The Wider View

[shrimperteer]

Greetings friends. Despite the odd disaffection with my "waffle" we've managed to create a good 95% constructive discussion that doesn't involve personal attacks on the players or staff. There In lies this clubs survival ...fingers crossed. As for saving 3 pages or waffle, very constructive, very brave, grow up. If anyone doesn't enjoy factual analysis of their club, it's a shame. It's how professional sport survives. Been there, done that and youll notice no bragging etc...just a willingness to generate sensible discussion and lots of scars and fractures to evidence my knowledge. I'M NO BETTER THAN YOU, so no personal stuff heh. I hope you're all enjoying the battle. Much respect and success for 2018. Xxx

So you've been involved in professional sport have you? You should have mentioned it.

[red shrimp]

Greetings friends. Despite the odd disaffection with my "waffle" we've managed to create a good 95% constructive discussion that doesn't involve personal attacks on the players or staff. There In lies this clubs survival ...fingers crossed. As for saving 3 pages or waffle, very constructive, very brave, grow up. If anyone doesn't enjoy factual analysis of their club, it's a shame. It's how professional sport survives. Been there, done that and youll notice no bragging etc...just a willingness to generate sensible discussion and lots of scars and fractures to evidence my knowledge. I'M NO BETTER THAN YOU, so no personal stuff heh. I hope you're all enjoying the battle. Much respect and success for 2018. Xxx

[sandgrown]

(THAT was one of the dumbest mistakes right at the start, segregating the 'have's & have nots' & fostering a 'them & us' attitude).

for me this was the biggest mistake of all, I hate the 3 tier price seating in the main stand, it should be like it was at C.P. first come first served. ( S.T.H. keep theirs ).

I have to agree. With the PMG stand being so sparsely occupied, it's a mockery having 3 different prices. Just another annoying money-grabbing opportunity and, yes, creating a "them and us" attitude. If the blocks were even half full, you could understand it (just). There is logic behind the red seats costing a little more as they have access to the Local Choice suite, but no logic at all having different charging between blocks D & E. In fact, given attendances, there's a lot to be said for closing off block E completely and trying to get a better atmosphere by having block D more densely occupied.

back in the CP days the board sat in amongst us, albeit front and middle, but at least it made you feel we were all in it together, now I hardly even see a board member from year to year.

and this atmosphere of " us and them " is what is destroying our club from within, if only someone could see this and arrest it before it's too late !

[KenH]

back in the CP days the board sat in amongst us, albeit front and middle, but at least it made you feel we were all in it together, now I hardly even see a board member from year to year.

and this atmosphere of " us and them " is what is destroying our club from within, if only someone could see this and arrest it before it's too late !

Not to mention the usual spectacle of the last home game, where the players and staff are on the pitch for Jim's speech, and there's PMG on his balcony like the bloody queen or pope - all he's short of is the royal wave for "his" people!

[erics seafood]

For the constructive contributors....long live your enjoyment. For those who resent free experience and advice, therein lies a problem. I've enjoyed every contribution . Even if disagreeing or chipping, it's why I came to love this club. I hope the owners/directors listen to sensible contributions. Supporters are generally the only constant in a club. Love and kisses to those I irritate. In all sincerity, keep your drive people...its made this club appealing to an outsider like me. XxX

[parceldave]

For the constructive contributors....long live your enjoyment. For those who resent free experience and advice, therein lies a problem. I've enjoyed every contribution . Even if disagreeing or chipping, it's why I came to love this club. I hope the owners/directors listen to sensible contributions. Supporters are generally the only constant in a club. Love and kisses to those I irritate. In all sincerity, keep your drive people...its made this club appealing to an outsider like me. XxX

I thought that's why one of the reasons the Shrimps Trust was set up for ,was to gather information from the fans as to why they don't use the club's bar facilities before and after the game and what would enhance their matchday experience. I think the main reason was that the bar prices were to high compared to other public houses in the area which was surveyed by one of the Trust board members. This information was then presented to the Board of Directors and as yet i dont think anything has materialised .

[Posh]

and this atmosphere of " us and them " is what is destroying our club from within, if only someone could see this and arrest it before it's too late !

See it? It was fundamental to the design of the ground to create different wealth hierarchies to supposedly maximise income. PMG had no issues with saying when the ground opened. Yet when the financial crisis happened it meant that many of the assumptions no longer stood and the economics had changed but it was too late and there wasn’t and never has been the funds to do anything about it since.

While the poor facilities on the terrace has put off some fans it won’t be the terrace and the forgiving fans that will kill us it will be the PMG Stand. If we get relegated the cost of just opening it and maintaining will be extortionate.

New community minded owners with money are our only long-term saviours. Just need to find them now. Whatever happened to the competing buyers?

[marky No.1]

as yet i dont think anything has materialised .

I think it did as the price went up, other than the opening of JB's

[KenH]

While the poor facilities on the terrace has put off some fans it won’t be the terrace and the forgiving fans that will kill us it will be the PMG Stand. If we get relegated the cost of just opening it and maintaining will be extortionate.

The sensible thing would be to franchise it out to a private hospitality firm for them to operate the boxes and suite for functions etc rather than the club. There are plenty of such firms out there, such as the one who operate the functions rooms at Preston. They pay to "rent" the facilities, and it's then their job to market it and run the functions, seminars, etc. These firms have economies of scale, i.e. marketing and admin departments etc., and established clients using their other premises, so have the potential to make the rooms/boxes used a lot more. It would give the club a steady income and the club wouldn't have to worry about staffing/supplies/advertising etc - the club's directors could concentrate on the football!

