The following is a summary of Wednesday’s fans forum, outlining the topics of discussion on the evening. Answering questions were chairman Rod Brown, manager Scott Adey-Linforth, assistant player-manager Paul McCone and Director of Football Iain Queen…
Club volunteer Sandra Cable took these notes…
Rod introduced Iain as the new Director of Football, who has also had a key role in the setting up of the new post-16 Education Program in partnership with Colmers School.
Q: What has happened to the new stand at the Town End?
A: Planning permission was reapplied for and accepted but the sponsor has had to postpone the funding until next summer. Due to the time it takes to build it is a job that must take place during the closed season.
Q: What is the managers view on set pieces?
A: Last season we were not good enough – this year we will have more height within the squad, so things are expected to improve in that respect.
Q: What are the club’s targets for this season?
A: Rod talked about how the financial landscape of Step Three clubs has changed over the last 18 months, with some clubs having exceptionally high double figure budgets given to them by their owners.
BSFC are not in that league as we are self-funded; we have the same budget of 5K as last year, which we would expect to take us to mid table, with faith in the strength of the team that Scott is building – we are in a better position than we were at the start of last season.
Scott: As a manager, I want more than mid table, and I believe the team are capable. The club have been on the edge of relegation for the last couple of seasons, but I have no intention of letting that happen again this season, we want more, we want higher.
Rod went on to remind fans that the only funds available to the club are from gate and bar takings, with the support of sponsorship in its various forms. Discussions are taking place to hold an EGM with shareholders to discuss removing the 10% share ownership capping from the AOAs to allow investors to come in, this would require a majority vote of 75%. There are people in the wings who are interested, but not within the current AOA guidelines.
The club is in a good position across many areas, making significant developments in the last 12 months – we just need more money to take the club forward. With a nod to Scott, “a cup run would be nice”.
Other fund-raising ideas available include player sponsorship and the Wall of Fame Bricks – please contact commercial@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk for further information about any of these.
Our first Party on the Pitch festival was successful and a learning curve – we will be starting to organise the next festival soon, with every intention to be bigger after learning a few lessons from this years event.
We have amazing support from our key sponsors who are keen to help push the club further forward, huge thanks to all of our sponsors for their continued support.
Q: Where are we with developing our own players?
A: Iain talked about the U21s who joined us last year as a new team – after concerns it may be difficult to get a new squad together, we had over 100 applications from which Stu and Mark created a fantastic squad. Some of those lads have played for the first team, getting minutes of adult football under their belt. A couple of players have now moved on to play more adult football, with several joining the first team training sessions to keep them in and around the first team.
With the budget we have the squad will be small and the support of the U21’s will be invaluable for both them and us. Scott has a great relationship with the U21’s and working with the coaching staff to help develop players.
Scouts and fans often send through a name of a young player they have seen, with the advantage of VEO we can often review players and make contact where if is felt they can contribute to the squad.
Q: How is Josh Ezewele after his injury?
A: Scott – Josh has had surgery and so far all seems to be well. He has returned to pre-season and getting minutes under his belt during the first few friendlies – an excellent player who is looking fit.
Q: to Paul McCone – how have you found it so far?
A: Enjoying it; it was the perfect opportunity for me to start to move into management ready, for the next phase of my footballing career.
Q: Have the council been approached about the rent?
A: Rod – yes, and they are not moving on the rent. Very frustrating as Redditch pay only a peppercorn rent. Hopefully when changes come into place next year with the councils merging, we should be in a better position to push for equality. The council seem to think that we are a rich club that can afford it, we do have a second meeting scheduled but not holding out too much hope.
Q: Why are the club charging the ladies £200 per game?
A: Rod says this is inline with the other teams that play at the UK Electrical Stadium – the ladies were given last season free but as already mentioned the club does not have the funds to support the ladies team. The ladies team are independently run, although under our banner, yes, but it is difficult to raise funds – believe me I know, and if we could financially support the U21s and ladies we would but we can’t afford to, the money just isn’t there.
Q: Why are you making players join a membership scheme?
