Raise budget or reduce expectation!

But they'd gain a bit of respect if they did. Open up to the fans. Explain they are still learning the English game. Admit they have made mistakes. Tell the fans to be patient. Tell the fans we're not going to go for top two next season because the budget won't allow it. Explain how the money is going to be split up - transfers/wages/renovation etc.
Just be open and honest. I think a lot of the people who are on their backs (that's me included) will back off a bit and give them some space.

 

May I just point out that his criticism was also aimed at previous owners who despite amazing cup runs failed to do anything with the infrastructure at the club especially the pitch which they bodged. Having said that Grayson has just had a better offer from another club and that's why he hasn't joined us despite his I've nothing lined up comment.

 

Maybe, or would they just get crucified for backing away from the 3 year championship plan?

I think they've started the process of reeling it in a bit when Rupp admitted mistakes have been made. I don't really want to knock them for being ambitious, we all want to push the club forward but it does seem like they've made a rod for their own back.

 

With regard to not owning our own training ground I believe during the Richmond era we rented some playing fields in Burley in Wharfedale with a view to buying. But after we went bust we owed them thousand. Then there was a plan to build an academy the other side of Harrogate road from Rawdon meadows

 

In the garage forecourt?.. figures.

 

Can’t agree with this more, my son plays for silsden u9’s and was discussing this with a friend who’s son plays for Sutton in craven. Both kids have been for trials at Blackburn, Burnley, Leeds and even Everton but in the 3 years of them playing football we have never seen a bradford scout at any fixtures or tournaments. The first time I saw one was 2 weeks ago when we played BD5, he stayed 10 minutes watching the U14’s game on the main pitch and then went.

If we are serious about the youth approach then we need to get more scouts out there. I’m not saying wait for the u9’s to come through but if other local clubs can make the effort to get to more games then surely Bradford can get out and about

 

Question? Are things any different under R&R than they were under Lawn and Rhodes (broadly speaking in terms of budget and promotion potential)? It's looking increasingly likely that we're no better off, but I don't think we're any worse off either.

Now the previous board had their successes and no one should take that away from them, but let's be honest, that was based on an incredible amount of luck. As Grayson points out, it was all short-term. There is no legacy.

The one thing that is causing all this upset is what people thought getting new owners would mean. Maybe it started with all the nonsense with Paladini, people started dreaming about big-money takeovers, it's happened to others, maybe it could happen to us. Maybe it was Lawn promising be would only sell to people who could take us forward. It certainly will have been Edin getting carried away at some point too.

But I don't know where all this not renewing STs and organising protests is coming from. The club is financially stable which is something that would have been considered a luxury at times over the last 20 years. Small but important changes are being made, the pitch being the obvious. No big budget, no manager, no decent squad, but that's pretty much been the norm in recent memory, rather than the exception. Yes, we feel lied to, yes, it doesn't sit comfortably with us to have people at the helm with no ties to the club or the city, yes, we'd all like to think that our dreams of the Championship are based on reality rather than fantasy, but I still don't see the evidence to think we're in dire straits. Is is really as bad as it was 10/15 years ago? Not by a long way. Don't forget why you go to VP, it's not for the chairmen, it's not for the manager or the players, it's something much more important than all that.

 

I think we've had enough from Grayson now.
Why is he monopolising the T&A bantams pages?
He should stop beating round the bush blaming the facilities,pitch and training ground, the budget is not going to be enough.That is the only reason he's gone.
Mind you Edin and Stefan are really "nice guys" aren't they?

 

sorry, someone remind me where the bottomless pot of money is to pay for a new pitch, new training ground, wages, transfer fees, bonuses, stadium maintenance, stadium rent and other overheads.

we have to live within our means. it might be hard for some people to understand that but it’s a fact - we’ve been down the financial risk road before and look how that ended; bucket collections to keep the club afloat. i for one wouldn’t want to be anywhere near that again.

 

Massively!

I think they've looked at what was achieved under Parkinson and thought "we can do that" without really recognising the genius/luck behind it.

I don't think we're a million miles away from where we were under Lawn and Rhodes. A different outlook in terms of the balance between wages and fees certainly but not too much of a difference overall. It's the expectations that have massively changed for a variety of reasons.

 

Surely the above is true of the vast majority of league one clubs. It’s clear this year as of most years to achieve anything we will have to punch above our weight. We have midtable earnings with top of the table expenses

 

Sorry @Johnnymccole not being sarcastic but maybe its because our owners don't have a plan "B"and have nothing to say in reply to Grayson comments, we really should be hearing what their intentions are now their number one candidate has turned us down.

 

Great post @RowZ and I think you've found the crux of it. Expectation needs to be controlled because some of the talk out of the club hasn't been delivered upon. I am sure that the owners are ambitious and genuinely want to the achieve Championship status but they seem a little naive about what it would take to achieve that. Grayson's comments on budgets seem to support that.

The appointment of the new manager is an opportunity for them to set out where we are and what to expect. But as others have said, the current situation at the club has me more worried about exiting L1 one the wrong way rather than the right way.

 

Couldn’t agree more. Get it all out there, discuss and move on.

It’s time to look forward and stop looking back.

We can’t afford to drag all this negativity into a new season because it may affect recruitment, then ultimately results on the pitch. Clear out the deadwood and troublemakers and move on.

 

Unfortunatly Edins going no where .

 

I hope this is one of the lessons they say they have learned. How nice it would have been to hear: "We realize that our three year plan was too optimistic."

 

No he;'s just bitter. it's all just conspiracy and unsubstantiated rumours from folk with an agenda!!