The General C. Krulak Thread XIV

[SoccerHQ]

General, will matchday prices be frozen next season or have the club yet to decide that?

[cdward]

I wondered what those orange things were in the chip shop last week.

Lee Hendrie and Phil Brown?

[Concrete John]

General,

I know you leave playing matters to Martin and won't comment on transfers, but I have a question in relation to our wage bill, which I'm hoping you can answer without breaking your own rules!  

We all saw in the latest published accounts that it was quite high as a percentage of our turnover and that this is a ratio that would most likely need to be addressed.  Is it currently a cause of concern for Randy and the board and if so, how are we looking to 'fix' the problem?  Is it a matter of increasing revenue, having tighter controls on the wages or, as is most likely the case, a combination of both?  And finally is there a particular wages/turnover percentage you feel is sustainable and that we are working towards?  

Thanks.

[ckrulak]

General Krulak here:

1.  SoccerHQ:  We have not decided on ticket prices as yet.  If we do make a move in that area, it will not be something like is seen at other Clubs.  

2.  JohnM:  A good question.  As I mentioned before, we knew our revenue and expenses each year...none of this was a surprise.  Like every business, getting started is a daunting effort across the board...money is a good example.  To bring success, you have to spend.  With success comes revenue in the form of sales, etc.  You have pretty much hit the nail on the head...we need to not only see success on the field that drives revenue but we also must continue to monitor our expenses.  This is no different than any Club...except that a few in the PL are somewhat ahead of us in these areas.  As an example, those who have "world wide" sales based upon recognition.  This does not come in the period of a few years...it comes with sustained, quality, performance.  This is what we are striving for right now.

[Risso]

General Krulak here:

1.  SoccerHQ:  We have not decided on ticket prices as yet.  If we do make a move in that area, it will not be something like is seen at other Clubs.  

2.  JohnM:  A good question.  As I mentioned before, we knew our revenue and expenses each year...none of this was a surprise.  Like every business, getting started is a daunting effort across the board...money is a good example.  To bring success, you have to spend.  With success comes revenue in the form of sales, etc.  You have pretty much hit the nail on the head...we need to not only see success on the field that drives revenue but we also must continue to monitor our expenses.  This is no different than any Club...except that a few in the PL are somewhat ahead of us in these areas.  As an example, those who have "world wide" sales based upon recognition.  This does not come in the period of a few years...it comes with sustained, quality, performance.  This is what we are striving for right now.

General

I imagine that the wages issue must have been in Mr Lerner's mind when he made his recent comments about it being good business to "sell to buy".  We must have a good few players earning several million pounds a year who are not contributing greatly to matters on the pitch.

[Concrete John]

2.  JohnM:  A good question.  As I mentioned before, we knew our revenue and expenses each year...none of this was a surprise.  Like every business, getting started is a daunting effort across the board...money is a good example.  To bring success, you have to spend.  With success comes revenue in the form of sales, etc.  You have pretty much hit the nail on the head...we need to not only see success on the field that drives revenue but we also must continue to monitor our expenses.  This is no different than any Club...except that a few in the PL are somewhat ahead of us in these areas.  As an example, those who have "world wide" sales based upon recognition.  This does not come in the period of a few years...it comes with sustained, quality, performance.  This is what we are striving for right now.

General - thanks for the reply!

What I would imagine then, trying to read between the lines a bit, is that our wage bill has jumped before the income/turnover, but we accept that as a necessary evil in order to compete with our rivals playing wise, who as you rightly say are are ahead of us in some areas?  So, we're getting out of a catch-22 situation (can't improve without the turnover, can't increase the turnover without improving) by Randy allowing a short term imbalance on the books?

Sounds the right way to go about things to me!

[Risso]

2.  JohnM:  A good question.  As I mentioned before, we knew our revenue and expenses each year...none of this was a surprise.  Like every business, getting started is a daunting effort across the board...money is a good example.  To bring success, you have to spend.  With success comes revenue in the form of sales, etc.  You have pretty much hit the nail on the head...we need to not only see success on the field that drives revenue but we also must continue to monitor our expenses.  This is no different than any Club...except that a few in the PL are somewhat ahead of us in these areas.  As an example, those who have "world wide" sales based upon recognition.  This does not come in the period of a few years...it comes with sustained, quality, performance.  This is what we are striving for right now.

