New club statement

[Nohairdontcare]

All this about “value for money” - that’s hilarious. 

 

Maybe someone’s fancy fake watch is value for money. 

 

It was probably cheaper than what we have been paying for some fake footballers anyway. 

 

Horseshit has more value than that statement. 

[League one forever]

I think the most telling thing is the lack of response on here to the statement. 

 

Complete apathy and dejection. 

[wiseowl]

3 hours ago, Ricardo said:

The reason crowds have fallen is due to the lack of openness and transparency in trying to engage “the fan” in the grand masterplan.

Whilst appreciating your point, I think it's because we are shit and virtually propping up the entire football league.

[maddog]

2 hours ago, Midsblue said:

 

Agree that communication and openness is crucial but falling crowds is nothing to do with events off the field but what’s happening on the field.

 

Those season under Dowie and Shez put bums on seats because we was playing attractive football and scoring goals.  Even under Johnson and recently under Wellens.  Bringing in players like Byrne, Baxter, Kilkenny, Murray, Wellens himself and even Shez on one leg excites fans.  Upfront it’s players like Doyle, Kuqi, Surridge and recently Lang who you knew had a goal in them.

 

This season there’s nobody.  Wheater yes but it’s in the middle or up front that spikes interest, fires excitement and gets the punter in.  One player remotely close is Nepo and he’s being shown the door.  Desire I’d love to succeed but whilst Nepo is out, Nepotism is in with that fat donkey Vera.

 

I ‘think’ I’m not going due to off field stuff. And that is my logical reason. But the impact the off field stuff has on my willingness to attend has been bigger I think. Via it’s impact on the on field stuff. Even if the on field stuff was going well, I think I’d be a bit (lot) narked with the off field stuff. Having said that, if the on field stuff was going well, it would indicate that the off field stuff was too. 

 

That at makes sense to me, but might not to everyone. 

[south east latic]

8 hours ago, Andy-latic said:

 

I’d say the majority are somewhere in the middle, including myself

 

Surely there is no middle ground to be had with this statement. It’s another contemptuous piece of writing blaming everyone but himself.

[singe]

8 hours ago, Andy-latic said:

 

I’d say the majority are somewhere in the middle, including myself

I'd suggest paying more attention then. 

[NewBlue]

Don't try telling fans how good it is when we're 22nd in League Two

[TheBigDog]

14 hours ago, sjk2008 said:

As expected, yet again a load of absolute drivel. As mentioned a couple of times already, the fact he’s criticising previous transfer regimes is incredible. 

 

All he’s done in that statement is blame Corney (as usual), blame the FLG, blame The Trust and finally blame the fans.

 

GET FUCKED YOU CANCEROUS TWAT AND GET OUT OF MY CLUB!

 

The statement really does not tell us anything new. It is a poorly worded in parts and does not really deliver as an example of transparency in my opinion.The saga with the Joe Royle Stand continues to rumble on and continues to intrigue.

 

All in all a poor attempt at communication.

 

It will be interesting to see, if it actually happens, what format the proposed ‘Fans Forum’ in October takes.

 

Oh, and as a final word, @sjk2008 - I hope that you moderate your language somewhat when you attend the fans forum in October as you will be escorted from the premises methinks

[sjk2008]

24 minutes ago, TheBigDog said:

 

The statement really does not tell us anything new. It is a poorly worded in parts and does not really deliver as an example of transparency in my opinion.The saga with the Joe Royle Stand continues to rumble on and continues to intrigue.

 

All in all a poor attempt at communication.

 

It will be interesting to see, if it actually happens, what format the proposed ‘Fans Forum’ in October takes.

 

Oh, and as a final word, @sjk2008 - I hope that you moderate your language somewhat when you attend the fans forum in October as you will be escorted from the premises methinks

Cheers

[Midsblue]

I believe we’re all in agreement that there are more questions than answers over the handling of the north stand/OEC prior to Lemsagam’s arrival.  Perhaps Lemsagam is being shafted to the tune of £99,999 per season in rent and, if so, that’s unfair.  However I wouldn’t trust the £99,999 to be invested wisely into the club if the rent was reduce to £1.

 

Theres too much secrecy and reluctance of full transparency between all parties here - the club, Brassbank, FLG - and the fans are suffering.

 

If Lemsagam was to sell, what guarantee is there that a new owner won’t be shafted too until the north stand/OEC situation is clarified once and for all? 

