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We've got a Solid team.

Some might totally disagree, because most signing's haven't been 'big' names that most people have heard off.

Longe-king - 26, prime age, and was constantly in and around the team that finished in the play-offs in the league above. Most Newport fans wanted him to stay
Pearson - Captain and regular for a team that finished 1 point outside of play-offs in this league, most Wrexham wanted to keep him, and we know the qualities he brings off the pitch, and this can't go unnoticed
Efete - 24, still young, 2 years ago helped Wealdstone win the National league south, and voted in the team of the season
Sousa - again, 26, prime age. Already shown in pre-season he looks very good going forward, and someone to get excited about
Fox - only 23, yet seems composed and experienced in the middle of the park. Looks quality at this level. End of 2020 he was playing regular for a league 1 team before getting injured.
Mcatee - Showing he would be best played behind the striker in a number 10 role, good vision, and will get in double figures IMO
Revan - Looks to be a young gem already, fast, gets forward, and has 2 assists in 2 games i believe?

Lets not get worked up because someone else signed a striker.
Yes we need one, Yes PH is looking for one, Yes we will sign one.

Quoted from promotion plaice

So where is our statement of intent, just look at Chesterfields latest signing prolific striker Kabongo Tshimanga from Boreham Wood.

Chesterfield have apparently paid an ‘amazing’ fee for striker Kabongo Tshimanga, says Boreham Wood chairman Danny Hunter.

What's happened to the Grist, Pollock, full parachute payment money?

A club that circumvented furlough rules, a club financially chaotic, a club now ‘spending big’ to sign a player…

Who gives a flipping rats bottom.

I’d hazard a guess that chap they’ve signed will probably still live down in the big smoke given how easy Chesterfield is to get to. I’m sure we negotiated well but was he really worth breaking the bank for?

The panic on here is a flipping golden…

Quoted from promotion plaice

So where is our statement of intent, just look at Chesterfields latest signing prolific striker Kabongo Tshimanga from Boreham Wood.

Chesterfield have apparently paid an ‘amazing’ fee for striker Kabongo Tshimanga, says Boreham Wood chairman Danny Hunter.

What's happened to the Grist, Pollock, full parachute payment money?

I’d always be worried about any deal the seller calls amazing. Some of these signings will work out for other clubs and some won’t. Those that don’t will have a big earner on their books for a few years. I’d rather we built a sustainable model that’s going to allow us to improve year on year than gambled everything on going up this year.

I’d love to know where they got the money for this amazing fee. Was only 18 months ago they owed 13 million and were looking like the next Darlington.

£250,000 being mentioned.no wonder hurst walked away

I will guess that Hurst is now trying to find a pre - 1st team debut league U23 striker, or two, on loan, who need "big man" football to improve their worth to their home teams.

We have had success in both defence and midfield with young loan players. Now is perhaps time to find a young goal scorer or two to play off our older strikers when fit.

League clubs, we look after the loanees, so send us your best shots !!

As much as I'd love for us to pull out a big signing, we shouldn't break the budget to do it. There are times these huge signings don't work out and then you paid a big fee and are stuck with a player who has the largest salary but is not contributing enough. I get that the last 20 years or so has not been kind to us and people are frustrated but we need to set our expectations accordingly.

I get it, my dad started taking me to games after a period of decline had already ended and we were on the up, it was constant good news. Most of the players people remember, the good times I recall all of it but we can't live in the past forever. We need to start judging things on our recent history and today, we need to understand that there is no Saudi prince spunking 500 million up the wall on a plaything. We have people in the club who want change, want it to be better but those are building blocks and not an instant solution to everything that will give us 3 promotions in 3 years.

This is not the past where we are going toe to toe with the big teams in the Second Div/First Div/Championship/whatever they rename it to next, where we are far bigger than other local teams. We have been in freefall for years with only a couple of seasons that were particularly successful. Never looked comfortable after getting promoted back into the league and ended up spiralling down the league with a couple of lucky escapes as with before when we got relegated. This is just the reality of where we are now, we aren't too big for where we are, we aren't bigger than anyone else in our position. Right now we need a period of stability and to keep digging out the rot that has infested the boardroom for so long, we long lost our reputation in the eyes of the footballing world, fans, players and journalists. It'll take some time to rebuild that reputation and steady the ship before we can find land again.

Let’s face it, in his time at GTFC, not included the flipping excrement show he picked up last year, Hurst never failed to find a striker that suited his/our style so why would now be any different…

And if they have paid in the region of 250k then leave them to it…I’m not sure he’s that good…

Havent the new owners made a statement of intent by modernising the club, trying to be more active with their fan base and upgrading the facilities both at the stadium and at the training ground?

