What exactly are your gripes with Cortese?

[Gemmel]

Watch it increase again when we are in the middle of a 5 game winning streak and playing good football of the type promised by NA.

 

Nothing to do with NC at all and it is disingenuous of you to suggest otherwise.

 

Your'e right that it will increase when we start winning, but I do think we are down on numbers due to Corteses season tickets stance. IMO he left 2000 + season tickets on the table with the short window and no payment plan. A winning start would have seen more fans and the ticket tax would have generated additional revenue and he could argue it was the right thing to do, but it was always based on success and that hasnt happened. A commercially driven decision, that for me looks like it has backfired.

[Saint_John]

I think you will find gates are UP this season for the 1st 4 league games :-

Last Season

Millwall.. 20,103

Brentford. 19,169

Colchester 17,070

Yeovil.... 19,907

 

Average... 19,060

This season

Plymouth.. 21,727

Orient.... 21,468

Rochdale.. 18,169

Colchester 17,857

 

Average... 19,805 - up by 745 over last season.

 

In fact the Colchester game had 787 more people this season.

[Foxstone]

Your'e right that it will increase when we start winning, but I do think we are down on numbers due to Corteses season tickets stance. IMO he left 2000 + season tickets on the table with the short window and no payment plan. A winning start would have seen more fans and the ticket tax would have generated additional revenue and he could argue it was the right thing to do, but it was always based on success and that hasnt happened. A commercially driven decision, that for me looks like it has backfired.

 

But was'nt the reason for withdrawal of the payment plan due to "bounced DDI's or general non payers"?

If so, the commercials seem to me to be about right !

[Lord Duckhunter]

Of course it is everything to do with Cortese. He fired the Mgr after a 4-0 away win and then demoralised many of the players and removed the hope for many supporters had for this season. .

 

Had we beaten Plymouth and Orient then you may have a point. Those games followed the same pattern as the Rochdale and Colchester games and we didn't play particulary well in beating Boscombe. The Bristol Rovers game is increasingly looking like a fluke, a one off, when put in context of the rest of the season so far. This is Pardews team and his players, and they're playing **** poor.Dont give us all that pony about them being demoralised at his sacking, players are used to playing for different Managers, its part of the modern game.

 

Are the players as fit as they should be?

 

Did we hit the ground running?

 

That was Pardews job, not Cortese's. We may have a point or two more, but surely nobody thinks we'd be up near the top if Pardew had stayed. Personally I believe Pardew was going through the motions, ala George Burley, waiting for a job to come up, so he could get away.

 

The more I see of Pardew's team this season, the more I'm glad we made a change.

[Daren W]

Watch it increase again when we are in the middle of a 5 game winning streak and playing good football of the type promised by NA.

 

Nothing to do with NC at all and it is disingenuous of you to suggest otherwise.

 

So it's not disingenuous to suggest attendances might increase if something might happen.

 

As it happens attendances are decreasing and results have gone against us.... and this is a season in which I would expect attendances to soar past last seasons...

 

Let's keep this based on reality rather than what might happen....

[AK]

[/b]

 

But was'nt the reason for withdrawal of the payment plan due to "bounced DDI's or general non payers"?

If so, the commercials seem to me to be about right !

 

What a load of tosh , have you seen the accounts for defaulters, and how do you default on a half season ticket ?

[Topcat]

I think you will find gates are UP this season for the 1st 4 league games :-

In fact the Colchester game had 787 more people this season.

There were 2,000+ more STs in the figures this year........

 

There has been a large slump in attendance after Pardew left. A fact. Let us hope that Adkins pulls it around.

[Foxstone]

So it's not disingenuous to suggest attendances might increase if something might happen.

 

As it happens attendances are decreasing and results have gone against us.... and this is a season in which I would expect attendances to soar past last seasons...

 

Let's keep this based on reality rather than what might happen....

 

But its no less a reality than the insinuation from the poster I responded to that the "lower than anticipated" attendances are down to Cortese!

 

I think its more circumstantial to assume that after 2 pretty healthy attendances in August against Plymouth and Orient, that the standard of fare served up together with the disappointing results have contributed to the downward trend against Rochdale and Colchester.

 

However I beleive that Cortese has appointed well with Adkins, and once the results and performances start to materialise - So will the fans !

[Foxstone]

What a load of tosh , have you seen the accounts for defaulters, and how do you default on a half season ticket ?

 

I assume you did not read the posts from some of those who attended the "meet Cortese" evening?

It was reported that 300 out of 1000 or so DDI's were reneged upon while the tickets were still used.

 

Hardly commercially viable is it?

[70's Mike]

I assume you did not read the posts from some of those who attended the "meet Cortese" evening?

It was reported that 300 out of 1000 or so DDI's were reneged upon while the tickets were still used.

 

Hardly commercially viable is it?

 

More fool the club for letting that happen

[NickG]

Your'e right that it will increase when we start winning, but I do think we are down on numbers due to Corteses season tickets stance. IMO he left 2000 + season tickets on the table with the short window and no payment plan. A winning start would have seen more fans and the ticket tax would have generated additional revenue and he could argue it was the right thing to do, but it was always based on success and that hasnt happened. A commercially driven decision, that for me looks like it has backfired.

 

season ticket sales were up this season.

[Gordon Mockles]

Agree with all this Duncan.

 

Whilst I wouldn't describe it as a gripe, my concern is that NC either doesn't know or perhaps more worryingly care how to a) deal properly with the supporters and b) respect the history of the club that he is currently custodian of.

