Not imperative that we stay up

[dougcollins]

Didn't Mr Pace say this, perhaps not using those identical words.

I think he's wrong. And I think it gives out the wrong message.

[jrgbfc]

Not sure i'd agree with that. If we lose the TV money we're screwed, given the amount of debt we appear to have taken on.

[Wile E Coyote]

it is imperative, if this present squad can survive all well and good, but it doesn't look anywhere good enough to stage a quick comeback from the league below if we drop.

[boatshed bill]

You'd have to ask "Not imperative to who?"

[Rileybobs]

Well it isn't imperative we stay up is it. If we're ever in a position where survival is imperative then we're in big trouble, because sooner or later we will be relegated.

[BurnleyFC]

If we’re all resigned to the fact that we’re going to get relegated sooner rather than later, then I’d at least hope we can start being a bit more entertaining in the process.

[FactualFrank]

Following the finance talk on here - it is.

[Rileybobs]

If we’re all resigned to the fact that we’re going to get relegated sooner rather than later, then I’d at least hope we can start being a bit more entertaining in the process.

I don't think anyone is resigned to us being relegated sooner rather than later.

[Dark Cloud]

Of course it's imperative. The TV money has to be integral to all the plans that ALK have in the pipeline (whatever they are) and 95% of those plans will never happen if we're dumped in the championship. We've a little over 2 weeks to get 2 or 3 decent signings to improve the starting XI or we've had it, because we look every inch the busted flush right now.

[Top Claret]

If we get relegated we are screwed, the Yanks Comitment is minimal

[Peter Loo]

Strange saying that as there is far more money in the PL then in the C regarding TV money as we all know.

Did anyone ask him why in that interview that AP gave?

[thelaughingclaret]

The whole club seems content with going down now. From top to bottom. I don’t understand it myself, I would think being in the top league and thus getting the highest income would be imperative, but I am not a Businessman.

[taio]

The whole club seems content with going down now. From top to bottom. I don’t understand it myself, I would think being in the top league and thus getting the highest income would be imperative, but I am not a Businessman.

What has made you conclude that from top to bottom the whole club would be content with relegation. Who are these people you are referring to?

[Top Claret]

The whole club seems content with going down now. From top to bottom. I don’t understand it myself, I would think being in the top league and thus getting the highest income would be imperative, but I am not a Businessman.

I honestly don't know anyone who is content on us getting relegated. I know little about our new owners but the early signs give me little confidence that they have the financial clout, to go long haul

[summitclaret]

I honestly don't know anyone who is content on us getting relegated. I know little about our new owners but the early signs give me little confidence that they have the financial clout, to go long haul

If we go down there is only 1 reason and that is the mindboggling decision to start the season with Dunne and Long at cb, with weeks' of notice that Mee and Tarky would not start. Incredible and even more mysterious when Garlick wanted to sell.

[jojomk1]

If he thinks it's not imperative then he know less about football than I thought

[Woodleyclaret]

We are not going down today was a bad day that got better late on with Fulham loosing

[taio]

I think he said it's important but not essential. What do you expect him to say..."we must stay in the Premier League or the club is ruined because we don't have the resources to prop it up."

[Vegas Claret]

some farcical comments on here

[Goodclaret]

The whole club seems content with going down now. From top to bottom. I don’t understand it myself, I would think being in the top league and thus getting the highest income would be imperative, but I am not a Businessman.

Yeah, absolutely spot on!

SD came out and said "going down is what we will be happy with"

Pace said "It'll be great if we go down, I'll feel very content with that"

The BFC media team were quoted to have been heard saying (whilst on their tea break) "heck, it'll be so much easier if we get relegated, it's a tough gig in this, here Premier League"

Most of the fans I've spoken to say "the PL is just rubbish, it'll be so much better in the Championship, or if we're lucky, league one"

[Quickenthetempo]

He's just calming the waters so he can go about his business under less scrutiny.

[Burnleyareback2]

Well if we were going to go down I’d rather of done it under the old ownership, shed some wages and clear the decks for a rebuild.

We constantly design our squad to win the championship and with the emergence of some of the younger players I’d feel we are better placed than ever to bounce back.

[Somethingfishy]

Of course it's imperative. The TV money has to be integral to all the plans that ALK have in the pipeline (whatever they are) and 95% of those plans will never happen if we're dumped in the championship. We've a little over 2 weeks to get 2 or 3 decent signings to improve the starting XI or we've had it, because we look every inch the busted flush right now.

I think you may be disappointed..and i will join you with that. If you think Dyche is going to sign 2 or 3 players and they will walk straight into the team you will be sadly mistaken. Dyche is big on loyalty. Any players we sign will have to bide their time most likely...even if we think they are good enough to walk straight in and i have my doubts we will sign someone who is of that quality anyway.

[Bin Ont Turf]

Not many on this thread must have watched and listened to that interview and the question he was asked, when he answered with that.

Context is everything here.

[Joe14]

shame more of you didn’t sign up to dry January

[cockneyclaret]

shame more of you didn’t sign up to dry January

Why's that?
You don't see a problem here? Happy the way we play/pick the team/ continue as we are

[Joe14]

Just saying there are clearly a few drink induced comments on here tonight. If you can’t see that you’ve been drinking!!

[cockneyclaret]

Must be my 1 fosters top that have clearly fogged my comments.

[JohnMcGreal]

Being relegated with no debt and modest cash reserves would still have been bad news, but certainly not catastrophic.

