Losing a bit of love

[Pedro]

I think football supporters of any football club are entitled to constructively criticise the way that their club is being run and it is entirely healthy to do so, I don't think any owner should be immune from criticism (providing it is within reason) at any club and we are by no means exempt from that. As adults it is possible for us to hold more than one opinion at a time and be grateful for the investment that Paul Casson has put in and the progress we have made on the pitch under Paul Cox yet simultaneously be slightly disappointed about how we are not really kicking on in terms of the ground, raising attendances and the like.

Very well said

[HenneysKnee]

Whatever happened to the film that was being made?

[The Real Slim Azza]

Whatever happened to the film that was being made?

The one by the porn guy?

[Fazered]

Whatever happened to the film that was being made?

The one by the porn guy?

Cox?

[sambino]

We have had a fantastic season best finish in this league good cup run but still a lot of negatives from people
Pc has saved the club and given time sure the things will get put in place however for me there isnt the buzz of the days under daz and dave not sure why ? I always thought the mangement team and fans were on the same wavelengh then we had some great days out playoff final sunderland and boro in the cup and the crowning glory at wembley. There was singing and banners shoes off we need to get that buzz back to get the numbers up for home games. Not sure how but i guess we need the club/fans management team all pulling in the same direction.

[The Real Slim Azza]

Pc has saved the club .

Yeah we know....

[Londonblue]

Pc has saved the club .

You'll be telling me that Tim Farron comes from Preston next

[Toffeebluebird]

My 2 pence is that people have every right to question any decision made by anybody at the club. At times, however, the question gets lost in the complaining. That is my issue, the crying that some people do on here about not being informed about every single thing that happens on a day to day basis is pathetic.

I do find it a bit ironic that people have a go at what Casson said at the start of his reign and not following up on the obvious 'jump the gun' comments and then have a go when he does not come out with something that may or not be happening behind the scenes. Maybe he took that criticism to heart and decided to keep things less public until there is definite movement.

In my opinion, I have always found the no show because of a dislike of certain individuals at clubs a bit strange but that is just my opinion and is in no way meant to offend proper fans feeling a bit disillusioned. It is just that despite that disillusionment I would still be there, different strokes and all that. If Casson was running the club into the ground (like Blackpool) then I could understand a bit more but we are the best we have ever been (in my lifetime).

[Fazered]

Pc has saved the club .

Yeah we know....

And he doesn't answer the phone in January

[PRR]

Absolutely buzzing for the new season. Nothing to fear in that league. We beat the run away champions home and away last season and only missed out on a top five spot in the last few weeks. Without the injuries, who knows! Strengthen the squad and we've got a very realistic chance of a playoff place next season. That is almost unbelievable as a Barrow supporter. I've never looked ahead to a season where not reaching the playoffs would be a disappointment.

We are building slower than anticipated off the pitch, true, but we'll get there.

The ground is shit, but it's ours and it will see improvements I'm sure. AC sledgehammering the [SwearFilter] houses is a start.

Catering tip: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the Bovril.

[barrowfan]

Before we jump to criticise Paul Casson as we pay our few pounds a week, let's not forget that he has lost around £2 million in the last couple of years.

Would you be prepared to do that and take all the sh1t that he gets on here?

[The Real Slim Azza]

Before we jump to criticise Paul Casson as we pay our few pounds a week, let's not forget that he has lost around £2 million in the last couple of years.

Would you be prepared to do that and take all the sh1t that he gets on here?

If I was spending that money Id like to think Id be spending it correctly and in the right places so that ot can be put towards things thatll help recoup the expenditure.

Plenty more losses to come yet though!

[paddy71]

Before we jump to criticise Paul Casson as we pay our few pounds a week, let's not forget that he has lost around £2 million in the last couple of years.

Would you be prepared to do that and take all the sh1t that he gets on here?

If I was spending that money Id like to think Id be spending it correctly and in the right places so that ot can be put towards things thatll help recoup the expenditure.

Plenty more losses to come yet though!

Lucky for you it's not your money then

[Bluebarrowman]

Can't argue with some folks being a tad disappointed about facilities etc, however we are improving on the park and were not too far off play off spot this season.

Paul Cox is a good manager and can bring some good talent to the club, just feel we are on the correct track and next season could well be our best ever season in non league.

