Did they get themselves up for the games against Wrexham and Manchester United and then couldn't maintain the motivation for the more mundane matches that have followed?

Chepstow'sFine wrote: April 1st, 2024, 6:37 pm

Stan A. Einstein wrote: April 1st, 2024, 5:04 pm

flat4 wrote: April 1st, 2024, 4:58 pm You have to ask, what the hell is going on behind the scenes, the whole club seem to have thrown in the towel, worst home defeat in six years.

My guess and it is little more than a guess, is that Huw Jenkins wants his own man in and that Graham Coughlan is aware of that.

I think invariably HJ does want his own man but my view is that we could lose the remaining games this season and he won’t get sacked. The problem is the players not the Manager. Either being injury prone or not good enough our squad needs a complete rebuild.

I don’t want to see Coughlan’s job in any danger but can he really afford to lose the remaining 5 games? That would make it an 8 game losing streak.

Another abject performance today, apart from a nice spell for about 20 mins after the first goal.
I will go as far to say Evans won’t score again this season, and we won’t win another game this season, possibly 2 draws against Accrington and Tranmere.
On a positive note we’ve been safe for a good while and generally had a decent season.

Kevinmoorefellover wrote: April 1st, 2024, 6:19 pm Worst game since the Orient humiliation. Towards the end of game it was embarrassing: Crawley passing it about with no pressure on them. It looked like men against boys.

Don’t disagree, but it certainly didn’t help having to play the last 15 mins or so with 10 men after Payne went off.

bedeck wrote: April 1st, 2024, 6:07 pm Now is the time to blood youngsters and see what they are made of in the remaining games, also maybe bring back Sam Bowen for the last 5 to see him.no point playing loanees any more and all we are playing for is to be at our highest as you gain more cash from the league.

There are no youngsters anywhere near the quality required Rai has not pushed on Bright is v poor at L2 level. Sam Bowen is not L2 standard and disrespecting the loanees will not place us well for future help and the higher we finish the more prize money we get. Why are there so many dreamers that we have quality youngsters the academy is a shambles and unless HJ can undertake major surgery we should stop wasting money on it.

Jonesy3 wrote: April 1st, 2024, 7:52 pm

Kevinmoorefellover wrote: April 1st, 2024, 6:19 pm Worst game since the Orient humiliation. Towards the end of game it was embarrassing: Crawley passing it about with no pressure on them. It looked like men against boys.

Don’t disagree, but it certainly didn’t help having to play the last 15 mins or so with 10 men after Payne went off.

Virtually 9 if you accept that Wildig played on with a hamstring injury.

County ranger wrote: April 1st, 2024, 7:54 pm

bedeck wrote: April 1st, 2024, 6:07 pm Now is the time to blood youngsters and see what they are made of in the remaining games, also maybe bring back Sam Bowen for the last 5 to see him.no point playing loanees any more and all we are playing for is to be at our highest as you gain more cash from the league.

There are no youngsters anywhere near the quality required Rai has not pushed on Bright is v poor at L2 level. Sam Bowen is not L2 standard and disrespecting the loanees will not place us well for future help and the higher we finish the more prize money we get. Why are there so many dreamers that we have quality youngsters the academy is a shambles and unless HJ can undertake major surgery we should stop wasting money on it.

Are you sure the higher we finish the more prize money? Was informed that is no longer the case?
Is anyone aware of how many League 2 sides run/don't run an academy? Didn't it's improvement form part of HJ's promise/bid.?

OLDCROMWELLIAN wrote: April 1st, 2024, 8:57 pm

County ranger wrote: April 1st, 2024, 7:54 pm

bedeck wrote: April 1st, 2024, 6:07 pm Now is the time to blood youngsters and see what they are made of in the remaining games, also maybe bring back Sam Bowen for the last 5 to see him.no point playing loanees any more and all we are playing for is to be at our highest as you gain more cash from the league.

There are no youngsters anywhere near the quality required Rai has not pushed on Bright is v poor at L2 level. Sam Bowen is not L2 standard and disrespecting the loanees will not place us well for future help and the higher we finish the more prize money we get. Why are there so many dreamers that we have quality youngsters the academy is a shambles and unless HJ can undertake major surgery we should stop wasting money on it.

Are you sure the higher we finish the more prize money? Was informed that is no longer the case?
Is anyone aware of how many League 2 sides run/don't run an academy? Didn't it's improvement form part of HJ's promise/bid.?

