Lawn on Radio L**ds

[Jantje]

Mark Lawn on Radio L**ds just now announced City have agreed a tie-up with a Belgian club to bring better players in and develop them.

He also said Stuart would have *EXTRA* money in January on top of what he can generate by getting rid of some players on short term deals plus loans

[BBB]

Panic statement me thinks didnt tell you it was belgian conference team did he sherlock:

[Jantje]

Panic statement me thinks didnt tell you it was belgian conference team did he sherlock:

Don't shoot the messenger man!!!:D:D only quoting what he said!!

[ChuckleBantam]

Mark Lawn on Radio L**ds just now announced City have agreed a tie-up with a Belgian club to bring better players in and develop them.

He also said Stuart would have *EXTRA* money in January on top of what he can generate by getting rid of some players on short term deals plus loans

A good bullshitter should also have a good memory. It was a Dutch side a few weeks back.

[Parrot]

Panic statement me thinks didnt tell you it was belgian conference team did he sherlock:

My source tells me its a little know mysterious Belgian club called FC Hercule Poirot :rolleyes: ....might be able to solve the mystery of the missing new player funds along with the supporters donations sherlock:

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

Ask Zonne to have a sniff around to find out who this club is, what happened to the tie up with that USA club? How much money was donated by supporters during the summer?

[briggus]

Mark Lawn on Radio L**ds just now announced City have agreed a tie-up with a Belgian club to bring better players in and develop them.

He also said Stuart would have *EXTRA* money in January on top of what he can generate by getting rid of some players on short term deals plus loans

JS correct me if I am wrong - did he also not say Stu had used up his allocated budget on the current set of players but they Mr Lawn and Mr Rhodes had offered a little more?
What worries me - is what we have been able to attract (quality) and the numbers with experience with what he was intially given. It would be interesting to see the figures?

While I do want the club to be solvent - it is clear that it would help if another person could come in to help with the finances and help improve the squads quality as well as helping build more solid foundations (Mr Lawn alluded to in the interview and GR failed to do during his stewardship).

[Ed]

A good bullshitter should also have a good memory. It was a Dutch side a few weeks back.

And that deal couldn't of fallen through could it? so they went with one of the other irons in the fire? nah, didn't think so.

[Spoonhead]

JS correct me if I am wrong - did he also not say Stu had used up his allocated budget on the current set of players but they Mr Lawn and Mr Rhodes had offered a little more?
What worries me - is what we have been able to attract (quality) and the numbers with experience with what he was intially given. It would be interesting to see the figures?

While I do want the club to be solvent - it is clear that it would help if another person could come in to help with the finances and help improve the squads quality as well as helping build more solid foundations (Mr Lawn alluded to in the interview and GR failed to do during his stewardship).

Used his allocated budget? So where has the transfer money from Windyarse gone? :rolleyes:

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

I wonder who is the happier of the 2 people now - ML or JR? - hmmmmm, GG comes to mind,hmmmmmmm say no more.

[Ed]

Used his allocated budget? So where has the transfer money from Windyarse gone? :rolleyes:

http://www.claretandbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=16897

Don't tell chuckle though, he wont have anything left to bash our board over.

[Jantje]

JS correct me if I am wrong - did he also not say Stu had used up his allocated budget on the current set of players but they Mr Lawn and Mr Rhodes had offered a little more?
What worries me - is what we have been able to attract (quality) and the numbers with experience with what he was intially given. It would be interesting to see the figures?

While I do want the club to be solvent - it is clear that it would help if another person could come in to help with the finances and help improve the squads quality as well as helping build more solid foundations (Mr Lawn alluded to in the interview and GR failed to do during his stewardship).

Your right Briggus , i sort of half heard that he had used the money allocated????? but would have leeway by getting rid of some of the short term players and there would be extra?? Is that right?

[ChuckleBantam]

So we can assume if the allocated budget has gone on the type of players that have come in, that the "squad capable of winning promotion" and won't have to cram the squad with loans" was all bullshit?

It's not rocket science is it??

[Ed]

Stuart said he thought the squad was good enough and was happy with the players, he's since admitted he's been naive and got it wrong - he's probably given the likes of Thorne a bumper deal to bring him down to this level but it's back fired on him.

So, cos' the current crop aren't going todo the business he's gone to the loan market to top up until january - when there will probably be wholesale changes.

But i'll go along with you if it makes you happy.

[ChuckleBantam]

Stuart said he thought the squad was good enough and was happy with the players, he's since admitted he's been naive and got it wrong - he's probably given the likes of Thorne a bumper deal to bring him down to this level but it's back fired on him.

