Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:14 pm  

Dreamer wrote:

..... you mean a very, very big bath

How does it go.... if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Still waiting , in fact you are making my argument for me . carry on

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:16 pm  

Starbug wrote:

Still waiting , in fact you are making my argument for me . carry on

If I answer correctly will I get two stars on my report?

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:34 pm  

Dreamer wrote:

If I answer correctly will I get two stars on my report?

You and I both know you are trying to avoid stating the obvious , the money would go on an improved playing squad , as success on the pitch will result in more income through the turnstiles , wouldn't it ?

But you and I also know that it doesn't work like that

Sponsorship is great , however it has to profitable for the sponsor or it will only last for a short time , if it has only been given because of locality then it is of little long term use

The CEO of United Emirates Airlines is from Leigh , he was approached in 2003/4 to sponsor the club , he declined but suggested if we were ever to get into SL for us to ask again , this we did the following year but unfortunatley a local business had already taken the option as the main shirt sponsor , but true to his word they did sponsor us , the local business struggled and ultimatley went bust 14 months into a 2 year deal and only paid for part of the original agreed amount

A ' Charitable ' sponsor is not a long term strategy , it is a short term boost , and sometimes it is a bad thing as it can make an administration lazy , they also tend to only want to invest in a tangible item , ie a particular player or the like , when a more useful contribution would be a marketing budget for 3/4 years to enable the club to try to build a bigger fan base , and fans tend to last longer than sponsors

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:12 pm  

Starbug wrote:

You and I both know you are trying to avoid stating the obvious , the money would go on an improved playing squad , as success on the pitch will result in more income through the turnstiles , wouldn't it ?

But you and I also know that it doesn't work like that

Sponsorship is great , however it has to profitable for the sponsor or it will only last for a short time , if it has only been given because of locality then it is of little long term use

The CEO of United Emirates Airlines is from Leigh , he was approached in 2003/4 to sponsor the club , he declined but suggested if we were ever to get into SL for us to ask again , this we did the following year but unfortunatley a local business had already taken the option as the main shirt sponsor , but true to his word they did sponsor us , the local business struggled and ultimatley went bust 14 months into a 2 year deal and only paid for part of the original agreed amount

A ' Charitable ' sponsor is not a long term strategy , it is a short term boost , and sometimes it is a bad thing as it can make an administration lazy , they also tend to only want to invest in a tangible item , ie a particular player or the like , when a more useful contribution would be a marketing budget for 3/4 years to enable the club to try to build a bigger fan base , and fans tend to last longer than sponsors

There is no such thing as bad money - only bad management. The real problem is that directors are usually also fans and that's where common (business) sense goes out of the window.

Our last BOD made all the right noises re not overspending but look what happened. They told everyone within earshot how good our finances were but were apparently telling porkies. I can only assume that they were grasping at straws and trying to balance current debt against possible future income.

There is far more to being a director than strutting Nero like around the executive lounge and looking down your nose at the plebs (fans).

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:18 pm  

Dreamer wrote:

There is no such thing as bad money - only bad management. The real problem is that directors are usually also fans and that's where common (business) sense goes out of the window.

Our last BOD made all the right noises re not overspending but look what happened. They told everyone within earshot how good our finances were but were apparently telling porkies. I can only assume that they were grasping at straws and trying to balance current debt against possible future income.

There is far more to being a director than strutting Nero like around the executive lounge and looking down your nose at the plebs (fans).

Now your getting it

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:57 pm  

Starbug wrote:

Now your getting it

I've always had it

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:26 pm  

Starbug wrote:

Can you explain to me why this is a good thing ?

Then I'll explain how it can actually be counter productive

We know all about sponsorship deals being counter productive.

Jewson's anyone? That Internet Company who never paid us a penny too?

It shows the board are working hard to attract new sponsors and looking at new revenue streams.

If they can bring someone as big as Molson-Coors onboard who else can they attract? It could only be the tip of the iceberg.

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:25 pm  

Stealth Comic wrote:

We know all about sponsorship deals being counter productive.

Jewson's anyone? That Internet Company who never paid us a penny too?

It shows the board are working hard to attract new sponsors and looking at new revenue streams.

If they can bring someone as big as Molson-Coors onboard who else can they attract? It could only be the tip of the iceberg.

Great though big sponsorship deals are they can detract and distract from the main issue , that of bringing in more pay through the turnstile fans , long term that is the most important requirement

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:43 pm  

Starbug wrote:

Great though big sponsorship deals are they can detract and distract from the main issue , that of bringing in more pay through the turnstile fans , long term that is the most important requirement

I agree which is why I think them letting in kids from local junior sides in for free is a fantastic idea because:-

1) In the short term it might tempt paying parents to bring their kids to watch the real thing as it's more affordable

2) They're obviously already interested in the sport because they play, so letting them through the door for nowt to watch us over the Super League clubs might have them be loyal to us for the rest of their lives giving us a future fan base.

I don't think anyone is under any illusions that the new board and the staff at Cougar Park have got their work cut out to get attendance levels to be considered a club the size of Fax, Leigh, Widnes etc nevermind aspiring to Super League. If the can keep growing it as they have (up 23% last year) we'll get there eventually.

Re: Fans forum meeting. : Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:57 pm  

I think our problem this season will be retaining fans - we all know we could be in for a hammering now and again; will the new blood be willing to turn up and see a losing side?
I think they would, if the whole match day experience was exciting and interesting enough.
Local bands on at half-time? I know I enjoyed the one at the Grand Final, and it would possibly be free to the club in return for a decent audience and publicity for the band.
Make more of the club/bar area? Quiz nights, promotions, stuff like that?
Spot prizes for the fans? Maybe the odd free shirt, hat or summat?
Some new songs on the terrace? Please?!
There must be people around who have ideas about how to get the crowds in...