stevegrant

Ignore that last one... unbelievable, Jeff

16/3, Walker caught by McKenzie off Balcombe.

The cost of buying the club is the only guaranteed sum of money that has been invested to date, and that is obviously money he will expect a return on in the medium-to-long-term. The training ground redevelopment hasn't started yet, and all other costs could conceivably be coming out of the revenue generated over the last year. League attendances were up nearly 20% and we've also had some big cup paydays as well.

What millions are these?

Probably about 2pm then, I guess. Arse.

311/7 declared. 328 to win with a minimum of 78 overs to be bowled.

Didn't the Argies need to win by 5 goals to get through or something like that?!

I don't see what the fuss is all about, we're level with the league leaders at the moment...

For clubs in the lower divisions, there won't be much transfer activity until the end of June when players' contracts expire. While we've obviously got a bigger budget than everyone else, that doesn't mean we won't be looking at the free transfer market. The links with Calderon and Dickson are testament to that. I'd expect the majority of signings to be made during our pre-season programme, which then gives them a varying number of games to get themselves integrated into the team. I see no reason why we can't hit the ground running in August at this stage.

Thanks to everyone for their entries, some cracking efforts there. I will be contacting three entrants that I have shortlisted with a few modification requests for a final image, and will decide on a winner this week.

I watched their coverage of Glamorgan v Gloucestershire on Friday night, the camerawork is appalling, the ball went up in the air but clearly in the direction of long-on, and the camera quickly turned to long-off, only to see nothing and hear a big cheer when the catch was taken

Surely it's pointless buying a 3D TV until there's actually some content available for it? Sky 3D is only available in a limited number of pubs at the moment, although I think they're launching their commercial 3D service in the autumn. I was quite skeptical about the whole 3D thing when it first launched, but then went and watched the Blackpool v Cardiff game in the Mitre in Portswood and was actually very impressed. I do still suspect most people will see it as a bit of a gimmick though.

Do you fancy explaining that comment?

Less than 40% of people in this country would be eligible for a 0% credit card. Have you actually read the thread? The club are not funding any credit risk, except in the situation like last season where they (perhaps naively, perhaps just due to time constraints) ran the scheme themselves rather than use an external company. Assuming they do what every other club (except Rochdale) does and use an external agency to run the scheme, the club get 100% of the season ticket money up front. The external agency are then responsible for chasing any missed payments, etc (for which I believe they can apply for CCJs, blacklisting, etc), and they make their money from interest payments. Only if the club insisted they wanted the scheme to be 0% (as they have done occasionally in the past, but not every year), THEN there would be some sort of cost to the club, probably as a percentage of the amount being paid. But even then, the club get all of the money owed to them up front, and the external agency does any chasing that is required.

GITR, I think dune was aiming a fairly cheap (albeit mildly amusing) shot at Delldays as he's been banging on incessantly (along with a number of others, it should be said) about how people should have managed their finances a bit better rather than complain that the installment plan has been scrapped at zero notice. Anyway, this thread is making things degenerate further than I'm willing to allow so, er, locked.

I would imagine that if he had been running an installment plan for away coach travel for a decade, which 10% of his customer base had come to rely on over that period of time, he'd be pretty foolish to abolish it without giving any notice to those customers... And in this particular case, his customers could easily use an alternative travel company, unlike the scenario you're trying (and failing) to compare it to.

Thanks for the confession.

Hilarious.

Personally, if the club want an option that costs them nothing (entirely within their right to do so), I don't see a problem with those who want to be able to pay over a longer period of time (which is a privilege, not a right, but one that many were understandably expecting to be available again this year) being charged interest by the finance provider. The club get 100% of the money up front, so as far as the club are concerned, the transaction has been completed. Taking the adult ST renewal price in the Northam (£328 ), and charging an APR of 20% over six months, that's £32.80 extra the fan is paying for the added convenience of not having to pay for it all in one go. I don't think many would complain at that, and if, say, 1000 fans use that option, the club have an extra 1000 season ticket holders and the finance company have made more than £30k. Everyone's happy.

Congratulations, you can use the quote function. Did your post actually have a point?

Being able to afford a season ticket under a pricing option, even if you pay 5% more (10% APR, over 6 months, an extra £16.40 on a £328 renewal) is infinitely preferable to not being able to afford a season ticket under any price option, IMO. Season ticket holders are the best gauge for football clubs budgeting for a season. They are guaranteed revenue which the club already has in the bank at the start of the season, regardless of how the season then pans out on the field. Matchday sales are totally variable, based on a multitude of factors, and therefore are very difficult to confidently predict (unless you're Arsenal, Man United, etc). It's a hell of a gamble by the club to isolate a significant number of its core support. I genuinely hope it doesn't backfire on them, but can't help but feel that it might.

Er, I presume you missed the bit in the pricing policy article on the OS which stated that the last time for ANYONE to buy a season ticket is the day before the start of the season, August 6th? Also, given that we're in June, how do you suggest people save from three monthly paydays, let alone four, in that time? June, July, August if you're lucky enough to be paid on or before the 6th of every month...

Did you read the opening post? They've already said they operate many schemes which are at zero cost to the football club - they make their money on interest payments and late payment charges, etc. I used the term "discount" in terms of how Cortese may view season ticket holders. While they're there for every game and give the club more money in advance (and, for me, are right at the top of the tree in terms of their worth to the club), over the course of the season they do get a substantial discount on the matchday ticket price.

If they don't want to offer a payment plan, why not say so, rather than lie (there's no other way of describing it, as Stu's enquiry to Zebra proves) and hide behind "administration costs"? I've no real issue with them removing the option, that's entirely up to them -although IMO they either dropped a bollock by not giving notice that it was happening or it was done intentionally to forcibly reduce the number of "discount" supporters - but the attempt to pull the wool over fans' eyes and to then either offer no explanation or give a cut-and-paste response that, to be honest, is an insult, is not a particularly good way of keeping the fanbase onside. They might get away with it if we start the season well and then run away with the league. After all, football is like no other business, customers don't just take their business to their competitors. However, for it to make those who have been loyal season ticket holders in the past (particularly in the last 6 years of utter turd) seriously consider whether they might have better things to spend their money on, that's quite staggering.