New beginnings - 25% Truth, 80% Bollocks

Some notes from tonight, for anyone who’s interested.

It was less of a car crash, and they seemed to have learnt some lessons about what and how to present. But in some respects, it felt bleaker. Fewer fans in attendance, less passion. And that cheering when Clem said the club wasn’t for sale - bizarre.

Vic chaired. No Phil King.

I reckon about 80 seats. A few gaps, but a few standing as well.

No James Watts answering Qs. He was at the other end of the Lounge with the likes of Gavin Gunning and Adam Hart.

No PowerPoint.

Mark Kennedy started. He emphasised the support he had had from Clem. He said:

"Not only as Clem massively increased the budget on last year, but when we got to that level, and we reached it very quickly, he's then gone out of his way to finance another three outstanding players, and never once, has he said, 'I haven't got the money for this'. It's just been, 'What can I do to help you as a head coach? To be successful?' That's all Clem's ever said."

Vic asked about academies overseas.

Clem: “We're looking at international academies, Australia, Karachi, we're trying to get kids to come over here. We did a tour a couple of months ago. They came over and they stayed at the RAU.
“We're looking at other avenues out there… Australia, we're still looking at because football in Australia is huge. [and then something possible about a lack of pathways in Australia that I couldn’t make out]”

Vic: Can you explain why when we did one of these before you said it (Karachi) wasn't part of the football club? Can you just clear up that confusion for us?

Clem: “Well, at the time, I didn't really understand the detail of it. Obviously, I sat down with Zav, and I sat down with him, and then he walked away from it, and Alex Pike took over, and me and Alex were going through it and just working out the pathways with Karachi.”

Vic: “So what would your ideal be, to attract one or two of these players over here, get them through the Swindon Town system, get them into the first team?

Clem: “It's up to them. Look, we just want to work out a pathway, and I'm trying to work out if I can get kids over here, and what other areas we can get players into the system.”

There was a question about Fitton’s involvement.

Clem: “I've had a couple of meetings. Me and Anthony had a couple of meetings. We think we're just trying to work out a consultancy role. I fly out next Tuesday. We're gonna have to sit down with him just before I go, just trying to work out his ideas and trying to get him into the club and some sort of role, just trying to work out where he fits in.”

Vic: “What sort of consultancy would that be? Communications, PR?”

Clem: “Communications and PR, he obviously knows the town, he’s been there and done it before, so that's what we’re trying to do.”

Good question about turnover of playing and management staff and it’s impact on our ability to be promoted. Why don’t people stick around? And what are you doing about it?

Clem: “I think with personnel, obviously, you try your try stuff and see what works what doesn't work. We've got a lot of staff that have been here for a long time. But I agree with you regards to managers.

"We've gone through a few managers since I've taken over, but obviously you want to try to make sure you get the right one. People lose six games, and then people call for the manager's head or the chairman’s head. So I totally agree. There's times where you just got to stick in there and make sure that you back the manager, make sure that he can he's got all the tools to get it done.”

And a question about the seven aspirations Clem had for the club when he took over. How do you think you’ve done?

Clem: “I think the first, we brought the County Ground with the Supporters Trust, which is a team which has been good.
We've got a good relationship the supporters trust with Neil and everybody there. So we got the JV.

"No, it's not sustainable. I didn't realise how much money that the club needed. There was a lot of hidden debt that I didn't realize which I've cleaned up. There's debentures. There was other stuff there that we had to sort out, which has drained a little bit of money.

"In regards to fan base. I think the first year was really good. We got in the playoffs. We lost against Port Vale, which was devastating. And then I think that the last two years haven't been good at all. So it changed it completely. I needed to concentrate more on the football side in regards to putting more money into the budget. So that was my concentration.

"Obviously, it comes down to process in regards to redeveloping the ground. People just think you click your fingers and start building. You'll go through planning to go through the JV making sure they agree with everything and make sure they're happy with it. So there is a process as architects, as engineers and budgets and stuff like that. So I think that's a process that we need to do.

"In regards to training ground. The training ground, look, we started looking at the RAU, which we're doing at the moment. Still got another year in Beversbrook, so we're still looking through that. So it's a process. There's so much stuff that needs to be done.

"It's an aging stadium. There's been no investment into the stadium for so many years, so and it takes time. And I think people realise the same time, look, we set up the advisory board meetings, which we've done since day dot. I've done every one of them. I think I might have been late for one of them.

"I think we can get better. There's we can always get better. Always strive to improve, and we try and do that and look like I'll take the criticism like I've said on the chin and all day people have said, 'do you regret buying the football club?' Not at all. I've got a plan. I'll stick to the plan, and I just keep moving and keep pushing forward regardless of what needs to be done. I'll just keep going. I've still got the same aspirations."