New beginnings - Fresh Start

[4D]

Looking at it, it would bring a fair range of games nearer to home that L2 does.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_National_League

I think mid L1 is probably our natural level (would actually be interesting to know if anyone has ever done analysis of our history to know where our level sits), but as you say it all gets very samey in the bottom two divisions.

It was done some time ago and was around the mid 50s, so mid level league one is about right.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

Another one! Got to be the main success story of the season.

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/march/town-agree-big-sponsorship-deal-with-cellular-fitness/

[RobertT]

Another one! Got to be the main success story of the season.

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/march/town-agree-big-sponsorship-deal-with-cellular-fitness/

Indeed, Revenue generation is one of the areas we certainly seem to have improved in the past 2 years.  That's with some significant pieces of the off field jigsaw puzzle still missing as well.  Shows what a club can do with a decent fanbase if they start to put their mind to it.  It creates a frustration for me because I wonder why they try and run so thin on everything else - like the shop/merchandise angle for example (which always seems a bit jumble sale to me still).

[Pookemon]

This is effectively what got Leeds into financial difficulties, the difference was they borrowed against their future Champions League income, and then didn’t qualify.

The only issue I could see with us is that the clubs we are due to get that money from can’t (or won’t) pay

It wasn't like Leeds.   They gambled on champions league income and set a playing budget accordingly.  The Bank didnt loan them money on contracted income, and do their own risk assessment.

Clem is also personally liable for any default as he's used one of his properties as security.   It's a perfectly normal facility, I've set many up like this.  In addition it doesn't have to be used it's just there if you need it.

[Batch]

Another one! Got to be the main success story of the season.

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/march/town-agree-big-sponsorship-deal-with-cellular-fitness/

Active know how much we make of such deals? Must be relatively little given the sheer number of them.

I think building links is worth more than the cash mind. Though every pound counts

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

Brentford have made it work well.

‘ Brentford publish 22 accounts. 🔑figures
Turnover £141m, more than the previous 15 seasons added together
Wages £68m, lowest in PL
Profits £30m
Transfer spend £40m
Borrowings down to £39m’

[RobertT]

Only just - go see their financial losses in previous years.  They have just about managed it by the transfer dealings they do, which is the ultimate aim.  But it has taken some real risk and financial backing upfront to get there.

[RobertT]

"Losses before player sales have totalled £197 million since 2013. However Brentford's model has generated £141 million of player-sale profits"

[Bob's Orange]

What's the term, "speculate to accumulate"?

It's hugely challenging to do this and many clubs are in deep financial shit for trying. Fair play to Brentford and Brighton for going from paupers to eating with the fat cats at the King's table, many won't.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

It’s not the scale, though, it’s the model. What needs pondering is whether it can work at our basement level.

Is a non league or ex-academy player a bigger punt for us than, say, Brighton and/or Brentford paying for lower league EFL players. Is the risk bigger for us?

By risk I mean the ‘punts’ coming good.

[RobertT]

That isn't what Brentford were doing though, is it?  Ivan Toney for example, cost them 5m from Peterborough, to replace Watkins (sold for 33m) who they purchased for a couple of million (based on reports).

They've taken some very calculated gambles, but not low cost ones.  They were not taking cast offs, or maybe's.

[RobertT]

I would say someone like Khan fits the bill at our level - I can understand that one if we were to do the project correctly.  A well regarded lower level player who maybe can make the step-up - identified by some data to show he'd be OK (50%+ probability).

Peterborough have been good at playing the transfer market for forwards.  They've seemingly narrowed it down to the position that has highest returns, rather than the entire squad.  I presume they have some misses we do not read about, but they know one good striker can make a mint.  Our problem seems to have been to do this for every position bar GK, in one season.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

That isn't what Brentford were doing though, is it?  Ivan Toney for example, cost them 5m from Peterborough, to replace Watkins (sold for 33m) who they purchased for a couple of million (based on reports).

They've taken some very calculated gambles, but not low cost ones.  They were not taking cast offs, or maybe's.

But that was what I was asking. Is the risk of a player turning out well higher for us trawling non league and ex-academies or Brentford buying established, but lower league, EFL players. I don’t mean financial risk but the risk of the recruitment becoming a shit show.

[RobertT]

Yes, we are risking on unproven talent by and large.  Khan is the exception, maybe Hutton.

[RobertT]

Brentford have also signed experienced talent from less fashionable markets.