by Dave » 11 Mar 2013, 18:41
Sorry but there is plently of evidence to support Nickgulls post about a possible drop in attendances.
In our first season in the conference, we did not have one single League attendance below 2000, with the highest excluding Exeter being 4510 and lowest 2165.
In our second conference season we had 9 sub 2000 gates.
York........1598
Northwich..1752
Eastbourne.1921
Oxford......1955
Wrexham...1842
Weymouth..1743
Alty..........1760
FGR..........1554
Grays........1996
We also had attendances of 2,001 against Salisbury and 2066 against Stevenage which taking into account away fans would suggest both were sub 2000 home.
Had we lost in the play-off final there is no doubt budgets would have been cut and the club stuck at that level, gates would have slid back further to the 1200-1400 level Nick suggests.
The major difference, season one in the conference we had a new board, we saw transfer activity like never before and real sense that the club would be re-built and not just return to the league but go beyond, second season we saw a poor start many thought our one chance had be blown and gates slipped, they did recover when promotion looked on.
Also the recession was in its early days, now unemployment is a bigger problem and cuts backs are squeezing incomes more and more.
What impact would conference football have this time ? Honest answer do not know. If things go the way I think they will, within 18 months the club will have a job to avoid adminstration.
The reason for this is simple, last time the club went down it had nothing, this time we have money invested in Bristows Bench and the training ground which I do not think is fully paid off, we also have Thea Bristow to pay back aswell, we would be relegated this time with a real "feel bad factor" couple with what I have already said about incomes being squeezed Nick is right gates would drop back to 1300, the club will not be able survive with gate levels that low, when you factor in loss of the football league income.
The club also has invested heavily in the youth set up, realising that to be there best way forward all funding for the youth programme would be lost, that is why we simply have to stay in the league.
Sorry but there is plently of evidence to support Nickgulls post about a possible drop in attendances.
In our first season in the conference, we did not have one single League attendance below 2000, with the highest excluding Exeter being 4510 and lowest 2165.
In our second conference season we had 9 sub 2000 gates.
York........1598
Northwich..1752
Eastbourne.1921
Oxford......1955
Wrexham...1842
Weymouth..1743
Alty..........1760
FGR..........1554
Grays........1996
We also had attendances of 2,001 against Salisbury and 2066 against Stevenage which taking into account away fans would suggest both were sub 2000 home.
Had we lost in the play-off final there is no doubt budgets would have been cut and the club stuck at that level, gates would have slid back further to the 1200-1400 level Nick suggests.
The major difference, season one in the conference we had a new board, we saw transfer activity like never before and real sense that the club would be re-built and not just return to the league but go beyond, second season we saw a poor start many thought our one chance had be blown and gates slipped, they did recover when promotion looked on.
Also the recession was in its early days, now unemployment is a bigger problem and cuts backs are squeezing incomes more and more.
What impact would conference football have this time ? Honest answer do not know. If things go the way I think they will, within 18 months the club will have a job to avoid adminstration.
The reason for this is simple, last time the club went down it had nothing, this time we have money invested in Bristows Bench and the training ground which I do not think is fully paid off, we also have Thea Bristow to pay back aswell, we would be relegated this time with a real "feel bad factor" couple with what I have already said about incomes being squeezed Nick is right gates would drop back to 1300, the club will not be able survive with gate levels that low, when you factor in loss of the football league income.
The club also has invested heavily in the youth set up, realising that to be there best way forward all funding for the youth programme would be lost, that is why we simply have to stay in the league.