The Football.....

[Chromatic]

Meanwhile, at the a*s* end of the football world, Gloucester City are struggling to find £20,000 they owe Cheltenham Town for the rent of their ground.

 

[brodiej]

Meanwhile, at the a*s* end of the football world, Gloucester City are struggling to find £20,000 they owe Cheltenham Town for the rent of their ground.

Yikes!

I'm not surprised they're struggling.

That seems a hell of a lot of money.

What happened?

 

[Chromatic]

Their own ground got ruined in the 2007 floods and they have been itinerants ever since, they've played their home games at Cheltenham, Forest Green , and I think Cirencester too. They currently pay Cheltenham, or don't pay as it seems, to play their home games there.
There has been a long long saga about the ground redevelpment since the flooding, but I don't know the details really.
According to the radio this morning, they get gates of a couple of hundred at Cheltenham for 'home' games, its no wonder they are struggling for cash.

 

[brodiej]

All sounds very sad. Im surprised Cheltenham let them run up such a debt.

They cant be too flush themselves

 

[Chromatic]

Yes it is quite sad really. Even though I'm not a football fan and am a seson ticket holder at Kingsholm (Gloucester rugby home ground), it is not good to see them struggle.
I don't know the business arrangements between the two parties but I think they said on the radio this morning that Gloucester were 3 months behind with the rent, if that is true then the monthly rent seems a hell of a lot to pay from the crowds they attract. The problem being that they need to use a ground that meets the requirements of the level they play at (Blue Square North I think). Thats another bummer, the division they are in mean they have a fair few long distance away trips.

Cheltenham are ok financially I believe. I think, but don't know for a fact, that the owner is well off, plus they have had a couple of lucrative FA Cup ties over the last couple of seasons.

 

[mark st1]

Thats harsh kind of puts the £200 000 a week premier league players earn in to perspective. Hope they can sort it out ASAP. As said though how the heck have they managed to rack up that kind of figure in 3 months

 

[brodiej]

Anyhoo, a highly unexpected away win for the Hammers at Stoke on Saturday. 9 points clear of relegation - I think we'll be ok.

You'll be fine!

Loads of teams are about the same level of mediocrity this year (Stoke and West Ham included).

There are a bunch of teams below looking dodgier by the week (QPR / Wigan / Reading / Villa / Southampton) - I think Sunderland and Newcastle will do enough

 

[musa]

I spoke to my assistant manager yesterday and he said

History repeats itself

this comment was in relation to the news that Spurs beat Arsenal 2-1
He's still certain Arsenal will make top four because

history shows this

oh how i laughed - history shows no cups not even bronze

 

[brodiej]

Surely Wenger has had his day - especially if Arsenal get their multi-billion pound takeover

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/03/arsene-wenger-arsenal-takeover

 

[Chromatic]

Thats harsh kind of puts the £200 000 a week premier league players earn in to perspective. Hope they can sort it out ASAP. As said though how the heck have they managed to rack up that kind of figure in 3 months

Latest news is that they have got the money together to pay (it was just under £17000 they owed according to the local rag this morning).

My initial thought were similar to yours, the amount they owed would be pocket money to a 'star' player but, for the want of it, possible terminal trouble for the club.
Anyway it appears local benefactors and businesses have raised the money.

 

[MarkF]

There are a bunch of teams below looking dodgier by the week (QPR / Wigan / Reading / Villa / Southampton) - I think Sunderland and Newcastle will do enough

For Wigan the situation is normal, totally expected, planned for and manageable. I fear for Villa, I watched last nights game and there was an awful lot of standing around, pointing and shrugging of shoulders going on.

 

[brodiej]

For Wigan the situation is normal, totally expected, planned for and manageable. I fear for Villa, I watched last nights game and there was an awful lot of standing around, pointing and shrugging of shoulders going on.

Surely though, Wigan's luck will run out.

Every year, they are rubbish until March/April then sneak clear of relegation.

For this, Martinez is seen as a footballing genius and spends every summer being offered all the best jobs around (I believe he turned down Liverpool, despite Rogers doing much better with Swansea) before returning to another rubbish season with Wigan.

I've nothing against Martinez - seems a nice enough chap.

Wigan I feel have overstayed their welcome in the Premier League

Interesting to look at the crowds - most pretty much as expected.

http://www.worldfootball.net/zuschauer/eng-premier-league-2012-2013/1/

Newcastle seriously underperforming and Sunderland and Villa as well

Swansea and WBA overperforming

 

[Scotty1991]

Great Game indeed!

Lowestoft town Fc Fan here!

 

[MarkF]

Surely though, Wigan's luck will run out.
Every year, they are rubbish until March/April then sneak clear of relegation.
Wigan I feel have overstayed their welcome in the Premier League
Interesting to look at the crowds - most pretty much as expected.

I am sure that it will run out one day, but it won't be this season.

I don't think they have overstayed their welcome either, I like them there, they offer hope to all small clubs. I'd like Watford & Palace to come up and Villa & Sunderland to go down.

Considering Wigan is a small town and a Rugby League one at that, they in fact have excellent crowds. Seems not so long ago I watched them at Springfield Park in front of crowds of about 2k.

 

[brodiej]

I am sure that it will run out one day, but it won't be this season.

I don't think they have overstayed their welcome either, I like them there, they offer hope to all small clubs. I'd like Watford & Palace to come up and Villa & Sunderland to go down.

Considering Wigan is a small town and a Rugby League one at that, they in fact have excellent crowds. Seems not so long ago I watched them at Springfield Park in front of crowds of about 2k.

I'm maybe being harsh.

I just feel it would be nice if clubs had a level that depended on their income from fans

Wigan's natural level was, like Wycombe / Yeovil / Fleetwood / Crawley and other traditional non-league teams promoted in the late 70s onwards in the 4th/3rd division until Dave Whelan splashed the cash.

I think they are now in an artificial position - if Whelan left they would drop down to the 3rd or 4th again.