Bristol City fans deliver their verdict on the Lansdowns after season of frustration and failure A poll conducted by Bristol Live has revealed the fanbase are reeling from the disappointment of 2020/21 Maybe it's the Nigel Pearson factor, perhaps its Steve Lansdown's status as a local boy done good and his general benevolence and belief in what's "right", but support for the Lansdown family at Bristol City essentially remains strong. However, there is clearly a growing degree of uncertainty surrounding the overall direction of the club following a desperately disappointing 2020/21 campaign in which the Robins, for the first time in three seasons, were part of a relegation conversation. The eventually misguided decision to hire Dean Holden in the wake of Lee Johnson's dismissal, coupled with the injury crisis and City's apparent stagnation has brought fresh questioning of the ownership. In a Bristol Live survey conducted among more than 700 Robins supporters, 46% gave a definitive "yes" to the question, "are you happy with the running and direction of the club?" But 36% replied unsure and 18% no, a total that if combined that would become a majority. Of course, the benefits Steve Lansdown has brought to Bristol City almost go without saying; the redevelopment of Ashton Gate, the Robins High Performance Centre - which was opened in March - and the overall makeover of the club that has made them distinctly more modern. Plus the simple fact that during a global pandemic he has continued to financial support the club and team. But it appears the struggles of last season, and the decisions that led to it, coupled with an overall grumble within elements of the fanbase that City have somehow lost their identity as they've bowed to a more corporate model, has impacted impressions of those that run the club. In terms of the good, when asked to expand upon their answers, one responded wrote: "We are living through the worst times and our owner still bank rolls us and we must be very lucky. We just have to look at the owners of other clubs and what they think of their fans." Another added: "Comparatively we are a well-run, sustainable club with excellent facilities and an good club ethos. Bar performances on the pitch the whole club has improved year on year and outside of the team can evidence itself as a Premier League club." A comment along similar lines was: "We have owners who care and want the club to provide for itself but are there if needed. We now have a CEO who I feel confident in and knows what the club is about and how the fans feel. We all want to get to the Premier League but it's not an instant thing and we need to build again." "You cannot fault Lansdown in his dealings and the improvement around the club at all levels," was another. "He is improving the profile which will attract players and staff wanting to work in a world class facility in an amazing city." "We are blessed to have Steve Lansdown as our owner" wrote another fan. "He may make some missteps, but find me a club that doesn’t. The stadium, training facilities and academy would not be here without his patronage." The imminent departure of Mark Ashton seems to have equally enhanced and damaged the Lansdown brand, with many pleased over his exit but others also questioning the decision-making over the length of time he has been in charge, running the day-to-day affairs in BS3. "Now Ashton is gone, and Pearson seems to have more control as a manager than previous head coaches, I believe recruitment should be better which is ultimately what has held City back. I feel Johnson could have got City in the play offs with a better power structure/CEO," was one reply. And while the phrase "poor recruitment" came up numerous times, a charge that cannot be directly levelled at the door of the Lansdowns, this pointed comment touches on it: "Steve Lansdown has too much faith in the qualities we have, which was due to him giving Ashton too much power." Unfortunately the success of the Bears in the Premiership and beyond will also an effect on perceptions of the ownership, often detrimental, because as one prospers under the Lansdowns watch, the other has floundered. "Not quite the worst team I’ve seen in my 20 years, but the least entertaining by some distance. It’s been heading this way for years and Lansdown has clearly taken his eye off the ball (the round one anyway," wrote a City fan. "Too little challenge and experience at Board level. Steve Lansdown needs to bring in experience and listen to it. He needs to bring his approach to infrastructure projects to the playing side of the club. He presides over chaos," was another. There were also comments directed towards chairman Jon Lansdown, who came under fire for the Holden appointment, and his overall role at the club. "I have reservations over Jon Lansdown’s genuine long term interest and desire to be the figurehead of the club," was an answer that appeared in different forms several times. The arrival of Richard Gould as new CEO looks to have reassured certain fans, however, with the feeling that the former Surrey and Somerset cricket chief is a safe pair of hands as an administrator. Season ticket sales Fans were also asked to give their thoughts on season tickets at City, both in terms of their pricing and whether they have purchased one for 2021/22 when, hopefully, Ashton Gate will once again welcome supporters back. City's prices, for an adult ticket, frozen from last season, range from £366 to £636 and 74% of respondents believe that pricing structure is fair, with 25% claiming they're too expensive and just 1% (as you'd imagine) stating too cheap. Regarding the question, "have you bought or will you buy a season ticket for 2021/22?", just 44% replied with yes with the overall themes for those stating "no" being work commitments and/or financial obligations and concerns around the overall value for money of buying one. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-fans-lansdowns-failure-5462962