So, cos' the current crop aren't going todo the business he's gone to the loan market to top up until january - when there will probably be wholesale changes.

But i'll go along with you if it makes you happy.

So we need to get shot of Stuart then??

[DutchBantam]

Would be nice if the club was Standard Liege and we could send a few of our lads over there for experience. Not far from me.

[briggus]

Your right Briggus , i sort of half heard that he had used the money allocated????? but would have leeway by getting rid of some of the short term players and there would be extra?? Is that right?

Yes JS that is what was said if I recall.

Also ML was on radio beeston again today saying they had heard from Willie Topp's club and they are wanting £55k for him. City have gone back with a more realistic price (would not say how much) - ML was saying - his contract was taking up quite a bit of the resources. Plan B for Willie is to look at what can be done in Jan if nothing comes of this. he also said he was annoyed about some criticsm he received on some of the internet boards - some of it untrue / not correct. He also explained about the ticket ofice sackings saying that they had only made £0.65 p one day in office not agood return on the wages he was paying and that he would rather put the money into playing side. That he was getting little sleep with worry and that everything was been done behind the scenes by him and others to ensure everything was running efficiently and that any monies released would be invested on the playing side.

[BBB]

Yes JS that is what was said if I recall.

Also ML was on radio beeston again today saying they had heard from Willie Topp's club and they are wanting £55k for him. City have gone back with a more realistic price (would not say how much) - ML was saying - his contract was taking up quite a bit of the resources. Plan B for Willie is to look at what can be done in Jan if nothing comes of this. he also said he was annoyed about some criticsm he received on some of the internet boards - some of it untrue / not correct. He also explained about the ticket ofice sackings saying that they had only made £0.65 p one day in office not agood return on the wages he was paying and that he would rather put the money into playing side. That he was getting little sleep with worry and that everything was been done behind the scenes by him and others to ensure everything was running efficiently and that any monies released would be invested on the playing side.

northern you happy now :D:rolleyes:

[Jamaica Love]

How can the ticket office only make 0.65 in one day? What costs £0.65??? Something strange going on there!

[wykie]

How can the ticket office only make 0.65 in one day? What costs £0.65??? Something strange going on there!

Maybe he meant 65p profit after taking away wages and other expenses?

[briggus]

Maybe he meant 65p profit after taking away wages and other expenses?


Thats correct Wykie - though he was not that specific - should check my narrative more - but in a rush..........as usual - as a business 0.65p is a poor profit to generate and you can see the business sense he was applying - for the actions he took. Does not help the lads in the ticket office though.

[Patrick Bateman]

He said one day 3 members of staff were working at the ticket office. The office only took £x (think i was about £26) that day of which only £0.65 was profit for the club. This would have been before wages were paid............... I think!

[Devil's Advocate]

Yes JS that is what was said if I recall.

Also ML was on radio beeston again today saying they had heard from Willie Topp's club and they are wanting £55k for him. City have gone back with a more realistic price (would not say how much) - ML was saying - his contract was taking up quite a bit of the resources. Plan B for Willie is to look at what can be done in Jan if nothing comes of this. he also said he was annoyed about some criticsm he received on some of the internet boards - some of it untrue / not correct. He also explained about the ticket ofice sackings saying that they had only made £0.65 p one day in office not agood return on the wages he was paying and that he would rather put the money into playing side. That he was getting little sleep with worry and that everything was been done behind the scenes by him and others to ensure everything was running efficiently and that any monies released would be invested on the playing side.

Fook me give the man a medal. What did he expect, sit back with a pipe and slippers and watch his money make him millions? Let's hope he carries on moaning to people who busted a ****ing gut to raise cash they didn't have to keep the Club going eh? He doesn't know what losing sleep cos of worry is yet. At least he is in a position to sack the incompetent people at the Club. Maybe he needs to keep sweeping, he might just catch a few more with his new broom, and then maybe the Club will run as a business instead of a rich man's playground.


No sympathy here, sorry. Stop being such a cocksure, arrogant twat and start trying to build some proper bridges with fans/customers and maybe then we'll shed a tear when you can't sleep at night. He could try setting up a bunk bed in JR's office and make the insomnia work for him and the Club.

Oh and as for the ticket office making 65p profit, what does he expect? Are we in full possession of the facts here? How many customers did they have that day? Did they make £65,000 the next day? What are they expected to do if no-one turns up to buy tickets?

[BBB]

Fook me give the man a medal. What did he expect, sit back with a pipe and slippers and watch his money make him millions? Let's hope he carries on moaning to people who busted a ****ing gut to raise cash they didn't have to keep the Club going eh? He doesn't know what losing sleep cos of worry is yet. At least he is in a position to sack the incompetent people at the Club. Maybe he needs to keep sweeping, he might just catch a few more with his new broom, and then maybe the Club will run as a business instead of a rich man's playground.