 

Its time for someone completely impartial to audit the above plus the club purchase, the brassbank proposal to the FLG, debt situation of what was inherited/settled, current financial position of club P&L and 100% transparency of the transfer dealings this season including budget allocated (vs last season) and budget spent.  The conclusion of that audit doesn’t need to be made public but visible to all key stakeholders in the future of this club including the Trust.

 

If all parties refuse this audit or cannot justify the rejection then they have something clearly to hide.

 

All the fans want is security off the field and a competitive and successful team on it.  I don’t know much about the off-field but I do know that the recruitment policy this season is not 100% improved from last season nor is it a squad built to secure promotion to League 1.  It’s a squad destined for bottom 25% of our league, even relegation battle.  Lemsagam assured us promotion - him and his brother have recruited poorly and they need to address this.  Flooding the squad with 40 players of low quality versus 25 of decent quality raises a valid question of why?  We have our ideas and thus is why the transfer dealings need auditing too.

 

 

[TheBigDog]

23 minutes ago, sjk2008 said:

Cheers

You’re welcome.

[yarddog73]

1 hour ago, TheBigDog said:

 

The statement really does not tell us anything new. It is a poorly worded in parts and does not really deliver as an example of transparency in my opinion.The saga with the Joe Royle Stand continues to rumble on and continues to intrigue.

 

All in all a poor attempt at communication.

 

It will be interesting to see, if it actually happens, what format the proposed ‘Fans Forum’ in October takes.

 

Oh, and as a final word, @sjk2008 - I hope that you moderate your language somewhat when you attend the fans forum in October as you will be escorted from the premises methinks

Wasn't a fans forum promised in September outside the ground? That gave a window of about 8 weeks to arrange, unsurprisingly the goal posts have now changed till the end of October. 

 

If this clown is serious about engaging with the fan base I suggest he gives it a little more priority otherwise he will find himself in a hole he will struggle to get out of, he's had opportunities with a reasonable time frame put in place but yet again wants to go down the route of playing the village idiot, this team isn't going to play it's way out of trouble, we will struggle and discontent and frustration are just going to multiply, if he wants to sit back for weeks crack on but don't be shocked when you lose the fan base completely because you couldn't be arsed to engage.

[Stevie_J]

12 hours ago, south east latic said:

Latics facebook really is a scary place. Full of halfwits lapping it up as a good, honest piece of communication. Shows what we’re up against in terms of uniting a fragmented fan base when half seemingly don’t have the capacity to see the complete horse shit that’s staring them in the face.

 

Bazza is surely pissing his pants with that nepotism line.

They delete any negative replies to FB posts.

[maddog]

17 minutes ago, Stevie_J said:

They delete any negative replies to FB posts.

 

I keep getting a notification that I am an ‘Official OAFC top fan this week!’ 

 

Unusual, since everything I post gets deleted so I’ve stopped bothering...

 

Propaganda. 

[yarddog73]

3 minutes ago, maddog said:

 

I keep getting a notification that I am an ‘Official OAFC top fan this week!’ 

 

Unusual, since everything I post gets deleted so I’ve stopped bothering...

 

Propaganda. 

Weird isn't it, we live in 2019 not 1919. 

 

 

[TheBigDog]

1 hour ago, yarddog73 said:

Wasn't a fans forum promised in September outside the ground? That gave a window of about 8 weeks to arrange, unsurprisingly the goal posts have now changed till the end of October. 

 

If this clown is serious about engaging with the fan base I suggest he gives it a little more priority otherwise he will find himself in a hole he will struggle to get out of, he's had opportunities with a reasonable time frame put in place but yet again wants to go down the route of playing the village idiot, this team isn't going to play it's way out of trouble, we will struggle and discontent and frustration are just going to multiply, if he wants to sit back for weeks crack on but don't be shocked when you lose the fan base completely because you couldn't be arsed to engage.

 

Maybe they’re hoping that by the end of October we will have won a few games, climbed the table and the crowds will have flocked back to BP...?

[unsworthlatic]

5 hours ago, TheBigDog said:

 

Maybe they’re hoping that by the end of October we will have won a few games, climbed the table and the crowds will have flocked back to BP...?

 

Interesting. We have 3 very winnable fixtures coming up and the end of September could have seen us starting to climb the table. 

