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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2021 22:53:05 GMT
Wasn't Swiss a Director during the Twerton years?
As I recall we started off with literally nothing other than a van and some bags to put kit in, by the time we came back to Bristol we had enjoyed a period in what's now the Championship, having been promoted as champions, I can't even remember how many of our players went on to play in the top flight, we reached a Wembley final and produced at least 2 players who represented England.
And didn't lose 3 million quid a year in the process.
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Post by lostinspace on Jul 23, 2021 23:21:59 GMT
Wasn't Swiss a Director during the Twerton years? As I recall we started off with literally nothing other than a van and some bags to put kit in, by the time we came back to Bristol we had enjoyed a period in what's now the Championship, having been promoted as champions, I can't even remember how many of our players went on to play in the top flight, we reached a Wembley final and produced at least 2 players who represented England. And didn't lose 3 million quid a year in the process. to be fair......not sure as any clubs were losing £3million a year in that era
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2021 8:05:49 GMT
Wasn't Swiss a Director during the Twerton years? As I recall we started off with literally nothing other than a van and some bags to put kit in, by the time we came back to Bristol we had enjoyed a period in what's now the Championship, having been promoted as champions, I can't even remember how many of our players went on to play in the top flight, we reached a Wembley final and produced at least 2 players who represented England. And didn't lose 3 million quid a year in the process. to be fair......not sure as any clubs were losing £3million a year in that era To be fair, Wael wasn't involved.
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Post by Bath Gas on Jul 24, 2021 9:29:56 GMT
Wasn't Swiss a Director during the Twerton years? As I recall we started off with literally nothing other than a van and some bags to put kit in, by the time we came back to Bristol we had enjoyed a period in what's now the Championship, having been promoted as champions, I can't even remember how many of our players went on to play in the top flight, we reached a Wembley final and produced at least 2 players who represented England. And didn't lose 3 million quid a year in the process. Used to have season tickets just behind the Directors' "box" at Twerton Park. I remember Denis and Geoff Dunford, Ron Craig and Vernon Stokes. Not sure if Barry Bradshaw became involved in the later part of the Twerton era? Obviously, Swiss is none of the above, it would be interesting to know when his tenure was, and any insight which he could share re. how things were done at that time.
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Post by swissgas on Jul 24, 2021 15:25:59 GMT
Wasn't Swiss a Director during the Twerton years? As I recall we started off with literally nothing other than a van and some bags to put kit in, by the time we came back to Bristol we had enjoyed a period in what's now the Championship, having been promoted as champions, I can't even remember how many of our players went on to play in the top flight, we reached a Wembley final and produced at least 2 players who represented England. And didn't lose 3 million quid a year in the process. Used to have season tickets just behind the Directors' "box" at Twerton Park. I remember Denis and Geoff Dunford, Ron Craig and Vernon Stokes. Not sure if Barry Bradshaw became involved in the later part of the Twerton era? Obviously, Swiss is none of the above, it would be interesting to know when his tenure was, and any insight which he could share re. how things were done at that time. From time to time I’ve shared some of my experiences from that era (1987-90) but there have been comments that the business methods employed at that time are out of date now. I disagree and have tried to explain that the principles employed then are still completely relevant and IMO some of the most important ones are totally lacking at Rovers today which is the underlying reason for our lack of success. Sitting around the boardroom table with Denis, Geoff, Ron, Roy, Vernon and Gerry was a great privilege and I consider myself one of the luckiest Gasheads alive to have experienced it. For the past 18 months I have been in touch again with Vernon Stokes who is now 95 and housebound but he still maintains an infectious enthusiasm for Rovers.
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Post by swissgas on Jul 24, 2021 15:49:38 GMT
Personally, I think that you have too much time in your retirement to pontificate on matters that you deem give you a knowledge superiority over other supporters. A big fish from across the pond,flapping its tail,in a very small Forum pond, to continue the above water-based metaphors. All this "holding Wael to account" is hollow when you refuse to talk about your experience as a BRFC Director. I know that it was short and inconsequential, but I will leave that stage to you. Exit left. The dissection of every aspect of the Training Ground to fit your anti-Wael narrative is your latest obsession. Do you honestly think that this negativity is resonating with the wider fan-base? Probably half-a-dozen cynics on here, no more. It's time for you to think of doing a Podcast, so that you can "potentially" reach a wider audience, who need to be re-educated. I think this is a valid point.
