Tony’s Statement.

[PeterWithesShin]

I know all Tonys look alike but it was definitely Daley.

[adrenachrome]

In fact it was Swiss Tony.

Winning a football game is very much like making love to a beautiful woman.

[dave.woodhall]

On second thoughts Morley was the one they totally ignored when he walked past a camera crew looking for facepainted idiots.

[Legion]

It was TD.

[Sexual Ealing]

Open letter from who?

The Government. The other day.

Well I liked it.

[kippaxvilla2]

Back to the statement.  It doesn't paint a very good future picture.  But, as far back as I can remember it is probably the most candid statement I have read from an owner that stops short of saying we are bankrupt - but at least it is honest....?  He has set us up for short bids on our best players with the statement.  People asked for a statement and here it is.  I say well done the PR Team for at least getting something resembling sense out there.  Way I read it is, expect nothing for a couple of seasons then hopefully the loyal Mr Bruce will produce a blend of upcoming youth and freebies to do a Huddersfield whilst Forest, Albion, Stoke and all of them crash and burn.... 

[OzVilla]

Xia has always been bullish in his previous statements so this is a reality check if ever we needed one.  He's basically admitting that players will be sold and we are playing the kids with one or 2 older heads.  I'm expecting Grealish, Kodja, El Ham, Chester and Albert to all leave now and we'll do our best with not much coming in.  If the kids hit their straps we could be a surprise package, look at Cardiff, Huddersfield and Bournemouth.  If not we could be lower mid table.  Either way when an owner like Dr X openly talks about reassessing our expectations you know they are in consolidation mode.

[SirSteveUK]

As we should be - for more than a season too. 12 months from now we wont have MR's contract to worry about- thats a start

[andyh]

In reality, nothing has changed since the day before the play off final.

We knew (the fans) that if we didn’t get promoted it would be tough, mainly because of FFP.
we knew we would probably lose Jack and maybe one or two others, and knew the loanees would go back.

The only real question was whether Bruce would survive which, unfortunately, he has.

Everything that has transpired since, seems based on heresay, scaremongering, bullshit and tabloid bollox.
We are no different from every other club who has to operate within their means and make the best of what they have.
The only mistake, for me, is that we are keeping Bruce, but I see the sense and benefit in keeping the continuity that brings, given all the other upheaval going on behind the scenes.

The long and the short of it is this.

We are now an established championship club and have to operate as such. We gave it a fucking good go for 2 years, failed, and are now paying the consequences.

[Richard E]

Open letter from who?

The Government. The other day.

Well I liked it.

I didn't. When I opened and read it, it said they were suckers.

[brian green]

100% agree andyh.  Needs saying loud and clear.

[Drummond]

100% agree andyh.  Needs saying loud and clear.

Yep, agreed. It's the stark reality of where we are. Now we have go hope that Bruce can do what he's done with clubs in that position and get us up.

[Hookeysmith]

I actually think the statement has been reassuring. We knew we had gambled and lost and the financial implications would be big. There has been unbelievable shit promoted in the press, most worryingly by our own local rag, so at least now we have saw sense and we have heard it from the horses mouth. And fair play on having a PR company draft it rather than Dr Tony doing it in cryptic pigeon English.
I think a large part of us stabilising a wretched bunch of players is down to Bruce but equally our failure to get promoted also falls at his door for regular bouts of boring negative football.
We know players will be sold, and before we get  all upperty about it bigger and financially better off teams have had thier best players picked off - just ask Arsenal, Liverpool et al.
It is interesting to see that with about 15 images of the training camp in Portugal and Jack and Albert do not appear on any of them.
Whether it is a siege mentality or the blitz spirit I am back to actually looking forward to the season again. I actually think we can use this adversity to our favour and as others have said even without some of our better players still think we could make it.

Utv

[steamer]

where does it say we are selling Jack ?
I doubt if his wages are that big a burden. OK we could spend the money we get, but lets wait and see.

[AV82EC]

I quite like the statement, it gives facts, it’s realistic and it’s hopefully a wake up call to those fans who act like heroin addicts for big transfers and splashing cash around.

He’s doubled down on Bruce in my opinion who is as culpable as Wyness/Round for the failures of the last two seasons but he’s obviously decided and Bruce has agreed to follow through on this strategy, I think that will end up being a mistake.

Can’t say I’m looking forward to the season ahead, Bruce with a lesser squad doesn’t fill me with inspiration. It’s got mid table written all over it.