New CEO?

Only due to the questions.

Sparks was like a rabbit in a headlights. He didn't know what was going on.

 

It started slowly and got better after ten minutes. Its the footballing side that interests me more, not realky the individual. Thought the closing statement to the fans should have been more about the football side not him, we heard all that at the start.

No one wants to see him fail and im sure he will work tirelessly for the club, however he isnt a miracle worker and i think he has got his work cut out with this club, investing in youth seems to be the direction we want to go in which i cant disagree on.

100 percent the right thing to do.

 

Let's talk about this improving in the youth system.

For me it was a way of saying we have no money. He said he wants to stop the big boys talking the players at a young age etc. The only reason he is saying this is because they will be a lack of investment in the first team and with the salary cap losing players at a younger age doesn't make much sense but the problem is if a kid wants to play for Man Utd then you won't be stopping them.

 

Question to the guys who predicted the announcements. @Tyneside and others. Any rumours that there is more to come imminently?

 

You talking about bad news? If so, there’s plenty.

 

He sounded confident and in control to me. And you have been calling for years for top brass to communicate and in his first day he has probably said more than JR did in the whole time he has been here. But now it’s what actions happen on and off the field that he will and should be judged on

 

If youre skint (we are) you need to invest in the kids, you've then got saleable assets, and if done right, young players playing for you who are only going to get better.

I dont see the sense throwing big money at the
Journeymen.

Needs the right balance of course.

Makes sense to get a top youth setup in place to sustain the business and improve the team.

 

As had been said before this costs money and if you’re skint(we are) highly unlikely.

 

Trouble with youth of course is that should we unearth another Nakki Wells or an Ivan Toney for example they would be off in the first transfer window at our sight of a few bob and we stay where we are for another year...vicious circle and all that..

 

We're handing extended contracts to Donaldson and Guthrie. Continuity - its what will save us.

 

You’ve lost me there.

 

He sounded very nervous to me. If I compare him to the C-level people I speak to, he seemed very raw and junior. Which is exactly what you'd expect from the youngest football CEO in the country. Which is also exactly why him being given the role is madness.

 

You're right.

Time to crack on.

"The next game is massive."

I think we might be saying that for a while, actually.

 

He just sounded like Ryan Sparks to me. Not nervous. not sure about this ‘cheers mate’ thing from a CEO at the end but to be honest did Lawn ever sound like a CEO, not really.

Likeable guy hope he can genuinely make those tough calls with a hard business head, time will tell.

 

Youth systems cost money.We ain’t got any.

 

You would hope they don’t buckle at the first whiff of money and it’s money re-invested if they are serious about going up the leagues. But yeah, Rupps intentions are a bit of a mystery, i think he needs to clarify his position.

I see tough times ahead on season ticket sales post Covid. It’s all been said before I’m not sure anyone buys it anymore.

 

Anything cost money

A good youth system pays for itself a few times over.

 

The 2 announcements made yesterday. I was told would be Sparks and Jewell. However I’d also been told that Stuart had signed a 1 year extension.

My source is not sure why there has been a delay with Jewell. Seemed as though it had been lined up and agreed. Stuart is desperate for help on the recruitment and wants Jewell. Possibly something happening at the Swindon end holding it up. Jewell is very close to Lee Power apparently and is supposed to be involved in the recruitment of a new manager. Still expected to happen though.