Stickied League 2 Away Support Thread 2024/25

[Scum.]

Which they won't because they're a failed experiment.

Ah the old if you don't sell out Grimsby away you are a failed experiment, test. Does that make you a failed experiment then too? A lot of failed experiments in L2...

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Just in case anybody has forgotten we only used to take about 500-600 to Grimsby#failedexperimentclub

Thought I'd save you the time Limerick Mariner

 

[valefan16]

Strange comment, MK aren't anywhere near the biggest club in L1/2, Birmingham dwarf them and most of us, Bolton etc. They have a big ground but thats about it, its a modest sized L1/2 club with a fluctuating fan base like most of us thats probably getting some of the lower crowds they've had since the move to the stadium?

Like them or not, and they shouldn't have been allowed to come about as they did of course it has been 20+ years now and so I don't see the point on battering their fans as a decent amount of their fans won't have been around at the time. Its a lesson that should never be repeated and it probably hasn't worked out as hoped by their ownership of course.

 

[Scum.]

Strange comment, MK aren't anywhere near the biggest club in L1/2, Birmingham dwarf them and most of us, Bolton etc. They have a big ground but thats about it, its a modest sized L1/2 club with a fluctuating fan base like most of us thats probably getting some of the lower crowds they've had since the move to the stadium?

Like them or not, and they shouldn't have been allowed to come about as they did of course it has been 20+ years now and so I don't see the point on battering their fans as a decent amount of their fans won't have been around at the time. Its a lesson that should never be repeated and it probably hasn't worked out as hoped by their ownership of course.

Yep, this season is by far our worst in terms of crowds since we moved to Stadium:MK, though unsurprising as we have been in our worst couple of years as a football club since forming (yes we still did well last season, but frankly we shouldn't even be in L2 based on where the club has been and wants to go and Winkelman's last couple of years were not great in terms of fan engagement, matchday experience etc hence part of his decision to leave).

We have spent most of our existence in L1 and most of that time as a top 6/10 club in that division, which I would say is our level (for now). Yes, there is potential with a city population of circa 300,000, a huge quality stadium and now some wealthy owners but for now you can bucket us in with Gillingham as "sleeping giants" and most of our fans aren't deluded to really think we are the biggest club in L1/L2 at the moment. As I said in the other thread, Lindsey is playing kidology to stop our losing mentality I think.

 

[Cloudy]

Yep, this season is by far our worst in terms of crowds since we moved to Stadium:MK, though unsurprising as we have been in our worst couple of years as a football club since forming (yes we still did well last season, but frankly we shouldn't even be in L2 based on where the club has been and wants to go and Winkelman's last couple of years were not great in terms of fan engagement, matchday experience etc hence part of his decision to leave).

We have spent most of our existence in L1 and most of that time as a top 6/10 club in that division, which I would say is our level (for now). Yes, there is potential with a city population of circa 300,000, a huge quality stadium and now some wealthy owners but for now you can bucket us in with Gillingham as "sleeping giants" and most of our fans aren't deluded to really think we are the biggest club in L1/L2 at the moment. As I said in the other thread, Lindsey is playing kidology to stop our losing mentality I think.

If history and ambition are the criteria then the majority of League 2 clubs have a greater claim than MK.

 

[Alfie]

 

[GTFCfish]

Ah the old if you don't sell out Grimsby away you are a failed experiment, test. Does that make you a failed experiment then too? A lot of failed experiments in L2...

She does have a point though, I'm sure when little winkle took over he didn't expect that 20 years later you would be mid table in the 4th division.

 

[Moonie]

Around 200 remaining of our 1300 tickets for Salford in a couple of weeks.

 

[hellogregory]

Around 200 remaining of our 1300 tickets for Salford in a couple of weeks.

The players are lucky to get that. Really they don't deserve even a tenth of that turning up.

 

[Scum.]

If history and ambition are the criteria then the majority of League 2 clubs have a greater claim than MK.

Well we can only base our history on the time we have had and the reality is we have spent most of our 20 year existence as a high performing League One football club. That’s all I meant.

