Weston Saint

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.

I spoke to Nigel Cowley after the game (he was the TV umpire). We were discussing the loss of the last 5 wickets for 1 run. He said some time ago when he was playing for Hampshire at Dean Park we lost the last 5 wickets for no runs having only reqired 5 runs to win. Must be a Hampshire thing. Spoke to Tom Burrows, WK, whose contract was not renewed last year. He has not picked up a bat or put on the gloves since! He is busy qualifying as a Lawyer and working at Paris Smith Solicitors. Wants to specialise in sports law.

http://www.rosebowlplc.com/news/the-final-countdown/

No!

The original proposal always troubled me. The club will get parachute payments over 4 years yet not all of that is passed on to the creditors. The parachute payments give them an advantage over other clubs in the league who do not receive such pyments. They were set up to ease a clubs reduction in income/high expenses whilst they "downsized" Well PFC are downsizing now and are supposed to be able to live within their means in the CCC. If they are allowed to keep any of this "bonus" it makes a mockery of those clubs who are struggling to make ends meet but achieving it by not paying high wages/transfer fees.

I have not been in touch with Steve, his dad, for a few weeks now. Last he told me was he doubted Drew would be at Wolves next season but did not expect any movement until after the world cup. I could not put that up until Wolves had formerly said he could leave. I have no reason to believe he is about to sign. I am not going to ask as if he was in talks that would be confidential and I would not put a friendship under pressure by asking. I will wait and see what happens like all the rest. Speculation and rumour are usually wrong.

In the last week there have been comments in the Times newspaper that Warwickshire have given Tim Ambrose WK a 28 day window to talk to other counties. Ambrose has been dropped from all forms of Warwickshire first team cricket as his form has dipped since being dropped by England. His contract expires at the end of the season. Last week Giles White denied that we had spoken to Ambrose but yesterday an article appeared again in the Times day 3 match report written by Ivo Tennent. He was clearly against Hampshire signing Ambrose when we had a good young prospect in Michael Bates waiting to take over the gloves when Pothas decided to give up his. Yesterday morning during the morning session I spoke to Ivo for a few minutes and asked him if it was rumour of fact. He assured me that Hampshire had made an approach. Personally I would not wish Ambrose. Michael Bates is recognised as an excellent glove man (he is only eighteen) and his batting is improving. I would hope Nick Pothas will stay behind the stumps for another 2 years to give Michael a chance. We have another even younger Academy WK by the name of Rouse who also looks a great future prospect. I decided not to speak to Nick about this at this stage.

I never doubted it. He represents a major creditor and was on the committee that discussed the issue. I spoke to him face to face today. He does not hold out much hope. I asked if he thought PFC would be liquidated but his view was someone would buy it on the cheap with 17 point deduction and that with the resources at their disposal a further relegation was favourite.

I suspect that is the same source that I spoke to face to face today.

Latest News from a source - HMRC & Gaydamac unhappy about the deal on the table and likely to reject. You are now going to ask the source - all I will say is that it is someone on the committee of creditors. This is first hand, not via anyone else.

This was a seam bowler wicket with occasional introduction of Briggs spin. Pothas got that right in my opinion. Weather won and I can tell you our players are very down about it. One bit of news. England have released Pietersen to play T20 and he has confirmed to Hampshire he is available for Sunday's match at the Rose Bowl against Surrey.

Another absorbing days cricket. Let's hope the weather does not ruin what should be a tense finish tomorrow.

Great days cricket. Before the start of play today we agreed 350 would be a massive score. It was not to be. All of Hampshire bowlers were excellent today. Essex 209 came in 92 overs. Might look like slow scoring but interesting all day with the bowlers on top.

Looks unlikely he will come. Giles White is resigned to not having him. That said I think Danny Briggs will do a good job for the rest of this season. Signing overseas players who still have an international future is fraught with difficulties for all clubs but if they are not the best then why sign them when you have a good set of younger players coming through from the Academy.

Also Herthath has been called up to the SL side so leaves tomorrow. Briggs back in the squad.

Dimi has had a reaction to his injury and is out again. He does not know how long. Kabir Ali told me before the game he was off for an xray on his knee. Still looks some way from being able to play again. Duncan Fletcher back at the Rose Bowl tonight and in the dressing room. Lumb seems to have been found out. Caught the last three times in the same position backward of leg. Both sides found it difficult to get the ball off the square. Important first win.

Winners- the club who no longer have the cost of administistation/oursource or the fans who pay up front and will not see a levy on the cost of their tickets to offset the administration costs. I pointed out that I consider the club income from this decision will not be affected over the season. That is a formed opinion but I am sure the club factored all this into the decision.