New signings

[Pedro]

Happens every season Skip. Doesn’t matter how old we are we still hanker after the ‘golden nugget’ of a juicy signing. Only to be disappointed that it never comes.

Then the reality of our limitations hits home as we realise that we’ve been shopping in that good quality second hand store again where the goods are marked “slightly damaged”.

I’m sure the club is doing what it can to get value for its money. The last one to send a shiver of anticipation down our collective spine was Dom Telford and look how that turned out.

We also do some of our best business when the other 23 clubs are not looking. Even if we have freed up cash to spend it’s still sometimes very difficult to spend it when we are competing with others for the same assets at the same time.

And lastly we always compare what’s coming in with those well developed players leaving. Feels a bit like we are being short changed and having to start all over again. Which of course is the reality when you are fixed in a two year cycle. Fortunately however we are pretty good in dealing with these realities.

Agree but when we did have a signing for a club record fee he was a total flop

[Suffolk Blue]

Also true Pedro. Although at the time I don’t recall the loss of Garner causing too much emotion at Fleetwood. We didn’t know a great about Garner. We liked his age, his pedigree at the time, his progression through the ranks and assumed due diligence had been done as to his potential. In fact all of those things may have been true ( though I have my doubts). There always remained the risk that the move would not work.

The problem is not that we could not afford to push the boat out if needed but that if we did we could not afford for it to fail. No point buying a really nice set of wheels if you can’t afford to spend the money on maintenance.

It does suggest that we are better at spotting a decent work horse than we are a show pony. Watching the transfer activity in the market at this time can be sobering reminder of that.

[Bingo]

We don’t seem to be very good at developing our own players probably because the club doesn’t have any other teams other than the first team. Carlisle have been very good at making some decent money from some home ground talent. Even if we had future footballing stars playing for kids teams in Barrow right now they won’t ever end up at Barrow because we have no structure.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

We don’t seem to be very good at developing our own players probably because the club doesn’t have any other teams other than the first team. Carlisle have been very good at making some decent money from some home ground talent. Even if we had future footballing stars playing for kids teams in Barrow right now they won’t ever end up at Barrow because we have no structure.

We don't have the money it's as simple as that. Until we get new investment our current set up is what it is.

[behind the goals]

We don’t seem to be very good at developing our own players probably because the club doesn’t have any other teams other than the first team. Carlisle have been very good at making some decent money from some home ground talent. Even if we had future footballing stars playing for kids teams in Barrow right now they won’t ever end up at Barrow because we have no structure.

We don't have the money it's as simple as that. Until we get new investment our current set up is what it is.

You are spot on, when will people who comment on here not understand this, it`s the same with Ground Improvements and Signing New players, WE NEED NEW INVESTMENT.

[McMark]

We don't have the money it's as simple as that. Until we get new investment our current set up is what it is.

You are spot on, when will people who comment on here not understand this, it`s the same with Ground Improvements and Signing New players, WE NEED NEW INVESTMENT.

I think finding the right kind of of investor/s in it for the right reasons could be the biggest hurdle the board are facing when looking for that New Investment.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

You are spot on, when will people who comment on here not understand this, it`s the same with Ground Improvements and Signing New players, WE NEED NEW INVESTMENT.

I think finding the right kind of of investor/s in it for the right reasons could be the biggest hurdle the board are facing when looking for that New Investment.

It most probably is but our current owners don’t have limitless funds to keep throwing away year on year as they have been.

[Bingo]

We don’t seem to be very good at developing our own players probably because the club doesn’t have any other teams other than the first team. Carlisle have been very good at making some decent money from some home ground talent. Even if we had future footballing stars playing for kids teams in Barrow right now they won’t ever end up at Barrow because we have no structure.

We don't have the money it's as simple as that. Until we get new investment our current set up is what it is.

