Paul Barber on communication, transparency, finances, the fans and club staff

[The Legend that IS Lawro]

I fancy Barber to make a few cuts here and there, keep things nice and trim and continue to provide us with something for the weekend. Hope he takes some of the tips on here, and I know he's interested in my holidays.

 

[Jim in the West]

What a really professional and measured response to what was in some cases utter crap from some of our 'supporters'.

This modern phenomena of the need for instant success driven by programmes like X Factor/Apprentice and teams like QPR/Man City just makes me sick to the core. When will it end?

It is reassuring that there are still level headed businessmen around that can put a strategy together and build and plan for future success and sustainability based around the right morals and integrity.

For those that think we can't be successful by bringing through the youth, investing in training and support, and boosting the scouting system to find cheaper but high potential players are deluded and driven by this sickness of instant success and gratification.

I am very pleased to see the club thinking about the future and some of our support needs to get real and start to think about the reality of the football worlds situation, I am happy that 'our' club is setting a new benchmark (a much more realistic and sustainable one) and am very confident that I will see us play at the top level again in the future.

Thanks Paul, Tony and the board, and keep up the great work.

My sentiments exactly - well said

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Alright then.

Glenn Murray left a (then) League One club and scored the goals to get a teuam of fairly unimpressive journeymen into the Premier League. Danny Ings is there now. Charlie Austin was with League One Swindon, signed for Burney and scored a bundle, and then moved to QPR where he got promoted to the PL. Dwight Gayle is now in the PL, alright, he didn't do a lot last season barring a couple of games, but he's still there.

This is intended as a genuine question: where do you think a club in our position- without the luxury of parachute payments- is going to find guaranteed goalscorers, if not from League One? Existing Premier League strikers are on hugely inflated contracts. I bet even the ordinary/mediocre ones like Jon Walters, Frazier Campbell, David Nugent, Sone Aluko, Nikica Jelavic, Carlton Cole, Darren Bent and so on, they're all on upwards of £30k per week. Abroad maybe? Fair enough: we struck gold with Ulloa, and others like Spanish Dave, Vicente etc were successful to varying degrees. But it's well known that, as a rule, it takes far longer for someone who comes in from abroad, doesn't speak the language to settle in and feel at home than someone who already lives here. Clubs are much better at catering for the needs of their foreign players now than they used to be, but it's still a tough one for a 24 year old guy with a young family to deal with. So if we're not going for higher level players, or gambles from abroad, and we won't be able to afford to sign (or be attractive enough to) someone like Jordan Rhodes, what else does that leave us with if not guys from the lower leagues with promise and ambition?

EVERY move is about getting lucky, if you really think about it. Even if you spend £10 million on somebody, you're still taking a risk on him succeeding.

It leaves us with the question how was a proven championship goalscorer allowed to be snapped up on loan to Reading when he lives in Brighton

why oh why did we not sign Sir Glenn again.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Well P B has just blown his cover

good propaganda from PB i must say
regards
DR

 

[Beach Hut]

next home conference doubleheader Friday, October 17 vs. Feather River. Women play @ 2pm, men @ 4pm. Enjoy free Coyote temporary tattoos, yummy snacks, cool Coyote gear, and a Coyote Pups Play Zone for the kids. Come out and support your local college soccer teams, and become a Friend of LTCC Soccer today!

This is where the club are going wrong Junior has a game tomorrow, KO midnight UK time and this is USA Soccer entertainment at college level...........

 

[Barnham Seagull]

Personally I would pay more for lots of things, if I thought we were genuinely trying for the premiership, as Naylor commented with a week to go to the close of the transfer market and I quote; ’the signings that the club make by the deadline will prove if we are set on promotion or not’ well definitely not I say. So why the training ground but no ambitious signings its entertainment as well as blind faith.

 

[South Stand Rebel]

Exactly. Well said.

If PB is so concerned about the negative feedback, then why don't they carry out a poll on a matchday, whereby all 'customers' can feedback on whatever issues PB wishes to include in the questionnaire.

