Are 1878 Any Good

Let's face it compared to the last act of the old regime 1878 have only done a virtual total re-vamp of the training ground, new playing surface and sprinklers at BP. Told us upfront a new ground is out of the question, at the moment, but have 5 year plan. They have now started to put more effort into the admin side of the club which was a one man and his dog affair. O and there's that little matter of promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt.

The old regime in their last 6 months failed to buy any new players in the January transfer window, although they said the money was available! Their dying act was to see the club relegated to the national league.

We now have people on here complaining the accounts might not be on time etc.

I for one am very pleased with 1878 for getting the club back into the EFL. I don't believe relegation is on the calendar and, if we have success in the 2nd half of the season like last year, then another promotion may be on the cards.

I'll warm up the popcorn maker.

Yes.

Quoted from DB

Let's face it compared to the last act of the old regime 1878 have only done a virtual total re-vamp of the training ground, new playing surface and sprinklers at BP. Told us upfront a new ground is out of the question, at the moment, but have 5 year plan. They have now started to put more effort into the admin side of the club which was a one man and his dog affair. O and there's that little matter of promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt.

The old regime in their last 6 months failed to buy any new players in the January transfer window, although they said the money was available! Their dying act was to see the club relegated to the national league.

We now have people on here complaining the accounts might not be on time etc.

I for one am very pleased with 1878 for getting the club back into the EFL. I don't believe relegation is on the calendar and, if we have success in the 2nd half of the season like last year, then another promotion may be on the cards.

Another comparison with the old regime . Get out of jail free card  surely worn out .

Quoted from DB

Let's face it compared to the last act of the old regime 1878 have only done a virtual total re-vamp of the training ground, new playing surface and sprinklers at BP. Told us upfront a new ground is out of the question, at the moment, but have 5 year plan. They have now started to put more effort into the admin side of the club which was a one man and his dog affair. O and there's that little matter of promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt.

The old regime in their last 6 months failed to buy any new players in the January transfer window, although they said the money was available! Their dying act was to see the club relegated to the national league.

We now have people on here complaining the accounts might not be on time etc.

I for one am very pleased with 1878 for getting the club back into the EFL. I don't believe relegation is on the calendar and, if we have success in the 2nd half of the season like last year, then another promotion may be on the cards.

Interesting that 1878 were part of a consortium that were planning a new stadium.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Interesting that 1878 were part of a consortium that were planning a new stadium.

I think that is where Tom Shutes was involved with the stadium on the docks etc.

I'll put this misguided, though well intentioned, thread down to nerves before the England game.  

I'm having leftovers from yesterday's meal for tea tonight. Reheating this topic is even less enticing.

Ha excellent thread DB . What next ? Were the Nazis misunderstood?

Quoted from DB

Let's face it compared to the last act of the old regime 1878 have only done a virtual total re-vamp of the training ground, new playing surface and sprinklers at BP. Told us upfront a new ground is out of the question, at the moment, but have 5 year plan. They have now started to put more effort into the admin side of the club which was a one man and his dog affair. O and there's that little matter of promotion back into the EFL at the first attempt.

The old regime in their last 6 months failed to buy any new players in the January transfer window, although they said the money was available! Their dying act was to see the club relegated to the national league.

We now have people on here complaining the accounts might not be on time etc.

I for one am very pleased with 1878 for getting the club back into the EFL. I don't believe relegation is on the calendar and, if we have success in the 2nd half of the season like last year, then another promotion may be on the cards.

DB as Chris Sutton says on the wireless “you’re better than that” are you familiar with the term click bait.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

DB as Chris Sutton says on the wireless “you’re better than that” are you familiar with the term click bait.

Hopefully the former failed Lincoln City manager won’t get mentioned too often in the future. Thanks 🙏

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Hopefully the former failed Lincoln City manager won’t get mentioned too often in the future. Thanks 🙏

Ha ha ha ….. I forgot about his stunning management career.

1878 never said they would fix everything overnight they have a long term plan to improve the playing squad every window.

As you said Dave they have already improved a lot of things that was previously neglected .

The proof is in the pudding we shall see in five years of they have carried out all they said is possible.

At this moment in time they have improved the squad , set more backroom staff on and done a lot of work on the pitch and in the stands.

So I say so far so good keep it up and we shall be a successful well run club playing in league one or.hopefully the championship.

Unlike the previous 20 years I can not see us struggling at or near the bottom of L2 dropping into non league .

Jason and Anthony have got the fans backing hence the record season tickets sales but that will soon drop off if they don't deliver success.

Impressed off the pitch with the infrastructure improvements and new personnel in and around the building but on the pitch are we any better really, i don't think so. Queue the well this time last year comments, yes i appreciate we pulled off the impossible in bouncing back at the first attempt and on the three playoff games no one can say we didn't deserve to go up BUT lets not lose sight of the fact we finished 17pts behind Stockport in 6th place and so far this season we have been average at best

A lot better than The 1975

Second album very good. Third album a work in progress.

Took over the club, got us promoted at the first go, improving various things around the club - clearly they are good. The people on here constantly nit-picking them are nearly all without fail Fenty's mates / acolytes, or permanently miserable complainers.

