|
|
Post by a more piratey game on Sept 23, 2016 11:29:30 GMT
all get a mention in this article. I've picked out the relevant extracts, but the link to the full Beeb article is below - he also gives a big shout out to Ollie....
The Moors turned it around to avoid relegation. But worse was to come off the field the following season when the financially-challenged club were close to going under. "We nearly folded," he winces.
"It never got reported. That's how tightknit we had the dressing room.
"There's a reason why two clubs merged and it wasn't because they were doing well. I remember the chairman saying we had a £30,000 deficit and that we might struggle to reach the end of season.
"A friend of the club, Ian Atkins [the former Birmingham City and Everton midfielder] introduced us to Mike Turl, who we knew at Bristol Rovers and was a very successful local businessman here in Solihull.
"Ian invited him down to look at the books. I'll never forget the meeting. It turned out it wasn't £30,000. It was more like £60,000. His advice was you need to shut the doors and fold the club.
"Staff went without pay from January to the end of the season and every player took a 10% pay cut. It was a horrible period, but we had to do it."
"That's when the lightbulb switched on," continued Bignot. "Mike Turl told me if you're going to do this you've got to know the business side of running a club. It's not a lesson Jose Mourinho is ever going to have to learn, but it's why I wanted this journey.
"The higher you go up in football a sponsorship deal does not scratch the surface of a first-team budget. Here, it's massive. But it's not all based on money and it didn't happen overnight. We had a three-year strategic, business plan, a lot of hard work and sacrifices. But, if you have people who go above and beyond, then you know success is coming.
"In five years, we've been through everything. Back then we had a first team and an under-18 team. Now we're a community interest club with 30-odd youth and junior teams, reserves, an academy and a disability section. What we've done off the pitch in three years is remarkable. But what you get in non-league is good people who do it for the love.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36425814
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2016 11:38:49 GMT
This article did the rounds in the summer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Henbury Gas on Sept 23, 2016 12:27:49 GMT
This article did the rounds in the summer. and your point is ? |
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2016 14:19:58 GMT
This article did the rounds in the summer. and your point is ? www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27168347
Bristol Rovers' 94-year stay in the Football League came to an end after they lost against Mansfield.
The Pirates needed a draw at home to the Stags but found themselves behind after Colin Daniel volleyed in off the post in the 36th minute.
The home side knew they needed a goal, but saw three efforts hit the crossbar.
And their relegation to the Conference Premier on goal difference was confirmed after Northampton and Wycombe won their final-day games.
The match concluded to chorus of boos and a section of fans entered the pitch to express their anger at Rovers' drop to non-league football.
The Pirates' fate was in their own hands after their 2-1 win last Saturday against fellow strugglers Wycombe, who occupied the final relegation spot at the start of the afternoon.
Rovers started brightly enough, but the 10,000 home fans were stunned into silence in the 36th minute when Daniel placed a low volley past Steve Mildenhall, which bounced in off the woodwork.
Eleventh-placed Mansfield, who were promoted from non-league last year, defended resolutely throughout to stop Rovers finding that important goal.
Goalkeeper Lewis Price pulled off two acrobatic saves to deny David Clarkson in the second half, while top scorer John-Joe O'Toole headed agonisingly wide of the post.
And as the tension mounted around the ground with 15 minutes to go, captain Mark McCrystal also lashed a volley just over the crossbar.
With five minutes of added time, Mansfield kept hold of possession as the Pirates ran out of ideas.
Initially there was silence around the Memorial Stadium as the whistle blew, before some disgruntled Rovers supporters jeered the players and manager Darrell Clarke off the field.
A section of fans then broke out of the stands - some running towards the away supporters and some aiming their anger towards the boardroom - before mounted police ushered them back.
Post-match: Mansfield manager Cox
Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"It's hard to see a big football club relegated from the league.
"We had to come and be professional and look after our own camp. We finished in 11th so it's been a decent season.
"I'm proud of the football club and I think we deserved the win today."
|
|
