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Mr Sullivan; in the Mail (merged)
Topic Started: Jan 9 2007, 01:38 PM (2,793 Views)
bordesley
Martin Grainger
[ *  *  * ]
jassyblue80
Jan 9 2007, 02:37 PM
bordesley
Jan 9 2007, 02:35 PM
Maybe I have the wrong end of the stick here but I never said they should.  We should be utilising the resources at the club's disposal or selling salable assets in order to buy.

KRO

sorry mate sort of highjacked your thread a bit as getting sick of reading that the owners should dip in their own pockets when fans wont do the same!!

you are right about the club using the money in the right way... IMO dunn, forsell, grey should be sold to raise the finances

No worries Jassy.

You know, I actually think we might all be a bit more realistic if our expectations were managed correctly.

For example, if the board were to have said that we'll do our best with transfers to get the best players we can afford instead of promises to go up as champions, we'd have a better view of the finances of the club.

If they would set the break even figure and set the prices for tickets to the appropriate level to realistically get there then make appropriate noises like, oh I don't know....maybe "we really need you to be the 12th man etc, etc..."

What do we get? "I give up on stay away fans"

What a stroke of genious PR that is. Reverse psychology works only so far. IMO, all he's doing is getting people's backs up.

I don't claim to know everything but upsetting your customers doesn't strike me as a good idea...
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jassyblue80
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Trevor Francis
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
bordesley
Jan 9 2007, 02:54 PM
jassyblue80
Jan 9 2007, 02:37 PM
bordesley
Jan 9 2007, 02:35 PM
Maybe I have the wrong end of the stick here but I never said they should.  We should be utilising the resources at the club's disposal or selling salable assets in order to buy.

KRO

sorry mate sort of highjacked your thread a bit as getting sick of reading that the owners should dip in their own pockets when fans wont do the same!!

you are right about the club using the money in the right way... IMO dunn, forsell, grey should be sold to raise the finances

No worries Jassy.

You know, I actually think we might all be a bit more realistic if our expectations were managed correctly.

For example, if the board were to have said that we'll do our best with transfers to get the best players we can afford instead of promises to go up as champions, we'd have a better view of the finances of the club.

If they would set the break even figure and set the prices for tickets to the appropriate level to realistically get there then make appropriate noises like, oh I don't know....maybe "we really need you to be the 12th man etc, etc..."

What do we get? "I give up on stay away fans"

What a stroke of genious PR that is. Reverse psychology works only so far. IMO, all he's doing is getting people's backs up.

I don't claim to know everything but upsetting your customers doesn't strike me as a good idea...

your right about the article as are others when they talk about sullivan using the press to his own benifit... people will probably just think FC . uk it then... but i would rather see him and the rest at the club put all their efforts in to promotion now
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bordesley
Martin Grainger
[ *  *  * ]
jassyblue80
Jan 9 2007, 02:56 PM
bordesley
Jan 9 2007, 02:54 PM
jassyblue80
Jan 9 2007, 02:37 PM
bordesley
Jan 9 2007, 02:35 PM
Maybe I have the wrong end of the stick here but I never said they should.  We should be utilising the resources at the club's disposal or selling salable assets in order to buy.

KRO

sorry mate sort of highjacked your thread a bit as getting sick of reading that the owners should dip in their own pockets when fans wont do the same!!

you are right about the club using the money in the right way... IMO dunn, forsell, grey should be sold to raise the finances

No worries Jassy.

You know, I actually think we might all be a bit more realistic if our expectations were managed correctly.

For example, if the board were to have said that we'll do our best with transfers to get the best players we can afford instead of promises to go up as champions, we'd have a better view of the finances of the club.

If they would set the break even figure and set the prices for tickets to the appropriate level to realistically get there then make appropriate noises like, oh I don't know....maybe "we really need you to be the 12th man etc, etc..."

What do we get? "I give up on stay away fans"

What a stroke of genious PR that is. Reverse psychology works only so far. IMO, all he's doing is getting people's backs up.