 

There are many examples now of how he has blemished the name and reputation of the club and I'm prepared to put that down to a Swiss banker still learning how to run an English football club. If such behaviour were to continue over the years then unless we're enjoying great sporting success, then I feel many will turn on him.

 

Good post & the feelings I share. Couldn't put it better myself & I've probably not put my point across so well recently due to frustration but things need to change. I hope the newspaper u turn is a small glimpse of humility & not just realisation of a mistake. Hoping a bit of both!

 

I too share everyone's financial concerns. A decent signing (or loan with purchase options) would relieve my doubts. Staplewood plans proceeding too. Actions speak louder than words...or spin!

[Saint-Fred]

Not really a gripe but the whole Pardew dismissal leaves too many questions. I personally don't believe the whole gross misconduct theory as if it was surely just he would have gone on the day?

Why would you sack his coaches for Pardews gross misconduct?

You may subsequently decide you don't want them or when you talk to them they may decide to go but for them all just to go at once seems more likely to be premeditated.

Sure I could be wrong but I fear at the moment that we may well have a number of managers in the next 5 years...I hope I am wrong and will wait and see if Mr Cortese proves me worng...I hope so!

[Gemmel]

season ticket sales were up this season.

 

That's not the point I was making. We could have easily sold more season tickets, but with the new ticket tax it was more profitable for the club to have people buying on a game by game, which is all well and good as long as ............................. The team are winning and entertaining.

[NickG]

we probably would have sold more, at lower prices, but they haven't got pricing and marketing far wrong judging by sales for this level

[saint_mears]

[/b]

 

But was'nt the reason for withdrawal of the payment plan due to "bounced DDI's or general non payers"?

If so, the commercials seem to me to be about right !

 

 

It was down to the way the club handled the payment scheme inhouse. The costs and admin time and nothinig more.

[John B]

Not sure he has the relevant experience and attitude to be running a football club.

 

Not sure he is the top notch business man people are suggesting

 

http://www.sportspromedia.com/movers_and_shakers/southampton_appoints_cortese_as_executive_chairman/

 

 

Although a reasonable job with access to the football world probably but not that high powered either and not particulary relevant to running a football club

[Horley CTFC Saint]

The ticket tax is quite common on most things now (cinema / theatre etc) I also see MK dons were charging £25 face value, so is that not a stealth tax?

£3 is excessive though I was only charged £1.50 on a £50 opera ticket at the ENO - I thought they were meant to be the ultimate rip off

[70's Mike]

Most of the things he has done can be justified but i still cannot get my head around charging someone to park in a car park, which is empty on non home game days, to go to support the team at Hartlepool and then get charged £10 for the priviledge and queue up with the other hundred trying to get their tickets at the same time

[saint_mears]

Most of the things he has done can be justified but i still cannot get my head around charging someone to park in a car park' date=' which is empty on non home game days, to go to support the team at Hartlepool and then get charged £10 for the priviledge and queue up with the other hundred trying to get their tickets at the same time[/quote']

 

I dont think he can justify much to be honest and then has to dish out spin to cover up

[Amesbury Saint]

season ticket sales were up this season.

 

shame the season has been so crap

[St. Jason]

I think you will find gates are UP this season for the 1st 4 league games :-

 

 

In fact the Colchester game had 787 more people this season.

 

The average may well be up but surely you can also see that the attendance has dropped alarmingly since AP's departure, this will undoubtedly change once Adkins gets the results he craves, just hope the results come, and come soon as SMS is not an exciting place to be at the min!

[NickG]

judging a football chairman is pretty easy

 

1) team results

2) entertainment

3) from those, and pricing - ticket sales.

 

If we go up he is doing well, and crowds will be very good.

[Saint_John]

There were 2,000+ more STs in the figures this year........

 

There has been a large slump in attendance after Pardew left. A fact. Let us hope that Adkins pulls it around.

 

The average may well be up but surely you can also see that the attendance has dropped alarmingly since AP's departure, this will undoubtedly change once Adkins gets the results he craves, just hope the results come, and come soon as SMS is not an exciting place to be at the min!

 

I think you should look at the figures for 2008/9 and 2007/8.

You will see that the attendance figures for those 2 seasons also dropped off.

There was no Ticket Tax and Lowe didn't sack the Clueless Dutch Clowns in 08/09, and Crouch didn't sack Burley in 07/08 but the figures still dropped off from the start of the season.

For some it is about results, entertainment and how well they think the team has been prepared for the season.

 

2008/9

Birmingham. 18,925

Blackpool.. 15,629

Ipswich.... 14,916

Barnsley... 14,836

 

Average.... 16,077

 

2007/8

Palace..... 25,054

Stoke...... 20,300

Colchester. 18,773

Barnsley... 19,151

 

Average.... 20,820

 

[derry]

How much are the Leibherr family asking for the club? Anyone ITK?

[St_Tel49]

How much are the Leibherr family asking for the club? Anyone ITK?

 

Who said that they were selling?

[derry]

Who said that they were selling?

 

Various rumours, plus it's on the ugly inside, but that appears coincidental.

[IFHP]

Who said that they were selling?

 

Well it would explain why we have not signed at least one loan player.

[NickG]

having read this forum and believing it all - I think they are selling as NC is a devil worshipper and can no longer afford to keep a management team of O'Neill/Keegan/Shearer and Adkins

[Bearsy]

I don't have a problem with nc I think she's ledge I like how he keeps liehers watch up his arse so Pompey scum can't get it that is a true saint xx