Barryowen

We are genuinely in the hands of the council on this one but work continues in the background on the move. Barry

Smartz. I know your points are not personal and I did not take it that way. Like almost all other clubs at the moment we live from week to week , gate to gate. Forward planning does occur because you have to gauge all your incoming debts etc. The Board of Directors are constantly in touch with each other and meet monthly when the finances are re-assessed. The Huddersfield gate on Saturday plus the Car Park take will help enourmously. Other streams of income likely to occur in coming months are also taken into account. What should be appreciated is that we have an excellent record of paying our bills and yes there are creditors but far less than other clubs. Administration has been used by some clubs in the past as the easy option to avoid their responsibilities and that is why such a high points penalty is invoked. I do not beleive that will occur at Oldham and I also believe our club will be around next season. Our player contracts next year are not has committed as at present and the manager will be able to re-build. We took on a good manager and staff and had we not been confident in going forward we would have gone for cheaper options. Whatever people say or think the Oldham Club has got a good forward thinking Board. You asked for my commitment on these issues and I have offered my personal opinion. Barry

Leave the poll up. You are all entitled to your views and I would rather it be said if thats how you feel. I offer on a regular basis to meet individuals or groups of fans and will answer virtually anything I am able to give you. I say it as it is and that does not suit everyone. Why not, that is what the majority of you do yourselves. I am passionate about the club and my role in representing your best interests. I just do not brag about the innovations and efforts that are made when the "club are listening to fans". I hold no personal grudges but like it or not I will tell you if I disagree with you. Never has there been a time when everyone need to work together and I aint going to start divisions now. We all make mistakes and I have made many in the past. Many would be keen to point those out from the early days. !!!!!!. Barry

Bean I think you make a very good point. Just to ease your mind. The manager is very much aware of his better players and the need to extend their contracts at an early stage. He is mindful that before transfer deadlines other clubs become interested and it is better that we tie our better players up. The system at our club is very good and Simon C. after consultation with the manager and CE works on these areas. Believe me a very professional approach occurs in this area and will continue so. Please be patient that is all I can say. I would also like to think that Playershare was strong enough to make a big difference in these matters as we did with Luke Beckett a few years ago. Look what he did for us that very first season. Barry

Easy get out !!!!!!!!

I am perfect happy to fulfill my role and address the fans. It has never been a question of trying to blame the fan base for the clubs plight. Simple economics are such that our survival rests very much on our fan base. I have also seen the latest rumours and that is what they are. The best way forward after speaking to Rick A is to try and arrange a meeting for concerned fans. I am happy to meet anyone who has concerns. I would also point out that the manager is very keen to follow through with another forum and we are looking at this at the moment. A date will be announced in due course. On top of that the manager has also agreed that he will meet fans about he Playershare scheme in a bid to encourage more to join. In this way it is perhaps more helpful if he spell out how this can help practically. In the meantime guys, chins up eh. I know we are all disappointed after Saturday but we have a big game to win Saturday. To all the dome and gloom merchants. Oldham is a strong name in the football world. We don't intend that it is killed off that easily nor is there any sugggestion that this is the case. Times are hard and that applies to the majority of the clubs at the moment. Finally it does seem that some are doing their level best to be-little the efforts of the owners of the club. They would be the first to admit that mistakes have been made. Who does'nt make mistakes. It is they that have paid the price for those mistakes. As opposed to sniping at the very people who monitor the monthly finances it would help if they were encouraged in their efforts. I want our club to thrive and with effort all around we will do. Barry

I share your sentiments but the reality is that fans will not pay more. We have only just managed 25 new members into Playershare at the moment and have asked for a minimum of £4 per month. Simple fact ........ fans do not want to participate as much as you might think, but we fight on. Barry

Some posters seem to forget that we are trying to reduce the squad and hence the wage bill. Barry

Please accept my apologies. ALL fans will be invited to the meeting. Sorry for my error in this respect. No offence intended. Barry

