question for Paul Casson

[Pedro]

Owner should now walk away, set up a trust for the wellbeing of the club, didn't work out for you but you could leave the club now in a better place than you found it and that I will be eternally thankful for.

I said that earlier but no way will that happen
He could always ask the Keens for some help but his ego may not allow it

[pjdaly]

I (and I'm certainly not alone) wouldn't mind scraping a relegation dog-fight like this season, or a season or two in the Vanarama North if I could see a bit of progress elsewhere i.e. ground, shop, youth development but it's so disheartening to hear the crap that they come out with and to stand on a roofless terrace season after season knowing fine well what the ongoing problems are and being told to be grateful for all things boiler-related. FFS if you want to leave a lasting legacy build a decent ground where we can all watch what we've always watched in a 21st century stadium not a 19th century debacle of a ground.

I particularly agree with that last part of your post, Mulholland. The recent demoralising news could broadly relate to two aspects of future decline:

Firstly (and the thing that preoccupies most fans I suppose), the real threat to us next season as a playing force on the pitch and the chances of cobbling together an outfit that might enable us to survive at our current level. At this moment, with the best will in the world, it is hard to be optimistic on that front.

Secondly, the recent news also confirms no ground developments even of a basic kind and so, as you rightly insinuate, our delapidated and way-past-its-sell-by-date ground will continue to decline still further. This gets to me every bit as much as the threat on the playing front. Much as I love the concrete bones of the old place (for example, that very same HS terrace that I stood on, often one squashed sardine amongst many in the glory days of the mid to late 60's) of course it all needs to go and be replaced in an ideal world.

I remember only too well what our insane Board did to the ground in the spring of 1972; yes, the club were desperate for cash as always, but taking a wrecking ball to the ground and the playing surface was the no-no to end all no-no's. Some still whine on about Hereford but the truth is we fully deserved to lose our place in the FL after we chose to destroy our facilities and make us into a laughing stock. You had to be there to understand how bad it was . . . wooden boards laid down at the corners with loose turf to cover the bends of the speedway track etc etc etc. What a joke . . . the NPL wanted rid of us so how there are some who still think we were robbed of our place in the FL is beyond me.

Anyway, moving on, if one could imagine (and it takes extreme imagination at this moment in time) finding an inspirational new manager and cobbling together a squad good enough to challenge for promotion, by doing something akin to a Boreham Wood, then how do we contemplate going into the FL with this ground? Laughing stock all over again, as it was when we departed back in 1972? I would not go so far as to say I would want to turn the opportunity down if it happened but I'd go into the FL with my collar turned up at home matches to hide from the shame and gruesome embarrassment of our ever so welcoming home facility.

What I'm saying is, just like you Mulholland, I could happily put up with more years of football at National or National North level if there was hope the ground was going to slowly come up to the required scratch. That's why the events of the last few years are so sickening . . . nothing to do with the actual football but more to do with the empty promises and false hopes of a redeveloped ground. Even if just one of the four sides had been done (notably the replacement of the eyesore at the Steelworks End) it would have made my day. But nought out of four is hard to stomach and offers no hope for future progress. During the climbdown, the groundwork (there's an unfortunate pun if ever there was one) for which has been prepared slowly over the last two or three years, comments such as the owner wandering onto the semi-circle one day and reflecting "I kinda like things as they are" just add insult to injury.

[mall]

Sadly, there is only one way forward and ,that is to ground-share with the rugby club.
Its the only way we will get a decent ground.

[Hitthebar22]

Owner should now walk away, set up a trust for the wellbeing of the club, didn't work out for you but you could leave the club now in a better place than you found it and that I will be eternally thankful for.