I don't claim to know everything but upsetting your customers doesn't strike me as a good idea...

your right about the article as are others when they talk about sullivan using the press to his own benifit... people will probably just think FC . uk it then... but i would rather see him and the rest at the club put all their efforts in to promotion now

I'll :drink: to that. If we have to do it with Stern John or Rowan Vine then so be it. And I'll be there, in my seat, cheering the boys on.

Like the song says: Though you're tired and weary, still journey on!
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Prem_Noob
Paul Tait
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
i find it funny that we sold £13 million worth of players pre season and lost a big amount of players who were out of contract that earnt big bucks

season before we sold more players than we bought in terms of revenue

he makes out we are big club with a big fan base, big players, big stadium etc but then makes out as if we struggling like the lower league clubs, how can you charge fans £29 to play a team in the bottom of this division then be linked with a player who cant justify his place in a team that is struggling in this league

sullivan and gold should be rewarding the fans that have stuck by the club and have witnessed poor football for the past two years but instead they freeze ticket prices and slag off fans who believe it is too expensive to follow the club

Quote:
 
We are putting our own money in and we accept that the injury to Nicklas Bendtner means we have to buy a striker - and we will. That's our priority."


shall we expect another lower league striker who hadnt spent more than a year in professional football, an unknown youngster from an eastern european league and an over rated past it injury prone striker who has earnt enough money to live comfortbaly for the rest of his life ? - you hardly dug deep last january considering your happy to pay £30k a week for players who cant play more than 5 games in a year

if it means using your own money then perhaps you should think more carefully before sanctioning the purchasing of players who have question marks hanging over their fitness and also interests in playing for this club, the fans are not at fault it is you !
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B25 YEWTREE LOYAL
Alex Govan
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
we have been fed a diet of second best players or what was once great but is now a little older slower and yes cheaper and not just under this current board either.......no mr sullivan we are not fools
but i seem to remember we the fans upset you way back when having signed horne,furlong and newell we failed to snap up the 20,000 season tickets you expected to sell !!!!!!
somethings never change
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darenblueblue
Geoff Horsfield
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Looking at it another way, its Sully and the Golds club (mainly) and an estimated 50m pot of gold up for grabs if we go up.
I would be very surprised if, even just as businessmen, they don't shell out in January.
They will have learned from last year and won't do the same again.

Also, I agree with Jassy.
What more can the club do to get people to support what is supposed to be a 'big club'?

I went to a Brighton game a few weeks back with a mate.
It cost £22 and was played in an athletics stadium because they don't have their own ground.

Its all over-priced and maybe reality is kicking in throughout football.
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stanwood
Peter Enckelman
[ *  *  * ]
QUOTE
We are putting our own money in and we accept that the injury to Nicklas Bendtner means we have to buy a striker - and we will. That's our priority."

I think its time to realise that the boards millions is THEIRS, and thats where it will stay.
What they get out of owning this club if they are not making a profit God only knows.
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mr penguin
Sponsored by Flybe.com
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darenblueblue
Jan 9 2007, 04:35 PM
What more can the club do to get people to support what is supposed to be a 'big club'?

ditch the rip-off, money grabbing, "£10m striker", poll tax on away fans, etc, etc, mentality for starters...

look to the long term, value fans, don't treat them as cash machines, strengthen the bonds between the club and the fans...

create a long term approach to pricing that allows ordinary working people to recapture the habit of go to the matches even if we get promoted...

market the club to under 16s so that they grow up as blues fans rather than as man u, arsenal, chelsea fans... look at kids as an investment rather than a money making opportunity...

look for opportunities to differentiate blues in the eyes of neutrals in a way that might encourage them to choose blues over other clubs (e.g. take a lead in championing ladies football)...

OR

do none of the above, rely on "doing deals on ticket prices" even though you know it doesn't work, treat fans as mugs, then - when your failure to market the club effectively results in poor attendences - blame your potential customers ...