Quoted from Simon

Impressed off the pitch with the infrastructure improvements and new personnel in and around the building but on the pitch are we any better really, i don't think so. Queue the well this time last year comments, yes i appreciate we pulled off the impossible in bouncing back at the first attempt and on the three playoff games no one can say we didn't deserve to go up BUT lets not lose sight of the fact we finished 17pts behind Stockport in 6th place and so far this season we have been average at best

The previous personnel in the building must have been doing the work of three people 🤔😂. Totally agree regarding the squad, certainly in respect of the attacking options.

I’m ok
Hope you’re ok

England been good for 10 minutes crap for 35 but we are still 2-0 up

I can honestly say that there’s no owners in English football -  I would rather have than Stockwood & Pettit.

Local, emotionally invested and intelligent.

There’s 20 years of damage to repair and naturally we’re not going to agree with everything they do. However, they’re both progressive and reflective.

Sustainability beats impulsive investments and will ensure that Grimbarians will still have a club to watch when we’re all long gone.

Not “happy clapping” and I’m as desperate for a centre forward as everyone else. However, you’ve got to look at the wider picture.

UTM

Look, say what you like, but until they get me a calendar they will never have my backing.

They got promoted in their first season at the club…

So what people basically want is to blow money we don’t have on the off-chance of success instead of fixing the shite infrastructure that has been holding us back for years? Seems about right for some people on here.

Quoted from grimsby pete

1878 never said they would fix everything overnight they have a long term plan to improve the playing squad every window.

As you said Dave they have already improved a lot of things that was previously neglected .

The proof is in the pudding we shall see in five years of they have carried out all they said is possible.

At this moment in time they have improved the squad , set more backroom staff on and done a lot of work on the pitch and in the stands.

So I say so far so good keep it up and we shall be a successful well run club playing in league one or.hopefully the championship.

Unlike the previous 20 years I can not see us struggling at or near the bottom of L2 dropping into non league .

Jason and Anthony have got the fans backing hence the record season tickets sales but that will soon drop off if they don't deliver success.

Success? We're in L2 ahead of plan, record season tickets hopefully fans not that fickle

Quoted from Simon

Impressed off the pitch with the infrastructure improvements and new personnel in and around the building but on the pitch are we any better really, i don't think so. Queue the well this time last year comments, yes i appreciate we pulled off the impossible in bouncing back at the first attempt and on the three playoff games no one can say we didn't deserve to go up BUT lets not lose sight of the fact we finished 17pts behind Stockport in 6th place and so far this season we have been average at best

The same Stockport that we beat easily in their own backyard a few months ago? Who had the spending power to be able to tempt a top striker and a captain from teams two levels above themselves? Honestly, what do you expect? We've been average at best because that's precisely what we currently are at this level. We've got a solid foundation to build from but if you're expecting this current squad to challenge you're only setting yourself up for disappointment. We're not far off challenging but it's quite clear that we need a couple of good windows to be able to do so.

Yes…end of thread.

Quoted from DB

I think that is where Tom Shutes was involved with the stadium on the docks etc.

I strongly suspect it was, but it doesn't exactly set the impression of their being any actual plan in place. It makes zero sense to attach yourself to a huge, costly project if you think we don't need it. So why do they think we don't need it now.

The training ground doesn't exactly seem like there's a plan in place either. We're asking 'investors' to get involved in paying for it, which I'm led to believe they're talking about crowd funding. Another similarity to Fenty, some attempts to get a stadium going but no real plan for where the money is coming from. I suppose a training ground costs a lot less so might be a bit easier to raise the money.

How have you been “led to believe” a new training ground would be crowdfunded?

Quoted from ska face

How have you been “led to believe” a new training ground would be crowdfunded?

His mate John might have been asked to contribute £200k?

The pair of them are town lads done good what’s not to like. Theirs been a few hiccups but nothing like the fenty era but relocating should be high on the agenda imo.

Are 1878 Any Good..............


Last time someone asked a question as vague as that the answer was 42

Quoted from ska face

How have you been “led to believe” a new training ground would be crowdfunded?

Because that's what JS said when they were in the process of buying the club and Shutes had pulled out. Maybe they've changed their mind, but they're certainly looking for somebody else to pay since they said as much in the last interview

Quoted from pen penfras

Because that's what JS said when they were in the process of buying the club and Shutes had pulled out. Maybe they've changed their mind, but they're certainly looking for somebody else to pay since they said as much in the last interview

Do you think “fund raise” in this context means “crowdfund”? Like with a Blue Peter totaliser?

Quoted from ska face

Do you think “fund raise” in this context means “crowdfund”? Like with a Blue Peter totaliser?

I don't know what it means, it wasn't at all clear other than they won't be doing it. What I do know is they wanted to crowd fund to run the club and raise money. Maybe it's 2 + 2 = 5, but you don't know that's not what they're talking about either.

There seems to be some confusion here which conflates the terms "fund raise" and "crowdfund". I think we need a venn diagram to show that there is only some intersection between the two terms.

Quoted from Bristol Mariner

Success? We're in L2 ahead of plan, record season tickets hopefully fans not that fickle

You are not fickle and i know lots are not either but as we all know some are.

You only  have to look at attendance figures when things go bad on the pitch the attendances go down.

I am a half full bloke so i can only see our club going from strenght to strenght under 1878

Quoted from pen penfras

I don't know what it means, it wasn't at all clear other than they won't be doing it. What I do know is they wanted to crowd fund to run the club and raise money. Maybe it's 2 + 2 = 5, but you don't know that's not what they're talking about either.

