Project PLR: We must be ready says Paul Barber

[Vegas Seagull]

It's encouraging that we're being led by business people with a long term strategy rather than someone who thinks it's a Fantasy Football world. Just look down the A27 to Fratton Park to see what happens if you don't put in the infrastructure and plan accordingly for the Premier League.

3B is the way forward. (Bloom,Barber,Burke)

4B - you forgot Barcia

 

[The Birdman]

I am very excited with a hotel and multi story car park and a training ground if it delivers a well financed club playing at the highest level in Two to three years time I will think it all been worthwhile wait. I loved the old days at the goldstone we even had gates I think lower than Withdean. My first season I can remember was the fourth division promotion. All I will say football has changed some for the better and some for the worse. But the one thing that has not is my love for the Albion and my ambitions is to see them in the premier win the FA cup and to play in Europe that's not a hard ask!is it. Before I go to the football pitch in the sky. Bloom and Barber are my best chance yet for my dreams to come true.

 

[keaton]

I'd rather we prepared to be financially sound after another 5 years in the Championship, and take promotion as a bonus we'll sort out if we get there.

 

[drew]

No need to explain, you've just done it for me.

And ok I will bite. England fans nee Club England was yet another scheme set-up so that the FA could fleece its supporters for a 'membership' masquerading as a benefit. There is not one shred of evidence that anybody or anything other than the FA's own coffers have benefitted. Sound familiar?

And he may well have been successful as a Commercial Executive at the FA, although defining success on a government-backed initiative to keep certain events free-to-air is pretty thin. He boldly claims that the shirt deal we now have with Amex is the biggest in the clubs history and that's all to do with him, blah blah (and yes he has claimed it's him at his monthly dictates), but the reality is given the already significant involvement of said sponsor, any Tom, Dick or Harry could have negotiated that deal.

But even that is by the by. Success on Commercial deals is not a pre-requisite of an effective and engaging CEO. Bean-counter, politician, glorified salesman, call it what you will, the terminology doesn't matter. PLR as a vision won't work because of the apparent lack of ability to communicate effectively with his workforce.

You really do have chip on your shoulder.

If you're happy with the current state of affairs, that's your prerogative. I'm not. And btw, I've supported the club for over 40 years through good times and bad lest my commitment to the cause should be doubted.

What exactly is it about the current situation you are not happy with then. It's not perfect but then nothing ever is. When was the overall package nearer perfect than it is in the current regime?

 

[Creaky]

I am very excited with a hotel and multi story car park and a training ground if it delivers a well financed club playing at the highest level in Two to three years time I will think it all been worthwhile wait. I loved the old days at the goldstone we even had gates I think lower than Withdean. My first season I can remember was the fourth division promotion. All I will say football has changed some for the better and some for the worse. But the one thing that has not is my love for the Albion and my ambitions is to see them in the premier win the FA cup and to play in Europe that's not a hard ask!is it. Before I go to the football pitch in the sky. Bloom and Barber are my best chance yet for my dreams to come true.

What I don't understand is how an hotel and/or any other development can add to the financial stability of the club

If the income from such a development can be included in the club's P&L and help us to satisfy the requirements of FFP then how is that any different than Forest receiving an inflated sponsorship deal?

If activities outside of football can be part of a club's portfolio then what is there to stop TB from transferring one of his existing profitable ventures onto BHAFC's balance sheet in return for yet more equity in the club - That would make as big a nonsense of FFP as the deal Forest has carried out.


Maybe I should have posted this in the 'tThings I can't get my head round' thread

 

[Zebedee]

You really do have chip on your shoulder.



What exactly is it about the current situation you are not happy with then. It's not perfect but then nothing ever is. When was the overall package nearer perfect than it is in the current regime?

It is the lack of fit strikers that concerns me and out toothless front line, which looks poor at the moment. And I am gobsmacked at our lack of action in the loan market to address this problem. The fact that Barnes is our only fit striker is beyond belief but, not to worry, the threat of a hotel being built at the Amex will scare most teams into giving us three points.

 

[spring hall convert]

It's just a bit of corparate mumbo jumbo isn't it? It's heart appears to be in the right place.

I'm a little worried by this talk of employee dissent though.

 

[Acker79]

What I don't understand is how an hotel and/or any other development can add to the financial stability of the club

If the income from such a development can be included in the club's P&L and help us to satisfy the requirements of FFP then how is that any different than Forest receiving an inflated sponsorship deal?

If activities outside of football can be part of a club's portfolio then what is there to stop TB from transferring one of his existing profitable ventures onto BHAFC's balance sheet in return for yet more equity in the club - That would make as big a nonsense of FFP as the deal Forest has carried out.


