An Update

[GlenSTFC]

13 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Only if you match it Glen  😉

If only I had your vast reserves of wealth I’d happily do so!

[Irishadrian]

On 25/11/2022 at 13:53, Curtis said:

Basically, yes.

My understanding is the Board are not the owners of the Club, and I thought they had been made custodians of the Club on behalf of the fans & the community. So why would they not share what they believe the next six months looks like?
When other clubs have been in difficulty (notably Dulwich) they have been very vocal about the their circumstances and the community has rallied round & got behind them.

The current owners of the club are Orchard Community Sports Ltd. Current directors  Kay Lathey Craig Edwards and Michael Lightfoot.

[Sir Rebel1965]

Scott and Lee have been dropped in it by Neil and Jon's departure.

However we have still not got to the bottom of why they left.

That needs to be established to understand why we are in this predicament.

You cannot move forward until you resolve the problems.

[Mark44]

I’ve seen and heard lots the past couple of weeks from various sources and to be honest it’s hard to decipher what’s actually going on and so will try and only comment on my opinion and nothing else but I have two main worries at present:-

1- it is clear there is uncertainty. Regardless of whether or not this gets fixed, other teams will be aware and will be looking at our better players. Locally the likes of Oxford, Hampton, Hemel etc will be sniffing around no doubt. 
 

2- we seem to lack a certain innovation when it comes to new ideas to get fans in. There is absolutely no questioning those in charge and it is clear they are working extremely hard and have the clubs best interests at heart but seems to be a spark (like what Mark Bailey brought to the table) missing. We can put offers on until we are blue in the face and beg people to bring more fans with them but it seems that gets us to maybe 650 average max. We need that step change like Maidenhead had a few years back (granted with on the pitch success helping). I don’t have an answer to this but think a fans forum would be a good start to brainstorm ideas.

Just to add the above us not meant as a dig at anyone at the club. Just an observation and hopefully comes across in a constructive positive way

[Matt]

13 minutes ago, Mark44 said:

I’ve seen and heard lots the past couple of weeks from various sources and to be honest it’s hard to decipher what’s actually going on and so will try and only comment on my opinion and nothing else but I have two main worries at present:-

1- it is clear there is uncertainty. Regardless of whether or not this gets fixed, other teams will be aware and will be looking at our better players. Locally the likes of Oxford, Hampton, Hemel etc will be sniffing around no doubt. 
 

2- we seem to lack a certain innovation when it comes to new ideas to get fans in. There is absolutely no questioning those in charge and it is clear they are working extremely hard and have the clubs best interests at heart but seems to be a spark (like what Mark Bailey brought to the table) missing. We can put offers on until we are blue in the face and beg people to bring more fans with them but it seems that gets us to maybe 650 average max. We need that step change like Maidenhead had a few years back (granted with on the pitch success helping). I don’t have an answer to this but think a fans forum would be a good start to brainstorm ideas.

Just to add the above us not meant as a dig at anyone at the club. Just an observation and hopefully comes across in a constructive positive way

Worth pointing out here that whilst Maidenhead’s ‘step change’ involved doing a lot in the community, which is enviable, it also involved (and presumably still involves) someone pumping in a lot of money. 

[Mark44]

Just now, Matt said:

Worth pointing out here that whilst Maidenhead’s ‘step change’ involved doing a lot in the community, which is enviable, it also involved (and presumably still involves) someone pumping in a lot of money. 

Absolutely

[Sir Rebel1965]

I hate to say it but the Dorking model that Marc (my hair is not dyed) White has put together is what we ideally want.

A backer who has a good money source, who is passionate about his home team and is vocal about it that pulls others in.

By him putting in his own money it gives others confidence to put their money in and you end up with a large enough budget to have full time staff both on and off the field which lets move up the ladder.

There are things to be learnt from this but it involves major changes and took him longer than he would have liked, it also put some noses out of joint, but progress and stability are now paying dividends at Dorking.

So big decisions are needed to either get a big money person in and let them run the club as a professional business, or run on a small budget with volunteers and accept that we cannot complete with the big spenders.

The first option gives the opportunity of upwards movement, bigger crowds etc., but dilutes the community club ethos; the second risks downward movement with reduction in crowds and income uncertainty, but the club is still run by the fans.

There also the elephant in the room of the ground which has its agreement with the club up for renewal soon,and SBC's financial woes.

I offer no answers to these issues, but they are directions which the club and fans need to be aware of.

[3spirit]

1 hour ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

I hate to say it but the Dorking model that Marc (my hair is not dyed) White has put together is what we ideally want.

A backer who has a good money source, who is passionate about his home team and is vocal about it that pulls others in.

By him putting in his own money it gives others confidence to put their money in and you end up with a large enough budget to have full time staff both on and off the field which lets move up the ladder.

There are things to be learnt from this but it involves major changes and took him longer than he would have liked, it also put some noses out of joint, but progress and stability are now paying dividends at Dorking.

So big decisions are needed to either get a big money person in and let them run the club as a professional business, or run on a small budget with volunteers and accept that we cannot complete with the big spenders.

The first option gives the opportunity of upwards movement, bigger crowds etc., but dilutes the community club ethos; the second risks downward movement with reduction in crowds and income uncertainty, but the club is still run by the fans.

There also the elephant in the room of the ground which has its agreement with the club up for renewal soon,and SBC's financial woes.

I offer no answers to these issues, but they are directions which the club and fans need to be aware of.

There is a third way -stay as a community club but find bigger sponsors ,and a few wealthy enough businessmen who are from the area and are into football and club together in a co-operative way to fund the club. Add the Supporters Trust and the other Slough fans who care enough about the club to say raise funds/initatives, off the top of my head say £10 a month to pay for one player over a season. Perhaps have a imitation brick wall to advertise those fans that have contributed to say signing a star player for the season. Keep  the steering commiteee structure in place but change one person on the board say every two years to bring new ideas. Get someone like a middle man/liaison officer to keep ALL Slough fans informed with progress on and off the pitch.Hold yearly open forums at Arbour Park for Slough supporters.     

Edited November 27, 2022 by 3spirit

[Nathan]

Steve Delaney bought this BBC Berkshire interview with Unders to my attention after the game on Saturday for anyone who hasn't listened to it:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0dhn7dd

[GlenSTFC]

An interesting listen but nothing that we don’t already know. The club aren’t going to reveal the true finances so we can only take from it that the finances/ambitions of the club and Neil & Jon differ greatly. Be interesting to see what club they end up at. Pretty certain the next club (barring a few distance/budget wise) in our division who sack their manager will be linked to them. 

[Sir Rebel1965]

1 hour ago, GlenSTFC said:

An interesting listen but nothing that we don’t already know. The club aren’t going to reveal the true finances so we can only take from it that the finances/ambitions of the club and Neil & Jon differ greatly. Be interesting to see what club they end up at. Pretty certain the next club (barring a few distance/budget wise) in our division who sack their manager will be linked to them. 

It is not what he says, but what he doesn't say.

Listen again.

[GlenSTFC]

32 minutes ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

It is not what he says, but what he doesn't say.

Listen again.

If you don’t know Neil & Jon after nearly 10 years you never will! They have respect for the club and yes could easily have told us everything but as they rightly said it’s upto the club to disclose that. They’ve parted on the best terms, why jeopardise their legacy but spilling the beans? It’s likely we’ll never know the full facts but most of us can decifer the reasons why, it’s not that difficult to see.