Thank you Barry

A number of fans have made approaches about becoming members of the scheme but are finding difficulty in administering their payments. Rick Attwood has offered on a number of occasions to guide people through the process and obviously can be communicated with through this site. I would also remind people of the Trust Website at www.trustoldham.co.uk where they will find additional details about the account details for the scheme. It is as simple of contacting your bank with these details and making the relevant payment options. Additionally we need to know you have carried out this transaction. With security in mind, I do not mind you sending me your details via PM on this site or through my e mail address at Bowen97758@aol.com. I am sure Rick Attwood and our Financial Director Mike Nuttall will also present you with their details if you require to contact them. Sorry to repeat the plea but we really do need your help. We have an excellent management team in Paul and Gerry and I know they fully support the scheme. I really want to bring in money that makes a real difference and cannot thank enough those who have already joined. In football terms however our efforts are minimal at this stage. In the near future I want to arrange a Playershare Night for scheme members that the management team will be invited too. If you want to be there to show you are doing your bit through this scheme please join straight away or if you have any questions before doing so please make contact with one of us. Regards Barry

Thank you

oafc0000- you are very welcome to attend the early part of any meeting we have. You are most welcome as any fan would be. Personal issue is not taken with anyone. Whilst I know you are one of my strongest opponents, I do respect a lot of points you make and you may be surprised that on a lot of issues I agree with you. Like household budgeting I always think you have to be careful about spending more than you have coming in. I think you have made theis point in the past and there is merit in the many arguments you put forward. Likewise Prozac is one of my opponents, but I actually admire his spirit and sensible arguments that he puts forward on many occasions. Similiarly I have no personal issues at all and at times agree with him. He was invited onto the Playershare committee but declined for personal reasons. Yes, I bleed like everyone else and I do get frustrated at rude and personal comments being made in an offensive way. I think earlier today I was called a liar by a poster and that does not sit well with me. I would however invite the person concerned to put facts forward that justify that remark. I do try to be as honest as I can and I admit that some of the questions asked of me do get lost in the many points made. If that is the case please just nudge me and remind me you want an answer. Barry

The Failsworth project is subject to ongoing meetings. Most of you are aware that the Charities Commission are currently involved with the Council with the identification of land for re-instatement purposes. The timetable and speed of that is not within our remit. We derive no benefit from the delay and it creates further frustrations for the club. We continue to prepare at our end with planning consultations etc. The delays are not being caused by the club. Barry

Let me clarify. The plans for the new ground are still proceeding. It is all part of a difficult jigsaw. Simon B is still the owner and main shareholder. He has resigned his post and no longer finances the club. No individual,unless you are at Man City or Chelsea can sustain huge losses week in and week out. The football world has many owners who do not take an active part in their clubs nor finance them regularly. New investment would see a transfer of shareholding in the club. New investors may wish to increase that investment by purchasing all other assets. With land values down and clubs losing money, it is not easy to find people who want to invest so far into the future and until things inprove. The new facilities will hopefully wet the appetite of investors who want a piece of the action leading up to the developmernt and thereafter. A brand new complex operational on 7 days a week with surrounding outlets is a better proposition than a crumbling Boundary Park. The owners will not shout about the money and efforts they have put into the club so you will perhaps have to take my word for it. They have gone far beyond what I might have expected,given the losses of the club these past few years. They will not thank me foir saying it, but at times they have made finance available to the detriment of there own personal circumstances. Perhaps it is out of ignorance that they are criticised at times and I do acknowedge that people are not as aware of the circumstances as I am. This club would have gone under long ago without their efforts. Like them or not they have stuck it out and I will not have anything said bad about them. As I have said, they will admit to mistakes as I will, but even as business men they have had the best interests of our club at heart. In the long term I might have to eat my words but I know they want to leave Oldham with a decent club that we can all be proud of. Barry

Thanks Real. You learn as the days go by. I was particularly tired last night when composing the post and should have checked it better. Anyway I am sure that the message got across. From my point of view I never try and belittle anyone regarding grammar etc. I think it is rude and many a time those correcting you need to look at what they have posted themselves. Times are such that everyone needs to work together. B

We are no longer in the formula at this stage regarding payments to him. I can assure you that great care is being taken with fans money. B.

