The ambition of the club

[fulwoodshrimp]

Despite dominating the game on Saturday we could only draw and in the process miss a hatful of goals. We haven't scored a league goal at the home Bartercard end all season. It's clear now that Stockton wants away that we desperately need a striker to finish some of the straight forward chances we seem unable to put away. Yes, it will no doubt cost money both in fee and wages but if the board has ambitions for us to remain a League 1 club this is money we need to be able to pay. It's no answer to say we can't afford a new striker because if we are relegated to League 2 gate revenues will decline and we will be even worse off financially than currently. Is it possible for the club to set up a fund and call on local people to help? I realise with inflation and energy rises this would be a difficult call but I am sure we could help the club to raise some money for the cause. I would chip in a modest amount if required.

[redrobo]

Despite dominating the game on Saturday we could only draw and in the process miss a hatful of goals. We haven't scored a league goal at the home Bartercard end all season. It's clear now that Stockton wants away that we desperately need a striker to finish some of the straight forward chances we seem unable to put away. Yes, it will no doubt cost money both in fee and wages but if the board has ambitions for us to remain a League 1 club this is money we need to be able to pay. It's no answer to say we can't afford a new striker because if we are relegated to League 2 gate revenues will decline and we will be even worse off financially than currently. Is it possible for the club to set up a fund and call on local people to help? I realise with inflation and energy rises this would be a difficult call but I am sure we could help the club to raise some money for the cause. I would chip in a modest amount if required.

Are you sure....

[fulwoodshrimp]

Has there been a league goal scored at Bartercard end???

[KenH]

Do you think the Board havn't thought of that?

The fact is the Board members don't have the money and don't have ways to get the money. If they could, they would have done.

We need new owners who'll put some money in. End of.

[Gone_Shrimping]

Has there been a league goal scored at Bartercard end???

Just 1 I think.


Keiran Phillips goal against Ipswich. A fee kick to a player out wide who headed into the 6 yard box and Phillips knocked it past their keeper.

[Gone_Shrimping]

Do you think the Board havn't thought of that?

The fact is the Board members don't have the money and don't have ways to get the money. If they could, they would have done.

We need new owners who'll put some money in. End of.

I remember PMG saying if we could average 2,400 we would break even ! We are now double that average give or take a few.

As someone said we have been improving our infrastructure with a very competent General Manager (Now the CEO) and other positions where we have raised our game such as the Ticket Office manager and a top groundsman. These all cost money.

My fear is that the owners have been withdrawing their loans which is legal but bound to reduce our liquidity. Someone mentioned paying off the Mayfair Loan although does anyone know how much that was for ?

[CityShrimp]

Do you think the Board havn't thought of that?

The fact is the Board members don't have the money and don't have ways to get the money. If they could, they would have done.

We need new owners who'll put some money in. End of.

I remember PMG saying if we could average 2,400 we would break even ! We are now double that average give or take a few

Bear in mind that was in league two. I’m pretty sure our wage bill in league one will be higher.

[KenH]

Bear in mind that was in league two. I’m pretty sure our wage bill in league one will be higher.

Not just players, which will be higher, but the club has lots of other extra staff too.

[Angler1]

I agree we are desperately in need of a new owner who has the funds to invest in new and better players. Let's hope this happens before the January transfer window opens...

[black morse]

Despite dominating the game on Saturday we could only draw and in the process miss a hatful of goals. We haven't scored a league goal at the home Bartercard end all season. It's clear now that Stockton wants away that we desperately need a striker to finish some of the straight forward chances we seem unable to put away. Yes, it will no doubt cost money both in fee and wages but if the board has ambitions for us to remain a League 1 club this is money we need to be able to pay. It's no answer to say we can't afford a new striker because if we are relegated to League 2 gate revenues will decline and we will be even worse off financially than currently. Is it possible for the club to set up a fund and call on local people to help? I realise with inflation and energy rises this would be a difficult call but I am sure we could help the club to raise some money for the cause. I would chip in a modest amount if required.