Clubs in the north west counties have better footballing infrastructure than we do. Getting these things right isn’t a money pit it generates money in the end through sponsorship, grants, family of the players buying into the club etc. local footballers being involved in their home town clubs and who knows moving on for big fees. It takes time but that’s how you build a club. We must be the only football team in the football pyramid with just a first team that’s it.

Commercial side of the club could be so much better but again there is no ambition. It’s the little old Barrow mentality.

But I’ll quit saying it because it’s pointless. Negatively, short termisum and lack of any real ambition or direction. Think little that’s all we will ever be.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

We don't have the money it's as simple as that. Until we get new investment our current set up is what it is.

Clubs in the north west counties have better footballing infrastructure than we do. Getting these things right isn’t a money pit it generates money in the end through sponsorship, grants, family of the players buying into the club etc. local footballers being involved in their home town clubs and who knows moving on for big fees. It takes time but that’s how you build a club. We must be the only football team in the football pyramid with just a first team that’s it.

Commercial side of the club could be so much better but again there is no ambition. It’s the little old Barrow mentality.

But I’ll quit saying it because it’s pointless. Negatively, short termisum and lack of any real ambition or direction. Think little that’s all we will ever be.

Throwing money at what your asking for Bingo would se us relegated back to the National league in no time with little chance of returning.
Our finances ATM have to go into the first team and their infrastructure such as training facilities, coach travel overnight stays in hotels etc etc just to keep us in the EFL. Yes maybe we got promoted to soon before behind the scenes infrastructure that your talking about was put in place but promotion happened when realistically we were not ready for it. We are where awe are thanks to the owners we have and until new investment comes in we have to make the best of it which thanks to the owners we are doing.
As for the commercial side apparently there were folk queuing up like never before to buy next seasons shirts when they went on sale.

[Bingo]

And yet Father’s Day on Sunday and an empty online shop.

[StephenD]

And yet Father’s Day on Sunday and an empty online shop.

If that's because the kit launch event was a great success then the club have already got income in. It says you can order them for 'June delivery' in any case, we seem more advanced with shirt sales than plenty of other seasons.

[HenneysKnee]

And yet Father’s Day on Sunday and an empty online shop.

Can buy a “Ged Gardner” training top on the eBay shop though

[StephenD]

Fair play to those who are all over the poor shirt marketing issue.

[Hadrian]

The 'Free Sam Foley with every away kit' seems good marketing.

Or have I misunderstood?

[Hadrian]

We talk about investment and the right kind of investment but realistically we are probably thinking of people who are willing to put money in for no monetary return at present - i.e. 'supporting' rather than 'investing'.

Investment for development of the pop side might be a different matter, finding a partner who is willing to do a deal to finance a development and take a large slice of benefits. Presumably the football elements might be grant-aided, too? One question in the back of my mind is how it could be developed while retaining the ground for use, given the very limited footprint. Would it mean ground-sharing over the Bay for a season? What would it look like? No impossibilities, of course but may not be easy.

On the marketing side, what would the critics suggest is missing? Slippers with logo for Father's Day? BAFC-branded chocolates or beer? How many customers would be attracted. Ordering a new shirt seems to be, by far, the most-likely big seller. If the club can't reorganise their retail offer in the midst of close-season, then when?

Some of the ebay sales to clear 'old' kit seem to have been going well, even offering items with names that I can't remember! I see there is serious demand for Lee McEvilly's shirt, possibly by developers wanting to convert it to house contractors for the Yard.

As for developing our own talent, I am less sure. Look at other regional L2 clubs in recent years (two of the four are now non-league) and I am not too sure that the balance sheet of development costs cf income from player sales is necessarily positive. One now non-league club had been expecting a seven-figure pay-out from a sell-on clause several seasons ago though the moves hadn't happened but I would guess that amount reduces with each season that passes. Even with a development structure at Barrow in place, bear in mind, too, that a 'local' family may decide that their child may be better off with a Championship or EPL club's structure.