Just a few thoughts and yes some questions ......... that should please someone
For me the scales are still heavily balanced in the direction of what they have got wrong rather than what they have got right. But yes they have got some things right. They are not stupid people quite the opposite there are some very clever minds involved but have the successes been because of a SISU plan or a CCFC necessity? And no what has happened to the club has not been all their fault in the wider sense, but the day to day decisions are those of the owners or the people they employ at CCFC/SBS&L - their responsibility
Also I find it strange that it is "SISU is the club" when it suits and "SISU and CCFC are quite separate" when it suits. Can they be separated quite so clearly or at all?
A lot of the successes regarding the team (or failures) are down to the footballing contacts of the football side of the business Mowbray, Venus, Waggott, Pressley etc. In the scheme of things the owner most likely rubber stamps (or not) the financial implications of others decisions made. SISU is pretty much controlled by JS but does anyone really see her with the depth of football knowledge required? Did JS find Mowbray or was it Waggott for example?
Yes the lease needed to be changed/broken but that should have happened in 2008 not 2013. The chosen method has frankly been a disaster which has left us without our own stadium and more importantly significantly reduced income and budgets.
Are we self sufficient? We don't actually know what the current finances are do we? We have been told we are by TF but there is nothing as yet to support this. I always treat anything he says with healthy scepticism. That said self sufficiency is something I have long argued for. But what if we get promoted is it possible to generate the income required to stick to that principle and be successful? We go up next season where does the extra income come from when the owner has indicated CCFC is not getting further monies from them? In doing what they have in directing the finances they have also left the club with massive liabilities. Do we have to be self sufficient simply because JS has said there is no more money to be had from ARVO or SISU? (ie we don't have a choice) Hasn't MV been given responsibility for the football operations budget? That said only one person has overall control of the finances or financial decisions at CCFC/SBS&L and she is sitting in London that includes managers contracts but also the creation of the debt burden.
The move back. Was it a change of thought or was it financial expediency? Had they remained at Sixfields then what would the clubs player budget presently be? The behind scenes operation of CCFC is being operated on a very tight budget , some might say a shoestring, it is no wonder there are problems with tickets, but what could we have financed there?. Was staying at Sixfields really an option? Yes I know there is argument that other influences were at play. But financially what was it CCFC needed?
For me there are contradictions in a lot of what goes on. The needs of CCFC can seem to conflict with those of the owner. For example
We are told that CCFC needs turnover and every penny will go in to the team. Yet the owner does a deal to franchise out the shop and program sales to receive a commission reducing turnover. I can understand why (to reduce risk and costs) but that restricts the player budget doesn't it?
We are told that CCFC needs 100% of stadium income 365 days a year. But the new plan is a joint venture at BPA which means sharing that income doesn't it?
Turnover is key for CCFC, it regulates everything that can be done. However isn't the bottom line more important to SISU so they can add value to their investment?
We are told that the JR 1 & 2 and all the other stuff has nothing to do with the football club but nearly all the court papers name Otium/CCFC so which is it?
To me it is about what picture they choose to put out at any particular time and that picture changes regularly either to something new or reverting to past copies when it suits. So how if that is the case do we know what it is SISU planned to do or what it is they had little or no choice but to do?
Like I said SISU have not got everything wrong but I do think people should be more aware of what drives decisions etc. Not sure their first thought is CCFC
Just my opinion and of course yours might be different. I have no problem with that
That all said the really important thing is the current success on the pitch............ Rightly I think I credit TM with a lot of that success but to be honest what brightens my day is that it is actually happening I do not care who made it happen just keep it up !!!