I'm just going to relax and enjoy the break but will be looking forward to August and starting the campaign well with some new signings in the team, when you consider the problems in the world and the recent atrocities in Manchester then we as a football fan base have exciting times to look forward to Im sure in the not too distant future.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Ive certainly lost a lot of love for the club. Its simply not the same as it was back when I was 13. We were shit then, but we knew we were. We knew not to expect much more.

Its odd because I always slated mates for watching Liverpool and Man UTD from the comfort of their own home on sky , fully equipped with this seasons third shirt with gold lettering on , rather than them watching a game live in the wind and rain. I always used to say they were blinded by the flashing lights and the money. A common question always cropped up :

What would you do if Barrow got taken over by a millionaire? -

I never really knew how to answer that. Id just laugh it off saying it would never happen.Then one day it did. I buzzed when rumours echoed around town that this big American businessman was supposedly coming in to buy the club out and take it to extraordinary heights. Finally years of following a side from Flixton to Farsley we had a chance of a second life, all the wrongs would be made right and Barrow could be a new force in non league football.

Promises of new ground developments that would cost " closer to £10m than £5m " and a 5 year plan have fallen through. It never really hit the ground running. Essential work aside the club is entering its 4th season under Rich Uncle Texas and it would appear the club are hoping the fans would forget the promise of a stand being refurbished every season along with a " lid on the HS end".

The mood at the club has slowly died off. The clubs quieter than it was with fans before, at least the Keens showed up to every game and you could talk to them. Now it seems a new breed of fans are floating around. Ones that wants to tell people at work on Monday that theyve had a drink with Paul Casson at the game over the weekend. A breed of fan that now simply expects success instantly. Nothing can be questioned because Casson saved the club then put off the pitch dealings in neutral by employing friends and family to do a job theyve little to no experience in doing. The important matters really are ignored and frustrations heighten when you see other clubs with worse resources over taking the club.

Im not sure what lies ahead for the future of the clubs. Higher wages on the same crowds seems a recipe for disaster. I don't think the owners pockets can continue to fund the short fall forever more. If the club is so far away from its own fan base at the moment how are they supposed to get close enough to potential new fans in order to get them through the gates? With next to nothing being put in place to counter balance the spending things are a concern to those who aren't as easily distracted as others by cowboy boots and tea towel replicas.

One thing is for sure, the club need to employ the right people in the right places behind the scenes, if the football league is the ambition then get people in who have been there , done it and bought a decent Nike shirt with full embroidery. No use employing offspring and mates where every day is a "learning curve". It seems the club is only active when they've been prompted by reading a post on here or have been contacted by the fans rep.

Fylde have Neil Joy who was Chief exec and a secretary at Oldham Athletic for four years , they have a head of media who spent 10 years at Blackburn in the press office who runs all social media (the future of everything). They have a finance director who is a chartered accountant. They have a commercial manager who worked in similar roles at Huddersfield Town , Tranmere Rovers and was head of partnerships at Oldham Athletic

I won't be putting any money into the club this year. Ill be following the results from afar but I won't be contributing to a club that has a mindset of " do you think we need the money?".

The problem is people were glad for him to take over without challenging what and when he was going to achieve.

The Keens did alot of good when we got into trouble , their image got a little tarnished near the end but that was to be expected.

When Casson took over I thought well if you have been a fan what did you do to help the Keens to keep the club going or is it now just a ego project.

Paul Casson has not published a programme of when things would be done, he could be a politicians, yes you have asked a question now I am going to give you a answer to another question.
The only thing I am envious of Fylde is they are proffesional.Its took a couple of seasons to get into our league but they made sure the Commercial/Communications side was in place.
Infrastructure wise have we moved forward ,I fear its going the way of Costa Concordia!

Paul Casson did say WHAT he wanted to achieve and WHEN!
At the FORUM Presentation, shortly before he took over.

ACHIEVE? Football League status + a New or Re-developed stadium.
WHEN? Within 5 years of his take-over.

There's still 2 seasons left to achieve his objective of promotion to the football league.
Regarding the stadium - a lot of promises - but no action apart from the pitch and floodlights.

My enthusiasm has been diluted but I still live in hope...

Regarding the comments about Fylde - it's early days.
I'm not sure that they'll take the National League by storm - as suggested on here.
It took them quite a few seasons to get out of National League North! They may find next season difficult...