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Post by droitwichgas on Oct 18, 2023 19:29:31 GMT
I think it’s a problem for any owners where the management structure is so closely linked to the manager. As long as things are going well then all appears fine but there have been some big things that have gone wrong over the past few months. It seems that we have an ever-changing leadership team although tbh with the almost zero communication we get currently it’s hard to know the actual situation. I’d say that this lack of communication in itself is a bad sign. The website carries almost no news and as I don’t do twitter or X or whatever it is then I know almost nothing about what is happening. When there is a vacuum like that then rumour and supposition fills the space. Tom G, as CEO, has been a constant and that should be a good thing but again without knowing what his actual duties are it’s difficult to think that’s either a positive or a negative esp in view of the South Stand debacle with its ramifications. I’ve liked him and his openness but I’m sure even he’d say the last 6 months haven’t been his best. I hope he is able to resolve the issues the club has. Into all this has come the new owners and we really don’t know much about them and what their intentions are. I can’t believe anyone would put money or investment into BRFC without some long term plan about the ground situation. It seems totally bonkers to do so without a plan A for the ground seeing as it’s clear to anyone that without a new ground or a re-developed Mem we’ve probably reached a glass ceiling in League 1 without ground development. Yet, getting on for 3 months later still nothing more than a few smiles and pleasant sentences before a match. It’s a very strange situation. UTG! Perhaps the plan was to proceed with the FM and the new S/SW stands would see us over until that was built but as Wael found out when he took over from NH, the figures for the new stadium didn't stack up when the A'SD's look them in some detail. If that's the case then they are now stuck with no real stadium plans, hence the recent silence whilst they try and work out what they are going to do. |
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
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Post by warehamgas on Oct 18, 2023 20:34:56 GMT
I think it’s a problem for any owners where the management structure is so closely linked to the manager. As long as things are going well then all appears fine but there have been some big things that have gone wrong over the past few months. It seems that we have an ever-changing leadership team although tbh with the almost zero communication we get currently it’s hard to know the actual situation. I’d say that this lack of communication in itself is a bad sign. The website carries almost no news and as I don’t do twitter or X or whatever it is then I know almost nothing about what is happening. When there is a vacuum like that then rumour and supposition fills the space. Tom G, as CEO, has been a constant and that should be a good thing but again without knowing what his actual duties are it’s difficult to think that’s either a positive or a negative esp in view of the South Stand debacle with its ramifications. I’ve liked him and his openness but I’m sure even he’d say the last 6 months haven’t been his best. I hope he is able to resolve the issues the club has. Into all this has come the new owners and we really don’t know much about them and what their intentions are. I can’t believe anyone would put money or investment into BRFC without some long term plan about the ground situation. It seems totally bonkers to do so without a plan A for the ground seeing as it’s clear to anyone that without a new ground or a re-developed Mem we’ve probably reached a glass ceiling in League 1 without ground development. Yet, getting on for 3 months later still nothing more than a few smiles and pleasant sentences before a match. It’s a very strange situation. UTG! Perhaps the plan was to proceed with the FM and the new S/SW stands would see us over until that was built but as Wael found out when he took over from NH, the figures for the new stadium didn't stack up when the A'SD's look them in some detail. If that's the case then they are now stuck with no real stadium plans, hence the recent silence whilst they try and work out what they are going to do. I’m sure you’re right regarding the ‘temporary’ S/SW Stand tiding us over until the FM. And if the numbers don’t appear to stack up (which has been reported but not confirmed by the club) they’re quickly working out what to do. Does that mean they didn’t do their due diligence at the beginning to be clear the FM did stack up, or is the money they used to buy us pocket money to them so they can shrug the loss off? Whichever it is would be a worrying situation. Whatever, the communication is completely absent which allows rumours to flourish and the club to appear in some kind of limbo. Which is a shame as we appear, whatever your views of JB, to have put together a half decent squad playing some good football and should be nearer the top than the bottom of this division. But it means, regarding the ground, we’re back where we started so many years ago. A dismal prospect. I’d hoped for a man with a plan! But this is Rovers! 😉 UTG! |
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Oct 19, 2023 5:41:07 GMT
I know it may be myth, but I was under the impression Eastville used to regularly be under water like the pic shows?
I like old pics of football stadia, especially under unusual circumstances.
For me, it's a drastic shame Tosscol and Ikeal aren't subject to the flood too...