Maybe I should have posted this in the 'tThings I can't get my head round' thread

Market value. The market is providing the money to the hotel, whereas the shirt sponsorship is coming from the club owners pocket. If tony is the hotel's only guest and he pays £500k a night it would be comparable.

Forest (may) have paid more for the shirt sponsorship than they could reasonably expect of market value in an effort to put money into the club that wouldn't otherwise be there. That money wouldn't be available to other clubs. If that company sponsored burnley, they would not pay the same.

The money that comes in from the hotel (assuming the prices aren't artificially inflated) will be an income that any club could get if they invested in a hotel.

 

[Seagull73]

You really do have chip on your shoulder.

Is that so? If you think that PB will want his time at the club defined as anything other than increasing revenues and reducing costs, and that for one second he would swap any of that for a scrap of customer / supporter goodwill, then you are as deluded as you are blind.

A few wordy e-mails to direct supporter contact does not constitute caring about what they think.

 

[Goldstone1976]

It's just a bit of corparate mumbo jumbo isn't it? It's heart appears to be in the right place.

I'm a little worried by this talk of employee dissent though.

In purely business terms, what the club have done in the last three years is a huge task. They've quintupled (roughly) the size of the business and, if we get promotion to the PL, will quadruple the revenue again. In round terms, let's call it a 10x change in the size of the business. The stark reality is that there will be relatively few staff who can make the necessary changes in their behaviour and (maybe) attitude to cope with such a change, so it wouldn't surprise me if some of the staff are not comfortable with the changes being pushed through. Many of the lower levels of staff will make it, since their jobs may not change too much, but many (most, in my experience) of the management level people won't.

It seems that people on here readily accept that a near complete change of playing staff was required when we went from L1 to the Championship, and seem happy to accept that, over a period of a couple of years, a near complete change will be required again if we win promotion to the PL. Why then should it be a surprise that the same could happen on the admin/commercial side of the business? We will be going from the equivalent of a small regional retailer to John Lewis - of course many people won't be able to cope with the new demands.

Paul Barber's job is to push hard to ensure we're ready (on the business side), all the while doing his best to ensure that the current staff aren't too upset at the changes. That's a really tough ask.

I do think that mentioning the acronym PLR to the press was a mistake though. He recognised that it might be misinterpreted; he was right!

A loan striker? Yes, of course we need one, but that's down to Burke and Ocsar to find.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

People really need to take a step back here and understand what a FANTASTIC thing we've got right now.

These things take time and Tony Bloom can see that. He's giving us the best possible chance of making the Prem and staying there. We don't want a short-term fix and have the stool kicked out from under us. We want a bloody great big concrete platform lifting us up there bit by it. And that's what we've got.

Stop following the model of old, spunking fortunes on overpaid, average players, coaches being sacked by Christmas if results are poor. We're different. Like it or not, this club is doing everything right now for the long-term. And that, although it might not be the most exciting at the moment, is the right thing to do.

 

[drew]

It is the lack of fit strikers that concerns me and out toothless front line, which looks poor at the moment. And I am gobsmacked at our lack of action in the loan market to address this problem. The fact that Barnes is our only fit striker is beyond belief but, not to worry, the threat of a hotel being built at the Amex will scare most teams into giving us three points.

Jesus, if that is it, I feel sorry for you. Sounds like you'd be happy if we signed anyone. In the last 40 years surely you can remember worse times with our striker situation. Farrington, Tiltman etc etc.

Is that so? If you think that PB will want his time at the club defined as anything other than increasing revenues and reducing costs, and that for one second he would swap any of that for a scrap of customer / supporter goodwill, then you are as deluded as you are blind.

A few wordy e-mails to direct supporter contact does not constitute caring about what they think.

 

[The Birdman]

We can't just survive on gate money and sponsorship ,stadiums have to be used more they are high cost to run by having a hotel and Parking we have chances to hold more events ie u21 u20 World Cup games even maybe an England womens int. pop concerts. We are not loaded with multi rich pepole who can bail the club out like Man City QPR etc. it the way of the world now you have to generate money from many ways if you want to succeed. We have a great Stadium and we are gradually building our fan base lots of new young fans we must be doing somthing right.we can do our bit by making the atmosphere Brillant for the Watford game as that is a chance for us to help promote the club on Sky.lets hope the team deliver.

