Hitchin Town Fans Forum

Should this be in the talk football general thread?

Absolutely

Had a discussion with this guy on Twitter recently. Apparently sports have the tenth biggest budget in the league (ha) and he didn’t see the value in youth or a reserves squad.

Needless to say, I thought he was a complete tool. No long-term plan there - wait for the cash to dry up and tumble back down the leagues.

.. + we totally outplayed them today, but not sure that would suit the interviewer's narrative

A fair result against a good footballing team. They did well to get back from two-one down. Not sure about outplaying them, but certainly matched them. Entertaining game.

Neil wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 8:55 am A fair result against a good footballing team. They did well to get back from two-one down. Not sure about outplaying them, but certainly matched them. Entertaining game.

(but we should have had the most blatant penalty at 2-2)!

CanaryHatter wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 8:11 pm Had a discussion with this guy on Twitter recently. Apparently sports have the tenth biggest budget in the league (ha) and he didn’t see the value in youth or a reserves squad.

Needless to say, I thought he was a complete tool. No long-term plan there - wait for the cash to dry up and tumble back down the leagues.

Hi Canary Hatter

Naturally you’re entitled to your view. But I’m sure that Sports know what works for them.

Don't know any of the facts. But the business "model"? feels a bit Arlesey/Dunstable like.......because they don't have a large fan base as such you do wonder if it is sustainable.

Michael Gash didn't drop two leagues from Kings Lynn to play for PS for next to nothing. How does Mr.Biddle know their budget is about 9th in the League? He doesn't. How would he? St.Neots rose five leagues in exactly the same way as Peterborough Sports did, paying Stefan Moore an alleged £800 a week when they were at Step 6. And with a bigger fan base. They spent three seasons at Step 3 before returning to Step 4. Arlesey did broadly similar. Peterborough Sports are in their fourth season at Step 3 (and two of those were heavily interrupted). Billericay rose like a phoenix, now they are about to return to Step 3.

As we all know....there's what people say, and what they don't say. Time will tell if Mr.Biddle's financial model is sustainable.

Absolutely spot on chris.

Each to their own of course, but I personally see nothing to admire in their achievements. I don’t doubt they may even reach step two at some point (if their ground grading past - never been there so don’t really know). But I’d imagine that’s about their limit and we’ll see them on the way back down.

No non-league model is truly sustainable while wages absorb so much of income and clubs have to ask fans to donate money.