If Swiss was involved as a director all those years ago he will know that that running of a football club is very challenging, more so now than ever before due to the escalation of costs and that fact the club is decades behind everyone else on stadium facilities. But he should know the difficulties, the balancing act of being a director, but all we get is the 'superiority complex' and the talking down to gasheads as if we are all naive.
It would do his cause no harm if he was upfront about his responsibilities all those years ago. How about it Swiss - what was your portfolio? Was it commercial, admin, or maybe finance, or the football side? What were the successes that you had personally as a director and just as importantly what were the things that didnt work out ?
I know I pushed before on the appointment of Martin Dobson but apparently this came after your time and you were not involved in the appointment, but you would have had a say in other things surely?
What about plans for a training ground in those days rather than the chocolate factory that was regularly flooded or not available?
What about the plan for a stadium in Carsons Road that never happened (and was never going to because we couldn't finance it)
What about about the operation of the business at the time - we spent more than we earned every season, year on year didn't we. We therefore had to sell every year to balance the books - never sustainable.
So lets hear about your history and football CV Swiss as you might be taken more seriously if so.
Sorry contradiction but you’ll have to wait for my autobiography to be published. It will be available online and you can choose to have it delivered in a plain brown wrapper so your postman won’t be alarmed. In 1990, despite training on a cabbage patch, Rovers came top of the third division ahead of teams like Bristol City, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Swansea City and Fulham. In 2021, despite training on a £1.25 million lush green billiard table, Rovers came bottom of the third division below teams like Lincoln City, Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town, Burton Albion and AFC Wimbledon. And now we have been overtaken by Cheltenham Town, Cambridge United and Morecambe, clubs losing less than £300 000 per year, which demolishes your theory that all football clubs lose millions, Rovers are no different and there is nothing we can do about it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2021 16:28:23 GMT
Wasn't Swiss a Director during the Twerton years? As I recall we started off with literally nothing other than a van and some bags to put kit in, by the time we came back to Bristol we had enjoyed a period in what's now the Championship, having been promoted as champions, I can't even remember how many of our players went on to play in the top flight, we reached a Wembley final and produced at least 2 players who represented England. And didn't lose 3 million quid a year in the process. Used to have season tickets just behind the Directors' "box" at Twerton Park. I remember Denis and Geoff Dunford, Ron Craig and Vernon Stokes. Not sure if Barry Bradshaw became involved in the later part of the Twerton era? Obviously, Swiss is none of the above, it would be interesting to know when his tenure was, and any insight which he could share re. how things were done at that time. Barry Bradshaw didn't rejoin the board until we returned to Bristol. You also left out Bob Andrews who was also a director so perhaps you didn't know all of the directors of the Twerton era.
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Post by Bath Gas on Jul 24, 2021 18:08:58 GMT
Used to have season tickets just behind the Directors' "box" at Twerton Park. I remember Denis and Geoff Dunford, Ron Craig and Vernon Stokes. Not sure if Barry Bradshaw became involved in the later part of the Twerton era? Obviously, Swiss is none of the above, it would be interesting to know when his tenure was, and any insight which he could share re. how things were done at that time. Barry Bradshaw didn't rejoin the board until we returned to Bristol. You also left out Bob Andrews who was also a director so perhaps you didn't know all of the directors of the Twerton era.I didn't state that I knew all the directors of the Twerton era - I just listed the ones I could remember. You come across as being rather affronted when somebody asks questions.
