What impact would conference football have?

[happytorq]

CALL YOURSELF SUPPORTERS, AND AS FREDDIE MERCURY SAID, I WILL BE HERE TO I FU--ING WELL DIE, AND SO WILL I, I BLEED YELLOW AND BLUE .

Yes. And then he died.

[gullno4]

to answer the thread title, we will find out next season.

[ROADRUNNER]

think what you like happy but thats what being a supporter is all about, till i f--king well die and thats what i will do mate, 48 years a fan and proud of it. and if they do die i wont be going to watch any other team.

[Dave]

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.

[RussianGull]

If we get relegated we will 'do a Lincoln'. Can't let it happen. Come on boys!

[oxgull]

I think we would be in the Conference/Conference South for a very long time as I can't see another push to sign the right players to get us back up in one season. Maybe the semi pro issue will raise its head again and that will only lead one way. The loss of money and the closure of the youth setup, that seams to be producing results, will further entrench us firmly in non-league football for a long time. On the other hand we will be treated as a big club in a smaller pond and can still take hundreds to away games and there is the prospect of doing well in the FA Trophy, having players in the England C setup and being a surprise in the FA Cup too. If we start winning games regularly then whatever the level we are at we will attract attention and therefore money in the increased gate receipts so although I dearly don't want us to go down it maybe not quite the end of us.

I'll bleat me eyes out if it happens again.

[ROADRUNNER]

i dont and im sure non of us want to go down again, but surely its not the end, but the fans have to get behind the club like they did last time, luton , grimsby , wrexham, mansfield have all been down there a while but the fans have stayed loyal and mansfield are a club the same size as us and have a lot of big clubs in the area but the fan base stay loyal and thats want we have to do if we are to survive or do people really want us to go the way of rushden and scarboroughs of this world. to much has happened to throw it away now, if we can keep the 2,000 hardcore then we should be ok.

[Behind-the-Gulls]

I personally have lost the passion for it. Like I said on another thread, I went to watch Plymouth Albion play rugby yesterday instead. I had a couple pints whilst watching the game and thoroughly enjoyed it!! I haven't thoroughly enjoyed a Torquay game since October.

Whatever you think of how a supporter should act Roadrunner, being a Torquay dupporter doesnt define me. I have a lot going on in my life, and lots competing for TUFCs affection. I am sure hundreds of others do to, and if TUFC dont win that battle then many others wont automatically choose them over more value for money and enjoyable activities. Going to Torquay doesnt offer what it used to, the group I used to stand with has diminished due to death, ilness, people moving to the bench so if the footy isnt up to scratch then its hard to use the reason "because youre a supporter" as reason enough to go regularly.

Swopping watching a team that's won one point in nine games for one that's lost nine in a row!
Not sure that will have cheered you up Kernowgull!

[tufcbrett]

Finances in the BSP are set to go up, after talking to friends at FGR. The FA agreed to many clubs are going bust or in big trouble after going down so they plan to make the gap less steep. With BT vision almost agreeing a deal to show games swell if we was to go down we would be one of the big clubs to be put on tv.

Then there's the whole trying to make it 3 promotion spots instead of 2 which has been agreed in principle with the FL but when it would start is anyone's guess.

Also with the FL they are hoping to change it to a league 3 in a few seasons which is apart of the FA new plan to improve English football at lower levels to help produce more talent etc. This is all after payments with the PL will increase after huge increases in what they earn.

If we was to go down, it wouldn't be as bad as last time. But we wont go down Plymouth might haha

[AustrianAndyGull]

Finances in the BSP are set to go up, after talking to friends at FGR. The FA agreed to many clubs are going bust or in big trouble after going down so they plan to make the gap less steep. With BT vision almost agreeing a deal to show games swell if we was to go down we would be one of the big clubs to be put on tv.

Then there's the whole trying to make it 3 promotion spots instead of 2 which has been agreed in principle with the FL but when it would start is anyone's guess.

Also with the FL they are hoping to change it to a league 3 in a few seasons which is apart of the FA new plan to improve English football at lower levels to help produce more talent etc. This is all after payments with the PL will increase after huge increases in what they earn.

If we was to go down, it wouldn't be as bad as last time. But we wont go down Plymouth might haha

This certainly sounds a lot more encouraging than last time Brett but one thing is for sure, even if we stayed up. I want to see 3 up from the conference and 3 down from league 2 regardless. That would probably mean certain relegation for us if it were the case already but i think it's only fair and makes the BSP more competetive.

[chunkygull]

AS FREDDIE MERCURY SAID, I WILL BE HERE TO I FU--ING WELL DIE, AND SO WILL I, I BLEED YELLOW AND BLUE .