As in many seasons before and just like in every other league, a side from higher divisions have signed players from us.
It is totally logical that players who stand out in one league will be pursued by clubs from a higher league.
I wonder if Grays fans are bemoaning the fact that they are only signing players from lower league Welling !
I think it is very disappointing to lose Jamie and Keds and sense that while the latter would alwys happen unless we were promoted, I believe the former was avoidable and mistakes have been made there.
Bottom line is at the point Adrian Pennock resigned would have co-incided one suspects with contract negotiation therefore it is a consequence of that which I believe has impacted having people secured.
Aside from those two players though I did not sense that conference national or above clubs were scouting any of our other players (and if they were what exactly can you do to stop them moving!), nor do i believe that any of our quality players would necessarily jump ship to another conference south side. Though have a concern about the potential new kids with money to splash Bromley.
That then leaves us with the future. I am confident that the new manager will effectively have 10-12 players who ended the season playing for Welling and would be more than interested in continuing. I would envisage that he will keep no more than 6 or 7 of those tops and then add more accordingly.
We will then have the usual combination of triallists, ex league players looking for work and yes some talented palyers from lower leagues looking to play at a higher level that we are interested in. I would imagine that some of these will be good and we will sign them.
With regards to possible manager selection I am surprised that no one has menitoned Chris Kinnear, or am I so out of touch that he is actually already managing a team. My understanding is that he was treated shabbily at Margate ad would have points to prove if he was appointed. As to the forums main suggestions of Keith Rowland and Andy Ford I feel that you could make strong arguments for either and whilst the former has a lack of management experience this could be more than balanced by up to date knowledge of footballing talent at our level. (Though I used to curse him whenever he played for us!).
Some appear to be agains an inexperienced ex player style appointment, so on that basis sould we all write off St Albans chances next year????
Then we have the contiual swipes at lack of ambition. I would say that the club is run cautiously and this is sometimes frustrating as fans, My view is that in the past season some things could have been done better, particularly the floodlight situation. But my conclusion is that just poor judgement calls were made here rather than a "great let scupper our promotion chances" attitude being adopted.
The biggest loss last year to the club was Graham Hobbins not Keds or Daisey and I feel that has perhaps contributed to some of the on the surface lack of urgency and sharp calls being made over the past months.
Finally lets give different odds on another event. The next non leage team to face financial ruin. I will give some backgorund information:
Grays Annual Home Gate Reciepts £15,000 x 21 = £315,000 Full time Manager Cost Including Employers National Insurance: £40,000 Players and ohter footballing staff £25,000 x 20 = £500,000
Annual Loss £245,000
Welling Utd Annual Home Gate Receipts £7000 x 21 = £147,000 Part time mananger £12000 Players and other staff average £9000 x 15 = £135,000
Break even (But remember at least £250-500,000 is stashed away from cup runs where the club incurs no costs whatsoever!)
Grays Atheletic can't find a bookie to accept a bet because it is so obvious Welling 500-1
Come on guys lets have a laugh at these joker, bandwagon, spend it all while you can clubs and be positive about our future. If we are positive and confident there is a chance it just might have a knock on effect, negativity certainly does and it doesn't do us or the club we support any favours.
Cheer up and have a beer (or if you are a vegetarian and dont like beer have a jacket potatoe)
Great post and the figures for wages for player etc are i would guess bang on, so are you connected with the club? If so thanks for posting but a name would have made the post a legendary one!! Some views from the clubs point of view!
I do agree with a bit of it, The frustration and bad calls etc and feel that is as much of a bain to us as the theorues i put forward about not wanting to go up (although i still believe that).
We are though missing out on players!! And Mangers have turned down Welling. Why no Hanlon, he was at PVR recently? Did he turn it down like Phil. If i am right that you are connected i smell a Hint of Keithy Rowland's Red and White army and i feel that would be an awful decision but would support him as its not his fault if he gets given the job!!
But just how is he so good at spotting talent at this level? hes done a bit of scouting but who has he found? What coaching qualifications has he? Why should he get the job over someone proven, it would be a colossal gamble. At least someone like Ford or Kinnear could work on a tiny budget. What chance would Keith have on top of his lack of Experience?
Put simply there are managers successful like Ford and Kinnear who have been there and done it and if someone like Keith is appointed or someone worse! Then that just shows that these "bad calls" will continue to destroy the club and the fans hope that they will show some ambition.
I hope Barrie sorts the commercial side and gets some PROPER help in the admin to at least try and negate the impact that Grahams Death has caused on the Admin side. (i didnt feel we were that good anyway and needed improving, so now we need a LOT of improvements and Changes)
I hope Barrie makes more money commercially, i really do but then the club will be funded and be able to compete. If he cant compete or improve then sell the club.
I am just in the process of getting the clubs accounts for the last few years.
I wasnt going to post but i thought your post was BRILLIANT and gave a balanced view, whoever you are! Thanks and Well Done.
Nathan Paul, Craig Wilkins, Alex Tiesse, Jon Wallis . We have no one to sign the players from last year let alone sign any non contract elsewhere and thats just poor, very very poor and shouldnt be the case.