I’d imagine two people who have a background in raising funds through private equity investors would have a slightly more nuanced approach to “fund raising” than asking the fans to chuck some coppers in a bucket, like we were regularly subject to. One owner runs a capital investment firm, the other founded and runs a specialist real estate investment business, as well as being the former head of European Real Estate at Lehman Brothers.

Not sure that the two individuals not funding the venture directly out of their own pockets is really much of a stick to beat them with…

Quoted from Maringer

There seems to be some confusion here which conflates the terms "fund raise" and "crowdfund". I think we need a venn diagram to show that there is only some intersection between the two terms.

I took it to mean the use of any grants that are available and maybe some investment from local companies.

Pen makes it sound like they are going to troll round the ground with buckets asking for loose change.

Quoted from ginnywings

Pen makes it sound like they are going to troll round the ground with buckets asking for loose change.

Loose Change? Wasn’t she Fenty’s 5th wife?

Quoted from ska face

I’d imagine two people who have a background in raising funds through private equity investors would have a slightly more nuanced approach to “fund raising” than asking the fans to chuck some coppers in a bucket, like we were regularly subject to. One owner runs a capital investment firm, the other founded and runs a specialist real estate investment business, as well as being the former head of European Real Estate at Lehman Brothers.

Not sure that the two individuals not funding the venture directly out of their own pockets is really much of a stick to beat them with…

Sad to see Pen regressing to his old self of talking bollox

Quoted from ska face

I’d imagine two people who have a background in raising funds through private equity investors would have a slightly more nuanced approach to “fund raising” than asking the fans to chuck some coppers in a bucket, like we were regularly subject to. One owner runs a capital investment firm, the other founded and runs a specialist real estate investment business, as well as being the former head of European Real Estate at Lehman Brothers.

Not sure that the two individuals not funding the venture directly out of their own pockets is really much of a stick to beat them with…

Exactly. This lad (penfras) can’t stop himself.

Quoted from ska face

I’d imagine two people who have a background in raising funds through private equity investors would have a slightly more nuanced approach to “fund raising” than asking the fans to chuck some coppers in a bucket, like we were regularly subject to. One owner runs a capital investment firm, the other founded and runs a specialist real estate investment business, as well as being the former head of European Real Estate at Lehman Brothers.

Not sure that the two individuals not funding the venture directly out of their own pockets is really much of a stick to beat them with…

That all sounds fantastic and I think that is partly what excited us when they took over. I for one thought hey up, two very intelligent and wealthy and successful businessman sounds perfect, especially as they seemed, as you say to have access to money raising and investment opportunities Fenty could only dream about.

That business acumen also raises expectations though, doesn’t it? All that financial expertise but we still seem to have a mid range playing budget, and even getting an established league 2 striker seems a struggle. This is in addition to being one of the best supported teams in the league with income way above what was expected.

You can be as sustainable as you like, and like everyone else I hope GTFC become a beacon for the community but football is about excitement and knowing you can compete with the better clubs.

People in football know because of our gates and the history of the owners we are not short of money so it is not a question of trying to fool agents and players about our finances.

1878 are good, but for me they need to show a bit more financial muscle as less committed fans than most on here will lose a bit of interest.

So, what is your point?
They will fund a signing of a striker but they don’t recruit players themselves, directly. Everyone wants a goalscorer.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

That all sounds fantastic and I think that is partly what excited us when they took over. I for one thought hey up, two very intelligent and wealthy and successful businessman sounds perfect, especially as they seemed, as you say to have access to money raising and investment opportunities Fenty could only dream about.

That business acumen also raises expectations though, doesn’t it? All that financial expertise but we still seem to have a mid range playing budget, and even getting an established league 2 striker seems a struggle. This is in addition to being one of the best supported teams in the league with income way above what was expected.

You can be as sustainable as you like, and like everyone else I hope GTFC become a beacon for the community but football is about excitement and knowing you can compete with the better clubs.

People in football know because of our gates and the history of the owners we are not short of money so it is not a question of trying to fool agents and players about our finances.

1878 are good, but for me they need to show a bit more financial muscle as less committed fans than most on here will lose a bit of interest.

Great post.

The new training ground was in the offing at least this time last year if not earlier. I’ve got no idea how much the financial benefit of promotion and the increased season ticket revenue put into the club but there must be a surplus on the budget unless it was all spent on the turd polishing of BP.

How is it a great post? It doesn’t say anything.
Acquiring land for new training facilities takes time and finding a goalscorer is also difficult. They will fund both.
I don’t get what the usual suspects are beefing about??

Quoted from chaos33

So, what is your point?
They will fund a signing of a striker but they don’t recruit players themselves, directly. Everyone wants a goalscorer.

You have developed a habit of not seeing the point when any poster says something you don't agree with.

I see your point - you don't want to see any criticism of the owners because you think they will fund the training ground and striker accusitions when they are ready. My point is that a lot of fans, and I hear this regularly at games, is that they thought we would have seen and heard more about using their financial clout in regards to players, and news about other things that need investment such as increasing the ground capacity and / or new stadium etc. We have read thousands of words in the Guardian saying the same sort of thing, which is great but there are limits to what the generic ambition will produce.

Some fans are more impatient than others but momentum is important, even allowing for last season's fairytale ending.

Quoted from chaos33

How is it a great post? It doesn’t say anything.
Acquiring land for new training facilities takes time and finding a goalscorer is also difficult. They will fund both.
I don’t get what the usual suspects are beefing about??

