Wilder Interview (A Tribute to William Henry Foulkes)

[1973Blade]

No matter what they say, if a team is winning the manager is a genius. If their team is losing the manager is speaking rubbish. Jose Mourinho is a case in point. Everyone called him a genius until last season when he suddenly became a mad man.

 

[Revolution]

How do you know?

Because we definitely didn't hit it last year and we've shed twice as many players as we've signed. The wage bill has fallen considerably.

Plus wilder has talked repeatedly about further signings (shame it's perhaps too late for good ones)

 

[Silent Blade]

Because we definitely didn't hit it last year and we've shed twice as many players as we've signed. The wage bill has fallen considerably.

We have paid off Adkins and his staff (also Clough the season before), paid off Hammond. Last season we had at least 12 players whose wages were at least £5000 a week (I have that on good authority from a friend who was told by someone high up at Coventry). I dont have the figures but it seems that the income we get every season is decreasing. I am keeping my mind open on whether we are close to the FFP limits or not. You may be right but are you 100% sure about this?

 

[Revolution]

We have paid off Adkins and his staff (also Clough the season before), paid off Hammond. Last season we had at least 12 players whose wages were at least £5000 a week (I have that on good authority from a friend who was told by someone high up at Coventry). I dont have the figures but it seems that the income we get every season is decreasing. I am keeping my mind open on whether we are close to the FFP limits or not. You may be right but are you 100% sure about this?

Yes, because again, Wilder is after more players, and the maths of the situation.

It seems to me you're looking for excuses the board and Wilder don't actually have.

 

[Silent Blade]

Yes, because again, Wilder is after more players, and the maths of the situation.

It seems to me you're looking for excuses the board and Wilder don't actually have.

As always I am being open minded as I do not know the exact financial position at the club. Do you know the exact financial position or just making accusations without the having the real facts?

 

[Revolution]

As always I am being open minded as I do not know the exact financial position at the club. Do you know the exact financial position or just making accusations without the having the real facts?

I'm saying we have done our squad building too late.

You are saying, could this be because of FFP?

I'm saying not, because simple maths dictates the wage bill is lower, and Wilder is still looking for players.

You do not need to know the exact financial position. We are obviously nowhere near.

 

[Silent Blade]

I'm saying we have done our squad building too late.

You are saying, could this be because of FFP?

I'm saying not, because simple maths dictates the wage bill is lower, and Wilder is still looking for players.

You do not need to know the exact financial position. We are obviously nowhere near.

Is it ok to assume that we needed money before we could sign more players without breaking the FFP rules? I maybe wrong but I think we will not be able to bring in more players if we hadnt sold Che.

 

[Revolution]

Is it ok to assume that we needed money before we could sign more players without breaking the FFP rules? I maybe wrong but I think we will not be able to bring in more players if we hadnt sold Che.

This can't be true because Adams was not a big wage earner, so not much comes off FFP.

I believe it is true that we couldn't get more players until we'd sold, though. But for a different reason. The board will not give Wilder the money.

 

[BushBlade]

Is it ok to assume that we needed money before we could sign more players without breaking the FFP rules? I maybe wrong but I think we will not be able to bring in more players if we hadnt sold Che.

You're wrong. I've explained this many times. We are governed by SCMP which allows owner investment to be counted towards turnover. So the more they invest, the more we can spend.

 

[robbiez666]

In terms of FFP, we had a significantly higher wage bill last season and didn't hit it. Why would we hit it this year? Our turnover may be a bit lower, but only a bit.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The player wage bill has decreased but the pay off to players and Adkins and his team has to be included in the SCMP calculation. While not affecting SCMP the club loses money which the board have to cover ( which if share investment counts towards Turnover as Bush Blade says).

The notion that any one of us can make claims without needing to know the financial situation or wages costs is ludicrous.

 

[Sean Thornton]

In terms of FFP, we had a significantly higher wage bill last season and didn't hit it. Why would we hit it this year? Our turnover may be a bit lower, but only a bit.

What was the turnover and wage costs last year?

 

[Revolution]

The player wage bill has decreased but the pay off to players and Adkins and his team has to be included in the SCMP calculation. While not affecting SCMP the club loses money which the board have to cover ( which if share investment counts towards Turnover as Bush Blade says).

The notion that any one of us can make claims without needing to know the financial situation or wages costs is ludicrous.

I don't think it can be seriously argued that we are anywhere near our FFP limits, not least because if we were you'd be hearing about it from McCabe.