People are bemoaning us not spending money on big signings but the club is much bigger than 1 season. Rather than trying to build on the moldering foundations left by the previous establishment and then seeing it all fall through our new owners appear to be looking at rebuilding the foundations of the club and then building on that, which as much as it pains me to say will take time.

There is no quick fix solution, unless you have endless amounts of money to throw at it apparently and we don't have that so I'd rather see us build with a slow burn rather than a big explosion that only manages to blow up in our faces.

I don’t call a striker from Boreham wood statement of intent

Glad to see some sensible comments on here. Patience please, Hurst isn't going to rush a signing nor is he going to pay ridiculous money for a striker on the back of pressure from the fans. This season is about stability. We do need a man up top but I'm much more content with the new attitude around the club, the engagement with fans, the investment in infrastructure and so on, than I would be with spending 250k on one man that could end up going the same way our very own Bogle has at other clubs in recent years. Remember, the time for pure cynicism is over.

UTM

Surely to God it is not too much to ask to make a statement of intent in non-league.

If we cannot sign a striker from Boreham Wood or anywhere else it tells you all you need to know. Someone mentioned a fee of 250,000. That is peanuts in the great scheme of things - the other week Stockwood was telling businesses to keep their offers of cash help as it was not needed at this stage. Making good signings needs money - there is no getting away from it and they should be prepared to release the money. We are not talking about numbers that will cripple the club, but we have got to match our rivals in what will be a competitive field.

The new owners have already done a lot of good, but THE most important thing is success on the field or it will not be worth the effort.

Fenty made the mistake of trying to run the football club on a shoestring ala a fish factory. I hope the new owners don't make the opposite mistake - spend all their energies on the infrastructure and think they can then turn their attention to on-field matters when they are ready. It has to be done in tandem. I don't think we have heard enough about wanting success on the field.

Football fans don't do steady as she goes. They want excitement, intent, goals and success. I cannot understand why we never can find that elusive marquee signing. Our rivals can, whatever division we are in.

If we do not challenge for the title in non-league it will be yet another bitter disappointment.

If Hurst does the business and we do better than expected, then I will have to eat my words, but at the moment it looks much like same old same old.

Season tickets have held up well, but we haven't got enough have we, really? That is because people can see the intent to win the league isn't really there.

250K seems a reasonable fee to me, Tshimanga will smash tons of goals in for Chesterfield, they will probally sell him in a year or two for a few million, nice investment like Bogle was for us.

I think Efete, Fox, McAtee and Sousa will do very well this season, players that can possibly demand a fee from other clubs.

I'm kind of somewhat disappointed/envious that Chesterfield have splashed out for Tshimanga, as I think he will easily sell on later down the line for millions and then a sell on fee on top.

Not much to look at in the leagues below with them being abandoned. I don't mind the odd player in on loan, but wish we could get another Bogle type in with the potential to make money. I wish we could do a Peterborough to be honest, they have always seemed to get it right. Why can't we go down this route, speculate to accumulate.

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

I think Efete, Fox, McAtee and Sousa will do very well this season, players that can possibly demand a fee from other clubs.

I'm kind of somewhat disappointed/envious that Chesterfield have splashed out for Tshimanga, as I think he will easily sell on later down the line for millions and then a sell on fee on top.

Not much to look at in the leagues below with them being abandoned. I don't mind the odd player in on loan, but wish we could get another Bogle type in with the potential to make money. I wish we could do a Peterborough to be honest, they have always seemed to get it right. Why can't we go down this route, speculate to accumulate.

couple of points - firstly we are only just setting out on a new road, after years of stagnation/going backwards
secondly as you point out we've signed 3 or 4 players who are young enough to shine and be sold on
thirdly you haven't mentioned the youngsters coming through. We've just sold 2 good young players, we've said idehen and starbuck can go, but only with sell on clauses, and then you've got Khouri, Goundry, Boyd, Adlard, Essel & Tomlinson who've all been in and around the first team squad and who could all turn out to be th new Pollock/Grist

Quoted from forza ivano

couple of points - firstly we are only just setting out on a new road, after years of stagnation/going backwards
secondly as you point out we've signed 3 or 4 players who are young enough to shine and be sold on
thirdly you haven't mentioned the youngsters coming through. We've just sold 2 good young players, we've said idehen and starbuck can go, but only with sell on clauses, and then you've got Khouri, Goundry, Boyd, Adlard, Essel & Tomlinson who've all been in and around the first team squad and who could all turn out to be th new Pollock/Grist

Let’s not forget that these young lads were developed under the old regime under a terrific youth set up. If there’s one thing that the club was doing well, it was youth development, maybe in spite of rather than because of what was occurring elsewhere.