In my opinion, it makes several very good points. I reflect on various things the chairman said in interviews last year and I remember some of the things he said.

Interesting that you use phrases like ‘usual suspects’. I think you misunderstand. Most of what 1878 do is great, that doesn’t mean they’re perfect and unquestionable, does it?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Great post.

The new training ground was in the offing at least this time last year if not earlier. I’ve got no idea how much the financial benefit of promotion and the increased season ticket revenue put into the club but there must be a surplus on the budget unless it was all spent on the turd polishing of BP.

I'm as frustrated as most about the lack of a new training ground. The last I heard was JS or AP saying that they had hit a problem with the landowner. They didn't say what the problem was or if they had a plan 'B' for a different location.

I’ve just got no idea which reality some people inhabit, or which plane of existence some people operate in. Try and have a discussion specifically about funding the training ground and suddenly they’re getting grief because Hurst hasn’t signed a striker.

Because Stockwood & Pettit have very specific expertise in a few niche areas of, say, real estate investment and private equity funding for tech firms and start-ups, suddenly this equates to some kind of generalised “business acumen” that should’ve arrested a 20-year footballing decline and general malaise, and immediately put us on a footing with teams who have been playing in L1 in the last few years rather than circling the L2 drain and dropping out the league altogether.

I think Stockwood says it in almost every interview - the footballing side is left to Hurst, which is pretty fair, you wouldn’t want the owners interfering in that side of it. He’s spent money on Hunt & Green and been told there’s still money there if he needs it, but somehow the board cop for it when nobody meets the manager’s standards, or (like Smith or Kayode in the summer) end up with offers in L1.  They’ve even sold Mcatee but managed to keep hold of him for a year, but getting grief because he’s injured.

The usual suspects on here have collectively shat themselves in apoplectic rage at the temerity of Stockwood for merely hinting that some people may benefit from engaging with reality, so you have to ask - what do people realistically expect them to have done in the last 18 months in terms of moving grounds, increasing capacity at BP or sorting a new training ground? Serious question, what do people think should have been achieved by this point?

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

You have developed a habit of not seeing the point when any poster says something you don't agree with.

I see your point - you don't want to see any criticism of the owners because you think they will fund the training ground and striker accusitions when they are ready. My point is that a lot of fans, and I hear this regularly at games, is that they thought we would have seen and heard more about using their financial clout in regards to players, and news about other things that need investment such as increasing the ground capacity and / or new stadium etc. We have read thousands of words in the Guardian saying the same sort of thing, which is great but there are limits to what the generic ambition will produce.

Some fans are more impatient than others but momentum is important, even allowing for last season's fairytale ending.

I don’t see the point. What is the point/moan/criticism that hasn’t already been dealt with?

Quoted from ska face

I’ve just got no idea which reality some people inhabit, or which plane of existence some people operate in. Try and have a discussion specifically about funding the training ground and suddenly they’re getting grief because Hurst hasn’t signed a striker.

Because Stockwood & Pettit have very specific expertise in a few niche areas of, say, real estate investment and private equity funding for tech firms and start-ups, suddenly this equates to some kind of generalised “business acumen” that should’ve arrested a 20-year footballing decline and general malaise, and immediately put us on a footing with teams who have been playing in L1 in the last few years rather than circling the L2 drain and dropping out the league altogether.

I think Stockwood says it in almost every interview - the footballing side is left to Hurst, which is pretty fair, you wouldn’t want the owners interfering in that side of it. He’s spent money on Hunt & Green and been told there’s still money there if he needs it, but somehow the board cop for it when nobody meets the manager’s standards, or (like Smith or Kayode in the summer) end up with offers in L1.  They’ve even sold Mcatee but managed to keep hold of him for a year, but getting grief because he’s injured.

The usual suspects on here have collectively shat themselves in apoplectic rage at the temerity of Stockwood for merely hinting that some people may benefit from engaging with reality, so you have to ask - what do people realistically expect them to have done in the last 18 months in terms of moving grounds, increasing capacity at BP or sorting a new training ground? Serious question, what do people think should have been achieved by this point?

Exactly that.

Quoted from ska face

I’ve just got no idea which reality some people inhabit, or which plane of existence some people operate in. Try and have a discussion specifically about funding the training ground and suddenly they’re getting grief because Hurst hasn’t signed a striker.

Because Stockwood & Pettit have very specific expertise in a few niche areas of, say, real estate investment and private equity funding for tech firms and start-ups, suddenly this equates to some kind of generalised “business acumen” that should’ve arrested a 20-year footballing decline and general malaise, and immediately put us on a footing with teams who have been playing in L1 in the last few years rather than circling the L2 drain and dropping out the league altogether.

I think Stockwood says it in almost every interview - the footballing side is left to Hurst, which is pretty fair, you wouldn’t want the owners interfering in that side of it. He’s spent money on Hunt & Green and been told there’s still money there if he needs it, but somehow the board cop for it when nobody meets the manager’s standards, or (like Smith or Kayode in the summer) end up with offers in L1.  They’ve even sold Mcatee but managed to keep hold of him for a year, but getting grief because he’s injured.

The usual suspects on here have collectively shat themselves in apoplectic rage at the temerity of Stockwood for merely hinting that some people may benefit from engaging with reality, so you have to ask - what do people realistically expect them to have done in the last 18 months in terms of moving grounds, increasing capacity at BP or sorting a new training ground? Serious question, what do people think should have been achieved by this point?

