Jez's comments in cen today

[tedbaker79]

george admitted crowds were far below expectation. but defended the decision to fix budgets based on average attendances understood to be 3200 per game
"the budget we put together was based on what we did last season and the season before that" said george.

[richardg]

So we are 600 or so down on our average, hence the big shortfall.

[iancjc]

It was always barmy to expect 3200 to turn up week in week out to see the crap sides that appear on the pitch week after week.

I could have stopped going after the Southport game - never seen a more negative display by a team - who were playing for time from the kick off.

Games like that and losing to a team with Danny Webb playing at centre half didn't help.

Although the tv money from the Huddersield game SHOULD have made up for much of the shortfall.

[Rico]

Between 500-600 at the moment but it may be a bit less come the end of the season when Luton et all have come to the abbey.

Someone the other day said £7/8 was what you expect each fan to pay on average when you factor in season tickets, concessions etc. That would mean the short fall was less than 100k and that should really have been covered by the FA cup TV money and revenue so I'm confused as to why we are still struggling. Jez also said last years losses were covered by the Holroyd sale which was less than the FA TV money alone. Strange.

[El Goodo]

That is strange, that was only 60k wasn't it

[tezzainderby]

I have the greatest respect for Jez but it does seem that he is following club spiel(?)

[tedbaker79]

Jan 7, 2011 14:24:47 GMT El Goodo said:

That is strange, that was only 60k wasn't it

jez has stated in the cen that it was £80,000

[Rico]

NOt sure he's really 'following' anything. He is a board member so I imagine would have been part of any discussions about budget and so forth.

[sotonus]

The FA Cup money might have covered the short fall in attendances. Just because we set a budget that we have stuck to, it doesn't mean that the budget didn't include a short fall in the first place. In fact I'm almost certain that if we kept to the budget and also got the crowds there still would have been a shortfall. This amount would then be covered by the directors, but now this amount has increased they are not happy to continue this way in the long term.

[richardg]

I think the budget set did not include Schofield 2 year deal and Stav, plus VAT rises?

[sotonus]

I'm pretty sure it was said at the time it did include Scohfield. Also, ling has stated he has always stuck to the budget which suggests it includes stav as well. Who knows though if thats true. United will claim back VAT so that shouldn't make a difference

[Rico]

It wouldn't surprise me if a small amount was originally set aside for a loan player or two. Would have been stupid not to, as inevitably you need one. When was the last time we didn't get any loan players in?

[johncheryl]

As with all clubs unfortunately it is impossible run to a precise budget, but I also agree it would appear bad business to commit the whole budget on day one. On the other hand if we had not then I guess we not even have been able to bring in the players we did. We have also been extremely unlucky with injuries which i am sure has had an effect on results.
At times I am one of the first to complain but that is through frustration for what I believe can be achieved. Now is the time for every fan and the whole of Cambridge to get behind the club, put the frustration to one side and work as one team. That means the fans, the club, local business groups and local councils, this may seem a dream but if we all pull together then in 10 years time I am sure we will look back and see what we have achieved toward success both as a business, a club and as a team.
John