2024/25 League Two Promotion Thread

[valefan16]

Hang on a minute, you can’t suggest Bradford City might struggle in L1 now it’s apparently become a Championship 2, and then refer to past history where it wasn’t deemed comparable to a so-called “Champ 2” - as if this somehow supports your point, it doesn’t.

If we’re applying the logic that L1 all of a sudden is this lower league powerhouse, then let’s look at finances and what clubs spend/generate here and now - not historically.

The difference between City and Vale is, we won’t need an owner like ‘Carol’ to pump in millions just to be competitive in L1. We’ll do this purely through what we generate - of which, our turnover in L2 is higher than yours in L1.

But we have an owner like Carol so not sure what your point is? That's like saying you'll do better than Bournemouth because they rely on their owners yet they are in the Prem, your League 2, We also have made big sales from the youth side (another huge investment now paying off) of over 7 figures this year...

Looking at your accounts you lost 400k so how are you going to be more competitive from purely income? Also worth pointing out despite these claims you've barely been competitive at the top end of L1 in 20 years bar the odd Play Off flirt and have ended up down here for 11 of those!

League One requires massive investment more often than not these days. If you go up and stay up you've done well initially its far tougher now than 6 years ago.

 

[FiRTHYY]

But we have an owner like Carol so not sure what your point is? That's like saying you'll do better than Bournemouth because they rely on their owners yet they are in the Prem, your League 2, We also have made big sales from the youth side (another huge investment now paying off) of over 7 figures this year...

Looking at your accounts you lost 400k so how are you going to be more competitive from purely income? Also worth pointing out despite these claims you've barely been competitive at the top end of L1 in 20 years bar the odd Play Off flirt and have ended up down here for 11 of those!

League One requires massive investment more often than not these days. If you go up and stay up you've done well initially its far tougher now than 6 years ago.

So, what’s the end goal? Promotion and just hope ‘Carol’ flings a few million to give you half a chance - riveting prospect.

We lost £400k over 2 seasons - on the back of sacking managers.

Our last stint in L1 saw us finish top 7 three times in 3 consecutive seasons - use that as your benchmark.

Out of interest, let’s say it’s all about money (even though success in football is proven time and time again not always to be about money) and we have a playing budget of £6-£7m. Where, in your view, does this place us in a L1 table without Brum, Hudders, Wrexham and Stockport?

 

[loz]

I look forward to Bradford tearing L1 a new one next season.

Stupid post. Early season it was Chezza fans giving it large(amongst 2 or 3 others). If we go up, there is no way we will be able to tear up d1 but we should have the resources to consolidate. We already have players who can perform in the division and contracts are likely to prevent us making wholesale changes. However, we can strengthen as and when we are able just like the majority of teams in that division. What is important is how well clubs are run(look at where us, Swindon and Vale are, somewhere none of us should be if our clubs had been run properly). I remember Burnley being minutes from going out of the league yet a few years later I was at their ground and virtually everything in fans visual range was sponsored. When you are run properly and showing progress, local businesses want to get involved with you.

 

[valefan16]

So, what’s the end goal? Promotion and just hope ‘Carol’ flings a few million to give you half a chance - riveting prospect.

We lost £400k over 2 seasons - on the back of sacking managers.

Our last stint in L1 saw us finish top 7 three times in 3 consecutive seasons - use that as your benchmark.

Out of interest, let’s say it’s all about money (even though success in football is proven time and time again not always to be about money) and we have a playing budget of £6-£7m. Where, in your view, does this place us in a L1 table without Brum, Hudders, Wrexham and Stockport?

The end goal is a sustainable football club which is why the huge investments are being put in, Carol puts the money in we push on, she's the best owner we've had and its far more riveting than previous owners, you clearly know little about Carol and what she has done to transform the club itself and has grown it in her tenure fan base wise and facility wise. You have to invest to grown and become more sustainable.

A playing budget of 6-7m in League One would be probably average but the point is these boys are in there, along with your Bolton's, Barnsley's etc, next season likely Derby, Luton with huge budget and Plymouth... if not one of them the next likely would be Stoke who have one of the richest owners there is! (Hope so!) You get exceptions to the rule and if it was all about money, us, Carlisle and MK probably have L2 wrapped up this season but the gulf in finance with us 3 and this level is far less than the giants in L1 and lets be real 90% of the time in football it is the big money boys who win the prizes.

