Release Lists

[Aber gas]

I never said we let people in for free every week, you muppet!
Our model is very similar to FGR, the difference being that our owner has had to build the stadium up from what was almost a park stadium.
If he left, we would also be in a far better financial state, with a stadium that is fully paid up with zero debts. And just one level up....Easily sustainable.

Is your club as stable & safe as that?

I think barnet are ok . I'm not an expert on the hive but from what I've read on here their owner has created a successful separate business around the hive which sustains the football club with its revenue streams .

 

[Southern Shayman]

I never said we let people in for free every week, you muppet!
Our model is very similar to FGR, the difference being that our owner has had to build the stadium up from what was almost a park stadium.
If he left, we would also be in a far better financial state, with a stadium that is fully paid up with zero debts. And just one level up....Easily sustainable.

Is your club as stable & safe as that?

You tell us mate, you're the one in the boardroom...

And for the avoidance of doubt, Aber Gas is correct - The Hive basically pays for the playing budget by itself from what I understand.

 

[BeesKnees]

I never said we let people in for free every week, you muppet!
Our model is very similar to FGR, the difference being that our owner has had to build the stadium up from what was almost a park stadium.
If he left, we would also be in a far better financial state, with a stadium that is fully paid up with zero debts. And just one level up....Easily sustainable.

Is your club as stable & safe as that?

I never said you let people in for free every week, I was commenting on your claim that the club had made more money by offering free entrance. Your accounts don't tally with this debt free claim.

My club is run as a business. It makes a profit every year and the playing budget never exceeds the money generated at the Hive. For some this hard nosed business model is offputting but compared to how close to going under we came in 93 when our money man walked away I prefer it. Under flashman our crowds went from 500 to 5000 and we climbed two divisions.

 

[Si Robin]

I never said we let people in for free every week, you muppet!
Our model is very similar to FGR, the difference being that our owner has had to build the stadium up from what was almost a park stadium.
If he left, we would also be in a far better financial state, with a stadium that is fully paid up with zero debts. And just one level up....Easily sustainable.

Is your club as stable & safe as that?

I suppose the real question is should your owner leave, who then covers the full-time contracts of your players?

Judging by what I've read, and I'm not pertaining to know anything about Eastleigh, your ticket sales certainly wouldn't be enough to support a full-time team. That is when the trouble starts.

The same applies at FGR, if Dale Vince was to walk away and, we assume, write off any debt to himself, who pays the likes of Jon Parkin or Darren Jones (sure I saw yesterday Terry Butcher saying that Newport couldn't offer what FGR were offering).

 

[Eastleigh Fan]

We are not totally reliant on Mr Donald. Yes he is the main money man of course, but we have at least 8 or 9 other millionaires either on the BoD or as major sponsors, and at least 6 of those have been with the club for about 10 years.
As i and others have stated many many times, gates receipts are a very small percentage of any clubs revenue streams and we generate a heck of a lot of money with other streams all year round.
At this point in time, we do not have any players that are contracted past the end of the coming season. So if Mr |Donald walks away, he has already said he would honour any payments/contracts to the end of the season when he eventually leaves (and that wont be for years yet). If we have to cut our cloth accordingly once he had gone, then so be it. Just means we get players in who are not quite as good as what we have today. Whoopy doos, it really isn't a biggie is it, even if we dropped back down a division, it really isn't going to be the end of the world for us as a football club.

 

[Sparrow]

As i and others have stated many many times, gates receipts are a very small percentage of any clubs revenue streams and we generate a heck of a lot of money with other streams all year round.

Out of interest, what are these other revenue streams you have? I know that gate receipts our vital for our club so not sure I can agree that it's a 'small percentage' of revenue.

 

[BeesKnees]

We are not totally reliant on Mr Donald. Yes he is the main money man of course, but we have at least 8 or 9 other millionaires either on the BoD or as major sponsors, and at least 6 of those have been with the club for about 10 years.
As i and others have stated many many times, gates receipts are a very small percentage of any clubs revenue streams and we generate a heck of a lot of money with other streams all year round.
At this point in time, we do not have any players that are contracted past the end of the coming season. So if Mr |Donald walks away, he has already said he would honour any payments/contracts to the end of the season when he eventually leaves (and that wont be for years yet). If we have to cut our cloth accordingly once he had gone, then so be it. Just means we get players in who are not quite as good as what we have today. Whoopy doos, it really isn't a biggie is it, even if we dropped back down a division, it really isn't going to be the end of the world for us as a football club.

Probably best if you keep believing in the best case scenario.
If you think yours or any other club find it easy to just drop from league 2 to the conference then I think you should pray you're not in for a shock of Rushden & Diamond proportions.

 

[BeesKnees]

Out of interest, what are these other revenue streams you have? I know that gate receipts our vital for our club so not sure I can agree that it's a 'small percentage' of revenue.

