Bumped into Malcolm Rowlett this afternoon.

[I am Spartacus]

Bumped into Malcolm this afternoon and asked what is happening at the club. He said we were close to sigining 2 new players. I did not press him for their names, as I think this would have been rude.

 

One thing he did say that I think would be of great interest to everyone is that they did not tell Trotty that he had the job until after the game last Saturday. Infact, he had just finished Trotty's contract to send to him. So it was not only us the board was playing games with last week.

 

He also said like me and, I imagine most of you that he cannot wait for the new season to begin.

[knighty101]

sounds good and yes this is the first time in 2 years im excited about next season!

[Gate Watcher]

Thanks for passing that on Joseba. It all sounds very exciting. Hopefully we will get some news on whether or not the budget will allow Trotty the 6 players he would like to get.

[I am Spartacus]

Oh I also forgot to say that Trotty is not pleased about the target of 1st round of the FA Cup.

 

 

 

 

 

He wants the 3rd round at least.

[Cookie]

Yet the local (& I know its just the local,press that is) mentioned that Trotty was told on the morning of the match. Still who are we to argue with Malcolm.He is a straight forward guy who is a "fan" & "supporter" first and a Chairman second. Nice guy!

Hope you apologised for bumping into Malcolm. Were either of you hurt? l.o.l.

[knighty101]

Quote:

Joseba said:
Oh I also forgot to say that Trotty is not pleased about the target of 1st round of the FA Cup.

He wants the 3rd round at least.

oh that would be sweet

[I am Spartacus]

No we are both OK. Luckily it was outside ST. Saviours Church in Westgate.

[Gate Watcher]

I think Trotty is just the man to take us far in the cup with his motivation. Would love to do well in the FA Cup. Let's face it it won't be difficult to do better than we have done this year in any competition.

[michael]

Cup runs become increasingly important to us at 'this level'.

 

Obviously there is the fundng aspect, but because our FA Cup season effectively starts in late August,and Trophy not much later, we can be out of both competitions by end of September, which effectively kills the season after just 6-7 weeks ,and lowers Gate revenue

[Gate Watcher]

10th September was the date we started in the FA Cup in 2005/6. 1st qualifying round. For next season I wouldnt think that an FA Cup exit would end the season. We should be there or thereabouts in the promotion hunt. Whether it is for outright promotion or a sniff of the playoffs we dont know yet. I think it rests on the budget and whether or not Trotty is allowed to bring in all his targets. He must be supported. To keep attendances high however we must get off to a good start in the league or an early cup exit like this year would lead to a drop in attendances and interest with floating supporters. Until Boxing Day that is.

[michael]

Cup runs are vital next season.

 

RT has his work cut out to get us to the Play-offs.

 

With the revenue their crowds generate, i would think Wombles will be able to buy their way out of the League.

 

Bromley, Heybridge, Chelmsford seem to have money.

I thoughtStaines were good last year and may get better.

 

Its gonna be tough.

 

Cup run to generate funds and keep everyone interested will be so important imo

[Boney Crisp]

Quote:

Joseba said:


One thing he did say that I think would be of great interest to everyone is that they did not tell Trotty that he had the job until after the game last Saturday. Infact, he had just finished Trotty's contract to send to him. So it was not only us the board was playing games with last week.

.

Told you lot so. Cant Wait till next season. Promotion, FA Cup 3rd round and good run in FA Trophy for Margate and a UEFA Cup win and a Champions league spot for Tottenham. Oh yeah Sodje in the Premiership. COME ON MARGATE!!!!!

[Chris1]

You say Wombles have more cash than us, but they say wish we could afford players like Hockton and Brayley.

[Cookie]

Lets hope WE can still afford them Chris. What with needing some other decent players in that mode are we going to be able to afford them as well without getting into debt again? Attendances of over or near to at least 1000 next season are more important than we realise.We all really have to work very hard on getting those match figures.The club also has to promote things better than they have done previously.Better advertising etc. We have all gone over this before I know but really it needs addressing for next season if we want to sustain these signings and a non lossmaking club again. We need a commercial manager at the club to help with this. It was promised to us once upon a time but nothing seems to have come about.

[Chris1]

Yes we need 1000 plus to survive purely as a football club. However our board have other ideas with the commercial plans. All power to their elbow and let's hope it comes off. They do listen to us fans, so here's a plea: PROTHEROE! Added to Brayley and Hockton he will bring the punters in big time.

[Chris1]

To develop that argument a bit further, what gates would we get in league 2? You have to say 3-4000 surely, and with the added incentive of overtaking Gillingham maybe 10,000 plus with the right stadium.

[Coffin Ender]

The problem with cup runs is that they often muck up the league campaign with fixture pile-ups.

I mean, would anyone be unhappy if we get knocked out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy at the first hurdle but win promotion? I won't!

[Drummer]

Judging by what was said at the Presentation evening probably the Management (who pay the wages)

[Gate Watcher]

I think the main reason our gates are as low as they are is the general apathy surrounding the way Chris Kinnear sides played football. He had been here so long that everyone in the area who knows football knew that Margate played boring long ball football. The Premiership type fans would come along to one or two games a season and see awful football and usually a poor performance with little passion on the big occasion.

 

Trotty has said he wants to play attacking football. I think we saw that against Hendon. If he is allowed to bring the players of HIS choice in then he can have the confidence to play the way he wants all the time not just when the result isnt important.

 

So above all we need to get off to a good start and get the word round that Margate are playing good football. If the results are good and we are playing good football then a lot of people will come along to give it a go again. Its a fresh start under a new manager. Its difficult to say what attendances we could get. Playing the right way we could probably achieve crowds of 3000 in league 2. At this level if we are top 5 and playing good football then I dont see why we shouldnt be getting around the 1000 mark week in week out. The January and February months will be most difficult for attendances but if we are going great guns then it shouldnt hit them that hard. Towards the end of the year if we are still right up there we have seen that 1400 and 2400 came when we won the Southern so why not even better this time as we are a bigger club than 5 years ago.

 

In the day and age that people can watch good football in the comfort of their own homes they expect to come and see good attacking football and obviously results. Not easy but we have the man to get us there. The first player who would bring them in as Chris says is Protheroe.

[Coffin Ender]

"Judging by what was said at the Presentation evening probably the Management (who pay the wages)"

 

Clubs should budget to break-even without cup runs (you are putting yourself at the mercy of the velvet bag otherwise).