We're coming out!

by Michael Price - 3rd August 2009

we're coming out!

Well over 100 fans attended tonight's Fans Forum in the Arena's Ron Greener Suite. A 2 hour question and answer session saw announcements made, plans for the future detailed and questions asked and answered - with one particularly heated debate springing up as a result.

The big news came right at the beginning - Football League advisors have recommended to the League Board that our "golden share" is given to the new company - and when we get it, we're coming out of administration!

In attendance tonight were Commercial Director Christine Balford, Andy Wilson, the (pretty much silent) general finance director of Prestige, assistant manager, player and 40 year old teenager Dean Windass, incoming chairman Raj Singh and manager Colin Todd - plus well over 100 Darlo fans - maybe as many as 150. Barely an empty seat in the Suite when the session commenced at around 7:30pm.

Christine immediately opened the proceedings with the announcement that following meetings with the Football League today, their advisors have recommended the return of our "golden share" which, when received, will allow Darlington to come out of administration and begin operating properly again. It was intimated that this could happen by the end of the week - which would be handy, since the season starts on Saturday! Graham Fordy went on to add that our CVA has progressed in accordance with Football League rules, as have all their other tests and requirements, therefore a points deduction at this late stage is not something they can see happening.

Colin Todd also expressed his appreciation for the turnout and hoped to hold more fans forums during the season.

Some topics - such as the actions of our administrators last week - went unquestioned, and rather than work through a pre-vetoed list of e-mailed questions, the floor was opened immediately and the first question went to Colin Todd, querying his realistic expectations for the season ahead.

Todd was cautiously optimistic - simply saying that he recognised the challenge, but felt we had the nucleus of a good squad, with a good mix of youth and experience. With a few loan signings (on which he was questioned later) he felt we could have a really good go at this season and do well. He asked for patience and positive thinking from fans, reminding us it's not easy to build a squad when you only start with 2 players, then thanked Raj for the efforts in bringing the club out of administration. A follow up question saw Todd reveal he plans to play 4-4-2 this season, keeping the ball on the ground and working it through the midfield. Wingers will be key to getting the ball down the field and crossed in for our forward line - which will not include the oft-rumoured Michael Bridges. Todd wanted more energy and commitment upfront and opted for Windass and Thorpe. On the subject of the departed Craig James and Ben Starosta, Todd said neither lived up to expectations, and was pleased in a way that no-one had signed contracts by this point as it meant we were able to let them go.

Loan players were next on the agenda and Colin was happy to confirm he is still in talks with the big three North East clubs over several possibilities. Waghorn and Colbeck from Sunderland, Lua Lua from Newcastle, Franks, Bennett, Hines and Porritt from Middlesbrough were all named as possibilities. Local clubs are being approached for loans as bringing in players from down south would incur accomodation costs due to putting them up in hotels and the like - the club can save money by bringing in talent they don't have to house for six months to a year. He hopes to have two players in ready for the Aldershot game.

The ever thorny subject of our administrators was raised with Raj who was able to clarify that every penny of season ticket revenue and other incoming money was being ringfenced and held for the new company which will take over the running of the club at the end of the administration process. Graham Fordy then added that plenty of fees from the Football League are being held until the admin process is over as well. Singh also answered a question regarding the playing budget, saying it would be re-assessed as and when neccessary. Without wishing to make false promises, if money was required to bolster the squad for any reason, it would provided to the best of his ability.

Questioned about George Houghton, Raj clarified that his involvement with the football side is over. Raj 100% owns the football team and is co-invested in the land and stadium, as had previously been thought but it was nice to get it straight from him. Any money made from the development of land and stadium (talks for which continue with Darlington Borough Council) will be returned via Raj's shareholding into the football club. Non-football events such as car boot sales and concerts continue to be an avenue the commercial team are exploring, and Christine Balford was pleased to confirm the funfair which took place earlier in the summer had made the club some money and it was something they would like to repeat.

Deano was next up as he fielded a question about the parallels between Darlington and Hull. Our assistant manager said we could learn lessons from the rise of Hull City, who were once an undersupported third club in Hull, but through links to the community and on-pitch success (such as, you know, getting to the Premier League) they were now far and away the best supported team in Hull ahead of Hull FC and the Hull KR rugby team. He can see no reason why, if things go right on the pitch, those who have stayed away can't come flocking back as they did at the Tigers.

Windass is pleased to be at the club and hopes to learn a lot from Colin Todd - it's been am ambition of his to go into coaching and management and Todd was happy to offer him the opportunity at Darlo. He hopes to play a lot of football this season and thinks 33/1 at Ladbrokes for him to be League 2's top goalscorer is a very good bet. The "40 year old teenager" (who got progressively younger as the night wore on) is also keen to revive the idea of post match player meetings in the bars around the ground, and confirmed that those who have been signed by the club signed their contracts today.

A topic which caused some controversy and very vocal debate among fans was the £50 Ron Greener Club membership. This was queried by a particularly vocal supporter who felt season ticket holders weren't getting enough privileges for their money, and charging extra for this was a bad idea. Graham Fordy manfully attempted to clarify the club's position on the matter but was repeatedly shouted down by those in agreement with the fan. The simple facts were, according to Fordy, that no other club offers facilities of this quality for free, and neither can Darlington. Every opportunity to raise revenue for the football club must be taken lest we face another hellish period like the last six months.

Asked about players that departed over the summer, Colin Todd returned to answering duties by explaining that he tried to keep Jason Kennedy, and was delighted to still have Foster and Miller. Foster and Windass will be the leaders this season, and he doesn't feel Miller had a fair crack at the whip last year - something which he will get this time around. A lot of players were also out of contract and Todd regrets that he could not keep hold of them. He is, however, pleased with the squad he has, believes the spirit is good and everyone is looking forward to Saturday, and then the live game against Leeds.

Todd also praised the youth at the club when questioned about Curtis Main. Calling our youth team "the future of the club" he went on to praise Curtis for his strength and attitude, and said the 16 year old could learn a lot from Dean Windass. Main, he said, has a big future at the club, and in football, and it is unfortunate that he's injured and could not play a part in our pre-season.

The Leeds game will also be the first test of our new and improved customer service - an area identified by one fan (well, several really) as an area the club needs to address. Christine Balford agreed, saying they have hired a lot of new staff over the summer, all of whom have been sent on customer service courses and were now ready for the coming season. We will have to be patient with our new staff - and new equipment is on order which will improve service efficiency - but she believes we will see an improvement in service at the Arena sooner rather than later.

One area which will not be improving is cash turnstiles - there currently isn't the facility to store cash in the turnstiles so this idea is, for now at least, out. The club hopes to make it easier to obtain tickets pre-matchday by setting up sales points in the Dolphin Centre and Cornmill Centre, and getting online ticket sales going again.

Above all, those at the top table were acutely aware of the difficulty of the task and season ahead. Plans are afoot, we are assured, to make things go as well as possible both on and off the pitch, but the road ahead is long and it will take time to get there. The players though, seem in good spirit, and ready for what's coming. Graham Fordy said we have no reason at the moment to believe the new regime will be any different to the two that preceded it, but they hope to prove through their actions for the football club that they are here to make a success of the Quakers.

Other points of note:

In closing, Raj and Graham Fordy said they hoped to have regular meetings with supporters and supporters groups, such as the Trust, to continue dialogue on issues surrounding the club. With this, the forum was closed and everyone went on their way.