Quoted from forza ivano

couple of points - firstly we are only just setting out on a new road, after years of stagnation/going backwards
secondly as you point out we've signed 3 or 4 players who are young enough to shine and be sold on
thirdly you haven't mentioned the youngsters coming through. We've just sold 2 good young players, we've said idehen and starbuck can go, but only with sell on clauses, and then you've got Khouri, Goundry, Boyd, Adlard, Essel & Tomlinson who've all been in and around the first team squad and who could all turn out to be th new Pollock/Grist

I admire your optimism, if it takes us 3-5 years to get out of this division this time around, regardless of any manager it will be an achievement in my opinion, as this league is a lot lot stronger than when we left it.

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

250K seems a reasonable fee to me, Tshimanga will smash tons of goals in for Chesterfield, they will probally sell him in a year or two for a few million, nice investment like Bogle was for us.

He's 24 now and has been floating around non-league for the last 6 or 7 years. I reckon if he was going to make it big then he would have done so by now.

Quoted from Les Brechin

He's 24 now and has been floating around non-league for the last 6 or 7 years. I reckon if he was going to make it big then he would have done so by now.

Jamie Vardy did 9 years in non-league before getting his move to Leicester 9 years ago at 25...

Like a lot of people, I was slightly taken aback yesterday when Chesterfield signed Tshimanga, as id secretly hoped we’d be in for him.

However, it’s a big risk on their part. According to the boreham wood chairman, the value they set was aimed at league 1 and championship clubs, and he was shocked when Chesterfield met it. It’s a similar situation with madden at Stockport and mullin at wrexham. Each could easily be playing a couple of divisions above, but there’s some big money being thrown around. Which is all well and good if you get promoted, but there’s only one automatic spot and one in the lottery of the play offs, meaning some of these teams will miss out (it’s safe to add notts county to the list of big spenders too). So it’s actually a high risk strategy.

And it’s not as if they’re guaranteed to make money from these players unless they bag a hatful. Tshimangas 24 (the youngest of all the strikers mentioned), so he’s going to have to excel in the next few years if they’re going to recuperate that fee. And I saw a stat the he only scored 12 goals from open play in over 40 games last season (the rest were penalties), which obviously isn’t bad but probably tells you why a team in a higher league aren’t willing to pay the money Chesterfield have for him. It could pay off, but it’s a big risk.

And I think stockwood’s article in the telegraph sums it up well, spending big doesn’t guarantee you success. Of course, it can help, but look at the Sutton’s and Barrows that have won the league. Coincidentally, Sutton’s top scorer only got 14 goals. I say only because it doesn’t look like we have a 14 goal player, although mcatee is being overlooked a lot here and could get double figures.

So I think we need to take a step back and not go over the top. Sure, we’d like a new striker but I actually think we’ve got a good forward line that will spread the goals around we’ll, which is actually a better recipe than relying on one man.

Quoted from Les Brechin

He's 24 now and has been floating around non-league for the last 6 or 7 years. I reckon if he was going to make it big then he would have done so by now.

The Boreham Wood chairman seems to be indicating the fee they set was on the expectation of a League One/Championship club coming in for him. £250K sounds like the sort of an amount one of those would pay for a non-league player. Have Chesterfield got a sugardaddy to be splashing such big amounts of money around? You'd imagine he'll be on a decent whack there as well which increases the cost even further. With a salary cap coming in next season, are some clubs trying to splurge this year in a gamble to get out before they need to cut their cloth a bit tighter?

When we were first linked with Tshimanga I watched his YouTube reel, which I get is just that - it's hardly a comprehensive review of any player.

But he doesn't really look like the type of player who would fit into what we're after, far from it.  He very much looks like someone who floats about and picks up the scraps.  With the attacking options that Hurst has built behind the frontline, thinking of the likes of McAtee and Sousa mainly, I think we need more of someone to hold it up and bring them into play.

I'll actually be surprised if we have a striker who gets 20 goals this season, I think the focus is on spreading the goals out amongst the team.

Either LJL or Taylor would be perfect for the role we need and it's unfortunate that both are in the treatment room at the same time.  With them fit, we would have seen a very different pre-season and vastly different levels of optimism for the season.  I get it thought, it's a big problem.  Equally so, just like with his transfer dealings, Hurst is always coy when it comes to injuries and lay-offs.  It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if we line up against Bromley with the number 7 and 9 squad numbers occupied and both LJL and Taylor in the squad.

