Pondicherry
Well-known member
Was at the Holbrook Club last night for the Paul Barber Q and A. Highlights as follows as best as I can remember.
1. Barber seeking Sussex MPs and Government help with the rail problems. A couple have been helpful, others less so. Franchise is owned by the government.
2. Hotel plans will be resubmitted with a new roof.
3. Amex can not be expanded significantly. Martin Perry says it not a meccano set.
3. Club take every measure possible re child protection currently. Obviously things in the past may have been different.
4. Club think its not worthwhile trying to organize seated only areas for away games as ultimately it is up to the home club's safety officer how the seats are filled on the day. So any pre made plans could be over ruled on safety grounds.
5. QPR case will be heard in the spring. QPR have done all they can to delay the process. Football league clubs are having to pay for FL lawyers. QPR, Bournemouth and Leicester cheated and they took places in the PL that should have gone to other clubs. It was like they were playing with 12 players.
6. Club has expanded youth recruitment into South London. South London boys help to toughen up the southern softies who are more skillful so a good mix now (I'm paraphrasing here).
7. Catering at record levels for last 3 home games. Sorry if pies run out. Its difficult to plan. Events at record levels at Amex also.
8. Contract talks are on going with DS. PB described in quite a bit of detail the actual mechanics of the negotiation process which was quite interesting. Some Albion players do not have agents for example (I thought they all did) and for a lot of the contracts the agent adds very little apart from taking a cut which could have gone to the player.
9. Not happy with Villa over Calderwood although we got a very large sum in compensation (for an assistant) which Villa just paid without blinking.
10. Bloom is a proper fan (we know) and currently subsidising around £2 millio pcm.
11. Average championship player on 12K a week PB estimated and prem player 80K.
12. New website for the club next near which will be much better and include the ability to stream away games for overseas supporters.
13. Will look at outside toilets if we get promoted to prem (more money)
14. Will look at new lift to coach park if we get promoted to prem (more money).
15. GM CAN NOT BE RECALLED
And last but I think most significant (it was my question) the issue of the rubbish stick on sponsor panel. PB agrees stick on sponsor panel does not look good (2 kits running) but Amex stipulated it. Next years kit design is done already and its our best ever by far and he thought I would like it - to which I replied 'so the sponsor panel part of the fabric then' which he did not deny (or definitely confirm for that matter). Anyway hopefully nike have listened and made this available - or at least improved significantly the current effort. PB did confirm there is definitely space on the sleeve for the Premier League logo. Also said that Nike provide lots of free kit to all levels at the club which other providers would not.
PB very personable and did not hold back in his answers. He always seems pretty clued up to me. A good evening all round - (i'm only saying this bit because they monitor / take notice of NSC)
1. Barber seeking Sussex MPs and Government help with the rail problems. A couple have been helpful, others less so. Franchise is owned by the government.
2. Hotel plans will be resubmitted with a new roof.
3. Amex can not be expanded significantly. Martin Perry says it not a meccano set.
3. Club take every measure possible re child protection currently. Obviously things in the past may have been different.
4. Club think its not worthwhile trying to organize seated only areas for away games as ultimately it is up to the home club's safety officer how the seats are filled on the day. So any pre made plans could be over ruled on safety grounds.
5. QPR case will be heard in the spring. QPR have done all they can to delay the process. Football league clubs are having to pay for FL lawyers. QPR, Bournemouth and Leicester cheated and they took places in the PL that should have gone to other clubs. It was like they were playing with 12 players.
6. Club has expanded youth recruitment into South London. South London boys help to toughen up the southern softies who are more skillful so a good mix now (I'm paraphrasing here).
7. Catering at record levels for last 3 home games. Sorry if pies run out. Its difficult to plan. Events at record levels at Amex also.
8. Contract talks are on going with DS. PB described in quite a bit of detail the actual mechanics of the negotiation process which was quite interesting. Some Albion players do not have agents for example (I thought they all did) and for a lot of the contracts the agent adds very little apart from taking a cut which could have gone to the player.
9. Not happy with Villa over Calderwood although we got a very large sum in compensation (for an assistant) which Villa just paid without blinking.
10. Bloom is a proper fan (we know) and currently subsidising around £2 millio pcm.
11. Average championship player on 12K a week PB estimated and prem player 80K.
12. New website for the club next near which will be much better and include the ability to stream away games for overseas supporters.
13. Will look at outside toilets if we get promoted to prem (more money)
14. Will look at new lift to coach park if we get promoted to prem (more money).
15. GM CAN NOT BE RECALLED
And last but I think most significant (it was my question) the issue of the rubbish stick on sponsor panel. PB agrees stick on sponsor panel does not look good (2 kits running) but Amex stipulated it. Next years kit design is done already and its our best ever by far and he thought I would like it - to which I replied 'so the sponsor panel part of the fabric then' which he did not deny (or definitely confirm for that matter). Anyway hopefully nike have listened and made this available - or at least improved significantly the current effort. PB did confirm there is definitely space on the sleeve for the Premier League logo. Also said that Nike provide lots of free kit to all levels at the club which other providers would not.
PB very personable and did not hold back in his answers. He always seems pretty clued up to me. A good evening all round - (i'm only saying this bit because they monitor / take notice of NSC)