Star man for me

I think the football’s been dog, in the main, this year. But that’s probably because the manager sets up too defensively and hasn’t been able to play a single minute with his 2 first choice strikers due to injuries. I wouldn’t put it down to the board, as some are keen to.

Quoted from ska face

I think the football’s been dog, in the main, this year. But that’s probably because the manager sets up too defensively and hasn’t been able to play a single minute with his 2 first choice strikers due to injuries. I wouldn’t put it down to the board, as some are keen to.

I can't give 2 gold stars in a day, but you sum up the situation perfectly, suddenly we're on the same wavelength.

Quoted from ska face

I think the football’s been dog, in the main, this year. But that’s probably because the manager sets up too defensively and hasn’t been able to play a single minute with his 2 first choice strikers due to injuries. I wouldn’t put it down to the board, as some are keen to.

On this, I completely agree. Sadly, the back up strikers are not up to scratch.

Well, I actually think we’ve been good. Sure, we might be short of a player or two, including a top striker but so is everybody else, barring one or two. Some people have failed to grasp this point - this is a really competitive league. The standard is a big uplift from last year. Even if teams look average, the differentials are tiny. Every game requires a monumental physical effort. Be under no illusion. The margins are tiny. The moments are pivotal. You can smash Plymouth 5-1, and lose to Hartlepool 2-1. In a week.

We have fantastic owners, brilliant management and staff and a superb squad of absolute triers, athletes and warriors. You can always improve - sure, and we must, but I am really thankful for what we’ve got. I’ve seen years of tripe, of sub par players, transient, mediocre management, under investment, poor culture and ethos, just dross, stuck in non-league with no momentum, vision or ambition. We now have all of those things.

Onwards….

It's a bit old school making the manager take responsibility for how the playing budget is spent but it's how it should be in my opinion. Providing the money is there (and Hurst hasn't grumbled about it not being) then no complaints with 1878 on that front from me.

Training ground: these things take time and the economic climate probably isn't helping matters.

Stadium: it's a bit worrying that the board aren't acknowledging we need a bigger capacity because some seats with an incredibly restricted view remain empty on a Saturday afternoon.

EFL Trophy: Jason's view on this is a bit out of touch with the fan base on this one.

Overall I think they are good, there are certainly things they could do better but you can't do everything at once. I feel confident that whoever the investors are that we eventually attract won't have been convicted of mortgage fraud.

Quoted from ska face

I’ve just got no idea which reality some people inhabit, or which plane of existence some people operate in. Try and have a discussion specifically about funding the training ground and suddenly they’re getting grief because Hurst hasn’t signed a striker.

Because Stockwood & Pettit have very specific expertise in a few niche areas of, say, real estate investment and private equity funding for tech firms and start-ups, suddenly this equates to some kind of generalised “business acumen” that should’ve arrested a 20-year footballing decline and general malaise, and immediately put us on a footing with teams who have been playing in L1 in the last few years rather than circling the L2 drain and dropping out the league altogether.

I think Stockwood says it in almost every interview - the footballing side is left to Hurst, which is pretty fair, you wouldn’t want the owners interfering in that side of it. He’s spent money on Hunt & Green and been told there’s still money there if he needs it, but somehow the board cop for it when nobody meets the manager’s standards, or (like Smith or Kayode in the summer) end up with offers in L1.  They’ve even sold Mcatee but managed to keep hold of him for a year, but getting grief because he’s injured.

The usual suspects on here have collectively shat themselves in apoplectic rage at the temerity of Stockwood for merely hinting that some people may benefit from engaging with reality, so you have to ask - what do people realistically expect them to have done in the last 18 months in terms of moving grounds, increasing capacity at BP or sorting a new training ground? Serious question, what do people think should have been achieved by this point?

Now that's a great post.

Yup, it is.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

It's a bit old school making the manager take responsibility for how the playing budget is spent but it's how it should be in my opinion. Providing the money is there (and Hurst hasn't grumbled about it not being) then no complaints with 1878 on that front from me.

Training ground: these things take time and the economic climate probably isn't helping matters.

Stadium: it's a bit worrying that the board aren't acknowledging we need a bigger capacity because some seats with an incredibly restricted view remain empty on a Saturday afternoon.

EFL Trophy: Jason's view on this is a bit out of touch with the fan base on this one.

Overall I think they are good, there are certainly things they could do better but you can't do everything at once. I feel confident that whoever the investors are that we eventually attract won't have been convicted of mortgage fraud.

You mention training ground and then stadium but give differing reasons as to why neither have come to fruition when I’d argue the simple factor is economics.

We talk about this need for a new stadium but since about September I don’t think we’ve been turning folk away or seeing folk not get a decent sit, albeit in a different stand perhaps.

Developing a stadium isn’t simply down to increasing capacity amd to be honest, given the current economic climate and the likes I think it’s sensible to not Spaff cash on it just yet. Look at the thousands we spent previously and it never got further than the back of a homosexual packet.

The training ground will come as you say but again, it needs to be the right spot and have the key facilities. Lincoln would argue it was the best business they did in recent times.

Things take time but as I said, in answer to the question, yes, yes they are any good…end of discussion really.

Quoted from ska face

I’ve just got no idea which reality some people inhabit, or which plane of existence some people operate in. Try and have a discussion specifically about funding the training ground and suddenly they’re getting grief because Hurst hasn’t signed a striker.

