teamsaint

really think that for a long term plan we need to keep the academy going. Its a lot of money though, when we will have a wage budget in L1 of maybe £2-3M?

truth is they will be lucky to get in £4m in ST Sales , so if they have any sort of sense they will slash the prices and do everything they can to sell the best part of 20K STs. If the price in very low, people won't mind missing a few games.I am convinced that with some decent PR and new owners we can sell 15K +, but the price will have to start below £300.

Well quite honestly, a manager really ought to be able to expect his defenders to do basic defence from corners without giving too much extra coaching. Don't know how good Wotte is, but the fact is our players are not good enough for this league. This team would certainly struggle to make the L1 playoffs, IMO.

This club , if it continues to exist, badly needs some stability. Given that 80% of what is in place is of little value, I would suggest that a few old Saints around the place, like Armstrong, might be a good place to start a rebuild. Don't know about Armstrong as a manager, but whatever midfielders we have next season would learn plenty from him.

I would be interested to know what Avivas position is. If the club is sold lock stock and barrell. then presumably they will take whatever the stadium is valued at in any deal? However, might they not have other options, such as negotiating debt for equity with any buyer, or perhaps even "buying back " an interest in the stadium, either as landlords, or to sell on to another landlord? Any thoughts?

I think you are right.Its certainly vital to stay alive as long as possible. And forest at home would have all the pressure on them. Who knows, we could end up in the Championship, with rich new owners, and no penalty points. maybe.

continuity is VERY important in football clubs. sadly, we have very little continuity now.And it shows.

if we come out of admin with everyone paid up 100 % does the penalty still apply?

our better young players, including Surman, have suffered through YEARS of Unpredictable team selection playing in confidence draining poor teams a lack of quality coaching (i suspect) a lack of quality senior pros to learn good habits from (including "lifestyle"). etc etc. Surman and Lallana will go elsewhere, and if properly looked after will make into class players. they have suffered from a failure culture at SFC.

If people felt like leaving on 70 mins, 3-1 down against the bottom team, with the club in administration, and with 3 home wins all season, I for one don't blame them. It would have taken a miracle of biblical proportions to turn the game round at that point, since the team was playing quite hopelessly.(as they do most home games) I certainly felt like leaving, but stuck it out as I have for the last 40 years. I don't go to every home these days either. Plastic, I suppose.

I wonder id aviva might try to do some sort of debt for equity deal.

sadly there is every chance we will have to rebuild in L1 with no money, the remnants of a terrible team, and a 10 point deduction. If someone offered us financial stability and a mid table finish in L1 next season we would be mad to refuse. Th current side would do well to get 60 points in L1, which is what we might need next season to avoid the drop to L2. oh, and today the team was pathetic. they let us down big style. But they will all get a job next season, if not here, then elsewhere.Although with very bad clubs hopefully.

really don't think I would have the heart to support another team.

I agree.but his subsequent sulkand appointment of wigley cost us our place in the top flight.

no, but it would be if they stood by and let aviva build flats on the site. Presumably there is still a chance that this is brinkmanship ny lowe to push a deal through asap.

I would assume that the council are in a strong posotion. they can stop anyone from developing the land, so aviva will just hAVE to take the best offer from someone who wants football played there- won't they. So presmably the council will underwrite the mortgage payments or some similar scheme. SCC might not want to spend 23m but they CANNOT let SFC die- Tha t really would be political suicide.

The difference between the Poopey administration and our predicament is that times, and the rules, have changed. Admin for us could easily see us in a Luton style downward spiral (and if you are too young to remember, back in the 80's Luton had a top flight team to be proud of )!! maybe administration could be the start of a great new world for the Saints, with new owners and a League 1 title in no time- bit its a big "maybe".

A struggling team, or being in a lower division would be much less of a problem if there was ANY kind of feeling that its OUR club. The feeling is always there that the Lowes and wildes will fight over the bits when times are hard, and take the money and glory in the good times. Looking forward to the day when a visit to SMS brings some kind of spirit of togetherness amongst the fans. Could be a long wait though.

Since the club want to treat us as customers, (and bad treatment of supporters didn't begin with RL) I would suggest that they start treating us not just as customers, but as customers that they REALLY want to be good customers. expensive ST prices, sporadic offers on match by match tickets allied to a poor product and a generally complacent attitude really don't help. In a weak market you have to sell hard. The general attitude at SMS seems to be "here we are, turn up or don't" I'm going to be back at SMS next season, whatever happens, but I think that I , and a lot like me, will be back a lot more often if the club make us feel wanted. This means: A very attractive ST offer. (£300 or less.) Great offers on match to match tickets, (3 games for £40?) An initiative on a customer friendly approach in everything the club does. ("Enjoy the game?") Add your own as appropriate.

never really wanted to spend saturday afternoon doing anything other than watch the Saints. It would be better if we were in a good league, and lowe was replaced by someone with either cash or love of the club, but even if he isn't replaced I'll still be there. How often depends on the ticket prices. Either way, I'll be looking forward to what these days is called matchday 1, whatever league we are in. Old habits die hard, and when, one day far in the future,when we are back in the PL,those days watching crap teams in crap places will all have been worthwhile.

it would help, but Norwich keep getting around 20k ST sales. Wonder why?

I really meant that the significance reminded me of fryatts miss, although it was from a similar position. i agree fryatts was a worse miss. I certainly am not one to blame Surman. he is, despite last nights effort, one of our best players. We will miss him when he goes to a higher placed club. the goal against PNE is soon forgotten by his critics.

reminds me of Fryatts miss late on at SMS last season.

Despite some of what you say being true, it is a FACT that most clubs suffer approx 25% fall in gates on relegation from the PL. Ours held up at around this level, perhaps a little better, for a season. All the other factors you mention have helped the susequent decline. There are just a lot of people out there who will pay £30 to watch PL football. Me, I go to watch the Saints.

brums attendances this season are VERY poor, but their fanbase is not really that big. Don't recall them ever getting really good gates, and they are very much the second team in the city.