It varies massively from club to club, the claim it's small for all clubs is false

 

[Greenacres]

Dale Vince has pushed FGR so far into debt to him that no one would touch them with a barge pole. So far for his money he has a team playing in the same division as they were when he took over. Their average attendance is liitle different over the past 10 years with this season primarily increasing due to Bristol Rovers. To his credit, if he walked and wiped his debt then they would be in a far better place financially than before he arrived because they now have off field facilities to support a club at conference level anyway. If they got promoted without leaving Nailsworth then it would only be a matter of time before the lack of local population stopped them progressing.

I'm not really one for picking holes in other peoples posts, but felt that the attendance average should be correctly stated. In 04/05 our average attendance was 743, in the season just ended it was a fraction over 1500, so about double what it was ten years ago. I accept that the big increase has come this season, 25% more than the last one, but in the intervening time it has averaged around 1000-1100. The other factor is the ground, ten years ago we were at the old one, moving up the hill undoubtedly had some effect on attendances. As for the Bristol effect, with around 1800 fans, they brought more to the game at our place than pretty much all the other teams added together. Over the whole season that probably only added about 50-60 to the average.

I'm not in a position to comment on the debt at the club, nor do I consider it a worthwhile exercise to speculate, but I do think that Dale would probably write it off as a loss if he walked away. Most of the off field facilities were in place when the ground was built, however they weren't necessarily running at a profit, part of a vision by the previous Board. Dale has certainly streamlined and improved the business to a level where it is probably shedding less money in most areas and at least breaking even in others. I accept your point about leaving Nailsworth, it is a valid one and something we are acutely aware of, although our current location is part of the charm of the club and a selling point for many. I understand that a site has been identified not far from Stroud to build a new ground, though to be fair, we are some way off this being either needed or a reality.

 

[BeesKnees]

I'm not really one for picking holes in other peoples posts, but felt that the attendance average should be correctly stated. In 04/05 our average attendance was 743, in the season just ended it was a fraction over 1500, so about double what it was ten years ago. .

04/05 is 11 seasons ago.
My figures were based on 05/06, 06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12, 12/13, 13/14, 14/15.
Your average this season excluding Bristol rovers is 1377. In both Bristol games the attendance was 2000 - 2500 higher than this figure and so boosted the average to 1545
I guess it's just what figures you use to measure but I would still argue a significant part of the increased attendance is due to Bristol Rovers, hopefully Cheltenham will have a similar effect for you next season. I agree though that I overstated my case in my attempt to point out FGR and Eastleigh are nothing like each other in terms of position or set-up. Clearly reaching the play-offs had a benefit to your home support of at least 2-300 extra fans.

 

[Greenacres]

04/05 is 11 seasons ago.
My figures were based on 05/06, 06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 10/11, 11/12, 12/13, 13/14, 14/15.
Your average this season excluding Bristol rovers is 1377. In both Bristol games the attendance was 2000 - 2500 higher than this figure and so boosted the average to 1545
I guess it's just what figures you use to measure but I would still argue a significant part of the increased attendance is due to Bristol Rovers, hopefully Cheltenham will have a similar effect for you next season. I agree though that I overstated my case in my attempt to point out FGR and Eastleigh are nothing like each other in terms of position or set-up.

OK, so my maths is a bit dodgy, we were still drawing an average of less than 1000 in 05/06. The following season the crowds did go up a bit, maybe that was the effect of the last season at the old ground drawing in a few more, or the other teams in the league bringing a large following. During my time following the team there have been a few teams who have been well followed, the likes of Exeter, Luton and Oxford always packed out the away end, admittedly none followed by numbers anywhere near what Bristol Rovers brought. That naturally boosted attendances, so unless it is possible to provide an exact average of home support, this sort of comparison is fairly pointless. All I can say is that compared to maybe five years ago there are many more home fans and I am optimistic that this will continue to be the case.

I agree that Eastleigh and FGR are not particularly alike, one is located in a large town and the other in a village, one has to compete with a Premier League football club for fans and the other with rugby, they have Chairmen who have completely different aims, ethos and motivations. The only common factor is that they are on the up, for many reasons, and a lot of people seem to see them as a threat. Football is a competitive game, sometimes what happens off the pitch gives an advantage, but it is what happens on it that really matters. Barnet were promoted as Champions because they were better at it last season than 23 other teams, they were a threat that proved successful. To use the old adage, there are many ways to skin a cat, only time will tell whether the Eastleigh and FGR approach can succeed.

 

[BeesKnees]

Regardless of who goes up tomorrow there will still be a number of decent ex-league clubs, reformed ex-league clubs and moneyed clubs who have reached the conference bottleneck. If rumours of the money Barrow are prepared to throw at promotion are true then maybe we can add them to the mix, can we expect FC United the year after? I was told that the conference was weaker this season, but to my mind the strength was spread over more teams and so the competition fiercer. I can only see this trend continuing with strong clubs coming up while only 2 clubs escape at the top.
All I can say is I feel bloody lucky we got promoted as next season with the complete loss of parachute payment then I would've seen us staying for a while. tbh I'm still amazed we went up this season and expected the four teams in the play-offs to be above us in the table.

 

[WeAreDarlington]

It'll be interesting to see who leaves Gateshead through the transition period. Hopefully we'll take a look at one or two.

 

[Mark kavanagh]

Duck, low flying handbags.