Vardy was a one-off. I doubt we'll ever see another player spend so long in non-league before making it big.

Also Vardy only had 2 clubs (3 if you include Stocksbridge Steel) in non-league. Tshimanga has had almost a dozen now. He's a decent non-league striker I'll admit and could well do okay at a lower league club. It could happen, I'll admit, but I'll be very surprised if he goes on to have any real success in the Premier League like Vardy has.

For every Vardy, there are a dozen Bogles. We don't even know yet if Tshimanga is even near being a Bogle and he's nowhere near being a Vardy. He'll score a hat-trick against us now, just you wait. :-/

We could do with a Barry Hayles type of player coming to the fore. Started off as a full-back and was bunged up front as an emergency due to injury problems, started scoring and just continued. Any of our defenders look as though they've got an eye for goal? ;)

Quoted from Les Brechin

Vardy was a one-off. I doubt we'll ever see another player spend so long in non-league before making it big.

Also Vardy only had 2 clubs (3 if you include Stocksbridge Steel) in non-league. Tshimanga has had almost a dozen now. He's a decent non-league striker I'll admit and could well do okay at a lower league club. It could happen, I'll admit, but I'll be very surprised if he goes on to have any real success in the Premier League like Vardy has.

Andre Gray? ;)

Quoted from Maringer

We could do with a Barry Hayles type of player coming to the fore. Started off as a full-back and was bunged up front as an emergency due to injury problems, started scoring and just continued. Any of our defenders look as though they've got an eye for goal? ;)

That made me think of Paul Warhurst and I've now got a bit of sick in my mouth.

What is the salary cap set at next season?

Quoted from mariner91

What is the salary cap set at next season?

https://forum.thefishy.co.uk/Blah.pl?m-1625144562/

Quoted from mariner91

What is the salary cap set at next season?

£900k

Which amplifies the necessity to get out of this division this season. As it stands, from next season, even with a vastly superior income, we won't be able to outspend virtually any club in the National League, the likes of Kings Lynn, Dover, Maidenhead etc will enjoy a level playing field with us. It's a very scary prospect..

This season is more critical than some of the be patient, vacuous virtue signalling long term project claims.. that's for sure..

Quoted from Bigdog

£900k

Which amplifies the necessity to get out of this division this season. As it stands, from next season, even with a vastly superior income, we won't be able to outspend virtually any club in the National League, the likes of Kings Lynn, Dover, Maidenhead etc will enjoy a level playing field with us. It's a very scary prospect..

This season is more critical than some of the be patient, vacuous virtue signalling long term project claims.. that's for sure..

Has it been challenged because the EFL salary cap was thrown out of court.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Has it been challenged because the EFL salary cap was thrown out of court.

It's still a work in progress..

In a recent decision, an independent arbitration panel upheld a claim against a salary cap in League One and League Two.  The salary cap, introduced by the English Football League (EFL) on 7 August 2020, prohibits the overall player salary remuneration above 2.5 million in League One and a cap of 1.5 Million in League Two[1].   The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) opposed the salary caps and sought arbitrary action. Following the arbitral decision the EFL have withdrawn the salary caps[2].

Background to Financial Controls

Football in the UK is not subject to a statutory salary cap.  Although, the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) introduced Financial Fair Play regulations in 2010[3] as a requisite to enter into its competitions. UEFA set up the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) to oversee and sanction clubs that exceed spending beyond its budget over the course of three seasons[4].  The Premier League (PL)[5] and EFL introduced Financial Fair Play Regulations in 2013. EFL regulations subject clubs to a Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP); a player related expenditure prohibiting clubs from exceeding 60% of the clubs turnover.

Reason for Salary Caps

Since the global pandemic, clubs across all leagues have suffered financially[6]. The loss of TV and broadcasting rights, commercial revenue, gate and match day income has reduced millions of pounds worth of income. The consequences of insolvency was unfortunately seen in the fate of Bury FC’s expulsion for the EFL and the PL agreed a £250 million rescue package to assist sustainability within the EFL[7].

On 7 August 2020, the EFL introduced a salary cap of 2.5 million in League One and a cap of 1.5 Million in League Two. In its statement the PFL said “The decision follows extensive and comprehensive consultation with all Clubs in respect of addressing sustainability and wage inflation issues across the EFL”[8].

