The Board

On here, it seems the blame is being put everywhere, from the fans to the manager to the players.

One place where I think we can all agree is responsible for the failures of the club over the past few years is the board. So, hypothetically, if you were Steve Lansdown and you wanted to secure Premier League status within the next five years, what would you do with the board? Would you sack them all and start over? If so, who would you hire? Any former faces you'd like to see on the board running the show? Any clubs you'd like to see Bristol City emulate or poach from?

Let's all pretend for a second that the manager and players are fine. Let's say we're building a new Bristol City. Who goes from the board and who comes in, and what do they do first?

 

I don't feel in a position/well enough informed to bear judgement on the board, positive or negative. What I will say though is that there's always seemed to be decent funds available for transfers/wages, so does that imply that the significant losses incurred over the past few years has been investment, or is it down to poor management of the club as a business concern...

 

PP

 

I'm just glad that my house hasn't collapsed and the Bristol City board were my only option to do the rebuild. Steve Lansdown hires these supposed members of our brain trust and yet they never seem willing to employ somebody who actually understands what the game of football is all about.

Until such time as you place a footballing person at the top level of Bristol City you are setting up failure at all levels. I rest my case.

 

Perhaps Bristol City would benefit from McInnes being more of a head coach and us landing a Graham Carr type to be a Director of Football?

 

The bucks stop right at the top- SL has to take the flack,he has Appointed all these guys or allowed his board to pick them

 

Get a Malaysian. You wouldn't even need to change your colours.

 

After the PR farce that was Sexstone was concluded for the clubs undoubted benefit, I thought we'd at least appear more professional and thoughtful in our dealings and future plans for Bristol City, but this is without doubt the most faceless and immobile bunch of individuals that I've seen for a long time.

What do they actually do..... ?

 

Don't want to ruin a decent thread with a light hearted post, but Wizey, what is this "franchise" thing you're so obsessed about?

Perhaps you'd like to explain your viewpoint on it?

After all, this thread was started by a BC supporter about your own board of directors who appear to be doing a less than adequate job.

 

You are getting a Malaysian then?

 

Here we go again. Blame blame blame with no substance or evidence.

Tbh I haven't got much clue what our board do or any other board for that matter.

I do know that Keith Dawe is not great with the media/fans (he used to be my boss) simply coz he's a bit shy and looks a little bit like a hobbit. But he is intelligent and does know a lot about football (he watches more than most of us I reckon). He also followed a lot of grassroots football which could be another reason why focus is going back into the academy.

The way I see it, is to do well in the higher leagues you need either momentum (which is what we had in the playoffs) or a **** load of money. SL knows that if he chucked millions and millions in for players wages/transfer fees we will never see it back because the club is not sustainable. Our fan base is not big enough to sustain the wages - simple. I think he sees the success of Swansea situation as what we should try to achieve. Their new stadium was the springboard to make the club more sustainable and afford the wages of better players each time. However if we get a new stadium I still think we will struggle because the fans still won't come because they'll refuse to go. It made sense for swansea to get a new stadium because they had more fans than what could fit in the ground - we can't even fill the stadium that we've got.

 

Serious point lads, all joking aside. I've no idea how Steve Lansdown supports your club financially.

Does he provide the necessary funding by providing it in the form of maturing (or open ended) loans, or does he issue and purchase further equity in the club?

 

You'd better get the council to build it for you then and rent it from them - that's what Swansea did and it worked.

As far as filling it is concerned, The Liberty has a capacity of approx 20,500. They couldn't fill it down there until they reached te Prem. That's the prospect you face if you go it alone and splash the dosh.

Big gamble and one we had to face at Cardiff as we had little choice. Fortunately, we are now near to filling it (26,500) at Championship level.

 

In the last 15 years, the most successful club in terms of rising from the depths (currently League One) and making it to the top tier (Prem) and actually staying there (never relegated from the top tier of English football) albeit by the skin of their teeth almost every season?

Wigan Athletic who are owned by an ex professional footballer, Dave Whelan, who made lots of money with various businesses.
He built up a grocery chain in the North and sold it to a Mr Morrison and also built up his sports clothing/equipment empire JJB.

Obviously SL is not an ex pro footballer, so perhaps that is what he really needs within the board is a business man who also knows what it is like to slog your guts out for nine months a year up and down the country in wind, rain, snow and baking August sun.
At least such a person might not be so easily manipulated as board members at City appear to have been for many many years now! But would be smart enough to spot the genuine needs of a football manager who I believe wants to build this club right up to the top of the tree.

 

Dave Whelan always strikes me as an honest, no nonsense sort of bloke who knows what he's talking about football wise, and knows exactly what he wants/needs to keep quite a little club like Wigan in the top tier with limited support. The owner and board of Bristol City could learn a lot from someone like Dave Whelan

 

So sack the board is the latest mantra.
I remember 3 years ago when it was sack GJ - look where that got us
We need to be careful what we wish for - very careful