 

[Gladders]

So Hurst has said he would like to keep the majority of the squad for next season, although he says the squad we finished the season with is too costly and we don't have the budget for to keep an entire season, so I guess a few will be going.

Think Palmer will take Mansfields contract offer now, he's not going to come to us in non-league, and to be honest I don't think he is the answer to our goalscoring woes anyhow. We need another Hearn or Connell somebody who will score 25+ not another 15-20 goal striker.

Doubt we will keep Jolley, guessing he is one of the ones on too much as the lottery winners funded his signing and he hasn't exactly impressed whilst here. Can also see Hannah going, probably one of the higher earners and too much to be sitting on the bench. Pittman is too injury prone and we can't rely on him being fit for another season so can see him going too.

As for the rest of today's squad I think and hope they will all stay, we have a decent side that should be challenging again next season, need to add a bit more attacking outlets though and lets hope the likes of Pearson and Magnay haven't attracted league clubs though.

 

[Davidimp]

Will Gowling join you guys do you think?

 

[Gladders]

hopefully we offer him somthing

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

If we keep the bulk of our squad together I'm confident we can bounce back and finally make a surge for the title. Surely Hurst realises now that that is the only option, the play-offs are a complete deathtrap.

Pearson, Gowling, Nsiala, Magnay, Disley, Brown, Mackreth, Arnold and John-Lewis are absolute must keeps for me.

Robertson, Clay and Pittman I wouldn't be disappointed to see them stay or go either way.

Palmer, Jolley, Hannah, Bignot, McLaughlin, Parslow and a few other loans / youths / players we signed that didn't play a single game will be gone.


Keep the ones I mentioned, fill in the gaps with a quality left back, fresh central midfielder and a goalscorer, then we'll do alright. But it all remains to be seen who exactly is going to stay. The team spirit is extremely high so I'd like to think they'll stick together but there's a couple that can easily be lured away by a FL club.

 

[Luke Imp]

Who's out of contract?

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Who's out of contract?

Everyone except McKeown. We could either have a championship winning squad or a bottom half squad come August.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Would have to think that Pearson and John-Lewis are high on other teams recruitment list. Would definitely take both of them at Barnet.

Did the occasion get to Mackreth? Highly rated given his inclusion in this forum's team of the year, but was very poor yesterday.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Would have to think that Pearson and John-Lewis are high on other teams recruitment list. Would definitely take both of them at Barnet.

Did the occasion get to Mackreth? Highly rated given his inclusion in this forum's team of the year, but was very poor yesterday.

We're very lucky Pearson has been with us the past few seasons and not many would begrudge him moving on because he deserves a shot in a higher league, but we can pray he'll give it one last go with us.

With Mackreth, from the stands at least, I thought he played the same as most others on our team. Decent movement, got into some good positions but with very poor to no execution at all. He tried to take his man on but couldn't find any decent crosses. He's still a young lad though and will prove to be effective against the weaker defences next season so I hope he stays.

 

[Davidimp]

Everyone except McKeown. We could either have a championship winning squad or a bottom half squad come August.

Blimey that's a risky tactic!!! Worse than us!!

 

[Gladders]

Blimey that's a risky tactic!!! Worse than us!!

We only sign players on one year contracts now, lessons learnt from seasons past. Was surprised to hear Mckeown signed a 2 year contract because I thought it was only 1, glad to be wrong though.

 

[Judge Dredd]

We've just released Shaun Whalley if anyone fancies a painfully average winger who somehow was excellent in the Conference for Southport (shit for us though). Ricky Miller too, he had a good goalscoring ratio on loan at Dover and tore up the Conference North so I expect he'll have offers at Conference level.

 

[Davidimp]

We've just released Shaun Whalley if anyone fancies a painfully average winger who somehow was excellent in the Conference for Southport (shit for us though). Ricky Miller too, he had a good goalscoring ratio on loan at Dover and tore up the Conference North so I expect he'll have offers at Conference level.

Is that Ricky Miller formerly of Boston?

 

[Davidimp]

We only sign players on one year contracts now, lessons learnt from seasons past. Was surprised to hear Mckeown signed a 2 year contract because I thought it was only 1, glad to be wrong though.

Fair enough but still its risky especially with your better players.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Is that Ricky Miller formerly of Boston?

it is.
No retained list for us so far, but the only senior out of contract player I would have kept in Stephen O'Halloran has joined Salford City.

 

[Davidimp]

it is.
No retained list for us so far, but the only senior out of contract player I would have kept in Stephen O'Halloran has joined Salford City.

Thought so, did well for them but Luton have got rid of him for a breach of club rules.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Thought so, did well for them but Luton have got rid of him for a breach of club rules.

It wasn't a club rules thing, he's under criminal investigation for assaulting a taxi driver when pissed up after the end of season awards night. But really that just gave us the excuse to pull the trigger without having to pay up his contract, he wasn't going to cut it at League Two level and would have been transfer listed anyway. Reckon he could do a job at Conference level though.

Same story with Whalley incidentally, he was apparently involved in the same incident (I assume they were in the taxi together). Although Whalley was out of contract in June anyway.