Kozzy_is_my_Dad
"No excuses, no dickheads".
- Joined
- May 14, 2015
- Messages
- 11,069
- Reaction score
- 27,404
This season and scenario has hit us hardest, more than most. Both in terms of SCR coming in AND needing to now adapt to no parachute payments. It might be a year or two, I'm anticipating 4 transfer windows after this one(?!) until we know what we now are, in terms of finances, an entity, recruitment, playing style, ability to attract players. It feels like we've needed to go frugal, especially so, to realign the financial health of the club.
It's shit. We've had several years of being successful, right back to Wilder 2016 onwards. We've then, in our own relative terms, known some success, know bigger money transfer fees and had a taste of what could've been. Though truth be told in recent years, it felt like the pressure was on and it felt like every bit of resource we had - Hecky's promotion, holding on to Gus, every transfer we've made, signing BBD and Cannon in that January - was all geared up to just desperately try and keep ourselves relevant at the top table. That's what I think most of my angst has been towards - trying to stay involved, so that the club might have a sniff of riches and be able to invest, and grow. Any apprehension is felt has been about falling out of all of that.
Then it feels like this summer, that has all finally, abruptly ended. Done. Finances tight. Players being sold. Recruitment slowed up. Done. In some way, as abrupt as that is, it's kinda freeing. That temptation and desperation to make questionable decisions, just to try and cling on to that pipe dream, gone.
Now, we need to realise where are and what we are capable of within SCR and over the next four windows I want to see us turn our attention to lower level players with growth, potential for develop and potential resale value. I want to get some flexibility, athleticism and hunger back in the squad, with players who are delighted to have the opportunity to step up and play for SUFC. Will they be raw, rough diamond? Most likely. Will they all work out? Absolutely not. Put this has to be the way now. We had the finances and we pissed them away, often poorly. Now the club needs to realise what pond we're fishing in.
My main sadness is that in all of this, I now realise that beyond the big signings or owt like that, what I ultimately wanted to use any PL monies to invest in the long-term future of the club - training ground, more into the academy, and modernising the hierarchy of the club - scouting, DOF, recruitment team. I'm not sure we are much further on in that regard, and that's what worries me the most. We have to be building structures that can afford for Wilder to leave.
It's shit. We've had several years of being successful, right back to Wilder 2016 onwards. We've then, in our own relative terms, known some success, know bigger money transfer fees and had a taste of what could've been. Though truth be told in recent years, it felt like the pressure was on and it felt like every bit of resource we had - Hecky's promotion, holding on to Gus, every transfer we've made, signing BBD and Cannon in that January - was all geared up to just desperately try and keep ourselves relevant at the top table. That's what I think most of my angst has been towards - trying to stay involved, so that the club might have a sniff of riches and be able to invest, and grow. Any apprehension is felt has been about falling out of all of that.
Then it feels like this summer, that has all finally, abruptly ended. Done. Finances tight. Players being sold. Recruitment slowed up. Done. In some way, as abrupt as that is, it's kinda freeing. That temptation and desperation to make questionable decisions, just to try and cling on to that pipe dream, gone.
Now, we need to realise where are and what we are capable of within SCR and over the next four windows I want to see us turn our attention to lower level players with growth, potential for develop and potential resale value. I want to get some flexibility, athleticism and hunger back in the squad, with players who are delighted to have the opportunity to step up and play for SUFC. Will they be raw, rough diamond? Most likely. Will they all work out? Absolutely not. Put this has to be the way now. We had the finances and we pissed them away, often poorly. Now the club needs to realise what pond we're fishing in.
My main sadness is that in all of this, I now realise that beyond the big signings or owt like that, what I ultimately wanted to use any PL monies to invest in the long-term future of the club - training ground, more into the academy, and modernising the hierarchy of the club - scouting, DOF, recruitment team. I'm not sure we are much further on in that regard, and that's what worries me the most. We have to be building structures that can afford for Wilder to leave.