Board index

by Torquay Exile
New ownership and business model

1. Our aim is to make the club a well known, respected and profitable football club

2. New owner to take on full responsibility for the running and financing of the club

3. Transfer of 52 per cent of the shares held by the Trust for an initial investment of £500,000

4. New owner to make further financial investments as required

5. New owner to ensure strong financial management and control

6. New owner to direct growth in commercial income and turnover as a top priority

7. The continuation and growth of the Trust to be a part of our future

8. Will work to build a strong working relationship with The Dragons

9. Aim to build partnerships with the FAW, Newport City Council and local universities

Club Governance Model

10. New owner to lead the football club, be a figurehead and play a ‘hands-on’ role

11. New owner to consider bringing in further investors/directors over time

12. New board of directors to include two places for the Supporters’ Trust

13. The Trust to retain its remaining shareholding (27 per cent) as an important partner and work with the new owner to achieve an annual income target of £100,000 upwards

14. The strategy for new investment by the new owner to be agreed in partnership with the Trust

15. The Trust to be the voice of supporters; provide support and volunteering effort; help promote the club and build-up the supporter base; contribute financially

16. Further consideration to be given to bringing is as many of the shares owned by individual supporters/sponsors into the ownership of the Trust

17. The future financial contributions of the Trust could be ‘ring-fenced’ for the playing budget, academy etc by agreement between the Trust and the new owner rather than contribute to the overall running costs of the football club

Football Objectives

18. To raise the profile and standing of the football club

19. To make the club competitive at League Two level and to reach the highest level of league football possible

20. To improve levels of player recruitment and development from within Wales and surrounding areas

21. Secure a solution to a long-term and first-class training facility

22. To develop pathways for players to progress from the academy to the first team; promote community engagement through youth participation in football; make a financial return through the sale of homegrown players

A transition to the new model

23. Will work with the current board of directors in the transition period up to taking-on full responsibility of the football club

24. Will work with the Trust in appointing two new directors to the board

25. Will be ‘hands-on’ and give the club day-to-day leadership

26. Will assess the needs to build good club business management and commercial management capacity as a first priority

27. Will be open in communications and visible on matchdays

28. Will oversee and work closely with the manager and his backroom team, and the management of the academy

Conditions

29. Subject to the EFL approval process

30. Subject to final due diligence on club finances to be completed to the satisfaction of the bidder by October 31 (this is ongoing)

31. Subject to a mutually agreed Share Transfer Agreement/Contract between the Trust and the new owner


32. Review and agreement of Memorandum and Articles of Association for the football club to reflect the new club model and arrangements

The Future

33. To make the club successful, sustainable and profitable over the medium-term

34. To build a close partnership with the Dragons for the use and development of Rodney Parade as our current and future home

35. The club will be in a position where it could be passed back to the Trust as a viable and attractive proposition at some point in the future.


I think you are referring to point 22, which is how all clubs like to think they operate, however in reality these days academy players have to prove themselves by playing below the level of the club in the pyramid. IMO there is no realistic pathway without moving clubs first, and thus players have to be given much longer contracts to eventually see any benefits. That is not realistic at our level, unless players are moving for university and it suits both parties to commit.

OLDCROMWELLIAN wrote: April 1st, 2024, 8:57 pm

County ranger wrote: April 1st, 2024, 7:54 pm

bedeck wrote: April 1st, 2024, 6:07 pm Now is the time to blood youngsters and see what they are made of in the remaining games, also maybe bring back Sam Bowen for the last 5 to see him.no point playing loanees any more and all we are playing for is to be at our highest as you gain more cash from the league.

There are no youngsters anywhere near the quality required Rai has not pushed on Bright is v poor at L2 level. Sam Bowen is not L2 standard and disrespecting the loanees will not place us well for future help and the higher we finish the more prize money we get. Why are there so many dreamers that we have quality youngsters the academy is a shambles and unless HJ can undertake major surgery we should stop wasting money on it.

Are you sure the higher we finish the more prize money? Was informed that is no longer the case?
Is anyone aware of how many League 2 sides run/don't run an academy? Didn't it's improvement form part of HJ's promise/bid.?

If it is part of his plan then his plan was always unlikely to start being implemented until the season's end. The off-season is likely to be informative regarding HJ's ambitions for the club...

I think the players will only go through the motions til seasons end
Clearly a lot going on behind the scenes

It was all the more frustrating as Crawley are decent but hardly a top top team (although they've patched together a pretty handy squad), we made them look good and just wilted in the unexpected heat - it wasn't though a '4:0' game - a fairer result would have been 2:0 those 2 'extra' goals' sting as that dents our goal difference which might just might be the killer come the end of this month.