Being relegated with a substantial debt to service and no cash reserves would be a massive problem for the club.

The stakes have never been higher, we absolutely cannot afford to get relegated.

[Fez]

I think they'll have tried to consider every scenario just like the venkys did with their takeover

[Dark Cloud]

I think you may be disappointed..and i will join you with that. If you think Dyche is going to sign 2 or 3 players and they will walk straight into the team you will be sadly mistaken. Dyche is big on loyalty. Any players we sign will have to bide their time most likely...even if we think they are good enough to walk straight in and i have my doubts we will sign someone who is of that quality anyway.

I tend to agree unfortunately. I've no problem normally with Dyche and his loyalty because in the past when we've all been on here clamouring for him to drop X and get shut of Y, he's usually stuck with his guys and they have come good, but this time his loyalty could end up being rather mis placed and could cost him and the club very dear. I'm also wondering whether the new owners, looking on from afar and suddenly seeing how perilous our position really is, may be having urgent discussions and starting serious planning for the Championship already and that could mean curtailing any decent intended January signings right now.

[agreenwood]

The comment from Pace has been taken out of context here.

He spoke at length about his ambitions for the club and it was clear it’s important that we retain our PL status.

However, when directly asked how vital it was that we stay up, he’s hardly going to start detailing a doomsday scenario. I got the impression his answer has was aimed at reassuring fans that ALK were in this for the long haul.

[jdrobbo]

The comment from Pace has been taken out of context here.

He spoke at length about his ambitions for the club and it was clear it’s important that we retain our PL status.

However, when directly asked how vital it was that we stay up, he’s hardly going to start detailing a doomsday scenario. I got the impression his answer has was aimed at reassuring fans that ALK were in this for the long haul.

Absolutely right.

[dougcollins]

The comment from Pace has been taken out of context here.

He spoke at length about his ambitions for the club and it was clear it’s important that we retain our PL status.

However, when directly asked how vital it was that we stay up, he’s hardly going to start detailing a doomsday scenario. I got the impression his answer has was aimed at reassuring fans that ALK were in this for the long haul.

He probably could have worded it better.

[dandeclaret]

The comment from Pace has been taken out of context here.

He spoke at length about his ambitions for the club and it was clear it’s important that we retain our PL status.

However, when directly asked how vital it was that we stay up, he’s hardly going to start detailing a doomsday scenario. I got the impression his answer has was aimed at reassuring fans that ALK were in this for the long haul.

Hi Agreenwood, there’s a large proportion of this message board who watch the game without any perspective, and therefore it’s unfair to ask them to have context in the quotes that fuel their nonsense conversations, this is especially important to remember after a loss.

[dandeclaret]

He probably could have worded it better.

He really couldn’t. The position put to him was around a series of questions on funding g and the affordability of it, especially if relegation was to happen. He therefore said that it was important to stay up but not essential, or words to that effect.

[StuffyClaret]

If we go down there is only 1 reason and that is the mindboggling decision to start the season with Dunne and Long at cb, with weeks' of notice that Mee and Tarky would not start. Incredible and even more mysterious when Garlick wanted to sell.

lol: lol: lol:

[taio]

He probably could have worded it better.

Interested to see what he said and the context in which he said it - do you know?

I can only recall he said it's important but not essential or words to that effect. I'm not sure how else he could answer such a question.

Surely he had three options:

1) "It's critical we retain PL status" - in which case he would be criticised for not having a back-up plan and possibly doing a Venkys
2) "It's important we stay up but not essential" - which is pretty much what he said, strikes the right balance and is honest and accurate
3) "It won't cause us too much trouble if we get relegated" - which would simply be untrue and a worrying position to take in any case.

How else could he have answered?

[AfloatinClaret]

I believe that we will stay up; I'd better be right, as I also believe that our retaining a place in the EPL is more important this year than at any time in the recent past:
Under the ownership of Mike Garlick, et al the investment policy has been one of achieving a return through 'growth' - they've been very successful at it - part of which was the club's sustainable wage bill, low/zero borrowings and the much vaunted 'dry powder room'; in the event of relegation, these would've cushioned the financial impact of relegation and allowed us to be optimistic about a prompt return to the EPL.
However, the sale of the club to ALK has resulted in the dry powder store being emptied and substantial high interest loans being taken out - secured against the clubs value - by ALK to pay for the club; so that 'cushion' of the recent Garlick era has gone!
Whilst ALK might be intending to similarly achieve an investment return solely through growth (I don't believe it, but I can hope) over the long term, right now their investment in BFC is in the red from funding the club's initial purchase. For ALK that investment remains secure, as even if BFC were to be relegated, this years EPL TV/prize money, future parachute payments, plus if needs be a sell-off of the clubs more valuable players and a few other assets would be more than enough to recover their current investment, plus a very healthy profit. But that's just ALK, the club/team itself would be screwed, insofar as without ALK taking a gamble on the club's future and making further investments - in the same way that BK/BF/MG have done in the past - we'd be looking at heading down and perhaps even out, rather than making another prompt return to the EPL.
Taking that gamble on a small, regional football club is something that requires a degree of philanthropy which I believe was more likely to be found in a Board of Directors comprising local supporters, than one overseen by US based bankers.

[fatboy47]

If we were to be relegated, (and I don't expect us to be unless Dyche gets a better offer in next few weeks) then I think the slide to potless lower league oblivion would be dramatic.

[claptrappers_union]

I’m sure, without reading the whole thread, Pace meant that that playing outside the Premier League has been considered when outlining a long term finances etc