No sympathy here, sorry. Stop being such a cocksure, arrogant twat and start trying to build some proper bridges with fans/customers and maybe then we'll shed a tear when you can't sleep at night. He could try setting up a bunk bed in JR's office and make the insomnia work for him and the Club.

Oh and as for the ticket office making 65p profit, what does he expect? Are we in full possession of the facts here? How many customers did they have that day? Did they make £65,000 the next day? What are they expected to do if no-one turns up to buy tickets?

you go girlfriend :D

[Spoonhead]

Maybe him saying that the ticket office made £0.65 in a day is a clue as to how poorly things are run at City. Perhaps he's finding things out like this as he goes along and is trying to sort each issue out, 1 by 1. It wouldn't surprise me if he's finding inefficient stuff like this all over the whole of the business and he's having to sort it. I think it's a clue of how inept the running of the club has been for the past few years.
I still think there's something fishy about the way they were all "made redundant" from the ticket office though. There are ways to reduce the staff in there that don't include letting them all go!

[Devil's Advocate]

you go girlfriend :D

Sorry just that way out. I bet he's not scrimping and saving and begging and borrowing to put food on the table is he? He's in a privileged position albeit he may have earnt it but no point moaning now he's got involved. He knew the task in hand when he decided to take joint ownership, either that or JR did a fine job of conning him into thinking everything was rosy!

Oh and the "I woirk all the hours under the sun for this Club" never washed with me when GR used to churn it out either. Your choice. Do that or do what a businessman should and make the business run more efficiently. There are plenty of folk who have "worked all the hours under the sun" for this CLub and held down a full time job, home life and everything else simply because of their love for City, and not cos they had the money to invest. His PR skills need a lot of work for me. ANd I couldn't care less if that's libellous. Sue me.

[BBB]

Sorry just that way out. I bet he's not scrimping and saving and begging and borrowing to put food on the table is he? He's in a privileged position albeit he may have earnt it but no point moaning now he's got involved. He knew the task in hand when he decided to take joint ownership, either that or JR did a fine job of conning him into thinking everything was rosy!

Im with you sfb keep going

[Devil's Advocate]

Im with you sfb keep going

Perhaps I'm not quite the liberal lefty PC wishy washy wufter some think! I will make no defence for the inept way the Club has been run since we were making a profit when we went into the old 2nd division under Kamara. And unfortunately the head of the organisation takes the rap for that. I doubt JR would ever come out and say he's run it like a well-oiled machine. Now ML swans in and starts throwing his weight around with his gob without considering that some things are better done privately or in a more informed and responsible way in the public arena. Pulling out the sympathy card and the hard-done-to comments hold no water with me. We had all this with the Steering Committee - still don't know what if anything they have achieved Bosomworth apart. At least a lot of us guys can say we achieved something as individuals and as a collective unit and that legacy will live on forever with me. And we didn't moan to the press about all the hard work it was drinking pints of maggots, walking to grounds, shaking buckets, holding meetings, actging as go-between with former chairmen, owners, fans, council, businesses, getting posters up, holding concerts (Christ even Max didn't moan!, well not much!).

All we ask for is honesty and probity. Let us know the whole truth and then we wpon't be shocked surrised or pissed off, well maybe we'll be pissed off but at least we will know exactly how close to the wire we are and what the Club needs. Friends of City? Yeah fine but do it right. Don't just beg for some painters and decorators at a fans forum, set up a volunteers list and tap into the skills of the fans. Oh I forgot you can't do that in case they are dead set on takinbg over the Club. :rolleyes: silly me! Not that we are just interested in making our Club better and ensuring it is there for generatuions to come, no we must be intent on a hostile takeover to get our hands on all that money that's floating around in the City bank account.

Grrrrrrrr!

:flame:

[Bantam Of The Opera]

Seems to me that a large portion of City fans are fed up with the folks in charge at Valley Parade.

The problem is that nobody seems to have much of an idea how to solve the problem. As an outsider looking in, the only people who have direct lines to the people in charge are much too nicey, nicey and dont ask the questions that need asking. In my opinion we need a clean sweep, which means getting rid of the people slowly dragging the life out of the club.

Anyhoo just my view, not that it really counts for much

[Jantje]

What it needs is PR of any sort instead of just consulting fans when the begging bowl is out.

[Devil's Advocate]

Seems to me that a large portion of City fans are fed up with the folks in charge at Valley Parade.

