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AuthorTopic: Opinions (Read 462 times)
joe
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Opinions
« Thread Started on Mar 18, 2009, 12:56pm »
As the classic saying goes "Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one" ;)

Well here's mine; since I took over managing the football club I am painfully aware that the results have not been to the 'expectancy' of WTFC supporters, and we are working towards rectifying that, and we will.

The truth is we have come a long way from mid November when just fufilling our fixtures and the club not closing down was the real priority. The facts were the club was heavily in debt with no revenue streams, the 1st Team manager was gone, both the Res & U18 Managers walked out (not pushed) and worse the club was in a position of not fulfiling their fixtures as we had no 1st team players because all but 3 had walked out virtually overnight after the budget was cut. We also had a reserve team that was getting tanked on a regular basis and a shocking club diciplinary problem. To top it the lights were not of required quality.

In truth the club was only days from closing down. So in short no money, no staff, no players and no kit. In a way no hope with over half a season still to play.

This was what myself, Barrie and Martin actually walked in to.

Since November we have re-structured the whole club, reduced our debts to managable levels, re-negotiated a new 6yr rolling term lease with our landlord giving us security of tenure and we have also brought our lights upto the required FA standard. These are major achievements in such a short time and vital for the clubs on-going survival and stability.

In line with this we have cut our expense budget by 80%, recruited almost two new teams, brought in new sponsors (details tba) purchasing new kit, warm-up suits, tracksuits, warm up tops and training kit and balls all of which are in place for next season! Along with retaining our Prem and Res Div 1 status.

Working within this budget, timeframe, player availability and trying endorsing a policy of recruiting local lads we are now slowly re-building the club within a defined policy (9 of last nights starting 11 v Daventry live within 8 miles of the D&D) but we know we need to improve and we are (albeit slowly)

I am aware of and know personally a great number of Prem and Southern League players but getting someone to join a club that has been going through what we have has not been an easy task. Wether we like it or not, money buy's quality and £20 a week does not get top prem/southern league players in fact, this barely covers the travelling expenses for the lads with 80-100 mile round trips the norm. So we are not able to shop at the highest levels currently, and we will just keep hunting and looking for the best young talent we can get within our budget structure.

I want to build a team of local(ish) lads to give the club and the town something to be proud of and I see players like Bridgeford, Russell, Harris, Spaughton, Smith and Grainger among others who have joined us along with Hazell, Walters (x2) Lee, Randall, Bird and Harris in the U18's who show real talent and who are not here because of the cash, but because they want the club to do well, as we all do. I will continue this policy.

I know I lay myself open for abuse saying all this as it's a results business and ours have not been good enough. It takes time to build a team/club and we are doing it steadily and within our means. I am fully aware, and would expect that if results remain like this after I have had a full Pre-Season then I should go (and quick) prophetic words indeed ::)

We are a club in transition (yes again)and we have deserved some of the critisim laid upon us as the club admits it certainly made errors, resulting in us almost closing for good. We have laid ourselves open to abuse because of the statements made in previous regimes about high ambitions and promises of "new dawns" all of which seemed to fail. We need to, and will do, get back to our community standing as other clubs have overtaken us in recent years and we must rectify that. I am ambitious and want to see the Town's team be successful but I am realistic and I am not going to make stupid promises but rather I/we will take it all step by step.

We are working tirelessly behind the scenes to improve everything from players, coaching, staff, training and facilities to sponsorship and it will improve given time.

I could repond directly to some of the comments made on other websites but they are just purrile, malicious and made by people with personal axes to grind and to much time on their hands.

If anybody has an issue with what we are trying to do, or would like to understand exactly the position we were in in November then please contact myself, Martin Potton, Laurie Owen or Barrie Shields as we will all be happy to explain what happend.
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londonpride
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #1 on Mar 18, 2009, 1:25pm »
Well, if anyone in and outside the club is not convinced with the level of Joe's passion and pride in running the town's premier football club, they cannot be true football fans. Those are the sentiments he displayed when first asked what would be his feelings if he were offered the job. Even he had known of our 'degenerating state of financial health' when he was offered the job he would have readily accepted the challenge becuase he has pride in what he is trying to achieve and he's a 'fighter'.

