Despite trying to remain as positive as possible it's time to realise that what has transpired at Ashton Gate during the lasts 4 years has been nothing short of a disgrace. Shed loads of money have been wasted on achieving absolutely nothing by bringing in so many non-committed players who have about as much self respect as it takes to be unworthy of the tag of professional footballer. Countless bad decisions in every aspect of the club's day to day activities followed by even more bad decisions makes me wonder what made Coppell disappear down the road so quickly. I believe he saw a totally disfunctional organisation at every level and headed for the hills while he still had some self respect. How on earth has a supposedly astute businessman stood by and let this happen whilst throwing more of his money down the drain every single day? My anger is probably evident and the pride I showed in being a Bristol City supporter has disappeared down the proverbial toilet along with the team and probably a lot of long term followers as well. I have come to the conclusion that I have a lot of better things to concentrate on as I get older so it's farewell and goodbye. Have enjoyed my brief spell on this site and please keep your faith whilst I have regretfully lost all of mine.
It's a shame as SL had so many good ideas and direction for the club, something the club had been crying out for for decades..A good business man with money that had a love for Bristol City FC. But it's also a shame, that SL assembled a board that were clueless regarding the structure of team affairs, managers, players etc. Main problem I believe, is we achieved too quickly once promoted to the championship, everything going well, playoff final, big times ahead. As soon as we lost that final and the world cup bid, SL lost a bit of interest. It's seems we had a couple of glory years and now we are back to the same old Bristol City. Will SL want to continue to invest his money into the club or has he more important interests?
I totally agree with everything you said onefor and it makes me so sad that my beloved Bristol City has been reduced to this pathetic state. I fear that SL may indeed decide to cut his substantial losses or even worse decide to go down another unmentionable path that would leave us in a worse state of affairs. Should the inevitable come to pass I believe the road back will be fraught with all kinds of problems and could be a very long trek. Going down with aspirations of a next season return is all very well and good, but you only need to look back at the thoughts going through our minds after the Wembley playoff final to know that dreams can be shattered very quickly. Very rarely am I lost for words but this time I am absolutely gutted at the lack of attention to detail from the people who were supposed to have our best interests at heart.
Sure Mr Lansdown did what he felt was right, but agree with the sketch that its his wealth that creates a problem. Strategy has been create a debt, write it orf, create **** off debts, write them orf aswell ...basket cases like Pompey did part of that. Clubs spending less have done more FAR MORE. Training first to get my mojo sorted, then 11 AM start monday with the chaps, may be blind by kick off but grinning inanely .. The tide isn't quite in yet although its down to the sandcastles to stop it!
I don't think that SL has lost interest - he's been at every game If/when we go down the world will still keep turning - the next job will start - i.e how do we get back while living within our means
After City lost to Hull Mr Lansdown altered the way the club ran. Previously City had operated with debts that the club itself could manage, City even made a nomial profit. Now BCFC operate 140% past income and losses have to be turned into equity by Mr Lansdown as BCFC cannot service its debts each season. The two models mentioned are very different. The latter is not a case of losing interest as he Mr Lanasdown has increased his financial holding in/over BCFC. City formerly were owned by its support, now it is Mr Lansdown. The structure being put in place now with a strategist at the top in Sean O'driscoll does look promising and cohesive. Not a sign of Mr Lansdown losing interest as again as his financial exposure is increased, and the possible losses personally massive if failure becomes endemic.
some of born before 1928 are quickly losing the battle to see top flight football again at BCFC, NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE fighting it out to auto promo from DIV 1 with crowds of probably 11000+ the following year hoping we can stick to back in the championship and the following year maybe going for the prem so that's 3 more years..................... F * * *
Mike - knee jerk reaction from you there my friend. As a true City fan, it's in your blood and whatever happens this season (and it looks like relegation), you'll be back as will the rest of us. Once you're a true fan, there's no turning back. You, like me and countless other older ones on this site, suffered the shame of the big drop back in the Alan Dicks days and playing in division 4 with a bunch of rag tag players. We toughed it out and clawed our way up - it wasn't easy, it took a long time but we still did it. We never quite reached the summit but we came close. SMHBCFC is spot on. SL is still behind us and we will have to adjust next year but that means getting rid of some of the expensive dead wood and creating a team that is young, hungry and can grow together. When you look at what we're doing in the academy, the new training facilities and the (hopeful) new stadium of AG revamp, we're still in a better place than many other clubs, even some of those that will stay in the Championship. A few winning seasons will do us good as the past few have taken their emotional toll on most of us.
