight or even in the next two or three years.
Here comes the Summer but I don't think it
posted on 3/5/15
The warbies bailing us out Goodness knows what happens when the parachute payments stop that's if the last one has not already been gobbled up by the bank, we will need more than lifeline this time. We are more likely to be in league one than the premier league anytime soon.
posted on 4/5/15
Yes money is tight and we are in the dark days once again but look at Burnley they are not bank rolled by million s and made it to the PL they spent nithing and got promoted. Its about NL now and his team the team he can put together and his tactics. Half of the team who started Saturday will be out as we know so his hard work starts now. I for one feel we will be better next season and be pushing for the playoffs.
posted on 4/5/15
Telford I really hope you're right. But the pattern of the last few windows suggests that we'll see another summer of rumours that turn into nothing followed by a couple of last minute loan signings to try and paper over the Grand Canyon sized cracks in our squad. I wish I could say we've got enough to compete anyway but we just haven't, Neil's a great manager but even the greats have to have something to work with.