Change of Venue - ATD Q&A With James Brent

Well done to all that made this possible and to JB and PJ and RC.

Thought it was a very good evening, was impressed by James Brent who appeared honest and down to earth. Was also impressed by the ATD members who turned out, who I was meeting "live" for the first time, all behaved themselves and there were no silly questions. Everyone had ample time to ask what they liked. James Brent came around during the interval and at the close and spoke to most of us individually an appears a genuine bloke. Many thanks to Andy for organising a good evening. A special thankyou to TGWU who gave me a lift home.

Bintang wrote:

Cerbera wrote:

Just walked in the door.

What a decent (and clever) bloke James Brent is.

Excellent evening, very well done Andy. I think JB understands we are not all freaks and weirdos now.

Yeah the real freaks and weirdos are abroad

Do you mean the ones who were 100% correct about the club, Pasoti and Nool all along ?

The beast may be down but his monster carries on regardless.

ATD the home of free speech.

It definitely sounded worth all the effort Andy put in. Well done for getting this off the ground and also to James Brent, Peter Jones and Rick Cowdrey for ignoring the attempts to get the meeting stopped.

I'm glad I got a mention, thanks Peter I'm a big fan of yours too and I do feel much more encouraged about the clubs future, now that people I respect on here have met JB and some of his team and have received some answers to questions and worries that we had.

So all in all I feel more optimistic now, but it's just the beginning. I am more confident that the club is in good hands, and happy to say that it appears that I got it wrong about James Brent's motives for buying the club. I've said all along that any money he makes from a hotel or other business ventures that arise from his property deals are deserved and I had no problem with that, I was concerned that Mr Brent might concentrate on other aspects and not be concerned with the clubs welfare once these other plans come to fruition, but enough people who I believe want only the best for the club have now met him , heard his plans for the future and feel comfortable under his stewardship.

So now that James Brent has met several members of this site and has survived intact, I hope that he backs up what he has said and does whatever it takes to get us moving upwards and out of this league. Success will help bring the fanbase closer together and on-field improvement will lead to bigger gates, which will lead to more money being available for wages, transfer fees etc. What won't help is if it looks like we are no further forward in 6 months time, and still looking like doing things on the cheap. I know we have to remember where we were a short while ago, but this is League 2 after all, and it won't take much to get us up one league at least. I mean if our neighbours up the road managed it eventually, then it really can't be that difficult can it?

Great to see that PJ was there, he's been a favorite for a long time among us ATDers and I'm pleased he's made himself more public because he knows what it's like to be 'on this side of the fence'.

I'm impressed that even the naturally born cynics among us seem to have more of a spring in their step after last night, I'm starting to think we may have a future after all!

Good to know that they are fully aware of the shite flying too, and treated with the contempt it deserves.

It sounds as if they at least are trying to unite the fan base.

Well done Andy for organising yesterdays event.

Among other things JB said there will be money for signings for next season, that Argyle will have one of the largest player budgets in league two. That he has faith in Carl Fletcher and anticipates a change in playing style for next season. He also outlined a plan to return to Championship level but did not specify a time frame. All in all I came away encouraged and with faith restored.

I've always been a big PJ fan too- I did ask if he would create another "run by the fans for the fans" type slogan and he laughed (I did clarify that the statement was true, until he and the great Michael Foot left the board).

Both JB and PJ have an infectious desire/ motivation for the club to improve. JB said he won't be creating any 5, 10 year plans as they are not always achievable (take note Sir Roy and Todd) and could be a stick to beat the board with. The improvement of the club will be through sustainable means- we will have money set aside for a rainy day (as part of the playing budget). JB mentioned several times how the club had "let the fans down" and he seemed determined to correct this and mentioned how the matchday experience should be improved and Argyle fans arrive at the ground earlier (didn't say it, but this would be through competitive pricing). The ambition for next season is to be in with a chance of promotion, although CF won't be set any set targets. JB enthasised that he sees the football world as "pathetic" when a Manager's head is called for when a club is in a bad run. He couldn't believe the number of times clubs changed managers- stability is very much the key.

