Survival

[saltcellar]

It's 71 years since I saw my first game at Holker Street, the FA Cup 2-2 draw against Swansea on the 14th January 1954.
We have had some highs, notably promotion to Division 3 in 1967, two FA trophy wins in 1990 and 2010 and few promotions in non league.
One consistent factor throughout the period of my support, is that there has always (and probably always will be) the constant financial struggle to keep the club going.
That factor was probably the major reason we lost our league status in 1972.
The club let the ground be used for speedway to get some well needed cash.
Unfortunately, it ruined the perimeter of the pitch, with touchlines stupidly being marked on the edge of the grass and with the cinder track at a lower level, balls could not run along the line leading to complaints from opposition clubs.
Corners were also a mess.
The club has done well to keep in existence, a factor many complaining supporters don't seem to appreciate.
Unless we get big financial backing, survival is the clubs main priority.
Promotion to league 1 wouldn't ease that fact, but probably make it worse.
5 years after the last football league promotion, we went out of the league.
Voted out I know, but it could happen again.
We all want the club to do well, but for me in my later years, I just hope we can retain our league status for as long as possible mainly for our younger and regular supporters.
As many say "Keep the faith"

[MisterPleasant]

All of a sudden I feel like a young whippersnapper. Thanks, saltcellar.

[Ziggerzagger]

I think with Andy Whing we are going to struggle and have to hope there are 2 worse teams than us this season,if he’s here next season then we could be in trouble,
The lack of goals,lack of shots in games and negativity setting up to draw games is a recipe for relegation.
Recruitment very poor and stuck with at least 2 so called forwards that can’t score in a brothel and both have long term deals.
Crowds will fall unless something changes soon as we will be the lowest scoring team in the league and at best draw specialists.
Such a contrast from 2 years ago with hungry and passionate management and players.

[Suffolk Blue]

I think the true fact of the matter is more fundamental than just the management team.

It’s simply that we increasingly lack the financial clout not just to be able to effectively compete in League 2 but increasingly to survive within it.

Whilst we have managed just about to maintain our budget for this season, this is set against a division that is increasing its spending. Irrespective of whether this is sustainable or not. We are being financially squeezed.

Whilst we like to vilify those who recruit and manage the squad, what you see from week to week is the outcome of living within those constraints.

It’s a constant within the club. Those managers that have given the club the cloak of respectability in recent years have done so not really by assembling expensive or classy squads but by finding gems, oddities, or bits and pieces and then making them fit in such as way as they give maximum potential effort.

We are always asking managers to out-perform what logic, pundits or supporters of other clubs think we are capable of. Something that contributes to the “little old Barrow” view of the world.

So when we slag off Wood or Whing or Harvey ( whoever he is) we need to remember that what we actually expect is for them to perform to a standard higher than at many other clubs just so that we can keep hold of their coat tails.

I don’t like to admit it and I hate others saying it but in truth we are a niche club. Quirky, odd in so many ways, and working to norms that others wouldn’t contemplate. We do not fit any kind of mould or model.

Lastly, the number of clubs with similar challenges in the division is reducing. Whilst Accrington and Newport are still around I think there is a decent chance that we may still be having this discussion as an EFL club same time next season but the clock is definitely ticking on our longer term participation.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

I think the true fact of the matter is more fundamental than just the management team.

It’s simply that we increasingly lack the financial clout not just to be able to effectively compete in League 2 but increasingly to survive within it.

Whilst we have managed just about to maintain our budget for this season, this is set against a division that is increasing its spending. Irrespective of whether this is sustainable or not. We are being financially squeezed.

Whilst we like to vilify those who recruit and manage the squad, what you see from week to week is the outcome of living within those constraints.

It’s a constant within the club. Those managers that have given the club the cloak of respectability in recent years have done so not really by assembling expensive or classy squads but by finding gems, oddities, or bits and pieces and then making them fit in such as way as they give maximum potential effort.

We are always asking managers to out-perform what logic, pundits or supporters of other clubs think we are capable of. Something that contributes to the “little old Barrow” view of the world.

So when we slag off Wood or Whing or Harvey ( whoever he is) we need to remember that what we actually expect is for them to perform to a standard higher than at many other clubs just so that we can keep hold of their coat tails.

