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Post by youngspur on May 26, 2011 8:39:30 GMT -1
With D-Day fast approaching, I think it's important to reaffirm the importance of not settling for a future, long OR short term, in the Ryman Premiership. That is, IF we can avoid it.
It goes almost without saying that, should an opportunity arise to appoint somebody with both the qualities and desire to return us to the Conference South as quickly as possible, that opportunity should be grabbed with both hands. Not having any inside knowledge, I couldn't say whether the Board are facing this kind of dilemma, i.e. whether to give the job to somebody with ambition or to go for the 'safe' option, somebody who is prepared simply to keep us ticking over where we are at minimum expense. What I can say though is that, in the event of such a decision having to be made, it would be downright peculiar to choose the latter.
The farcical Kevin Keehan era was born not only of immediate financial concerns but of a lack of confidence in the club's ability to operate at Conference National level. Our fate was accepted before a ball had been kicked. While the last thing I want is to re-open that old debate, I feel that period in the club's history serves to emphasise the dangers of an unnecessary degree of caution. After all, our subsequent demise can be traced back to the appointment of Keehan. Our recent downward spiral has its roots in that awful season and, if it is to be reversed, a change in approach is required.
On the pitch, Lewes is a football club on its knees but, this week, the Board has the opportunity to help it to its feet. Confront our decline. Don't work with it.
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stevet
Sussex County 3
Posts: 22
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Post by stevet on May 26, 2011 9:39:03 GMT -1
I can't wait until the decision is made so we have something else to talk about...
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Post by willoenespana on May 26, 2011 9:48:25 GMT -1
All the candidates are ambitious. You don't coach/manage a side with an intention not to win. Promotion will be the aim of any incumbent but this has to be achieved without the financial side of the club being put in peril. For the new man to come in and arrest the slide and be competive in the top half of the division would be a success in the first instance.
If the attendances are similar to last season we should be able to compete financially with ease at this level with a view to BSS.
BSP is a different ball game completely. For example Braintree will be operating on 5,500 a week, Grimsby will be on over 17,000 perweek. There are plenty of other examples of former league clubs and larger non league clubs whose budgets will far out strip Braintrees. Eastbourne Boro are a good example of a club whose infrastructure and set up has and is far better than Lewes. Their attendances probably will always be higher than ours purely due to their catchment area. Even as well ran as they are, they struggled last season and couldn't avoid the drop.
The downward spiral didn't begin with Keehan. It began the season or so before when together with the updates required for ground grading, the playing budget and the onset of the recession, there was always going to be a large hole in the finances. Keehan failed to fulfil his promise but as stated the recession had already begun. In short, ambition was flawed as it could not be financially sustained.
Prudence should not be a dirty word!
If the information I have received is correct, I would be happy with any of the potential candidates and would look to next season with optimism.
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Post by guiam on May 26, 2011 9:57:13 GMT -1
keehan was a poor decision but like many others, i believed that his promise of big money backers was good news. i supported him at first then as i saw his staff and players, then the results, i phoned him and asked him to leave.
but....history being twisted again does not help. keehan arrived at the club when it was already in financial meltdown. the problems had started in the promotion season. so lets not open that debate again. it happened. it's in the past.
lets look forward to the new man and a drive up the league.
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Post by seagullhaters on May 26, 2011 10:04:38 GMT -1
Outstanding post youngspur....could not agree more with what you have stated. With the set up that we have and the attendances we enjoyed last season we have to return to BSS as soon as possible.Another season like the previous 3 would have serious implications i feel.
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ianwfc
Ryman One South
President - "Friends of Lewes FC"
Posts: 196
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Post by ianwfc on May 26, 2011 10:38:41 GMT -1
I don't think that there is any doubt that whoever is brought in will be given the brief of a return to BSS as quickly as possible and be given a competitive enough budget to achieve it. Undoubtedly, as a community based club, someone who thinks more locally with regard to talent sourcing will have a better chance as firstly, local people tend to prefer to watch local players and secondly, the logistics of bringing in players from further afield tends to erode the playing budget. I think it is also important to re-inforce the fact that Steve King does not have exclusivity on success and that there are many other capable candidates out there.
I don't think it is unconceivable that a squad of predominantly local players alllied with 3 or 4 top class additions from outside the local area cannot win that division.
I wish you luck with what will be an important appointment for you and look forward to renewing old rivalries (and indeed friendships) at our forthcoming friendly match.
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Post by willoenespana on May 26, 2011 11:13:52 GMT -1
ianwfc.... very good points and if as rumoured Gordon Lucking comes in at Worthing I foresee a return to competitive derbies once more, not just preseason games.
Good luck to the future.
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Post by somersetrook on May 26, 2011 17:57:00 GMT -1
Is it just me, but why does a community club necessarily mean we have to source local players? Surely a community club means that the local community can get involved, along with a few exiles who have red and black blood in their veins.
