It can be done!

It can be done! Bournemouth now top of Championship and this bit from the Beeb:

Recent weeks have seen Eddie Howe's Cherries surge up the table, only six years since they started the League Two season on minus 17 points for exiting administration in an incorrect manner.

Home crowds about 9000 ish - do they have a sugar daddy? But it only takes one season in the Prem to get parachutes (don't agree with them) and, in theory, you have money.

My memory of Bournemouth was watching Mariner and Rafferty destroy them at Dean Court winning 7-3 although when it got to 5-3 after a HT of 5-0 I was thinking ''surely not''

Bournemouth are backed by Maxim Denim a wealthy Russian-

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The most impressive thing for me was changing 10 of the starting 11 that thrashed Brum three days earlier and still beating West Brom in the League Cup. EH has built a serious squad. Good luck to them.

Oh for a Russian sugar daddy

Tony, I believe the parachute payments are more of an insurance for the loss of income from Premier League relegation. Knowing that the buffer exists allows and encourages sides to invest the (unfortunately) necessary cash needed to compete in the Premier League following promotion. It is not in place to allow clubs to use for "yo-going" purposes, you need only check the bottom half of the Championship table to see evidence of this.

We shouldn't be planning small and gambling on Prem cash and parachute payments, look at Blackpool... Do you want more Andres Blackman's fcol?! If we want to drink from the Premier League chalice then we'll need to build the required infrastructure to sustain it. Forget Bournemouth and Blackpool, focus instead of Hull and Swansea.

spowell92 wrote:

Tony, I believe the parachute payments are more of an insurance for the loss of income from Premier League relegation. Knowing that the buffer exists allows and encourages sides to invest the (unfortunately) necessary cash needed to compete in the Premier League following promotion. It is not in place to allow clubs to use for "yo-going" purposes, you need only check the bottom half of the Championship table to see evidence of this.

We shouldn't be planning small and gambling on Prem cash and parachute payments, look at Blackpool... Do you want more Andres Blackman's fcol?! If we want to drink from the Premier League chalice then we'll need to build the required infrastructure to sustain it. Forget Bournemouth and Blackpool, focus instead of Hull and Swansea.

Now - there was a player! Best description I saw was that he was wired to an XBox controller and when you pressed the buttons you had no idea what was going to happen
Swansea are a good example. Maybe .. one day ?

Yes, Bournemouth are making a loss which is underwritten by their wealthy owner however this has been combined with a bloody good manager. I sometimes have the pleasure of running past their training ground (their facilities are open to all and used by the community) and it is clear that Eddie Howe is a hands on "players coach". They play good football and stick to their principles.

In addition a great deal of the backing is simply to keep a club of Bournemouth's size in the second tier. Their wages are amongst the lowest in the league and regardless of backing they are punching way above their weight.

Maybe JB should leave some flyers for PAFC firesale with Princess Yachts as most of their tubs seem to go to Russians

Dick Trickle wrote:

In addition a great deal of the backing is simply to keep a club of Bournemouth's size in the second tier. Their wages are amongst the lowest in the league and regardless of backing they are punching way above their weight.

You're right and that's why it's not a model to replicate unless we have an owner willing to pile shed loads of cash. Hopefully the new stand designs will consider an ambitious future rather than a cheap "lets just get it done" one. Even if it's initially a (relatively) small stand, it should be built to make expansion as easy and cheaply as possible.

spowell92 wrote:

Dick Trickle wrote:

In addition a great deal of the backing is simply to keep a club of Bournemouth's size in the second tier. Their wages are amongst the lowest in the league and regardless of backing they are punching way above their weight.

You're right and that's why it's not a model to replicate unless we have an owner willing to pile shed loads of cash. Hopefully the new stand designs will consider an ambitious future rather than a cheap "lets just get it done" one. Even if it's initially a (relatively) small stand, it should be built to make expansion as easy and cheaply as possible.

But speccy tells us it already is!!!!

What is the 'Bournemouth model' exactly? Find a young genius to manage the side, and then what?

