Most liked posts in thread: What does relegation mean to you ....

NO Fordy. Bronco is no racist ......... Just guilty of being 'Old School' (like many of us). He used a term which is now seen as inappropriate. It was not particularly offensive to the greater society, but he suffered the injustice of 'having his hands chopped off, for stealing a loaf of bread' IMO.

 

It is tedious beyond belief. If it degenerates to the level Ed’s forum, I am out of here. It starts to invade every damn thread, and you can’t have a proper discussion.

 

Its slightly ironic that our worst season in Living memory (for many) also featured our best performance for many a year - Rochdale away. We were outstanding that day. It also happened to be Jim O'Brien's last game. Letting him go was a mistake and we then made such a mess of the January window - every move we made was a mistake; keeping Payne, Keeping Miller, every signing was wrong.

As for what relegation means; the answer will be laid bare over the next 1-2 years. IF - and its a massive IF - we use it to reset the club, invest in growing the club as part of a long term strategy that looks at every aspect of what we are, from the ground, training facilities, supporter 'experience' on match-days, scouting, ticket pricing, recruitment etc. then it could be a good thing in the longer term. But if its just the latest step in meandering along, then we could drift into permanent obsolescence.

We need to decide what we want to be going forward. Are we just a lower league club, that considers the majority of its supporter base to be impoverished and only willing/able to pay low prices, with facilities that are beg/stolen/borrowed and with aspirations of just being happy to survive? Or are we an ambitious club that's willing to invest in a plan to become a championship standard outfit in every way that matters? We need to think about the longer term make up of our fan base and to my mind we're missing a huge trick. Every person that I know who attends games - and I'm talking 25-30 people in terms of friends, family and people I sit near, earn decent wages and want to see, and would be willing to pay for, a competitive outfit. I'm not trying to exclude anyone, but our future fan-base is in the sub 40 year old category and we need to tap into it more.

Investment is the word. From within, from new investors/sponsors and from fans. We need an open discussion on what our 5-10 year plan is. Because right now we're just drifting and every club I look at who's going anywhere, isn't doing it by accident. If I saw a proper plan, I'd happily pay double what I pay now. And I think most would do the same, especially if monthly payment plans etc were an option. Its time to stop penny pinching and accept that moving forward brings a cost. If we're not willing to pay it, we'll just bumble along and eventually die off.

 

My guess is and I have no evidence or knowledge is that what we currently have is the best facilities that match our budget. Without go over old ground we have grass pitches, 4g pitches, swimming pool and a gym available and usable. I'd guess that these facilities will be that little bit better than most League 2 sides.

Think the problem will start if we ever get into the Championship when I much better standard of player/fitness/training facility is needed.

 

The facilities are adequate as they stand. They serve a purpose. Wether adequate will be good enough in 5 to 10 years time remains to be seen. I'd like to think that 10 years down the line this club has a different look to what it does now and that has to be long term vision of a championship club with facilities and a professionalism to match. The culture and the mindset throughout this club has to change if we are to move on in the long term.

 

As a club we are and have been broken in two
Money or lack of it is just one part of the problem
We need staff from top to bottom of people who will live and breathe Bradford City
An entrepreneur to invest in the club staff who are willing to go the extra mile rescue and progress the club (James Mason being a prime example) I really don't know if such people exist nowadays
Mr Rupp has had his fingers well and truly burnt with his choice of business partner and who could blame him if he is being cautious in throwing more money at us it's time to wipe the slate clean and start again, for more reasons than anyone can count we are now a L2 club and simply can not afford to fall any lower we are no longer a " Big Club" we have a big ground for our league but that's not ours we have virtually no players to call our own who have the fight on the pitch We are as low as we can get Like starting a new business we need a man at the top who is chomping at the bit to kick start the club again and staff with ideas prepared to get the show back on the road and start the revolution
Posters on here who say " what else can be done" are wrong plenty can be done with the right personnel

 

First of all we need someone with a vision of what they want to achieve and how they want to get it to that point. Our fans stock response is always how we ware going to pay for it. If Andy Pilley had that attitude he would never have taken a club like Fleetwood to be playing a level above us and with a training facility that is championship level. See, that vision didn't need 15,000 season ticket holders or 100 years in the football league. He got that club to where it is because that was his vision, one which he backed with a viable business plan and a long term strategy. He hasn't let supposed limitations hinder him. Now we can quote examples such Stuart Day at Bury, Ken Anderson at Bolton, Duchatalet at Charlton, or we can look at success stories such as Burnley, Burton or Fleetwood. Depends what limitations there are in your vision.

The idea you speak of and one which i had alluded to is realistically workable depending on getting the right influential people and agencies involved. There is risk involved, in business there always is. But somewhere down the line this club needs to work toward a target, if you don't you're just existing.

 

They're bankrolled by a billionaire you tit. We don't and never will, we need a different strategy to fund a successful club.

 

A lot of those on here

 

A large section of our fans that accept second best and they love the fact city will be back in league two. I hate them happy clappers. They cant wait to go to Morecombe.

 

I'm the same, actually looking forward to the summer and next season. Bowyer isn't stupid, he knows exactly who he wants rid of and what he needs and now its up to Rupp to fund it, which strangely I think he will.

Jokers like NKP, Anderson, Chicksen are out of contract so we won't have the pain of watching them ever again. Relegation could also be a blessing in terms if getting rid of some of the contracted shite who think they're too big for league 2 and don't want to take a hit in their wage.

Maybe I'm just being an idiot but I think there are reasons to be positive today.

 

I can accept our fate, I dont like it, but what really hurts is this relegation was self inflicted, yes going over old ground I know but how the hell Rupp could not question our league position alone is beyond belief.
You dont have to be a football fan to pick up a paper and look at where your investment is sat within the league and not ask some very serious questions of the guy you put in charge of running your club that to me is criminal

 

Okay, but remember the quality of players we had to get us out last time, a million miles from what we've had this time..
Where are we gonna find a Hanson, Wells, Marshall, Mcardle etc especially on a free and low wages....?

 

What ?? The FIGHT that got us relegated ? .............. You've lost me, bud.

 

I hope so Dave..and will give it back both barrels

 

What does that even mean?

If we get 4000 fans next season we will suddenly become a good side and will storm up the leagues, because the owners know we don’t like the fact we have been relegated?

Haha. What absolute garbage. Since when have the fans played Center half or up front this season and been to blame?

It doesn’t even make sense. We have not and never will get relegated for having fans who turn up come rain and shine. And on the other hand we will not become a good side worth watching because we all decide not to renew “ to show the owners”.

If you think it will work then don’t go, but I bet you any money in the world a few thosaund less in the stands has no bearing on how good we will be. That all comes down to good management. Nothing else

 

Please yourself mate, you won't be missed.

 

I'm suprised we've not heard from Rupp after yesterdays confirmation of relegation. I expect him to put a few words out next week. A bit fed up of him just hiding behind his desk. Especially as that has led to where we are now. He needs to stand up and show some bollocks next season.

 

One thing we can't have is an attitude that we should be pissing that division instantly or we're a massive failure. As much as we should be, we have no divine right to piss anything until we earn it as we found out on our last L2 adventure. Anyone calling for bowyers head after 6 games is a lunatic, you can't develop an upward trajectory from a standing start (or going backwards as we are), you have to build momentum and a culture of success which if im not mistaken didn't exactly take parky 6 games either.