 

[loz]

The end goal is a sustainable football club which is why the huge investments are being put in, Carol puts the money in we push on, she's the best owner we've had and its far more riveting than previous owners, you clearly know little about Carol and what she has done to transform the club itself and has grown it in her tenure fan base wise and facility wise. You have to invest to grown and become more sustainable.

A playing budget of 6-7m in League One would be probably average but the point is these boys are in there, along with your Bolton's, Barnsley's etc, next season likely Derby, Luton with huge budget and Plymouth... if not one of them the next likely would be Stoke who have one of the richest owners there is! (Hope so!) You get exceptions to the rule and if it was all about money, us, Carlisle and MK probably have L2 wrapped up this season but the gulf in finance with us 3 and this level is far less than the giants in L1 and lets be real 90% of the time in football it is the big money boys who win the prizes.

I think we have been agreeing with your last sentence but only a few clubs are outrageously rich. Should us , Vale and Notts for example go up, I don't think the wealth of the majority would overwhelm us.

 

[Grimsby Road]

The end goal is a sustainable football club which is why the huge investments are being put in, Carol puts the money in we push on, she's the best owner we've had and its far more riveting than previous owners, you clearly know little about Carol and what she has done to transform the club itself and has grown it in her tenure fan base wise and facility wise. You have to invest to grown and become more sustainable.

A playing budget of 6-7m in League One would be probably average but the point is these boys are in there, along with your Bolton's, Barnsley's etc, next season likely Derby, Luton with huge budget and Plymouth... if not one of them the next likely would be Stoke who have one of the richest owners there is! (Hope so!) You get exceptions to the rule and if it was all about money, us, Carlisle and MK probably have L2 wrapped up this season but the gulf in finance with us 3 and this level is far less than the giants in L1 and lets be real 90% of the time in football it is the big money boys who win the prizes.

It would sit low now i think Lincolns accounts showed a 2 to 3 million loss and their turnover is 10 million ish ; their CEO said it was 19th in the league which is what 5th bottom they seem one of the better run clubs tbf . I get Bradford are a big club not doubting that but the significance of big crowds is seemingly dwarfed by the capital some of the big donators are willing to put in that's the thing a lot of legacy fans who don't look at the balance sheet would say Bradford big crowds should be Champ too big for league 2 but with an owner who seems relatively sensible and loses 6 figures a season rather than millions being in a moderate position would be good you would think unless they do get big investment .

I do think that's a thing in general though , especially with the more traditional league clubs , their fans see them as what they were if that makes sense which probably raises the expectation above the reality of the situation - yes a few have gone through the leagues but it's taken massive investment Brighton , Brentford even Bournemouth have shelled 100's of million on going right through .


I'm not saying we shouldn't try to go up /through the leagues but I suppose my thought is managers and players take a battering from the expectation of what has gone before them rather than the reality of the situation now .... I'm waffling on now

 

[FiRTHYY]

The end goal is a sustainable football club which is why the huge investments are being put in, Carol puts the money in we push on, she's the best owner we've had and its far more riveting than previous owners, you clearly know little about Carol and what she has done to transform the club itself and has grown it in her tenure fan base wise and facility wise. You have to invest to grown and become more sustainable.

A playing budget of 6-7m in League One would be probably average but the point is these boys are in there, along with your Bolton's, Barnsley's etc, next season likely Derby, Luton with huge budget and Plymouth... if not one of them the next likely would be Stoke who have one of the richest owners there is! (Hope so!) You get exceptions to the rule and if it was all about money, us, Carlisle and MK probably have L2 wrapped up this season but the gulf in finance with us 3 and this level is far less than the giants in L1 and lets be real 90% of the time in football it is the big money boys who win the prizes.

But that’s the thing, how is chucking millions into Port Vale sustainable, unless you can source passive income from it - that or be successful, but judging by your original point, you’re confident you’ll struggle regardless.

Yes, you can lean on academy sales. I think most clubs can. I think we generate £500k-£1m on average per season. It’s still a drop in the ocean by the sounds of things.

We acknowledge a £7m budget is about midtable, so can we go back to the original point now? Why will we struggle, unless we both hold different definitions of the word?

The irony is, our largest playing budget since the Championship was in L1 - we were subsequently relegated.

 

[Gladders]

Amazing how easy it is to get Bradford fans all defensive. They're still Premier league don't you know, of course Lge 1 will be no problem for them.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Amazing how easy it is to get Bradford fans all defensive. They're still Premier league don't you know, of course Lge 1 will be no problem for them.

I’m literally asking a question and NO ONE can answer me!