Squad Size. Hughes being backed.

It's a massive squad. We haven't yet moved on the obvious players like Oscar and Kelleher, but clearly they're going.

This is a very expensive looking overhaul.

It better work...

 

Can't say Rupp isn't backing Hughes plans

3 or 4 outgoings in the week ahead I've been told, todays 2 incomings would seem to support this

 

Maybe the club know something we don't about changes to the rules for this season

 

It’s the ST money that’s paying for it. There’s nothing to suggest that Rupp has put any extra money in.

 

Maybe not, but he’s sanctioning Hughes and the recruitment team to hand two and three year deals out - locking up funds we will spend in future seasons. Its a refreshing change

 

We’ve had great season ticket sales before but not done anything like this in the summer. Lawn and Rhodes were ultra cautious even after the 2015 FA cup run.

 

Seem to be spending and investing in longer term contracts than previously so the extra must be coming from somewhere, or at least guaranteed

 

Amazingly, even with the squad as large as it is, we could still technically bring in another player aged over 21, not get rid of anyone and still be within the limit. Not that I'm suggesting we should do that, but interesting non the less.

 

Whilst it clearly looks like we've recruited well and 'pushed the boat out', I get the feeling that we've done very good business financially and that it's maybe not costing too much.
None of the players are really the big name signings that would command big wages. Smallwood, Chapman and Walker are probably all on good money for this level but I reckon we also lost most of the higher earners from last season.

I can't really see any of the current lot turning out to be like the Mcleans or Akpans that we've had in the last 5 years.
Wouldn't be surprised if Harry Lewis is one of the cheapest keepers in the leagues which could turn out to be excellent business

 

I've been openly critical of the club over the last few seasons. At times, it's looked little better than what you'd expect at an amateur side and I'm talking the Dog and Duck FC rather than Wrexham or Stockport.

But this summer has been a total revelation and I can't criticise anything about both the recruitment quality or quantity. It's going to be a fairly novel experience not being sniggered at by non City supporting friends, colleagues or family when football is the topic. Or even worse than that, when the people you know (supporters of other clubs) who do know and follow football closely mercilessly mock the players that we have signed over past summers.

For once, we can be fairly bullish before a ball is even kicked. And, for the first time in a long time, we can dare to stick our chests out a bit and even have a bit of a go at the supporters of the other two West Yorkshire league sides, who are probably a bit apprehensive about the coming season, as things currently stand. I'm mindful that this is City though and it's invariably going to come back and bite me if I get too carried away.

 

Oh yes there is. These are 2-3 year deals, not 1 years worth of season ticket sales. Think about it.

 

No you are wrong. We have just sold circa 14K ST on the back of one of the worst league campaigns for a long while. There is guaranteed substantial ST income over the next 2 seasons with even a modicum of success.

 

What is to guarantee us we will sell circa 14,000 + seasons next year? .

There are zero guarantees in football, you know that as well as I do.

I know it won’t happen as I suggest but there are NO guarantees.

Example, far fetched at this time. A new strain of COVID emerges and attendance at football games is forbidden and no gate income. One can’t say that wont happen because it just did.

I get where you are coming from but we need to understand these deals have to be backed no matter whatever the external circumstances .

 

We have sold youth players, season tickets and commercial. Let players go and more will be going.

Rupp isn’t backing anything

 

I am sure Ryan appreciates your acknowledgement right there. Its great you finally recognize the good work and dont just scream about the bad.

 

Is this a sustainable business model you have just described? Kudos to Sparks eh?

 

Just out of interest, how much should Rupp be paying for the privilege of owning BCAFC?

 

Do you mean what should he pay beyond his initial investment of the purchase price?

 

Of course, BCAFC appears to be different to other businesses. Apparently the cheap STs fund everything.