Because Stockwood & Pettit have very specific expertise in a few niche areas of, say, real estate investment and private equity funding for tech firms and start-ups, suddenly this equates to some kind of generalised “business acumen” that should’ve arrested a 20-year footballing decline and general malaise, and immediately put us on a footing with teams who have been playing in L1 in the last few years rather than circling the L2 drain and dropping out the league altogether.

I think Stockwood says it in almost every interview - the footballing side is left to Hurst, which is pretty fair, you wouldn’t want the owners interfering in that side of it. He’s spent money on Hunt & Green and been told there’s still money there if he needs it, but somehow the board cop for it when nobody meets the manager’s standards, or (like Smith or Kayode in the summer) end up with offers in L1.  They’ve even sold Mcatee but managed to keep hold of him for a year, but getting grief because he’s injured.

The usual suspects on here have collectively shat themselves in apoplectic rage at the temerity of Stockwood for merely hinting that some people may benefit from engaging with reality, so you have to ask - what do people realistically expect them to have done in the last 18 months in terms of moving grounds, increasing capacity at BP or sorting a new training ground? Serious question, what do people think should have been achieved by this point?

Top post Ska!

Quoted from aldi_01

You mention training ground and then stadium but give differing reasons as to why neither have come to fruition when I’d argue the simple factor is economics.

We talk about this need for a new stadium but since about September I don’t think we’ve been turning folk away or seeing folk not get a decent sit, albeit in a different stand perhaps.

Developing a stadium isn’t simply down to increasing capacity amd to be honest, given the current economic climate and the likes I think it’s sensible to not Spaff cash on it just yet. Look at the thousands we spent previously and it never got further than the back of a homosexual packet.

The training ground will come as you say but again, it needs to be the right spot and have the key facilities. Lincoln would argue it was the best business they did in recent times.

Things take time but as I said, in answer to the question, yes, yes they are any good…end of discussion really.

On the training ground, they've acknowledged it's a problem and are working on a new one; it's just taking longer than some people hoped for it to progress.

On the ground, Jason keeps saying we aren't selling out when you can't buy tickets together meaning I have minimal chance of taking my kids.

The economic situation would undoubtedly hamper ground development but I'd like them to at least admit we need to find a way of accommodating more fans. I'm not expecting to load This is Grimsby and see Jason and Andrew stood on Freeman Street with a spade, we've had similar and got nowhere.

Quoted from Simon

Impressed off the pitch with the infrastructure improvements and new personnel in and around the building but on the pitch are we any better really, i don't think so. Queue the well this time last year comments, yes i appreciate we pulled off the impossible in bouncing back at the first attempt and on the three playoff games no one can say we didn't deserve to go up BUT lets not lose sight of the fact we finished 17pts behind Stockport in 6th place and so far this season we have been average at best

I've seen a few of the 'on the pitch' arguments. Pre-November I don't believe that was as valid an argument, we were doing rather well but this recent run of league results has changed that picture a little bit. I don't think there's a fan out there who wouldn't love us to be playing Man City style football week in and bossing the league, but realism has to come into it somewhere when the bigger picture is considered.

Few predicted we'd come back up first time of asking and we did so the hard way, which suggests to me we did it through grit, guts and determination - the hallmarks of a PH squad - rather than style and unrivalled quality in the league. We've improved the squad over the summer and in a lot of games our performance hasn't been poor, just that final product and is not really a discussion that needs to be had in terms of what we hope to see in January.

My point though is whether it's better to have the playing side in advance of the 'behind the scenes' or the other way around. I'm sure people will have a multitude of views but for me, if you were running a marathon and sprinted the first mile how will you cope with the final 25? Might seem a daft analogy and probably is really but we've seen clubs like Burton, Plymouth, Scunthorpe, Yeovil, Doncaster, Colchester hit the Championship and then come crashing back down to L2 and below in relatively swift fashion. I accept the size of the Clubs doesn't lend itself to a sustained period at that level, but does the 'behind the scenes' impact on the inability to maintain consistency at the high end of L1?

Do we have the training facilities that afford the manager the ability to conduct his job in every way he deems necessary. Do we have the medical facility and knowledge to keep players fitter for longer with quicker recovery times? Do we have the scouting networks/systems to keep identifying players that provide quality? Do we have the analysis that enables the management team to spot trends in players to catch injury/fatigue early and make decisions to gain micro-advantages? Do we have administrative staff that can generate the commercial activity to keep us constantly improving our reach and investment desirability?

If we had a meteoric rise and these things aren't in place then eventually the star would burn out and the fall can be just as dramatic as the rise when things start going wrong as we ourselves know. There is a balance to be met, we do need a team that fans will continue to get behind and make visiting BP worthwhile but I genuinely think we need to be patient and try to build success on and off the pitch at a similar rate rather than chasing shortcuts that risk being short-lived.

My worry is that those who keep citing the perceived lack of improvement on the pitch are the ones who will begin the wave of negativity that historically always engulfs and takes hold of us, losing sight of the fact we have owners who want to be successful but know their financial limits, know the need to have everything in balance and ultimately know it will take time.

For me, I think the last 6 games have only proven that this is a tough league and that it isn't going to be easy. I predicted us to just in or around the play-offs and I'm wondering if I've been too ambitious but we bounced back after an awful run last season so I refuse to rule anything out with us. What I do believe is that any success we have won't be short lived under 1878, whenever that might happen. Hopefully we keep those gates high and help get all the ducks in a row to help moving us forward on and off the pitch over the next 5 years.

