Bourne Valley Saint

I went to the meeting last night and in a nutshell the club need to find £100,000.00 within the next two weeks or they will have to drastically reduce their overheads, i.e. their wage bill. They will not go into administration but as a result of cut backs, will have to find a new level to play at after this season. They had a major benefactor but due to matrimonial circumstances (I think this is correct but don't quote me on it!) has had to withdraw his backing. They budgeted for the benefactors money and it is not the club who are at fault for this shortfall. They need this money urgently to pay tax bills and if this money is raised, i am told that the club will then be able to survive at the current level. There were about 30 of us there last night and quite a few pledges were made. One sponsor pledged £10,000.00 last night. I suggested to Nick Holmes that he have a word with his old mate Mick Channon (he used to lave near Salisbury), now that he is thankfully recovering form his horrific car accident. A lot of people in and around Salisbury support both Saints and Salisbury and if there are any Saints fans out there who want to help, the club and especially Nick Holmes would be delighted to hear from you.

This is a copy of the letter that the club sent - 24th September 2008 THE COST OF SUCCESS The Directors of Salisbury City Football Club write to ask for your help. Salisbury City FC NEEDS to raise £100,000 very urgently, but as a valued supporter we are asking you for your help, rather than your money. We have enjoyed an exponential rise climbing three divisions in six years, and as you know, we now play at the highest level in the club’s 61 year history. We aim to stay in the Blue Square Premier (with the Football League in our sights for the future) but this is expensive. We are asking you to ask YOUR contacts, companies you deal with, suppliers and colleagues for money on our behalf. If your business could raise at least £1000 by asking for donations for its football club, we have a fighting chance. Without overstating our case this is a CRUCIAL time. The financial downturn has affected us all and the whole community is feeling the pinch. If everyone can contribute a small amount we can work miracles. We would like to invite you to a short meeting, with refreshments, at the club next Monday 29th September at 8pm to explain our situation, and share with you our plans for the future. Please would you kindly email back to indicate that you or your representative can attend. Please help us. The future of football in Salisbury depends on it. Thank you, From the Directors of Salisbury City Football Club.

Well said Landford Saint. Salisbury are a very well run club and have not arrived on the verge of League football by being irresponsible with their money. They nearly went out of business 6 or 7 years ago and thanks to a chap called Neville Beale, a rescue package was put together and they survived, climbed up three divisions and are now knocking on the door of league football. They achieved their highest ever league placing in their history in the Conference last year. This has come at a cost, as Landford Saint mentioned and the club are asking for money. There is a meeting at Old Sarum this evening and everyone who sponsors the club (pitch side advertising, programme, match ball, etc.) has been invited to attend. As a sponsor I shall be going and will find out the extent of the problem from Nick Holmes. If interested, I shall advise the outcome tomorrow. I was not at their home game on Saturday, where I believe the crowd was very poor (they have just started to charge for kids which hasn't gone down too well) as I was at Doncaster. Perhaps if both clubs let kids in for free, more paying adults would attend - it can be fairly costly taking kids to football and leaves you in the dog house with the missus if you decide to go on your own!

Seeing as we haven't won for about a month, I can't see it costing us any extra money if we play him! I can't help but feel a win bonus is a tad unfair on the players at the moment, a bit like offering them a bonus if we end up in a "play off spot" - so far removed from reality that it more than likely doesn't cross their mind. We need to set our targets to a realistic level and reward accordingly if these targets are met. Give the players targets that they could possible achieve. Start off with entering the correct changing room, putting the right numbered shirt on, warming up at the right end, winning the toss (although that is purely down to guesswork and luck). As for the match itself, gradually build up to achievable but often testing targets, like keeping possession for more than one pass from the kick off, or finding your own player from a throw in, understanding the concept of panic defending when "multi-ball" is in operation. Should we be attacking and thinking of having a shot, perhaps we should have a "shots on target" bonus , or even "not on target but worth the effort" bonus. All these things are achievable and if met could lead onto bigger and better things - maybe dare I say it "a win" one day!

I only heard about ten minutes of it whilst driving but in that time he was very complimentary. We had just equalised and he said it was no less than we deserved. Then QPR scored with the help of the linesman and Claridge said how disgusted he was at the decision. He mentioned about this RESPECT thing and said that officials have to earn respect and no one would respect him after that decision! He said that losing points like this may be crucial at the end of the season if fighting relegation! I dont know whether that can be construed as being anti-Saints or not, more like an honest assessment of our predicament. Claridge is ok in my book.

I totally agree with the original post. I was thinking the same thing last night. Football at the top level is now obscene. One player costing half a million more than it did to build our fantastic stadium!! Sky sports news creaming themselves over Berbatov and these Arabs taking over from the dodgy Thai at Man City. The premiership is just a rich man's toy - like a rich school brat wanting all the best toys. What do you think the youngsters on the books at Man City reckon of this takeover? They'll end up at Bury or Rochdale now - no chance of breaking into the first team. I for one, am extremely happy with our lot at Southampton at present where the home grown youngsters are given a chance to play if they are good enough. Get rid of the foreign mercenaries and old pros looking for one last pay packet. Use players who care for the club and where money is not their "God" (remember MLT). I'll carry on watching Saints if we continue as we are but if we ever go down the Chelski, Man City, Pomp*y route, where money is everything, I don't think I'll bother.

Went to the match on the way back from holiday in Scotland. If anyone saw a C reg campervan with bikes all over it and a Saints shirt in the back window - that was us! Took the 3 kids and myself (we cycled from the Park & Ride) - left wife and eldest girl shopping in Derby. What a delight to watch Saints play football in this manner. Youngsters, many home bred, playing football as it should be played. Lovely one touch passing, movement off the ball, committed in the tackle, fair, non-argumentative - totally professional approach. Lallana was fantastic, supported by the equally impressive Gillett and Holmes. Svennson was immense, Kelvin didn't put a foot wrong - great save from a one-on-one just before we scored. If only McGoldrick had more composure in front of goal, we would have been out of sight. My usual hero Surnam had one of his quiter games but he never hid and I hope we can hang on to him. Wotton came on as sub and held things together well in midfield and although it was nerve jangling towards the end, we really were comfortable winners. Well done to the 1100 Saints fans who made the journey. It made up for that horrible defeat (we actually won 3-2 that night) to Derby in the paly offs.

I for one am delighted that we have a crop of youngsters in the first team squad. They have come through the youth and reserve teams and now have a chance of playing for their club in the Chamionship. Before this season only the odd player now and again made it, such as Bale, Walcott and Surnam. Now, if they are good enough, they know that they can win a place, instead of having it filled by some overseas mercenary or journeyman pro on his last wage packet. I know we'll get thumped now and again, maybe on Saturday, but at least there appears to be some structure to the team. I went to Exeter last night and although they made hard work of it, it is early days and they are getting to know each other. John was fantastic when he came on and brought the likes of McG, Lallana, Gillett and Holmes much more into the game. With Kelvin and Svennson to come in and possibly Euell to add a bit of bite when needed, we do have a chance of doing something this season. This is how football used to be before money and shady businessmen got involved and I much prefer it this way. The Championship is not awash with money (except QPR) and if we get the right blend there is no reason why we cant push for a play-off place.