Operation survival starts here.

Right Fenty time to get your brain in gear.

From now until seasons end at home half price entrance give the Osmond end to town fans put the away fans in compost corner.

Offer existing season ticket holders a discount for next season.

We need to give Mike Jolley and the team the twelfth man, pack the park and sing our hearts out.

Jolley as got a massive task we need to close ranks and help him.

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Right Fenty time to get your brain in gear.

From now until seasons end at home half price entrance give the Osmond end to town fans put the away fans in compost corner.

Offer existing season ticket holders a discount for next season.

We need to give Mike Jolley and the team the twelfth man, pack the park and sing our hearts out.

Jolley as got a massive task we need to close ranks and help him.

I'd agree with the bit in bold apart from when we host Notts County where I'd give them the normal space as we'll make more money. Apart from that we need to do anything and everything to fill up the ground wit Town fans

Oh and by the way I'd allocate zero to Stevenage!  

Point taken Herts but drastic times need drastic action I honestly think if we go down again it could be for a long time longer than six seasons.

What is the point ? We will be relegated next season if not the season after . JF has proved that he can't get success in the FL with his budget constraints so what makes anyone think it will change ? . As a supporter you have to accept that under JF at best we will be a mid table lg2 team .

Mrs Doyle, you've come up with more positive ideas in one message than the board have in 10 years, suggest we get you into the commercial dept.

Quoted from fleabag1970

What is the point ? We will be relegated next season if not the season after . JF has proved that he can't get success in the FL with his budget constraints so what makes anyone think it will change ? . As a supporter you have to accept that under JF at best we will be a mid table lg2 team .

The point, is that your last sentence is better than being a non-league club again.

If people want to continue wanting change in the boardroom leave it till May. Far better to be effecting change for a L2 club than a conference club. And our support might help, and it could well intimidate opposition and influence referees.

I fully agree with Mrs  D.

We have to do everything we can to avoid going down,

Give Jolley every support we can,

THEN

Next season if you are still with us Mr Fenty and we are still a league club,

Take a good look round all the other league clubs and see how many of them are in debt ?

You will find a lot of them are millions and millions in the red ,

BUT

They have a decent team on the pitch and fans are happy to see their team play.( unlike here)

So please allow Mr Jolley to have a fair bit extra in his budget then you will not only have a winning team but a happy fan base as well.

You never know we might make loads of money ( like Lincoln ) by having a cup run and by winning lots of games the gates will increase so your outlay will be more than repaid.

OR

Am I just  

Offer all fans ticket discounts for remaining home games.  Everything counts.  Short-term financial spend towards helping us stay up.  Free tickets for schools.  

Realistically can't see that happening and I personally wouldn't... What I would do though is offer the Osmond to home fans and only give PV the corner and do tickets at £5 and £10 for all parts of the ground

Cheap tickets (and something like a free drink (and an apology) for the long suffering season ticket holders) next week for definite. As low as possible - I’d say a fiver but we’d probably be shooting ourselves in the foot with that if we were to lose again. Onwards from then we’re away for two weeks so we’ve got time to work on something inventive. What about something like if you pay full price for the Cheltenham game you get in for Chesterfield for a tenner? The problem being we have to meet league rules about promotions.

We need to find a good balance between backing the team in numbers but being able to finance a new team in the summer. If the price goes down on Saturday you exiles better be coming home to back the team!

In hope that we get a good result and performance to draw more fans into 'the new era' put tickets to normal price for the remainder of the season... If we don't get a good performance or result back to the drawing board.

Minority view no doubt but what value does an individual put on staying in the EFL?

If you really value a place in the top 4 tiers of English football then pay to support the side. Pro football is a costly business and IF we survive but have an even lower budget because of this years losses then  no not we will be in for a struggle again and again?

Pro sport isn't free or cheap, if you want it to continue in Grimsby then buy your ticket and support the team, if you are looking for cheap entertainment I think the cinema offers two for one on some nights

UTM

Quoted from Cloudy

Minority view no doubt but what value does an individual put on staying in the EFL?

If you really value a place in the top 4 tiers of English football then pay to support the side. Pro football is a costly business and IF we survive but have an even lower budget because of this years losses then  no not we will be in for a struggle again and again?

Pro sport isn't free or cheap, if you want it to continue in Grimsby then buy your ticket and support the team, if you are looking for cheap entertainment I think the cinema offers two for one on some nights

UTM

Paying your money now makes very little difference. We can't spend any money. A crowd that got on the oppositions back and got behind the team might be useful, although in previous seasons a big crowd has often been met with a shite result.