The PFA acknowledged the need for costs control measures but set out its detailed objections to the salary cap. This included revenue disparity, the development and process of the wage control measures, consensus of stakeholders, omitted details from the principles and much more[9].

Changes to the EFL Regulations are permitted pursuant to Article 13 of the Articles of Association of the Football League[10], albeit requiring a vote by member clubs[11]. A majority voted in favour of the salary cap, whilst a minority of clubs opposed the decision, contending it could deter young talent and investors.

As a result of the decision to impose salary caps, the PFA served Notice of Arbitration on the EFL disputing the caps as unlawful and unenforceable. The PFA argued the EFL failed in its obligation to consult with the PFA and the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC).

Paragraph 3a. of the PFNCC’s Constitution states, “The PFNCC shall be the forum in which the Members consider matters relating to the employment of, and any associated rules and regulations relating to, those professional football players (Players) employed by clubs in membership of EFL and the PL (the Leagues)…”

Decision

The decision[12] places emphasis on the need to consult the representative bodies and upholds their respective standings within the EFL.

It also revert the EFL back to the SCMP rules in accordance with 9.5 of the EFL Rules and Regulations, which states  “If an arbitral body makes any ruling to the effect that the EFL acted in breach of the constitution of the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee when adopting Salary Cap Rules, then these Salary Cap Rules will automatically and immediately be withdrawn from the regulation and will be replaced by Part 4 of the Appendix 5 of these Regulations (the ‘Existing SCMP Rules’)[13].

Conclusion

The need for cost control measures and clear parameters appear to be appreciated amongst clubs, regulators and governing bodies, and so it is likely discussions will continue until a resolution is reached that suits all parties.

Quoted from Bigdog

£900k

Which amplifies the necessity to get out of this division this season. As it stands, from next season, even with a vastly superior income, we won't be able to outspend virtually any club in the National League, the likes of Kings Lynn, Dover, Maidenhead etc will enjoy a level playing field with us. It's a very scary prospect..

This season is more critical than some of the be patient, vacuous virtue signalling long term project claims.. that's for sure..

That’s outrageous if that stands. Just makes a mockery of competition. If we had a good season and had around 3000 season tickets and averaged 5000 at home games our income from tickets alone would be significantly higher than that. Eastleigh and their 1800 fans could match our spending with the help of their benefactor and we wouldn’t even be allowed to spend all our income?! That can’t be allowed surely?

Clubs have been getting around salary caps or similar initiatives since before the days of professionalism. If you have got the money from your own business activities (as opposed to gifts from the directors) you should be able to spend it.

Quoted from Mariner93er

Like a lot of people, I was slightly taken aback yesterday when Chesterfield signed Tshimanga, as id secretly hoped we’d be in for him.

However, it’s a big risk on their part. According to the boreham wood chairman, the value they set was aimed at league 1 and championship clubs, and he was shocked when Chesterfield met it. It’s a similar situation with madden at Stockport and mullin at wrexham. Each could easily be playing a couple of divisions above, but there’s some big money being thrown around. Which is all well and good if you get promoted, but there’s only one automatic spot and one in the lottery of the play offs, meaning some of these teams will miss out (it’s safe to add notts county to the list of big spenders too). So it’s actually a high risk strategy.

And it’s not as if they’re guaranteed to make money from these players unless they bag a hatful. Tshimangas 24 (the youngest of all the strikers mentioned), so he’s going to have to excel in the next few years if they’re going to recuperate that fee. And I saw a stat the he only scored 12 goals from open play in over 40 games last season (the rest were penalties), which obviously isn’t bad but probably tells you why a team in a higher league aren’t willing to pay the money Chesterfield have for him. It could pay off, but it’s a big risk.

And I think stockwood’s article in the telegraph sums it up well, spending big doesn’t guarantee you success. Of course, it can help, but look at the Sutton’s and Barrows that have won the league. Coincidentally, Sutton’s top scorer only got 14 goals. I say only because it doesn’t look like we have a 14 goal player, although mcatee is being overlooked a lot here and could get double figures.

So I think we need to take a step back and not go over the top. Sure, we’d like a new striker but I actually think we’ve got a good forward line that will spread the goals around we’ll, which is actually a better recipe than relying on one man.

The ideal would be to have a top-notch non-league striker AND share the goals around. Defenders will be keeping tabs on said striker while the supporting cast cleans up.

Just on the most basic level, if we cannot compete financially in this league after new owners come in all self-financed and we don't owe a penny to anybody, we have the season ticket money and player sales in the bank with more to come, when WILL we be able to compete with the "big boys"?