You do not need to know the exact situation to know it's not an issue, given the decrease in the wage bill and the fact we are looking for new players.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I don't think it can be seriously argued that we are anywhere near our FFP limits, not least because if we were you'd be hearing about it from McCabe.

That's hardly evidence is it? As I said, without knowing the figures it's all pie in the sky.

 

[robbiez666]

What was the turnover and wage costs last year?

I have no idea tbh

But, whilst we've paid some players off (I thought only players wages were included?) it's less than they would have been on. We've also let a lot go when their contract expired. Our wag bill is obviously less than last season.

There's the possibility than the club has been investing money in to raise the FFP bar in previous years.

 

[Revolution]

That's hardly evidence is it? As I said, without knowing the figures it's all pie in the sky.

It's not evidence, but us being close to the limit goes against everything the club has said or is doing.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I have no idea tbh

But, whilst we've paid some players off (I thought only players wages were included?) it's less than they would have been on. We've also let a lot go when their contract expired. Our wag bill is obviously less than last season.

There's the possibility than the club has been investing money in to raise the FFP bar in previous years.

I wouldn't disagree that this years wage bill is lower. But seeing as we don't know what last seasons wage bill was, it's difficult to calculate the SCMP position. The club has to file a budget with the FL and update regularly . Everything else is a guess.

 

[Sean Thornton]

It's not evidence, but us being close to the limit goes against everything the club has said or is doing.

The main reason for the wage bill reduction is less to do with SCMP and almost all to do with trading losses which much of the Princes investment and a further £4m from McCabe has gone on. And which they want to stop.

 

[Silent Blade]

You're wrong. I've explained this many times. We are governed by SCMP which allows owner investment to be counted towards turnover. So the more they invest, the more we can spend.

You are saying that the board should dig in their own pockets deeper? There is no guarantee that it will bring us success

 

[BushBlade]

The main reason for the wage bill reduction is less to do with SCMP and almost all to do with trading losses which much of the Princes investment and a further £4m from McCabe has gone on. And which they want to stop.

No. It's NOTHING to do with SCMP and everything to do with cutting trading losses.

That is not a criticism, it is a statement of fact.

 

[Sean Thornton]

You are saying that the board should dig in their own pockets deeper? There is no guarantee that it will bring us success

Over sixty million reasons for us to see that's not been the answer.

The older I get, the more I feel we are genuinely cursed. I mean, how many thought Adkins would be as big a disaster as Red Wine Robbo?

 

[BushBlade]

You are saying that the board should dig in their own pockets deeper? There is no guarantee that it will bring us success

No. I haven't said that. I have explained factually why SCMP is not the reason we are not spending money.
The reason is probably that KM has had enough and Poundland has spent all he intended to spend in L1. So we have to spend less than we have in previous seasons.
But if a new owner came in and wanted to invest £30m in getting us promoted, he could do. Obviously that won't happen.

 

[Sean Thornton]

No. It's NOTHING to do with SCMP and everything to do with cutting trading losses.

That is not a criticism, it is a statement of fact.

I originally typed nothing but thought better of it for obvious reasons.

 

[BushBlade]

I originally typed nothing but thought better of it for obvious reasons.

Not obvious to me I'm afraid.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Not obvious to me I'm afraid.

You seem in a bad mood

 

[BushBlade]

You seem in a bad mood

I wonder why? Anyway, if you're not going to explain after I've asked, I'm off to do other stuff. Catch you later.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I'll not be doing this every week like the great WHF himself but as I'm sat at home nursing an upset stomach I thought i'd give the bullet points of Wilders interview today

Wants an experienced keeper

We don't have fierce competition for players at the moment

Need ability out wide and pace at the top of the pitch . Want somebody to really stretch the game. Hopefully have someone in by Tuesday or next week sometime

We are after a centre back, a cover left back, a goalkeeper, a midfielder and a striker with pace

Goalie - Moore - Tick
Striker with pace - Lavary - Tick
Centre back - Still looking - ?
Ability out wide - Still looking ?
Midfielder - No longer looking - Coutts maybe done enough - ?
Left back - No longer looking despite Hussey being dropped - Big ???

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Goalie - Moore - Tick
Striker with pace - Lavary - Tick
Centre back - EEL - Tick
Ability out wide - Still looking ?
Midfielder - No longer looking - Coutts maybe done enough - ?
Left back - Lafferty - Tick

Just the "ability out wide" signing expected now