JB praised Carl Fletcher on a number of occasions, and both he and PJ said that the defensive football being played is mainly the Board's fault as they set CF the challenge to keep Argyle up and defensive football was the best way. CF originated at Bournemouth - a side known for playing good football (under the leadership of Shaun O'Driscoll) and then went to another well known "footballing" side in West Ham. PJ feels that CF would rather play a more entertaining style but couldnt do so in the position we were in.

pepsipete wrote:

Among other things JB said there will be money for signings for next season, that Argyle will have one of the largest player budgets in league two. That he has faith in Carl Fletcher and anticipates a change in playing style for next season. He also outlined a plan to return to Championship level but did not specify a time frame. All in all I came away encouraged and with faith restored.

When I'm organised I will post some of the points made that I made notes on. But to pick this one - it was said very clearly that Carl Fletcher's playing style of choice would not have been how we played this season. It seemed to be a case of he did what needed to be done to ensure survival. And it worked! With new signings and a start to next season where our legs aren't tied together from the off we ought to witness something better next season.

knecht wrote:

pepsipete wrote:

Among other things JB said there will be money for signings for next season, that Argyle will have one of the largest player budgets in league two. That he has faith in Carl Fletcher and anticipates a change in playing style for next season. He also outlined a plan to return to Championship level but did not specify a time frame. All in all I came away encouraged and with faith restored.

When I'm organised I will post some of the points made that I made notes on. But to pick this one - it was said very clearly that Carl Fletcher's playing style of choice would not have been how we played this season. It seemed to be a case of he did what needed to be done to ensure survival. And it worked! With new signings and a start to next season where our legs aren't tied together from the off we ought to witness something better next season.

That's why I think Fletcher should be given his chance.

It was a Good night and a pleasure to meet and put faces to names though many thought I was Grumpy.

It must have cost Andy for that buffet

Tgwu wrote:

It was a Good night and a pleasure to meet and put faces to names though many thought I was Grumpy.

It must have cost Andy for that buffet

I'm bloody miffed now

Well done everyone great to hear the positives coming out of this, I don't feel quite so grumpy now but I will just say I won't be throwing a party just yet.

A very entertaining evening and many thanks to Andy for organising the event. Also thanks to PJ JB and RC for giving up their time and and being very frank with their answers.

Great that all went well last night, a big 'well done' to everyone that made it happen. Kudos to JB PJ and RC for their time.

Can anyone put any more meat on the bones regarding the continued Lyndhurst closure?

Why are the police adamant that their presence is required, if blocks 15-18 are re-opened? Is it to do with geography? i.e. home fans being within 5 (empty) blocks of the taxiload of away fans? Ok, I'm being sarcastic, but it does seem totally ludicrous doesn't it?

Or, is it to do with the overall capacity of available areas? i.e. hypothetically speaking we could close blocks 7-10, open 15-18, and not incur policing costs?

Czarcasm wrote:

Great that all went well last night, a big 'well done' to everyone that made it happen. Kudos to JB PJ and RC for their time.

Can anyone put any more meat on the bones regarding the continued Lyndhurst closure?

Why are the police adamant that their presence is required, if blocks 15-18 are re-opened? Is it to do with geography? i.e. home fans being within 5 (empty) blocks of the taxiload of away fans? Ok, I'm being sarcastic, but it does seem totally ludicrous doesn't it?

Or, is it to do with the overall capacity of available areas? i.e. hypothetically speaking we could close blocks 7-10, open 15-18, and not incur policing costs?

The impression I got is that there is a legal - or at least a police - requirement that there must be separation of opposing fans. If this isn't done then having the police involved actually leads to them stipulating how many police, where, how deployed etc. When the cost per game would be something like £30,000 this is a cost too far at present.

I would have thought simply erecting a couple of barriers with a gap in between that is smaller than the seats at present not in use would do the job.

Maybe there's scope for the Trust and the club to negotiate this with the police? Just an idea.

