National League 2017-18

[Lucky Bobble]

Wrote on here at the time I couldn't understand why any Chester fan would think that Marcus Bignot was a good choice for manager - yet he seemed to have quite a lot of support. Said then I thought he'd take Chester down. He did nothing with Solihull Moors until they became bankrolled... and has done nothing since either at Grimsby or Chester. Not saying its all his fault, just saying he seems to have acquired a reputation his results haven't earned.

 

[genesimmons]

I wasn't aware we'd ever met, yet you presume that you know my every waking thought- perhaps you are the Gateshead fan who occasionally joins us on an away day, or at The Shay, rather than endure the soul destroying 2 hours that pass for a matchday experience up in his home town. Those who ACTUALLY know me will vouch for my principles on this issue.

No one will actually know you as you just seem to be troll in cyber space. Are you a young lad nust haveing a laugh or a old guy peed orr with the rise and fall of the various incarnations of halifax

 

[GTFCfish]

Whereas the quality at the top of league 2 is something well beyond the means of the usual non-league side, the bottom 6/8 teams are probaly on par with the top 6/8 in the conference. Surely the seasons of Hartlepool and Orient should back this up.

It's bizarre that league 2 has 4 teams that go up but 2 down. Top 2 up auto and do whatever it is you've done to the playoffs - which look kinda funky tbh.

Given the backward decision from the powers that be about 3G pitches, I don't expect this'll change any time soon

Our current squad would be in the bottom half of the National League with a possible relegation battle, worst Grimsby team in history this one even worse than our relegation team in 2010 and even worse than the one which beat Woking 3-1 in November 2014.

 

[Master D]

Garry Hill doesn't think so.

 

[Dave-Vale]

Just having a look in here...

 

[B2TF]

Just having a look in here...

As you were. Neil Aspin doesn't do relegation.

 

[B2TF]

No one will actually know you as you just seem to be troll in cyber space. Are you a young lad nust haveing a laugh or a old guy peed orr with the rise and fall of the various incarnations of halifax

Well, what can I say, as the only remaining specimen of the once common Gateshead Fannus, I'm pretty sure no one knows you. It must get lonely up there all on you own in that big Dust Bowl Stadium. I know more Gateshead fans who watch Halifax than watch Gateshead.

 

[Silver Stone]

Just having a look in here...

This is the best board on the site, likely the only perk of going down.

 

[AdamStag]

Garry Hill doesn't think so.

Ah you've returned! Hope that you're well!

Would be good if you can join us again!

 

[genesimmons]

Well, what can I say, as the only remaining specimen of the once common Gateshead Fannus, I'm pretty sure no one knows you. It must get lonely up there all on you own in that big Dust Bowl Stadium. I know more Gateshead fans who watch Halifax than watch Gateshead.

Its clear you are inventing theroies just to get an argument. Do you have anything positive to say about anything. How old are you im still trying to work out if you are a young workie ticket or a bitter old fan

 

[AdamStag]

Its clear you are inventing theroies just to get an argument. Do you have anything positive to say about anything. How old are you im still trying to work out if you are a young workie ticket or a bitter old fan

I think most people in Halifax are bitter. It got left behind in the 60s

 

[Dave-Vale]

I bet it’s proper awkward taking a massive away following to a club that gets less than 1000 at home.

 

[Railway Blue]

Wrote on here at the time I couldn't understand why any Chester fan would think that Marcus Bignot was a good choice for manager - yet he seemed to have quite a lot of support. Said then I thought he'd take Chester down. He did nothing with Solihull Moors until they became bankrolled... and has done nothing since either at Grimsby or Chester. Not saying its all his fault, just saying he seems to have acquired a reputation his results haven't earned.

He has a Conference North title on his CV, which was achieved with one of the smallest budgets in the league. The bit in bold would seem false if he had a large budget. One of the loudest voices on Deva Chat2 insists we retain him for next season based on that assumption. Not convinced myself though.

