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Post by melbournehatter on Apr 28, 2020 0:16:27 GMT
Thanks Dawn, I agree with Wimbo, a very interesting interview, and GS was superb. I love the fact he is prepared to come back to playing BCD IF, and only if he gets reassurances that the testing facilities are available, and NOT at the expense of the NHS. I also like that he is prepared, and prefers a 'hub' of stadiums for all teams to play - reduce the number of staff required for all sorts of things - testing, tv broadcasting, ground maintenance etc etc.
The line at the end regarding 'I need them to accept salary cut' followed by GJ and staff leaving by mutual consent, shows to me that he is sincere in making sure we are still about after this shit has passed.
Well done Gary.
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Post by clappers on Apr 28, 2020 9:27:01 GMT
I agree the GS interview with Kieran McGuire was both interesting and refreshing. Key points for me were that GS was still positive about the future of the NP/PC projects and his views on the remainder of the season, if there is one. In particular, the season should only be continued if all the health and safety issues are under control and that he was in favour of the remaining 9 games for all the Championship clubs being played at a handful of modern venues that can made and kept safe, e.g., St George's Park, rather than trying to make an ancient stadium like KR safe.
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Post by Wimbo on Apr 28, 2020 9:38:18 GMT
I think we are really fortunate to have Gary Sweet running the club backed by the excellent pragmatic 2020 directors. These guys are real supporters of LTFC as opposed to some on the bored rich folk from around the globe who buy a football club as a toy to play with; sometimes it works out for the club with the wealthy owner yet often it does not.
Trying to look into the short-term/medium-term future of football is almost impossible at the moment with the Covid related challenges we have: will the season be completed? When will next season start? Will players contracts be sorted? Will or when will supporters be able to attend again? How many clubs will go to the wall? Will many clubs outside of the Championship go to a degree part-time in terms of their playing staff?
There are just so many unknowns but I do feel confident that under the sensible leadership of 2020 we will have a football club to support whilst others may fall. Where will we be when the next season arrives or indeed the season after that? Again, an unknown. The only known in my view is that whatever division we are in the great majority of us will continue to support our club. This is real football, not the plastic Premiership stuff based on greed.
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Post by hattersussex on Apr 28, 2020 10:30:02 GMT
Well said Bill...I for one am mighty proud to be a supporter of... without doubt, the Greatest " Little " Football Club...In the World ! I don't care what league we will play in...Just looking forward to settling into my seat in D.P. stand. with all the lovely people who sit around Jean and I, and enjoying our match day experience at the 'Kenny'...I hope 2020 change their name to 2030 ! and we will be in safe hands !
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Post by 8two on Apr 28, 2020 10:31:49 GMT
I think we are really fortunate to have Gary Sweet running the club backed by the excellent pragmatic 2020 directors. These guys are real supporters of LTFC as opposed to some on the bored rich folk from around the globe who buy a football club as a toy to play with; sometimes it works out for the club with the wealthy owner yet often it does not. Trying to look into the short-term/medium-term future of football is almost impossible at the moment with the Covid related challenges we have: will the season be completed? When will next season start? Will players contracts be sorted? Will or when will supporters be able to attend again? How many clubs will go to the wall? Will many clubs outside of the Championship go to a degree part-time in terms of their playing staff? There are just so many unknowns but I do feel confident that under the sensible leadership of 2020 we will have a football club to support whilst others may fall. Where will we be when the next season arrives or indeed the season after that? Again, an unknown. The only known in my view is that whatever division we are in the great majority of us will continue to support our club. This is real football, not the plastic Premiership stuff based on greed. I don't think the EFL are helping matters with all the indecision which will possibly accelerate likely administrations. Imagine being a locally successful business man who has invested in his local football club and having absolutely no clue what the future holds or what the strain on his personal wealth is likely to be. You are not going to risk your future on what is basically a hobby.
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Post by biscot boy on Apr 30, 2020 12:14:32 GMT
I was informed this morning by a person whose information has always been reliable that GJ "Flatly refused" to take a wage cut. It is also strongly rumoured that as many as 10 Championship clubs are close to going into administration. Thankfully LTFC is not one of them.
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Post by 8two on Apr 30, 2020 13:51:08 GMT
I was informed this morning by a person whose information has always been reliable that GJ "Flatly refused" to take a wage cut. It is also strongly rumoured that as many as 10 Championship clubs are close to going into administration. Thankfully LTFC is not one of them. was that greeno or griffo
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Post by rutlandhatter on Apr 30, 2020 14:16:54 GMT
I was informed this morning by a person whose information has always been reliable that GJ "Flatly refused" to take a wage cut. It is also strongly rumoured that as many as 10 Championship clubs are close to going into administration. Thankfully LTFC is not one of them. That's what I speculated when I first heard.
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Post by Wimbo on May 2, 2020 18:31:10 GMT
Interesting interview with Rob Lee, totally unbiased of course:
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Post by clappers on May 3, 2020 10:14:25 GMT
Although I could not hear every word clearly I heard enough to understand that Rob and Elliott Lee thought the same as many frustrated fans when it came to team selection, i.e., GJ picking his favourites despite them losing game after game early season.
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Post by 8two on May 3, 2020 11:15:26 GMT
Although I could not hear every word clearly I heard enough to understand that Rob and Elliott Lee thought the same as many frustrated fans when it came to team selection, i.e., GJ picking his favourites despite them losing game after game early season. I think GJ was determined to do things his way and hoped it would come good and couldn't accept that away from home his tactics were a disaster. As far as EL is concerned, I think the few chances he had categorically proved that the Championship was a step too far.