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Post by Bath Gas on Jul 24, 2021 18:10:19 GMT
Used to have season tickets just behind the Directors' "box" at Twerton Park. I remember Denis and Geoff Dunford, Ron Craig and Vernon Stokes. Not sure if Barry Bradshaw became involved in the later part of the Twerton era? Obviously, Swiss is none of the above, it would be interesting to know when his tenure was, and any insight which he could share re. how things were done at that time. From time to time I’ve shared some of my experiences from that era (1987-90) but there have been comments that the business methods employed at that time are out of date now. I disagree and have tried to explain that the principles employed then are still completely relevant and IMO some of the most important ones are totally lacking at Rovers today which is the underlying reason for our lack of success. Sitting around the boardroom table with Denis, Geoff, Ron, Roy, Vernon and Gerry was a great privilege and I consider myself one of the luckiest Gasheads alive to have experienced it. For the past 18 months I have been in touch again with Vernon Stokes who is now 95 and housebound but he still maintains an infectious enthusiasm for Rovers. Good to hear that Vernon Stokes is still around. I remember that he used to be very supportive of the youth system which Rovers ran at the time.
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Post by laughinggas on Jul 24, 2021 18:36:54 GMT
1990. Martyn and Penrice sold for £1.5million +. Money more important than promotion, though promotion still achieved. Probably more down to the manager than board that promotion was achieved.
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Angas
Joined: May 2014
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Post by Angas on Jul 24, 2021 19:09:32 GMT
Barry Bradshaw didn't rejoin the board until we returned to Bristol. You also left out Bob Andrews who was also a director so perhaps you didn't know all of the directors of the Twerton era.I didn't state that I knew all the directors of the Twerton era - I just listed the ones I could remember. You come across as being rather affronted when somebody asks questions. Maybe it's the way the questions come across.
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Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2021 19:31:40 GMT
I think this is a valid point.
If Swiss was involved as a director all those years ago he will know that that running of a football club is very challenging, more so now than ever before due to the escalation of costs and that fact the club is decades behind everyone else on stadium facilities. But he should know the difficulties, the balancing act of being a director, but all we get is the 'superiority complex' and the talking down to gasheads as if we are all naive.
It would do his cause no harm if he was upfront about his responsibilities all those years ago. How about it Swiss - what was your portfolio? Was it commercial, admin, or maybe finance, or the football side? What were the successes that you had personally as a director and just as importantly what were the things that didnt work out ?
I know I pushed before on the appointment of Martin Dobson but apparently this came after your time and you were not involved in the appointment, but you would have had a say in other things surely?
What about plans for a training ground in those days rather than the chocolate factory that was regularly flooded or not available?
What about the plan for a stadium in Carsons Road that never happened (and was never going to because we couldn't finance it)
What about about the operation of the business at the time - we spent more than we earned every season, year on year didn't we. We therefore had to sell every year to balance the books - never sustainable.
So lets hear about your history and football CV Swiss as you might be taken more seriously if so.
Sorry contradiction but you’ll have to wait for my autobiography to be published. It will be available online and you can choose to have it delivered in a plain brown wrapper so your postman won’t be alarmed. In 1990, despite training on a cabbage patch, Rovers came top of the third division ahead of teams like Bristol City, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Swansea City and Fulham. In 2021, despite training on a £1.25 million lush green billiard table, Rovers came bottom of the third division below teams like Lincoln City, Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town, Burton Albion and AFC Wimbledon. And now we have been overtaken by Cheltenham Town, Cambridge United and Morecambe, clubs losing less than £300 000 per year, which demolishes your theory that all football clubs lose millions, Rovers are no different and there is nothing we can do about it.
So we know that you want to turn back the clock 35 years to an operating model that would nowadays probably struggle as a part time Conference club let alone a club with aspirations to progress up the League ladder. Other than that the back up for the constant criticism for all things Rovers is still absent (but at least we know you sat round the table 35 years ago)
Some of the clubs you mention above who we finished above: City, Huddersfield, Swansea, Fulham. Compare the investment in their infrastructure over the years to that of Rovers. And yet you question the need for a new training ground.
Some good years at Twerton but we were entirely focussed on the first team. Some great times, some of the best, but built on sand as a result.