The problem is that nobody seems to have much of an idea how to solve the problem. As an outsider looking in, the only people who have direct lines to the people in charge are much too nicey, nicey and dont ask the questions that need asking. In my opinion we need a clean sweep, which means getting rid of the people slowly dragging the life out of the club.

Anyhoo just my view, not that it really counts for much


Fair comment. I think the problem is do you sacrifice the relationship you have with the Club in that you at least have dialogue and have access at times to commercially sensitive information albeit that most of the time commervcial confidences are set as conditions. Start getting pushy and publicly criticising the owners would no doubt alienate any fans organisation from such a relationship and then there is no dialogue and no way of feedback other than through places like here and by email to the complaints department!

Fine line to tread and a difficult burden to shoulder but ultimately if a fans organisation is going to challenge the ownership or their decisions then there has to be an alternative as well as a drive from the majority of members to tackle such a challenge head on.

You can possibly understand the dilemma then? I think though that some of the questions asked are the important ones and some of the people asking are not necessarily nicey-nicey, the problem is the risk of publicly challenging the Club and/or its owners is one that can't be taken lightly. Some fans organisations are in prime position to take this approach, we haven't been for some time now. Whilst some on here might want the challenge because of the incompetencies of the people running the Club it hardly represents a majority amongst the 13,000 attending home games.

[Bantam Of The Opera]

The problem is that the fine line we are treading now is one between having a league club or a non-league club (which will more than likely mean no club). I think its got to a point where those more probing and maybe more aggressive questions need to be answered. Throughout pre-season we were given allsorts of promises about increased budgets and improved services, yet here we are three months into the season and it is apparent we are being lied to again.

I’m not having a dig at anybody in particular, and by this I mean the BCST etc, as that isn’t my style and admire you guys who actually get off your arses and do something about it. It’s easy for me (and others may I add) to sit here and moan with little or no action, but you guys are doing what you can.

It just appears to me that Rhodes and Lawn are feeding us tripe and doing so un-challenged, and to be perfectly honest its getting beyond a joke. One ore two people moaning on a message board will do nothing, an organisation (any organisation) that is willing to ask these question and act upon the answers will have more clout, and indeed my support.

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

so where were you all tonight then? - you could have asked some of these questions then - I've given up on the pro active part now, and will sit back and see what happens.

[Ed]

so where were you all tonight then? - you could have asked some of these questions then - I've given up on the pro active part now, and will sit back and see what happens.

I was eating a nice Kebab from the local take-away in Shoreham-By-Sea.

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

I know where you were lol - more to some of the others on here.

[Spoonhead]

so where were you all tonight then? - you could have asked some of these questions then - I've given up on the pro active part now, and will sit back and see what happens.

Changing nappies, cooking tea and posting rubbish on the internet!:sorry:

[Ed]

I know where you were lol - more to some of the others on here.

You stalking me? how did you know I was in the takeaway? come to think of it - the guy with the dodgy turkish accent does look familiar.

[BBB]

I was baby sitting.....what did they say ???

[Jantje]

Anybody know which Belgian club it is and what the link up involves? Was anything mentioned at the meeting last night or will anything actually be announced by the club?

[Devil's Advocate]

The problem is that the fine line we are treading now is one between having a league club or a non-league club (which will more than likely mean no club). I think its got to a point where those more probing and maybe more aggressive questions need to be answered. Throughout pre-season we were given allsorts of promises about increased budgets and improved services, yet here we are three months into the season and it is apparent we are being lied to again.

I’m not having a dig at anybody in particular, and by this I mean the BCST etc, as that isn’t my style and admire you guys who actually get off your arses and do something about it. It’s easy for me (and others may I add) to sit here and moan with little or no action, but you guys are doing what you can.

It just appears to me that Rhodes and Lawn are feeding us tripe and doing so un-challenged, and to be perfectly honest its getting beyond a joke. One ore two people moaning on a message board will do nothing, an organisation (any organisation) that is willing to ask these question and act upon the answers will have more clout, and indeed my support.

More power to you, BoTo, and I absolutely agree with everything you have said there.


so where were you all tonight then? - you could have asked some of these questions then - I've given up on the pro active part now, and will sit back and see what happens.

Don't be disillusioned, Dr, although I agree with your point. It's dead easy to sit here and slag off people who are trying without actually going and asking the questions to the person who should be there to answer them. And then even easier to say it's the Trust's fault for not asking the right questions. Join and get them to ask, lobby them to change direction, write to them even as a non-member and urge them to take urgent action to address the serious issues relating to cashflow, buidgets, forecasts, business planning etc.

Hey ho.