Most liked posts in thread: Andy Todd, Stefan Rupp & City's Financial Position

Thank you for the response. We are pleased that you and @wetherbywhaler come on this site and promote events that are happening in the summer. However, what you cannot do and I am not asking is speak on the club’s behalf regarding the manager, squad, and recruitment in general. We are asking for transparency and honesty about our current state. We have done what the club have asked and bought season tickets, which would be the envy of all LG 2 clubs and probably the majority of LG 1 clubs.

We have been relegated, we have not had any communication from the club regarding this very serious event, and certainly not part of the 3 year plan that was put forward by Rahic and Rupp when they came to this club. We have had no apology, explanation or any plans going forward. We have no idea how this has left our club both financially and structure of the club. This week we have seen Anton and Andy leave the club, presumably due to financial restrictions. When Rahic left, Rupp promised to support this club going forward and put right what had happened. We were unable or restricted in signing players we needed in January, we lose another manager, and Bowyer and Todd came in. Now in my ignorance I actually thought that Rupp was keeping his tinder dry with a view to fully supporting GB and AT in their quest to keep us up, and if not at least for the up and coming campaign.

1. Does Rupp intend to continue to own and financially support our club Going forward; when he came he said he was here for the long term, but given the collapse of the business plan such as it was, is this still his intention?

2. How long is Julian staying for?

3. When are we recruiting a new CEO?

4. When are we recruiting a media man/woman, someone to properly sell this club in the wider community and beyond.

5. Do we intend to run a reserve team?

6. Do we intend to recruit a managers assistant?

7. Do we intend to recruit quality scouts?

8.;Do we intend to recruit any coaches?

9. When is the short term plan being released to the fans?

10. What is our long term plan? Rupp said he was aiming for PL, is that still our plan?


These are all valid questions that our long suffering fans need an answer. Whilst our near neighbours, Sheffield United into the PL. Barnsley into the Championship as is Huddersfield, Leeds in the playoffs for the PL. Sheffield Wednesday just missed out on the playoffs. Yet here we are sliding into LG2 without a whimper, whilst our neighbours are making very good progress.

The above questions are not for you to answer even if you knew, but questions we should not try and work out from social media, but through the official club.

 

Rubbish, it's the same comments we get every year about how expensive players are, how managers are shocked by the going rate for quality, how we can't compete with villages with a few thousand people in, it's embarrassing.

 

We’re still not sure if Drury is staying, but he’s been around long enough to have an input. Whatever he’s saying or doing isn’t working, so it’s time he moved on.

Would be nice to clear the decks.

If we can’t clear the players at least give them some new ideas, with a new voice.

 

It wouldn't be difficult for Rupp to formulate a short statement outlining just where the club stands at the moment and for him to stipulate what will happen in the forthcoming season regarding his tenure and what he believes to be the club's future beyond that. Without something concrete, rumours and gossip arise to fill the void left by the lack of anything tangible.

I really hope I'm wrong, but it's certainly starting to feel like a similar situation to what's been happening at Charlton. An owner who lives in another country with little interest in the football club that they own.

I think supporters have been absolutely fantastic to back the club through purchasing season tickets after the season they've just endured. But recent developments are worrying and supporters can easily become disillusioned (and then hostile) if they think they're both being taken for granted and ignored. It certainly smacks of 'now that we've got their cash, we can do as we please'.

He's been lucky in some ways because one individual has taken practically all of the focus and the blame for anything and everything that's gone wrong since they took control. If he doesn't want to head down the same path as his original business partner then he or someone needs to explain why the club are cutting vital members of staff without what looks like a plan to fill those roles. If the club goes into next season without someone overseeing fitness and coaching/assistant managing the squad. I'd argue that the writing's on the wall before a ball's even been kicked. I don't expect him to throw his money around to get the club into a similar position as when he bought it, but I don't expect him to oversee a managed decline either. Without some judicious investment, he's risking his original investment even further.

