How does this club move forward?

not saying the raise needs to be huge but even at the rate of inflation it would be a benefit - all the other bills at the club go up.

 

We continue to attempt to spend our way out of ours. Season upon season and it’s failing

 

There is absolutely no way we need to increase our income to finish top 7 in League Two...

That argument made little sense in League One, but in League Two, it's absolute nonsense.

 

I agree with a lot of your views Fordy but offer up a viable alternative. Who is waiting on the wings to buy out Rupp and then replace Julian Rhodes? Do you know of someone who is interested?
Don't just say they should go without offering up an alternative.

 

money isn't just needed for on the pitch improvements, behind the scenes are shocking enough too. a playing squad isn't the only cost for a football club.

 

I am.pretty sure deep pockets havent put the likes of Exeter and Crewe on course for promotion this season.

Recruitment and the right manager and coaching is all it takes to get us out of this league. I say all it takes, but that is easier said than done of course. Parky under Lawn and Rhodes managed it, lets hope McCall can do it, because the jury is still out for me on whether he can do this from scratch. The last time he was here, he inherited a good squad from Parky

 

Whilst there are always exceptions, and you can always find what you're looking for.
The perception is that we should be at least contesting for Champtionship football.
In my humble opinion that would take ££££ both on and off the pitch.
I don't see anything put forward by Mr Rupp that he would be that individual

 

Drop the ticket price again?

 

I admit it will take a lot of investment to be able to compete in the Championship, but we need to get there first, and I maintain it doesnt take deep pockets to get there, especially out of the 4th tier.

The biggest issue I have is Rupp. He is clearly not interested in football and our city, and I wish there was someone out there who could tempt him to sell.

 

I'd like to be contesting FOR championship football, not necessarily IN the championship.
We've been searching for a white knight for nearly 2 decades,
I'm afraid none have been forthcoming in that timescale, so I see no reason that one will step forward now.

 

The problem we have, our club is probably worth £3 million tops, so I have no doubt somebody will love to pick us up for that amount, but that in no way gives Rupp his money back.

 

We were competing for Championship football under 3 years ago without the deep pockets. Thats my point.

 

There is.
He posts on here, periodically.
With 3 others to my knowledge.
It's the price wanted by the current owner which is the issue

 

Sort the recruitment process so we’re not buying bloated lopsided squad full of more Guthries, Akpans, Andersons etc. and then replacing them annually. Proper scouting and a DoF who is here for the long term so it’s not the manager buying players he’s friends with. Maybe see the odd youth player make the first team.

Long term off the field vision, getting the pitch fixed, deciding on a long term home, professionals doing a proper job on marketing, finance etc.

All of that is possible with Rupp owning it. It needs a strong experienced visionary CEO to tell him what is necessary. Rhodes might have many years experience at City but has he ever worked at a well operated football club? Our old HR manager used to have a saying, there’s a difference in between 15 year’s experience and one year experience 15 times over.

Rahic had what was possibly a good vision and plan but was completely out of his depth and utterly incapable of implementing it.

 

Not deep pockets but not overnight success either. Crewe have been in league 2 for 4 years and Exeter 8 years, so like you say, getting it 'right' isn't quite as straightforward and easy as some might suggest

 

I am intrigued.

 

We had deeper pockets then that we have now.

 

Rahic actually talked a good game but had no idea how to run a bath never mind a football club. In truth he had no real plan at all, just what he'd seen playing football manager on the PC.
Worst thing about all this is without some sort of plan a long spell in league 2 looks a possibility. But then I guess that fits in with the rest of the ethos of a City slowly falling apart at the seams, throw in a failing rugby side with no stadium and a council not fit for purpose, the football is just a symbol of what is going on around it.

 

When things are going bad theres a temptation to over complicate things.

While we're living from hand to mouth it basically comes down to having a manager that can push us forward. Once we've got that upward trajectory going then we can start getting a bit more creative.