I think is a good post.
There are some unreasonably vitriolic posts about the Cassons doing the rounds, which are predictable, and there is some valid criticism as well.
There is Pedro too, who has become a legend in his own lunchtime as far as being anti establishment goes. It’s easy for the perpetual knockers to jump on at the moment.
Too many were sucked in by promises at the start from a well meaning genuine supporter with money to spend, and a lot of people still seem to demand that he spends, spends, spends as if it is THEIR place to demand that he does.
Like it not (eg Pedro) it is his money.
As I see it, however well meaning, his naïveté has caused the problem. It has been much much more difficult to run a successful club at this level than he ever envisaged. Just putting money in is, and has not been, the answer.
For starters, when just one persons money is involved, you are going to attract the wrong sort of people. Ultimately I think Cox had us over a barrel through a combination of greed and ambition (for himself). If the word goes out that “Barrow pay top dollar” (at this level), the wrong sort of player is going to be attracted, controlled by their greedy agents. There’s then a mix of the wrong sort of players on the field. Cox’s close season selection was shocking.
The naïveté of the owner from the outset seems to have been perpetuated by the appointment of his son to an important position, without having experience.
Nepotism is the name of the game. That feature alone could make the knockers suggest it’s one big ego trip.
There is undoubtedly a risk that having failed in the 5 year plan, and having spent 4 million of his own money, he’ll pull out. Maybe he can’t (or doesn’t want to) afford it any more. Pedro will sound off and probably get his wish, but what then?
Those that demand new this, new that, better players etc are as naive as the owner, but in a different way. There is absolutely no right to demand anything other than integrity. At worst, as supporters, we are just beholden to his whim. It’s actually a form of dictatorship, not a democracy.
I hope the reduced budget is well spent. There are plenty of journeymen players to form a decent team if they can be persuaded to turn out at Barrow.
Now there is less money, hopefully the voracious and reprehensible agent culture will be less prevalent.
I don’t see less money being available as such a bad thing. No money, which means the Cassons bailing all together, will be a disaster.

[Bingo]

He says he wants to only invest in things that generate money to put into the club, this isn't a bad thing if it happens.

If he walked away and left the club debt free we would probably struggle to last the season as we just don't have the infurstructure or people in place to generate money

[mickmike wilson]

He is obviously clearing the decks as part of an exit strategy £4million tho bloody hell much of that has been spent on shit players

Not a certainty at all

[Jonty]

Over the next season will Casson seek out additional investment to get on board, including a fan owned share scheme which the Bluebirds Trust could have a role to play. Casson + strong Trust Membership (1000+) + local business + other investors = less reliance on one owner and a better chance of success. I would see this as a positve move towards self sustainability.

[russell_anderson]

Owner should now walk away, set up a trust for the wellbeing of the club, didn't work out for you but you could leave the club now in a better place than you found it and that I will be eternally thankful for.

I think is a good post.
There are some unreasonably vitriolic posts about the Cassons doing the rounds, which are predictable, and there is some valid criticism as well.
There is Pedro too, who has become a legend in his own lunchtime as far as being anti establishment goes. It’s easy for the perpetual knockers to jump on at the moment.
Too many were sucked in by promises at the start from a well meaning genuine supporter with money to spend, and a lot of people still seem to demand that he spends, spends, spends as if it is THEIR place to demand that he does.
Like it not (eg Pedro) it is his money.
As I see it, however well meaning, his naïveté has caused the problem. It has been much much more difficult to run a successful club at this level than he ever envisaged. Just putting money in is, and has not been, the answer.
For starters, when just one persons money is involved, you are going to attract the wrong sort of people. Ultimately I think Cox had us over a barrel through a combination of greed and ambition (for himself). If the word goes out that “Barrow pay top dollar” (at this level), the wrong sort of player is going to be attracted, controlled by their greedy agents. There’s then a mix of the wrong sort of players on the field. Cox’s close season selection was shocking.
The naïveté of the owner from the outset seems to have been perpetuated by the appointment of his son to an important position, without having experience.
Nepotism is the name of the game. That feature alone could make the knockers suggest it’s one big ego trip.
There is undoubtedly a risk that having failed in the 5 year plan, and having spent 4 million of his own money, he’ll pull out. Maybe he can’t (or doesn’t want to) afford it any more. Pedro will sound off and probably get his wish, but what then?
Those that demand new this, new that, better players etc are as naive as the owner, but in a different way. There is absolutely no right to demand anything other than integrity. At worst, as supporters, we are just beholden to his whim. It’s actually a form of dictatorship, not a democracy.
I hope the reduced budget is well spent. There are plenty of journeymen players to form a decent team if they can be persuaded to turn out at Barrow.
Now there is less money, hopefully the voracious and reprehensible agent culture will be less prevalent.
I don’t see less money being available as such a bad thing. No money, which means the Cassons bailing all together, will be a disaster.

The only person who said there was going to be a huge amount of money spent was Paul Casson! The only person who said there was going to be a complete re-building of the ground was Paul Casson! The only person who decided Barrow would move from a part-time club to a full-time club and that the club couldn't progress unless this happened was Paul Casson! Had Paul Casson said from the beginning that he would make Barrow debt-free but would run the club on a basis of part-time players based in the north and would keep the ground in a decent state of repair nobody would have been upset. The reason people are annoyed is because Paul Casson made all these statements. Even now if he had the sense to make a statement saying that he could no longer afford to keep to his earlier promises, I don't think too many people would be upset. However, all the statements issued tell supporters that the withdrawing of substantial funding is for the benefit of the club which, other than the most gullible of fools, supporters know is total nonsense.