 

[Railway Blue]

I’d agree that the circumstances at Orient and Hartlepool where there have been major problems in the running of that pair mean that you can’t class them as typical relegated L2 sides.

However, Rovers were definitely in the relegated because ‘just shit’ category, but haven’t bounced back quickly.

Is that because Brabin wasn't good enough?

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Is that because Brabin wasn't good enough?

Toxic atmosphere at the club, Brabin was brought in to stabilise the ship. Mellon has improved us but was unlucky last season and possibly complacent at the start of this season.

However I’d disagree on the club management. Tranmere had a top 5 budget in league one for about 7 successive seasons until Peter Johnson lost interest and essentially halved the budget, which caused an inevitable and rapid decline. Whilst he had been financing the squad out of his back pocket, the main stand fell into disrepair and the club was not self sufficient.

This season our turnover is set to reach in the region of £6m due to significant non football related income which will enable the club to continue to offer whichever manager one of the biggest budgets in the league almost indefinitely. Whilst summer recruitment was very poor (Norburn and Buxton aside) most of our better players are under contract for next season and we can simply go again, much as Luton were able to.

 

[Raymondo316]

I bet it’s proper awkward taking a massive away following to a club that gets less than 1000 at home.

Just pray you never have to experience Boreham Wood away with their 250-300 fans.

 

[Dave-Vale]

Just pray you never have to experience Boreham Wood away with their 250-300 fans.

Thought I’d have a look at how they’re bankrolled. Their chairman is about as arrogant as ours.

http://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/uncategorized/q-a-with-chairman-danny-hunter-2/

 

[rudebwoyben]

Thought I’d have a look at how they’re bankrolled. Their chairman is about as arrogant as ours.

http://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/uncategorized/q-a-with-chairman-danny-hunter-2/

They’re bankrolled by having Arsenal’s Women’s team play at their ground and other off-field income streams.

 

[Master D]

They’re bankrolled by having Arsenal’s Women’s team play at their ground and other off-field income streams.

i.e. conning the visiting side and their supporters on every matchday. You name it, they'll try and charge you for it.

 

[rudebwoyben]

i.e. conning the visiting side and their supporters on every matchday. You name it, they'll try and charge you for it.

You’re right, I forgot about that but there’s a good chance I’ll experience it next season.

 

[bigtimecharlie_]

So why exactly do Boreham Wood have so few fans? It's a reasonable sized town and you would assume that with their success in recent years they'd get a bit more support from locals.

 

[genesimmons]

So why exactly do Boreham Wood have so few fans? It's a reasonable sized town and you would assume that with their success in recent years they'd get a bit more support from locals.

I was thinking the same. Decent sized town, near london, good public transport. Maybe all supporters of warford and the north london teams. Not a bad ground at all

 

[genesimmons]

Just pray you never have to experience Boreham Wood away with their 250-300 fans.

Its not a bad ground at all. Them haveing a small fan base at lease means you are not segregated in a corner staring at s pillar for 90 minuteems like at some grounds

 

[Boz]

Is that because Brabin wasn't good enough?

Brabin's track record suggested he wouldn't take us back up and there were no surprises there. However his player recruitment was better than Mellon's, Adam Buxton being the only player of around a dozen he's brought in, who's an unqualied success. If you could get Brabin recruiting and Mellon managing, we might do better.

 

[Boz]

This season our turnover is set to reach in the region of £6m due to significant non football related income which will enable the club to continue to offer whichever manager one of the biggest budgets in the league almost indefinitely. Whilst summer recruitment was very poor (Norburn and Buxton aside) most of our better players are under contract for next season and we can simply go again, much as Luton were able to.

I'm not sure our financial position is as rosy as you paint it. Academy going, staff in other areas made redundant, a significant loss on the Wirral Live concerts and the Mongolia project not yet bringing much money into the club. While season ticket sales and crowds have held up fairly well so far, fear they might wane with another season or so at NL level.