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Post by Wimbo on May 3, 2020 11:32:09 GMT
Although I could not hear every word clearly I heard enough to understand that Rob and Elliott Lee thought the same as many frustrated fans when it came to team selection, i.e., GJ picking his favourites despite them losing game after game early season. I think GJ was determined to do things his way and hoped it would come good and couldn't accept that away from home his tactics were a disaster. As far as EL is concerned, I think the few chances he had categorically proved that the Championship was a step too far. Yes, the Championship was a step too far for Elliot Lee. A very good L2 player & an average L1 player. I wonder if he will still be with us when football resumes?
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Post by offpat on May 3, 2020 12:56:53 GMT
I was informed this morning by a person whose information has always been reliable that GJ "Flatly refused" to take a wage cut. It is also strongly rumoured that as many as 10 Championship clubs are close to going into administration. Thankfully LTFC is not one of them. For me the problems we face will be large, whatever happens now - even if the wonderful and, I like to see, properly appreciated Gary Sweet manges to keep Luton well afloat. - I think 2020 will manage that - I genuinely believe we will be alright this time. But, 10 clubs in the Championship in administration could easily lead to at least 3 going out like Bury - the larger the number of clubs in trouble the less likely it is that sponsors/buyers/banks will come forward... We are so fortunate to have a board for whom Luton FC is not just a hobby, but runs through every vein of their body - but how many other boards are like ours? not many, and frankly if I was a businessman first and a fan 2nd, and could see my life's savings going down a football shaped hole I might well cut and run. If the league 1 and 2 clubs have a similar number in admin each, I really don't see how we are going to have an easy season next year either...the leagues may have to be really seriously reconstructed. Have some people already forgotten what happened with Bury? Only I don't see many pieces that grasp the seriousness of the financial crisis facing the whole Footballing family
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Post by proudhattersince74 on May 3, 2020 16:36:34 GMT
Offpat: "Only I don't see many pieces that grasp the seriousness of the financial crisis facing the whole Footballing family"
What footballing family is that then, Pat? The only similarity between us and the rest of our alleged relations is that we all get refereed by idiots and, in trying to overcome such idiots in the top league, they have created a breed of super-idiots who make VAR decisions on pixels on a screen. Other than that, "I'm alright, Jack" is the motto embossed on the membership badges of all of the Premier League clubs and most of the Championship clubs.
Seeing the authorities squirm and fidget over Sky/BT demanding refunds and the incoming law suits if they void the season is akin to watching a slow motion car crash. If they would only forget this season by voiding it then there may be a lot more chance that struggling clubs could survive to start next season - BCDF will cripple most clubs below the top level and it simply could not be sustainable with no gate receipts. Yes, most of us who attend matches would willingly cough up to watch streamed matches but for how long? With zero atmosphere in empty stadia, the novelty may wear off pretty quickly.
Covid-19 is a world changer so it should come as no surprise that it will be a sport changer as well ... all sports will become soulless unless you have a vested interest in one of the combatants so neutrals will no longer tune in if they have to make a dedicated payment to watch a game below The Championship.
It still makes me seethe when I see that Mezut Ozil's basic salary would fund 225 players at £80K per year - the industry will lose more than 225 lesser talented players in the next few months. I hope Arsenal feel they're getting value for that outlay and helping themselves and the game as a whole. And he is just one bloody Premier League player! So much for the footballing family when 225 families could survive for another year on what one player regards as his going rate.
Listening to Simon Jordan on Talksport the other day put into perspective how differently clubs are viewed. When the Glazers took over Man United they structured the purchase by putting a charge on the club, itself and he reckoned they would be paying £30m-£35m interest on that loan per year before Covid-19. If the 2020-2021 season is played BCD then Man United would lose about £200m-£220m revenue from their home matches! Assuming that shortfall would be added to the outstanding loan then they will owe about £600m-£650m to someone somewhere and be paying about £40m-£45m per year interest on that debt. The numbers are mind-numbing and yet, if the club went onto the market, a buyer would magically appear who would have that debt covered. Compare that against clubs like Macclesfield, Crawley or Morecambe where a debt of £1m would probably invite a winding up petition from a creditor.
Smaller, less well supported clubs that are integral parts of their communities and rely almost entirely upon local businessmen to fund them need to survive but do the FA really care? Do the EFL really care? It appears not unless it includes the word "Premier".
Football will survive but how many clubs will survive is another matter. If, as Offpat says, there are 10 Championship clubs on the brink then BCDF could push them over the edge if the Simon Jordan's figures about Man United are correct. The sheer calibre of those clubs would ensure they would survive as they would still attract buyers once they enter administration ... not so for Bury-sized clubs.
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Post by offpat on May 3, 2020 23:44:27 GMT
as far as I am concerned, The football family does exist, and like most families - we love a bit of infighting. - ironically, this family hardly includes the players, who, by and large, are commodities selling themselves to the highest bidder. A fan cannot change clubs. I mean the fans and communities that make up a loved club, they are the micro family that is part of the wider football family. - united by the fact that we can only exist by playing each other. and that's the point - we absolutely need each other and we know it. and that means we are emotionally the ones to get shat upon.
We do get solid illustrations of the existence of the family: the stewards from one club helping a disabled away fan enjoy his team's scoring - (at Shrewsbury 16 months ago) the money donated by quite a lot of fans to try and save Bury last year - the weird mix between club and country loyalty in which club losing is worse than country losing. I agree that we will watch the streamed games if they happen - but without fans there the atmosphere will become worse than a Ryman League match...
It's deadly serious trouble and, as you say Proud, the way they are faffing about and thinking short term is not going to prevent the disaster.
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