A few bits from lasr night's meeting

[TWOCHOICEStom]

next time, open voice recorder, whack record and make us lazy bastards get the info from that!

Nice one though, cheers

 

[chucky1973]

thanks for the post, learnt a lot there.

Cheers

 

[Benson]

Thank you for taking the time to post this interesting info.

 

[Gordon the Gopher]

Great post, thanks. Love the part about Tony Bloom. Where would we be without him!!

 

[Diego Napier]

Great work Sheebo, thank very much for taking the time to write this up, very informative

 

[Racek]

I love the word signage, don't know why.

 

[supaseagull]

Hi all - I've been asked to put a few things Paul Barber said last night into a new thread. Some buts you may already know but some may be interesting for you (I hope)...

I made a few notes to pass on to you fine people - it's in random form as was making notes on my phone so it way not read great..

* As per other thread we have an England U 21 game at the Amex!

* We're getting a new shirt sponsor(s) and negotiations are going well (big brands).The Errea contract finishes at the end of next season (I think) and we're in talks with everyone eg Adidas Puma etc to see what options are out there. I would assume this could mean next seasons kit could be for one year then?!

* We are also in discussions with some big companies re other sponsorship ops. The AMEX contract runs for 10 yrs.

*Prices will go up a bit as we strive to bridge the gap in loss to reach financial fair play standards. He said he's heard crazy figures like 25% 30% etc but this won't be the case (I personally think they'll attribute some rice to transport and wont count it on ST % rise - hope I'm wrong!). Food and drink prices rose due to what the caterers were charging - their costs go up and so does the retail price I’m afraid. It was nothing to do with Barber as was his first week.

* Financial Fair Play is HUGE. I think to meet the criteria at the moment we'll need to bring the operating loss down from £8 million to £5 million. Need to sell big and buy as low as possible. If you don't reach the FFP standards you get transfer embargos and hefty fines. The fines are then divided up amongst the other clubs who meet the FFP. He said there's no way he'll be handing over a cheque to fund Palaces promotion push the next season (I know - i laughed too - Palace meeting financial FAIR PLAY ) Expect to hear a lot re this in the future. I get the impression someone like Bennett wouldn't go as cheaply as he did with Barber in charge of negotiations.

* Ulloa deal wasn't 100% sorted when that pic of him holding the shirt was leaked. V difficult re passports issues etc etc

* They did intend to offload Dobbie in the Jan window - I assume he was a very high earner, as [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] eluded to (was gonna ask him if he was highest earner but didn't wanna put him in an awkward position)

* The Palace game will be the first with all the corners filled in etc and will hopefully be the first game we hit the magic 30k barrier

* Paul said we've only properly sold out a few games this yr. I did then ask re ticket prices and suggest it's not good we don't sell these additional 2 / 3 k seats often and asked how he was planning to fill the other corners etc. He said he wants to branch out and reach more people - there's a myth you cant get tickets etc. I'd have rather he'd said they'd look at reaching others closer to home in a more affordable way to be honest, as well as branching out more etc. Paul did ellude to the fact that we effectively get '7 games free' on our STs (comparing to match by match prices). I did say that that's an unfair comparison as ST value is OK but match by match is too high imo. So comparing the two and saying we get 7 games free is a bit unfair. I don't personally like that way of thinking. He did accept where I was coming from.

* We must agree the prices with the other clubs for FA cup games, and it's doubtful Newcastle would have gone for a decrease in price. we will be very unlikely to ever lower costs for FA cup matches vs prem teams (let's hope we don't draw Wigan anytime soon then). I guess the arguments from some is literally the match prices are too high so it's down to us what the pricing would be in a way - Newcastle would just say 'charge your usual' i assume (having seen the prices first i guess). Difficult one.

* There will be a new category system introduced for home games with diff price bands. IE Peterboro and Barnsley may be cat C games and therefore cheaper than say Bolton or someone. It will be up to the board what the pricing structure is. I did ask if Cat C games would be lower than the prices we're charging now for example.

* We are the club with the 10th highest amount of ST holders in the country - HUGE! (confirmed)

* If we reach the prem we get (£65 million was it?!). Either way turnover will triple over night - it will be great for the FFP.

* Tony Blooms a quiet legend. Paul had an offer from a prem club but chose to go to Brighton cos of everything we have and Tony Bloom.

*We try not to pay agents too much but sometimes if we don't, others will. Football agents are clearly, on the whole, a massive pain in the arse for FFP.

* Azure had a 5 yr contract and our / their lawyers are in negotiations as we spk. Paul had loads of complaints at start of this season. We're in talks with 3 or so local caterers re the contract. It wouldn't be cost effective for the club to run the catering themselves.

* Gullys Girls - same sort of thing as the Albion Roar interview. Some snide comments to the girls etc. He says most are still there and will just be dressed differently. Still do charity work etc. One of the oppositions directors made a complaint re a comment he'd heard directed at the girls..?!

* There are plans for a webcam at the training ground site.

* Someone said we should put 'Home of BHAFC' or something on the AMEX so it's visible from the dual carriageway. This is something the club are looking in to but they are restricted as to how much signage they can have (planning agreement i guess).

