We get a new CEO in, who has lots of senior position management experience.
Previous successful manager who had lost interest in us, had a team that looked like relegation fodder (which he did not look like being able to turn around), left club for better offer. All the backroom staff also leaving including physio and scout.
Financially club in very poor place, relying on goodwill short terms loans to keep afloat, (not for the first time in our non-league experience).
Three of our arguably better players transferred (contract conditions, but brought in much needed revenue).
New manager and assistant manager brought in, and able to arrange loan of quality keeper and transfer in an excellent centre half, full back and forward in short space of time.
After poor start, new management turns things around so that we were not far, points wise, off the play offs at the end of the season and only 1 point below York’s full time team.
New Management arranges foreign away game, 2-300 fans had an excellent trip.
New management arranges for three players to attend a Jamie Vardy training week, which resulted in a player being transferred for a much needed and decent fee.
New management sets up Academy - a vital major step if we are ever to survive in the future with young players coming through and hopefully some transfer fees.
Transfer out of some long serving players, many well liked but some who may have reached their level, raising some valuable cash to the club, while also bringing in players with good credentials and a goal keeping coach from York.
Win £20k on best goal celebration, with a lot of fans help.
Club becomes debt free (DFCSG do have an amount of long term loans to repay).
So a lot has gone on but now as a club we have:-
A CEO and Chairman with plenty of experience and now tough enough to make sure that the club is run financially astutely and professionally, and a club debt free.
The supporters group have new board members, with lots of fantastic young people involved, giving a wide range of experience to the existing excellent board members.
We have a fantastic set of volunteer supporters, possibly the best in the leagues.
We have some fantastic fans, as seen by the clearing of the snow in such a short time for that famous award winning game, recovery of the ground covers from BM, and providing superb financial support over the last 5 years to keep us going and get a nice tidy little ground now to play at.
We have a football management team who love the club, are approachable, but still young and learning their trade. They understand the financial constraints and work to it, (I believe that the budget may well be £50 - £100k less overall than MG had when he was near relegation zone).
We have some young players coming through and getting a chance, the club is in a better financial position than any time in the last 6 years or more. The top management of the club and supporters group looks solid and very capable, so in a position that we, I am sure, would have loved to be in 5 years ago.
We are no longer the big cheese in the non-league locally, with South Shields, Spennymoor, Hartlepool, York, Harrogate all able to outspend us, so getting local talented players is going to be hard, we do need to therefore look farther afield, so having contacts outside the area is a good thing and we need to get used to that.
So what is there really to moan about?
We have had some poor results and performances and near the relegation zone, but the players have proved they are capable, with some excellent performances also and there is a long way to go yet in the season. It was turned around last year and I believe it will be this year.
For those who are unhappy we are not in a promotion position, just consider if we got promoted this year, we as fans would need to raise at least £500k I believe, to just stay in the league above, do we have those people willing to put that sort of cash in, (I assume those who are the most vocal and OTT in their criticism will be the first to provide financial support if needed?).
I personally would be happy to consolidate and get finances in great position, (although would like to get into play offs for the extra cash and excitement, and yes I would put money in if we did get promoted, out of my savings yet again as now retired).
Just something to consider for the real fans out there, one bad feedback from an individual could influence 30+ others with negative view of the club so making it harder to attract new fans. Kicking individuals and the team when its down is not a way to improve on or off the pitch (and I do understand the passion that is associated with the team, just need to think of the wider impact).
As for me I think we have come a long way in the last 12 months with much of it very positive for the future of the club, and would not want to change anything other than the results lately, (and a cup run
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
I also believe that if things do need to change that we now have the CEO and Chairman who are able to make the best decision for the club and I trust them to do that.
Apologies for the length of this but was getting a bit uneasy with the focus on just a part of our recent journey, (an important part though I admit), and wanted a balanced view of the last 12 months or so, and I am sure I have missed other good bits out too.
“Up the Quakers”