'Something special' happening at Bristol City claims chief Mark Ashton a_stockhausen please log in to view this image Mark Ashton MARK Ashton claims there is a growing realisation within football that something special is happening at Bristol City. City's chief operating officer believes the club's revamped Ashton Gate stadium is serving to change the way people outside of Bristol perceive the Championship club. And he reckons there is a "buzz" about City following their impressive finish to last season, the appointment of Lee Johnson as head coach and the recruitment of new signings Gary O'Neil and Josh Brownhill. please log in to view this image City's rebuilt 27,000 all-seat stadium is scheduled to open for business when Portsmouth provide the opposition in a pre-season friendly on July 30 and there is a feeling within the football industry that the Robins are set for lift off following a challenging first campaign back in the Championship. Ashton told the Bristol Post: "Do you know what I think is going on with Bristol City at the moment? Everyone is looking over the fence and going 'ooh, what's happening here'? "We have an amazing stadium about to be completed, they see an Academy that is producing players for the first team, they see a team that's performed and been very competitive since January and they see that something is happening. "Bristol City is a big football club – it could be a very big football club. When you spend time looking in the new stand and seeing how the dressing rooms and warm-up areas have been put together, you see that no stone has been left unturned. please log in to view this image "That in turn gives us another platform from which we can recruit players. Be under no illusion, when we show them the future of Bristol City and what the stadium will be like, it is a huge advantage in terms of getting them. I think there is something special going on here." Having negotiated deals to bring midfielders Brownhill and O'Neill to Ashton Gate from Preston North End and Norwich City respectively, Ashton is now hoping to persuade Lee Tomlin to sign on the dotted line. please log in to view this image Negotiations between City and the AFC Bournemouth player's representatives have been going on for weeks now and the various parties are thought to be close to reaching agreement. Tomlin scored six goals in 18 starts during a successful loan stint at City last season and Robins head coach Johnson has made recruiting him on a permanent basis a priority this summer. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/special-happening-Bristol-City-claims-chief-Mark/story-29385441-detail/story.html
Tomlin would be a fantastic signing,what worries me is why so long,Is he waiting for a better offer elsewhere. plus we need to strengthen in the striker,defence,and midfield. we are a long way of being a force on the pitch next season.
You get so many Ashton-like people at my workplace. Corporate puppets who genuinely buy into all of this management bullshit. Crap like 'I will reach out to you soon' and 'blue sky thinking', **** off.
Bit harsh - he seems to have done a decent job so far? We have already signed one more player than in last years close-season!!
Ahhhh have a good holiday Lee but bloody well sign on the dotted line,you will become a legend here if you come.
Yeah no doubting that. He just comes across as an absolute clown of a person though. Pleased he's here admittedly.