I think there will be a decent crowd on Saturday.
Regardless of what league we are in there needs to be a discount for current season ticket holders next season. We've been sold a complete pup, told we had a play off budget and that it was the minimum expection. Sold three players in the window who we'd paid a fee for including our top scorer. Signed cheap players in the window that have failed to improve us.

Quoted from Gaffer58

Mrs Doyle, you've come up with more positive ideas in one message than the board have in 10 years, suggest we get you into the commercial dept.

Lol cheers Gaffer not rocket science.

Would not normally advocate devaluing a product mate but these are exceptional circumstances I really do fear for our clubs future.

No, I would not like to work for GTFC with a boss like Fenty pulling the strings.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I'd agree with the bit in bold apart from when we host Notts County where I'd give them the normal space as we'll make more money. Apart from that we need to do anything and everything to fill up the ground wit Town fans

Oh and by the way I'd allocate zero to Stevenage!  

Chesterfield also "travel" fairly well. With the importance of the game not unnoticed on their board they'll sell a good few.
Vale may bring more than most others...

Quoted from grimsby pete

I fully agree with Mrs  D.

We have to do everything we can to avoid going down,

Give Jolley every support we can,

THEN

Next season if you are still with us Mr Fenty and we are still a league club,

Take a good look round all the other league clubs and see how many of them are in debt ?

You will find a lot of them are millions and millions in the red ,

BUT

They have a decent team on the pitch and fans are happy to see their team play.( unlike here)

So please allow Mr Jolley to have a fair bit extra in his budget then you will not only have a winning team but a happy fan base as well.

You never know we might make loads of money ( like Lincoln ) by having a cup run and by winning lots of games the gates will increase so your outlay will be more than repaid.

OR

Am I just  

So are you saying we get the club into debt to get a better team?

Quoted from Cloudy

Minority view no doubt but what value does an individual put on staying in the EFL?

If you really value a place in the top 4 tiers of English football then pay to support the side. Pro football is a costly business and IF we survive but have an even lower budget because of this years losses then  no not we will be in for a struggle again and again?

Pro sport isn't free or cheap, if you want it to continue in Grimsby then buy your ticket and support the team, if you are looking for cheap entertainment I think the cinema offers two for one on some nights

UTM

The danger with that philosophy is a lot of people will just take the other option. We need more imagination commercially. We should have shown more imagination when we got promoted and again before this season.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

So are you saying we get the club into debt to get a better team?

Yes  


It does not bother other clubs being in debt,

It all depends on how much and like I said with a winning team a better chance of a cup run and the money could be repaid even before its borrowed,

There is an old saying that I am sure you know ,

Speculate to accumulate .

Quoted from grimsby pete

Yes  


It does not bother other clubs being in debt,

It all depends on how much and like I said with a winning team a better chance of a cup run and the money could be repaid even before its borrowed,

There is an old saying that I am sure you know ,

Speculate to accumulate .

Risky business that Pete look at Hartlepool in recent weeks.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

The danger with that philosophy is a lot of people will just take the other option. We need more imagination commercially. We should have shown more imagination when we got promoted and again before this season.

I don't disagree at all just don't think now is the time for freebies.

The whole ticketing price structure should have been updated years ago but the accountant on the board only sees figures, no risk despite this being proven to be so short sighted!

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Right Fenty time to get your brain in gear.

From now until seasons end at home half price entrance give the Osmond end to town fans put the away fans in compost corner.

Offer existing season ticket holders a discount for next season.

We need to give Mike Jolley and the team the twelfth man, pack the park and sing our hearts out.

Jolley as got a massive task we need to close ranks and help him.

I think this is what might be construed as "devaluing the product" which our board (JF) have previously said they won't sanction

As for discounting season tickets for 2018-19, haven't the club already stated that they will be going up in price?

I'm not saying that I wouldn't like to see a lot more fans in BP but the intransigence of the board doesn't seem to allow for this, so as much as you've come up with some creativity as to how things could work, I won't hold my breath  

Quoted from Cloudy

I don't disagree at all just don't think now is the time for freebies.

The whole ticketing price structure should have been updated years ago but the accountant on the board only sees figures, no risk despite this being proven to be so short sighted!

We've got a graduate with a great financial background in the dug out now, maybe he can expose Marley for the charlatan he is.

Is the last game of the season a stupid kick off time like last year? If we do need something to stay up I’d love to know how FGR will cope when thousands of us turn up!