[mickmike wilson]

If we can get the type of manager in that can get the best out of a bunch of players who want to play for the club that's great. I don't for one minute think we are going to be fielding 11 locals. Look what Macclesfield did on a small budget.

Lets see what the summer brings, interesting and I don't have the figures but when we came up via the play offs 10 years ago our budget probably wasn't great - we stuck arond in the conference for 5 seasons

The club does need to be moving forward on money making - let's get some pop up bars around the ground for next season, take control of the careering, let's get the shirts ordered and on sale, have a look at corporate pricing for next year, get speaking to sponsors and get people on board -

I know when I last looked at the accounts online they had issued share capital presumably of what Paul Casson has put in - could he sell some shares to other people. The mindset of local businesses has probably been he is a millionaire he doesn't need our money... Lots of hard work for the club to do this summer

I agree with most of that though

[spirit of 1990]

I mention going P/T to not be a totally bad thing because of this scenario.

No idea what the total playing (and management team) budget was last year but let’s just say for arguments sake £500k (it’ll have been much much higher than that) that budget is now being halved (at least) so £250k. Now we’ve got to throw together a team of F/T players and compete for them players with two big spending clubs from the area we’d be looking at recruiting from.
Spend 250k on P/T players and we’d surely be looking at the top end of what’s available. The other option will be taking whatever is left over after Fylde, Salford and probably most others have completed their squad building.

I’d rather have a team of decent to good P/Ts than average to leftover F/Ts.

[Pedro]

Owner should now walk away, set up a trust for the wellbeing of the club, didn't work out for you but you could leave the club now in a better place than you found it and that I will be eternally thankful for.

I think is a good post.
There are some unreasonably vitriolic posts about the Cassons doing the rounds, which are predictable, and there is some valid criticism as well.
There is Pedro too, who has become a legend in his own lunchtime as far as being anti establishment goes. It’s easy for the perpetual knockers to jump on at the moment.
Too many were sucked in by promises at the start from a well meaning genuine supporter with money to spend, and a lot of people still seem to demand that he spends, spends, spends as if it is THEIR place to demand that he does.
Like it not (eg Pedro) it is his money.
As I see it, however well meaning, his naïveté has caused the problem. It has been much much more difficult to run a successful club at this level than he ever envisaged. Just putting money in is, and has not been, the answer.
For starters, when just one persons money is involved, you are going to attract the wrong sort of people. Ultimately I think Cox had us over a barrel through a combination of greed and ambition (for himself). If the word goes out that “Barrow pay top dollar” (at this level), the wrong sort of player is going to be attracted, controlled by their greedy agents. There’s then a mix of the wrong sort of players on the field. Cox’s close season selection was shocking.
The naïveté of the owner from the outset seems to have been perpetuated by the appointment of his son to an important position, without having experience.
Nepotism is the name of the game. That feature alone could make the knockers suggest it’s one big ego trip.
There is undoubtedly a risk that having failed in the 5 year plan, and having spent 4 million of his own money, he’ll pull out. Maybe he can’t (or doesn’t want to) afford it any more. Pedro will sound off and probably get his wish, but what then?
Those that demand new this, new that, better players etc are as naive as the owner, but in a different way. There is absolutely no right to demand anything other than integrity. At worst, as supporters, we are just beholden to his whim. It’s actually a form of dictatorship, not a democracy.
I hope the reduced budget is well spent. There are plenty of journeymen players to form a decent team if they can be persuaded to turn out at Barrow.
Now there is less money, hopefully the voracious and reprehensible agent culture will be less prevalent.
I don’t see less money being available as such a bad thing. No money, which means the Cassons bailing all together, will be a disaster.

I accept it's his money but he made so many promises.
Lies were told about Pennock staying but it sold season tickets
He loved the lime light where are his media interviews now.
He keeps making mistakes or are they mistakes?
Yes I will knock him,he came he promised and delivered a boiler.
Then we had its Cox I was to robbed,the CEO was dismissed along with the Commercial Manager.
Mickey Moore was given the job,Hornby followed and Ady.
Barrow AFC is a laughing stock with the stability of a Argentian Junta.
I believe if you promise something you deliver but you certainly do not lie.
I am not sure if you agree with with the lies been told but it's not acceptable to me.
If you think he has been building a stable structure you are deluded,he wants us to be self sufficient but he got rid of the Commercial Manager.
He will pull out and it will be other people's fault
He bought us in a drunken moment reportedly and has been running the club just like that

[The Tomahawk Kid]

He won't get rid of Andrew.

Reminds me of The Keens era!

