The Club's Season Ticket deadline was extended again yesterday for another week in an effort to wring out the last of the waverers before Championship pricing is finally imposed. I have to smile every year when this happens because the majority of our supporters never appear to notice this because the following season there is a mild panic that they might lose their seat or be forced to pay a bit more if they haven't stumped up before the season finishes and secured their golden ticket.
The call to delay purchase until it was clearer who would be managing the side next season and some form of reassurance that the squad wasn't going to be woefully short for the Championship went largely unheeded. Now that unsold season ticket reservations have now been put back on sale it has become clearer that sales have increased from approximately 6,000 last year to somewhere approaching 10,000. The increase following Lee Bowyer's contract signature wasn't hugely significant in terms of sales but the overall increase is impressive given that key members of the Play-Off winning side have since moved on and recruitment so far has been modest.
It looks like we should have over 10,000 season ticket holders come the first day of the season even if Duchatelet is still the owner - the club will be aiming to be able to announce that as early as next week after the latest deadline extension. A sale of the club before August could see another couple of thousand refuseniks digging deep to return to the fold. Those sorts of numbers should see average gates this season of c 15-17,000 which wouldn't be too shabby given our recent history.
Like everyone else I was delighted to see Bowyer finally signing a contract extension even if the way it was mis-managed was nothing short of hugely embarrassing for the club. Duchatelet exposed his lack of ambition or interest in the football club once again with that laughable fit-of-pique statement at the eleventh hour exposing the offer to Bowyer and saying it was the best deal he would get. You have to believe that the forcing of his hand to double that offer at 10pm the same day will have consequences for the budget and Bowyer's chances of success this season.
Bowyer performed a minor miracle last year but the chances of him being able to repeat that feat in a much more competitive division where the majority of the sides invest millions every close season just to stand still are slim in my opinion. The players brought in so far are basic positional replacements for gaps in the squad that have emerged with the loss of Bauer, Aribo and Co. I have no issue with any of them in particular but it's a huge ask to expect these players to improve on those they are replacing in a division which is tougher than most are used to. Our squad remains small and we still have gaps to fill. I am sure Bowyer will do that but the quality of the side come August has to be questionable given the budget.
A takeover could lead to an injection in cash for squad strengthening, even if that were to need to wait until January but there has to remain a huge doubt that anyone will be able to conclude a satisfactory deal with the illogical Duchatelet. Time is running out for prospective buyers and Duchatelet should realise that he will not get as much for a struggling Championship side as one newly promoted from League One. If it doesn't happen soon, we will be back to the January window cycle and by then we could find buyers waiting to see if we will be relegated or not before agreeing a price. It really is Groundhog Day and it hurts.
The call to delay purchase until it was clearer who would be managing the side next season and some form of reassurance that the squad wasn't going to be woefully short for the Championship went largely unheeded. Now that unsold season ticket reservations have now been put back on sale it has become clearer that sales have increased from approximately 6,000 last year to somewhere approaching 10,000. The increase following Lee Bowyer's contract signature wasn't hugely significant in terms of sales but the overall increase is impressive given that key members of the Play-Off winning side have since moved on and recruitment so far has been modest.
It looks like we should have over 10,000 season ticket holders come the first day of the season even if Duchatelet is still the owner - the club will be aiming to be able to announce that as early as next week after the latest deadline extension. A sale of the club before August could see another couple of thousand refuseniks digging deep to return to the fold. Those sorts of numbers should see average gates this season of c 15-17,000 which wouldn't be too shabby given our recent history.
Like everyone else I was delighted to see Bowyer finally signing a contract extension even if the way it was mis-managed was nothing short of hugely embarrassing for the club. Duchatelet exposed his lack of ambition or interest in the football club once again with that laughable fit-of-pique statement at the eleventh hour exposing the offer to Bowyer and saying it was the best deal he would get. You have to believe that the forcing of his hand to double that offer at 10pm the same day will have consequences for the budget and Bowyer's chances of success this season.
Bowyer performed a minor miracle last year but the chances of him being able to repeat that feat in a much more competitive division where the majority of the sides invest millions every close season just to stand still are slim in my opinion. The players brought in so far are basic positional replacements for gaps in the squad that have emerged with the loss of Bauer, Aribo and Co. I have no issue with any of them in particular but it's a huge ask to expect these players to improve on those they are replacing in a division which is tougher than most are used to. Our squad remains small and we still have gaps to fill. I am sure Bowyer will do that but the quality of the side come August has to be questionable given the budget.
A takeover could lead to an injection in cash for squad strengthening, even if that were to need to wait until January but there has to remain a huge doubt that anyone will be able to conclude a satisfactory deal with the illogical Duchatelet. Time is running out for prospective buyers and Duchatelet should realise that he will not get as much for a struggling Championship side as one newly promoted from League One. If it doesn't happen soon, we will be back to the January window cycle and by then we could find buyers waiting to see if we will be relegated or not before agreeing a price. It really is Groundhog Day and it hurts.
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