IMHO I think any poll which entertains events over the past 12 -15 month's needs to be well thought out .. not just for the sake of it! OKAY media has to come up with stuff, and they manage to scrape around for items or subject matter that can be puffed out out to fill column inch's. It is all rear view mirror stuff … hindsight, and in the context of this article trying to knock them down with praise with what they have done..... it is so so easy to in these unprecedented times to blame anyone or everyone for under achieving .. based on hindsight! THERE was so much interference to everything that very little in all aspects of the past 12-15 months was able to transgress smoothly. NOBODY has gotten it all right... NOBODY … BE IT HEALTH...CARE... LOCKDOWNS …. ISOLATIONS ...TIMINGS … NOBODY HAS GOTTEN IT RIGHT. …………….well actually a lot have gotten it or some of it right !!!!! … we are here reading this! … 128,000 ARE NOT [ no fault in some cases of their poor souls] … EVERYONE of my friends have survived, and family widespread as it is AND have been in danger zones on the front line care and nursing... so please do not say the landsdowns got it wrong... take out circumstances = different picture and who knows .. what/ would/ could it have worked!
His heart is in the right place. It does seem lately he’s more interested in the egg chasers, and who can blame him, when you compare their recent success with our disaster. It must seem at times to him he’s pouring the money he spends on us, down a seemingly bottomless pit with very little return
I think it's great to have a sounding board and enable people to express an opinion good or bad, I trust the people's opinion anytime, I may agree with it or disagree but the thought patterns are there for all to see, some of these shady suits that hide in the shadows have the light shone on them and they realise people are not thick and we can eventually effect opinion. I personally thank our lucky stars we have got Steve Lansdown for all of the obvious reasons, his choice of various management personel have been abysmal ( No names, no gains) and I believe his daydreaming and trust of various senior people has directly led us to our present demise but to his full credit has has reacted, the lunatics have all left the asylum and the ship is now steadying, it now depends on this next vital period, NP has got to get things on the move, SL has got to back him all the way and trust his judgements, he has done it before and got burned, that is my concern.
I agree with Wiz - we are lucky to have SL Any City fan who wants him out needs to be very careful what he wishes for
SL has dragged our facilities into the 21st century and saved us financially on numerous occasions. We are extremely lucky to have him as our owner. Now the 'but..' bit But...... owning a football club is a VERY expensive hobby, and a business, where big investment does NOT guarantee success. It's completely different from the world of finance and investments which he is expert at. It's not a science - you can have 11 (very) expensive players who in theory should beat a given opposition, but for some reason can't. It takes huge balls to give over £millions of your money to a trusted person and allow them to spend it for you with no guarantee of a return. There must be such a strong compulsion to control it yourself. SL has to put faith in NP now and not meddle in things - I understand how difficult that will be - especially if we don't get off to a great start, but it HAS to be done if we are to have any chance at all of playing in the big boys playground.
A hobby is source by which means it manages to drain away the money it has expended on it! I do a lot of photography, over the years have bought new camera's pride and joy in the 70's was my Zenit! with 3 different lenses [ a Russian camera that used used a common lens mount ] cost in 1974 about £35.. had praktika...Olympus .. etc through time to present day Canon EOS …. HAVE STILL GOT MOST... worth £200 for the lot ...maybe! outdoor exploration mountaineering etc loads of kit to pursue the hobby... money spent not retrievable … SL has a hobby and like most endeavours like most hobbyists to get the best from it … occasionally you leave a mark ...SL the modern day AG and facilities .. in my case a few photo's of simple things like wildlife sold as pictures for £80 - £170 so far neither of us, or 99% of hobbyist's to that degree has made or likely to make a profit …… % wise to SL £200m is a few months interest! to most hobbyists [ mine is about 20% ] it is a relative % of their income …