 

[Beach Hut]

If PB is so concerned about the negative feedback, then why don't they carry out a poll on a matchday, whereby all 'customers' can feedback on whatever issues PB wishes to include in the questionnaire.

Or have a live rant type app where you say have to register and sign-in with a password so there is accountability ?

 

[Brightonfan1983]

It can't just be me that's glad a member of the senior management team at this club takes time out of their day to read NSC and draft up a well written, concise and informed response, right?

I'm amazed that he's done either. But that's from my stereotype-view of what I imagine football CEOs are - I'm chuffed, happy and proud that ours has consistently shown himself to be a very good 'un.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

Because we are spending more than we are earning and we have competed for promotion in the last two years, the evidence is there to see, on the same basis. As far as I'm aware, level headed fans do know this and know it it going to be difficult. What we don't know is how other clubs are faring!

Oh wow I had not thought of that......

Jebus your so clever, just how did I miss that when doing my calculations at the estimated expenses involved in running the Amex, or is it the added expense of the training ground that is costing more. If it is the cost of the training ground, over inflated wages, travel subsidies, agents fees a combination or even some git is over ordering prawns it would be nice to know, why, what we intend to do and how we intend to move forward or even a look people it's a sad fact of modern football we can never break even from the powers that be. Not much to ask, and as Paul has said he is aware of our past, and although things are fine now it is a fact the club owe money, a lot of money be it to the bank or Tony but we owe money to someone and things can turn bad very quickly without warning in this world from unexpected quarters I'm not looking for doom and gloom I'm just a concerned fan.

 

[El Presidente]

Forest bought Britt Assombalonga from League One Peterborough. Leicester bought Jamie Vardy from- at the time- non-league. Derby got Chris Martin from Norwich's reserves and Jamie Ward from League One Sheffield United. Burnley got Danny Ings from League One Bournemouth. Watford got Troy Deeney from League One Walsall. Bournemouth got Callum Wilson from League One Coventry City. Blackburn got Jordan Rhodes from League One Huddersfield. Huddersfield got Nakhi Wells from League One Bradford...etc. All scoring goals at this level.

So yes, it looks very much as though it probably is doable if you find the right player and fit him into the right system.

I'm happy to give Baldock a chance, far too early to write the bloke off.

I think Palace signed a League One striker who then scored 30 goals which got them promoted. Can't remember his name though.

Where did the Stains sign Ricky Lambert from, was it Bayern or Barcelona? Definitely began with a 'B'.

 

[chaileyjem]

So on your way of thinking we should be performing the same, and finish 6th ha, that with solid teams progressing all the time like Ipswich Derby Forest etc and Norwich oh and we have no Ulloa or Bridcutt...... No I'm sorry it's not the same and the now the board are telling us we are losing money hand over fist and we cannot compete with parachute payments or sugar daddies willing to break the rules of FFP.

We had no Bridcutt last season either. We didn't have parachute payments in the last 3 seasons when we finished 10th, 4th and 6th. We have a sugar Daddie ourselves who has for the third season ina row stumped up for a squad who are in the top 10 most paid of the Championship despite this lack of parachute payments.
TB, Barber , Burke don't pick the team though and who knows if SH can get them to perform for the remainder of the season. He might. If he doesn't then TB will sack him.

But has TB provided us with a competitive squad who might be top 10, or play offs again that a manager should be able to perform successfully I'd say yes. And after 11 games when we are 2 points off where we were last year and with the Championship yet again proving that everyone can beat everyone then, even though we're unbeated in 5 games !!, i'd reserve judgement a little while longer.

 

[El Presidente]

Oh wow I had not thought of that......