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Post by Blue Mist on Oct 19, 2023 9:22:45 GMT
This is a part of the South Stand how some may remember it? I think rain stops play... View Attachment Crikey! Fantastic photo, thanks for posting. Was this a one-off or did this happen often at Eastville? |
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Post by Blue Mist on Oct 19, 2023 9:24:48 GMT
This is a part of the South Stand how some may remember it? I think rain stops play... View AttachmentYes,you can just see the south stand bar on the right. No floodlight pylons so possibly late 40s early 50s ? Interesting, when did FL start playing evening matches? I naively thought they always did. |
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eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 19, 2023 9:52:54 GMT
Perhaps the plan was to proceed with the FM and the new S/SW stands would see us over until that was built but as Wael found out when he took over from NH, the figures for the new stadium didn't stack up when the A'SD's look them in some detail. If that's the case then they are now stuck with no real stadium plans, hence the recent silence whilst they try and work out what they are going to do. I’m sure you’re right regarding the ‘temporary’ S/SW Stand tiding us over until the FM. And if the numbers don’t appear to stack up (which has been reported but not confirmed by the club) they’re quickly working out what to do. Does that mean they didn’t do their due diligence at the beginning to be clear the FM did stack up, or is the money they used to buy us pocket money to them so they can shrug the loss off? Whichever it is would be a worrying situation. Whatever, the communication is completely absent which allows rumours to flourish and the club to appear in some kind of limbo. Which is a shame as we appear, whatever your views of JB, to have put together a half decent squad playing some good football and should be nearer the top than the bottom of this division. But it means, regarding the ground, we’re back where we started so many years ago. A dismal prospect. I’d hoped for a man with a plan! But this is Rovers! 😉 UTG! Or woman. You're cancelled Wareham, for blatant misogyny. |
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,591
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Post by warehamgas on Oct 19, 2023 10:09:53 GMT
I’m sure you’re right regarding the ‘temporary’ S/SW Stand tiding us over until the FM. And if the numbers don’t appear to stack up (which has been reported but not confirmed by the club) they’re quickly working out what to do. Does that mean they didn’t do their due diligence at the beginning to be clear the FM did stack up, or is the money they used to buy us pocket money to them so they can shrug the loss off? Whichever it is would be a worrying situation. Whatever, the communication is completely absent which allows rumours to flourish and the club to appear in some kind of limbo. Which is a shame as we appear, whatever your views of JB, to have put together a half decent squad playing some good football and should be nearer the top than the bottom of this division. But it means, regarding the ground, we’re back where we started so many years ago. A dismal prospect. I’d hoped for a man with a plan! But this is Rovers! 😉 UTG! Or woman. You're cancelled Wareham, for blatant misogyny. Again? Oh dear I’ll not sleep tonight! UTG! |
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Post by swissgas on Oct 19, 2023 11:11:42 GMT
Perhaps the plan was to proceed with the FM and the new S/SW stands would see us over until that was built but as Wael found out when he took over from NH, the figures for the new stadium didn't stack up when the A'SD's look them in some detail. If that's the case then they are now stuck with no real stadium plans, hence the recent silence whilst they try and work out what they are going to do. I’m sure you’re right regarding the ‘temporary’ S/SW Stand tiding us over until the FM. And if the numbers don’t appear to stack up (which has been reported but not confirmed by the club) they’re quickly working out what to do. Does that mean they didn’t do their due diligence at the beginning to be clear the FM did stack up, or is the money they used to buy us pocket money to them so they can shrug the loss off? Whichever it is would be a worrying situation. Whatever, the communication is completely absent which allows rumours to flourish and the club to appear in some kind of limbo. Which is a shame as we appear, whatever your views of JB, to have put together a half decent squad playing some good football and should be nearer the top than the bottom of this division. But it means, regarding the ground, we’re back where we started so many years ago. A dismal prospect. I’d hoped for a man with a plan! But this is Rovers! 😉 UTG! The spin we’ve been given is that Hussain Al-Saeed has been brought in because of his experience in the real estate business which will help with our stadium ambitions. But it seems much more likely that he is here because he has cash available and is up for an adventure which will provide a “ bit of fun” for him, his son and their friends. The picture of them celebrating after the Charlton game says it all. Anyone who has ever bought a business knows the importance of examining every aspect of that business before making a commitment. So it was extremely surprising that in his only interview to date Hussain said he had been talking to Wael since February but only in the last few weeks ( late July) was he able to really get inside the club. This indicates he had made a commitment to take over the 55% stake in Dwane Sports and apply to the EFL for ownership approval