The recruitment so far as been steady to give a backbone to the team, but now we need to see real intent. Who the hell wants to be playing second fiddle in non league??

The club should really be pushing the boat and spending big to sign the next Martin Butler...

Quoted from GrimRob

Clubs have been getting around salary caps or similar initiatives since before the days of professionalism. If you have got the money from your own business activities (as opposed to gifts from the directors) you should be able to spend it.

Clubs should be able to spend gifts from directors too, its where directors loan clubs money they can't pay back that there are problems.

All the salary cap will do is push up transfer fees, signing on fees and girlfriends working in club shops for a very good hourly rate.

Both Man City and Rangers made statements of intent. Grealish didn't help city win a cup and 10 men Malmo showed Rangers how to win in the Champions League qualifiers.

The intentions were there but the players could not perform on the pitch. The lesson here is simple, money does not guarantee success, regardless of who is signed and how much.

On the subject of local business helping out a club, I believe Scotish and Newcastle brewery employed Alan Shearer, who spent his spare time playing for Newcastle.

So let's say the salary cap is upheld, where will that leave the likes of Wrexham if they don't go up? Regardless of their income and how it's come about. If you've got Mullin on the rumoured £6k a week that accounts for over a third of what they can spend on wages in a year.

For the rest of the squad it would leave them about £11k a week before breaching the limit. Even without any other high earners, that's a difficult budget to maintain for a fighting squad.

Can't even imagine you can offload someone like Mullin on that money mid-contract.

I’d imagine it’d be something to what the efl tried implementing with players already on your books now counting towards it at first. Was that how it was going to be?

Quoted from Mariner93er

I’d imagine it’d be something to what the efl tried implementing with players already on your books now counting towards it at first. Was that how it was going to be?

I think players already on your books were going to count as a league average. So if the average NL wage is £1k per week and they are paying £6k, most of his wage isn't even counted.

You would assume that's what is happening here. Clubs pushing the boat out to get promoted this season but knowing if they don't, they still have a big advantage next season.

Quoted from toontown

Clubs should be able to spend gifts from directors too, its where directors loan clubs money they can't pay back that there are problems.

I don't think they should, otherwise, you will end up with an arms race situation. That's what the salary cap is there to avoid. But it's a restraint of trade not to be able to spend money you have earned as an organization through your normal business. Salary caps should be based on turnover.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Andre Gray? ;)

Off the top of my head, Geoff Horsfield, Barry Hayles (Bristol Rovers) and Nicky Forster (Reading) as well, the latter two scoring good goals at Blundell Park, the ones you don't forget.

Siriki Dembélé not even in any league aged 20, plucked out of Nike Academy.

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

I admire your optimism, if it takes us 3-5 years to get out of this division this time around, regardless of any manager it will be an achievement in my opinion, as this league is a lot lot stronger than when we left it.

I wasnt talking about promotion, just replying to someone who was wishing that wed develop our own talent like posh do

Nicky Forster signed for Gillingham when he was 18! Must be thinking of somebody else.

Horsfield and Hayles were good players but are well over a decade older than Vardy. I tend to think that, in the modern era with the media opportunities available and video of even lower level matches often recorded, players with ability will be able to tout themselves around a bit better - showreels and so forth.

Quoted from forza ivano

I wasnt talking about promotion, just replying to someone who was wishing that wed develop our own talent like posh do

From what I've seen over the years, they buy cheap from the lower leagues, then sell on for a tidy profit, they have a good record for it.

Quoted from Maringer

Nicky Forster signed for Gillingham when he was 18! Must be thinking of somebody else.

He was younger, but, yeah another player sold for a decent fee out the non-league.

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

From what I've seen over the years, they buy cheap from the lower leagues, then sell on for a tidy profit, they have a good record for it.

Scunny did it with the likes of Hooper, Keogh, Sharp etc. Once they stopped doing that successfully the wheels started to come off.

It's a good strategy to boost our revenue. If we received £600k for a player, we should be putting that evenly into our budget for the next 3 years in my opinion.

Never mind Messi, Neymar and Mbappe at PSG, a few silver tongued phone calls from Hursty and we could bring some of the band back together to form our own free scoring Trident attack made up of Michael Jeffrey, Martin Butler and big, bad beer-guzzling Bazza Conlon.

Quoted from Bigdog

£900k

Which amplifies the necessity to get out of this division this season. As it stands, from next season, even with a vastly superior income, we won't be able to outspend virtually any club in the National League, the likes of Kings Lynn, Dover, Maidenhead etc will enjoy a level playing field with us. It's a very scary prospect..

