HopeStreetWalker

Again its the lack of information from the ruling associations and an agreed procedure in making Covid19 testing and the associated disciplines required for all those involved. Am all for football coming back ASAP. But it has to be done safely for those involved in the match. Many clubs will have to bet their last penny on this working. That means robust risk assessments and standards that are common across the board. So players at an away game apply the same standards as the home team. It all comes back to these unscrupulous bunch of hucksters and chancers that have blagged a nice gig running Scottish football.

Did you listen to Off the Ball today ? Lot of reasoned comment on the pro's and con's on the Rangers reconstruction proposal. Coming round to the reluctant acceptance that the majority of the clubs will take the tainted old firm pound and the bigots and sectarianism that will come with it. If it means survival. What's your thoughts ?

It's not negative pish ! far from it. It's about the future if we get this wrong. Would welcome a positive alternative on the future - so on you go ! Lets have your have your positive vibes, the forum is all yours. We could all do with a lift and if realistic will be right behind you.

It's not a case of new signings. It's the signings we have. 1. Players out of contract at the end of the month. 2. Players signed for next season but with a non promotion get out clause. If it's no change at the end of June we will find out one way or the other.

It's supply and demand. Most clubs if they are playing will have reduced squads. Some inept custodians way well sign players not even knowing what their income is going to be ( FFC ?). So these players may be out of job within a few months as their employers fold.

FFS !

Lot of posts today regarding variations of leagues and the pros and cons. One thing that they all highlight is the need for certainty and a definitive way ahead. If nothing is clear by the end of June then clubs have no choice but to clear the decks of players out of contract and consider the future of those on contract. What a mess !

Exactly ! but they are not asking these questions, but announced they are ready to play anyway.

That's the danger Shagger. Thinking and hoping is not the way to formulate a business plan. If it does come to fund raising to stop the club going tits up. That is an admission of failure and it would be traced back to the gung ho attitude of pressing on regardless in this step into the unknown. The club has to ask the fans now what the take up would be for the various scenarios Deans has talked about. You have to agree that is a sensible and prudent course of action !

Companies all over the country and in various businesses are talking to their customers to get an idea what % of the historical trade they can expect. That will be going through every aspect of the supply chain. End user-Manufacturer-Component supplier-Raw material source and on and on. FFC are flying blind into whatever season and league structure that is sprung upon us. The first they will know about it is when the blazers tell them. It is beyond belief that the BOD of the club are not doing this crucial task in finding out what the situation is with their source of income. Fans - Sponsors and Advertisers. If Deans goes and signs up to whatever is cobbled together. Then that is a playing squad. Wage structure. Contract negotiations. Lets say a squad of 16 players all on 20k a year. Two managers on 30k a year. Stadium running costs ? Health and Safety for players and staff ? Administration costs ? You are talking 500-600k minimum. The funds for that will come from the ever decreasing cash reserves and whatever % of previous income sources can afford to back the club. This is a recipe for financial ruin and puts the future of FFC at stake. I think you over estimate the fan base that would keep the club afloat. As a good % of the support will be struggling to keep themselves afloat and a roof over the families head and food on the table. Many will be without a job and those that have will be on reduced income and debt run up over the last few months. Reluctantly many to their regret just won't be able to afford it. No business plan and researched anticipated income. Then its No ! its gambling with the future of the club.

Well if he is ready to have FFC play do you not think it would have been a good idea to ask the hard core support ( season ticket holders ) what they think of the various situations ? They don't have a scooby on what % will take up the offer and what they will pay. So ploughing on regardless is very apt !

How big is the squad ? How much are the wages ? How do you manage the bonuses ? From what you posted Shadwell the club plough on regardless of how its going to be funded. No ! before anything is done we get the financing of it sorted out. With that the club for example put together a Squad of 16, wages 60% of what was paid last season with the carrot of a promotion bonus.