I do apologise for my errors and sent it before I could find my specs. Barry

Thanks for explaining that. Spot on. Many expenses befall the club, some we estimate for and others that can occur. Some maintanence work or machinery can go faulty and you are faced with repalacement of a huge bill for repairs. Floodlights might go faulty. Just a few examples of hidden costs that can occur that many fans do not see. As I say we have made massive efforts to save on costs this season, yet I see that people are commenting that we don't look after guests so well and the Directors Box was quite empty last Saturday. Many reason for that but believe me thing have really tightened up at the club. Barry

I have been moved to reply, given the many comments recently made about the conduct and running of the club. Given that I have been a Club Director for the past seven years seems to also imply that I must take my share of responsibility if any of these points are correct. I do not deny the right of fans to pass opinion about how we go about things and I would be the first the acknowledge that mistakes have occurred along the way. I am sure my colleagues would also subscribe to this view. I do feel a greater responsibility, given that I am the fans representative on the board, so please forgive me if I give you some frank and honest answers. Youi may not like the points I make but they happen to be the truth. Constant criticism occurs as to what the club does or does'nt do. Alan Hardy was critised this season for pointing out that the players budget had to be reduced due to dwindling gates. No blame was attached to those who do attend not was any attack made on specific fans who did not go to games. Sorry but it is a simple fact he was pointing out. If we do not get money in through the gates we can't spend it on players. We also did not believe that gates would be so low when we invested in the new manager. It would have been so easy to go for a cheaper option. Believe me that at every board meeting, ways are examined as to how we can increase our gates. We are fully aware and committed to the solid fan base and on that point I fully agree with BB80, that like himself there are many fans who will support us come what may. I just happen to be one of those as well and I am just proud that we have a football team in our town. Our owners have had little encouragement or support from the official bodies involved with the new development and it is only recently that the Council appears to realise that Oldham Athletic needs a new home. Like it or not Boundary Park does not cater for a matchday experience and I am currently looking at ways in which we can utilise one of the corner suites for matchday fans. We do however have to cater for fans who have paid large sum s of money for the use of that facility As a Board of Directors we do not sit back smuggly with an air of complacency believing that fans will put up with anything we provide. That is why everyone is trying to get the move to the new ground up and running as soon as possible. I was talking to Simon Corney today about financial matters before our Board Meeting on Wednesday. He is quite happy for me to tell you that for this month alone we have to find a further £220.000. That is what we are constantly battling towards. Some posters have suggested that the club has been badly run for the past number of years. Who do they blame and for what. When directors are chasing around to keep the club afloat it is little wonder that their enthusiasm is dampened with irresponsibly comments that cannot be justified. I also have to tell you that recent activities by the Trust have not reaped the rewards we might have expected despite the tremendous efffort and work put in by Trust Directors. I cannot thank those few who are contributing to Playershare enough. The scheme will continue but the lack of support given to it demonstrates the apathy amongst many fans. I get criticised by fans and sometimes my colleagues who do not take kindly to the gloom I portray. Why, it is just the truth. We have got a good management team and the prospects of better times to come in the right circumstances.Investment is essential and support of those currently trying to run the club is preferable. We are all in this together. The future of the club depends on its fans. As I have said before we are a dwindling number and perhaps it might appear a bit unfair to keep tapping into you for added funds but at the end of the day the figures have to add up. I do meet a lot of you at games and it is very clear that you have a passion and worries about the club. It is very difficult when you do not have control over matters, so I do understand the frustration many feel. This season the directors have made essential savings at the club that will need to continue. On a final note, I am currently looking into the circumstances regarding Jack Gordon who so gratiously made a huge donation to playershare. I am surprised that people would think that our club would stoop so low as to ring him for a further donation. That is not the case and I am looking into how these matters arose. Barry