[The Tomahawk Kid]

I think is a good post.
There are some unreasonably vitriolic posts about the Cassons doing the rounds, which are predictable, and there is some valid criticism as well.
There is Pedro too, who has become a legend in his own lunchtime as far as being anti establishment goes. It’s easy for the perpetual knockers to jump on at the moment.
Too many were sucked in by promises at the start from a well meaning genuine supporter with money to spend, and a lot of people still seem to demand that he spends, spends, spends as if it is THEIR place to demand that he does.
Like it not (eg Pedro) it is his money.
As I see it, however well meaning, his naïveté has caused the problem. It has been much much more difficult to run a successful club at this level than he ever envisaged. Just putting money in is, and has not been, the answer.
For starters, when just one persons money is involved, you are going to attract the wrong sort of people. Ultimately I think Cox had us over a barrel through a combination of greed and ambition (for himself). If the word goes out that “Barrow pay top dollar” (at this level), the wrong sort of player is going to be attracted, controlled by their greedy agents. There’s then a mix of the wrong sort of players on the field. Cox’s close season selection was shocking.
The naïveté of the owner from the outset seems to have been perpetuated by the appointment of his son to an important position, without having experience.
Nepotism is the name of the game. That feature alone could make the knockers suggest it’s one big ego trip.
There is undoubtedly a risk that having failed in the 5 year plan, and having spent 4 million of his own money, he’ll pull out. Maybe he can’t (or doesn’t want to) afford it any more. Pedro will sound off and probably get his wish, but what then?
Those that demand new this, new that, better players etc are as naive as the owner, but in a different way. There is absolutely no right to demand anything other than integrity. At worst, as supporters, we are just beholden to his whim. It’s actually a form of dictatorship, not a democracy.
I hope the reduced budget is well spent. There are plenty of journeymen players to form a decent team if they can be persuaded to turn out at Barrow.
Now there is less money, hopefully the voracious and reprehensible agent culture will be less prevalent.
I don’t see less money being available as such a bad thing. No money, which means the Cassons bailing all together, will be a disaster.

The only person who said there was going to be a huge amount of money spent was Paul Casson! The only person who said there was going to be a complete re-building of the ground was Paul Casson! The only person who decided Barrow would move from a part-time club to a full-time club and that the club couldn't progress unless this happened was Paul Casson! Had Paul Casson said from the beginning that he would make Barrow debt-free but would run the club on a basis of part-time players based in the north and would keep the ground in a decent state of repair nobody would have been upset. The reason people are annoyed is because Paul Casson made all these statements. Even now if he had the sense to make a statement saying that he could no longer afford to keep to his earlier promises, I don't think too many people would be upset. However, all the statements issued tell supporters that the withdrawing of substantial funding is for the benefit of the club which, other than the most gullible of fools, supporters know is total nonsense.

Well said and I totally agree!

[BoltonBlue]

I think is a good post.
There are some unreasonably vitriolic posts about the Cassons doing the rounds, which are predictable, and there is some valid criticism as well.
There is Pedro too, who has become a legend in his own lunchtime as far as being anti establishment goes. It’s easy for the perpetual knockers to jump on at the moment.
Too many were sucked in by promises at the start from a well meaning genuine supporter with money to spend, and a lot of people still seem to demand that he spends, spends, spends as if it is THEIR place to demand that he does.
Like it not (eg Pedro) it is his money.
As I see it, however well meaning, his naïveté has caused the problem. It has been much much more difficult to run a successful club at this level than he ever envisaged. Just putting money in is, and has not been, the answer.
For starters, when just one persons money is involved, you are going to attract the wrong sort of people. Ultimately I think Cox had us over a barrel through a combination of greed and ambition (for himself). If the word goes out that “Barrow pay top dollar” (at this level), the wrong sort of player is going to be attracted, controlled by their greedy agents. There’s then a mix of the wrong sort of players on the field. Cox’s close season selection was shocking.
The naïveté of the owner from the outset seems to have been perpetuated by the appointment of his son to an important position, without having experience.
Nepotism is the name of the game. That feature alone could make the knockers suggest it’s one big ego trip.
There is undoubtedly a risk that having failed in the 5 year plan, and having spent 4 million of his own money, he’ll pull out. Maybe he can’t (or doesn’t want to) afford it any more. Pedro will sound off and probably get his wish, but what then?
Those that demand new this, new that, better players etc are as naive as the owner, but in a different way. There is absolutely no right to demand anything other than integrity. At worst, as supporters, we are just beholden to his whim. It’s actually a form of dictatorship, not a democracy.
I hope the reduced budget is well spent. There are plenty of journeymen players to form a decent team if they can be persuaded to turn out at Barrow.
Now there is less money, hopefully the voracious and reprehensible agent culture will be less prevalent.
I don’t see less money being available as such a bad thing. No money, which means the Cassons bailing all together, will be a disaster.