That's as much of a model as telling Liverpool their path to future glory lies in recruiting someone like that Alex Ferguson.

ejh wrote:

What is the 'Bournemouth model' exactly? Find a young genius to manage the side, and then what?

That's as much of a model as telling Liverpool their path to future glory lies in recruiting someone like that Alex Ferguson.

Recruit a decent gaffer and pile a tonne of cash in to cover losses incurred while appeasing him with the budget he wants.

I don't know much about the Russian, but Howe's record at Bournemouth has been astonishing. They collapsed when he left, then became the best team in the league when he returned. Has he been running his team at a massive debt? They got £6m from the Lallana deal alone, so they can't be too short for money.

ejh wrote:

I don't know much about the Russian, but Howe's record at Bournemouth has been astonishing. They collapsed when he left, then became the best team in the league when he returned. Has he been running his team at a massive debt? They got £6m from the Lallana deal alone, so they can't be too short for money.

Looks to me like Bournemouth are ambitious and well run, is it yet another club who Plymouth Argyle cant compete with ?

Dick Trickle wrote:

In addition a great deal of the backing is simply to keep a club of Bournemouth's size in the second tier. Their wages are amongst the lowest in the league and regardless of backing they are punching way above their weight.

Isn't Surman on 12K a week or was my information incorrect? Having said that their total wage bill could still one of the lowest.

The rest cant be, what about FFP ?

Elias wrote:

The rest cant be, what about FFP ?

FFP only comes into play for Championship clubs this season and is designed to ensure clubs break even over a three year period. Bournemouth made a loss of £15M last year, all of it underwritten by their owner. He would say that a £15M investment, which he can afford from his petty cash, to potentially realise over £100M is a sound investment.

Ultimately they do now owe anyone a penny outside of the football club itself. Given that they have a capacity of 11,000 if they were to live within their means they couldn't hope to be where they are now, even with Eddie Howe. I bet you he would keep them up for a period of time, but frankly it would be a case of Russian roulette. Just like us there would be one season where circumstances would dictate that they would get relegated.

Having said that there will be at least half the division paying salaries and transfer fees way in excess of Bournemouth. It does go to show the difference a quality manager makes to a club. Just look at Forest who must have the biggest budget outside of the parachute payment clubs vs. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe or Stuart Pearce?

What is there to learn for us?

1. Ultimately if you don't live within your means you need an owner who is prepared to write off losses. That normally means a very wealthy fan. Dress it up however you like about Janner mentality but "giving it a go" in the Championship is likely to cost you £10-£20M a season with no guarantees of success.

2. Even allowing for point 1 you need at some stage to maximise your revenue in line with your success. Bournemouth are at a crossroads. Their ground is similar to ours in that it is situated in a park, however unlike Home Park (at present and before HHP) it has little room for expansion. Bournemouth are hinting at moving to an out of town site.

Bournemouth Chairman wrote:

We are all supporting him as much as we can by maximising our income commercially but, with a stadium that holds 11,700, it is always going to be difficult. We have to be sensible, do we want to buy back a ground that leaves very little room for extension? The economics of what we pay by rent is extremely appealing to Maxim and the board. We are not being overcharged. What we need to do is keep our options open. If we can improve next season then we need to have a serious look at what we can do in terms of expanding the existing stadium with the support of the council, or ultimately there may have to be another alternative."
 

This makes the decision to cap Home Park's capacity at 20k foolish in the extreme. Once that happens then when success (Championship status) comes (as inevitably it will at some stage) it spells the end of Home Park or a huge increase in ticket prices to maximise income in order to pay the necessary salaries.

3. Stating the obvious but the management team is critical. Eddie Howe is an ex-player and supporter but that didn't do Kevin Hodges any good. What was brave was appointing a 32 year old as manager. EH learned his craft with the likes of Brendan Rodgers and has a style of play he believes in and this is now coached downwards throughout the club meaning that progression through the ranks should be seamless. Bournemouth adopted cameras at the training ground, GPS for every player during training and individual scouting/tactic reports for every player 4 days ahead of every game three seasons ago.

