Weston Saint

I wonder who he received the email from in April 2009

You appear to have missed the point. You are the one going on about sales/marketing issues like you are successful in that field. If so I would have expected you to be earning enough to pay for your season ticket. That was the point I was making. As for discrediting others views I leave you with one of your favoutite words of late "retards". You suggested MarkSFC was one. I was just drawing a comparison in my post. I think others may have seen my point but let us move on. Everyone is entitled to a view and opinion, not just you Stu.

Cortese will be judged on results within the business model including on the field success. He has taken up sorting out the whole business structure, not an easy task since the mess of feuding past directors and Administration. He has come in as a new broom and whilst he has sound and successful business experience he does lack the English Football business experience. Normally that would not be a problem as he would rely on the wise counsel of others within the club structure on such matters. However he seems to be so focussed on making the business self sufficient that he may not fully take on that counsel and that is a weakness that can cause issues. It is clear that he and Pardew do not see eye to eye. Pardew underestimated his single mindedness last season and nearly lost his job. He will be more careful this season but if you tie a Manager down too much and not give him room to do what he thinks best trouble will follow. He is mindful of the fan base and will not upset the majority but in achieving his aims within the business model there will be some of the minority who will feel aggrieved and he may lose their support for the club. The lateness in withdrawing the Instalment plan is really unforgivable even if the withdrawal itself has merit. He will be a risk taker, innovative, single minded and arrogant and will not let what he perceives as fools or under achievers getting in his way. Some of these are often strengths in business but in my opinion a lack of humility is a weakness that could damage the relationship with those good people in the club and hinder progress. Time will tell. He is still finding his feet. In short he needs to continue to be strong, innovative but with humility. Get the balance right and we will go places with him at the front. Just my opinion, you understand.

And there you have it. On one hand MarkSFC, a successful business man who was introduced to this forum during his quest, with a few others, to make sure Saints did not go out of business during the early Administration process and enjoys going to football to support the team he loves hoping for entertainment and a winning team or Dave Benson Phillips aka StuRomseySaint who has regularly stated on here that his main enjoyment is getting as much alcohol down his throat on match days (most at local pubs rather than in the ground) and freely admitted that his earnings as a salesman/marketing man or whatever he does now still meant he was initially unable to by a season ticket other than by instalments You have now heard both sides of the argument. Which argument are you more likely to accept. I know which one I support. I suspect Cortese does as well.

Who said anything about 32,000! Do you think gates would have been 32,000 with marketing and all the past add on's? Also see my post above

Do not judge on how many season tickets sold. Judge on whether gates rise this season over last. That is the measure.

And we hade a few goods league gates on some success. If we are at the top early on that will generate interest and gates will rise.

Yes, something I have always said. Pain is generated to indicate a problem that needs rest to cure. If you dull the problem the damage carries on getting worse. Nothing against injections to ease the discomfort providing that is coupled with rest and rehab. May be the case here.

Agree with this. Something we have discussed recently.

They were interested in supporting Saints on a regular basis so approached us so they could sit with us. A simple email to the club sorted it. They (the club) were aware and when the new potential season ticket holders made direct contact the transaction was complete.

We had a group of 4 season tickets last year. We used one spare to bring others to the games and now two of those have bought season tickets themselves making 6 in total now. In addition to that the club were very helpful in releasing club seats to accommodate those extra two along side us. Hardly the move of a club trying to stop season tickets. We can only wait and see how many season tickets are purchased. Until then I reserve my judgement.

Looks like he is struggling to sell his top players http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonlatest/Topearner-BenHaim-set-to-be.6417907.jp You reap what you sow

For those who dis not know the Hampshire Cricket web site can be found here: http://www.rosebowlplc.com/home/cricket The site is updated most days and will keep you up to date with what is happening at Hants and the Rose Bowl.

Wrong. He does have an Agent and it is not his father. His only involvement is to offer fatherly advice and encouragement.

