Club update (21 Viewers)

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

There's only one question that needs answering, "when are the owners going to fuck off"

 

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[theferret]

They do nothing to maximise commercial income at the club, nor try to leverage the 13k+ ST holders for the benefit of increasing revenue.

The commercial operation is shambolic and has barely improved since the L2 days.

There is a world of difference between how the club is run commercially now than even just 2-3 years ago.

 

[Grendel]

There is a world of difference between how the club is run commercially now than even just 2-3 years ago.

Give some examples

 

[fatso]

We have no stadium as the owners never wanted one. That’s down to them

Pointing the finger of blame doesn't solve the current situation though does it.
I've yet to hear a single solution, just pointless bs from people who have clearly failed to grasp the financial situation we are in.

 

[theferret]

surely this is a pertinent statement,

Record Season Ticket sales and kit sales have helped hugely in generating revenue, and we thank fans for their support. This makes a big difference to the Club, both day-to-day and also having the Sky Blue Army behind the team in big numbers on matchdays. Commercial revenues generated also continue to increase, such as sponsorships. This, plus ticket revenue, has amounted to circa £1m increase compared to last season.

Have we spunked all the extra revenue away so soon?

The wage bill.

People who want the likes of Hamer, O'Hare and Vik to stay must reliase that, as their stock increases, there is a cost to that, otherwise they'd all be banging at the door trying to get out.

 

[Grendel]

Pointing the finger of blame doesn't solve the current situation though does it.
I've yet to hear a single solution, just pointless bs from people who have clearly failed to grasp the financial situation we are in.

We aren’t in a financial situation

We are in a situation where we are owned by a calculating hedge fund that treats is dispassionately like all its other portfolios

It’s actually worse than that as we are not considered investment worthy so now rely on payday loans so more money can be made - this is a disaster an absolute disaster - unfolding

 

[shmmeee]

Unless you have owners prepared to pump millions in what is the answer? Even that can be disasterous - Bolton.

2,000 extra season tickets in the grand scheme is peanuts - not the 2 or 3 decent players our fans seem to think it should bring. My generous calculation means about £850,000 extra in budget - now re read Boddy's statement regardless of whether you believe owners are putting money in monthly. There is lots of things that suck money out of the club.

Look at Forest spent £150 m on players and it still might not keep them up. That is a ridiculous thought for us.

Our fans need a reality check on finances. We do not have ultra wealthy owners. Plus Joy Seppala never wanted to buy a football club - so it is not a vehicle for her ego. However if Wasps went pop and she picked up the CBS for peanuts she would be one smug bitch.

There are lots of owners in the Premier League I wouldn't want regardless of their money - I suppose it depends if you want to sell your soul for success? We need new owners but what are the chances of attracting the right ones?

That’s what owning a Championship club is! If the game is too rich for your blood step away from the table. Instead it appears we are being held ransom by owners who have “managed expectations” so well that the down on its luck Championship side it took over is now expected to be seen as a great success.

All business is a gamble. You try and stack the odds with good recruitment and smart operating in a highly competitive market.

The expectation that the club should pay its own way on ticket sales and commercial (which is the implication in that statement) is ludicrous.

The strategy has to be selling the bigger players to allow for reinvestment and questions need asking as to why that hasn’t happen. Have recruitment fucked up? Have we overvalued? Is it just bad luck? None of these things going wrong should put the club in a desperate situation that forces them to reduce the quality of the squad at short notice and without manager approval.

Selling Hyam is a failure at the board level and one that by all accounts won’t even touch the sides of the bills we have to pay. If we can’t sell the big three and Joy isn’t willing to bridge the gap, how do we ever get back on track?

The idea that people are asking for some wild spending spree and not a considered and rational transfer strategy that both sustains the club and boosts the chances of the best managerial team we’ve had in a generation is frankly insulting.

 

[clint van damme]

Pointing the finger of blame doesn't solve the current situation though does it.
I've yet to hear a single solution, just pointless bs from people who have clearly failed to grasp the financial situation we are in.

I think people grasp it. But if they're not going to invest then why not let the club go?
It was obvious when they did so little to support Robins in January that the club has gone as far as it can under their stewardship and its value is only going to decrease, (significantly if we get relegated again).