My thoughts are obviously a great businessman and comes across as a good guy and apart from the 'do it all' build, the infrastructure is all in place. Sadly he has no idea about running the football side of the club, he allowed one man to become all powerful and to make footballing decisions, which has left us with a piss weak, uncaring, unmotivated squad and a rehab department that even North Korea would reject. The decision to talk publicly about a proven manager to replace LJ and then appoint Holden was a cynical ploy IMHO to sell season tickets, probably thought up by Ashton but SL signed off on it. The evidence was right before his eyes for 2 seasons but he chose to ignore it, the social media side of the club is shocking, again probably controlled by Kim Jun Ashton, we have been spoon fed bullshit and lies probably to protect one man and SL has allowed that to happen. Like all mistakes it's about learning from your mistakes and acting upon those mistakes and making sure that they are not replicated, over to you SL. As far as the football side of the business is concerned, although this season has been highly unpalatable but there is good news as well. Diedhiou was not offered a ridiculously high pay rise way beyond his capabilities and has gone along with 10 others, only 3 out of 13 contract players had offers made to them Walsh turned his down and is gone and Weimann and Simpson are yet to decide, their choice. At least 3 other players have been told in no uncertain terms that they need to step up to the plate and the ball is now in their court, 2 players have a chance to enhance their reputations at the Euros and maybe secure a move away, Semenyo, Vyner and Bakinson have broken through into the squad and nine 19 year olds and 17 year old have shown us that they have enough talent to breakthrough and make their mark, with more strength and experience. The addition of some vital leadership, experience and quality especially in midfield is the key for us and playing more like a team and not 11 individuals. All I ever ask for 100% from any BCFC team and hand on heart that has been missing for 2 seasons, so over to you Mr Pearson. As for SL, I am glad that he is our owner but he has to learn from the mistakes of the past on the playing side.
As for his fiscal backing of City we should be forever grateful. It's just the biggest shame he chose to employ a rank novice alongside the dubious Ashton. City will pay dearly for that decision. Not only for employing a complete lack of experience wasting 4 years it split the fan base back then and won't heal anytime soon. I won't ever forgive Lansdown, he's blinded by the name Johnson. Right or wrong, maybe my age, but I can't get fired up over football anymore. I saw grown men crying over Man City losing and some Chelsea fans crying with joy. Wtf. These 2 clubs were all for a bloody 'super league' a few weeks back. Ashton's just more evidence of how football is now deeply cynical and devious.
Verdict on the Lansdowns? Christ thought for a moment SL had gone all Nick Leeson on City and that wouldnt have gone down well as everythings Steves down to the grass.
I noticed a quote on Nicky Maynard's wiki site that claims he was told that he didn't stand a chance of being chosen to play for England as long as he was at a club like Bristol City. Although I find that somewhat offensive I'm afraid to say that has been close to my opinion of the way the club has been run by the Lansdowns so let's hope that summary of us is about to change. Is it really possible?
Part of the continued problem I've had with Lansdown over the years is his repeated insistence that the big time is just around the corner for us, but when push has come to shove, it's been all empty promises, interference, missed golden opportunities, employing rank amateurs, and frankly knowing nothing about football. We are a backwater but we're not alone and we have transport links that some would envy. You could say that the likes of Norwich, Bournemouth, Burnley, Brighton etc are footballing backwaters, but they've had owners and managers with vision, and ability to not only get to the big time, but to stay there too.
Talk about inflated ego, the entry should have read "Nicky Maynard was only ever good enough to play for England in his deluded head". His goalscoring record only stood up in the lower leagues.
Totally agree. Maynard wasn't good enough - as simple as that. As for his statement, there is an element of truth in it - but I would correct him in that he would never play for England if he stayed in the CHAMPIONSHIP - whether with Bristol City or not. There have been very few players from outside the Prem who have represented England (in a major tournament). I can only think of 2 in 'recent' times - David James (relegated with Portsmouth then came to us - a Championship side whichever you choose) and Paul Merson (when he was at Boro) In a way it's a bit short sighted of the selectors - there will be some 'shining diamonds' playing in the lower leagues being overlooked simply because they aren't on Sky every week. I've said before that an England side picked from the Championship would probably give 110% more than some of the Premiership prima-donnas, to whom playing for England is not much more than a sideline.
There have been lots of players over the years who genuinely thought they were far better than they actually were. Francis Jeffers and Leon Knight to name but 2.
He needed to be at a Manchester utd/city … Lpool /everton / top 4 londonclub to do that …. and guess what.... no one came calling
He was nowhere near good enough to play for England. He is right that we won’t attract players of that level. It’s stating the obvious
Lansdown clears £14m of debt Bristol City majority owner Steve Lansdown has effectively written off £14m of debt by converting it into shares. It's become a tradition around this time of the year. please log in to view this image
They ought to put up a statue to that guy, thankyou Steve Lansdown, another £14m in very dire times, you are one of the great owners of our club,
