What are the Americans up to

[summerwell]

Apr 3, 2024 17:58:32 GMT 1 lenny38 said:

His comments are logical. Why spend money on a development that is currently never used? Real estate in Gillingham…it’s a dump. Why would he want to knock it down and build houses. Now that isn’t logical…

It's perfectly logical if you are a profit-driven businessman. I'm not saying that's definitely the plan but there is a huge gulf between what BG says and does at the moment. LED boards before a decent striker for example. That's purely a commercial choice ,not a statement of intent about the quality of our football.

[lenny38]

Apr 4, 2024 5:27:44 GMT 1 summerwell said:

Apr 3, 2024 17:58:32 GMT 1 lenny38 said:

His comments are logical. Why spend money on a development that is currently never used? Real estate in Gillingham…it’s a dump. Why would he want to knock it down and build houses. Now that isn’t logical…

It's perfectly logical if you are a profit-driven businessman. I'm not saying that's definitely the plan but there is a huge gulf between what BG says and does at the moment. LED boards before a decent striker for example. That's purely a commercial choice ,not a statement of intent about the quality of our football.

Profit isn’t a dirty word. I think he’s trying to grow GFC into a sustainable business. You don’t build an extension to your house if you don’t intend on using it…they aren’t Football people and I assume Jackett/Hess recommend the signings. It’s not the ‘Americans’ fault these have been mostly terrible.

[donut]

Well, they re all in the Dock I'm afraid.

[stevolution]

There are much easier ways for property investors to make a load of money than getting involved in a scheme halfway across the world, taking the time to dupe a bunch of football supporters and cash flowing the team for a few years. Not too mention spending a load of time in Gillingham instead of California

Doesn't stack up

[donut]

No I sent think they re up to that exactly, trouble is I don't know exactly what they are up to.

[summerwell]

Apr 4, 2024 10:17:02 GMT 1 stevolution said:

There are much easier ways for property investors to make a load of money than getting involved in a scheme halfway across the world, taking the time to dupe a bunch of football supporters and cash flowing the team for a few years. Not too mention spending a load of time in Gillingham instead of California

Doesn't stack up

You could perfectly well argue that it doesn't make sense to be doing all that full stop. 'Cash flowing' - I assume you mean funding since cash flow is a function of trading - in any event we have always been led to believe that GFC is solvent.

I agree the case is not  proven one way or the other but there is precious little evidence of investment in the actual squad and our playing strength. 

[Greyfox]

I assume that FFP comes into play. It’s all very well supporters whining and complaining, but the truth is, if more people in the surrounding area got behind the club. And, the more the Galinsons work on the commercial side of the business to give a much larger turnover, all the better.
Listening to talk sport this morning, the two American owners of Wrexham haven’t put any of their own money in, only shrewd commercial deals raising the required funds to move from £5m turnover to £25-£30m. This allows them to pay players £8000 a week. And the probability is that they will sell players on for a few more million.

This season the Gills announced an all time record amount of season tickets sold. Just over 3500. Whoopi. Hardly mind blowing, considering a local catchment area of over 350000 people.

If 3500 is a record. That means even when the club got promoted to the Championship, playing the likes of Leeds, West Ham, Leicester, Crystal Palace etc the supporters were still not fully getting behind the club. And people still moan that the club isn’t spending more money than it earns.
Since the Gills got promoted to the championship in 2000 the Medway towns has expanded by probably another 50000 people.
The Galinsons are right to hone into businesses and commercial ventures, that’s where the large investment will come from. Not from fickle so called supporters and pathetic gates of 6000.
And most of the moaners and negative views come from people who confess to not even go to the matches.
Well, their contribution won’t take the club forward, that’s for sure.

[summerwell]

GF the population of Medway is 280,000 so you might argue the catchment is not quite the figure you quote but I would agree that the population is largely indifferent to GFC. Why ? As an irregularly returning exile over the years I found the club distinctly user unfriendly, unresponsive and unhelpful, culminating in a £200 VIP ticket I bought for the Shrewsbury final at Wembley. They were quick to take my money but I didn't receive my ticket and had to call in at the Wembley ticket office on the day , not knowing iff I would be able to pick it up. Even then there was a muddle between GFC tickets and Shrewsbury tickets which no-one from GFC was the slightest bit interested in helping me with.

I went to both the Wigan and Shrewsbury games and you would have expected some follow up marketing from the club to utilise the goodwill and support. Nothing -not one piece of comms, despite the fact that they had all my details ( and tens of thousands of others ) on file.

Under the previous regime the comms and marketing, not to mention the PR and management style, were appalling. In this respect the Galinsons are miles better but sadly, it may now be too late to stimulate much greater interest. In a poll some seasons ago we were voted the worst away trip in the entire league so I hardly think the Brian Moore experience will be helpful in delivering a bigger opposition contingent.