* Wayne Bridge is apparently a TOP pro. Gives it his all, conducts himself brilliantly. Great effort in training despite going from Chelsea / City training grounds to Sussex Uni...

* Paul's had people approach him 'offering' some big household names (players) due to what's going on at the club and the good reputation of the project Gus is masterminding. Whether we could afford them or not is another matter...

* Paul knows David Platt and Platt was amazed by how good the set up is at the Amex when he came down the other day. Roy Hodgson was also very complimentary. Basically, everyone loves the AMEX

* I think Paul said re the £2 booking fee it goes straight to the ticket software people / credit card holders and we don't see any of it (wasn't listening v well so could be wrong)

* We are working on a possible home and away ST for next season. I think there would also be a way of refunding away games you can't make back onto your smart card as e-cash...



This is about all folks. Hope it proves a valuable read. Paul was very open and honest. He did elude to the fact the fans fought so hard to save this club. He did say not all decisions will be popular etc. I think everything is driven by the Financial Fair Play. Hopefully the club can continue their good work, and keep prices realistic. Paul did make me feel more positive re the club still being the albion we know and love.

Cheers

Good stuff mate - See you saturday

 

[Daffy Duck]

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to write all that up, Sheebo. Great stuff.
Some very interesting bits on there as well.
Especially the part about big name players asking to come here.

 

[Drebin]

Good work, mr sheebo. Very interesting reading.

I can't help but wonder what's going to happen when FFP really hits the league hard. We seem to be taking it very seriously and it's reassuring to hear Barber's attitude towards it. He seems in control, especially when it comes to maximizing commercial income. It'll be interesting to see if all clubs are preparing themselves as much as we are.

Hopefully there'll be a drop in wages and agents fees.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Awesome stuff thanks

 

[gazingdown]

The FPP could be very interesting, especially as so many may/will not meet it, if the fines (how much though?) are distributed throughout the league for those that DO meet it. If, hypothetical example, only ONE club meets it, do they get ALL the fines from the other 23 clubs in the league? The more that don't meet, the more money for those that do.

It should also help curb ridiculous agent/other fees and overpriced players as they can't go elsewhere as ALL teams will have reduced funds to splash out. There may/will be more focus for home grown players, youth academies etc.

The main issue, as I see it, is how the PL is affected and how many "get round it" by "legally cheating". e.g. MC having ridiculous sponsorship deals that are effectively funded by the owners as they also own the company providing the sponsorship!

I think it will be good in the long term but expect some fallouts, some clubs going bust (QPR have Portsmouth written all over them imo). It won't be the end of the road for them though, they will have to effectively start again (e.g. from conference etc.) but 5/10 years down the line, they'll be OK. After all, at the end of the day, the fanbase will still be there to attend/fund these clubs back up to where they "should" be.

 

[father_and_son]

As much as I occasionally disagree (and once or twice, vehemently disagree) with PB, I think that he is actually doing a very good job. Few clubs seem to be as open and honest with the fans as ours and I'm sure every club in the FL are facing the same issues and the same solutions so we'd have the same changes being imposed on us without the courtesy of an explanation.

Well done PB. But you are very, very wrong about Gully's Girls. They are a valued part of the club that are popular with the kids and the kids will be supporting (ie SPENDING) this club for decades to come - we should be doing EVERYTHING we can to enhance their experience, us old farts would turn up anyway.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Did he mention how many tickets Crystal Payless would be allocated and are they having to pay cash in advance for them ?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Re: A few bits from lasr night's meetingA few bits from lasr night's meeting

As much as I occasionally disagree (and once or twice, vehemently disagree) with PB, I think that he is actually doing a very good job. Few clubs seem to be as open and honest with the fans as ours and I'm sure every club in the FL are facing the same issues and the same solutions so we'd have the same changes being imposed on us without the courtesy of an explanation.

Well done PB. But you are very, very wrong about Gully's Girls. They are a valued part of the club that are popular with the kids and the kids will be supporting (ie SPENDING) this club for decades to come - we should be doing EVERYTHING we can to enhance their experience, us old farts would turn up anyway.

I suspect that PB is not fully to blame regarding Gully's Girls to be honest.

 

[ram1992]

Really interesting read - thanks!

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Really interesting - and made me all the more happy and proud and confident to be a seagull - confident in the future, that is. It's a well run club which is doing things right while keeping its feet on the ground - sounds like a game of Twister..

 

[The Hon Sec]

An interesting fact that I took from the meeting is that part of the development of the North West corner will be set aside for the use of School/youth group visitors which will be self contained with its own concourse. Invites will be sent to schools etc. to introduce youngsters to the delights of attending live games at the Amex with the aim of continuing to widen the fan base further. Increasing the fan base is very much a favourite topic because of the need to achieve parity under FFP.

 

[Stat Brother]

* Paul's had people approach him 'offering' some big household names (players) due to what's going on at the club and the good reputation of the project Gus is masterminding. Whether we could afford them or not is another matter..

Drogba

 

[Mackenzie]

Seems to me that all FFP will do is increase the distance between the Championship and Premier League. Perhaps that's the point. Although it could lead to reduced players wages and admission fees (!), which I'm all in favour of.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Drogba

Hargreaves