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Alex Rowe answered questions about fans unhappy with admission prices; the Board has to try to find a balance & set it at a rate intended to maximise potential revenue. Offers tried in the past have not generated sustained additional attendance; it is thought that the best way to achieve this is by success on the pitch. The prices that have been set are to try to achieve 'a sustainable attack on promotion'.
I asked about procedures that have been carried out on the pitch during the close season; it looked beautiful this evening. Again it has been deeply verti-drained; it is intended to put in secondary drainage by the Bench to stop water flowing back onto the pitch from the pathways. Seale Hayne has been comprehensively drained & Chris is very happy with the training ground situation. Someone asked about pitch covers; it is thought that the cost does not necessarily justify the result (not as good as some people may think ) & you also need a small army of people to move them about.
Steve Breed asked Chris about his learning curve, particularly in relation to the loan system & the 13 different centre-forwards used last season. CH admitted some mistakes had been made; gambles have to be taken. Jack Rudge simply wasn't ready to be played ; Wilkinson went back with a kick up his backside re attitude from us, & got the same from his home club on return ! CH thinks Niall Thompson deserves a six-month contract with us , to play him as an attacking right back, or out on the wing, to see what he can do. Dale Tonge & Aaron Downes are on transfer list because their playing styles (with Nico) meant that we were defending deeper & not playing out from the back; Bailey brought new impetus to this area.
Having a Club Lottery scheme has been mooted by some supporters for a long time to generate much needed funds; this is on the agenda.
Next season, Chris will encourage much more player/fan integration, with some players coming into the bar after games. Some other discussion mentioned better integration in the future with the Ladies team, & addressing some of the Health & Safety regulations to try & get a better match-day experience for the fans, It is felt that there won't be so many problems in the Conference (not much need for all-ticket matches!)
Have tried to include most things that were discussed; the meeting lasted almost two hours. I felt it had been a worthwhile evening to attend.

thanks for that Taxilady!

Sounds like a transparent open evening, hopefully stops some of the scaremongering etc!

Did they give any idea on who next seasons shirt sponsor would be?

A conservative estimate says that Alex Rowe has twice Bartlet's IQ and boy did it show tonight. One of the most effective shut downs of a dumb question asked by a moron I've seen for many years.

Good fun evening, even if some were determined to ruin it by demanding that the club put on free food because "we haven't had any tea". Quite what these people are doing out without their carers, I'm not sure.

Who fancies Cureton?*

Matt.

Apart from Mrs Cureton, natch.

I'd have Cureton as long as the price wasn't too high. Despite his lack of pace, he still knows where the goal is. I happen to think he's exactly what we need, someone to give Benyon and Hawley a boot up the backside. Hawley probably won't learn anything, but he could be very useful to rejuvenate Benyon and teach him where the net is again.

ferrarilover wrote:A conservative estimate says that Alex Rowe has twice Bartlet's IQ and boy did it show tonight. One of the most effective shut downs of a dumb question asked by a moron I've seen for many years.

Good fun evening, even if some were determined to ruin it by demanding that the club put on free food because "we haven't had any tea". Quite what these people are doing out without their carers, I'm not sure.

Who fancies Cureton?*

Matt.

Apart from Mrs Cureton, natch.

What was the question you are referring to?

Hector, I don't know who Bartlett is but i presume it was the question regarding the level of admission prices being too high. It was not asked in a very eloquent manner!

Come on Matt - you usually give a blow by blow account of the evening - can you add a little more flesh to the bones?!

taxilady wrote:Alex Rowe answered questions about fans unhappy with admission prices; the Board has to try to find a balance & set it at a rate intended to maximise potential revenue. Offers tried in the past have not generated sustained additional attendance; it is thought that the best way to achieve this is by success on the pitch. The prices that have been set are to try to achieve 'a sustainable attack on promotion'.
I asked about procedures that have been carried out on the pitch during the close season; it looked beautiful this evening. Again it has been deeply verti-drained; it is intended to put in secondary drainage by the Bench to stop water flowing back onto the pitch from the pathways. Seale Hayne has been comprehensively drained & Chris is very happy with the training ground situation. Someone asked about pitch covers; it is thought that the cost does not necessarily justify the result (not as good as some people may think ) & you also need a small army of people to move them about.
Steve Breed asked Chris about his learning curve, particularly in relation to the loan system & the 13 different centre-forwards used last season. CH admitted some mistakes had been made; gambles have to be taken. Jack Rudge simply wasn't ready to be played ; Wilkinson went back with a kick up his backside re attitude from us, & got the same from his home club on return ! CH thinks Niall Thompson deserves a six-month contract with us , to play him as an attacking right back, or out on the wing, to see what he can do. Dale Tonge & Aaron Downes are on transfer list because their playing styles (with Nico) meant that we were defending deeper & not playing out from the back; Bailey brought new impetus to this area.
Having a Club Lottery scheme has been mooted by some supporters for a long time to generate much needed funds; this is on the agenda.
Next season, Chris will encourage much more player/fan integration, with some players coming into the bar after games. Some other discussion mentioned better integration in the future with the Ladies team, & addressing some of the Health & Safety regulations to try & get a better match-day experience for the fans, It is felt that there won't be so many problems in the Conference (not much need for all-ticket matches!)
Have tried to include most things that were discussed; the meeting lasted almost two hours. I felt it had been a worthwhile evening to attend.

I am still expecting to see him next season on a season long loan.

Thought all the questions were answered honestly and not evaded in anyway-Greavsie was particularly open and frank.
I do think Thea needs help at these types of events though-she really struggles to give coherent answers.Perhaps some briefing notes to prepare her for asking questions-or a prepared statement at the beginning which sets out her vision for the club.Alex and Chris are very confident in these situations and I have great respect for Thea,but she is clearly very uneasy answering questions and at times last night completely "dried-up".

Any news on the players offered contracts and potential new sponsor/s?

Yes & no Richinns : as I said at length (!), two players offered contracts are close to committing; the deadline for acceptance is next week, so I guess they're nagging their agents to find them a better deal ! No, no news on sponsors...though the questions were asked. Matt, the announcement for this meeting stated that 'refreshments would be available to buy'. I was lucky, I got back from London in time to dash home to East Devon & throw something in the oven & consume the result before hammering down the A380 with my good friend In Di Gestion ; otherwise I would also have wanted to buy those non-existent refreshments ! Nobody wanted a 'free tea' (well, I don't suppose anyone would have refused one of those!); we wuz misled ! Otherwise, an interesting evening, agree that CH was seemingly very open with us.

taxilady wrote:Yes & no Richinns : as I said at length (!), two players offered contracts are close to committing; the deadline for acceptance is next week, so I guess they're nagging their agents to find them a better deal ! No, no news on sponsors...though the questions were asked. Matt, the announcement for this meeting stated that 'refreshments would be available to buy'. I was lucky, I got back from London in time to dash home to East Devon & throw something in the oven & consume the result before hammering down the A380 with my good friend In Di Gestion ; otherwise I would also have wanted to buy those non-existent refreshments ! Nobody wanted a 'free tea' (well, I don't suppose anyone would have refused one of those!); we wuz misled ! Otherwise, an interesting evening, agree that CH was seemingly very open with us.

Thanks taxilady - my bad - did not see your first post only the second.

hector wrote: What was the question you are referring to?

Admission prices.

Richinns wrote:Come on Matt - you usually give a blow by blow account of the evening - can you add a little more flesh to the bones?!

He's busy moving house today!!