Steve Claridge's views on Chairmen and finances etc.

[rhroyal]

I bet ppl will shoot all this down because it's Steve Claridge. What does a man who played in the football league for almost 20 years with countless different clubs in different circumstances know?

Anyhow, he was asked 2 questions that made me think of JM this week. The first was relating to Palace, Portsmouth and Stockport and their financial problems. The second was about Peter Risdale at Cardiff and about how he had broken a promise to the fans and lost their trust.

1) With clubs such as Crystal Palace, Stockport and Portsmouth being in financial trouble is it time for some clubs to merge and try and survive that way? Obviously the fans would be against it but is there any other way for them to survive for the next 10 to 15 years?
Jonathan Hind, UK

I don't think merging clubs will actually help them that much.

It sounds great on paper but, if clubs like Portsmouth can get into trouble, then is it really going to make too much difference if the likes of Stockport and Bury merge? That won't stop them getting into trouble will it?

And you could merge 50 clubs together because it doesn't matter how big you are - if the people who are running you don't get it right then you will soon have problems.

The key for most clubs keeping their heads above the water is for their owners to handle unreal expectations from supporters and stand up to being pressured by them.

I understand that people's hearts rule their heads, that they just want the best for their clubs, but they just have to be strong and say no, even if it makes them unpopular or face accusations they are not ambitious.

2) Hi Steve, what do you make of the recent goings on at Cardiff City? Chairman Peter Ridsdale promoted a scheme where money made on season ticket sales before Christmas would be used to bring in new players to add much needed depth to our squad. After a stunning 6-0 victory over our rivals Bristol City he drops the bombshell that the money is no longer available as it is to be used to pay off other matters. Perfect timing - deliver bad news just after good news. We fans feel cheated by what he has done. Of course we would all rather the bills be paid than buy players if it means we stay in business, but the way he gained our money was disgraceful. What are your thoughts? The saving grace for me is that we are still in a good position in the Championship with a good chance of securing a place in the Premier League via the play-offs. Do you think we can make it to the promised land with what we have at our disposal?
Lee Jefferies, Wales

Peter Ridsdale has been looking for outside investment at Cardiff but it hasn't happened - I don't know why.

But what I do understand is that, after what happened at Leeds, people are always going to wary about him and he has made a huge mistake here by promising what he did.

I think where clubs fall down sometimes is with a lack of transparency. If there is nothing to hide then tell the fans - this is what we're paying out and this is what we're bringing in - and they will understand.

Most supporters of any club always think the worst but all they really want to know is where the club stands, what will happen and what they can do about it. But most of that is covered up.

Having the trust of the fans is a huge part of running a football club and Ridsdale has lost most, if not all of that, at Cardiff now.
Financially, we don't really know what is going on but, on the positive side, in every other way the club is in good nick. They have a super manager in Dave Jones and a marvellous ground with a great set of fans and a decent team.

They are fourth in the Championship so I am not convinced there was a great need to sign new players anyway - I cannot see them breaking into the top two. And if they stay where they are, that's still a fantastic season for them.

The fun thing with them is that nobody knows what they are capable of - they can beat anybody and lose to anybody. There is never a dull moment but there are a lot of clubs who would happily swap places with them and they are looking very good for a play-off place.
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I've highlighted the parts in bold which I think apply to JM's handling of this club. I think the issue for me with this club is not the "lack of ambition" when we're living within our means. However, I rarely believe the nonsense that our board spouts about a number of issues, and this is where a lot of our problems stem from.

[Ian Royal]

I've not seen an article of Claridge's posted on here that didn't make plenty of sense.

[rabidbee]

Even when the club and the holding company post fully-audited accounts, people refuse to believe them. The club has no chance when it comes to communicating with fans, because there will always be a large group who refuse to listen.

[Baines]

You lost me at "Steve Claridge's views on finances".

[CMRoyal]

I've shot him down in the past because he commented from a position of almost total ignorance about us. But since then he's really got his teeth into what's going on in the league and this is another excellent example. Well done him.

[Vision]

Even when the club and the holding company post fully-audited accounts, people refuse to believe them. The club has no chance when it comes to communicating with fans, because there will always be a large group who refuse to listen.

