Dave T wrote: Tue Oct 29, 2024 12:15 pm
When Steve King was here, we were assured by the Board that the playing budget had not increased. When Dowson was here and the quality of his signings were dreadful in comparison to King's, again we were told the budget was unchanged.
Following our relegation last season, I assumed that judging by the current squad, the playing budget was cut signicantly. If that was the case I am very disappointed, as surely we ought to have been doing all we can to bounce back up at the first attempt?
The bottom line is though, it is all guesswork. The board never communicates with the fan base, so we have no idea what their strategy is at all? Also, no clue as to what the financial position at the club is? We are all just guessing what the core problems are.
Whatever the issues and challenges are, if the board won't communicate with supporters, it's really no suprise that fans are getting seriously pissed off now and voting with their feet. I have not been for several weeks now, as l am sick and tired of the current dross being served up.
If we are in serious financial straits (which l sense is not the case), then supporters would, on the whole, be more understanding.
The really sad thing is though, if we carry on like we are, we will be a very average Isthmian league side at best. If that is the Board's strategy, then just tell us!
I seem to remember going to a meeting for supporters and our chairman saying the budget had been cut but didn't say by how much,
I think you right the biggest problem is communications from the board, I feel they are happy to be where the club is at the moment as to get back to where we were means more investment,
When we appointed King'y as Manager I really thought the ambition of the club was to be an established National League club, Ok it didn't go the way I expected but since his sacking this club has gone backwards, and the worst part of that is i still do not understand why he was sacked, Ok I hear rumours etc on the terraces but nothing from the club,
Under Dowse i feel he was lucky in his first season but second season showed him up to what he was, I felt the end of his first season the signs were there the way it was going to go, Tom Bonner not signing saying he was retiring but then still playing 2 seasons later ?? He also mentioned that Dowse was one of the best managers he played under in fact signed for him at Hemel all be it for a few seconds, so that sort says to me the problem was at the club,
Then we sack Dowse (quite rightly) and some players couldn't wait to get out like Bradbury & Manor, the ones that stayed to end of the season were off once the season ended no loyalty to the club, Once again I ask myself why I understand some going but nearly all of them tells me all is not well at the club, I feel sorry for Ady as it is not his doing and he is trying to build a team from scratch which will take time, but then Dover are starting from scratch and look how they are doing, Ady had a go after the debacle of Billericay and said some players will be moving on but except for our on loan goalkeeper every player that has left were not a starter at Billericay so to me these are cut backs for financial reasons rather than the players not being good enough.
I know its been mentioned costs have gone through the roof like electricity and water but that would be the same for every club, I would ask the board where is their ambition if it is still to be a national league club then show it if not let someone come in and help get this club back to where it should be.
I always remember when King'y was sacked it was put out that we had our club back is this what they really wanted.
