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Post by foley on Sept 30, 2014 8:30:49 GMT
I may have misread this, but thought that somebody suggested that somebody from OXVOX was going to publish some notes re the fans forum and what happened?
If true have I missed something? If I misread then apologies.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 9:56:41 GMT
Any chance if letting us know what actually happened at the AGM too?
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Post by Si Bradbury on Sept 30, 2014 16:47:14 GMT
I may have misread this, but thought that somebody suggested that somebody from OXVOX was going to publish some notes re the fans forum and what happened? If true have I missed something? If I misread then apologies. Suggested by me Foley. The notes are going out to members very shortly and I will post the link of the notes to our website article.
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Post by foley on Sept 30, 2014 17:15:05 GMT
Suggested by me Foley. The notes are going out to members very shortly and I will post the link of the notes to our website article.Thanks BB I look forward to reading them Thanks BB I look forward to reading them
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Post by Si Bradbury on Oct 2, 2014 16:26:47 GMT
This transcript is our notes taken by members of the committee at the meeting.
ON FIELD / PERFORMANCE MApp was asked how he sees the difference between being a manager and a head coach. His view was that as a Head Coach he takes full control solely of team affairs, getting them working to his philosophy. The Head of Recruitment is then the one responsible for identifying and signing players.
A question was asked regarding how the side will cope once the playing surfaces start cutting up. MApp's view was that this wouldn't be an issue. At Blackpool they had a similar situation where the side was comfortable in possession, stuck to their principles, and did ok. It's the same for both sides and the quality of the players will show through. When asked about any changes to playing style, the response was that “Plan B is Plan A”.
The target for the season is still promotion. Nobody expected to lose the first 4 games of the season, but collectively they were happy with the performances. It's about building a squad capable of gaining promotion from this league, and then from the league above. MApp's view was that “If you finish 8th, you may as well finish 20th” as you need to be in top 7 to get a chance of promotion. Well aware of the challenge ahead, but will not be taking a step back on style and there's still 120-odd points to play for.
With the players brought in on loan, there is nothing in their loan agreements which means we have to play them. Also, there are no arrangements beyond January but are in constant dialogue with the parent clubs. However, MA said they have been aware that they may be essentially looking at two teams this season: the one that gets them to January, and the one that finishes the league season. MApp was keen to stress that supporters can help by ensuring loan players feel welcomed. If a decision comes down to a player’s choice about staying at Oxford or not, how they have been made to feel by the supporters can be the deciding factor. Tyrone Barnett was a target from Day 1. Darren Ferguson and Barry Fry were great to deal with and there were no problems there, it was Barnett's agent who stalled. What got the deal over the line was Barnett spending an hour with MApp discussing the plans for the club and playing philosophy and he wanted to be part of that.
Very close working relationship between the first and youth teams. MApp involves youth with first team as much as possible to aid their development. We have a group of 7-8 players in the upper age groups who look like very good prospects. MApp considers Josh Ashby to be the best passer of the ball at the club and could play at a higher level, but is still just a boy who needs to develop physically.
Arranging development squad / friendly games to help maintain match fitness levels and aid those coming back from injury. This also needs to be backed up by using the loan system so that our prospects get regular football to help development, e.g. Freddie Grant has gone out on loan to Margate.
OFF FIELD / FINANCIAL / PLAYER RECRUITMENT
MA recognised that whatever else is done to build the club, unless there is a team on the pitch which is winning, it all falls apart. DE's Vision is for a competitive Championship level club which is at the heart of the community. On pitch success is not dependent on owning the stadium and there is a robust financial model in place which takes into account the need to pay rent. However, DE believes that they cannot deliver on the community side of things without the stadium. The intention is to honour the lease on the stadium unless there is a better option which satisfies the stakeholders involved (club, Kassam, local authorities etc). DE's preference is for a stadium owned entirely by the club, or partly by the club and partly by the council.
DE believes that they have built a better relationship with Firoka and the stadium management team and they are seeing the benefits of this. The Kassam Stadium is the immediate future, as even if Water Eaton is feasible, it is at least three years off. The budget includes rent payments. DE reiterated that ‘We are where we are’ and that they had come into this with eyes wide open. There have been discussions with the Stadium Company about profit shares. In terms of acquisition of The Kassam Stadium, DE has met Firoz Kassam for coffee, but FK has been away recently.
DE said that the one thing that they have got wrong is the initial press conference and the information regarding ownership of the club. The information was technically correct, but was presented in a way which didn't really reflect the true position. Ensco own 51% of the OUFC shareholding, with IL retaining 38%. DE owns 86% of Ensco, MA owns 12%, and 2% owned by 2 others. The club is being funded by DE who gave his word they have a robust financial plan. They intend to prove this over time, and invite supporters to hold them to account.
DE stressed that you don't invest in a football club to make money. As any loans to the club are made by him, he doesn't see this as an issue. DE confirmed that if it came to selling the club he would write off any loans made by himself. He also confirmed that MA's salary is paid by Ensco, and this would not be charged back to the club by way of a management fee or similar.
Player recruitment is key to the success of the club: it will bring down the cost of recuritment in the next three years through earlier identification of talent. They are building infrastructure to support this and the club's Academy is an essential part of the plan. Players are benchmarked against the required “DNA” to identify transfer targets. Rather than being a “selling club” we would be a “trading club”, ensuring we get the balance right between developing players and winning games. There will come a point when a player wishes to move on, or needs to be moved on. At this point, recruitment department will have already have the next two players lined up. Belief is that under MApp's style of football, players will be worth more as they are already skilled in playing a Premiership style of football and less of a risk for buying club.
MA expressed a view that the club is “flat”. There is not much fun around the ground and wants to put this back in and make it a part of the community. Will be appointing a Community Director who will be covering areas such as health, education, and social exclusion. Wants to look after OUFC fans first and foremost and improve the matchday experience.
The location of the away fans was raised as Portsmouth players had told MApp after the game that they got a big boost coming out of the tunnel and immediately seeing 2,000 of their fans in front of them. Raises the questions of a) should away fans be located elsewhere and b) should we be selling that big an allocation to visiting teams. Ticket income is welcome, but more important that we win games and boost home attendances.
Club are willing to look and promotions to boost attendances and overwhelming majority of season ticket holders at the forum were in favour of this. Schemes suggested included ‘Kids for a Quid’, and lowering ticket prices with an offer that if a particular % increase on the home gate is achieved, those prices will be retained. The Club want to experiment. MA has been developing a list of issues for the ‘matchday experience’ which they intend to work on. Issues mentioned ranged from Junior Yellows, to toilets, to drinking areas, to the Club’s engagement with schools.
Playing games on a Friday night was also mentioned with a (roughly) 60:40 split against the idea –main area of concern being traffic and infrastructure around Oxford making it very difficult to get to the ground.
MA recognised that they cannot manufacture atmosphere at games – this has to come from the supporters, but club will help where they can.
Posted by Mr Bull on behalf of the committee.
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