Rovers are now suffering from decades and decades of chronic lack of investment in infrastructure, so that whenever we do have success on the field we cannot capitalise on it. (DC years being the lastest example)
Hamer alluded to the issues soon after the take over ("a magical mystery tour" I think the comment was)
Finally we are getting that investment from the ownership and an understanding that that is the only way the CLUB will actually progress long term, rather than reasons/excuses as to why that cant happen.
And yet you still bash it, and try and make out that other fans should do the same.
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Post by Bath Gas on Jul 24, 2021 21:38:35 GMT
I didn't state that I knew all the directors of the Twerton era - I just listed the ones I could remember. You come across as being rather affronted when somebody asks questions. Maybe it's the way the questions come across. Apologies if my style is considered too robust.
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Post by swissgas on Jul 24, 2021 23:07:36 GMT
Sorry contradiction but you’ll have to wait for my autobiography to be published. It will be available online and you can choose to have it delivered in a plain brown wrapper so your postman won’t be alarmed. In 1990, despite training on a cabbage patch, Rovers came top of the third division ahead of teams like Bristol City, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Swansea City and Fulham. In 2021, despite training on a £1.25 million lush green billiard table, Rovers came bottom of the third division below teams like Lincoln City, Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town, Burton Albion and AFC Wimbledon. And now we have been overtaken by Cheltenham Town, Cambridge United and Morecambe, clubs losing less than £300 000 per year, which demolishes your theory that all football clubs lose millions, Rovers are no different and there is nothing we can do about it.
So we know that you want to turn back the clock 35 years to an operating model that would nowadays probably struggle as a part time Conference club let alone a club with aspirations to progress up the League ladder. Other than that the back up for the constant criticism for all things Rovers is still absent (but at least we know you sat round the table 35 years ago)
Some of the clubs you mention above who we finished above: City, Huddersfield, Swansea, Fulham. Compare the investment in their infrastructure over the years to that of Rovers. And yet you question the need for a new training ground.
Some good years at Twerton but we were entirely focussed on the first team. Some great times, some of the best, but built on sand as a result.
Rovers are now suffering from decades and decades of chronic lack of investment in infrastructure, so that whenever we do have success on the field we cannot capitalise on it. (DC years being the lastest example)
Hamer alluded to the issues soon after the take over ("a magical mystery tour" I think the comment was)
Finally we are getting that investment from the ownership and an understanding that that is the only way the CLUB will actually progress long term, rather than reasons/excuses as to why that cant happen.
And yet you still bash it, and try and make out that other fans should do the same.
Did I say we should go back to the operating model of 35 years ago ? No, I said we should use the business principles which are as relevant today as they were 35 years ago. Take time to formulate strategic objectives, develop a plan to achieve those objectives and then go out and work hard to ensure the plan is successfully implemented. Over the past five years we have seen that this is not how Wael works. He comes up with something on a whim, doesn’t put any thought into how it’s going to be achieved, won’t take advice from people who could help him and then, as it all starts to fail, another idea comes into his head and off we go again. I was going to reply with more input on the training ground issue but from what I’ve just read we have more serious problems at hand. The B***** appointment is a perfect example of how following Wael’s whims has led to Rovers failing. We have got to stop giving our loyalty to whoever owns the club no matter what they do. Throwaway comments like board basher and hidden agenda don’t help because we are a broad church with many differing views and we will only progress by coming together and putting Rovers interests first.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2021 23:12:24 GMT
Trusty Swiss. Even at midnight, while another B***** criminal violence story is blowing up the internet, there he is again writing long philosophical responses about business principles.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2021 23:18:52 GMT
Barry Bradshaw didn't rejoin the board until we returned to Bristol. You also left out Bob Andrews who was also a director so perhaps you didn't know all of the directors of the Twerton era.I didn't state that I knew all the directors of the Twerton era - I just listed the ones I could remember. You come across as being rather affronted when somebody asks questions. I enjoy answering questions when people ask them so sorry that you didn't approve of the answer. You weren't the only one who didn't know Swissgas during his time as a director but after more than a decade of communication with him and talking to those who worked with him within the club he has my utmost respect. Nobody can ever offend me Bath Gas other than those who drag the club through the mud so keep asking questions in whatever tone you wish.
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