Czar,

The ground at the moment is non policed. This is because Zoo Corner is closed. The police have the right to demand from Football League clubs whether games are policed or not.

JB stated that keeping the Zoo closed was saving the club circa £250,000 a year in policing costs, or in playing budget money, four or five top rated L2/L1 players. He said that whilst it was good (in a crowd pulling, local rivalry way) for Exeter to be down, the police would insist on it being a 'policed game' (obviously) and the costs for that will be circa £30,000. Our capacity is currently 16,000 so even with a sell out crowd, we will effectively lose money that day. The police are also at liberty to charge for any policing that is related to the match for other venues - North Road Station, for example, or on the Plymouth approaches on the A38.

So, I think it is more a case of saving police costs rather than keeping two taxi loads of away fans apart from our fans.

Cerbera wrote:

Czar,

The ground at the moment is non policed. This is because Zoo Corner is closed. The police have the right to demand from Football League clubs whether games are policed or not.

JB stated that keeping the Zoo closed was saving the club circa £250,000 a year in policing costs, or in playing budget money, four or five top rated L2/L1 players. He said that whilst it was good (in a crowd pulling, local rivalry way) for Exeter to be down, the police would insist on it being a 'policed game' (obviously) and the costs for that will be circa £30,000. Our capacity is currently 16,000 so even with a sell out crowd, we will effectively lose money that day. The police are also at liberty to charge for any policing that is related to the match for other venues - North Road Station, for example, or on the Plymouth approaches on the A38.

So, I think it is more a case of saving police costs rather than keeping two taxi loads of away fans apart from our fans.

Thanks Cerbs - though the charging for North Road etc isn't yet in place. It has been discussed elsewhere as a possibility. I suspect it will be strongly resisted.

Don't know knecht, you should see Joe after a few Cokes. Leery as hell!

Can someone please say the figure the Trust would have to find to buy their share?

Quote :

A figure was given to the 20% share offer to the Trust, but it was clear that the Gasboard is the way to go- the argument against the Trust was that it only represented a small proportion of fans at its peak (1500 out of 7000) and the Gasboard is seen as all encompassing. JB stated that the purpose of the Gasboard was to give a critical eye over the club and to ensure that recent events (with Argyle) weren't repeated. The Trust 20% offer does not include a seat of the board but they would be entitled to a percentage of profit.

Worried by this. The Gasboard is the way to go because James Brent says its the way to go. Nothing more nothing less. If he recognised the Trust and gave it the same mandate the gasboard would be moot (and mute). It would also be given a chance to grow on the back of it's place in the scheme of things without having to compete with the Gasboard. I cannot see the two things exsisting together. The Gasboard is an easier cheaper more agile for people to buy into. The Trust I'm afraid will quickly become moribund in times of peace and won't be around or significant enough to immediately to pick up the peices should things go bely up again.

20% was valued at £400,000 according to JB last night.

Cerbera wrote:

20% was valued at £400,000 according to JB last night.

Which values the club at £2m. This sounds unrealistic to me. What did he base that valuation on?

Chemical Ali wrote:

JB praised Carl Fletcher on a number of occasions, and both he and PJ said that the defensive football being played is mainly the Board's fault as they set CF the challenge to keep Argyle up and defensive football was the best way. CF originated at Bournemouth - a side known for playing good football (under the leadership of Shaun O'Driscoll) and then went to another well known "footballing" side in West Ham. PJ feels that CF would rather play a more entertaining style but couldnt do so in the position we were in.

Can't say I'm convinced by. I've rarely seen a manager radically change their playing style whether it's due to a full pre-season, better finances, better squad to work with, etc. I'm not expecting the style to be any different next season, as much as I'd like it to be.

Aside from that, thanks for the report of the evening everyone. Sounded interesting and appears he's taking a sensible approach to running the club, which will make a radical change.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Cerbera wrote:

20% was valued at £400,000 according to JB last night.

Which values the club at £2m. This sounds unrealistic to me. What did he base that valuation on?

If you combine the clubs level of debts and apart from player contracts no real assets then 2 mil is a nonsense.