before he knew the full picture. If this is what he did, and only now is he finding out what he’s let himself in for, then it may explain the silence as he decides what to do about a situation which was unforeseen. I really don’t think he paid anything for the 55% stake in Dwane Sports but IMO would have received those shares for agreeing to take over responsibility for providing Rovers working capital shortfall which runs at 3 - 4 million per year. In his interview he talked about getting the business on a more sensible and sustainable footing which would mean that the working capital shortfall could be reduced to, say, 1 million per year and this, for someone with substantial wealth, may be a price worth paying to pursue a football adventure. The problem for everyone involved, including Gasheads, will be if he has discovered the situation is far worse than he was led to believe and he cannot see any way for the working capital shortfall to be reduced to an acceptable level. |
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Post by cinderpitchstriker on Oct 19, 2023 11:15:22 GMT
This is a part of the South Stand how some may remember it? I think rain stops play... View Attachment Crikey! Fantastic photo, thanks for posting. Was this a one-off or did this happen often at Eastville? It used to happen quite regularly until the floods in 1968. After which the river Frome flood relief scheme was installed. |
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darloGas
Joined November 2014
Joined: August 2023
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Post by darloGas on Oct 19, 2023 13:12:04 GMT
Eastville Stadium 1953 I think it'll take a long stud . . .
#UpTheRovers |
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Oct 19, 2023 14:47:14 GMT
Eastville Stadium 1953 I think it'll take a long stud . . .
#UpTheRoversHere I am!? They look very similar eras... |
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Oct 19, 2023 14:49:16 GMT
This is a part of the South Stand how some may remember it? I think rain stops play... View Attachment Crikey! Fantastic photo, thanks for posting. Was this a one-off or did this happen often at Eastville? I thought up until someone had great idea of working on river Frome banks, this was a regular occurrence? But this might be myth.. Great pic from Darlo... |
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Post by Mrs V Smegma on Oct 19, 2023 15:00:50 GMT
I’m sure you’re right regarding the ‘temporary’ S/SW Stand tiding us over until the FM. And if the numbers don’t appear to stack up (which has been reported but not confirmed by the club) they’re quickly working out what to do. Does that mean they didn’t do their due diligence at the beginning to be clear the FM did stack up, or is the money they used to buy us pocket money to them so they can shrug the loss off? Whichever it is would be a worrying situation. Whatever, the communication is completely absent which allows rumours to flourish and the club to appear in some kind of limbo. Which is a shame as we appear, whatever your views of JB, to have put together a half decent squad playing some good football and should be nearer the top than the bottom of this division. But it means, regarding the ground, we’re back where we started so many years ago. A dismal prospect. I’d hoped for a man with a plan! But this is Rovers! 😉 UTG! The spin we’ve been given is that Hussain Al-Saeed has been brought in because of his experience in the real estate business which will help with our stadium ambitions. But it seems much more likely that he is here because he has cash available and is up for an adventure which will provide a “ bit of fun” for him, his son and their friends. The picture of them celebrating after the Charlton game says it all. Anyone who has ever bought a business knows the importance of examining every aspect of that business before making a commitment. So it was extremely surprising that in his only interview to date Hussain said he had been talking to Wael since February but only in the last few weeks ( late July) was he able to really get inside the club. This indicates he had made a commitment to take over the 55% stake in Dwane Sports and apply to the EFL for ownership approval before he knew the full picture. If this is what he did, and only now is he finding out what he’s let himself in for, then it may explain the silence as he decides what to do about a situation which was unforeseen. I really don’t think he paid anything for the 55% stake in Dwane Sports but IMO would have received those shares for agreeing to take over responsibility for providing Rovers working capital shortfall which runs at 3 - 4 million per year. In his interview he talked about getting the business on a more sensible and sustainable footing which would mean that the working capital shortfall could be reduced to, say, 1 million per year and this, for someone with substantial wealth, may be a price worth paying to pursue a football adventure. The problem for everyone involved, including Gasheads, will be if he has discovered the situation is far worse than he was led to believe and he cannot see any way for the working capital shortfall to be reduced to an acceptable level. My fear is that he cannot see a way to do this with an incumbent liss making third tier football club with which he has no natural affinity. The temptation to cash in on the asset may then seem very appealing. The longer the silence goes on the more this worries me |
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Post by swissgas on Oct 19, 2023 16:14:54 GMT
