Financial restrictions at the Albion hampering the playing budget?

[Captain Sensible]

Who thought we'd sell 18k season tickets last year, not even the club did. So they must have made more than they budgeted for. Sorry to keep this short but I don't believe the OP.

 

[The Merry Prankster]

There is a massive enthusiasm for the Albion at the moment. The fans are doing everything that could be asked of them and more. Buying every season ticket going, hugely oversubscribing the 1901 club, buying shitloads of club stuff, eating everything they can get their hands on and drinking themselves stupid. If the ambition of the club doesn't match the support of the fans, then I expect that level of support to fall away pretty quickly.

 

[El Presidente]

Who thought we'd sell 18k season tickets last year, not even the club did. So they must have made more than they budgeted for. Sorry to keep this short but I don't believe the OP.

You're focussing on revenue, which I agreed exceeded expectations. My comments are in relation to carefree spending.

 

[El Presidente]

There is a massive enthusiasm for the Albion at the moment. The fans are doing everything that could be asked of them and more. Buying every season ticket going, hugely oversubscribing the 1901 club, buying shitloads of club stuff, eating everything they can get their hands on and drinking themselves stupid. If the ambition of the club doesn't match the support of the fans, then I expect that level of support to fall away pretty quickly.

The club has spent £120 million on a new ground and training facilities though, that shows more ambition that a pie hat trick shirley?

 

[Cian]

Out of interest I do not remember any clamour for the travel vouchers to be charged separately. At least that has been rectified for the coming season. If the fee needs to be increased - the club should increase it.

I do - but years back. On the Black & White era NSC there was much huffing and puffing about how tickets would be "cheaper" when the stadium opened due to not having a compulsory travel voucher.

I think it dropped from people's minds once we saw the stadium being started, though.

I would find it very unlikely that TB & his board would have let uncontrolled overspends go on for an entire season, though. You don't (usually) get that wealthy by not watching where the cash is being spent.

 

[The Merry Prankster]

The club has spent £120 million on a new ground and training facilities though, that shows more ambition that a pie hat trick shirley?

It does but I think it needs on going levels of commitment. No good spunking all that money on a lovely stadium and then saying that due to our lax financial control would you all mind watching an uncompetitive team until we've sorted it out. Loss o f momentum, loss of interest, big drop in revenue.

 

[El Presidente]

It does but I think it needs on going levels of commitment. No good spunking all that money on a lovely stadium and then saying that due to our lax financial control would you all mind watching an uncompetitive team until we've sorted it out. Loss o f momentum, loss of interest, big drop in revenue.

Agreed, which perhaps explains why TB is allegedly unhappy as he wants to put out a decent team on the pitch.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

I openly stated that there was conjecture in the OP.

As for the entire post being hearsay, I have downloaded the accounts and they certainly reveal we lost £7 million in 2010/11.

Having done some further analysis I do admit to underestimating revenue, which I now think is in the £22-25 million range.

The extrapolation to Mattock is that I suspect the Albion are not being held to ransom over wage demands, and that any increase in the playing budget may have been restricted due to cost overruns.

So the 12,000 who travelled for nothing on the buses , trains and P&R to The Amex and back in effect reduced the playing budget next season by c£350k The official club website is now advertising vacancies for stewards which suggests the club have to meet a ratio of the expected attendance. Something the club may have been crucified on is the cost of electricity which completely fucks up the forecasting models with unannounced 20-35% price rises.

 

[Westdene Wonder]

The number of buses provided at the start of the season were insuffient,the service improved when additional buses came on the scene some of which came from a wide area,this could well be at least part of the reason for the high cost of transport,the use of vouchers would have been satisfactory if proper arrangements had been made to check them, another loss of revenue was 1901 members travelling free.
The club have gone to the other extreme now by charging seniors who are entitled to Free bus travel.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

The official club website is now advertising vacancies for stewards which suggests the club have to meet a ratio of the expected attendance. Something the club may have been crucified on is the cost of electricity which completely fucks up the forecasting models with unannounced 20-35% price rises.

Aren't the main bulk of stewards employed from season to season, therefore we would be advertising every June so that they have time to be trained?

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Aren't the main bulk of stewards employed from season to season, therefore we would be advertising every June so that they have time to be trained?

I think the vast majority are retained but there would still be some natural wastage. With attendances increasing I think the club are recruiting in addition to backfilling vacancies.

 

[sir albion]

I doubt the budget is affected and if it is then we should try a ship out some of the tripe we have,i doubt 27,000 people would be happy watching painter and dicker etc.Im delighted anyway with the stadium and infrastructure of the club,if it would mean making cuts then so be it,but this won't happen end of.

