There were 50+ people there which was a good turn out IMO and shows, I believe, that people want to hear from the club management. Shame Martin Prothero couldn't be there but there is always another meeting and the invitation to him, Michael Slater and Tony Jimenez remains open.
Ben Kensell (BK) spoke more that Steve Bradshaw (SB) but for the me the most interesting person present was a communications consultant who the club have employed to look at how it communicates with fans and how it can be improved. He came to the Bromley group first obviously to see how these things should be done : - )
There was a lot of talk about BK and SBs background and time in football at Arsenal (both of them), Summer events (BK) and Col U (SB). SB was also employed twice by Charlton to work on the launch of Valley Central and the World Cup project in South Africa. Both talked about Charlton being "special" and that being part of the attraction in joining.
SK said that he has a lot of autonomy to make decisions. When asked how often they see Martin Prothero (MP), SB said he comes down and stays over night. When asked how many days a week MP worked SB said he he didn't know, he isn't full time but he sees him every week and he answers calls and emails.
There was a lot of talk about moving the club forward. BK constantly used the term "sweating the asset" in relation to the Valley and the "brand" (he did apologise for using the "B" word) but IMO there wasn't much substance spoken as to how this would happen. His aim is increase commercial T/O from £6.5m to £8m but again it wasn't really spelt out how. A new Catering manager is being sought to improve the whole operation and improve the "experience" and BK said that some of the contracts and suppliers we have aren't at the most favourable rates and he was addressing this so the unit cost would come down for the buyer and the margin increase for the club. SK spoke of 2 - 5 years to turn the commercial side around. Both SB and BK said that the best driver for extra income would be more bums on seats and that a winning team would be the easiest and best way to achieve this.
People asked why we could afford new flat screen TVs but things like broken hand driers had been left for years. He would look into the hand driers. Others also complained about people being allowed to smoke unhindered in the toilets and asked why people couldn't be allow outside as happens at other ground. SB said he wasn't sure, Mick Everitt had explained why but he couldn't remember in detail other than it wouldn't be fair to do it for some stands but not others.
There was a long debate about the Millwall fiasco (the policing last season not the performances). This is clearly something that people are still unhappy about and a number of people linked this to the wider point of poor communication from the Club and suggested one reason for the poor crowd v MFC this year was the mess last time.
When asked if their jobs would be easier in a new stadium both saw that googly coming and said that while corporately it might be more attractive the Valley was special, the capacity adequate for now and no new stadium planned. When pressed as to why the Club's own sales prospectus then mentioned a potential new stadium SB said he didn't know about that and hadn't seen the prospectus leaked to Sky journalist Mark Klienman. When pressed again if he has discussed it with MP he prevaricated and didn't really answer the question.
SB said that he was aware that communication from the current regime hadn't been good and they were trying to address this. When asked why articles from senior staff such as SB, MP and financial Controller David Joyes appeared in the programme but not a few days or weeks later on the website SB said he "hadn't thought of it" but would action it.
SB was asked to repeat the information he had given to Valley Gold members visiting the training ground about the planned complex at Sparrows Lane that will housing the Community Trust, the first team and the academy which he did. He said plans were well advanced and partnerships and funding being sought. When asked if this wasn't just the same plans we had been told about at Bromley two years ago SB said he didn't know as he wasnt at the Club two years ago. When asked how much the cost the Football Club was meeting SB said it would all be "externally funded".
SB was asked why Paul Hart had come to Bromley approx one year ago and said that the Club was going for Cat 1 status for the Academy but later reports said that we had always been going for Cat 2 (OS and RM at Bromley in May 2013) SB said we had no chance of getting Cat 1 with the current buildings but as stated above there are plans for a new building and an indoor synthetic pitch so that we have state of the art facilities. We can re-apply for Cat 1 in 2 or 3 years time when we have the new building.
I did try to ask about the business plan but didnt get much clarity. MS and TJ infrequent appearances in the boardroom were pointed out. SB did say they they were committed and were putting money in (no mention of how much or from where) and that "you don't buy a football club to make money". This contradicts what Michael Slater said at the VIP Q & A last year when he said that IIRC "There is clearly a financial interest for us" ie him and TJ.
We didn't discuss:
Lockwood Gate The Fulham Arrests
Nor did we speak about
Player contracts/Powell's Contract Any squad issues. These do fall outside SB and BK's job roles so fair enough but is another reason why MP not coming to any of these events is frustrating
Many thanks to Steve and Ben for coming out. I think they are visiting East Kent next month so it will be interesting to see if they get similar questions and if any of the issues raised have been addressed. Well worth a trip out to hear what they have to say.
There were, as ever, a fair sprinkling of Lifers there so I'm sure that can fill in any gaps or correct any mistakes.
Very balanced account, Henry, considering as host you can't be critical. But there is a lot to be read between those lines. You've referred to SK, but I don't think he was there!
One area of particular interest to me was young addicks and how we build the next generation of fans involving the leveraging the role of the community trust and in my view perhaps a role for the supporters trust.
We charge 25 quid apparently a loss leader for Young Addicks, I wonder of we could lower that further, and step up involvement in secondary schools particulalry which in the case of my daughters secondary school in Falconwood is non existent.
Castrust are looking at further engagement on this and other initiatives around Fill the Valley - after the pilot which SB mentioned saw 15-20k leaflets delivered via supporters trust volunteers.
