www.altyfans.co.uk

General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: PukkaPieman on May 16, 2018, 11:33:28 PM

Title: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: PukkaPieman on May 16, 2018, 11:33:28 PM
As we enter our fifth season, I believe it is important to reflect on what has worked and what has not worked so far... Almost £4m have been ‘invested’ in the club and the return on that has been one promotion, a new boiler system, new floodlights and a nice 3rd round FA Cup tie. While we are proud of these accomplishments, we know we have to do things differently if we want to leave a legacy beyond these. There needs to be a renewed focus on putting money on projects and people that will benefit the town and the club for more than just the short term.

The second key takeaway is that, currently, Barrow is not capable of sustainably competing for promotion in the National League with its current level of support. The club cannot continue to operate outside its means on the back of crowds around 1000. The club is also limited by not having an academy and having no external facility such as proper training facilities in the town for the first team and youth teams, which can also be used as a revenue stream.

The third takeaway is that the team needs to represent the town, through its players, its identity and its work ethic. Year over year, the team has seemed to become more and more distant from the town and has turned into a team from elsewhere that occasionally played a home match in Barrow. I think this is why our home record was so poor this past season. I also believe this has had an effect on the commitment and size of our support in the last couple of years.

The fourth takeaway is that football is changing. The business model we have followed thus far is broken and clubs cannot continue to leverage their future [by] betting on promotion. We saw this nearly broke several teams at our level and below. Money is consolidated at the top and the financial benefits of getting promoted are not what they once were. However, clubs like Accrington and Macclesfield show that a team built on a budget and characterized by team spirit and toughness can experience success.

All of this means that next season will mark a dramatic transformation in the way the club does business from the first four years. Barrow AFC will go from a club that exists off external investment, to one that runs off the revenue it generates while having an owner who can and will put money in towards projects that generate a return.

Key changes [include]...

The structure and cost for the first team will be closely analysed and brought in line with club revenues. While the scope of the changes required is still being determined, we enter the summer season with a much different ambition for the next year or two. We will be more realistic with our expectations for every season, with our primary aim being to put together a team that works hard, plays good football, and plays with pride for the badge on their shirts.
My focus in the next 18 months will be on controlling costs and pushing forward plans to develop both an academy and a secondary facility that can support the football club...
In terms of the ground, the idea that we will be redeveloping it or building a new stadium is well and truly laid to rest
I will be looking for more contributions from the various supporters' groups....
The Community group will be a continued focus, as it is crucial not only to developing and retaining talented local footballers, but to also help people throughout the town develop a positive relationship with the club
In my brief time working in football, I have learned that a club that is reliant on a single shareholder cannot achieve lasting success. This is because we all work a little less hard than we should because we think the money will bring success... We need volunteers who come down and help make the ground a nice place to come on a match day. We need supporters who convince their friends and co-workers to come down to a match on a Tuesday or Saturday so that we have crowds of 2,000 and not 1,000. All of these things are possible, and the next 12 months will decide what kind of club we want Barrow AFC to be."

This is a club owner recognising the reality, from first hand experience of trying to run and fund a club of similar size to Alty,... and basically this new strategy,.......   is the strategy Alty have been following these past 10 years.

Food for thought ehh ;) :D
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Mrs Warbouys on May 17, 2018, 04:03:07 AM
They’ll be very disappointed to be playing evostick league football
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Nom de plume on May 17, 2018, 05:43:57 AM
They’ll be very happy to be in existence and on a sound footing.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Toff Apple on May 17, 2018, 07:57:42 AM
This statement is usually followed in appox 6 months by "spiraling costs force administration" afc barrow anyone, indeed in the evostick
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Bob on May 17, 2018, 08:13:34 AM
A million quid a year pumped in with barely any new infrastructure is barmy. Bit odd too that they are turning against the one owner bankrolling clubs model yet quote Macc and Accrington as examples to follow.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: MarpleAlty on May 17, 2018, 08:41:59 AM
A million quid a year pumped in with barely any new infrastructure is barmy. Bit odd too that they are turning against the one owner bankrolling clubs model yet quote Macc and Accrington as examples to follow.

Macc and Accrington pull the wool over everyone's eyes with their SOS stunts every other year. I'm pretty sure Accy had close to the biggest budget in the league when they won the Conference.

I suspect we'll see the likes of Barrow in the NLN the season after next - although I did say that about Solihull and they seemed to steam towards safety in the Spring.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: One Foot in the Grave on May 17, 2018, 09:42:54 AM
I'm not cynical enough to suggest that he's put this out there just as the town is on a high because they've got the contract for another submarine.....
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: HashtagAlty on May 17, 2018, 12:28:07 PM
It doesn't make him right.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: anglo alty on May 17, 2018, 12:54:21 PM
This is why it is so important  to keep expectations in touch with reality. Sadly AFC Barrow seems a possibility
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: cheshire cat on May 17, 2018, 01:49:59 PM
There are similar noises being made at Guiseley.

Chester seem to be a bad example of the opposite scenario. Run badly by a committee.

Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: One Foot in the Grave on May 17, 2018, 07:08:24 PM
Sadly AFC Barrow seems a possibility

Again (effectively).
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Ballers on May 17, 2018, 09:29:49 PM
This is why it is so important  to keep expectations in touch with reality. Sadly AFC Barrow seems a possibility

Why does it seem it's a possibility?
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Ballers on May 17, 2018, 09:31:25 PM
The second key takeaway is that, currently, Barrow is not capable of sustainably competing for promotion in the National League with its current level of support. The club cannot continue to operate outside its means on the back of crowds around 1000. The club is also limited by not having an academy and having no external facility such as proper training facilities in the town for the first team and youth teams, which can also be used as a revenue stream.

