The Lounge

[MacWomble]

I’m reading that Foxtel is witholding many millions from the FFA for the A-league contract. I have never bothered with the A-league, it is so Sydney and Melbourne-centric and has made little effort to appeal to the regions. The FFA does not understand that in the regions no-one talks or pays attention to anything to do with it. I hear 50 times more chat about the Premiership and Bundesliga than about Melbourne Glory, Sydney Invictus, Melbourne Triumph, Sydney Supremos, or whoever. Imagine you lost Wimbledon. Would you be glued to your gogglebox watching West Brom take on Huddersfield? I doubt it. And yet where I live recreational soccer is very popular. There are lots of leagues and the schoolkids love it, including my daughter who (thanks Doc Murphy) would normally play in a very well-organised junior league. It is a great sport for health, fresh air, developing skills and running – regardless of the score. So puzzle me this one – it can be no surprise that the average young person distances the fun side of the game from the tawdry, poor quality, wee George-Calombaris-swearing-from-the-sidelines, let’s behave like morons elements we see in some of the A-league clubs. It is just not appealing to most young folk, who do not have 90 mins to watch a watered-down version of League 2 played from a city 900kms away. The jewel in the crown is the woman’s soccer – but that will get ditched. So many mistakes all round. Like the ARU, it is time for some serious revision at the FFA. But, these are not strongly held views with me – its’s League One and Scottish League One for me [smile]. COYD. Also, just thinking – when are we going to see a new European nation team with a name like Coburg-19 FC, AZ-19 Alkmaar, 2019 Dusseldorf?

[Windlesham Don]

I hope everyone is keeping well, wherever you are located. Still no significant downturn in deaths here in the UK, although things appear to be levelling out.

I had a look at the results of the survey of ST holders on their intentions for NPL. Hopefully I won’t be boring you with my thoughts, but here goes anyway:

Almost 1200 responses, which I would estimate represents around 35-40% of all current ST holders.

Of those who responded only 0.9% replied that they would not be renewing for NPL – unsurprising I guess as would you bother completing a survey if you weren’t intending to renew?

Of more interest are the numbers interested in hospitality (2.8%) and sitting in a family section (5.6%). These both seem quite low, although extrapolated across to the club’s expected 5500 ST holders would give around 150 interested in hospitality and around 300 interested in sitting in a family section.

The club may be looking at the numbers interested in the premium seats (within the bounds of the centre circle). 372 expressed an interest in these seats, but in the West stand there are only 280 seats in this area – prepare for a ‘bunfight’ all those interested in ‘premium’ seats!

Also of interest were the numbers expressing an interest in purchasing a seat debenture. Over 20% of respondents were interested and over 50% wanted further detail. Thus, if the club wish to go down this route to help fund NPL there should be plenty of interest from existing ST holders for both 5 and 10 year debentures – the well, it appears, is not yet dry…

It is a financial juggling act, offsetting upfront cash to reduce debt verses maintaining annual revenue, but based on this survey there looks to be capacity to generate another £1-2m from the sale of 5 and 10 year debentures. It depends whether the club wants (or needs) to go down this route…

Finally, the other stark outcome of the survey was the number of supporters who want to sit with large groups of friends/family. Around 30% of respondents wish to sit within a group of 6 or more, which is going to be a logistical nightmare for the office staff!

[Windlesham Don]

One further point which I forgot:

There appears to be almost a straight read across from those currently in the Chemflow end (365 responders) to those who wish to sit in the South stand behind the goal (381 responders).

My estimate of the capacity of the temporary South stand is around 1100, not much different from the capacity of the Chemflow end. I believe that the number of season tickets in the Chemflow terrace was restricted to allow ST holders to be able to take in guests, but I foresee a problem with those wishing to purchase a South stand ST outnumbering the capacity of the stand.

This also takes no account of potential ‘new’ ST holders who wish to sit behind the goal, nor casual fans who turn up on the day.

There is of course capacity in the SE corner temporary stand and the SW corner extension of the permanent West stand, but neither of these areas are likely to provide the ‘behind the goal’ experience that some fans crave.

Just speculating, but I wonder if an extended temporary stand at this end could be the first ground improvement? Not sure how this would affect the roof line though, as it looks like the roofs of the three temporary stands current wrap around at the same height.

Interesting times…

[onyadon]

Bit of light reading…
Each year, the EFL send out a questionnaire to their clubs, asking how much they pay playing and non-playing staff. The resulting report — marked ‘strictly private and confidential’ (snigger, snigger…) — is meant to provide useful benchmarking information for those who make up the three divisions. Alert: This is a Daily Mail story…

Crazy wages don’t add up in the EFL with clubs on the brink

[onyadon]

The French league closes down for the season..

Ligue 1 season over, no sport in France before September

[onyadon]

FIFA’s medical chief Michel D’Hooghe believes there should be no football until the start of next season with concerns over a “second attack” of the coronavirus.

FIFA medical chief calls for all leagues to be cancelled

[Author]

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