Agreed that whatever budget is in place has to be adhered to, but personally if we get promoted with players from outside our catchment area and have stuck to the budget, I for one will be very happy !!
COME ON YOU ROOKS !!
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Post by rooksarethebest on May 26, 2011 18:15:10 GMT -1
Absoloutly Somersetrook, but last year we had some good prospects from Sussex e.g. Sutton, Manning, Wheeler, Cobbs... and it was just a waste to get rid of them.
Although not all the players should be from Sussex I feel that we should have a fair few from the area, especially young, up coming talents, and I am sure Ibbo will want this too as he valued our U18's team very highly.
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Post by guiam on May 26, 2011 18:54:30 GMT -1
agree with both of you...spur...name me a youngster that your mate gave a chance... ibbo did the youngster thing because of the finance...and what a good job he and jason did...
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kev
Ryman Premier
Posts: 230
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Post by kev on May 26, 2011 19:06:38 GMT -1
by signing Sammy El abd and Rob Gradwell on loan to keep us up they didn't come from the under 18's Guiam and although you never saw them play they were the reaon we avoided the drop
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Post by rooksarethebest on May 26, 2011 19:09:51 GMT -1
Kev, yes they kept us up. But, Ibbo and Jason still did a fantastic job keeping us up when the majority of the season was played without these two did they not? Most teams would be dead and buried months before we brought Gradwell and Sami in by using players of that age for the season.
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Post by jonathan on May 26, 2011 19:14:12 GMT -1
I think the priority is to get the first team back on track. Of course that means limitless ambition. Fans like to see their team win - while knowing that all the bills have been paid. More fans mean more income. I'd like to see the bulk of the income from the gate and the bar going towards maintaining the ground with any excess going towards the player budget. I admire volunteers more than any individuals who see a way of extracting funds from the club as part of their association with it. The second priority is to introduce a bit of cohesion throughout the local football scene. The women who wear the Lewes shirt have been far more successful in recent years than the men yet you'd think they were a separate club not only from reports in the paper but also on this website. The under 18s are similarly distanced. As for children, there is no access to a Lewes FC academy structure. A half-term kick-about is not as motivating as joining one of the local teams. If Lewes FC offered local children the chance of playing in a Lewes shirt from the earliest possible age, then that would not only attract more local children and their parents to get involved but might even draw in talent and revenue from further afield.
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Post by fanonthebus on May 26, 2011 19:20:12 GMT -1
Guiam - I think one name is David Wheeler.
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Post by guiam on May 26, 2011 19:23:50 GMT -1
i agree that i suffer from not attending the pan. this does not prevent me from an overview. some players are good enough at 16...we could all name some,..but the physical non league verus hammer throwers, mean that a blend of everything is required. ibbo and jason got a lot from the youngsters...a credit to them...but now it gets tougher.. i hope the new man is lucky enough to keep the best youngsters and add some hieght and wieght... come on you rooks.
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kev
Ryman Premier
Posts: 230
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Post by kev on May 26, 2011 19:29:25 GMT -1
Agree they kept us close to the other teams and not down by March, So hats of to Ibbo and Jason but weren't we in the bottom 3 when they arrived on loan and what a lift they gave the team so a master stroke by them. Adding to what Somersetrook said I dont care if our players are from Sussex or Timbuktu, If they play for the shirt with pride and are a settled side ie not 4 new faces every week the supporters can relate to them and support them as a team. Come on you Rooks
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Post by guiam on May 26, 2011 20:28:04 GMT -1
yeah ok fan on the tram...but i think your timing is out...so name another.. and for every one you do i'll name a couple who were on big money......hence the promotion...and the money problems.
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Post by jonathan on May 26, 2011 21:30:28 GMT -1
Big money? In the footballing world we know where the big money has gone.
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Post by garethlewes on May 27, 2011 14:27:58 GMT -1
Lewes CFC Twitter posted more news to come today, hopefully we will hear something a little later. If not then hopefully the weekend. twitter.com/#!/Lewes_cfc/status/73838481364885504
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Post by willoenespana on May 27, 2011 14:59:48 GMT -1
Sounds like most on here agree with a majority of 'local' players beefed up with a few from further afield. I'm sure that all agree whoever puts on a red n black shirt and plays with commitment and passion will get the full support from the fans. Purely from a financial viewpoint, a squad of local players should be more economical than those that have to travel a long distance as it takes away execessive travel expenses though I realise there will always be exceptions as some are prepared to put themselves out just to play in a good competitive team. In any case all will be revealed soon enough. Hopefully the delay in announcement is just in order to thrash out a few finer points of detail with the successful applicant. Good luck to the new man whoever he may be.
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