Squad Retention and Attendances

There a lot armchair Prem fans who watch on the telly instead of supporting their home town club which is up to them, back in the 05/06 season we were in the top 3 of League 2 all season and struggled to get 6,000 back then and the tickets where cheaper back then aswell so alot of people will not pay to watch us play Braintree, Dover etc. Plus we have always struggled against the relegation teams of the division since we have been in Non-League the likes of a Southport, Nuneaton.

Funny that, because 7 days ago he said this:

PAUL Hurst says there won't be many changes at Blundell Park this summer – whatever the result at Wembley.

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seems to have changed his mind a bit quick

Quoted from Tangerine Chris

Funny that, because 7 days ago he said this:

PAUL Hurst says there won't be many changes at Blundell Park this summer – whatever the result at Wembley.

Read more: http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.....y.html#ixzz3aVMXXfeQ
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seems to have changed his mind a bit quick

Too be fair, as Hurst mentioned yesterday(?), he would love to keep this squad together, but it'll be the budget that dictates whether he will be able to or not. I think it's fair to say the majority of fans agree?

Got to say I'm rather worried by PH's assertion that we won't have the means to start the season as we finished this financially speaking.
It makes this season all the more understandable as it sounds like the plan all along was to stay in touch and then push at the end hoping the momentum saw us through the playoffs.  It explains the seeming negativity of PH early in the season also.
A very risky strategy then, and one that failed ultimately, and one that sounds like we will have to endure again.
It makes me all the more annoyed too as we could have walked the league this year with the team who ended the season.
Oh for a generous rich benefactor!  

Setting the scene pre season in a positive manner will encourage and maintain some of the positivity.

Last pre season we had bold statements from the top that were'nt backed up and the only news coming out of the club was of yet another striker turning us down, statements of how we had probably the 4th best squad and our target was to achieve the play offs. Not particularly encouraging and then the pre season fixtures were'nt exactly awe inspiring either.

This pre season we need...
to retain key players, Pearson, Magnay, Mckeown, Disley, LJL, Toto
a marquee signing up top nice and early
interesting/spicy pre season fixtures particularly at home
strong clear (achievable) messages from the club

Also it would be good if the media dept could conjure up some more short films to keep spirits high.

Talking of which when is your film due Sutton/Wrawbs?

We are carrying a few players who have hardly figured this season and they could be released with very little affect to the squad. Remove 4 players and replace with 2 more versatile ones and that gives us a saving and a better squad.

Quoted from Badger57

Got to say I'm rather worried by PH's assertion that we won't have the means to start the season as we finished this financially speaking.
It makes this season all the more understandable as it sounds like the plan all along was to stay in touch and then push at the end hoping the momentum saw us through the playoffs.  It explains the seeming negativity of PH early in the season also.
A very risky strategy then, and one that failed ultimately, and one that sounds like we will have to endure again.
It makes me all the more annoyed too as we could have walked the league this year with the team who ended the season.
Oh for a generous rich benefactor!  

PH said we couldn't have afforded the squad that we had at the end to have all been on board all season. This was viable because the lottery winners injected £50k via a share purchase with the caveat that the money was spend on team strengthening.

Maybe they will add some more although I fully accept that it is for them to decide and nobody else

I know that £50k was only the second half of the season but it's not a massive amount. Crowd funding as suggested by the initial poster might not be a bad idea if it's done quickly and ride the wave of positivity.

I know previous attempts like Keep the Mariners Afloat campaign weren't always successful, but then we have examples like the Joe Waters and Ivano Bonetti appeals.

Could the club do something so that exiled supporters could make a financial contribution and also feel part of the club?  Some sort of promotion "Bond" where maybe we could pay £100/200 towards the playing budget in return for a tour of the ground or a chance to watch the team train, or the odd mention on twitter or in the programme?  

I'd even sponsor a Junior season ticket for a kid back in the area who'd like to go but whose parents can't afford to take them, on the basis that the club get £90 they otherwise wouldn't get, plus another £100 in food, drink, merchandise over a season, plus £50 in ticket sales because they might bring a paying mate or relative five or six times over the season.  

Just a few ideas, and they may well be a lot of trouble to organise or already have been looked at, but I think a lot of people, especially those of us who maybe get to half a dozen games a season (most of them away so putting money into other clubs) would love the chance to be part of the big push.  A thousand people putting in £100 each, would raise a significant amount.

Maybe they could do something like a pie & a programme for a £X (not sure if that's possible with it being outside caterers?).

Vouchers for say 3 games for £45 for shift workers who can't have ST?

They need to carry on with the great PR we've had this season as well. Loved the videos &  sticker album