 

[Sick Boy]

Bunch of Bedwetters on this thread

I too am feeling reassured by the wise words of @harvey098 the other day.

 

[fatso]

We aren’t in a financial situation

We are in a situation where we are owned by a calculating hedge fund that treats is dispassionately like all its other portfolios

It’s actually worse than that as we are not considered investment worthy so now rely on payday loans so more money can be made - this is a disaster an absolute disaster - unfolding

Absolutely correct, which is why fans expecting sisu to plow millions more into the club are living in a fantasy world.
If a buyer comes in with real intent and money then great, but until that happens we will just keep bumbling along being bailed out by our owners until they pull the plug, or by some miracle we get promoted.

 

[fatso]

I think people grasp it. But if they're not going to invest then why not let the club go?
It was obvious when they did so little to support Robins in January that the club has gone as far as it can under their stewardship and its value is only going to decrease, (significantly if we get relegated again).

Let the club go to who????

Where's the queue of buyers???

 

[Grendel]

Absolutely correct, which is why fans expecting sisu to plow millions more into the club are living in a fantasy world.
If a buyer comes in with real intent and money then great, but until that happens we will just keep bumbling along being bailed out by our owners until they pull the plug, or by some miracle we get promoted.

But they aren’t bailing us out every penny put in for the last 5-6 years has been handed back

I may as well run it on that basis

 

[clint van damme]

Let the club go to who????

Where's the queue of buyers???

Well there is that, but as has been alluded to on here, those that have sniffed around have been given an unrealistic valuation.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Really, what are you basing that on? Commercial revenues, from sponsorship, hospitality, licensing, merchandising and retail have all increased notably haven't they?

In the absence of stadium ownership (which will inevitably impact on pp revenue), where are we lacking? Genuine question, because I have no doubt there are areas where we could improve, but we do seem to have turned the corner somewhat in some of those areas at least.

They've not invested any money whatsoever, any uptick in commercial revenue is purely down to improved on pitch performance

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[fatso]

Well there is that, but as has been alluded to on here, those that have sniffed around have been given an unrealistic valuation.

Well that's the problem, Sisu have probably pumped in millions over the years, (as far as I know)
but what would a potential buyer actually be buying?
We dont own the Arena or the training ground, half our squad are out of contract at the end of this season, and the rest arnt worth what we thought (as Hyam's sale illustrates)
So a buyers valuation will always fall well short of what Sisu will want to achieve to offset some of their losses.

My guess is Sisu will wait and see what happens when Wasps inevitably go under, and then look to pick up the Arena for a song. That way the club will have a tangible asset and a value.

But it's a risky strategy.

 

[Grendel]

Well that's the problem, Sisu have probably pumped in millions over the years, (as far as I know)
but what would a potential buyer actually be buying?
We dont own the Arena or the training ground, half our squad are out of contract at the end of this season, and the rest arnt worth what we thought (as Hyam's sale illustrates)
So a buyers valuation will always fall well short of what Sisu will want to achieve to offset some of their losses.

My guess is Sisu will wait and see what happens when Wasps inevitably go under, and then look to pick up the Arena for a song. That way the club will have a tangible asset and a value.

But it's a risky strategy.

Put nothing in for 10 years

 

[harvey098]

After more than 10 years on this site, I’m off (“you’re not a plane, you don’t have to announce your departure bla bla”).

This has become such a negative space and I have found my enjoyment of supporting CCFC sapped by using this forum.

I am going to try and enjoy just going to the games whilst stepping back from the minutia of all the off-field stuff and arguing with fellow fans which I seem to be doing more and more. It’s not healthy lol

I do think some of you need to try and enjoy supporting the club a bit more, take things a little less seriously and find a way to focus less on the negatives (of which there will always be plenty, this is CCFC after all).

Anyway, all the best to all on here and let’s hope for many more years like the Last 5. Maybe see you at a game one day. PUSB

 

[theferret]

Give some examples

Come on now, you want me to give up time explaining to you what you already know?

A few short years ago, our entire retail operation consisted of a single shitty outlet in a supermarket; run by Just Sport, on crap commercial terms, churning out Nike templates and low grade leisure wear.