The club it seems are doing very very well and would say much better than anyone else in the championship,so this doesn't add up

 

[kevtherev]

This really is a double edge sword. The club must invest and get to the promise land if Mr Bloom ever wants to see a return on his money, or a part return. If we level out as a championship side then season ticket sales will level out at around 15k with it(or less). We are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, but it won't last forever. If we turn in performances week in week out like we did the last quarter of last season. So the solution is, you either give Poyet the funds he wants, to get the players he wants, which i'm guessing is a lot. Or you let the Poyet era run it's course, as it surely will without the funds he craves and then get a manager who is proven with limited funds, i.e a Coppell or a Holloway...Either way, something will have to give at some stage, Poyet's track record with spending Bloom's funds and getting value for money is not great. He has picked up some good players but nothing what you would call a great bit of business. With the exception of Bridcutt, but I was more relating to players that have been bought for hard cash.

 

[sir albion]

Yeah poyet leaves our best players on the bench anyway,maybe bloom doesn't want gus spending anymore of the clubs money

Maybe gus will go out and by two more defensive midfielders and two defenders

 

[kevtherev]

Yeah poyet leaves our best players on the bench anyway,maybe bloom doesn't want gus spending anymore of the clubs money

Maybe gus will go out and by two more defensive midfielders and two defenders

lol, wouldn't surprise you would it....Everyone knows we need a gk, lb, cm and at least 1 cf....Any other position can of course always be improved on, but these four positions must be filled if we are to mount an assult on the top six.

 

[Captain Sensible]

You're focussing on revenue, which I agreed exceeded expectations. My comments are in relation to carefree spending.

I get what you are saying but the meeting between Poyet and Bloom about the transfer budget, seemed to go pretty well with Poyet saying he was 'happy' with the transfer budget. I don't think TB is that daft that he doesn't know who is spending what. It is possible he's unhappy with some aspects of last seasons operation but I doubt it is a big problem and also doubt it will impact on the transfer budget.

 

[Seagull on the wing]

Everyone seems to be jumping the gun here. The last season at the Withdean saw us gearing up for a move to Amex which would include all the costs of employing a new management structure and a host of other things where running costs were probably incurred relating to the Amex long before any income was derived from it. It was also clear that there was a concerted effort to ensure promotion so that the first season at the Amex would be in the Championship. I would be interested to see what the weekly losses were in the previous 3 seasons at the Withdean. I'm no financial guru but I think it would be foolish to suggest the club are in trouble based on the accounts from the last season at Withdean.

Most sensible answer yet!

 

[pork pie]

Could this article on Vital Football be linked to this matter?

Inigo Calderon is reportedly attracting interest from Championship sides Bristol City, Leeds and Huddersfield.

The Spanish right-back has impressed for Gus Poyet's Brighton since his move from Alaves in 2009.

Calderon starred as Brighton were promoted from League One last season and maintained his form as Brighton finished their Championship season comfortably above the relegation zone.

The 30-year-olds consistent form has gained the Spaniard a lot of admirers with Huddersfield joining Bristol City & Leeds in the chase for the signature of Calderon.

Gus Poyet would be reluctant to let Calderon leave, but he probably couldn't match the wages that any of the 3 admirers could offer.

As with all stories at this time of year it could all just be paper talk, and with Peltier linked to Town also, don't expect this one to go any further than next weeks Fish & Chip wrapping paper.

Read more: Huddersfield Town - Brighton defender Inigo Calderon linked to Town

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

As said previously, other than building and player budgets what else could have cost us more than predicted?

 

[Acker79]

Could this article on Vital Football be linked to this matter?

Inigo Calderon is reportedly attracting interest from Championship sides Bristol City, Leeds and Huddersfield.

The Spanish right-back has impressed for Gus Poyet's Brighton since his move from Alaves in 2009.

Calderon starred as Brighton were promoted from League One last season and maintained his form as Brighton finished their Championship season comfortably above the relegation zone.

The 30-year-olds consistent form has gained the Spaniard a lot of admirers with Huddersfield joining Bristol City & Leeds in the chase for the signature of Calderon.

Gus Poyet would be reluctant to let Calderon leave, but he probably couldn't match the wages that any of the 3 admirers could offer.

As with all stories at this time of year it could all just be paper talk, and with Peltier linked to Town also, don't expect this one to go any further than next weeks Fish & Chip wrapping paper.

Read more: Huddersfield Town - Brighton defender Inigo Calderon linked to Town

Albion ace shrugs off speculation From The Argus)