Chester next to go?

[Railway Blue]

We'll be alright, but may take 2 or 3 seasons to get back to the top level. Still not convinced after Wednesday's CFU meeting that we have the right people running the show.

 

[UTS]

Ignore my ignorance, but what exactly is the deal with Chester?

Bust in 2010 (mostly Vaughan’s fault?) and now in another perilous position only 7 years after reforming..

Your crowds for the level you’re at aren’t that bad... about middle of the road... from what I can tell, no high earners?

Chester is a sizeable place, if the likes of Barnet, Dagenham or Rochdale, Oldham, Bury, (just) can survive in and around the FL with bigger overheads and more intense local competition (yes you’ve got Liverpool 20 miles away but it’s not on the same scale as Manchester clubs + Bolton, Blackburn within a 10 mile radius) then what’s the issue with Chester?

It’s not like the crowds are so bad for the level you are at, even though they should really be bigger for a place the size of Chester taking into account there is no other sporting competition in the city (apart from Horse Racing).

 

[Bluandwite]

Some good news today.

LINK

 

[Railway Blue]

One of our supporters/sponsors wants to help us out with a donation. He originally had the Deva Stadium named after one of his companies: Exacta. He also wants to help us become sustainable. He wants no control of the club and is happy for us to remain fan-owned. He has also stated that he wants us promoted next season. Early days yet, but it's genuine.

 

[CestrianHawk]

Hopefully it will re-establish some stability, even if the on-field success isn't great next season.

 

[B2TF]

Have you got a new manager yet? Have Wrexham?

How many do you think you'll take to Walsall next week?

(Sorry, I've been saving them up)

 

[GlynTheMilk]

I hope it works out for Chester; that he's not just going to pump money in is a good sign.

Wrexham's passage into fan ownership has broadly been very successful. Yeah, we're still in this hell hole of a league and we lost our stadium and state-of-the-art training facilities, but we're debt free, sustainable, and reasonably competitive. I put that down to the shrewd business acumen of those involved in taking the club into fan ownership, and how they've continued to run it. Using the FA Trophy windfall to pay off debts ran up by the previous custodians of the club, rather than spunk it on some mercenary strikers, is one example I can think of. Some fans hated that, but when you look at the bigger picture, it was absolutely the right thing to do.

I don't know the ins and outs of Chester's story so far, but that guy from Exacta obviously knows how to run a business properly, and hopefully he'll be able to turn Chester round. I'd imagine it's going to take a few years pain to get all the ducks lined up properly, but it'd be worth it in the long run.

Blimey, these tablets are strong.

 

[Bluandwite]

Have you got a new manager yet? Have Wrexham?

How many do you think you'll take to Walsall next week?

(Sorry, I've been saving them up)

No manager yet, expecting something to happen early-mid next week. We had a deal agreed with Neil Redfearn but he changed the goalposts somewhat wanting to bring in a pricey assistant (thought to be Steve Thompson who’s currently at Preston) and we simply couldn’t afford it in our position.

Had some really good crowds turning out to see the youth team at home this season, including a four figure one, so would expect a decent number to venture down to Walsall hopefully.

 

[B2TF]

We'll have about 50 at most, I reckon.

 

[Railway Blue]

Bern and Jonno appointed.

 

[T.A]

Great appointment that. Might take a couple of years but you should make it back to the conference premier. I'm guessing they've took a massive wage cut too ? Not sure on your money situation at the moment.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Bern and Jonno appointed.

It's good to have them back, I bet the player's are really looking forward to meeting them

 

[B2TF]

Well done Chester and good luck next season. The Brotherhood is with you. See you back here in 2019.

 

[Railway Blue]

Just got back from the Banks Stadium after watching the best game of football I've seen this season albeit a one-sided 3-0 victory against a plucky, but out-classed Halifax side in the National League under 19 Cup Final.

Our financial situation is now much better after one of our fans, Stuart Murphy, has pledged a donation to improve our situation. No details yet.

 

[Master D]

Chester being BANKROLLED it seems.

 

[CestrianHawk]

Chester being BANKROLLED it seems.

Yup. The playing budget will be increased from 250K to 255K. Instant return here we come.

 

[Railway Blue]

Every team is bank-rolled, some more than others.

 

[Quakerz]

We aren't bankrolled, as we are fan owned.

 

[Master D]

Ditto. Which is why we’ll never get out of this league.

 

[B2TF]

Neither are we. Directors put in £30k 10 years ago to relaunch the club, everything else has come from fans, commercial sales and transfer fees.

 

[Railway Blue]

Aren't sponsorship deals a form of bank-rolling?

 

[CestrianHawk]

Aren't sponsorship deals a form of bank-rolling?

I doubt anybody considers sponsorship (ie paid for advertising) as bankrolling. Any money we get will be invested in infrastructure. Fans who expect an increase in the playing budget are going to be disappointed.

 

[Railway Blue]

I think the amount of money Ian Swettenham puts in goes way and above paying for advertising. He puts the money in because first and foremost he is a fan of the football team.

 

[John Still]

Doubtful that any full time clubs at this level that are not bankrolled to some extent, some fans might like to think they are but director loans happen all over and are eventually paid back through players sales or cup runs. I would guess anyone with a crowd below 2000 can’t sustain a competitive squad without ‘loans’.

 

[Railway Blue]

Doubtful that any full time clubs at this level that are not bankrolled to some extent, some fans might like to think they are but director loans happen all over and are eventually paid back through players sales or cup runs. I would guess anyone with a crowd below 2000 can’t sustain a competitive squad without ‘loans’.

We have no loans or debt and our crowds are less than 2,000, hence we didn't have a competitive squad.

 

[Bluandwite]

We have no loans or debt and our crowds are less than 2,000, hence we didn't have a competitive squad.

We did have a squad that was built on budgeted 2,000 crowds though.

 

[Railway Blue]

We did have a squad that was built on budgeted 2,000 crowds though.

Yes that's right because our previous season we had 2,000+ crowds, but the failure to sack Jon McCarthy at the end of that season meant we were doomed to failure no matter who the manager was.

 

[Bluandwite]

Confirmed today, £1million over three years - LINK

Much needed boost.

 

[Railway Blue]

Confirmed today, £1million over three years - LINK

Much needed boost.

Fan Stuart Murphy has donated this money to improve our infrastructure and sustainability. Very little will go into the playing budget. We remain a fan-owned club. Great opportunity for us to grow organically and continue to produce players from our impressive youth set-up. Thanks to Stuart Murphy and to Ian Swettenham who has funded our youth team since it's inception in 2010.

 

[Master D]

Run the club like imbeciles and then get a £1m bailout off some random bloke. Unbelievable.