The Hummel deal has been hugely successful, and this pre-dated promotion and the return to the Ricoh. It is a huge success story in terms of sales and revenues, and we now have both an outlet at the ground and a city centre outlet (which we've not had for what, 15 years?).

A few years ago, we were the only club in the country with no physical ticket office - aside from part time use of a tiny window at CRFC. On matchdays at the Ricoh, we'd have to use the Wasps ticket office for a few hours, it was embarrassing. We now have our own ticket office.

A few years ago, the best we seemed to be able to do on shirt sponsorship was to go cap in hand to a local estate agents as nobody else seemed interested. Not so now.

We now seem to be switched on the licensing, there are a couple of arrangements, perhaps more. I doubt these bring in huge revenues, but it all counts.

On the return to the Ricoh we did get a better commercial deal and at least some access to parking and catering revenues.

Outside of the commercials, the academy seems more secure at the Higgs, there has been some investment at Ryton, and I think the general marketing via the social media team is good.

Now, you might say that some of these things are what any self-respecting club should have. Agreed. You might say that promotion has helped with some of this. Agreed.

The point being, that these improvements have happened, and some took place under very trying circumstances when we were playing outside of the city.

It's all very well criticising the owners and criticising the people who run the football club - fine, I'm sure some if it is justified. But, to not give any credit for any improvements made just makes it look like you have an agenda. There is no question in my mind that the club is better run now that at any point since SISU took control. That may be a low bar, but it happens to be true.

 

[David O'Day]

Fuck me there's some clowns on this forum

 

[David O'Day]

After more than 10 years on this site, I’m off (“you’re not a plane, you don’t have to announce your departure bla bla”).

This has become such a negative space and I have found my enjoyment of supporting CCFC sapped by using this forum.

I am going to try and enjoy just going to the games whilst stepping back from the minutia of all the off-field stuff and arguing with fellow fans which I seem to be doing more and more. It’s not healthy lol

I do think some of you need to try and enjoy supporting the club a bit more, take things a little less seriously and find a way to focus less on the negatives (of which there will always be plenty, this is CCFC after all).

Anyway, all the best to all on here and let’s hope for many more years like the Last 5. Maybe see you at a game one day. PUSB

People on here are floofs theses who will attack the club no matter what happens

 

[fatso]

Put nothing in for 10 years

Put money in every year for 10 years. just to keep the club going, after saving us at the eleventh hour from liquidation.
Backed the manager to 2 promotions and 2 Wembley victories.

We are all aware of their mistakes and the conflict with ccc and ACL.

I think they are coming to a cross roads now. They need Wasps to fold, or a stupidly wealthy invester who's just looking to piss millions up the wall.
Either that or we eventually fall down the league like Notts County.

 

[hill83]

People on here are floofs theses who will attack the club no matter what happens

Not sure if I’m a floof or not as I’ve no idea what it means. But I consider myself relatively positive more often than not, and feel this place isn’t. See a match thread for example.

But I’m sick of the owners. Had enough of it. And I’ll fucking say that if I want to.

3 points tomorrow still though.

 

[Alkhen]

A few days ago you said something to the effect that the owners had invested money into the club - that’s not the case is it?

I know as much as everybody else about the club's finances zero. There is a native on here where ever penny the club makes goes in Joys handbag. That is just bollocks. The club has continually brought in replacements when we have made sales. Rewarded key players and staff with new contracts

Does it not get tiring being relentlessly negative in all your posts? Have a break

 

[fatso]

That’s what owning a Championship club is! If the game is too rich for your blood step away from the table. Instead it appears we are being held ransom by owners who have “managed expectations” so well that the down on its luck Championship side it took over is now expected to be seen as a great success.

All business is a gamble. You try and stack the odds with good recruitment and smart operating in a highly competitive market.

The expectation that the club should pay its own way on ticket sales and commercial (which is the implication in that statement) is ludicrous.

The strategy has to be selling the bigger players to allow for reinvestment and questions need asking as to why that hasn’t happen. Have recruitment fucked up? Have we overvalued? Is it just bad luck? None of these things going wrong should put the club in a desperate situation that forces them to reduce the quality of the squad at short notice and without manager approval.