Can this be done legally? Could the fans raise money for the club to spend on something as specific as a new striker? Don't want it going to pay off loans. Time would be of the essence now as transfer window approaches. I could donate a few thousand if it could be done.

[fulwoodshrimp]

I don’t want a club where the infrastructure is improved but little is spent on the playing side leading to relegation. An improved infrastructure should go hand in hand with improvements on the field. If nothing is spent in the January window we risk relegation and the loss of the manager!

[BerlinWaller]

It is important to say that we have an ambitious BoD's and a potless Owner. The Board can only do so much and only spend what they bring in. I was angry when CMG passed us by but then the WW stuff came to light and I understood why.

The Board have driven ticket pricing etc and that has led to gates of over 5000 which is amazing for a club our size.

[black morse]

It is important to say that we have an ambitious BoD's and a potless Owner. The Board can only do so much and only spend what they bring in. I was angry when CMG passed us by but then the WW stuff came to light and I understood why.

The Board have driven ticket pricing etc and that has led to gates of over 5000 which is amazing for a club our size.

I don't see anyone criticising The Board and I'm sure we are all grateful for everything they have done in very difficult circumstances over the years.

[Keith]

The difficulty is, football clubs generally are either a 'rich-man's play thing' or live beyond their means. There are very few football clubs that are breaking even or making a profit. Big clubs that over-stretch, gambling on success have frequently crashed. Look at Notts County. Founder members of the Football League, Kasper Schmeichel, Sol Campbell & Sven-Göran Eriksson... ...bet everything on success and almost went out of business. Or Bury, who went under.

The 'rich man's plaything' collapses when the rich man gets bored. I wonder how the long standing fans of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds felt when their two teams were merged? Did the journey up the pyramid to what would now be League One make it worth it? Then, when the rich man got bored, the club spiralled back down and eventually, ceased to exist. Or Darlington, that managed to be both the rich-man's plaything AND over-stretched, before going out of business. I'd rather have a club to support in non-league than a club that goes under.

The ambition of the board would appear to be a long-term, sustainable club, that survives as a business. Not over stretching, but continuing to strive. The ambition of the owners is to sell. My ideal would be a consortium of wealthy 'fans', putting in enough money to make us competitive, but not reliant upon the whim of a single person. Second best would be someone like Tyson Fury, buy the club and then commit a specific amount per year, for a set period, then leaving the day to day running of the club to the board members.

In the meantime, if we haven't got a pot to piss in come January, then that's the way it is, so make the most of what we've got. Play like we did on Saturday for the rest of the season, and I think we will be okay. Just get Connolly to practice his finishing when one-on-one!

[thefactsman]

Can this be done legally? Could the fans raise money for the club to spend on something as specific as a new striker?

York have done something similar through their Supporters Trust - currently raised £25k

https://www.ycst.org.uk/boost-the-budget-update/

https://ycfcsponsorship.co.uk/boost-the-budget/

[Little Shrimp]

The difficulty is, football clubs generally are either a 'rich-man's play thing' or live beyond their means. There are very few football clubs that are breaking even or making a profit. Big clubs that over-stretch, gambling on success have frequently crashed. Look at Notts County. Founder members of the Football League, Kasper Schmeichel, Sol Campbell & Sven-Göran Eriksson... ...bet everything on success and almost went out of business. Or Bury, who went under.

The 'rich man's plaything' collapses when the rich man gets bored. I wonder how the long standing fans of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds felt when their two teams were merged? Did the journey up the pyramid to what would now be League One make it worth it? Then, when the rich man got bored, the club spiralled back down and eventually, ceased to exist. Or Darlington, that managed to be both the rich-man's plaything AND over-stretched, before going out of business. I'd rather have a club to support in non-league than a club that goes under.

The ambition of the board would appear to be a long-term, sustainable club, that survives as a business. Not over stretching, but continuing to strive. The ambition of the owners is to sell. My ideal would be a consortium of wealthy 'fans', putting in enough money to make us competitive, but not reliant upon the whim of a single person. Second best would be someone like Tyson Fury, buy the club and then commit a specific amount per year, for a set period, then leaving the day to day running of the club to the board members.