 

[Cloudy]

I’m sure some others have a greater claims than Grimsby but having spent 12 seasons at the top table and 55 in what is now the Championship as opposed to 19 in ‘’Division 4’, I think we, as will many, trump MK!

 

[Scum.]

I’m sure some others have a greater claims than Grimsby but having spent 12 seasons at the top table and 55 in what is now the Championship as opposed to 19 in ‘’Division 4’, I think we, as will many, trump MK!

I suppose the only possible downside to this logic is that us and AFC Wimbledon are the anomalies in English football. If it’s just based on average historical league positions since every club’s foundation, we are obviously the bigger club, but even I’d say that’s a tad unfair on our friends from SW London.

Very much bald men fighting over combs at this point. Scott Lindsey doesn’t know what drama he’s caused in the online fan forums around England.

 

[GTFCfish]

Thing is though size isn’t just down to league position or else we’d be saying that Bournemouth are bigger than Leeds/Sunderland etc.

 

[クレイグ]

Thing is though size isn’t just down to league position or else we’d be saying that Bournemouth are bigger than Leeds/Sunderland etc.

I am okay with this.

 

[Scum.]

Thing is though size isn’t just down to league position or else we’d be saying that Bournemouth are bigger than Leeds/Sunderland etc.

I said average historical positions tbf, not current as that’s a ridiculous measure.

How else would you quantify it? A thesis is needed on how to identify biggest clubs.

 

[GTFCfish]

I said average historical positions tbf, not current as that’s a ridiculous measure.

How else would you quantify it? A thesis is needed on how to identify biggest clubs.

My way of basing who the biggest club is is how close is each club to the North Sea, and how good are the fish and chips in each town.
To cut a long story short, it’s us.

 

[Scum.]

My way of basing who the biggest club is is how close is each club to the North Sea, and how good are the fish and chips in each town.
To cut a long story short, it’s us.

I would have said most roundabouts in the place the club is located. Also if that place is a city bonus points.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I'm really pleased that after some early and frankly futile resistance, that the League 2 Away Support Thread has significantly diversified into home attendances, perceived size of clubs and many other similar elements.

The thread is now far more welcoming and I like to think that my, and others, persistence in the face of initial opposition has resulted in this. Well done all involved but our work is not done here.

 

[Moonie]

The players are lucky to get that. Really they don't deserve even a tenth of that turning up.

You’re coming too though, right?

 

[Grimsby Road]

I said average historical positions tbf, not current as that’s a ridiculous measure.

How else would you quantify it? A thesis is needed on how to identify biggest clubs.

It's an interesting debate which i could write about for ages but I won't as would probably bore everyone on here but I guess it's really about personal opinion : wealth of owners , facilities , historical context , where the club has been recently /is now and fanbase etc ; maybe Lyndsey just literally means they could blow all clubs out the water in league 1 or 2 and the owners are minted which I think is the case it will be interesting what they see as the future for MK and whether they will bankroll them through the leagues whatever anyone thinks about you as a club , you look the most likely from league 2 to actually be able to do that imo.

 

[hellogregory]

You’re coming too though, right?

I am

 

[Grimsby Road]

The only thing that's blown my mind lower down is no high net worth individual has picked up Bradford tbh they seem the club with the most potential in terms of fanbase so find it strange , the owner continues to fund them to a close to break even model which is good in a business sense but can't ever see it getting them very far beyond a league up even if they get it right . Bradford fans will know more than me - does he just not want to sell it ?

 

[Grimsby Road]

I would have said most roundabouts in the place the club is located. Also if that place is a city bonus points.

You need to point me in the right direction of a decent kebab shop , because i couldn't find one last time in the gridded system and the kebab van was closed - it was a Tuesday night though maybe Saturdays there are a few more bits ?

 

[F!RTHY]

The only thing that's blown my mind lower down is no high net worth individual has picked up Bradford tbh they seem the club with the most potential in terms of fanbase so find it strange , the owner continues to fund them to a close to break even model which is good in a business sense but can't ever see it getting them very far beyond a league up even if they get it right . Bradford fans will know more than me - does he just not want to sell it ?

