hypochondriac

Oh I have no problem with that. I hope you didn't think from my opening post that I was hoping we weren't run sensibly and within our means. I was just a scenario where the motivation of purchasing the club for Markus and Cortese was purely financial (and status based) and asking people to comment on what they thought were this scenario actually the case. For me personally I would hate us to become like Manchester United (I know we won't ever be that big it's just an example.) Really successful sure but at what cost? Would I get the same satisfaction following the Manu of the south? IMO almost certainly not but for others they definitely will. I was interested in how people felt. In summary, I hope we are run to break even but equally I hope that this is done whilst keeping fans on board and in mind so that rifts do not appear. The threatening of legal action against fans is an example of a club showing contempt for fans and being bullying, as would be rebuffing attempts to sort out some dialogue between fans and the guys at the top. These are just examples but they are scenarios which have happened at other clubs in a similar situation to ourselves and I would hate for relations at our club to break down into something like this. Lets hope not!

Quite clearly, a number of things are being put in place for next year to increase revenue. It will be predicted that the special commemorative shirt will sell more than the shirts from last year. The 2 pound booking fee will increase revenue. Higher food and drink prices will increase revenue. Of course there is no definitive "proof" but it's pretty darn likely when you look at it!

Sorry I think you misunderstand me a bit. I was thinking of prices such as Chelseas which taking myself as an example I know there is no way I would be able to afford to go regularly. I was also speculating that if Cortese was acting in an improper manner, would there be a scenario where you would withdraw your support or at least express concern? If your answer is never then fair enough!

Want to bet that shirt sales will not be quite a bit higher this year? Almost definitely IMO. Anyway it's irrelevent because it's clearly a calculated gamble. SOme would say a similar calculated gamble to the one that meant they bought the club in the first place.

It will have been a pure business decision, as Dave Benson Phillips has pointed out. I imagine the increase in shirt sales as well as having the freedom to negotiate a more lucrative sponsor contract in the CCC next season will have played a huge part.

Thanks for that, that's the sort of eloquent opinion I was after! I know we'll keep paying but I was also wondering if there would be a situation where you would withdraw your support. I know that we are always exploited to an extent, but I imagine for Cortese it is a balance between doing as much as he can to squeeze every last drop of revenue from the support without going too far and turning them off. I do hope however that Cortese takes the time to listen to fans concerns if they are valid concerns.

That is irrelevent and has nothing to do with the question I was asking.

That wasn't my motivation for starting this thread at all. It's actually going pretty well because people with opposing opinion are airing them without getting personal. I urge you to join in!

things are seldom what they seem

Why is it unlikely? I don't think it's unlikely really. You are right though, I am slightly bored.

So the general consensus is nothing matters except results? I must be in the minority then!

How is that going?

That's sort of where I am coming from so thanks for that. Not just the massive debt bit though. I could see a scenario where saints are successful and debt free yet many have become hugely disenchanted with the club. IMO that would be equally sad. I do think it is important to ask these questions so that those in charge are not given a totally free ride. OK so we can't stop any decisions being taken but as the Pardew decision showed, we can certainly influence them.

Fair comment, I suppose that means many will be priced out of watching saints though. The price of success I guess though that is sad. I wouldn't say it is all about ticket price though. I would hope that the administration realises the importance of keeping fans onside but then, is that really that important if people will go whatever happens if saints are winning? Do posters take the view that it doesn't matter if some fans are ****ed off by the club (or in my scenario above threatened with legal action) as long as saints do well on the pitch? Genuine question.

Maybe not pure money, but money and status perhaps? Not much that can raise your profile more than running a football club. If looked at from this angle, why would Cortese care what fans think? If fans turn up if saints are successful regardless of what is charged and regardless of anything else then Cortese can really charge what he likes and act exactly how he wants. I guess we shall see in the coming years exactly what sort of strategy will be employed at saints. I would like to think that the fans will be listened to at least a little bit and attempts are made to rectify the more serious concerns.

But is it odd though? For some, the main reason for watching saints is a social one. Meeting up with your mates and feeling a sense of belonging and shared identity with the supporters around you. If we were competing with the big 4 and our prices reflected this, then many supporters would be priced out of going which would mean they lost their main reason to love saints. For many it is purely about the result but for others it is something very different.

Yes I agree. What are your views on this? If for instance the same thing happened in the Prem, would you be happy because we are competitive or sad because you would no longer be able to afford to watch the team? Or maybe you can?

No need for that last comment and that's not what I said at all. Please try to lay off the insults and just debate the issue.

I'm not sure why atrocities mean we can't have some sort of discussion and debate around this topic. OK things may turn out brilliantly, but it's always wise to at least consider the possibility of a worst case scenario in case it occurs. If this thread achieves that and people are on their guard just a little bit more in case something like I have described occurs and if they are not supportive on the scenario, then I think that's pretty useful. If you have no interest in this and just want to follow the team then that's a fair view to hold and good luck to you.

That's obviously a valid view mark but I would prefer to concentrate on what I said in my original post and how you would feel. Hope you understand mate

I agree with you but is that the case for yourself? Is it the win at any price you care about? Or is it about something else? Customer satisfaction perhaps? The ability to go to games and have a laugh with mates? I'm sure many or even most would give their right arm for saints to be the man united of the South but personally I couldn't think of much worse.

One of my main problems though is that obviously we all want to get to the Prem but at what price? If for instance we saw a huge price hike in the CCC? So much so that I would only be ale to go a couple of times a season. I wouldn't be happy even though SFC were successful. What if a load of decisions were taken which p*ssed off fans but no reason was given for them? I'm sure there would be a point where people would say enough is enough and simply go to less games. As you say saintandy, the danger then is that we are in the prem and the stadium will be full of the prawn sandwich brigade whatever they do and whatever prices they charge. That for me would be terrible.

I suppose that depends on your definition of running the club in a bad way.

Thanks guys for debating this sensibly. Just think it's a good idea to think about these questions in case a scenario like this does occur. Personally I feel it would be a real shame and a bit of a disappointment, especially considering how I felt at the start of last season.

hypothetical as I said. IF any of these occurrences happened how would you feel about it?