 

As for "Crowds will have flocked back" - I doubt that will happen until a sustained challenge towards the top of this division is applied. Highly unlikely fans will return to Cheltenham at home on 05/10 even if we win the next 2 home games. You might just creep over 3000.

[al_bro]

19 hours ago, Ricardo said:

They really need to employ a proper communications expert as they are so poor and come across very defensive and negative in every communication. This just gets on people’s nerves and elicits an equally negative response form us all with disbelief and distrust.

 

Actions speak louder than words, the lack of constant engagement with fans leaves a void which will get filled with truths, part truths and speculation. I have no problem that we live within our means but the recruitment has no clear strategy, the constant vanishing of players and staff with a complete lack of transparency is much more indicative of the regime in charge than a statement saying this is “transparency” we have promised.

 

The reason crowds have fallen is due to the lack of openness and transparency in trying to engage “the fan” in the grand masterplan.

i dearly wish We turns things around and unearth some gems in the scattergun recruitment policy, but be honest about things, they got lucky a player like Wheater was available due to Bolton being in dire straits it was not part of a well thought out recruitment policy.

 

The regime is alienating its customers and it is on a downward spiral of reduced income, so lesser players (quality and quantity) and so more disillusioned fans etc etc.

 

Forget a FD and his scythe of cost reduction, invest in a proper communications team and engage your paying customers in the right manner as the current regime are so out of their depth - maybe they need to go and learn a few things from the likes of Burton or Brentford

Well said.

 

Eagles put them on to Wheater. I doubt very much they would have gone for him otherwise.

 

As for the two statements on the official site. Maybe they are finally beginning to realise they have haemorrhaged  25% of the hardcore support, and matchday income is very low. Most of it coming from the away fans, and in this league that is paltry. If things continue, ST sales will crash next summer. AL doesn't learn from his mistakes, and hopefully in the not too distant future he flies back to Dubai or Morocco a few million poorer, having sold the club to another mug.

[singe]

2 minutes ago, al_bro said:

Well said.

 

Eagles put them on to Wheater. I doubt very much they would have gone for him otherwise.

 

As for the two statements on the official site. Maybe they are finally beginning to realise they have haemorrhaged  25% of the hardcore support, and matchday income is very low. Most of it coming from the away fans, and in this league that is paltry. If things continue, ST sales will crash next summer. AL doesn't learn from his mistakes, and hopefully in the not too distant future he flies back to Dubai or Morocco a few million poorer, having sold the club to another mug.

His only hope is to get the land and stand. 

[League one forever]

3 hours ago, singe said:

His only hope is to get the land and stand. 

A scary thought. 

[StoodinaBoshell]

3 hours ago, singe said:

His only hope is to get the land and stand. 

Our only hope is that they leave as soon as possible.

[Midsblue]

“We have signed some young players with great potential with longer contracts to enable us to hold on to them when they prove themselves. This is an investment in the future.”

Who? What potential? Majority are 2020/21 so long term? Signing a striker the calibre of Lang is seen as an investment guaranteeing a return.  Byrne would have guaranteed a return.  No disrespect but McHale? Doran? Adams?

 

“We have also decided to reduce our reliance on loan players as they aren’t a long-term solution.”

Well, the likes of Doyle, Surridge & Lang gut us out the shit last time.  Are these permanent signings better than those or players we’ve released or ostracised? 

 

“As can be expected with a brand-new team, we needed some time to gel together, but I am encouraged and assured by recent performances.”

What recent performances?  We don’t have time & we’re staring into the abyss of non-league football.  This season we’ll only be saved because of Bury’s demise.

 

“The Board are fully behind Laurent and we look forward to the rest of the season”

What interfering in recruitment and selection? I very much doubt Banide knew of any of our recruits and why was he sitting in the touch line during halftime when the players were in the changing room?

 

Lies, lies and more lies.  

[mcfluff1985]

15 minutes ago, Midsblue said:

“We have signed some young players with great potential with longer contracts to enable us to hold on to them when they prove themselves. This is an investment in the future.”

Who? What potential? Majority are 2020/21 so long term?

2 years to develop them with plenty of time to extend contracts. Like Hamer did

Signing a striker the calibre of Lang is seen as an investment guaranteeing a return.  Byrne would have guaranteed a return.  No disrespect but McHale? Doran? Adams?

Byrne would have guaranteed a return? Ha. When did he last get a club a sum of decent money?