Make no mistake, Joe and his management team will succeed as the early indications are already beginning to evolve. If he is successful in encouraging the youngsters who left us when the last regime was in post, to return to the Dog & Duck, it will be a major step in our development.

He has had to deal with malicious, vindictive and scurrilous criticisms from former colleagues who not too long ago appeared to be his closest allies. He was vilified for wanting to better himself, something which we all seek to do in life. Those that sought to stoop to such lengths only brought scorn and ridicule upon themselves and the groups they were connected with.

Joe has successfully completed his first major hurdle of keeping the club in the league, he now has to virtually rebuild a squad to satisfy not only his own ego but that of all those connected with the Doughboys. My bet is he'll leave no stone unturned in attempting to achieve that objective and put the club back on the ladder, the signs are already beginning to emerge.
Well done Joe, we are all behind you.

Laurie.


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RAFPOL
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #2 on Mar 19, 2009, 11:25am »
Well, thank you for that Joe. There were many fans who felt just a little frustrated at the fact that none of us actually knew the politics of the whole saga. Personally, I had no idea that we were so near to being totally erased, AGAIN. Yes, it is true, we, as a club, re-emerged with ambitious plans like most clubs I suspect. Promotion in our first season back in the UCL, things were going well for us. Perhaps you can understand why most fans became disillusioned and frustrated as things appeared to go pear shape, without any reason that was apparent to us. Here we are again then, bags of optimism and hope for the season ahead and I sincerely hope that you will realise your ambition for the club Joe. In conclusion I would ask, why is it that other clubs in the prem, Stotfold, Deeping, S&L, Newport Pagnell etc. among others, appear to gather the right blend of players into a winning combination? Is it always down to loot?
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Dave
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #3 on Mar 19, 2009, 11:41am »
I would say down to loot, not that other clubs pay more, but down to the perception that doughboys paid their players lots of dosh. Also and this is just an opinion which no doubt will get some quarters jumping up and down, I believe the club had attracted far too many football mercenaries for its own good in the past. All this continued to fan the flames of the perception - hence the dough£boys label.

At the end of day Rafi babes thats in the past and the club has now re-born itself still has the same ambitions, but with a much more realistic approach.

Well I hope so that is. ;)

poach



ps have got my has and ases right someone?
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Dave
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #4 on Mar 19, 2009, 3:29pm »
Barrie is right there.

One of worries when I was at Raunds was the debt I honestly don't how we could have survived at one point. Then Dave Tyrell came in, applied some good business sense and turned it all around. There is no room in the budget for overpaying players at Raunds and thats how it should be.
Rosy Jim on the UCL said recently before he got banned, its would be good idea to set a limit and create a level playing field with regards to players wages, sure a have separate win bonus, but wage or expenses pegged.

I know some will say that money buys quality, b*****ks! Over the years all I've seen is young up and coming players worked their socks off with great skill and paid pittance, yet the highly paid ones just lord it about and do sod all.

OOPS I'm getting on my soapbox again sorry folks.......Hmmmm ::) ::) ::) ::)
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lino - aka Graham
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #5 on Mar 19, 2009, 6:19pm »
A wage cap sounds a good idea, but, (and I've said this before) the sugar daddies will just give their rewards 'off balance sheet' through second jobs, sponsorship and goodness knows what else. Policing it would be next to impossible.

The only long term sustainable model is a well run, books-balanced club attracting local fans regularly - local players really helps this. An attacking playing style and 100% effort helps too.

If all these come, Clubs can move towards promotion with confidence they will stay up and build again to the next level, at a pace that is sustainable.

