It's nearly time for a big decision

[fulwoodshrimp]

It is becoming increasingly clear that despite some bright performances we are struggling to maintain our status as a League 1 club The transfer window approaches and rumour has it that we have no money for any signings. I believe a decision not to give any money to the manager would be a false economy given that if we are relegated our gates would reduce and our recent focus on improving the club infrastructure would prove far too costly for League 2 or below. The club's directors are in a difficult position but need to find some money for DA to enable him to make a couple of signings to try to maintain our League 1 status. The manager has been severely restricted by several players given two year contracts by the previous manager who are nowhere near good enough for League 1. At the end of the season these players will be released, freeing up funds for next season but if no funds are given to the manager in January that will be too late at least for league 1. I implore the directors to find some funds to allow us the chance of a couple of players. Could Rod appeal for fans to contribute? As I said in an earlier post I am willing to put my money where my mouth is and contribute to such a fund. This post is not a dig at the directors who have done a brilliant job supporting our beloved club but an appeal to help our manager strengthen our small squad to give us a fighting chance to remain a League 1 club..

[Redalert1970]

One thing is for sure it`s going to be a roller coaster next few months at Morecambe Fc

New owners are a must and as soon as possible in my opinion

[Wild Bill]

I think you are talking like there's money available but it's currently not being spent. Reality is we have an owner with nothing and a small group of board members who are probably well off but far from rich. To expect them to put additional money into the club to keep us up, when the owner could sell at any point and they could be out the door is unreasonable. The most we can ask of them is that they run the club well, which is self sufficient until a new owner is found.

[fulwoodshrimp]

My main point Wild Bill is that the financial implications of relegation would be far worse than allowing the manager to sign a couple of players and avoiding relegation. If we are relegated, numbers attending would drop sharply and the recently created infrastructure would prove too expensive for us in League 2. There is also the fear in the back of the mind that many clubs dropping down a league continue to drop further down the pyramid. A thriving League 1 club would be worth considerably more in a sale than a league 2 or National League side.

[Redalert1970]

Why would numbers dwindle if we were in league 2 ???

Some big away followings would still be visiting such as Stockport, Bradford, Carlisle, Tranmere and Barrow just too name a few

[fulwoodshrimp]

Our attendances when we were in League 2 were a lot lower than this seasons numbers in League 1. Also the product is a lot less attractive to watch compared to League 1.

[Little Shrimp]

As Wild Bill has alluded to, where is this money coming from? It's all well and good urging to the board to spend, but if there's no money lying around then there's really not much of a choice. Could try some risky financial mechanism to borrow money etc (I've no real idea how that kind of stuff works, mind), but that's an incredibly risky thing to do and by no means a guarantee of staying up. Spending money would likely help but shouldn't be treated as a guarantee of safety. If doing so would leave us in a hugely precarious financial position (like Bury, who themselves failed to stay in League One) then it's not necessarily a risk worth taking. Unless we get an injection of cash from new owners in time for January or manage to free up funds in the current playing budget, then I'm not sure what we can realistically expect.

[black morse]

I suppose if Cole goes that would free up enough wages to spend on one or two more loanees?

[Gone_Shrimping]

I suppose if Cole goes that would free up enough wages to spend on one or two more loanees?

Let's hope we can hold on to all the Loanees we have at present. They have all been top quality.

My fear is an Adam Philips situation with them being recalled and loaned out to bigger clubs for higher Loan fees for the parent clubs.

[Wild Bill]

Yes, it's a worry when your best players are loanees

[Keith]

As a 'what if'...

If, for argument's sake, the club is worth £5 million as a League One side and £3 million in League Two.

If you were thinking of buying the club now, would you consider waiting and seeing what happens? If you buy now for £5 million, then stick a load of cash in to the transfer window, it is still a gamble, as we may be too far adrift to catch up. You've then paid League One price, plus extra for players, and end up with a League Two club. Or, would you wait for the end of the season? If we manage to escape relegation, you pay the £5 million and invest in the future, or, we go down, you pay £3 million and use the other £2 million to invest in players.

Obviously, those figures are to demonstrate the argument, I've no idea what the value would be, but the principle remains. As a fan, I'd love to see someone or a collective, come in now, buy the club, invest in January, and give us the best option for staying up. But if it was my money, I'd wait for the end of the season. The only other option is an investor for whom losing a couple of million is irrelevant (Mr Fury!).

[black morse]

As a 'what if'...

If, for argument's sake, the club is worth £5 million as a League One side and £3 million in League Two.

If you were thinking of buying the club now, would you consider waiting and seeing what happens? If you buy now for £5 million, then stick a load of cash in to the transfer window, it is still a gamble, as we may be too far adrift to catch up. You've then paid League One price, plus extra for players, and end up with a League Two club. Or, would you wait for the end of the season? If we manage to escape relegation, you pay the £5 million and invest in the future, or, we go down, you pay £3 million and use the other £2 million to invest in players.

Obviously, those figures are to demonstrate the argument, I've no idea what the value would be, but the principle remains. As a fan, I'd love to see someone or a collective, come in now, buy the club, invest in January, and give us the best option for staying up. But if it was my money, I'd wait for the end of the season. The only other option is an investor for whom losing a couple of million is irrelevant (Mr Fury!).

Pretty sound thinking Keith but if it were me I'd just wait a few more weeks. I'm probably wrong but I've a feeling we could have quite a reasonable December and be out of the drop zone by New Year. Don't know how long it takes to get the purchase of a club done with League 'suitability' checks etc and the time schedule maybe too tight.