Evening.
I've been wanting to write this article since the second or third week of DF's BWFC managerial career. In it, I'd like to consider what we think DF's season target is. To do this, we must look at the end of Coyles reign.
Before the season started, Phil Gartside officially announced that it was imperative that the club bounced straight back into the premiership at the first time of asking, thus, meaning promotion this season and bringing with it fears that the club could not sustain itself, financially, in the Championship for longer than 1 year. Gartside and the club allegedly suggested that we must take an average of 2 points per game. After a very poor start, it became clear that Coyle would not achieve that target and thus, he was sacked.
So, since DF has come in, we might've played a bit better and taken a few points, but we are still not hitting a 2 point per game average - even for the matches that DF has been in charge. So my point is this; Has the target been revised for the new manager and if so, how have we miraculously managed to now be able to afford to stay in the Championship for another season?
We spent money to get DF and some back room staff in. Money that we apparently didn't have. So after increasing our expenditure, we must have less money than we did when Coyle was in charge. There was so much pressure on Coyle to get promoted, why isn't there the same on DF?
Yes, I know it's not his team, he needs to experiment, etc, but surely, if our financial situation was so precarious for Coyle it's the same, if not worse or DF?
What are we happy with here? Is survival enough?
Personally, I think playoffs is still the minimum. Of course it's difficult, especially for a new manager, but we need to get promoted, don't we? Well, that's what Gartside said.
Revised Targets?
posted on 10/12/12
MT, you're beginning to irritate me a bit, as it appears I am irritating you, unintentionally.
Take my question that you quoted in your last post. When I say 'afford' I mean finiancially.
How have we miraculously managed to now be able to (financially) afford to stay in the Championship for another season?
I think you know that that is what I'm asking, that's why I think your ignoring my point because you can't provide an answer.
Have our finances improved since DF came in?
posted on 10/12/12
Have our finances improved since DF came in?
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No but maybe DF can deal with the lack of finance better than coyle did.
posted on 10/12/12
No but maybe DF can deal with the lack of finance better than coyle did.
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So we still need to get promoted then? So that we can cope, financially?
posted on 10/12/12
Based on what we know about out finances (i.e. the little amount made public such as the debt figure) we need to achieve promotion. However not knowing the details we don't know enough to pass a judgement on whether this is still the case.
For example, certain projects could have been put on hold to free up cash (such as developments around the Middlebrook complex) or whether Eddie is bankrolling us to give Dougie more time.
posted on 10/12/12
Maybe but as a chairman PG he gave Coyle the grace of relegation which is bad financially so giving DF 18 months to get us up however poor financially maybe all he has. 2 points was set in August. Watching Coyles dross he would not have got anyone to do the job with those demands
posted on 10/12/12
It is conceivable our finances have improved.
Eddie could have opened the purse strings and I'm sure I've read he's extended the notice on calling in the debt..
So yes........ The finances COULD HAVE changed....
posted on 10/12/12
spot my deliberate mistake.charlton are above us.
posted on 11/12/12
We could not afford to go down!
posted on 11/12/12
Absolutely no-one on here thinks we are going down, not even the most pessimistic.
TRR has created an article posing a very good question. None of us have the answer, but the debate is valid.
Being in the Prem has caused the debt. We won't know until the 2013 accounts are released whether a year in the Championship has increased or decreased the debt.
posted on 11/12/12
The target will have had to be revised to get somebody considered half decent to take the job.
Who would've taken it otherwise? The club's as low as it's been for a long time, player morale is through the floor, there's a fair bit of deadwood to shift and we can't defend for toffee. Now get us promoted this season or you're out on your ear in the summer - who would've come on those terms?
I know that this doesn't answer your financial question, but, I'm not sure there is an answer to that now due to how poor the team has been.