The spin we’ve been given is that Hussain Al-Saeed has been brought in because of his experience in the real estate business which will help with our stadium ambitions. But it seems much more likely that he is here because he has cash available and is up for an adventure which will provide a “ bit of fun” for him, his son and their friends. The picture of them celebrating after the Charlton game says it all. Anyone who has ever bought a business knows the importance of examining every aspect of that business before making a commitment. So it was extremely surprising that in his only interview to date Hussain said he had been talking to Wael since February but only in the last few weeks ( late July) was he able to really get inside the club. This indicates he had made a commitment to take over the 55% stake in Dwane Sports and apply to the EFL for ownership approval before he knew the full picture. If this is what he did, and only now is he finding out what he’s let himself in for, then it may explain the silence as he decides what to do about a situation which was unforeseen. I really don’t think he paid anything for the 55% stake in Dwane Sports but IMO would have received those shares for agreeing to take over responsibility for providing Rovers working capital shortfall which runs at 3 - 4 million per year. In his interview he talked about getting the business on a more sensible and sustainable footing which would mean that the working capital shortfall could be reduced to, say, 1 million per year and this, for someone with substantial wealth, may be a price worth paying to pursue a football adventure. The problem for everyone involved, including Gasheads, will be if he has discovered the situation is far worse than he was led to believe and he cannot see any way for the working capital shortfall to be reduced to an acceptable level. My fear is that he cannot see a way to do this with an incumbent liss making third tier football club with which he has no natural affinity. The temptation to cash in on the asset may then seem very appealing. The longer the silence goes on the more this worries me The delusion of many fans is that Rovers are debt free and have never been better off financially. Although it’s true that very few clubs go into liquidation when they do it’s usually because of insurmountable liabilities. Rovers liabilities include a cost base of around 1 million per month, a 10 million charge over the Mem in favour of Dwane Sports, a 2 million charge over the Mem in favour of Nationwide Finance, 700K (in 2022) owed to a member of the club management and contractual obligations to staff and players which are likely to be extremely onerous if they have been written by one of JB’s high powered lawyers. I understand why Gasheads don’t want to talk about this, and perhaps Hussain Al-Saeed would prefer we didn’t, but sweeping these issues under the carpet for seven years didn’t help Wael. |
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darloGas
Joined November 2014
Joined: August 2023
Posts: 202
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Post by darloGas on Oct 19, 2023 17:19:26 GMT
Crikey! Fantastic photo, thanks for posting. Was this a one-off or did this happen often at Eastville? I thought up until someone had great idea of working on river Frome banks, this was a regular occurrence? But this might be myth..Great pic from Darlo... I do remember the match ball having to be retrieved from the river on occasions . . . that also may be a myth. What sticks in my memory are the games when the fog came down. Always hoped if we were winning 2-0 in the first-half (the one we could see), that the other team didn't score three in the second half  Here's the stadium in 1936. #UpTheROVERS |
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Post by lostinspace on Oct 19, 2023 17:41:37 GMT
I thought up until someone had great idea of working on river Frome banks, this was a regular occurrence? But this might be myth..Great pic from Darlo... I do remember the match ball having to be retrieved from the river on occasions . . . that also may be a myth. What sticks in my memory are the games when the fog came down. Always hoped if we were winning 2-0 in the first-half (the one we could see), that the other team didn't score three in the second half Here's the stadium in 1936. #UpTheROVERSRecall a Plymouth game on boxing Day 70's promo yeari think, though the game went ahead,there was a chartered plane due to fly from Plymouth that was fog bound in Devon, attendance around 26,000 I believe |
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Post by droitwichgas on Oct 19, 2023 18:27:13 GMT
My fear is that he cannot see a way to do this with an incumbent liss making third tier football club with which he has no natural affinity. The temptation to cash in on the asset may then seem very appealing. The longer the silence goes on the more this worries me The delusion of many fans is that Rovers are debt free and have never been better off financially. Although it’s true that very few clubs go into liquidation when they do it’s usually because of insurmountable liabilities. Rovers liabilities include a cost base of around 1 million per month, a 10 million charge over the Mem in favour of Dwane Sports, a 2 million charge over the Mem in favour of Nationwide Finance, 700K (in 2022) owed to a member of the club management and contractual obligations to staff and players which are likely to be extremely onerous if they have been written by one of JB’s high powered lawyers. I understand why Gasheads don’t want to talk about this, and perhaps Hussain Al-Saeed would prefer we didn’t, but sweeping these issues under the carpet for seven years didn’t help Wael. This total jackanory to suit your odd agenda when there's zero evidence that the new owners are trying to cut expenditure, if they were I doubt we'd sign Martin or, seemingly, try and sign Ayala. No doubt you'll say there's no proof we could afford JCH but somebody at the club clearly felt we could. |