Quoted from gtfc_chris

I've seen a few of the 'on the pitch' arguments. Pre-November I don't believe that was as valid an argument, we were doing rather well but this recent run of league results has changed that picture a little bit. I don't think there's a fan out there who wouldn't love us to be playing Man City style football week in and bossing the league, but realism has to come into it somewhere when the bigger picture is considered.

Few predicted we'd come back up first time of asking and we did so the hard way, which suggests to me we did it through grit, guts and determination - the hallmarks of a PH squad - rather than style and unrivalled quality in the league. We've improved the squad over the summer and in a lot of games our performance hasn't been poor, just that final product and is not really a discussion that needs to be had in terms of what we hope to see in January.

My point though is whether it's better to have the playing side in advance of the 'behind the scenes' or the other way around. I'm sure people will have a multitude of views but for me, if you were running a marathon and sprinted the first mile how will you cope with the final 25? Might seem a daft analogy and probably is really but we've seen clubs like Burton, Plymouth, Scunthorpe, Yeovil, Doncaster, Colchester hit the Championship and then come crashing back down to L2 and below in relatively swift fashion. I accept the size of the Clubs doesn't lend itself to a sustained period at that level, but does the 'behind the scenes' impact on the inability to maintain consistency at the high end of L1?

Do we have the training facilities that afford the manager the ability to conduct his job in every way he deems necessary. Do we have the medical facility and knowledge to keep players fitter for longer with quicker recovery times? Do we have the scouting networks/systems to keep identifying players that provide quality? Do we have the analysis that enables the management team to spot trends in players to catch injury/fatigue early and make decisions to gain micro-advantages? Do we have administrative staff that can generate the commercial activity to keep us constantly improving our reach and investment desirability?

If we had a meteoric rise and these things aren't in place then eventually the star would burn out and the fall can be just as dramatic as the rise when things start going wrong as we ourselves know. There is a balance to be met, we do need a team that fans will continue to get behind and make visiting BP worthwhile but I genuinely think we need to be patient and try to build success on and off the pitch at a similar rate rather than chasing shortcuts that risk being short-lived.

My worry is that those who keep citing the perceived lack of improvement on the pitch are the ones who will begin the wave of negativity that historically always engulfs and takes hold of us, losing sight of the fact we have owners who want to be successful but know their financial limits, know the need to have everything in balance and ultimately know it will take time.

For me, I think the last 6 games have only proven that this is a tough league and that it isn't going to be easy. I predicted us to just in or around the play-offs and I'm wondering if I've been too ambitious but we bounced back after an awful run last season so I refuse to rule anything out with us. What I do believe is that any success we have won't be short lived under 1878, whenever that might happen. Hopefully we keep those gates high and help get all the ducks in a row to help moving us forward on and off the pitch over the next 5 years.

I don’t disagree with a lot of that but people look at stats like one home league win all season, no league win since mid October etc.

Regards the squad, I beg to differ. Our striking options are fewer and weaker and we are massively missing Ben Fox. We were by no means a one man team last season but I very much doubt we would have got to League Two without him.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

On the training ground, they've acknowledged it's a problem and are working on a new one; it's just taking longer than some people hoped for it to progress.

On the ground, Jason keeps saying we aren't selling out when you can't buy tickets together meaning I have minimal chance of taking my kids.

The economic situation would undoubtedly hamper ground development but I'd like them to at least admit we need to find a way of accommodating more fans. I'm not expecting to load This is Grimsby and see Jason and Andrew stood on Freeman Street with a spade, we've had similar and got nowhere.

I thought it was an open secret they were interested in Barretts Rec for a training ground.  Don't the council own that?

Stockwood and Pettit were not living in a cave prior to taking over.  They must know BP is an embarrassment compared to modern post-Taylor stadia.  They should realise there are not likely to be sell-outs for every home game because the facilities are so poor.

Have they spoken to the Freemen and LHP?  If a Freemo stadium is just a dream with no funding, then Grimsby West is an obvious enabling development.

Quoted from White_shorts

I thought it was an open secret they were interested in Barretts Rec for a training ground.  Don't the council own that?

Stockwood and Pettit were not living in a cave prior to taking over.  They must know BP is an embarrassment compared to modern post-Taylor stadia.  They should realise there are not likely to be sell-outs for every home game because the facilities are so poor.

Have they spoken to the Freemen and LHP?  If a Freemo stadium is just a dream with no funding, then Grimsby West is an obvious enabling development.

Not a justification but BP is no more an embarrassment than pretty much 50% of grounds across the 4/5 main divisions…

Quoted from White_shorts

I thought it was an open secret they were interested in Barretts Rec for a training ground.  Don't the council own that?

Stockwood and Pettit were not living in a cave prior to taking over.  They must know BP is an embarrassment compared to modern post-Taylor stadia.  They should realise there are not likely to be sell-outs for every home game because the facilities are so poor.

Have they spoken to the Freemen and LHP?  If a Freemo stadium is just a dream with no funding, then Grimsby West is an obvious enabling development.

My understanding is that it won't be Barratts, so not really the open secret you say it is.

1878 Has stated that they want the new training ground to be in Grimsby, which has certainly limited their choices. Barretts appears to be the unconfirmed location but we were told some weeks ago that there is a problem with the owners of the preferred choice location. If it is Barretts then NELC is the owner as far as I know, so what is the problem?