Jebus your so clever, just how did I miss that when doing my calculations at the estimated expenses involved in running the Amex, or is it the added expense of the training ground that is costing more. If it is the cost of the training ground, over inflated wages, travel subsidies, agents fees a combination or even some git is over ordering prawns it would be nice to know, why, what we intend to do and how we intend to move forward or even a look people it's a sad fact of modern football we can never break even from the powers that be. Not much to ask, and as Paul has said he is aware of our past, and although things are fine now it is a fact the club owe money, a lot of money be it to the bank or Tony but we owe money to someone and things can turn bad very quickly without warning in this world from unexpected quarters I'm not looking for doom and gloom I'm just a concerned fan.

If you want to know, why not look at the accounts?

 

[Prince Monolulu]

I agree with most here, PB comes across well to the masses. One thing though Paul mate, if one thing gets up my bugle it's the continued 'matchday experience' phrase. Ditch it and we can all carry on lacing daisies into each others hair.

 

[drew]

Oh wow I had not thought of that......

Jebus your so clever, just how did I miss that when doing my calculations at the estimated expenses involved in running the Amex, or is it the added expense of the training ground that is costing more. If it is the cost of the training ground, over inflated wages, travel subsidies, agents fees a combination or even some git is over ordering prawns it would be nice to know, why, what we intend to do and how we intend to move forward or even a look people it's a sad fact of modern football we can never break even from the powers that be. Not much to ask, and as Paul has said he is aware of our past, and although things are fine now it is a fact the club owe money, a lot of money be it to the bank or Tony but we owe money to someone and things can turn bad very quickly without warning in this world from unexpected quarters I'm not looking for doom and gloom I'm just a concerned fan.

No, just being facetious. What right do you have to know the minutiae of the clubs accounts? Perhaps you believe you have the right to know the details of players contracts, or the fine print in all the catering contracts? We know the club have spent big and the vast majority of that has come from TB. We probably get a lot more detail than those at most other clubs however, give them an inch and they'll demand to know a mile!!!

 

[Publius Ovidius]

But it's not possible to put in £50m and still remain within FFP whoever does it. If FFP remains and we want to stick to it the only ways to increase the player budget are to increase income or reduce costs.

Maybe El pres can answer that one, because if we are suggesting that a director can't put in a donation/ share issue etc to raise funds, then how are clubs expected to raise those funds to compete?

So therefore by inference, only teams with parachute payments or ones that play bargain hunt with players will survive.

If we can't compete when we have of the highest crowds and season ticket holders bringing in regular money, we are truly ****ed!

 

[drew]

So why the training ground but no ambitious signings its entertainment as well as blind faith.

I cannot believe the short-sightedness of that comment!

 

[Dan Aitch]

Only a few comments from me:

1. Why does everyone think that £xm received for player Y means we can drop all our prices or splurge on players? If we make a £1 profit this year, that's an extra £1 to help us against losses in future years. The short-signed 'money now, gravy now' attitude is exactly what has contributed to the disasters akin to Bolton's. I'm glad we have more sensible ownership.
2. I'd like to get a pint at half-time some period before 'two minutes til the second half starts' without leaving my seat before the first half has finished.
3. I'd like whichever person is serving me that pint to not grasp the plastic cup by the rim, thereby spreading the arse-wipings from everyone else's money onto the surface I have to drink from.
4. I'd still like a free helicopter ride back to Camden after each game. I'd accept this happening just for evening games, at a pinch.

Apart from that, let's go.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

No, just being facetious. What right do you have to know the minutiae of the clubs accounts? Perhaps you believe you have the right to know the details of players contracts, or the fine print in all the catering contracts? We know the club have spent big and the vast majority of that has come from TB. We probably get a lot more detail than those at most other clubs however, give them an inch and they'll demand to know a mile!!!

Fair point, Your right silly me over reacting to something of nothing. Instead I will concentrate of getting behind the team as usual come rain or shine and spend my money and ask no questions...... Bah..... bah..... bah.....

 

[Barnham Seagull]

I cannot believe the short-sightedness of that comment!

Did we really need to build a 15-20m training complex at this junction with all the running costs it will entail?

We have built a very expensive stadium and training facility that appears to need lots of sugar daddy funding to sustain. As has been mentioned the debt that continues to grow will need to be paid by someone at some time.