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,591
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Post by warehamgas on Oct 19, 2023 19:37:08 GMT
I thought up until someone had great idea of working on river Frome banks, this was a regular occurrence? But this might be myth..Great pic from Darlo... I do remember the match ball having to be retrieved from the river on occasions . . . that also may be a myth. What sticks in my memory are the games when the fog came down. Always hoped if we were winning 2-0 in the first-half (the one we could see), that the other team didn't score three in the second half Here's the stadium in 1936. #UpTheROVERSThanks darlo for those pictures. 👍 Yes the fog stands out for me as well. Some really foggy winter afternoons when the fog dropped and stood in the Tote I could hardly see. I remember match v Halifax (when they were decent, challenging with us at the top) and the fog came down, January 71 or 72 (?) I was stood on the Tote and couldn’t see beyond the half way line. Harold got the ball on the right wing, dribbled towards the Tote End goal and let fly. The goal was directly between me and Harold and once he hit I knew it was a goal and I started celebrating a split second before the rest of the Tote. Poor keeper never had a chance, not sure he saw it go into the top right hand corner. Brilliant. Fog was difficult to see through but it was better, weatherwise, than that quarter final on a Tuesday night v Villa when it poured down all match and got absolutely soaked in the same part of the Tote. They went 1-0 up and we battered them but they nearly held out until we equalised about 10/15 minutes before the end. Forgot about the rain then. Thanks for jogging the memory. UTG! |
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eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,612
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 20, 2023 7:44:26 GMT
I’m sure you’re right regarding the ‘temporary’ S/SW Stand tiding us over until the FM. And if the numbers don’t appear to stack up (which has been reported but not confirmed by the club) they’re quickly working out what to do. Does that mean they didn’t do their due diligence at the beginning to be clear the FM did stack up, or is the money they used to buy us pocket money to them so they can shrug the loss off? Whichever it is would be a worrying situation. Whatever, the communication is completely absent which allows rumours to flourish and the club to appear in some kind of limbo. Which is a shame as we appear, whatever your views of JB, to have put together a half decent squad playing some good football and should be nearer the top than the bottom of this division. But it means, regarding the ground, we’re back where we started so many years ago. A dismal prospect. I’d hoped for a man with a plan! But this is Rovers! 😉 UTG! The spin we’ve been given is that Hussain Al-Saeed has been brought in because of his experience in the real estate business which will help with our stadium ambitions. But it seems much more likely that he is here because he has cash available and is up for an adventure which will provide a “ bit of fun” for him, his son and their friends. The picture of them celebrating after the Charlton game says it all. Anyone who has ever bought a business knows the importance of examining every aspect of that business before making a commitment. So it was extremely surprising that in his only interview to date Hussain said he had been talking to Wael since February but only in the last few weeks ( late July) was he able to really get inside the club. This indicates he had made a commitment to take over the 55% stake in Dwane Sports and apply to the EFL for ownership approval before he knew the full picture. If this is what he did, and only now is he finding out what he’s let himself in for, then it may explain the silence as he decides what to do about a situation which was unforeseen. I really don’t think he paid anything for the 55% stake in Dwane Sports but IMO would have received those shares for agreeing to take over responsibility for providing Rovers working capital shortfall which runs at 3 - 4 million per year. In his interview he talked about getting the business on a more sensible and sustainable footing which would mean that the working capital shortfall could be reduced to, say, 1 million per year and this, for someone with substantial wealth, may be a price worth paying to pursue a football adventure. The problem for everyone involved, including Gasheads, will be if he has discovered the situation is far worse than he was led to believe and he cannot see any way for the working capital shortfall to be reduced to an acceptable level. I normally share your cynicism... but surely Hussain Al-Saeed would have been well aware of the financial situation. The accounts clearly show annual losses of £3-£4mil to run a mid to lower tier League 1 football Club. The very best that an owner could expect is an unlikely tilt at the play-offs with the tried and trusted "luck and chemistry". In a dilapidated stadium. Now being partly re-built without planning permission. As for financial sustainability - that remains a topic that neither owners (Wael and now Hussain) or supporters really want to engage in. |
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Post by swissgas on Oct 20, 2023 11:03:49 GMT