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proud2bblue
Ian Bennett
[ *  *  *  * ]
why should they?its a business to them its us who love the club.You dont become a Bluenose ur born one.KRO
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Seasoned Pro
Member Avatar
Bob Hatton
[ *  *  *  * ]
I'm pretty sure DS will continue to beat this drum, but he does need to wise up and apply some reasoning to why our crowds are down and other clubs are doing better... Crowds are down at the majority of clubs, and not just ours.....

If anything DS comments are more likely to do more damage than good. The modern day football supporter only wants to hear how much money we have to spend and the ambitions we are aiming for....... Unless DS talks in that language he won't get his wish.....

Its never great to see a stadium with empty seats, but taking into consideration a number of factors, our attendances are not all that bad....

Football is no longer the fans game anymore, it belongs to the media moguls and the players...... Give it back to the supporters and it will be grabbed with both hands...

Until something radical changes within the game, the attendances will continue to drop.
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midland red
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Mikael Forssell
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
For Those who haven't read the full interview (ammended for the biased):

Quote:
 


A Bluenose: I give up on stayaway fans

Jan 9 2007

By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

A Bluenose said he has 'given up' trying to swell Blues' attendances at St Andrew's.
Blues' average gate is 21,962, the eighth best in the Championship, despite them being top of the table.

Although that figure is virtually identical to the average the last time Blues were playing their football at this level (21,978), when prices were cheaper, it has been a source of annoyance to this bluenose.

"I've said before that can we really consider ourselves a 'big' club when Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday get bigger gates and don’t charge as much? And why are they playing better football. I do despair”

"We've done all sorts of deals on tickets and it's not as
if the board want to give something for nothing to the fans. But last week there was hardly anyone buying in the International and Gold Suites. Don’t these prawnies know what we do for them? Do they want us to keep higher prices forever?”

"Right from the start of the season, I've felt that we will go up or stay here. The only time I had my doubts was after that Norwich City game. Bringing in one more striker, which we are trying to do, and I think we will be promoted,but Arsenal have blocked Henry's loan and Windass is injured.


"We played very well on Saturday against Newcastle. We could have been 3-0 up in the first half and then, to come back with 10 men, showed a lot of character and knowledge of potholes.”



:rolleyes:
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darenblueblue
Geoff Horsfield
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
The Concerned Potato Head
Jan 9 2007, 06:05 PM


the man is a disrepectful slimeball. doesnt even care if we ever won a trophy as long as he gets his money.


Do you think he is actually making money out of Blues?

I very much doubt it.
The club floated at 50p in the IPO and are currently valued at 22 or 23p.

As he probably owns 25% or so of the club, you do the math!
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darenblueblue
Geoff Horsfield
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
mr penguin
Jan 9 2007, 04:56 PM
darenblueblue
Jan 9 2007, 04:35 PM
What more can the club do to get people to support what is supposed to be a 'big club'?

ditch the rip-off, money grabbing, "£10m striker", poll tax on away fans, etc, etc, mentality for starters...

look to the long term, value fans, don't treat them as cash machines, strengthen the bonds between the club and the fans...

create a long term approach to pricing that allows ordinary working people to recapture the habit of go to the matches even if we get promoted...

market the club to under 16s so that they grow up as blues fans rather than as man u, arsenal, chelsea fans... look at kids as an investment rather than a money making opportunity...

look for opportunities to differentiate blues in the eyes of neutrals in a way that might encourage them to choose blues over other clubs (e.g. take a lead in championing ladies football)...

OR

do none of the above, rely on "doing deals on ticket prices" even though you know it doesn't work, treat fans as mugs, then - when your failure to market the club effectively results in poor attendences - blame your potential customers ...

You have a point Pengy.

I can't argue with that!
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chudlt
Member Avatar
Frank Worthington
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
bordesley
Jan 9 2007, 01:38 PM
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/b...-name_page.html

Does he really think we're all idiots? he tells us that there are things that "fans don't know about" blah, blah, blah. Yes we do know about add-ons to releasing players, buying players that are not included etc..

