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Thoughts of Chairman Steve L...

Discussion in 'Bristol City' started by wizered, May 17, 2016.

  1. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    Bristol City: We won't throw 'silly money' at transfers warns Robins owner Steve Lansdown
    a_stockhausen

    STEVE Lansdown is adamant the days of throwing good money after bad are over at Bristol City.
    Rather than spend big in a quest to chase the Premier League dream and risk plunging the club back into unsustainable debt, the majority shareholder claims he will put value for money at the heart of City's dealings in the transfer market this summer.
    Aware of Lansdown's billionaire status and head coach Lee Johnson's need to strengthen a squad that has been denuded by the departure of five loan signings,
    rival clubs tend to quote inflated fees and are prepared to hold out for more money when dealing with City.
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    Bristol City majority shareholder Steve Lansdown addressing supporters at the final home game of the season


    But Lansdown, who presided over spiraling debts during the previous decade, is refusing to be held to ransom anymore and he and his board of directors have devised a new way of recruiting
    players , one which is founded upon thorough research and affordability.
    Intent upon sending a clear message to selling clubs, Lansdown told the Bristol Post: "I freely admit we have chased players in the past and paid for them and it has not worked. It is my determination to do things differently now.

    "Whenever we put a player out on that pitch in the future, I want everyone in the stands to know that we've done our homework and our research and that the player is here for a good reason and represents value.
    "Whether that player is a free transfer, whether it is an Academy product that has come through or someone we have paid money for, we must ensure value for money is at the heart of everything we do."
    Head coach Johnson and chief operating officer Mark Ashton were recruited because they fit in with the new way of working and new chief scout Des Taylor, recently arrived from AFC Bournemouth, represents the final piece in City's recruitment jigsaw.

    Jonathan Kodjia has proved himself a value-for-money signing since arriving from French club Angers.
    They represent a clear departure from the methods employed by previous manager Steve Cotterill, who was relieved of his duties in January after missing out on a
    series of prime transfer targets.
    Cotterill and former director of football Keith Burt pulled off a transfer coup when signing French striker Jonathan Kodjia for £2.1m last summer, but they wasted valuable time in a failed attempt to sign high-profile players such as Andre Gray, Dwight Gayle, Paul Konchesky, Harry Maguire and Frank Bunn and then had to fall back on the loan market.
    Lansdown added: "I'd like to pay tribute to the previous regime. It was Steve Cotterill who brought in Jonathan Kodjia and he has been a great signing. He got that one right, but just didn't get it right around the edges.


    "The structure is not new, we started to put it in place a couple of years ago. Individuals sometimes find it difficult to give up on their old style.
    "But that is down to the people involved in it. In Lee and Mark, we have two young men who are enthusiastic, keen, have experience in the business and know what we want to achieve.
    "We have long conversations about where we go with it in the future and we are now fine-tuning. Our focus has to be on analysis to identify players and development."

    Development of home-grown talent and investment in young players, whose market value will increase, is at the very heart of what City stand for nowadays and the main focus will be on nurturing and improving the next generation.
    There will be scope for Johnson and Ashton to bring in experienced Championship campaigners as well as one or two marquee signings, but the majority of City's business will centre upon the recruitment of young and improving players.


    "We know we have to invest, but we must do that in the correct manner and ensure we conduct good business," said Lansdown.
    "That may mean that we invest a lot of money in bringing a player through from eight years of age, or it could mean we bring a young player in from another club.
    "Transfer fees and wages are not always the main consideration. I like to look at it as an investment and that is what I try to get across to Lee.
    "The player may not be the finished article, but if they have potential for us to work with and improve, they could be a good investment.
    "This is a long-term project and value for money is at the heart of it. We really do have to focus on that."


    http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristo...ey-transfers/story-29278781-detail/story.html
     
    #1
    Last edited: May 17, 2016
  2. NickH

    NickH Well-Known Member

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    Seems reasonable enough to me, though there are plenty of people here that thinks he ought to splurge his personal wealth chasing a dream.
     
