Fitton

[Ardiles]

I think the thing he'll probably have trouble getting his head round is the fact that over 32,000 turned up on Saturday for Swindon, yet we rarely get a five figure gate unless we're playing a team which used to be Premiership.

1.  Takes time.  We had to suffer boardroom mismanagement for over a decade, during which time the club took a serious dive in the minds of many people in the town.  Turning that perception around will need a sustained period of better management and results.  Saturday will have helped, despite the result.  Some of the day trippers will be back, I'm sure, especially if results are good early next season.

2.  Unlike a number of other clubs in the area (Oxford, Reading in particular) we have not yet had the benefit of our ground redevelopment boost.  When that happens, expect to see another rise in interest locally.

That's just for starters.  If we maintain our trajectory, I don't think the days of 5 figure average attendances will be far off.

[Don Rogers Shop]

I agree Ardiles.I just hope it's not the ground redevelopment that is causing him grief

[sonicyouth]

fitton is great. speaks his mind and is refreshingly honest.

he knows how far he's taken this club and he knows that he's made mistakes. i doubt he got to where he is today by walking away from things.

we all know how fitton feels about some aspects of modern football - parachute payments, agents, greedy footballers - but i think the positives far outweigh any negatives.

[Crispy]

Shite, hope this isnt true.

Heatbreaking if it is.

[chalkies_shorts]

The one thing Fitton has done more than anything is that he has given the club its self respect back. We're now credible instead of a laughing stock. That alone makes me feel proud. It was gutting paying out way over the odds watching useless wankers put on the Town shirt. We're a million miles from those days.
There's no doubt, however, that we just haven't got enough punters any more week on week to support regular Championship football. Where have those from the late 80s / early 90s gone? This season's gates given the level of performance have been dogshit. 

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Shite, hope this isnt true.

Heatbreaking if it is.

Hope WHAT isn't true exactly?

[pride_of_wilts]

The one thing Fitton has done more than anything is that he has given the club its self respect back. We're now credible instead of a laughing stock. That alone makes me feel proud. It was gutting paying out way over the odds watching useless wankers put on the Town shirt. We're a million miles from those days.
There's no doubt, however, that we just haven't got enough punters any more week on week to support regular Championship football. Where have those from the late 80s / early 90s gone? This season's gates given the level of performance have been dogshit. 

I have no doubt that a lot of fan's will come back if we get back into the Championship, Until that happen's the harsh reality is we will struggle to average 11,000 or more.

[Arriba]

make that 7,500

[Frigby Daser]

It was 8,300 this year Arriba. In League One.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

I agree Ardiles.I just hope it's not the ground redevelopment that is causing him grief

Why would it? Have I missed something? Thought all that was doing well.

[chalkies_shorts]

It was still shit

[Don Rogers Shop]

Why would it? Have I missed something? Thought all that was doing well.

No not at all just trying to think what could happen off the pitch that would make him feel disillusioned. Fwiw i think he is just taking away some of the pressure of managment and players and just doing it by saying these things.

[Panda Paws]

There's no doubt, however, that we just haven't got enough punters any more week on week to support regular Championship football.

Really? In the Championship we would average 10000 plus in the current ground and more in a redeveloped CG. there are teams in the Championship getting no where near these gates and competing...blackpool being the most spectacular but scunthorpe get no-one. The three sides who came down were hardly getting the crowds in. Preston, Barnsley and donny are hardly packing them in...even QPR only average 13000.

The bottom half of the Champ is not particularly strong, indicated by the fact that the winner of the L1 PO final hasnt been relegated straight away since 1994 and four of the last five are still up there now! I have no doubt the three sides who went up will stay up.

[Oaksey Moonraker]

When Fitton and the rest of the board took over, Fitton talked about rotating the role of chairman so it is possible thathe may do that and possibly give Nick Watkins a bigger day to day role now the club is more settled. There has been loads of crap come out this year e.g. the St Modwen affair and the CVA not signed off formally. Sounds like Fitton is a bit weary and he mentioned non football stuff so maybe his other business commitments are taking over. Can't see Fitton and the rest of the board walking away at this point but we need to maintain the momentum next season

[Simon Pieman]

Yeah I mentioned that in another thread Oaksey, I was starting to wonder if I'd made it up.

They won't just walk away. With the amount of money which has gone into it, I'd suspect they'd want their money back - finding a buyer would be a challenge without planning permission.