Five Year Plan

[The Tomahawk Kid]

With regard to Paul Cassons decision to leave the club, some fans believe his decision was due to the failure of his five year plan to get us promoted to the FL - our exit from this season's FA Cup won't have helped, of course.

But has it been five years? I thought next season would have been the fifth year?

[barrowfan]

With regard to Paul Cassons decision to leave the club, some fans believe his decision was due to the failure of his five year plan to get us promoted to the FL - our exit from this season's FA Cup won't have helped, of course.

But has it been five years? I thought next season would have been the fifth year?

Depends if he could afford to lose another £1million next year with little prospect of promotion.

Even if the team make it, the ground needs a lot of attention.

Great work being put in by the volunteer team but I think promotion would be something of a challenge off the field as well as on.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

I think any fan having thoughts of promotion, either now, or in the near future would be an extreme optimist!
Sadly, I now think our future will be in the National League North - which is looking highly competitive at the moment.

[Steelworks End]

We do need a five year plan though; in five years time we should aim to be in a position to play at a level two steps above where we are now - in other words we should be looking for promotion to League One.

This would mean us having the players capable of achieving that, a ground that met the criteria demanded by the higher level, and the business and commercial skills in place behind the scenes.

This is, in essence, what Paul Casson's ambitions were when he took over the club. But, as he quickly came to realise, running a National League club is an expensive business. We are competing against clubs with a rich benefactor or a Football League parachute payment - or both - and we simply don't have the financial wherewithal to do so successfully.

I doubt that the match day revenue comes anywhere near covering the day-to-day running expenses; if we're lucky, 25 home league & cup games a seadon bringing in crowds of 1,200 to 1,300 average, with many of these being young supporters or concessions. Knock of the VAT from the gate receipts, and think how much is left over. Where is the financial shortfall coming from; sponsorship, hospitality, or someone's deep pockets?

It is obvious to all that the ground would need major expenditure on it to get anywhere near an acceptable standard. The revitalised ground maintenance team are doing an admirable job, and all credit to them, but the work needed is on a scale that only a professional construction company could provide. And that won't be cheap.

So what is the answer? Unless Paul Hornby can round up some wealthy investors, then I'm afraid that the future holds nothing but continual financial struggles. As has been the case ever since I first stood on the Holker Street terraces with my Dad around 60 years ago.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

For a minute I thought you might be an eternal optimist!

After reading through your post I realise you're a realist. And you're right - I agree - it's looking like continual financial insecurity.

Anyone got a magic lamp? Give it a rub, please...

[HenneysKnee]

When’s he releasing the film of his tenure? Some of the footage from the title winning season would genuinely be interesting

[The Tomahawk Kid]

The footage from the Forum Presentation he gave would be more interesting...we could all watch, reflect and weep.

[mall]

Its only a matter of time now before ground sharing will raise its head. Anyone who thinks that them at craven park haven't thought it are kidding themselves. And I'll tell you now, the rugby wont move-it will be the soccer that move to craven park.Either way, the end of the club from what it is now to something like Darlington or Scarborough is inevitable. Anyone that thinks Paul Hornby can get investors from the town on board are, again, kidding themselves because the towns [SwearFilter], theirs no money around and its getting worse. If anyone from this town had money to invest in a sports club,they would have invested at craven park by now-no doubt about that at all.

[Van Der Nipper]

He already has the investors.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Its only a matter of time now before ground sharing will raise its head. Anyone who thinks that them at craven park haven't thought it are kidding themselves. And I'll tell you now, the rugby wont move-it will be the soccer that move to craven park.Either way, the end of the club from what it is now to something like Darlington or Scarborough is inevitable. Anyone that thinks Paul Hornby can get investors from the town on board are, again, kidding themselves because the towns [SwearFilter], theirs no money around and its getting worse. If anyone from this town had money to invest in a sports club,they would have invested at craven park by now-no doubt about that at all.

God forbid...I hope you're proved wrong! Craven Park is a s**t hole! Even when compared to Holker Street!

[The Tomahawk Kid]

He already has the investors.

Aye...but do they have the money?
I'm talking BIG money - because that's what the club needs to compete - even in the National League.

[boyliegladbach]

He already has the investors.

Aye...but do they have the money?
I'm talking BIG money - because that's what the club needs to compete - even in the National League.

Clubs survive in this league without BIG money. Just got to run it right.

[Colin Appleton]

Are we ever going to find out who was the person Paul Hornby said wanted to buy the club outright ? If he or she has got the financial clout surely it's worth considering?

[Jonty]

We do need a five year plan though; in five years time we should aim to be in a position to play at a level two steps above where we are now - in other words we should be looking for promotion to League One.

This would mean us having the players capable of achieving that, a ground that met the criteria demanded by the higher level, and the business and commercial skills in place behind the scenes.

This is, in essence, what Paul Casson's ambitions were when he took over the club. But, as he quickly came to realise, running a National League club is an expensive business. We are competing against clubs with a rich benefactor or a Football League parachute payment - or both - and we simply don't have the financial wherewithal to do so successfully.

I doubt that the match day revenue comes anywhere near covering the day-to-day running expenses; if we're lucky, 25 home league & cup games a seadon bringing in crowds of 1,200 to 1,300 average, with many of these being young supporters or concessions. Knock of the VAT from the gate receipts, and think how much is left over. Where is the financial shortfall coming from; sponsorship, hospitality, or someone's deep pockets?

It is obvious to all that the ground would need major expenditure on it to get anywhere near an acceptable standard. The revitalised ground maintenance team are doing an admirable job, and all credit to them, but the work needed is on a scale that only a professional construction company could provide. And that won't be cheap.

So what is the answer? Unless Paul Hornby can round up some wealthy investors, then I'm afraid that the future holds nothing but continual financial struggles. As has been the case ever since I first stood on the Holker Street terraces with my Dad around 60 years ago.

So what has to change then. You are right in everything you say. So the next owners need to know how to make the changes needed to break out of this 60 year struggle, know how to get the local community on board and get people in through the gates, know what is needed to give us a competitive chance on the pitch, know how to get more sponsorship, how to use the club 52 weeks a year and how to break this deeply ingrained negative perception that holds the club back.

[tictactoe]

He has his investors but whether they are the right people we will have to see - hopefully it’s people with a love for the club and not just to fuel their ego .......