General - thanks for the reply!

What I would imagine then, trying to read between the lines a bit, is that our wage bill has jumped before the income/turnover, but we accept that as a necessary evil in order to compete with our rivals playing wise, who as you rightly say are are ahead of us in some areas?  So, we're getting out of a catch-22 situation (can't improve without the turnover, can't increase the turnover without improving) by Randy allowing a short term imbalance on the books?

Sounds the right way to go about things to me!

Maybe to an extent, but when you think about the wages that have been paid to players like Harewood, Sidwell, Shorey, Beye etc, not so much.

[Concrete John]

Maybe to an extent, but when you think about the wages that have been paid to players like Harewood, Sidwell, Shorey, Beye etc, not so much.

I'd say if you looked at any club they'd have similar players who are earning without contributing - aren't Man City still paying a large portion of Robinho's wages, for example?  If so, then it doesn't deter from the issue of needing to compete before the turnover allows it.  Unless we of course managed to become the single most efficeint football club in history.

[Chris Smith]

General Krulak here:

1.  SoccerHQ:  We have not decided on ticket prices as yet.  If we do make a move in that area, it will not be something like is seen at other Clubs.  

2.  JohnM:  A good question.  As I mentioned before, we knew our revenue and expenses each year...none of this was a surprise.  Like every business, getting started is a daunting effort across the board...money is a good example.  To bring success, you have to spend.  With success comes revenue in the form of sales, etc.  You have pretty much hit the nail on the head...we need to not only see success on the field that drives revenue but we also must continue to monitor our expenses.  This is no different than any Club...except that a few in the PL are somewhat ahead of us in these areas.  As an example, those who have "world wide" sales based upon recognition.  This does not come in the period of a few years...it comes with sustained, quality, performance.  This is what we are striving for right now.

General

I imagine that the wages issue must have been in Mr Lerner's mind when he made his recent comments about it being good business to "sell to buy".  We must have a good few players earning several million pounds a year who are not contributing greatly to matters on the pitch.

Unless you want us to have a squad of 40 then natural turnover means that if we want to improve the quality then some players will have to move on. I don't see why it is an issue.

[Risso]

General Krulak here:

1.  SoccerHQ:  We have not decided on ticket prices as yet.  If we do make a move in that area, it will not be something like is seen at other Clubs.  

2.  JohnM:  A good question.  As I mentioned before, we knew our revenue and expenses each year...none of this was a surprise.  Like every business, getting started is a daunting effort across the board...money is a good example.  To bring success, you have to spend.  With success comes revenue in the form of sales, etc.  You have pretty much hit the nail on the head...we need to not only see success on the field that drives revenue but we also must continue to monitor our expenses.  This is no different than any Club...except that a few in the PL are somewhat ahead of us in these areas.  As an example, those who have "world wide" sales based upon recognition.  This does not come in the period of a few years...it comes with sustained, quality, performance.  This is what we are striving for right now.

General

I imagine that the wages issue must have been in Mr Lerner's mind when he made his recent comments about it being good business to "sell to buy".  We must have a good few players earning several million pounds a year who are not contributing greatly to matters on the pitch.

Unless you want us to have a squad of 40 then natural turnover means that if we want to improve the quality then some players will have to move on. I don't see why it is an issue.

I don't see where it says it's an issue.

[ckrulak]

General Krulak here:

1.  I think we are all pretty much saying the same thing.  We knew we would be in this situation...we planned for it...we are continuing with our plan...we believe that in the long run, we will be better off conducting our business as we are doing.

[bertlambshank]

General,on the O/S it is stating that today is the last day for fans to renew their season card for next season in the North Stand Lower.The next line then tells fans they until the 30th June.Bit of a headscratcher this one General.

[Legion]

General, the season ticket renewal information is confusing to say the least. Could someone at the club please clarify the details and then get it posted on the website?

[luke95]

General,on the O/S it is stating that today is the last day for fans to renew their season card for next season in the North Stand Lower.The next line then tells fans they until the 30th June.Bit of a headscratcher this one General.

today was last day for easy payment scheme .

[Mazrim]

General, I wouldn't usually ask but is there any chance you can pull some strings and send a Marine division to Abu Dhabi?
Say, the 5th? It would be good practice for them.

Nobody needs to get killed, just a friendly visit. Maybe a few hundred billion souvenirs.