The only person who said there was going to be a huge amount of money spent was Paul Casson! The only person who said there was going to be a complete re-building of the ground was Paul Casson! The only person who decided Barrow would move from a part-time club to a full-time club and that the club couldn't progress unless this happened was Paul Casson! Had Paul Casson said from the beginning that he would make Barrow debt-free but would run the club on a basis of part-time players based in the north and would keep the ground in a decent state of repair nobody would have been upset. The reason people are annoyed is because Paul Casson made all these statements. Even now if he had the sense to make a statement saying that he could no longer afford to keep to his earlier promises, I don't think too many people would be upset. However, all the statements issued tell supporters that the withdrawing of substantial funding is for the benefit of the club which, other than the most gullible of fools, supporters know is total nonsense.

Brilliant post Russell. Just admit now that you can’t afford to keep the thousands of promises made & let the fans try to put plans in place to galvanise the club & town again. Don’t continue to spout the bullshit that’s destroyed the club.

[Hitthebar22]

I think is a good post.
There are some unreasonably vitriolic posts about the Cassons doing the rounds, which are predictable, and there is some valid criticism as well.
There is Pedro too, who has become a legend in his own lunchtime as far as being anti establishment goes. It’s easy for the perpetual knockers to jump on at the moment.
Too many were sucked in by promises at the start from a well meaning genuine supporter with money to spend, and a lot of people still seem to demand that he spends, spends, spends as if it is THEIR place to demand that he does.
Like it not (eg Pedro) it is his money.
As I see it, however well meaning, his naïveté has caused the problem. It has been much much more difficult to run a successful club at this level than he ever envisaged. Just putting money in is, and has not been, the answer.
For starters, when just one persons money is involved, you are going to attract the wrong sort of people. Ultimately I think Cox had us over a barrel through a combination of greed and ambition (for himself). If the word goes out that “Barrow pay top dollar” (at this level), the wrong sort of player is going to be attracted, controlled by their greedy agents. There’s then a mix of the wrong sort of players on the field. Cox’s close season selection was shocking.
The naïveté of the owner from the outset seems to have been perpetuated by the appointment of his son to an important position, without having experience.
Nepotism is the name of the game. That feature alone could make the knockers suggest it’s one big ego trip.
There is undoubtedly a risk that having failed in the 5 year plan, and having spent 4 million of his own money, he’ll pull out. Maybe he can’t (or doesn’t want to) afford it any more. Pedro will sound off and probably get his wish, but what then?
Those that demand new this, new that, better players etc are as naive as the owner, but in a different way. There is absolutely no right to demand anything other than integrity. At worst, as supporters, we are just beholden to his whim. It’s actually a form of dictatorship, not a democracy.
I hope the reduced budget is well spent. There are plenty of journeymen players to form a decent team if they can be persuaded to turn out at Barrow.
Now there is less money, hopefully the voracious and reprehensible agent culture will be less prevalent.
I don’t see less money being available as such a bad thing. No money, which means the Cassons bailing all together, will be a disaster.

The only person who said there was going to be a huge amount of money spent was Paul Casson! The only person who said there was going to be a complete re-building of the ground was Paul Casson! The only person who decided Barrow would move from a part-time club to a full-time club and that the club couldn't progress unless this happened was Paul Casson! Had Paul Casson said from the beginning that he would make Barrow debt-free but would run the club on a basis of part-time players based in the north and would keep the ground in a decent state of repair nobody would have been upset. The reason people are annoyed is because Paul Casson made all these statements. Even now if he had the sense to make a statement saying that he could no longer afford to keep to his earlier promises, I don't think too many people would be upset. However, all the statements issued tell supporters that the withdrawing of substantial funding is for the benefit of the club which, other than the most gullible of fools, supporters know is total nonsense.

He was too naive (in hindsight) to run a club, despite being able to put money in. His ambitions were far too high. He hasn’t helped the cause by putting his son in to a position he has no idea about. In reality it’s become a shambles. An exercise in how to totally waste money when you don’t know what you are doing. As an owner he’s allowed to make statements; more fool us for being sucked into believing them at the beginning, and feeling hard done now the promises haven’t materialised. Any integrity he may have had seems to have vanished, and I don’t believe a word of any of it anymore, and haven’t since the Cox fiasco. The whole thing has an aura of damage limitation until he pulls the plug, which seems to be inevitable. My only point is - then what?