The best thing is a large fan base and lots of willing volunteers.
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RAFPOL
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #6 on Mar 20, 2009, 1:32pm »
Lots of fodder to digest here I think, I only posed the question because of the success of the top teams in our flight. What have they got, or are doing, to get consistent positive results on the park? Can we learn from other clubs? Are they paying premium wages to attract top players? Got to be a reason methinks.
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Bill
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #7 on Mar 20, 2009, 9:10pm »
All the top sides as we speak have strict budgets so I would suggest it is not a case of throwing money around......so exactly what is the secret of building a successful team then?
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RAFPOL
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #8 on Mar 22, 2009, 9:39am »
Can't answer that one I'm afraid, certainly a puzzle. Perhaps it is a case of scouting for talent, skill and dedication of individual players, keeping them together and encouraging all that talent to play as a team. I really think it is management and coaching staff that perhaps may offer a reason why we can't match the top sides in the Prem.
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joe
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #9 on Mar 22, 2009, 4:22pm »
IMO: it takes time to build a club/team. You need to implement the correct structure on and off the field, create stability, don't panic, agree the parameters, define your strategy and stick to it.

One reason S&L are doing so well this season because they are majority of the Desborough side from the last few seasons. They have a good management team and with just a couple of additions in key areas they are now challenging. Most clubs that manage to have stability have a decent chance of building a side. Pagnall, Deeping and Stotfold are casing points as well; all excellent sides with two or three years of stability on either a playing staff or management level.

We are in a busy catchment area for UCL football with many decent Prem and good Div 1 clubs within 10 miles or so of WTFC. Unlike some of the clubs out in the fens where the nearest equivalent club can be 20-30 miles away. This makes attracting (and keeping) players a little more difficult for sides around the Northampton area, as proven by the merry-go-round of players who go from club to club and back again.

Money, of course buys you quality and class but not always loyalty, and this is where we have to find the correct balance.

As stated we will continue to work within our budget restraints and look to recruit the ideal mix of youth and experience to endeavor to get us where we all want to be.

I hope that helps from a management point of view (well mine anyway ;) )
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Dave
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #10 on Mar 30, 2009, 1:58pm »
I see the resident door handles still slag this club off on the UCL chatter and cretins in charge of it, don't intervene. What a bunch of hypocrites they are, ban me for flippant remarks yet continue to allow sados the full monty! :o

::) ::) ::) ::)

;)
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Dave
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #11 on Apr 3, 2009, 7:36am »

Mar 30, 2009, 1:58pm, Dave wrote:
I see the resident door handles still slag this club off on the UCL chatter and cretins in charge of it, don't intervene. What a bunch of hypocrites they are, ban me for flippant remarks yet continue to allow sados the full monty! :o

::) ::) ::) ::)

;)


I will never surrender to the belief that there are a lot of a***holes in football, particularly those 'very nice people' in charge of the UCL chatter not only have they banned me from there, but also they block us from viewing it as well from home. My good misses likes to have look from time to time and it now comes up as sorry you are banned. Yet I can view from elsewhere. Clearly blocked my email address/cookie or what ever it is. And Doohboy criticises us for being undemocratic, huh ??? ??? >:(
And its ever since I posted the above so be warned, its the Lincolnshire Imp at work again

Talking of being undemocratic any chance telling them to remove the Wellingborough section from thier forum since its only used to slag us off?

And yes I on the war path today

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Bill
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #12 on Apr 3, 2009, 10:08am »
Have you ever considered that the comments on UCL Chatter may be just one gigantic wind up?

Just a thought that's all.

I may be wrong.
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Dave
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #13 on Apr 3, 2009, 10:50am »
Yes no doubt they probably are, may be I'm being victim of someone else's warped mind, getting a taste of my own medicene........bo****s who cares *********** ucl chatter who wants it anyway sod them!

I'm depressed now...... :'( I'll delete my account and **** off, but I'll read 'Taming the black dog' first though!

Look at this, first it was 1 month ban, then it went to 3 month and now

"Your account has been disabled by a staff member. You will be able to access your account again on Aug 17, 2036, 3:27pm"

B*******! :o :o ;D ;D ;D



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lino - aka Graham
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Re: Opinions
« Reply #14 on Apr 3, 2009, 2:59pm »
They are seeing the IP address of your PC, which is why you can access from elsewhere. Re-register at work or son's in another name and a new hotmail address.

We have no control over what forums they put on their - and free speech means that people can comment. I am sure the exec will complain if anything untowrd goes on there.
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