Davies, Jennings, Cook, Harris & McNulty amongst those out of contract in the summer. The first three I'd definitely want to keep, but with Mellon's handling of Cook doubt he'd consider signing a new contract unless we go up.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

I'm not sure our financial position is as rosy as you paint it. Academy going, staff in other areas made redundant, a significant loss on the Wirral Live concerts and the Mongolia project not yet bringing much money into the club. While season ticket sales and crowds have held up fairly well so far, fear they might wane with another season or so at NL level.

Davies, Jennings, Cook, Harris & McNulty amongst those out of contract in the summer. The first three I'd definitely want to keep, but with Mellon's handling of Cook doubt he'd consider signing a new contract unless we go up.

China turnover is into the millions and would ramp up significantly with a promotion; prestige.

The Academy was axed as it doesn’t generate any revenue, nothing to do with the clubs posirion. Our recent promising players like Eddie Clarke and before him Aaron Cresswell joined at 16, which is an age group we are retaining anyway.

As for out of contract players.. view on them has to depend on whether we go up or not. Maybe we need a fresh squad again if we don’t.

 

[Huntsman94]

China turnover is into the millions and would ramp up significantly with a promotion; prestige.

The Academy was axed as it doesn’t generate any revenue, nothing to do with the clubs posirion. Our recent promising players like Eddie Clarke and before him Aaron Cresswell joined at 16, which is an age group we are retaining anyway.

As for out of contract players.. view on them has to depend on whether we go up or not. Maybe we need a fresh squad again if we don’t.

The China stuff brought in about £600,000 last season and is planned to do at least the same for the next financial year. The concerts is anyone's guess.

For the academy and for a club in the 5th division, due to EPPP rules it's just not worth the clubs while unfortunately and will save the club £300,000 next season while we still develop players in a more centre of excellence type of way.

Would say we're doing ok. Not the masses a lot may think but not in the situation a number of other clubs are finding themselves in. If the club went up then the club as a whole would grow massively imo.

 

[GTFCfish]

 

[Boz]

The China stuff brought in about £600,000 last season and is planned to do at least the same for the next financial year. The concerts is anyone's guess.

For the academy and for a club in the 5th division, due to EPPP rules it's just not worth the clubs while unfortunately and will save the club £300,000 next season while we still develop players in a more centre of excellence type of way.

Would say we're doing ok. Not the masses a lot may think but not in the situation a number of other clubs are finding themselves in. If the club went up then the club as a whole would grow massively imo.

Interesting, are there some accounts published that give that China figure? I know at the Trust meeting last year Nicola Palios indicated it would ultimately bring in a 6 figure sum, but no timescale given.

Made an unspecified loss on the concerts last season. Think this season's are minimal risk or benefit to the club.

Personally can understand the economics behind closing the academy but youth development is an important yardstick for a supposed community club and it will be interesting to see what if anything we do for local U16s now.

There has been penny-pinching in terms of the match programmes, club shop staffing etc, which is why I’m a little wary as to the shape of our finances.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Interesting, are there some accounts published that give that China figure? I know at the Trust meeting last year Nicola Palios indicated it would ultimately bring in a 6 figure sum, but no timescale given.

Made an unspecified loss on the concerts last season. Think this season's are minimal risk or benefit to the club.

Personally can understand the economics behind closing the academy but youth development is an important yardstick for a supposed community club and it will be interesting to see what if anything we do for local U16s now.

There has been penny-pinching in terms of the match programmes, club shop staffing etc, which is why I’m a little wary as to the shape of our finances.

Tranmere was an extremely poorly run business in the final years under Peter Johnson and needed to reach FA Cup quarters or sell a player for 1m plus every season to minimise losses, so any comparisons of staffing levels etc should be viewed as efficiency driven.

The above China figure is very different to the one I’ve seen from a very close source at the club. I do suspect that there is a separate company for Tranmeres non footballing operations though, looking at last years accounts.

We were supposed to be sitting in a rebuilt Prenton Park next season, but a relegation and failure to get promotion put the brakes on that. Likewise with external investor.