You’re going to get mixed opinions on this one.

1.) We’re contacted 3-4 times per month by potential buyers. Some of those may have genuine interest but imagine the vast majority are ‘tyre kickers’. Either way, Rupp isn’t actively looking to sell. Although, everything is for sale, right?

2.) There’s an unofficial asking price of £10m, but a lot of fans think that’s too high given Rupp acquired the club for £6m in 2016 in a much better place. I think £10m for a club that is approaching that figure in revenue alone (and in L2) per annum, is about right.

3.) Assets - we don’t own Valley Parade or our training ground. I’m not sure why any multi-millionaire would be fazed by this, but fans seem to think this is the main sticking point when it comes to lack of interest and on the field success.

4.) Rupp has backed the club, but not at the level some fans demand. It’s been proven time and time again that you don’t need to rinse the bank to get out of this league. The year we were relegated from L1 (2019), we had our highest playing budget since the Championship (2004) and we ended up being relegated.

5.) Always said it, but when we go back up, we’ll see more backing from Rupp.

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

The only thing that's blown my mind lower down is no high net worth individual has picked up Bradford tbh they seem the club with the most potential in terms of fanbase so find it strange , the owner continues to fund them to a close to break even model which is good in a business sense but can't ever see it getting them very far beyond a league up even if they get it right . Bradford fans will know more than me - does he just not want to sell it ?

He wants a silly price for it supposedly.

He bought us for approx £6m in 2016 when we were a top end L1 club - back to back play offs, L1 play off final, cup runs of note (though not forgetting we owned nothing other than our FL place and squad).

We've since regressed, been relegated and spent now 6 years in L2 and allegedly wants north of/close to £10m for us - despite being much lower than when he arrived and still owning nothing. Though he did cover a large chunk of Covid costs and saw us through that - kudos to him for that. Again, the club recouped a lot of that from the sell on fee when McBurnie moved from Swansea to Sheff Utd.

He's not a football man so while he isn't a malicious owner, I think if he got an appropriate offer he'd be out of here. Note he also turned down Wagmi before they bought Crawley.

Having said all that, if Tranmere are being part sold for £15m to this US musician, then perhaps his valuation of our club isn't so outlandish.

 

[valefan16]

Surely the asset is a sticking point because its just that? an asset?

 

[Kauto Star]

He wants a silly price for it supposedly.

He bought us for approx £6m in 2016 when we were a top end L1 club - back to back play offs, L1 play off final, cup runs of note (though not forgetting we owned nothing other than our FL place and squad).

We've since regressed, been relegated and spent now 6 years in L2 and allegedly wants north of/close to £10m for us - despite being much lower than when he arrived and still owning nothing. Though he did cover a large chunk of Covid costs and saw us through that - kudos to him for that. Again, the club recouped a lot of that from the sell on fee when McBurnie moved from Swansea to Sheff Utd.

He's not a football man so while he isn't a malicious owner, I think if he got an appropriate offer he'd be out of here. Note he also turned down Wagmi before they bought Crawley.

Having said all that, if Tranmere are being part sold for £15m to this US musician, then perhaps his valuation of our club isn't so outlandish.

Don't Tranny own their ground and training facilities though, unlike us?

 

[Si Robin]

Who own's Bradford's ground and training ground?

This is seen as a bit of sticking point for investment at Cheltenham. Our ground is owned by the council, but we pay them a peppercorn rent and have a lease of nigh on 100 years, so are not at any risk of losing it. If not owning the ground is an issue, that tells me you're looking for the wrong investors (surely they only want to own the ground for potential development?). Of course, if the rent is to a schyster then I'd get it (like Oxford and Kassam for example).

We do own our training ground though, having purchased it last year.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I knew Bradford didn't own the stadium. What's the current rent?

 

[Posh Red]

View attachment 20941

Was reported that there were 278 Swindon at Salford