[black morse]

and this atmosphere of " us and them " is what is destroying our club from within, if only someone could see this and arrest it before it's too late !

See it? It was fundamental to the design of the ground to create different wealth hierarchies to supposedly maximise income. PMG had no issues with saying when the ground opened. Yet when the financial crisis happened it meant that many of the assumptions no longer stood and the economics had changed but it was too late and there wasn’t and never has been the funds to do anything about it since.

While the poor facilities on the terrace has put off some fans it won’t be the terrace and the forgiving fans that will kill us it will be the PMG Stand. If we get relegated the cost of just opening it and maintaining will be extortionate.

New community minded owners with money are our only long-term saviours. Just need to find them now. Whatever happened to the competing buyers?[/quote]

They probably realised what they would be letting themselves in for

[Gone_Shrimping]

and this atmosphere of " us and them " is what is destroying our club from within, if only someone could see this and arrest it before it's too late !

See it? It was fundamental to the design of the ground to create different wealth hierarchies to supposedly maximise income. PMG had no issues with saying when the ground opened. Yet when the financial crisis happened it meant that many of the assumptions no longer stood and the economics had changed but it was too late and there wasn’t and never has been the funds to do anything about it since.

While the poor facilities on the terrace has put off some fans it won’t be the terrace and the forgiving fans that will kill us it will be the PMG Stand. If we get relegated the cost of just opening it and maintaining will be extortionate.

New community minded owners with money are our only long-term saviours. Just need to find them now. Whatever happened to the competing buyers?[/quote]

They probably realised what they would be letting themselves in for

Probably waiting to see if we survive the drop !

[bill ding]

lets hope we do avoid the drop, we dont have a Goeff Stelling to prop us up if we went the same way as Hartlepool

[KenH]

They probably realised what they would be letting themselves in for

Maybe the director(s) didn't agree to his(their) loans being written off and are still waiting for a sugar daddy.

[Gone_Shrimping]

They probably realised what they would be letting themselves in for

Maybe the director(s) didn't agree to his(their) loans being written off and are still waiting for a sugar daddy.

They may have a long wait

[Ntini]

Whatever happened to the competing buyers?

I asked this on the 10th November, and was shot down.

the board or anyone else cannot release detail of ongoing talks

Rod Taylor has kept us informed of all the info that he is able to make public, but that would appear to not be enough for some people.

Maybe there's just nothing to report...

2 months later and still no news. 7 current Directors and only one ever seems to be bothered about communicating with the fans.
Morecambe FC news - If it doesn't come from Rod, then it doesn't come at all.

[John L]

Whatever happened to the competing buyers?

I asked this on the 10th November, and was shot down.

the board or anyone else cannot release detail of ongoing talks

Rod Taylor has kept us informed of all the info that he is able to make public, but that would appear to not be enough for some people.

Maybe there's just nothing to report...

2 months later and still no news. 7 current Directors and only one ever seems to be bothered about communicating with the fans.
Morecambe FC news - If it doesn't come from Rod, then it doesn't come at all.

I wouldn't say shot down... not by me at least. As I recall the tone of your post was the latest in a succession that were bordering on panicky, and things have gone quiet on both sides lately!

[Ntini]

Whatever happened to the competing buyers?

I asked this on the 10th November, and was shot down.

the board or anyone else cannot release detail of ongoing talks

Rod Taylor has kept us informed of all the info that he is able to make public, but that would appear to not be enough for some people.

Maybe there's just nothing to report...

2 months later and still no news. 7 current Directors and only one ever seems to be bothered about communicating with the fans.
Morecambe FC news - If it doesn't come from Rod, then it doesn't come at all.

I wouldn't say shot down... not by me at least. As I recall the tone of your post was the latest in a succession that were bordering on panicky, and things have gone quiet on both sides lately!

Perhaps a poor selection of words John, my apologies.

Not panicking, just wondering why an owner spouts off about an offer and director loan repayments to push it through, then the board reckon they have their own offers to consider, then the usual silence from all parties.

It only serves to make the club more unstable and puts off any potential investors or new players that may have considered joining us.

[George Dawes]

The asking price is obviously the problem.

Morecambe FC is not worth a sausage, the Ground belongs to a trust, so all your getting for your money is debt right from the the very off! Losing an estimated £500.000 a season.

Any new owner needs to find an extra 1500 fans per home game to break even(self suficiant) Can't think why anybody in the right mind would buy Morecambe FC, unless it's a local fan whos got the club at heart.

[Christies Child]

The asking price is obviously the problem.

Morecambe FC is not worth a sausage, the Ground belongs to a trust, so all your getting for your money is debt right from the the very off! Losing an estimated £500.000 a season.

Any new owner needs to find an extra 1500 fans per home game to break even(self suficiant) Can't think why anybody in the right mind would buy Morecambe FC, unless it's a local fan whos got the club at heart.

Maybe we could have a whip round and appoint a SV panel to run OUR club...

Not sure who would be on the panel.....

[shrimperteer]

For the constructive contributors....long live your enjoyment. For those who resent free experience and advice, therein lies a problem. I've enjoyed every contribution . Even if disagreeing or chipping, it's why I came to love this club. I hope the owners/directors listen to sensible contributions. Supporters are generally the only constant in a club. Love and kisses to those I irritate. In all sincerity, keep your drive people...its made this club appealing to an outsider like me. XxX

There's actually a sweepstake going as to when your first post will be that doesn't mention the fact that you've got experience in sports.