 

[spring hall convert]

In purely business terms, what the club have done in the last three years is a huge task. They've quintupled (roughly) the size of the business and, if we get promotion to the PL, will quadruple the revenue again. In round terms, let's call it a 10x change in the size of the business. The stark reality is that there will be relatively few staff who can make the necessary changes in their behaviour and (maybe) attitude to cope with such a change, so it wouldn't surprise me if some of the staff are not comfortable with the changes being pushed through. Many of the lower levels of staff will make it, since their jobs may not change too much, but many (most, in my experience) of the management level people won't.

It seems that people on here readily accept that a near complete change of playing staff was required when we went from L1 to the Championship, and seem happy to accept that, over a period of a couple of years, a near complete change will be required again if we win promotion to the PL. Why then should it be a surprise that the same could happen on the admin/commercial side of the business? We will be going from the equivalent of a small regional retailer to John Lewis - of course many people won't be able to cope with the new demands.

Paul Barber's job is to push hard to ensure we're ready (on the business side), all the while doing his best to ensure that the current staff aren't too upset at the changes. That's a really tough ask.

I do think that mentioning the acronym PLR to the press was a mistake though. He recognised that it might be misinterpreted; he was right!

A loan striker? Yes, of course we need one, but that's down to Burke and Ocsar to find.

Good post, very sensible stuff.

 

[Diego Napier]

I am very excited with a hotel and multi story car park and a training ground if it delivers a well financed club playing at the highest level in Two to three years time I will think it all been worthwhile wait. I loved the old days at the goldstone we even had gates I think lower than Withdean. My first season I can remember was the fourth division promotion. All I will say football has changed some for the better and some for the worse. But the one thing that has not is my love for the Albion and my ambitions is to see them in the premier win the FA cup and to play in Europe that's not a hard ask!is it. Before I go to the football pitch in the sky. Bloom and Barber are my best chance yet for my dreams to come true.

Well done, you are obviously one of the fortunates who look at things with a positive attitude, see the upside and enjoy your life.

Clearly there are others posting on this thread with pessimistic personalities who can't stop themselves looking for and find the negative in any new situation and consequently live far less enriched lives.

 

[JBenno]

People really need to take a step back here and understand what a FANTASTIC thing we've got right now.

These things take time and Tony Bloom can see that. He's giving us the best possible chance of making the Prem and staying there. We don't want a short-term fix and have the stool kicked out from under us. We want a bloody great big concrete platform lifting us up there bit by it. And that's what we've got.

Stop following the model of old, spunking fortunes on overpaid, average players, coaches being sacked by Christmas if results are poor. We're different. Like it or not, this club is doing everything right now for the long-term. And that, although it might not be the most exciting at the moment, is the right thing to do.

This. absolutely this.
People who cannot get their heads around, are quite simply stupid.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Well done, you are obviously one of the fortunates who look at things with a positive attitude, see the upside and enjoy your life.

Clearly there are others posting on this thread with pessimistic personalities who can't stop themselves looking for and find the negative in any new situation and consequently live far less enriched lives.

Ahhhh, the ol' Pessimist v Optimist debate finally gets a heads-up. Frankly, if getting "very excited with a hotel and multi story car park" is a glowing example of one's glass frothing excitedly over, you can stick it as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps my cynicism is rooted in the campaign many of us fought to secure the right to build the new stadium: & the time spent debunking the fears of the anti's: only to see such assurances trampled over by the new regime. Lovely stuff.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Ahhhh, the ol' Pessimist v Optimist debate finally gets a heads-up. Frankly, if getting "very excited with a hotel and multi story car park" is a glowing example of one's glass frothing excitedly over, you can stick it as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps my cynicism is rooted in the campaign many of us fought to secure the right to build the new stadium: & the time spent debunking the fears of the anti's: only to see such assurances trampled over by the new regime. Lovely stuff.

Indeed. being called stupid & a pessimist is the height of good debate. Strangely, I used to be castigated for being blindly optimistic.

 

[Zebedee]

Jesus, if that is it, I feel sorry for you. Sounds like you'd be happy if we signed anyone. In the last 40 years surely you can remember worse times with our striker situation. Farrington, Tiltman etc etc.

No need to feel sorry for me - I'm quite happy with my views on the current situation. Of course, I don't expect us to sign anyone but I don't believe for one moment that there isn't a half decent loan striker out there who would be available at a reasonable price.

 

[The Merry Prankster]

Ahhhh, the ol' Pessimist v Optimist debate finally gets a heads-up. Frankly, if getting "very excited with a hotel and multi story car park" is a glowing example of one's glass frothing excitedly over, you can stick it as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps my cynicism is rooted in the campaign many of us fought to secure the right to build the new stadium: & the time spent debunking the fears of the anti's: only to see such assurances trampled over by the new regime. Lovely stuff.

Bit precious.