I think the problem is that we as fans still have this rather old-fashioned notion that along with the board we're all in it together, when practically speaking really we're not.

Its the job of the club to sell itself to as many people as possible. Its therefore inevitable that an element of spin and salesspeak is used in order to attract new supporters, placate existing ones and publicly demonstrate confidence in your management team & players.. RFC are no different to any other club in this respect and football itself is no different to any other business in the way it will talk up its potential and appeal.

Of course JM is the fly in the ointment of this because he generally says the first thing which comes into his head without actually thinking it through. Hence we get "we're pushing for promotion" feelgood messages one minute and "cloth-cutting" doom and gloom the next. JM is actually the antithisis of the "spin" that he's accused of because there's nothing particularly calculated about his public utterances. They're just the words of a man who is used to voicing his opinion and having people take notice of it.

Thats why I just don't get long standing supporters in particular who talk about being "conned" by JM or the club. When alls said and done all they can guarantee you is the allotted amount of home games in whatever division you're in at the time. You have no say in who plays for your club, who we sign or who we sell. It's always been that way and it always will.

[Still Hate Futcher!]

I dunno which is the more shocking - a sound, well reasoned piece by Steve Claridge or the sound, well reasoned thread on hobnob!

[Terminal Boardom]

Even when the club and the holding company post fully-audited accounts, people refuse to believe them. The club has no chance when it comes to communicating with fans, because there will always be a large group who refuse to listen.

Why do you think that is?

[brendywendy]

because they are stupid, blind and deaf

[Thaumagurist*]

I dunno which is the more shocking - a sound, well reasoned piece by Steve Claridge or the sound, well reasoned thread on hobnob!

And there aren't many of them on the Team board.

[Vision]

Even when the club and the holding company post fully-audited accounts, people refuse to believe them. The club has no chance when it comes to communicating with fans, because there will always be a large group who refuse to listen.

Why do you think that is?

Because we don't want to hear it.

Its actually a fair enough stance in a way. For most of us football is (was is probably more appropriate) supposed to be the escape from the hassles of work/life and the end of a week. We don't want to hear about cloth cutting, recession or financial downturns , we just want 11 blokes to believe in on a Saturday afternoon and don't really give a toss how we get them or how much they cost (unless they're shit of course and then we'll hammer them for being a waste of money).

Trouble is though that someone does have to worry about the shitty stuff and in the media drenched world we live in, we' cant really escape from it.

[shoey]

unfortunatly most fans think they are right, and the business man, keeping us from not going bust or into debt is obviously wrong, becuase reading are this or that blah bloody blah.

Facts are we have the best guy in the world to manage us financially, he has done it for the last decade and beyond, and we have grown as a club.

He aint no simon jordan, He is Sir John Madejski, and people need to show the guy some fuking respect for a change, take off their rose tinted specs and live in the real world, living off real money

[Mr Optimist]

That's all well and good but where is OUR £80m from being in the Premier League....















I'm joking!!

[andrew1957]

For anyone doubting just how lucky we are to have JM just read the Guardian articles about Portsmouth. Apparently the ground and club are subject to unknown mortgages and could be seized by a HK businessman. Looks like tens of millions may have disappeared from the club coffers.

The ground may yet get seized and sold for building land. Shades of Brighton losing the Goldstone Ground and having years in the wilderness before they could afford the new stadium at Falmer.

Portsmouth FC may well cease to exist if new backers cannot be found.

[RoyalBlue]

Even when the club and the holding company post fully-audited accounts, people refuse to believe them. The club has no chance when it comes to communicating with fans, because there will always be a large group who refuse to listen.

Very true. And the reason for that is we were given the mushroom treatment for so long. Even now, when a bit more light is being shown, Madejski and co still can't resist the temptation to treat us with liberal helpings of bull shyte e.g. talk of PL ambition shortly before embarking on savage cloth cutting.

It is they who have lit and then fuelled what their supporters now criticise as unrealistic expectations amongst some of our fan base.

For anyone doubting just how lucky we are to have JM just read the Guardian articles about Portsmouth. Apparently the ground and club are subject to unknown mortgages and could be seized by a HK businessman. Looks like tens of millions may have disappeared from the club coffers.