I don’t like to admit it and I hate others saying it but in truth we are a niche club. Quirky, odd in so many ways, and working to norms that others wouldn’t contemplate. We do not fit any kind of mould or model.

Lastly, the number of clubs with similar challenges in the division is reducing. Whilst Accrington and Newport are still around I think there is a decent chance that we may still be having this discussion as an EFL club same time next season but the clock is definitely ticking on our longer term participation.

That's a great post and one I 100 per cent agree with. Given our current financial position just surviving in league 2 for us has to be counted as a success IMO.

[HenneysKnee]

It’s going to get harder and harder without new investment. Being honest, and as Tony Shearer has said many times the ground itself is a money pit never mind anything else.
Does feel a shame after talk about going down that “model” that we never got any money for Gotts, Spence or Campbell, very much felt at times they could be players we could have got a half decent transfer fee for at least one of them

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

It’s going to get harder and harder without new investment. Being honest, and as Tony Shearer has said many times the ground itself is a money pit never mind anything else.
Does feel a shame after talk about going down that “model” that we never got any money for Gotts, Spence or Campbell, very much felt at times they could be players we could have got a half decent transfer fee for at least one of them

The club did all they could but in the end it was the players call. You can't make them leave whilst under contract or sign a new one either. It's a short career and at our level it's all about maximising your earrings and playing at the highest level you can .
I do however suspect Will Stanway could be one that goes against the grain and if continues to impress could go for a fee. We appear to have a ready made replacement in Winterbottom should this happen in the next 12 months or so.

[WalneyOne]

Wings “ don’t lose” philosophy is fine away from home setting up not to concede but at home we need to be on the front foot more.
Whits and Barks should be further forward .

[Jonty]

The club and owners have done brilliantly, but for the first time since promotion, I sense we are gliding along and not really sure what happens next. It’s not all about money, What happened to Carlisle last season is a reminder that the wrong man at the wheel and with poor recruitment is a recipe for disaster, no matter how much you throw at it. Our board have always acted quickly.
I really think this is a pivotal season, the owners have done brilliantly, but you can run out of steam and I do think someone else needs to get on board and soon, to bring fresh energy and to help with the costs.
Fans need to do their bit too and keep going through those gates.

[FanzoneFan]

I read that Burton Albion lost more than 8 million pounds last season. Football has well and truly gone mad. For us it’s all about in surviving in the Football League and praying for the odd Cup run.

[Bakewell Blue]

Living where I do, in Derbyshire, I can never understand how a town like Burton sustains a L1 team (the answer is that it doesn't, it is wealthy owners/big losses that do it)

[mickmike wilson]

Mystic Mike predicts that we enjoy a good cup run this season earn a tonne of money & Young Wyl shines & gets sold for 1.6 million with a stonking 20% sell on clause.

We then build a full length decent stand & concourse type facilities.

Fingers crossed.

[bluessupporter]

Mystic Mike predicts that we enjoy a good cup run this season earn a tonne of money & Young Wyl shines & gets sold for 1.6 million with a stonking 20% sell on clause.

We then build a full length decent stand & concourse type facilities.

Fingers crossed.

Can I have pint of what you're drinking please that gives you such hallucinations?

[mickmike wilson]

Mystic Mike predicts that we enjoy a good cup run this season earn a tonne of money & Young Wyl shines & gets sold for 1.6 million with a stonking 20% sell on clause.

We then build a full length decent stand & concourse type facilities.

Fingers crossed.

It was the mushroom omelette mate
Can I have pint of what you're drinking please that gives you such hallucinations?

[McMark]

Mystic Mike predicts that we enjoy a good cup run this season earn a tonne of money & Young Wyl shines & gets sold for 1.6 million with a stonking 20% sell on clause.

We then build a full length decent stand & concourse type facilities.

Fingers crossed.

Quote mickmike wilson wrote: Offer him an improved contract tonight……He will certainly go up the leagues & we should finally get a decent deal….2 million minimum & a future 20% sell on fee

400 k minimum knocked off his value since you posted 4 hrs earlier. It’s obviously a volatile market and really shows your true depreciation for the player unless the the initial price was set using the Barrow outdoor market index.