However, we were promised that when we were relegated, all money from players sold would be made available for new players.

Now, if we're £5m overdrawn at the bank and so on (I do believe him in this by the way) why were we told that all the signings we made in the summer were paid for by selling Pennant.

If there's no money then Brucie should be told as much and we should be attempting to bring through our youngsters or touting Upson to everyone.

Maybe I'm wrong but the club should cut it's cloth accordingly.

And another thing. Baring the cup tie, the last two home matches have had very few empty seats in the home ends. or amd I wrong in that?

KRO

Talks a lot of sense if you ask me. If some people had their way we would be in the same state as LEEDS broke and facing relegation. The club is financially sound because of the board.
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Prem_Noob
Paul Tait
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
how can we be financially sound if were £5 million over on our overdraft
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midland red
Member Avatar
Mikael Forssell
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Prem_Noob
Jan 9 2007, 06:13 PM
how can we be financially sound if were £5 million over on our overdraft

Can someone please refer us to this alleged overdraft?

Karren used to say we were $4million in debt throught the Fry and Francis reigns. But never said anything about debt since Bruce took over - barring that one glorious ba**sup, when she said we were in debt and David Sullivan said we were making a steady profit - on the same bloody day.

So if this £5 million overdraft comes from anywhere near the fragrant one, I'd disbelieve it on principle.

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midland red
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Mikael Forssell
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
PACHSU
Jan 9 2007, 06:16 PM
The Concerned Poatato Head - shouldn't that read the Concerned Nob Head?

You show a total lack of respect and I find your post offensive to the extent that I feel I should raise this with Admin.

You need to apologise for you comments.

I find his use of words a bit stronng, but no more.
He is a blues fan upset by another attack on blues fans from a wealthy owner.
Hardly worth telling teacher.

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Bluediver
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Alex Govan
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
If Sully is exasperated by the 'stay-away' fans, imagine how he will feel next season if Blues dont achieve promotion this season.

I could see yet another drop in season ticket sales, and average attendances will fall even further.

The club could try every commercial trick in the book, but entertaining and successful top tier football at an affordable price is the only way to absolutely guarantee a sell out.

I dont think moaning about the fans has ever been a winning formula.
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DuDuDugarry
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Frank Worthington
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He's not having a go at supporters. He's having a go at those who don't support the club. And right too.
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colinblue
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Kenny Burns
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I'm sure this angle has been covered before but it's still worth raising - the amount of money that I (and many many others) spend on Blues as a percentage of my disposable income is I'm sure much higher than DS. I'm relatively fortunate in that I have a reasonably well paid job but to fork out over a grand for a couple of season tickets means something else has to be foregone. Now I'm not saying that we're not grateful for the millions he's already spent - but I bet he hasn't had to choose between a new oven or a season ticket, (which is exactly what I had to "explain" to the wife three seasons ago!) I bet he hasn't had to tell his son he has to choose between going on holiday or having a season ticket. So this year the holiday won (and the wife's had a new cooker!) which means no season tickets. Sorry DS but the vast majority of us live in the real world where we do have to make choices. :boohoo:
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Bluediver
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Alex Govan
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Quote DuDuDugarry, 'He's not having a go at supporters. He's having a go at those who don't support the club. And right too.'

Why's he having a go at people who dont support the club? Does he expect the place to be full to the brim of rival fans?

Get real. Sully is doing what he has regularly done throughout his tenure. He is sulking because his, yes his, pricing policy has been a failure, and fans are protesting in the only effective way they can - by staying away.

Let's be honest, even his manager has now voiced his concerns about the grass-roots soccer fan being alienated by champagne lifestyle prices.