The ground may yet get seized and sold for building land. Shades of Brighton losing the Goldstone Ground and having years in the wilderness before they could afford the new stadium at Falmer.

Portsmouth FC may well cease to exist if new backers cannot be found.

Portsmouth may cease to exist in their current guise. However, rest assured that with their traditions and fanatical supporter base, there will always be a Portsmouth FC of some sort.

[Ian Royal]

I'm sure the fact their name continues 4 divisions below the conference having previously had an FA Cup winning Premier League side will be of great comfort to them.

As I've said previously. I'll take a couple of relegations over three or four seasons due to well intentioned but ultimately failed policies, over irresponsible policies that see a few years of short term success but ultimately the equivalent of 6 or 7 relegations in one season and the prospect of a few quick promotions before levelling out a good 3 or 4 divisions below our current position.

[brendywendy]

Very true. And the reason for that is we were given the mushroom treatment for so long. Even now, when a bit more light is being shown, Madejski and co still can't resist the temptation to treat us with liberal helpings of bull shyte e.g. talk of PL ambition shortly before embarking on savage cloth cutting.

It is they who have lit and then fuelled what their supporters now criticise as unrealistic expectations amongst some of our fan base.

i can only assume that you ignored all of the statemens you didnt like, and just picked out the positive bits.

at every point along the way JM has made his policy very clear
at every point we have been told we would be cutting the cloth, over and over again.
we knew our best players would be sold last season and this, and would have to rebuild- that was the whole rodgers message.

yes he and JM both said we would be looking to go back up- but of course they said that- they wouldnt be much of a leader if they said the opposite, of course the aim is to go back up, BUT only with a well run solvent and financially viable club.
but i dont think any of that ever over shadowed the cloth cutting to the extent that i didnt realise it would happen.

[Ian Royal]

Very true. And the reason for that is we were given the mushroom treatment for so long. Even now, when a bit more light is being shown, Madejski and co still can't resist the temptation to treat us with liberal helpings of bull shyte e.g. talk of PL ambition shortly before embarking on savage cloth cutting.

It is they who have lit and then fuelled what their supporters now criticise as unrealistic expectations amongst some of our fan base.

i can only assume that you ignored all of the statemens you didnt like, and just picked out the positive bits.

at every point along the way JM has made his policy very clear
at every point we have been told we would be cutting the cloth, over and over again.
we knew our best players would be sold last season and this, and would have to rebuild- that was the whole rodgers message.

yes he and JM both said we would be looking to go back up- but of course they said that- they wouldnt be much of a leader if they said the opposite, of course the aim is to go back up, BUT only with a well run solvent and financially viable club.
but i dont think any of that ever over shadowed the cloth cutting to the extent that i didnt realise it would happen.

This.

Cutting our coat to fit our cloth and aiming to get back into the Premier League are not mutually exclusive.

[Sun Tzu]

This.

Cutting our coat to fit our cloth and aiming to get back into the Premier League are not mutually exclusive.

I think there may be an issue with timelines though.

Some people clearly thought relegation was a minor set back and we'd shoot straight back up. Which really flies in the face of logic, but is kind of understandable (and in terms of communications from the club you can see that they didn;t exactly try and point out that it would be a big ask)

I think there is no answer to the problem. As has been pointed out there are a number of people who simply won't believe anything that doesn;t support their view, and there is no way that the club would make statements that DO support their ultra negative take on things.
I also think that some people want things on a plate. It's always been clear that getting to the Prem involved a fair chunk of luck alongside the hard work and I well remember thinking at the promotion celebrations that it was important to enjoy them as that could well have been the best we ever saw. To take every statement from the club as if it were tablets from the mountain is really very naive (and sometimes the club are equally naive in what they say !). We were never going to be as big as Arsenal, so why did Mr Howe say it ? On the other hand why did anyone in their right mind think it was even a remote possibility ? Just treat these things as what they are, throwaway remarks rather than promises....

[brendywendy]

our aim is to be in the premiere league
our aim is to be as big as arsenal


you can hjave aims,and its ok not to achieve them you know