This season is more critical than some of the be patient, vacuous virtue signalling long term project claims.. that's for sure..

I’ve got a virtue signal for you. It’s this but the other way round.

✌️

Scott Boden replaces Tshimanga at Boreham Wood. Is it time to cry again?

Quoted from Grantley

Scott Boden replaces Tshimanga at Boreham Wood. Is it time to cry again?

Their owner said a striker is joining who was coming in regardless of Tshimanga moving on so I suspect he's that guy.

Free agent so unless he's been on trial elsewhere for most of pre-season that would give us 3 strikers that haven't done a pre-season.

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

We've got a Solid team.

Some might totally disagree, because most signing's haven't been 'big' names that most people have heard off.

Longe-king - 26, prime age, and was constantly in and around the team that finished in the play-offs in the league above. Most Newport fans wanted him to stay
Pearson - Captain and regular for a team that finished 1 point outside of play-offs in this league, most Wrexham wanted to keep him, and we know the qualities he brings off the pitch, and this can't go unnoticed
Efete - 24, still young, 2 years ago helped Wealdstone win the National league south, and voted in the team of the season
Sousa - again, 26, prime age. Already shown in pre-season he looks very good going forward, and someone to get excited about
Fox - only 23, yet seems composed and experienced in the middle of the park. Looks quality at this level. End of 2020 he was playing regular for a league 1 team before getting injured.
Mcatee - Showing he would be best played behind the striker in a number 10 role, good vision, and will get in double figures IMO
Revan - Looks to be a young gem already, fast, gets forward, and has 2 assists in 2 games i believe?

Lets not get worked up because someone else signed a striker.
Yes we need one, Yes PH is looking for one, Yes we will sign one.

Best post I've read post covid. Spot on Jarmo.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Scunny did it with the likes of Hooper, Keogh, Sharp etc. Once they stopped doing that successfully the wheels started to come off.

It's a good strategy to boost our revenue. If we received £600k for a player, we should be putting that evenly into our budget for the next 3 years in my opinion.

The thing is we actually had a go at this under Bignot.  We sold Bogle for approx £750k and then reinvested that money in a few players, a bit of a hedging your bets approach.  Jones, Asante, Yussuf and Osborne.  All 24/25 and with potential to be sold on for more.

I love this approach but I think we got it badly wrong.  By all accounts we allowed them to travel in which caused issues, I don't think we had the right man in the building to help develop them (Bignot) and we maybe went with too many at once.  In hindsight I don't think we (as a club, not just Bignot) did the right character checks on these players and/or offer them the level of support for the step-up.  Ultimately though we spaffed all that Bogle money on those with a very limited return.

Moving forward I think the dream hybrid for this club is that we have two arms to our progression forward.

First arm - we develop the young lads, we either sell them young or they play so many games and benefit the first team.  When sold that profit is reinvested back into the youth set-up to develop future players, but with greater resource we can produce better players and more of them.

Second arm - we identify raw talent from lower down the leagues.  At the minute that's us at Tier 5 so we're looking same level, Conf North/South.  But as we (hopefully) move up the leagues the pond becomes bigger.  That talent comes into the building, we develop them and then sell them for a tidy profit.  Again, reinvesting that money into the next one for the production line.  As we (again hopefully) move up the ladder and with increased profit we can get 'better' talent coming in through the door.  From a starting point of signing lads like Sousa from Darlington, for example, we'll be able to genuinely compete with bigger transfer fees.

For both arms though, the benefit goes beyond just making money and reinvesting it, if players from either arm are to be sold on it means they'll likely be producing goods on the pitch which can only boost our main aim of pushing up through the leagues.

In my opinion it's a simple model but one that takes patience, which is why I think it went wrong before.   The club invested all of the Bogle windfall in one go, thinking each investment would come off.  Which it won't.  You'll have successes and failures.

Quoted from diehardmariner

The thing is we actually had a go at this under Bignot.  We sold Bogle for approx £750k and then reinvested that money in a few players, a bit of a hedging your bets approach.  Jones, Asante, Yussuf and Osborne.  All 24/25 and with potential to be sold on for more.

I love this approach but I think we got it badly wrong.  By all accounts we allowed them to travel in which caused issues, I don't think we had the right man in the building to help develop them (Bignot) and we maybe went with too many at once.  In hindsight I don't think we (as a club, not just Bignot) did the right character checks on these players and/or offer them the level of support for the step-up.  Ultimately though we spaffed all that Bogle money on those with a very limited return.

Moving forward I think the dream hybrid for this club is that we have two arms to our progression forward.