The spin we’ve been given is that Hussain Al-Saeed has been brought in because of his experience in the real estate business which will help with our stadium ambitions. But it seems much more likely that he is here because he has cash available and is up for an adventure which will provide a “ bit of fun” for him, his son and their friends. The picture of them celebrating after the Charlton game says it all. Anyone who has ever bought a business knows the importance of examining every aspect of that business before making a commitment. So it was extremely surprising that in his only interview to date Hussain said he had been talking to Wael since February but only in the last few weeks ( late July) was he able to really get inside the club. This indicates he had made a commitment to take over the 55% stake in Dwane Sports and apply to the EFL for ownership approval before he knew the full picture. If this is what he did, and only now is he finding out what he’s let himself in for, then it may explain the silence as he decides what to do about a situation which was unforeseen. I really don’t think he paid anything for the 55% stake in Dwane Sports but IMO would have received those shares for agreeing to take over responsibility for providing Rovers working capital shortfall which runs at 3 - 4 million per year. In his interview he talked about getting the business on a more sensible and sustainable footing which would mean that the working capital shortfall could be reduced to, say, 1 million per year and this, for someone with substantial wealth, may be a price worth paying to pursue a football adventure. The problem for everyone involved, including Gasheads, will be if he has discovered the situation is far worse than he was led to believe and he cannot see any way for the working capital shortfall to be reduced to an acceptable level. I normally share your cynicism... but surely Hussain Al-Saeed would have been well aware of the financial situation. The accounts clearly show annual losses of £3-£4mil to run a mid to lower tier League 1 football Club. The very best that an owner could expect is an unlikely tilt at the play-offs with the tried and trusted "luck and chemistry". In a dilapidated stadium. Now being partly re-built without planning permission. As for financial sustainability - that remains a topic that neither owners (Wael and now Hussain) or supporters really want to engage in. When the new owners were about to be revealed and some fans were posting their delight that this would mean the new stadium was assured a few Gasheads who are normally well informed cautioned that the new people were primarily here for the football. And in his interview Hussain said “The main thing is to really run a club very wisely and to really sustain it so that even when we advance to a higher league then we will be ready in terms of infrastructure, in terms of interior operation so that we can compete and continue going up.”. He mentioned the stadium and discussions he had with the developer and Council but said “ it is a big challenge for us”. That’s why I believe the Al-Saeeds are here mainly for the football, they have some cash to put in and they probably figured that if the club could be financially restructured to bring costs in line with competitive clubs then they could move it forward slowly whilst gradually improving the infrastructure and at the same time enjoying the experience. Anyone taking over a business will be doing so on the basis of making changes to improve performance rather than carrying on in the same way as the previous owners did. So I don’t believe Hussain thought the best he could hope for was a tilt at the play off’s via “ luck & chemistry” because that is the well tried Rovers strategy which has consistently failed. In the few words he’s said you can see his idea is to capitalise on our fan base numbers by running the business more efficiently so that the higher revenue Rovers enjoy through having more fans than our rivals is put to good use rather than being wasted. And based upon the accounts alone one can see a clear path to efficiency increase by bringing our costs more in line with those of our rivals. But what the accounts don’t show are liabilities which are much more difficult to eliminate and with the comment about not being able to looking very deep inside the club or examine inside the club until the end of July / early August I wonder whether those liabilities were only revealed after the commitment to purchase had been made. Specifically I’m thinking about costs which for any normal business could be eliminated immediately or at least over a period of time but which Rovers may be stuck with. For example the contracts given to players and back room staff may be very expensive to get out of. The interest on the Nationwide Finance loan could be running at 250K per year and has to be paid but is not shown in the historical accounts. The training ground is lauded by 99% of Gasheads and I’m very reluctant to even mention it but I have a feeling it could be costing around 500K pa to run which is a ridiculous sum for a League 1 club. And on that subject there is a big financial liability for Rovers to fulfill planning conditions from a couple of years ago and which will run into many hundreds of thousands but is never talked about. Then there is the ongoing saga of the South Stand which must be racking up professional costs at a rapid rate while income is reduced so that if any figures were ever produced to prove financial viability they are meaningless now. I believe Hussain went into his Rovers adventure with the best of intentions, just as Wael did, and I hope that insufficient due diligence will not come back to bite him and us. |
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Crikey! Fantastic photo, thanks for posting. Was this a one-off or did this happen often at Eastville?