Selling Hyam is a failure at the board level and one that by all accounts won’t even touch the sides of the bills we have to pay. If we can’t sell the big three and Joy isn’t willing to bridge the gap, how do we ever get back on track?

The idea that people are asking for some wild spending spree and not a considered and rational transfer strategy that both sustains the club and boosts the chances of the best managerial team we’ve had in a generation is frankly insulting.

All the players are available, the club have said as much.
But you have to have buyers, and no buyer has met our valuation.
If we need to we could sell someone in the next 24 hours. But you can hardly blame the owners for looking for realistic valuations.

 

[clint van damme]

Not sure if I’m a floof or not as I’ve no idea what it means. But I consider myself relatively positive more often than not, and feel this place isn’t. See a match thread for example.

But I’m sick of the owners. Had enough of it. And I’ll fucking say that if I want to.

3 points tomorrow still though.

Same. Its been clear from January that owners have no intention of driving the club forward.
Like others I'm bewildered as to why they're sticking around.

 

[shmmeee]

All the players are available, the club have said as much.
But you have to have buyers, and no buyer has met our valuation.
If we need to we could sell someone in the next 24 hours. But you can hardly blame the owners for looking for realistic valuations.

Then our valuations are too high, or we’ve not sufficiently spread the risk, or we’ve not invested in the right players…

 

[fatso]

Same. Its been clear from January that owners have no intention of driving the club forward.
Like others I'm bewildered as to why they're sticking around.

Waiting for, or actively searching for someone to take over.

 

[Grendel]

I know as much as everybody else about the club's finances zero. There is a native on here where ever penny the club makes goes in Joys handbag. That is just bollocks. The club has continually brought in replacements when we have made sales. Rewarded key players and staff with new contracts

Does it not get tiring being relentlessly negative in all your posts? Have a break

The club has bought replacements in yes but funded primarily off two sales.

We have owners who last put any money into the club 10 years ago and that was as a distress strategy moving away to Northampton

From a long term outlook sorry there’s nothing positive and I’ll decline the break thanks

 

[Grendel]

Waiting for, or actively searching for someone to take over.

not a chance

 

[fatso]

Then our valuations are too high, or we’ve not sufficiently spread the risk, or we’ve not invested in the right players…

Our improvement over the last few years under MR would suggest we've done most things right, but there was always going to come a point when we hit a ceiling.
Sisu don't have bottomless pockets, and our outgoings are higher than our income, in a way we've become a victim of our own success, as we can't pay top 6 wages on a bottom 6 income.

 

[fatso]

not a chance

So if there's no one waiting in the wings, and sisu have no more money, what would you suggest is the answer?

 

[Grendel]

Our improvement over the last few years under MR would suggest we've done most things right, but there was always going to come a point when we hit a ceiling.
Sisu don't have bottomless pockets, and our outgoings are higher than our income, in a way we've become a victim of our own success, as we can't pay top 6 wages on a bottom 6 income.

No we just in lower leagues can sell players and survive. If you want the club as a league 1 and 2 club with an occasional trip to the championship then it’s the owners for you

 

[shmmeee]

Our improvement over the last few years under MR would suggest we've done most things right, but there was always going to come a point when we hit a ceiling.
Sisu don't have bottomless pockets, and our outgoings are higher than our income, in a way we've become a victim of our own success, as we can't pay top 6 wages on a bottom 6 income.

Why do we have a bottom 6 income? We have top ten crowds.

I don’t think the clubs ceiling is L1, and if that’s the owners ceiling they need to fuck off.

 

[Grendel]

So if there's no one waiting in the wings, and sisu have no more money, what would you suggest is the answer?

they see is an investment and as long as can accumulate loans and returns they are happy with that. No one will pay what they want and they are more than happy whatever league we are in - they don’t care

 

[David O'Day]

Not sure if I’m a floof or not as I’ve no idea what it means. But I consider myself relatively positive more often than not, and feel this place isn’t. See a match thread for example.

But I’m sick of the owners. Had enough of it. And I’ll fucking say that if I want to.

3 points tomorrow still though.

I'm referring to the weirdos that are only happy when they are pretending the sky is falling in

I'll let people decide if they fall into that category