Gillingham is a grade A tip, parking is a nightmare and the highlight of local 'facilities' is a grimy chip shop, so we don't have a lot going for us. All we have , in my view, is the 'product' itself, that's to say the football, and that's why it's vital that we strengthen the team amd improve our style of play as the first priority.

When people bang on about Wrexham ,they don't talk about the quality of the pies or the lovely advertising boards, they talk about players, goal and winning games. We need to get our football better to drive success .

[donut]

Sadly all true, didn't give a toss and that's why the people won't give a toss unless they're looked after properly and we have a progressive ground. Ambition seems to me to be suspect. It will make a difference.

[Greyfox]

SW, splitting hairs on the catchment area. Supporters in the local area’s would include as far out as Sittingbourne, Sheppy and Gravesham.
Many come from all over Thanet. And dare I say it, Maidstone.

You still never said what you would do about FFP. Without the Galinsons commercial growth on increasing turnover, the club will never be in a serious position to really move into the higher divisions. That’s exactly what Wrexham are and have been doing over the last 3 seasons.
Without the increase in turnover it’s a chicken and egg scenario.

Sorry to hear about your experiences dealing with the club. I can’t say that I have ever experienced the problems you mentioned about the club or staff. I have always found them helpful and accessible.

I didn’t wait for the club to get in touch with me after the promotion to the Championship, I couldn’t wait to get my season ticket. Especially as it was the most successful time supporting the club.

There’s those who talk a good game and then those who just get on with it. If the other 40000 who went to Wembley wanted to, they could have shown more support and maybe the club would now be still in the Championship.

[summerwell]

Just a few reality checks .Personally I didn't wait for anything but I was simply amazed that they made no efforts at all to convert those who might have become firm supporters. FFP is not an issue for GFC as BG has made clear; you need to look at the rules.,and, by the way quoting facts is not splitting hairs. Your assessment of our catchment is optimistic to say the least. You should ask yourself why there are many local football fans who prefer to support the likes of Maidstone, Chatham or Charlton. Perhaps ,like me, they have found our club to be a poor customer experience.

I have been a supporter since my first game in 1958, so I am a diehard, although be reason of distance and age admittedly mostly a TV supporter now. Were the experience of Priestfield more enjoyable and the football on offer not so excruciatingly dull even now things might change but I'm not the future for the club. It need dads and lads, families, schoolfriends, pub mates, Sunday footballers ( of both genders).

As the owners at Wrexham have made clear, their strategy has been to attract sponsors by leveraging. their celebrity status and using that to fund the playing strength, something of course we have no chance of doing and therefore we have to market ourselves to fans much better

Just a further example of the GFC approach, I left an enquiry about corporate hospitality ( no-one available to talk to me at the time !) . No call back. I hope and am inclined to believe things have improved now. We'll see how next season works, given that this year has undoubtedly not delivered success.

[donut]

SW I tried to email them. I did eventually hear one week later, the tickets could have been gone by then. I was surprised to hear at all such is my negativity about GFC. What can you say it seems to be the way, part time, working from home, not giving a toss as long as they have profit, no wonder no one answers emails.

[stevolution]

I do think the catchment area is bigger than medway. But medway clearly needs to provide the bulk of the fans. But as I have said many times, Kent is not a sporting hotbed. There is plenty of apethy around here, together with lots of part time Chelsea/spurs/Arsenal/west ham fans, a number of who look down their noses at Gillingham.

I do think the commercial side is still not as good as it should be. I don't get as much advertising and comms sent to me considering the amount of contact I have with the club.

I think the stuff about the ground and it's location is a red herring. Lots of people see the ground in the middle of terrace housing as a positive. Luton is adding exactly that to the prem. Ive been to Colchester, it's bland as hell. Give me priestfield every day. As for the away end... It's never going to generate any significant money - bottom of the list of priorities, doesn't help the club at all

I don't get ppl moaning about the LEDs. That's income generation, they've said it will have paid for itself pretty quickly. No brainer.

SW questioned spending on the players before - this is the most important question. My understanding is that we've spent good money on Lapslie, Hutton, Dieng, Hawkins and Ogie. We are paying huge wages to Malone, and big signing on fees and I would guess high wages to J Williams, Masterson and Mahoney. I doubt we've spent this sort of money since the Lee / Whelpdale days, and suspect this exceeds that

[Greyfox]

SW. That’s exactly my point, The Galinsons are dealing within the FFP rules. They can only spend 55% of turnover on wages. Which probably is very close on the present turnover. They could of course put millions in as a gift to boost turnover. Which is unlikely as they are only millionaires not billionaires!!
The way forward as I said, is to increase turnover. Which as far as I can see is their preferred way forward. The more business and commercial activities to support the club the better. The more money the supporters spend is another factor.
Of course selling a decent player for millions would help. But I won’t hold my breath. However, The track level on that issue is awful.
UTG.

[donut]

GF, Brad has already said FFP rules DO NOT AFFECT US AT ALL. I forget why, some smart getting round things.