In the meantime, if we haven't got a pot to piss in come January, then that's the way it is, so make the most of what we've got. Play like we did on Saturday for the rest of the season, and I think we will be okay. Just get Connolly to practice his finishing when one-on-one!

Well said.

Obviously we'd all like more money in the playing budget, but if it's not there then we just have to accept the reality of it rather than gambling the future of the club. Spending money is by no means a complete guarantee of anything either. And look at how well we've been playing in the league of late, especially against Portsmouth and Derby. Things are starting to come together a bit more now, and we're still due Taylor and Hunter back from injury. I'd hope both would help crack our problems in breaking down 'worse' teams who sit in a bit more.

Reinforcements in January would be very welcome, but we're not quite as doomed as is made out. Create chances like we did against Portsmouth, and they will start to go in. Always remember that Salford away game - despite not finishing our chances that day, we cracked on with that performance level and eventually the wins came.

[redrobo]

This getting terribly boring....me agreeing with Keith.....

A local consortium has always been my reference but at this moment that seems very unlikely.

I hate to have to say this but a return to the days of non league would be far preferable than the total disappearance of a club I've supported through the good and bad times for 66 years. Even at the ''young' age of 72 I still get over enthusiastic and act at times like an over aged schoolboy but that's because Morecambe is, has and always will be MY club irrespective of league or manager BUT it's survival is far more important and like others the sooner the ownership can be resolved the better.

[RedRedWine]

The club is in a awkward position - we need another striker (a secret weapon ) to give us a better chance of survival IMO, although if Cole can find some consistent form that would help matters. Captain obvious; we are badly missing his goals this season!

I agree with what most people have said - but we have been more than sustainable in the last couple of years. Given the strong financial results that have been posted by the club driven by increased turnover, player sales, compensation fees for managers, cup exploits and insurance pay-outs - I would have liked to have seen some of those funds being made available to Derek and particularly for this upcoming window in January.

Some/all of those profits appear to have been utilised to settle outstanding loans/debt to the owners, which is not a bad thing - and reduces the excessive finance cost/charges being incurred by the club (Bond Group), being levied on them in the future - but a bit of investment now could make all the difference in our quest to survive at this level. There hasn't been much investment in the team on the field, certainly since Derek returned.

Its a gamble, but if the owners can't sell then quickly then perhaps one worth taking if you want to obtain the optimum value from any potential sale; surely we're more attractive as a club in League One with 4,500 gates vs one in League Two with half that and what would then be deemed as having an over-bloated structure that it can't really sustain as was previously the case. If we can stay up for one more season, we'll be in a much better position in terms of a playing budget when we can jettison the residual chaff that Stephen Robinson has lumbered us with that gives any manger a blank canvas to work with.

[black morse]

The club is in a awkward position - we need another striker (a secret weapon ) to give us a better chance of survival IMO, although if Cole can find some consistent form that would help matters. Captain obvious; we are badly missing his goals this season!

I agree with what most people have said - but we have been more than sustainable in the last couple of years. Given the strong financial results that have been posted by the club driven by increased turnover, player sales, compensation fees for managers, cup exploits and insurance pay-outs - I would have liked to have seen some of those funds being made available to Derek and particularly for this upcoming window in January.

Some/all of those profits appear to have been utilised to settle outstanding loans/debt to the owners, which is not a bad thing - and reduces the excessive finance cost/charges being incurred by the club (Bond Group), being levied on them in the future - but a bit of investment now could make all the difference in our quest to survive at this level. There hasn't been much investment in the team on the field, certainly since Derek returned.

Its a gamble, but if the owners can't sell then quickly then perhaps one worth taking if you want to obtain the optimum value from any potential sale; surely we're more attractive as a club in League One with 4,500 gates vs one in League Two with half that and what would then be deemed as having an over-bloated structure that it can't really sustain as was previously the case. If we can stay up for one more season, we'll be in a much better position in terms of a playing budget when we can jettison the residual chaff that Stephen Robinson has lumbered us with that gives any manger a blank canvas to work with.

Absolutely right!