Quoted from HertsGTFC

We've got a graduate with a great financial background in the dug out now, maybe he can expose Marley for the charlatan he is.

I think Mr Jolley has enough things on the pitch to sort out at the moment, let's leave the running of the club to those that know how.

Quoted from Gaffer58

I think Mr Jolley has enough things on the pitch to sort out at the moment, let's leave the running of the club to those that know how.

Bit in bold - When are such individuals arriving  

BTW I wasn't suggesting MJ did the books........

Less than 1000 tickets given to away fans at the side of the pitch with no stand no roof... Thousands won't turn up because they won't get in.

Quoted from Cloudy

I don't disagree at all just don't think now is the time for freebies.

The whole ticketing price structure should have been updated years ago but the accountant on the board only sees figures, no risk despite this being proven to be so short sighted!

There's nothing to spend the money on until the Summer transfer window, and if we don't maximise our chances of staying up, and doing the best we can to retain fans' loyalty, it might be too late. We stand to lose the thick end of a million including the youth team handout from the League if we get relegated.

Agree there Kingston despite us selling our saleable assets in the Jan transfer window probably on the advice of our accountant director trying to ballance the books I think this seasons account figures are going to look a bit shitt to say the least.

I just hope the board doesn't look at the parachute payment for dropping out of the league as some sort of bonus.........surely not.

Call me a skeptic but I have totally lost faith with this board.

Quoted from lukeo

Less than 1000 tickets given to away fans at the side of the pitch with no stand no roof... Thousands won't turn up because they won't get in.

If this is a key game, could we not get a big screen at BP?

Quoted from lee65

If this is a key game, could we not get a big screen at BP?

You mean like the one already at BP?

Quoted from fleabag1970

What is the point ? We will be relegated next season if not the season after . JF has proved that he can't get success in the FL with his budget constraints so what makes anyone think it will change ? . As a supporter you have to accept that under JF at best we will be a mid table lg2 team .

Maybe you can explain what these budget constraints are or in fact what you know of the playing budget? JF said he set a " competitive budget" for the squad and the amount of signings made last summer seem to endorse this.

Quoted from rancido

Maybe you can explain what these budget constraints are or in fact what you know of the playing budget? JF said he set a " competitive budget" for the squad and the amount of signings made last summer seem to endorse this.

None of us know the inner workings do we? However, we can make a perfectly reasonably assumption that Fentys "competitive" budgets are not enough for modern football.

We have had "competitive" budgets for 15 years and we have risen to the dizzy heights of 5th from the bottom of the lowest division in league football, and even that is an improvement on what we have to endure.

He likes a bargain does our John, and shopping in the bargain basement for players has got us into this position.

If as some suggest location is a problem, or the facilities are not up to modern standards because he hasn't invested enough in the infrastructure then you are going to need more than a "competitive" budget to attract the quality players we need whilst bidding against other clubs.

If the board aren't going to invest in the club properly then they are going to get exactly the same result, namely relegation fodder.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

None of us know the inner workings do we? However, we can make a perfectly reasonably assumption that Fentys "competitive" budgets are not enough for modern football.

We have had "competitive" budgets for 15 years and we have risen to the dizzy heights of 5th from the bottom of the lowest division in league football, and even that is an improvement on what we have to endure.

He likes a bargain does our John, and shopping in the bargain basement for players has got us into this position.
[b][/b]
If as some suggest location is a problem, or the facilities are not up to modern standards because he hasn't invested enough in the infrastructure then you are going to need more than a "competitive" budget to attract the quality players we need whilst bidding against other clubs.

If the board aren't going to invest in the club properly then they are going to get exactly the same result, namely relegation fodder.

Why is it a reasonable assumption that the budget is not enough for competitive football if you don't know the details. Both Bignot and Slade were allowed to have a large squad so there does not seem to be any hard evidence of a budget restraint.
As far as bargain basement players is concerned , it's the manager who identifies the players not JF. I don't think players like Dixon ( reputedly on £2,500 /week ) or Clarke would be classed as " cheap options ". In fact I would imagine that Clarke is on a considerable amount more than Pearson ( who he replaced ) so JF took what is arguably the more expensive option.

Quoted from rancido

JF said he set a " competitive budget" for the squad and the amount of signings made last summer seem to endorse this.

