Search for
Search for
Search forLambert, Bristol Rugby fan cash and much more in your letters
Monday, November 17, 2008, 08:00
As the official body of Bristol Rugby Supporters we would like to distance ourselves from the comments made by the BRIS Trust.
As fans, as well as committee members, we appreciate we will be asked to help fund certain things for the rugby club.
We also know, like in other businesses, they will try and get as much funds as possible.
We tell them what we can afford. We agree what we will purchase. Nobody is forcing us to pay what we cannot afford.
We, as the supporters' club, have a good working relationship with general manager Corin Palmer and head coach Richard Hill and, although we have not funded the club with as much money as the BRIS Trust, we believe it is much appreciated.
We, as the supporters' club, are not looking for places on the board. We are just trying to help the club we all love progress.
Away travel, music after games, end of season dinner, player of the month (thanks to the help of Bristol Blue Glass) are things the supporters club are only too willing to do.
In closing, I would just like to say some fans don't mind bailing out Bristol.
Ian Selway,
Chairman of the Bristol Supporters' Club
I read with great interest Bristol City Chairman Stephen Lansdown's comment regarding "the challenge associated with the renegotiation of contracts with existing players and managing those players expectations".
I can't help wondering what the existing players, particularly those from the club's promotion squad, make of the chairman's comments. They will be well aware of the contracts handed out to attract new signings since City were promoted to the Championship.
It would be quite understandable if the squad players who helped gain promotion question the differential in wages being paid to the new signings, particularly when evaluating it against their own contribution.
They have regularly formed the back five starting line-up and others have occupied various midfield roles.
In contrast, last Saturday's line-up at Southampton included a "bench" whose transfer fees total in excess of £3 million (Maynard, Trundle and Sproule) – all of whom must have commanded contracts commensurate with their transfer fees.
In addition to managing the above situation, the club also have to manage the expectations of the fans, who expect to see further team strengthening.
Such reinforcement of the squad will inevitably lead to the club needing to offer further attractive contracts to secure the quality of player required to improve the squad. I only hope that our long-serving existing players are treated in what they consider to be a fair manner, otherwise there must be a concern that the strong dressing room, which so often (as at Southampton last week) has provided City with the strength to demonstrate "bounce-back-ability", could be jeopardised.
Anyone think that managing a football club is easy?
Alan Payne,
Downend,
Bristol
JED SAYS: It must be one hell of a job looking after players' contracts these days which is why the game has moved on with many directors of football dealing with such things rather than the manager. With agents so powerful in the game these days, players are always going to be able, to some extent, to hold a club to ransom and, with football apparently in a precarious position financially, things will need to change.
I am delighted that City midfielder Lee Johnson answered his critics by netting at Southampton last week.
The lad is in a no-win situation with his dad being the manager. Whether he plays well or not, people are constantly saying he is only in the side because his old man is picking him over others.
But why would Johnson put the team at risk? Why would he lower the standard of his team at such a high level, with so much at stake, just to get his lad a run out?
He is a good midfielder, with a good engine and he can pick a pass, so why not pick him?
Maybe it would become interesting if we gained promotion, and then maybe he would be out of his depth, but until then I think he fits in quite nicely.
John Fry, Avonmouth
JED SAYS: There is one way to answer critics and that is to do exactly what Lee Johnson did and score a fine goal. What his celebration showed – and the celebrations of his team-mates – is that these comments made by supporters have a major impact on players. Sometimes, when criticising from the seats, it is easy to forget that footballers are human, and have the same psychological make-up of the rest of us.
I was delighted to hear Lee Haskins' comments that he wants to hold his next fight here in Bristol.
It has been too long since we had any sort of big boxing event in the city.
Bristol is too big a city to not be holding big events in most sports, especially a sport such as boxing, which would bring in not only big spotlight, but big money and the Sky cameras.
Well done on the win Lee, and I will definitely be buying a ticket for the fight when it is announced.
Jacob Thompson, Kingswood
JED SAYS: First, let us all congratulate Lee and Chris Sanigar on their achievements. Chris has had to wait a long time while other boxing clubs such as Jane Couch's and Tony Hay's have developed talent like Danny Butler and Dean Francis. Chris always swam against the tide when trying to get big fights for Glenn Catley to be held in Bristol although he did manage it with Adrian Stone. As a big, big supporter of local boxing, it would be not only wonderful, but absolutely right, to see a Lee perform in front of his own, extremely loyal, fan base.
I AM one of many Gasheads hoping that Paul Trollope and the board don't cash in on Rickie Lambert in the January transfer window.
Rovers have a history of selling their best players when the big bids come in.
Barry Hayles, Marcus Stewart, Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington spring to mind.
I think I speak for all Rovers fans when I say that we're better off keeping our prized assets and progressing with them, rather than taking a quick few quid and staying right where we are.
Look at where selling the above got us!
Harry Edmonds, Bedminster
JED SAYS: Absolutely. If Rovers want to show ambition they need to keep hold of their best players but there is a risk in that policy and some may think that is best to cash in on a player when he is at the top of his game. Much of the board has changed since Rovers continually sold their best assets so you would hope they wouldn't follow suit but let's not forget that running a football club is a business.
Comment on this story