 

@Glenn Ackroyd whilst I fully understand our sensitivity around the annual memorial week, I do think an official announcement after we were relegated with a timetable on what is happening with statements on planning short term and long term after this week I also don’t think it is right that Todd and Anton leaving should have been announced and could have been delayed until next week. Not to mention GB statement today of all days. This should be a day of remembrance. Please convey my absolute dissatisfaction with communication towards the fans from the club. .

 

The club really aren't helping themselves with all the mixed messages that are coming out at the moment. Last week the message was that next year's budget would not only be competitive but would be a top 3 budget for league 2, this week Bowyer is telling us how difficult it is going to be competing with the likes of Fylde FC!
Bowyer supposedly had players lined up a few weeks ago that were so desperate to come here that his phone was ringing off the hook! Now things are not being painted as being so rosey and it all feels like dejavu.
When you also have Bowyer stating that Todd's departure is because we are 'a victim of circumstance', I don't see how else that could possibly be read other than it's a financial decision, unless Todd just doesn't have the stomach for league 2 and if that's the reason, the club should be open about it and say so. The fact that it's all coded messages only strengthens the belief many have that it is a cost cutting exercise and nothing more.

 

Completely right. The price Rupp paid was for a team:

• in the playoffs in League 1
• a hugely supportive fan base
• a manager with a proven track record (Parky)
• a loyal and able backroom team
• five or six years of progress
• a squad of players team with guts, determination and team spirit
• a club that players and managers wanted to be involved with

What he has now is:

• a League 2 club with unknown potential (could go down again)
• a team that has a proven track record of complete failure
• a fan base that is struggling to keep interested
• a decimated backroom team
• a manager who is struggling to prove himself so far
• a club where managers and players may be worried about committing to
• an 18 month run of nothing but regression and failure

As far as a saleable asset is concerned there is absolutely no comparison and any buyer will recognise that.

The truth is that Rahic has cost Rupp probably seven million in terms of additional investment, and the depreciation of the initial asset/investment (i.e. the club) and that is just so far. If over the close season Rupp is to throw in some more money then that loss, as it currently stands, could end up being ten million plus. Ouch!

 

HAHAHAHA Talk about an overreaction. Do we really have to have 3 months of this?

 

How on earth are we hoping to attract the caliber of player to get us out of L2 and consolidate in L1 when we are getting rid of the managers chosen back room staff
And openly stating in the local press that Fylde could well be stiff competition
After the amazing season ticket sales
We should be kicking on and selling the club to any player,agent ,fan prospective investor, sponsor who will listen
Deary me our PR has hit a new low

 

Picking your own backroom staff is vital for a football manager.

 

When was the last time the club actually communicated anything to the fans? We must be the only club in the football league that gets relegated and not a peep out of the board, total lack of respect for the fans. GB had to introduce himself to the fans, the ST sales came out via a coverall Bradford City club announcement. Is anybody left down at City Towers?

 

Ive been saying it all along. Rupp is as much to blame as Edin. Hes sat in Germany with the club as a burden around his neck. He has to sell asap. We should never have cancelled the protests or flyover. We shouldn't just be accepting this. It's too late now and we have to see how the summer goes.
Some of you jumped all over me when I said as a fanbase we have far too much empathy.
Owners up and down the country will be in contact with fans, giving updates and trying to be positive for the season ahead. We have had 2 coaches leave with not much explanation, the manager coming out saying Salford have more money than we do and nothing from the people running the show. Its beyond embarrassing.

 

I know Simon Parker has to fill his columns but the "when I was at Blackpool" articles are becoming tedious. I would like to see a statement from the owner or acting CEO about plans for the future.

 

My main worry, RT .......... IS .......... IF this IS cost cutting - For an essential team member, then what hope is there for a decent player budget ?

 

Bit insulting referring to McCall like that.

 

but if it isn't to your liking you won't actually judge then either, you'll be saying wait until we've played 10 games. and then itll be wait until January transfer window. then it'll be wait til the new guys have bedded in. then it'll be wait til we can sign players in the summer, wait til after theyve had a full pre season, wait til January.

if something isn't to your liking you just 'reserve judgement' - unless of course you think its brilliant then you let everyone know how magnificent the club have been in doing it/signing them/achieving something.
ridiculous.