A: Rod explained that the club doesn’t take money from any of the teams that play under the BSFC banner, unlike the majority of other clubs who charge a registration fee of one kind or another to players in their equivalent colts, U21 teams etc. We have asked for a membership fee of £10 for each player, they will receive a personalised ID card which will also allow them free entry to all league games throughout the season. This is not a money-making scheme, just something that the board felt was a fair request, having everyone on brand. It will also ease the pressure on the front office and turnstiles for the number of people claiming they play for one of the teams under our banner and expecting free entry.
There will be a new kit for the new season, there were no concerns with our previous supplier we just want to up brand. We don’t have lots of money to entice players, but we do have a lot of other value-added aspects that often determine where a player will sign – we wanted the kits to be one of those reasons.
At a recent meeting with all of the team representatives where the membership scheme was discussed, it was pledged that we would work more closely with the other teams, we are looking to arrange coaching sessions and for various members of the board to attend games where possible.
Q: Can the commercial team apply for funds for the ladies team?
A: Rod said he is sure they can help support you to submit a claim and to get in touch with them.
Q: Have the club approached Bromsgrove School?
A: Yes conversations have taken place, but they do not wish to develop a partnership in anyway, and their 3G pitch is in constant use from their own students.
Q: Has anyone approached Gymshark as a local business?
A: Rod – not directly but it is known that they do not wish to be involved with this form of investment, but if anyone knows any different, please give him my number.
Q: How is pre-season going?
A: Scott – it is helping to give players minutes on the pitch. Very disappointed in the Coleshill game but in the big picture, it is helping to improve the fitness and sharpness within the squad. Had a few of the U21 lads join us – making an impact when they came on.
Rod – something lots of people commented on social media about was a few of the players that left…
Jamie Meddows – “Yes we were gutted to lose him but he had a number of clubs knocking at his door. Thankfully he hasn’t gone to a club in our league. Throughout the negotiations he kept in touch with Scott and no-one can blame him for taking the offer from Telford. We wish him nothing but success.”
Aaron Roberts – Scott said: “I have an outstanding relationship with Airz – again gutted to lose him, especially to one of our rivals, but please know that there was no malice – there was plenty of banter on his stag weekend though!
I shared my plans with Airz and Ash (Carter) when I decided to bring Paul (McCone) in – I tried to keep him. Luke (Rowe), Jamie and Airz were a big part of the reason why I’m in this job – they backed me, along with the board. I wish Airz nothing but the best of luck… apart from when he is playing us!
Q: The home form was bad last season – can that change?
A: Scott – it’s hard to pin down why we were playing so well away but the home results just did not go our way. The pitch is in excellent condition and the fans are amazing, so there are no excuses. We ask that the fans continue to be loud and help make this place a fortress whilst we work on getting those home wins.
Q: It looks like we have more options up front now?
A: Scott – yes, although not all decisions have been made just yet but I have some good options to select from which is great. Kobe (Hall) and (Luke) Benbow are both great additions. Billy (Shaw) was outstanding when he returned to us, delighted he is staying. We have tried to recruit local lads who will run through brick walls for the club.
Q: Any chance of getting Fin Holmes back?
A: Scott – we were gutted when he got called back (by Solihull Moors last season). As you can imagine, there is a lot of interest from teams to have Fin on loan and we are in that queue – I’m trying my best?
Q: How easy was it to sign Tom Edge?
A: Scott – I’d been talking to Tom since January, there have been a lot of conversations and I am delighted he will be joining us.
Q: Will we have more loan players – there have been some great ones, but we have also been burnt a few times?
A: Loanees can be difficult, unpredictable as to whether they will fit in to the squad easily, we are more than happy to support players but their home club will always come first for them as our team will be first for us.
Final words
Rod: Fantastic volunteers around the ground and on match day, without them we would never survive. If you have time and feel like you can help come down to the ground, talk to the Ground Force team.
Scott: Huge thanks for everyone’s support, the travelling fans have been awesome (probably why we did so well away) and we can’t wait to get the new season underway.
Our first home friendly is on Tuesday 22nd July and the league begins, at home, on Saturday 9th August!