Belhadj reported to have gone for £3.5m http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonlatest/Belhadj-seals-Qatar-move.6410437.jp

As at last Wednesday the club had not put forward a new contract. Early in pre season yet though. Will be a suprise if a new one is not discussed before Dec 2010

All rumours! Players do not know targets so I am sure Season Ticket Holders do not have a clue. We know we are looking for a Forward to cover for Lambert. Cannot see Tyson dropping a league just to warm the bench most of the time. I can tell you we are also looking for a wide midfielder to put Puncheon and Lallana under pressure next season. We know he also wants a box to box midfielder but no clues so far. Plenty of time. Just enjoy the sun and warm weather. Winter will be on us too quickly.

Not sure what conspiracy theories you were refering to. There have been no approaches for Lallana and I am told there is very little money out there at this moment in time. Adam continues to want to be part of this years set up and has a year left of his contract.

This is how the ticket parking might apply at SMS. Parking for up to half hour free. Timed ticket collected at barrier on entry. Pay as you leave. Corporate events attendees given a pass out ticket so no charge. That is how the Novotel at Southampton run theirs.

Is this further Cortese bashing without all the facts? I am a member of the Executive Club at the Rose Bowl. It is called the executive club. My pass says Executive Club. It is situated in the Robin Smith Suite. Could it be the names of the "rooms" are the same and that all the club have done is be a bit clearer what the product offers?

Is this thread getting out of hand like many others? Have the staff of SMS been told they must pay for parking on non match days? The introduction to staff paying on match days was that Cortese identified that on such days the car park filled with paying customers. Rather than kick out the employees to increase revenue streams he suggested a small fee for the day. Customers and other non employees paying on non match days is a revenue stream It really is not a big deal. Increasing revenue streams was always part of the business plan. As for match day parking, the fee increase, if correct, does seem high. Rose Bowl charge £7 per day or a season ticket for £70. Parking in the city is £5 for 5 hours. That is £115 for 23 matches, less if you take off some night matches. A slight premium perhaps for knowing you have a spot but I would have thought last seasons fees should not need to be increased.

I can now confirm that Pardew tried to get Surman on loan just before the window closed in March but McCarthy blocked it.

They wait until the "early bird" have renewed. They then target non renewals with a reminder and at the same time advertise in the media. It is all about keeping administration cost levels to a minimum the business model can justify

The "window" closing for existing season ticket holders on 30th June is the equivalent of "early bird prices" of the past in my opinion. I suspect the club will start its advertising campaign after 30th June to attract new season ticket holders. They will know that existing holders will make the necessary enquiries to renew. There is no point advertising for new ticket holders until that initial “window” is closed. I see no evidence that season tickets will disappear or that the club do not intend to continue the same in future years. Delaying the announcement until 1st June or removing the Instalment plan is not evidence that the club do not like season tickets. It is a convenient argument for those disliking the way Mr Cortese runs the business but not “evidence”. The delay may well have been to give the club a chance to update their business plans after discussion with the Manager as to his needs and set season ticket prices within that plan. That would have included cutting out as much administration cost as possible. The club would not have absorbed such cost, it would have been recouped from the customer. Prices have gone up above inflation for a couple of reasons. First, the increase in VAT from 15% to 17.5%. Second, the aspirations for success have increased and that has additional costs not least better players required at higher wages. The club owner made no secret that he wanted the club to be self sufficient. That is not possible when rebuilding. It will hit his pocket in the short to medium term but some of that cost has to be borne by the customer as well. We have one of the best stadiums in the league, one of the best teams, one of the best infrastructures so we have to expect to be paying one of the highest prices in the league.

To me it is simple. The club offered a FREE instalment plan. The costs of Administering the same did not justify continuing. They withdrew this season. They could have set up a third party instalment plan but the customer would have to pay a rate of interest. That rate was under the control of the finance company NOT the club. If someone wants to take out a loan to cover the immediate cost of the season ticket they can do that independently. The only real issue is the late notification to supporters who relied on the club scheme but they were getting something for nothing, ie free loan over the years.