Interesting points raised this morning regarding playing again. That can only happen with a business plan and that involves a budget on what money will come in over the next season whatever way it is structured. From that you know how much money you can allocate to a playing squad. FFC have not as far as we are aware. Surveyed the support, sponsors, advertising. These are the crucial income streams and they don't have not a scooby ! Take the support for example. Hand on heart most would buy whatever package was offered, of course they would. They have bought season tickets for 3 years of crap ! However many will have lost their jobs, many will be on reduced income. That equals a smaller disposable income and therefore as much as you want to you just cant afford it. Other priorities come first in particular if you are eating into savings keeping a roof over your head and food on the table. Point made ! FFC have to get their act together and get that feedback from these income streams. If they don't then they could bankrupt the club. As they said in Apollo 13 ' lets not make thing worse by guessing ! '

Don't call us Shirley !

Of course its not all right to jettison 15 players. It is a terrible thing to experience loosing a job and to be the one to do the telling. So I don't think anybody at FFC would be that callous. However if there is no job for the employee and there are financial constraints on who can be employed. Then you have to safeguard the future of the club and let staff go. At least if there is a club when normality returns then there are jobs in the future. There are time pressures now on the authorities. If there is no certainty by the end of June then clubs will have no choice. That goes for youth and academy players as well. If that happens when in 10 years time and people wonder why our international team is rubbish they can look at 2020 for the reasons.

You rightly point out how many people would be interested when football returns whenever that will be. Its the big question in these challenging times - how many fans will pay to see a game in whatever format. People are proposing courses of action and many of them are fine and dandy but they all require an income. All the club has to do is put a survey form on the club website. Set out the various scenarios that are likely and what the support would do. Then the club will have a reasonable idea of the income that can be expected. Then when there is certainty the club can take the appropriate course of action. FFC lives within its means and takes on as many staff as it can. Therefore putting the best team they can on the park. It's such a blindingly obvious thing to do !

If it is financially viable to do so. Fans have to be consulted how many would buy a Season / Game block ticket. At least get an idea the club can base a budget on. With that information the club can decide on the size of squad and the wages that can be paid. Remember new employees do not qualify for government support regarding wages. As you have said we need a fixture list. Until then we can't do anything and the clock is ticking to the end of June.

That's why if no certainty by the end of June like it or not the employees have to be made redundant.

Probable ! is not a sound principle for a business to decide a budget. You are going to guess how many season ticket holders will buy a TV season ticket. FFS we don't even have a fixture list so how can you sell a season ticket ? you can't. FFC should sound out the Season ticket holders and find out how many would buy the product and take it from there. That's fair surely !

Indeed ! it's people in the end of the day and off course as a responsible employer FFC should do what they can for them. The club has to be commended for the way it has carried itself on this matter. The football governing bodies have written off any club below the top two leagues. If no fixture list by the end of June then like any other business FFC will have to make employees redundant. That is not the clubs fault and they should feel no guilt. The blame is with the Blazers in the ruling bodies that have betrayed their members.

Exactly ! Have been going on for weeks about the clubs outgoings. It's getting near crunch time as contacts and contract get out options get to decision time at the end of June. If no fixture list and a business plan by the end of June then FFC have no choice but to as good as suspend trading.

Stadium ! you can bet your last penny the Council and Community Stadium Company are still getting full whack. If there was a reduction they would not be shy about telling everybody. Wages remember FFC are paying the 20% shortfall. Taxes. Nation Insurance. Players health insurance. Employees pension contributions. That has been going on since March.

That's the problem ! the ruling associations are waiting and not telling anybody anything. Meanwhile member clubs are bleeding money most likely needlessly endangering their futures.

There as to be a business plan that makes games behind closed doors financially viable if it's not don't play. The club has to find out what income will come in. The supporters have not been surveyed about the various options there could be. That is just plain stupid !

That is why the financial outgoings have to be addressed sooner rather than later.