I tend to think it was the reaction of a totally disgruntled City fan who got fed up with hearing the same old rubbish from the people responsible for this debacle. As far as the bad old days of Div 4 etc I must confess I was right out of the loop during those dark days because there was absolutely no coverage of football at all in Canada and no internet etc to keep me up with anything regarding Bristol City. You're probably right to say that the supporters that went through that time have a lot more belief with what is currently happening and I wish I could add myself to that list but right now I'm too badly hurt. Like a lot of others I had hoped to see us playing some better football in our new stadium and I just cannot see that happening during my time regrettably. Of course I will still follow Bristol City but my head isn't in the right place at this time but by the kick-off next season who knows? I still think that the people to blame shoud hang their collective heads in shame because they have taken us backwards rather than the hope hanging around Ashton Gate a few short years ago.
Before the internet was available to us peeps, I was living in Bermuda and my mum would mail me copies of the Evening Post reports so I could stay up to date. That was when we had the Goat banging the goals in and I knew his dad and uncle from playing against them in the Bermuda league. Luckily his uncle was a bar tender at a local bar in Hamilton and I would take the reports in to show him and in return he would give me free Heinekens all night!
How come you didn't send them to me Tampa? I didn't even know we almost went out of business in the 80's and never knew of the AG8 until way later when I was told by a smug Blackpool fan. Anyway there it is and we will await the footballing gods decision on our future.
Actually Mike, the worst period for me was in the couple of months at end of 1981 and early 1982 when there seemed to be a real probability that City would fold and be lost forever. Once the rescue started by people like Darren Collier of Park Furnishers, there was at least hope for the future. When the share issue was opened to the public, I had £110 in the bank and decided to buy £70 of shares and my 80 year old father, who had seen City back in the Billy Wedlock days, bought a £10 share. To say my wife at the time was not pleased is an understatement, although she realised how much City meant to me and in fact some time after became a season ticket holder with me until her death in early 1998. So when the new company took over, it was with a great sense of relief that we all turned up to see a team of kids play Fulham and get a 0-0 draw. A very skinny Rob Newman, Wayne Bray and a tiny little lad Jon Economou were among the kids who struggled against hardened Third Division and the next season, Fourth Division pros. The Sunday trip to Northampton to see us hammered 1-7 and in December 1982, just three years after being 8th in the First Division, we lost at Rochdale to go bottom of the pile. It was a roller coaster ride but Terry Cooper was magnificent as player manager and so were the kids who made it and the free transfer assortment that we got from then on. Tom Ritchie and Chris Garland came back to help out and Glynn Riley and Alan Crawford were brilliant. I don't think that this sason is anywhere near as bad as that period in our history, but after the promise of the play-off final v Hull, it seems to have gone downhill so fast like an out of control skier. I feel absolutely gutted at our impending relegation, but will be there against Bolton and Birmingham and again next season for at least half a dozen matches. It's in the blood and in my soul; I'm City til I die, so whatever happens and however bitter I seem at this time (please forgive me fellow City fans), I'll always be there in spirit even if not at every game.
I spoke to my daughter last night after the results came in to say it looks like we are going down this season. Her words to me was its been on the cards for a few months now so she has been ready for it. She also said at least we will be able to get rid of some of the players who has not got the passion to play for us no more, and rebuild. I said who I would like to leave, and some of them are her favourites and she said yep and said the ones she would like to keep. Cunningham, Moloney, Kelly and Anderson. She said Heaton and Stead but can't see it happening. She also commented that even if we go down, she still wants her season tickets, still wants to go to ****ty L1 grounds. Was proud my 13 year old was taking it better than me, and still being positive about it
cidered, yep remember the youngsters in 82, played from 11 till 16 with wayne bray, good friend, very proud to see him in a city shirt from the eastend, had a trial for city but missed out as got measles, but i wasnt good enough anyhow!
As an addition to my earlier post on the sad days of 1982. On reflection now and a bit late for the thread about three months ago on City's best manager of all time, I have now come to the conclusion that while Alan dicks achieved the miracle of getting us to the 1st Division, he also was significantly to blame for the 7 to 11 year contracts that brought us down. Yet Terry Cooper rescued us from extinction in 82 and 83 so successfully that we started the rise back up by getting promotion a season later. So in hindsight, I consider his achievement was greater than AD's.
She has obviously been brought up proper by two loving parents who have instilled into her that City is important but not as important as other rotten things that happen in this world. After all it's only a game, isn't it!
JG2 I thought that you were a stats based individual if so what stats have you based the quick return to the championship and then an assault on the Prem? How many seasons did it take you to get out of L1 7,8 or 9 it will not prove easy under FFS rules and the exodus of 8 or so players from your current squad. Assuming you drop this season and you still have 21pts to play for so its not all over till the fat lady sings realistically how long will you stay in L1 or will you continue the decline into L2? COR View attachment 22527
Well I really hope we don't decline in to league 2, cos thats a ****pit for next to amateur outfits who can barely manage 5k crowds!