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    banksyisourhero likes this.
  3. johngalleyfan2

    johngalleyfan2 Well-Known Member

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    similar words of wisdom as before ..but the lacking aspect is seeing it in action ..
    there is of course 2 or 3 cases to back up this philosophy ..but it takes 15 cases to make a team !
     
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  4. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    I've heard hot words (for the sake of description) come out of our club from three levels now, owner, chief operating officer and head coach ( Steve Lansdown, Mark Ashton & Lee Johnson) I can't wait for the forth coming activities.
     
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  5. Angelicnumber16

    Angelicnumber16 Well-Known Member

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    My take on it, reading between the lines, might be, that this isn't necessarily going to be a quick rise up the league, and we wont try and spend £9m on a single player again. The latter is a sensible approach for a club of our size.

    As for the rest, time will tell as will results.
     
    #5
  6. Red Robin

    Red Robin Well-Known Member

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    Is he warning us to take it easy, and not get carried away with the spin coming out of the gate.
     
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  7. Redprintt

    Redprintt Well-Known Member

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    Question :
    Would we have sold 13,000 season cards if SL had said this in April.
    Of course we would, we're all mad.
     
    #7
  8. invermeremike

    invermeremike Well-Known Member

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    He's warning us not to get our expectations up - as if???
     
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  9. RedorDead

    RedorDead Well-Known Member

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    Remember this post then RR, when you insist on Lansdown not spending 600 million pound on players this summer.
     
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  10. banksyisourhero

    banksyisourhero Well-Known Member

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    Rumours of £50m war chests have obviously induced this 'back down to earth' warning..
     
    #10

  11. BrightredRickster

    BrightredRickster Well-Known Member

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    Its all about timings
    If we wait until August to conclude signings we will pay through the nose, but if we make our moves NOW we may get the same players (or better) for less cash
     
    #11
  12. Cliftonville

    Cliftonville Well-Known Member

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    It highlights what an odd arrangement BCFC is. Those are obviously the thoughts of somebody who is not the Chairman, or a Director. Everybody else are slaves to Mr Lansdowns commands. The board do not run the show at all.
     
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  13. invermeremike

    invermeremike Well-Known Member

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    Yes Sir, No Sir, three bags full Sir.
     
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  14. Angelicnumber16

    Angelicnumber16 Well-Known Member

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    It'll all change again if it doesn't work..!
     
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  15. Premiershiporbust IV

    Premiershiporbust IV Active Member

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    Abramovich, Kroenke, Lerner, Kenwright, Glazer, Henry, the list goes on and on. Do you think that any of these do not have the final say on policy and signings...?
     
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  16. johngalleyfan2

    johngalleyfan2 Well-Known Member

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    I don't know if this will hold water this season as it is all changing and business has to be done before the transfer deadline .. there could be a load of off loading done in the last week as what a team has is what a team will have till January so a lot of teams in the prem will need to get their loanee's out early!
     
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  17. Angelicnumber16

    Angelicnumber16 Well-Known Member

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    Lots and lots of clubs do their transfer dealings as soon as the season finishes. In years gone we've suffered badly at times with having a host of new players just as the season kicks off.
    But worse was last year where aside from Kodjia we did little else and struggled badly for 6 months.
     
    #17
  18. banksyisourhero

    banksyisourhero Well-Known Member

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    Don't contracts naturally terminate on June 1st.. most transfers are announced after this date, theres not much going on anywhere yet?
     
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  19. johngalleyfan2

    johngalleyfan2 Well-Known Member

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    FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS usually see a flurry as the "deals done behind closed doors" ie those done with potentially out of contract players are made public, or deal done subject to date!
     
    #19
  20. RedorDead

    RedorDead Well-Known Member

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    Think it's July the 1st they can switch to their new clubs, but registrar on June 1st. Probably bit like giving a months notice ;)
     
    #20

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