Comments
Or something like that : - )
Next week. Hope the new takeover doesn't leak before then so they can't come.
http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20131028-leadership-duo-to-visit-bromley-addicks-1140504.aspx
Starts at 8.00 pm. Bar open from 6.30 pm
"Mr Bradshaw, why haven't you sacked BDL for his vile comments on Saturday yet?"
: - )
Ben Kensell (BK) spoke more that Steve Bradshaw (SB) but for the me the most interesting person present was a communications consultant who the club have employed to look at how it communicates with fans and how it can be improved. He came to the Bromley group first obviously to see how these things should be done : - )
There was a lot of talk about BK and SBs background and time in football at Arsenal (both of them), Summer events (BK) and Col U (SB). SB was also employed twice by Charlton to work on the launch of Valley Central and the World Cup project in South Africa. Both talked about Charlton being "special" and that being part of the attraction in joining.
SK said that he has a lot of autonomy to make decisions. When asked how often they see Martin Prothero (MP), SB said he comes down and stays over night. When asked how many days a week MP worked SB said he he didn't know, he isn't full time but he sees him every week and he answers calls and emails.
There was a lot of talk about moving the club forward. BK constantly used the term "sweating the asset" in relation to the Valley and the "brand" (he did apologise for using the "B" word) but IMO there wasn't much substance spoken as to how this would happen. His aim is increase commercial T/O from £6.5m to £8m but again it wasn't really spelt out how. A new Catering manager is being sought to improve the whole operation and improve the "experience" and BK said that some of the contracts and suppliers we have aren't at the most favourable rates and he was addressing this so the unit cost would come down for the buyer and the margin increase for the club. SK spoke of 2 - 5 years to turn the commercial side around. Both SB and BK said that the best driver for extra income would be more bums on seats and that a winning team would be the easiest and best way to achieve this.
People asked why we could afford new flat screen TVs but things like broken hand driers had been left for years. He would look into the hand driers. Others also complained about people being allowed to smoke unhindered in the toilets and asked why people couldn't be allow outside as happens at other ground. SB said he wasn't sure, Mick Everitt had explained why but he couldn't remember in detail other than it wouldn't be fair to do it for some stands but not others.
There was a long debate about the Millwall fiasco (the policing last season not the performances). This is clearly something that people are still unhappy about and a number of people linked this to the wider point of poor communication from the Club and suggested one reason for the poor crowd v MFC this year was the mess last time.
When asked if their jobs would be easier in a new stadium both saw that googly coming and said that while corporately it might be more attractive the Valley was special, the capacity adequate for now and no new stadium planned. When pressed as to why the Club's own sales prospectus then mentioned a potential new stadium SB said he didn't know about that and hadn't seen the prospectus leaked to Sky journalist Mark Klienman. When pressed again if he has discussed it with MP he prevaricated and didn't really answer the question.
SB said that he was aware that communication from the current regime hadn't been good and they were trying to address this. When asked why articles from senior staff such as SB, MP and financial Controller David Joyes appeared in the programme but not a few days or weeks later on the website SB said he "hadn't thought of it" but would action it.
SB was asked to repeat the information he had given to Valley Gold members visiting the training ground about the planned complex at Sparrows Lane that will housing the Community Trust, the first team and the academy which he did. He said plans were well advanced and partnerships and funding being sought. When asked if this wasn't just the same plans we had been told about at Bromley two years ago SB said he didn't know as he wasnt at the Club two years ago. When asked how much the cost the Football Club was meeting SB said it would all be "externally funded".
SB was asked why Paul Hart had come to Bromley approx one year ago and said that the Club was going for Cat 1 status for the Academy but later reports said that we had always been going for Cat 2 (OS and RM at Bromley in May 2013) SB said we had no chance of getting Cat 1 with the current buildings but as stated above there are plans for a new building and an indoor synthetic pitch so that we have state of the art facilities. We can re-apply for Cat 1 in 2 or 3 years time when we have the new building.
I did try to ask about the business plan but didnt get much clarity. MS and TJ infrequent appearances in the boardroom were pointed out. SB did say they they were committed and were putting money in (no mention of how much or from where) and that "you don't buy a football club to make money". This contradicts what Michael Slater said at the VIP Q & A last year when he said that IIRC "There is clearly a financial interest for us" ie him and TJ.
We didn't discuss:
Lockwood Gate
The Fulham Arrests
Nor did we speak about
Player contracts/Powell's Contract
Any squad issues.
These do fall outside SB and BK's job roles so fair enough but is another reason why MP not coming to any of these events is frustrating
Many thanks to Steve and Ben for coming out. I think they are visiting East Kent next month so it will be interesting to see if they get similar questions and if any of the issues raised have been addressed. Well worth a trip out to hear what they have to say.
There were, as ever, a fair sprinkling of Lifers there so I'm sure that can fill in any gaps or correct any mistakes.
We charge 25 quid apparently a loss leader for Young Addicks, I wonder of we could lower that further, and step up involvement in secondary schools particulalry which in the case of my daughters secondary school in Falconwood is non existent.
Castrust are looking at further engagement on this and other initiatives around Fill the Valley - after the pilot which SB mentioned saw 15-20k leaflets delivered via supporters trust volunteers.