What a shame the 'competitive' budget wasn't spent on competitive players

Quoted from Ipswin

What a shame the 'competitive' budget wasn't spent on competitive players

Exactly ! Enter " The Nearly Man " into the equation. Slade had the money but totally wasted it.
I'll blame JF for a lot of things wrong at the club but Slade's signings put us into the situation we are now.

Quoted from rancido

Exactly ! Enter " The Nearly Man " into the equation. Slade had the money but totally wasted it.
I'll blame JF for a lot of things wrong at the club but Slade's signings put us into the situation we are now.

My take on this is that the board should work out the playing budget and then pass the numbers to the manager. You could go as far as giving a frame work I.e. A maximum weekly wage or even £1200 a week for 2 keepers, 7 defenders at a total £5,500 or whatever.

The board should have no involvement in selecting players, that is why they employ a manager, and to interfere would be crazy and undermining for the football man

Quoted from Cloudy

My take on this is that the board should work out the playing budget and then pass the numbers to the manager. You could go as far as giving a frame work I.e. A maximum weekly wage or even £1200 a week for 2 keepers, 7 defenders at a total £5,500 or whatever.

The board should have no involvement in selecting players, that is why they employ a manager, and to interfere would be crazy and undermining for the football man

I think a manager and the board should share values somewhat as this certainly goes a long way. Managers should be left to build their squad as ultimately their job depends on the success of the squad but I think there should be some loose objectives such as:

Budget of £1.4m
Coaching team of 4-6 people
Playing squad of 20-22 permanent signings
Maximum wage of £1,200 p/w
Staff bonuses for:
Reaching FA Cup 3rd Round and each subsequent round
Reaching League Cup 2nd Round and each subsequent round
Final league position

The bonuses should be set in stone before the season begins.

If the manager goes to a squad of 24 I am not saying he has failed as there may be a valid reason such as injuries or a player becoming available that is too good to turn down but allowing it to get to 36 is criminal.  Bonuses are there as a carrot to motivate all staff and should drive the club forward. The figures I've chosen are random but I certainly think a first team squad of 22 is what we should aim for.

Tend to agree with James. Don't think managers should be given free rein even if they stick to the budget. Yes, they know best and it's their neck on the block, but if given a free rein they could also tie the cub into some longer term commitments that might not be wise. Managers seem so, let's say, idiosyncratic, on what they think are the right players. Two successive managers could have almost opposite views on players. And the culture seems to be less about getting the best out of your staff as it is in most walks of life, than bringing in your own people. It all seems to be too amateurish to leave them to their own devices.

There's also something to be said for inculcating a club culture and set of values that you want upheld. And most matters (probably because of the precariousness of their situation) are too short-termist to build that up without a framework being in place.

So no, I wouldn't let the chairman pick the players, but nor would I give the manager a free rein.

Yes I totally agree about the structure of how the budget is spent is important together with the length of the commitment but the main point I was trying to make was that no board, imo, should decide on individual players. The manager should be able to decide himself on who he wants provided it fits into the budget.

maybe I am too long in the tooth to support the manager being 'just' a coach whilst the board or Director of Football (whatever that means) buys and sells the players

[quote=1655]

I think a manager and the board should share values somewhat as this certainly goes a long way. Managers should be left to build their squad as ultimately their job depends on the success of the squad but I think there should be some loose objectives such as:

Budget of £1.4m
Coaching team of 4-6 people
Playing squad of 20-22 permanent signings
Maximum wage of £1,200 p/w
Staff bonuses for:
Reaching FA Cup 3rd Round and each subsequent round
Reaching League Cup 2nd Round and each subsequent round
Final league position

The bonuses should be set in stone before the season begins.

If the manager goes to a squad of 24 I am not saying he has failed as there may be a valid reason such as injuries or a player becoming available that is too good to turn down but allowing it to get to 36 is criminal.  Bonuses are there as a carrot to motivate all staff and should drive the club forward. The figures I've chosen are random but I certainly think a first team squad of 22 is what we should aim for.[/quote


Seeing as that is about the average wage for a League 2 player then I think you would find it impossible to attract any quality players to the club.

Quoted from Cloudy

Yes I totally agree about the structure of how the budget is spent is important together with the length of the commitment but the main point I was trying to make was that no board, imo, should decide on individual players. The manager should be able to decide himself on who he wants provided it fits into the budget.

maybe I am too long in the tooth to support the manager being 'just' a coach whilst the board or Director of Football (whatever that means) buys and sells the players

Agree with that. Unless the player the manager's picked is a loon. Fruit loop I believe the correct usage is these days.