Whole lot of differences between Sheff Utd and CCFC. Despite all their half successes I still wouldn't want to be a blades fan. They say form is temporary, class is permanent, precious little class at Utd imo
I think people forget when it suits just how bad the present owners and other decision makers have been for the prospects of CCFC. Easy to point the finger at the fans and a claim of fickle lack of support. The relationship should be symbiotic- until Wembley what have the fans got back from the team in the last decade?
When we get jealous of others success it is just accepted that well we have never succeeded at anything in the last 30 years ( until last Sunday) and somehow that is normal its ok - it isnt. It has been a constant slide to L2. Players, Managers, Directors benefit from large rewards irrespective of performance, supporters are just expected to be there, to fund it. What the hell do people expect in terms of support given those circumstances. If the relationship between supporters and club (any club) is symbiotic then is it a surprise that attendance falls on team failure, or that after decades of failure people lose interest? No of course not
We as supporters should be proud of ourselves for sticking with it despite the biggest amount of crap on and off the pitch that summed together very few other teams have had to endure - but we are still here. We are not 2nd class to anyone, although it is pretty damn clear that the supporters are hugely undervalued by decision makers at the club and nationally
Sheffield Utd have not had half the problems CCFC have had, you would expect them to be further forward in their performances on and off the pitch
take a look at the figures behind the team (2016)
Turnover £10.6m (7.8m from match day) average crowd biggest in L1
Player sales profit 1.84m
Rent paid to group company £370k
wages paid 11.3m
Annual loss 8.6m
Losses capitalised in to shares 9m (another 8m going in this current year)
inter company debt written off in 2014 £34.5m
Interest paid in 2016 £45k
no bank borrowings
owe £4m to group members
Then compare that with CCFC - losses, few assets, large interest charges, 10's of millions of debt/creditors/pseudo debt (pref shares), 4th (?) highest attendances in division Turnover 5m, wages 4.3m
The biggest difference is not the fans it is the difference in how primarily the clubs are run by the owners, the objectives they set and target. Yes there are the outside influences. But look at the attitude to debt and losses - chalk & cheese. The key decision maker at any club are the owners, they set the direction the club takes within the parameters given. Their responsibility primarily. It is their decisions that carries others with them or not. Things change quickly and pointing back 10 or 20 years ago is back ground nothing more. It is the NOW and the FUTURE that count - how does the key decision maker deal with that, plan it, forge it, take responsibility and carry others (especially the fans) with them
And yet despite their perceived advantages Sheffield Utd have struggled to actually achieve until this season. They have been around the right end of the table but for a team that dwarfs many in L1 you would have to say their performance has not matched the money spent, and they will need a lot more investment to hold their own in the Championship
What I would say to Fisher & Seppala is that if they don't want to see their investment return potential dwindle further then they need to look at other clubs attitude to debt, they need to seed finance a proper squad & football structure. They need to value not alienate the fans, but also value & seek other partnerships, cut the aggressive city financier based stance and be open to talking/ideas/partnerships. Focus on the club in its decision making not the investors. Show the fans the plan and the drive to consistently push that plan forward. Remove the arrogance and the attitude of the world owing the club something. Stop the smoke & mirrors and double talk. Build trust with all concerned