First of all a big thank you to all the boys who run the site. From the comments made the site is excellent for many fans who feel exiled for one reason or another. Many friends have been made through the site and good ideas are generated which make for good intelligent conversation. The future of the site is paramount and the comments made by Rick cannot be faulted. There is no doubt that control is essential if the site is to function to good purpose. I have discussed the problems long and hard with Rick A. regarding Royle Army and as he says there are many other issues that he would not want to go into. On a personal level I have never found RA abusive or difficult to deal with. He abuses the PM system and I have accomodated him on numerous occasions. Having said that I have done so out of compassion at times. Rick to a greater extent has accommodated him and I know that he feel badly let down by RA who never heeds the advice he is given. In defence of him he is not the only person who has acted out of turn on the site but fortunately many posters have the mental ability to know how far to go and when to withdraw and sometimes make apology. Unofrtunately it appear that RA does not possess such skills. I have little doubt that mental health issues and learning difficulites play a part in the problem and I do not think he will blame me for mentioning this as he has done so himself in the past. We have to tolerate people from every walk of life without prejudice. I make little apology for expressing some sorrow regtarding RA and am saddened by what has had to occur. On the other hand I know Rick and the moderators have had to make a tough decision irrespective of my views or anyone elses. I fully support the boys in their decisions but do not rejoice at the demise of RA. Like many of us he has many faults but unfortunately his intrude on he private lives of others. Thanks boys for the time you give to OWTB. The site has to be biggger than any one individual.

I thought we did really well and worked hard for the point. Wednesday not the best team we will see. Thouight at times we took the wrong options and could easily have scored with a bit more composure. Lost the ball too easily as well. The workrate however was breathetaking and the team spirit is there for everyone to see. Not an easy ground to play and the point is a good one. M'Voto was different class tonight and I thought Taylor played very well. Furman worked his socks off. Overall I think we could have snatched it on the break. Barry

Its often said that you are not a bad team if you can pick up wins when you have not played so well. Did not think Bournemouth were as good as people are making out. Both managers had done their homework and to some extent cancelled each others tactics out. Referee was as poor as I have seen for some time and that did not help matters. Straight cough from Eddie Howe. It was a cross and not a shot. Brill knows he was in the wrong and I cannot see how it does any good some people booing a player. Like people say your only have to see the clangers dropped recently by far betters keepers to take this mistake into context. I believe that Brill is playing far better than when he came at first and has pulled some great saves off already this season. Great wing by the boys today and the most pleasing aspect is the way they worked for each other near the end. At one time I am not too sure we would have made such a comeback. Barry

Thanks BB. Not well up on the background to membership schemes but I will do my research and come back to you. Please bear with me. I think that we have looked at the many issues before but I am pleased we are becoming more transparent which allows fans to be inclusive and not just customers. A step in the right direction. !!!!!! Barry

I am not sure why I am mis quoted or why people misconstrue a particular word or sentence. I merely pointed out that it is nice to get the views of ALL fans, not just from this site but from those who take the trouble to reply in the Chron. Why do some of you object to me making that observation. I believe that fans are equal whether they contribute from this site, by media, by post or by telephone. Another poster picks on a word I use. Why. Nothing offensive was intended. If it was taken that way I apologise. The main issue is that a lot of good points have been made and I personally believe that the financial burden can be reduced with entry of a child via an adult. Again we have to consider those children who have paid for memberships this season. There is no simple answer to our predicament and those who purchased a season ticket, on average pay less entry per game than many clubs. With gates dwindling it is unfortunate that it is the few who pay the price. To survive, the maths have got to add up. Simple fact if we want a football club at a reasonable level. I don't always agree with OAFC0000 but he makes very valid points in the past about our survival and I would rather work within a affordable budget and maintain a football club than throw money at the club that we do not have. As we all know that only leads to one conclusion. On a final point no one pays there way more than I do and my colleagues on the Trust will tell you it actually costs me money to do what I do. And before anyone asks my wife is also a paid up season ticket holder. Regards Barry