There has been no plans submitted so it's not the design, nor access or the neighbours. The land has/is used for sports use so it's not a change of use. 1878 presumably want to own the land so I wondered if their is a covenant in the deeds that states the land cannot be sold to private ownership?

Whilst I can fully understand why 1878 do want openly discuss this I sincerely hope they have plan B.

Stop assuming it's Barratts would answer some of your questions.

Quoted from ginnywings

Stop assuming it's Barratts would answer some of your questions.

I believe the assumption of Barratts came from a RH interview , Matt Dean I think, with 1878 ( can't remember which one) and Barretts was suggested. It was not denied as the location, which led to more speculation that it is the preferred site.

As you mentioned you didn't believe it was Barratts, where do you believe it might be?

What about Hardys Rec although I wouldn’t propose it as the road is awful due to lorries.

Are 1878 Any Good

We still have a League Club.
Would we still have a club under the last bloke- imo no.

The plan seems to be steady away and that will do for me so yes 1878 is good for GTFC, the Town and its fans.

Jason and Andrew are not multi millionaires with money to burn nor are they miracle workers.

However I am very pleased we have got them we could not do any better .

They are here for the next 15 to 20 years so that will do me as I will not .

Quoted from DB

I believe the assumption of Barratts came from a RH interview , Matt Dean I think, with 1878 ( can't remember which one) and Barretts was suggested. It was not denied as the location, which led to more speculation that it is the preferred site.

As you mentioned you didn't believe it was Barratts, where do you believe it might be?

Barratts was one of a few sites that were considered. Jason and Andrew never gave any hint where they were looking at seriously, so people speculated as they tend to do.

I learned when working at the ground that one site was favoured and plans were being drawn up. I thought there would have been some news by now, but clearly there have been some setbacks, so I don't know what has happened. I wont name the site I heard but it wasn't Barratts.

In answer to the question? Yes!

Quoted from ginnywings

Barratts was one of a few sites that were considered. Jason and Andrew never gave any hint where they were looking at seriously, so people speculated as they tend to do.

I learned when working at the ground that one site was favoured and plans were being drawn up. I thought there would have been some news by now, but clearly there have been some setbacks, so I don't know what has happened. I wont name the site I heard but it wasn't Barratts.

Bradley?

From what  i remember being told going back 30 yrs or so  was that Barrats was sort of donated to the council on the grounds that it was only for public sports use and not to be sold / let off for a profit to the council

The site chosen is pretty much a goer, it’s not Barrett’s.

Quoted from GyMariner

The site chosen is pretty much a goer, it’s not Barrett’s.

So we come back to the obvious question. Where is it going to be?, in your opinion.

Clee fields   ?

Quoted from GyMariner

The site chosen is pretty much a goer, it’s not Barrett’s.

do tell us more.....

Not at filing accounts on time. First accounts now overdue at Companies House.

Quoted from HerveJosse

Not at filing accounts on time. First accounts now overdue at Companies House.

Who’s going to alert the United Nations

Quoted from HerveJosse

Not at filing accounts on time. First accounts now overdue at Companies House.

excrement, call the feds…

Quoted from HerveJosse

Not at filing accounts on time. First accounts now overdue at Companies House.

They may well be filed. It can take Companies House up to 10 days to upload them.

Isn’t a certain someone in a spot of bother with HMRC or have I got this wrong?

Going back to the original question.  For me it's a firm yes.  Promotion followed by 4th Round of FA cup which hasn't happened for over 20 years, I'm not sure how anyone can argue otherwise.

Quoted from HerveJosse

Not at filing accounts on time. First accounts now overdue at Companies House.

Not sure where you're getting that info from. Accounts are due 28th Feb according to Companies House >> https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00034760

The owners changed the filing date to February when they arrived. Last year's were filed on 22nd Feb 2022.

Quoted from MarinerDevil

Not sure where you're getting that info from. Accounts are due 28th Feb according to Companies House >> https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00034760

The owners changed the filing date to February when they arrived. Last year's were filed on 22nd Feb 2022.

ffs Mariner Devil - you and your bloody facts getting in the way of a moan!


Back to the drawing board HerveTosser

Quoted from HerveJosse

Not at filing accounts on time. First accounts now overdue at Companies House.

Boring, repetitive, factually incorrect, moaning, embittered loon.

Quoted from MarinerDevil

Not sure where you're getting that info from. Accounts are due 28th Feb according to Companies House >> https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00034760

The owners changed the filing date to February when they arrived. Last year's were filed on 22nd Feb 2022.

Think he was referring to 1878 Partners not GTFC.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Think he was referring to 1878 Partners not GTFC.

If that is the case then I stand corrected. Although I think, as another poster has said, that it can take a few days for a document to appear on CH after it has been filed. I'm sure Herve will inform us if it doesn't though!

Quoted from MarinerDevil

If that is the case then I stand corrected. Although I think, as another poster has said, that it can take a few days for a document to appear on CH after it has been filed. I'm sure Herve will inform us if it doesn't though!

I’m sure you’re right.

Realistically they won’t be in a position to file the 1878 accounts until the GTFC accounts are finalised.

As per the earlier posts, the GTFC accounts aren’t due until the end of Feb.

Fück me. I’ve bored myself there. I’m off to the transfer thread to make up some spurious rumours about Michael Coulson returning from Scarborough (completely fabricated but 11 in 23 in NLN - if we don’t buy him, Fylde will. He’s also 34). Join me.