First arm - we develop the young lads, we either sell them young or they play so many games and benefit the first team.  When sold that profit is reinvested back into the youth set-up to develop future players, but with greater resource we can produce better players and more of them.

Second arm - we identify raw talent from lower down the leagues.  At the minute that's us at Tier 5 so we're looking same level, Conf North/South.  But as we (hopefully) move up the leagues the pond becomes bigger.  That talent comes into the building, we develop them and then sell them for a tidy profit.  Again, reinvesting that money into the next one for the production line.  As we (again hopefully) move up the ladder and with increased profit we can get 'better' talent coming in through the door.  From a starting point of signing lads like Sousa from Darlington, for example, we'll be able to genuinely compete with bigger transfer fees.

For both arms though, the benefit goes beyond just making money and reinvesting it, if players from either arm are to be sold on it means they'll likely be producing goods on the pitch which can only boost our main aim of pushing up through the leagues.

In my opinion it's a simple model but one that takes patience, which is why I think it went wrong before.   The club invested all of the Bogle windfall in one go, thinking each investment would come off.  Which it won't.  You'll have successes and failures.

1 or 2 "development" signings each season is all we need to do because otherwise, you have too many and a lot of work needs to go into them.

The youth debate is an interesting one and we need to get them into our first team but also, our most profitable youth sales have been those who were rejected elsewhere and joined our youth team at 16. This is a model Woods is clearly using to great effect and long may it continue.

Bennett, Burrell and Pollock have brought us in over £1m and we've got Khouri who could be the next big fee we get.

Our youth players getting good moves means we can attract better young players on loan, sign better "rejects" at 16 and be an attractive option for those rough diamonds.

But, it's not an instant return.

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

I admire your optimism, if it takes us 3-5 years to get out of this division this time around, regardless of any manager it will be an achievement in my opinion, as this league is a lot lot stronger than when we left it.

Needs to be nearer the 3 year mark as a few that I know do not like the national league and we will have to be up there or I fear the crowds will be poor. I am in this category myself and if we are not challenging near the top these games with no atmosphere are more like a habit than a hobby. This is cruel but just the facts of the national league after you have only just got out of it. We have had years of it already and so fingers crossed

Anyone think Danny Rowe might be available now Chesterfield have got Tshimanga?

He has a pretty solid goals to games ratio (I know largely from his time in NL-N) even at conference level. Always thought he was a born poacher type rather like amond who had that 'knack' of being in the right place at the right time. Short of that I can't particularly think who else we might go in for - cheek from Bromley? But he'd likely cost a fairly hefty fee...

Either way I do trust hurst on this - how many of us had heard of half the best players he brought in during his previous spell. He has a consistent record of finding gems (amongst the strakers)

Quoted from jaf243

Anyone think Danny Rowe might be available now Chesterfield have got Tshimanga?

He has a pretty solid goals to games ratio (I know largely from his time in NL-N) even at conference level. Always thought he was a born poacher type rather like amond who had that 'knack' of being in the right place at the right time. Short of that I can't particularly think who else we might go in for - cheek from Bromley? But he'd likely cost a fairly hefty fee...

Either way I do trust hurst on this - how many of us had heard of half the best players he brought in during his previous spell. He has a consistent record of finding gems (amongst the strakers)

Think Rowe is a good player but doubt Chesterfield would let him go. They still have a couple of long term injuries in the striker department.

As for cheek, I don’t get the love in or why so many people think we are after him. He’s been around for years now and never gone higher, and I always thought he had weight problems (trying not to look in the mirror as I quote that 😳) and doubt that he is a hurst type player.

Next signing - Michael cheek probably 🙂

Quoted from jaf243

Anyone think Danny Rowe might be available now Chesterfield have got Tshimanga?

He has a pretty solid goals to games ratio (I know largely from his time in NL-N) even at conference level. Always thought he was a born poacher type rather like amond who had that 'knack' of being in the right place at the right time. Short of that I can't particularly think who else we might go in for - cheek from Bromley? But he'd likely cost a fairly hefty fee...

Either way I do trust hurst on this - how many of us had heard of half the best players he brought in during his previous spell. He has a consistent record of finding gems (amongst the strakers)

The Chesterfield fans on 1FF have all got Rowe to start the season alongside Tshimanga in their predicted opening day lineups, so I'm pretty sure he's very much in their plans. Those two and Akwasi Asante (who's a few months away from coming back from an ACL injury) are their main striking options with Denton as a kind of Matt Rhead off the bench battering ram type of player. They seem a little confused as to why they've signed Stefan Payne though.