I havent missed a home game this season, so I'm not defending my own position. However, I recognise that some of this clubs most loyal supporters cannot justify spending the type of money being demanded for second tier football matches. But they are still loyal supporters in my eyes, if not yours...or Sullys.
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DuDuDugarry
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Frank Worthington
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Bluediver
Jan 9 2007, 06:46 PM
Quote DuDuDugarry, 'He's not having a go at supporters. He's having a go at those who don't support the club. And right too.'

Why's he having a go at people who dont support the club? Does he expect the place to be full to the brim of rival fans?

Get real. Sully is doing what he has regularly done throughout his tenure. He is sulking because his, yes his, pricing policy has been a failure, and fans are protesting in the only effective way they can - by staying away.

Let's be honest, even his manager has now voiced his concerns about the grass-roots soccer fan being alienated by champagne lifestyle prices.

I havent missed a home game this season, so I'm not defending my own position. However, I recognise that some of this clubs most loyal supporters cannot justify spending the type of money being demanded for second tier football matches. But they are still loyal supporters in my eyes, if not yours...or Sullys.

It was ten pounds against Wrexham in the cup and only 10k turned out. It is not so much the price as the opposition. There are plenty of cheap games and special offers yet there's barely been a full house all season. Cost is a small part of the issue.
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Hirsty
Member Avatar
Administrator
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Blatantly abusive posts (towards either Mr Sullivan or other members of the club or Messageboard) have been removed by Admin (as per rules 1 and 14 :
1) Treat your fellow posters with the respect that you yourself would hope to be treated. That means no derogatory posts aimed at other users.
14) Personal attacks aimed at club staff or playing staff are unacceptable. )

We welcome sensible debate, but draw the line when posts turn into personal attack or are abusive.

Please try to keep the thread sensible and debate the subject without resorting to abusive comments - it is clearly an emotive subject and many of you will have different views.

Thanks,

Admin.
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valleyblue
Paul Tait
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
DuDuDugarry
Jan 9 2007, 06:49 PM
Bluediver
Jan 9 2007, 06:46 PM
Quote DuDuDugarry, 'He's not having a go at supporters. He's having a go at those who don't support the club. And right too.'

Why's he having a go at people who dont support the club? Does he expect the place to be full to the brim of rival fans?

Get real. Sully is doing what he has regularly done throughout his tenure. He is sulking because his, yes his, pricing policy has been a failure, and fans are protesting in the only effective way they can - by staying away.

Let's be honest, even his manager has now voiced his concerns about the grass-roots soccer fan being alienated by champagne lifestyle prices.

I havent missed a home game this season, so I'm not defending my own position. However,  I recognise that some of this clubs most loyal supporters cannot justify spending the type of money being demanded for second tier football matches. But they are still loyal supporters in my eyes, if not yours...or Sullys.

It was ten pounds against Wrexham in the cup and only 10k turned out. It is not so much the price as the opposition. There are plenty of cheap games and special offers yet there's barely been a full house all season. Cost is a small part of the issue.

You're missing the point - Cost has everything to do with it.

If (like me) you can't afford to go to games for a while (I'm afraid a new car and new house come before BCFC, besides I couldn't get to the games without the car) you simply get out of the habit of going so a "special offer" of £10.00 against Wrexham isn't much of a draw (especially as it would mean a 250 mile trip)

I'll tell you exactly what I thought about it - I thought sensible price but I was already commited elsewhere - You see because I've lost the habit of going I don't plan things around matches as I would have done in the past.

The 1 and only match I've been to this season (Liverpool) was very much a last minute decision and didn't leave me feeling as though I could the habit back again. The decision to go wasn't based on the opposition either but on the hope that I'd see Blues perform, which as you'll no doubt recall they singularly failed to do.
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tiltontrev
Keep Right On...
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
I dont care what people think about `my type` clearly not on our own,the working class man is not abadoning his club he`s being driven away from it.

Your average family has a mortgage,kids,car,bills to pay for FIRST and for me £30 would take too much of a large chunk out of what remains to justify spending it on division 2 football match.
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