Yeh it's a pisser you being stick out in the sticks rather than the suburbs of a major population centre with excellent transport links....
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: PukkaPieman on May 17, 2018, 09:58:22 PM
The second key takeaway is that, currently, Barrow is not capable of sustainably competing for promotion in the National League with its current level of support. The club cannot continue to operate outside its means on the back of crowds around 1000. The club is also limited by not having an academy and having no external facility such as proper training facilities in the town for the first team and youth teams, which can also be used as a revenue stream.

Yeh it's a pisser you being stuck out in the sticks rather than the suburbs of a major population centre with excellent transport links....to Old Trafford and The Etihad, top 2 teams in the EPL on the doorstep.

Corrected for you :D
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Nom de plume on May 17, 2018, 10:00:44 PM
Yeh it's a pisser you being stick out in the sticks rather than the suburbs of a major population centre with excellent transport links....

You can’t get a submarine in Barrow, then 3 come at once........

Perhaps they’ll sink without trace.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Ballers on May 17, 2018, 10:02:03 PM
Cheers Ian, I'd forgot to add it was a football mad city.

Weak
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Sarf London Alty on May 17, 2018, 10:16:22 PM
Cheers Ian, I'd forgot to add it was a football mad city.

Weak

Incredibly so. The in-built advantages we have over Barrow due to our location, transport links, wealth and propsperity of the town compared to Barrow, the list is literally endless. Altrincham would outperform Barrow by miles and miles in any social, economic or educational metric you could care to name. Yet because one man came in without a proper thought through strategy chucked a load of cash at it but ultimately failed then that means we should never contemplate outside investment or big money coming in. It’s pathetic it really is.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Mick on May 17, 2018, 11:13:32 PM
To be fair the fella who chucked all the money in has family roots in Barrow.......he has come along expecting much more for his money and it has not worked out......think he is simply getting cold feet now and shall we say scaling back his financial input having failed to inspire the town and grow the crowds - just like the bloke who owned Hull and bought North Ferriby for his daughter because his grandson played junior football there

I expect he will just ease his way out and they will be relegated to Conf North next season, by which time the underachievers on contracts will be 'out of contract' and they can become a self sustaining club once again at Conf North level.

They have a had a good run, been competitive for a few seasons and it was not long ago they were playing Sunderland and Middlesbrough on live TV in the third round of the FA Cup......not to mention winning the FA Trophy.......they have not had it that bad over the last ten years
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: PukkaPieman on May 17, 2018, 11:28:41 PM
Cheers Ian, I'd forgot to add it was a football mad city.
Weak

Its precisely the degree of competition in the city that has for many years put off wealthy investors, history clearly shows us that.
I am not a defeatist as you clearly think, see my other post, I am a REALIST and local businessman who knows the hard realities.
We CAN succeed but not with a fractured and split/disenchanted fanbase  :'(
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Jezza on May 18, 2018, 09:57:33 AM
Cheers Ian, I'd forgot to add it was a football mad city.
Weak

Its precisely the degree of competition in the city that has for many years put off wealthy investors, history clearly shows us that.
I am not a defeatist as you clearly think, see my other post, I am a REALIST and local businessman who knows the hard realities.
We CAN succeed but not with a fractured and split/disenchanted fanbase  :'(

So the chairman should resign for the good of the club then....
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: PukkaPieman on May 18, 2018, 11:13:34 AM
Cheers Ian, I'd forgot to add it was a football mad city.
Weak

Its precisely the degree of competition in the city that has for many years put off wealthy investors, history clearly shows us that.
I am not a defeatist as you clearly think, see my other post, I am a REALIST and local businessman who knows the hard realities.
We CAN succeed but not with a fractured and split/disenchanted fanbase  :'(

So the chairman should resign for the good of the club then....

If there was a better option I am sure he would.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Jimmy on May 18, 2018, 11:36:03 AM
That comment deserves one of those laughing 😂 faces you enjoy so much
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: PukkaPieman on May 18, 2018, 11:44:19 AM
That comment deserves one of those laughing 😂 faces you enjoy so much

 :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: HashtagAlty on May 18, 2018, 09:22:06 PM
Cheers Ian, I'd forgot to add it was a football mad city.
Weak

Its precisely the degree of competition in the city that has for many years put off wealthy investors, history clearly shows us that.
I am not a defeatist as you clearly think, see my other post, I am a REALIST and local businessman who knows the hard realities.
We CAN succeed but not with a fractured and split/disenchanted fanbase  :'(

So the chairman should resign for the good of the club then....

If there was a better option I am sure he would.

Are you saying the chairman thinks that nobody can do a better job than him then? :)
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: andrewflynn on May 29, 2018, 05:01:29 PM
Managerless Barrow have now brought in Astley Mullholand and Jack Hindle from Colwyn Bay, alongside Josh Granite from Ashton United.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: PukkaPieman on May 29, 2018, 10:45:08 PM
Managerless Barrow have now brought in Astley Mullholand and Jack Hindle from Colwyn Bay, alongside Josh Granite from Ashton United.

i wonder who is deciding what players they bring in? this smacks of desperation to me, surely these lads signed from Colwyn Bay cant be NL standard or has everyone else missed something?

It doesnt bode well for Barra.
Title: Re: Statement from Barrow Chairman/Owner - Ring a bell ?
Post by: Mick on May 29, 2018, 11:03:29 PM
 Agree Pukka - chairman signing players from footy manager ?

As my post above - relegation looms as self sustainability kicks in