It's just not sustainable for lower league clubs anymore, financially it's all got a bit silly and no longer viable as any sort of investment, unless you are a rich arab. I thought we were going out of business or at the very least on the way to non league football last season, but got saved around the January window time 2023 by our American owners. The question I still ask myself is why, why did they buy us, there is no money in it, there is no return or profit. If I was a millionaire would I buy my club, not a chance. Let's just hope that the new tv money next season, see's a cut of money per club, that makes this game viable again for many. I can't see a lifeline anywhere else... https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ll-league-agrees-new-935-deal-with-sky-sports
as you say brb you have to have money to throw away to be able to buy a club. & you do wonder how some of the clubs manage in the National league fixtures & National League North with clubs like Bishops Stortford, Brackley & Banbury travelling to places like Darlington, Blythe & Spennymoor (that's two teams from our past)
In this day & age as proved on Saturday you need a decent team otherwise the attendance falls of a cliff we didn't even make 4,000 Saturday
The problem you've got in the modern game is unrealistic expectations versus revenue generated at the gate - when I was a kid I went to football for fun, enjoy the day and have a laugh, now some will argue that still exists, I'd say the difference is there was no expectation to win a trophy or gain anything. There was always hope, but that just made the good days the height of our expectations, todays fans want everything and social media gives everyone a voice and that is not always a good thing.
I think Rob Couhig alluded to the losses pre-season. He stated that this was the last season Wycombe could stomach any losses and going forward we would need to balance the books. His only caviat was that if we attained promotion and then he went on to say how he was backing Bloomfield with new signings and how the lack of play offs gave the manager much more time to prepare. Bearing in mind he was putting all his eggs in either the "promotion" or "new investment" baskets. Perhaps employing an inexperienced manager was a dangerous move.
Well, there will be a loss (apparently, and not surprisingly) so does that mean he will look to get out or that the club goes under. Neither being much to look forward to. Against that background, and our league position, declining crowd attendances and comments in the media, how are the players motivated to fight as if every game is a cup final, especially those who are only contracted to the end of this season (ie most of them)
I think the Couhig's came in with genuine intentions, however, they have realised that the changes they have made to the club have not generated anywhere near the income they had hope for. Being a business man, he's now realised that lower league football is just a money pit and us English football goers are a different breed and have different expectations. He has been hoping for an American investor (after the whole success story at Wrexham), but as yet nobody that we are aware of has come forward with anything concrete so i don't actually blame him for protecting his money and deciding not to throw good money after bad. Next year i believe we will see some serious cuts to the wage bill. We will rely even more heavily on the loan market for youngsters in the leagues above in the hope that we can uncover some gems. I could see some of the higher wage earners being released - some of which are certainly heading towards retirement anyway. Whatever your thoughts on Bloomfield (and mine are not overly positive). Rob Couhig has backed him massively this year. People make comparisons to Ainsworths early managerial career with us and how close we came to relegation. Let's not forget that we couldn't even field a full bench for most matches and even after Ainsworths retirement from playing, he often had to name himself and Barry Richardson (goalkeeping coach) on the bench to make up numbers. If the Couhigs are culpable for anything then its their faith in an inexperienced manager when what we needed was someone to take a play off contending side that step further.
I think you have got that right Blue they came a bit with stars in their eyes, & let's be honest if we are lucky enough to get to Wembley there will be 20,000 so caleed blue supporters there, as far as I know even the half-dozen or so on here who are Blues supporters don't live within 20mls of Wycombe, I know why we struggle to get to games
Could have been us Torquay Utd going into administration which means a 10pt deduction that will put them 4pts above the relegation places to the Southern League