 

“We have also decided to reduce our reliance on loan players as they aren’t a long-term solution.”

Well, the likes of Doyle, Surridge & Lang gut us out the shit last time.  Are these permanent signings better than those or players we’ve released or ostracised? 

are the loans we have this season all 1st team players?

“As can be expected with a brand-new team, we needed some time to gel together, but I am encouraged and assured by recent performances.”

What recent performances?  We don’t have time & we’re staring into the abyss of non-league football.  This season we’ll only be saved because of Bury’s demise.

the last few performances have been markedly better, unless you havent seen them. We also have plenty of time this season

“The Board are fully behind Laurent and we look forward to the rest of the season”

What interfering in recruitment and selection? I very much doubt Banide knew of any of our recruits and why was he sitting in the touch line during halftime when the players were in the changing room?

 

Lies, lies and more lies.  

 

the lie here is that they spent the full fifteen minutes sat on the bench outside the changing room. Banide is obviously good with how they are operating recruitment

 

[kowenicki]

41 minutes ago, Midsblue said:

“We have signed some young players with great potential with longer contracts to enable us to hold on to them when they prove themselves. This is an investment in the future.”

Who? What potential? Majority are 2020/21 so long term? Signing a striker the calibre of Lang is seen as an investment guaranteeing a return.  Byrne would have guaranteed a return.  No disrespect but McHale? Doran? Adams?

 

“We have also decided to reduce our reliance on loan players as they aren’t a long-term solution.”

Well, the likes of Doyle, Surridge & Lang gut us out the shit last time.  Are these permanent signings better than those or players we’ve released or ostracised? 

 

“As can be expected with a brand-new team, we needed some time to gel together, but I am encouraged and assured by recent performances.”

What recent performances?  We don’t have time & we’re staring into the abyss of non-league football.  This season we’ll only be saved because of Bury’s demise.

 

“The Board are fully behind Laurent and we look forward to the rest of the season”

What interfering in recruitment and selection? I very much doubt Banide knew of any of our recruits and why was he sitting in the touch line during halftime when the players were in the changing room?

 

Lies, lies and more lies.  

 

What a terrible post... and you also lied. 

 

 

[Midsblue]

Thanks Mcfluff1985

 

Hamer is homegrown and before the Lemsagam’s time.  Their signings, and granted it’s my opinion, I would question are either long-term or an investment.  They’re not youth players dropped last season from clubs above but players who have struggled in domestic non-league for seasons. OK, Mo might be the next Txiki Begiristain or Michael Zorac but I would bet that they’ll be gone at end of this season with no resale value or profit.  These are signings of desperation or nepotism.  One decent signing that has shown promise was being hawked out in the summer, now ostracised and now supposedly pushed out to non-league for nothing.  Investment?  Long-term?

 

My opinion again but Byrne’s a hot head but immense talent.  He played well for Ireland last week and playing well in the Irish league. Yes Kilmarnock couldn’t handle him either but how we ostracised him when we was crying out for his talent on the pitch was criminal.  Had we kept him, nurtured him and played to his strengths then I believe we would have had a player of value that we could have sold on.  Same with Baxter, same with Davies.  Unfortunately the Lemsagams are the Lemsagams first, club second.

 

The loans should be first teamers 100%.  What’s the point of bringing someone in on loan if they’re not to improve the first eleven.  Only exception is if a loan is benched as back up to another loan in the first eleven.  If they’re not this season and budget is crucial then again it’s the incompetence of who is recruiting and selecting - Mo Lemsagam.

 

Granted, performances have improved but if we’re rock bottom of the league then some improvement should be expected.  However is it an improvement showing signs of a climb up the table, promotion?  We’ve no decent strikers, no creative spark in the middle apart from a seasoned winger in Eagles.  Where’s the goals going to come from?  Vera is a classic example - did he show any sign last season of delivering or goals or adding to the team? No! So why sign him this season and play him ahead of COG?  At least COG gave it his all.

 

And your last line.  Do me a favour.  If you honestly think Banide is happy with performance to sit outside a changing room when motivation is needed the he needs sacking.  Equally every coach is a wannabe manager - if you’re happy allowing someone else to influence recruitment, selection and tactics but your head is on the block then you’re either desperate, stupid or a stooge.  It happens on continental or upper league football granted but thats recruitment of hot talent, promising starlets or names not buckshot desperate looting.