i'm afraid i didn't go this year but the major highlights, i'm told, are that ALL players accepted a 40% cut in wages post relegation, which if i'm honest was something i'd been told was false during the summer - so to hear bowkett say it as fact is extremely pleasing and they deserve a pat on the back for applying that. most clubs don't and they suffer for years because of it. we are expecting to break even this season, despite losses in income of more than £40m on the previous. the board admitted they made mistakes last season and unanimously felt hughton would keep us up until the west brom game (and the fans reaction). a number of players had offers on the table from premier league clubs and turned them down. that's about all i've heard.
Supers has just about summed it up. Good defensive display by a solid back 3 of McNally, Adams and Bowkett - nobody else on the top table spoke. Bowkett defended the finances, McNally defended the Club and Adams defended the team. I got the impression that things would have been a lot uglier in a months time if the bad run continues but I thought that Adams came over a lot better than Hughton ever did. Somebody who I had never seen before seemed intent on trying to raise a bit of a revolt starting with opposing the re-election of Stephen Fry where, much to my surprise, he got a few other votes against but it soon fizzled out and he was the sole opposition to the re-election of McNally. Adams was adamant that the players were up for the fight and that the arrival of Mike Phelan will help turn things round. Apart from that just the usual gas and wind.
What is the point of Stephen Fry being at the club? In some capacity his supposed to be an ambassador but I totally agree with those fans putting their hands up, would rather have a genuine footballing person on the board like an ex player. Not convinced by a lot of noise which is coming out of the club in regards to our ambitions, a lot of the main players will be off in the summer if we don't get promotion, I think Adam's has already done the shopping to make us a steady Championship outfit.
He is there to raise the profile of the Club and to try and attract inward investment. I know that he has also assisted the Club financially directly and indirectly using his contacts for functions both public and private. The main opposition to him seemed to be based on the fact that he couldn't be there due to filming commitments - a point that fell a bit in its face when only Bowkett, McNally and Adams spoke . I don't want the Board getting involved more than necessary in footballing matters and surely an ex-player on the Board would encourage such interference. Was Ferguson being there help or hindrance to Moyes?
Spot on 1950. There is absolutely no harm in Fry being at the club. If we need more "genuine footballing persons" on the board, that is a different question, but you also need balance and, in a sport like modern football, an ambassador to raise the profile. I don't believe Fry is getting paid for his services (other than expenses) so there really isn't any harm in getting a celebrity on board with all the contacts he has. Apart from anything else, though, isn't Fry a shareholder?
He is a shareholder, does not get paid and has put some money into the Club. I know he has also help arrange profitable functions including a private corporate function for a group of businesses where he and his mate off QI performed free of charge allowing the Club to make a small fortune out of the evening.
In addition to his other connections, he has 8 million followers on twitter and uses that and other social media to promote the club.
Have to admit that thought had never once crossed my mind, and I don't personally think that's the reason - more that people just like having something to moan about!
I can only see it as a benefit having someone like Stephen Fry associated with the club. He is well respected even though he has "a rather colourful past", a great ambassador and an incredibly intelligent man who seems to know everything about everything. He would certainly be the 'friend' I would like to phone on "Who wants to be a millionare" !