4. Success generates new supporters not slagging off the support you do have. Bournemouth does not have a hardcore footballing support. It has very little history except beating Man Utd once and is populated by many people who retire to the area who have allegiances elsewhere. What they do well is create a welcoming atmosphere.

There are 3 large supporters bars/restaurants in the ground open 7 days a week and open to ticket and non ticket holding fans on match days. These hold comfortably over 1,000 people. The ground opens at 10am on match days for brunch etc. These are then used throughout the week for business breakfasts, sponsored events and available for hire for conferences etc.

The Junior Cherries club costs £7 per season and gives free entry for those under 7 when accompanied by an adult and £7 entry for those 8 and over. To compensate for having to pay £7 the club give a free kit to all 7 year old on their birthdays. In addition match day mascots and flag bearers are chosen by a free draw for all junior cherries and they receive discounts in a whole host of businesses throughout the city.

The above, combined with their recent success, means that games are now regularly at capacity and their half season tickets have now been withdrawn as they are sold out. My son went to a footballing birthday party at the weekend and over half the 5/6 year olds at the party were wearing Bournemouth kits. 3 years ago you would have been lucky to have seen one or two.

One off special offers to watch a drab product in an unwelcoming stadium with overpriced food in league 2 is not going to generate this groundswell of support.

What certainly will not attract the casual or lapsed supporter is some buffoon criticising them for being so apathetic and disloyal. Who can blame a lapsed supporter if they frankly say "feck you" and carry on spending their Saturday's elsewhere. Everyone has to be encouraged to come and feel part of the football club.

However no-one will come if the football is shite (and 6 weeks doesn't make a season!).

Apologies for the ramble.

I wonder what the Bournemouth chairman would say about having a good go at the CCC with a stadium that holds 16,600 for example?

Good post Mr Trickle, and I don't begrudge Bournemouth their current success at all, it's good to see a 'smaller' club looking down on the likes of Forest, Derby etc who think they have a right to be at the top no matter what.


Their achievements so far only goes to prove that a club cannot be successful in football simply by breaking even and being sustainable. It can survive and bounce around the lower leagues but will never challenge for the top leagues. That is the future for PAFC under the current regime, and I continue to be amazed at how many people will accept that - 'we're lucky to have a club', is the limit of their ambition.


Is there a Russian billionaire wanting to take over? Probably not, but there are several very wealthy Argyle fans out there who could cover losses of millions without breaking into a sweat. I know one or two of them were told they were not welcome when the push for Brent to take charge was in full swing, and they, like a number of us, thought there is more to life that this football club.


We are where we are. Top end of league 2, we may get to League one, where investment will be needed to get back to the championship. Will that happen? Doubtful, because, repeat the mantra after me  ' we can't spend what we haven't got'.


In the meantime we'll continue to look at clubs like Bournemouth and admire from afar.

Enjoy the ride.

.......and who's training their future players ?

Mr Carl Fletcher.

Saw him the other week, he looks far happier. Understandably so given that he's still in football and amongst friends, but without the hassle.

The youth team are 9 points clear at the top of their table.

great post Mr Trickle, maybe e -mail it to Argyles commercial dept. thats if they actually have one

Dick Trickle wrote:

Mr Carl Fletcher.

Saw him the other week, he looks far happier. Understandably so given that he's still in football and amongst friends, but without the hassle.

The youth team are 9 points clear at the top of their table.

Wasn't he down Argyle the other week with his team and stuffed our lads 4-0.

Our future 'success' is about building a 4.5k capacity stand for when we get back into the dizzy heights of the championship, as spouted by the reluctant one. :rabbit

Living some 35 miles north of Bournemouth I can definitely say it is viewed as a upper middle class to top end area and doesn't suprise me a Rusky has thrown his hat in - bet he's got a pad a few miles west at Sandbanks, down with Harry boy!!