Virtual Fans' Forum live!

Site Manager · Mar 23, 2021

Tonight at 7pm on the club You Tube channel, Gordon Sparks will host the event and Chairman Simon Hallett, CEO Andrew Parkinson, Director of Football Neil Dewsnip and Head of Finance David Ray will answer fans questions.

Updates to follow.

DR: Happy to join a club that is moving in the right direction. Loss of £0.7m is largely due to Covid but fans have done well to buy ST, ifollow subscriptions and merchandise.

AP: ST announcement is slightly delayed, ST on sale in early May, details to be announced.
Another season behind closed doors is precarious.
Pre-season games are expected to be test events to allow fans to fully return for league games.

DR: 70% of income loss due to Covid but PAFC well placed compared to other clubs.

SH: Fans financial generosity really helped plus payments from Premier League.

ND: 3-5-2 is Ryan Lowe's favourite system, all club teams at all ages to be the same and possession based.

SH: Daily Mail report on Mike Farnan is not true, complete nonsense. I have no interest in selling, no need for external investment, maybe one day in the future there will be a new owner.
No interest from external investors for months and months.

DR: iFollow money is 30% of what is usually received on a matchday.

AP: EFL asking clubs about future of ifollow, PAFC want all games in future to be screened including in the UK. Fans do like to have an option - going to games or watching on ifollow.

SH: The recent scrapping of salary cap didn't affect the next budget. Club opposed salary cap.

DR: Robust strategic planning currently happening.

AP: Only two or three months use of new grandstand, NHS have had longer use of it. To do next - improve the car park and floodlights.

ND: Opposition managers impressed with Home Park but don't like the long distance.

ND: With young defence and keeper it was never going to be easy this season.
Coaches work with the defence, just as they do with midfield and strikers. No plan to bring in specialist defence coach.

AP: Plan to set the right budget rather than increased budget. The budget will be competitive.

SH: Sensible spending mixed with sensible decisions. Decisions to be made over next few weeks.
Risks taken on young players but reward for next season and beyond.

AP: Really pleased to have NHS at Home Park, club is covered on costs - heating, electricity etc and any events that were cancelled due to grandstand being used by NHS.

SH: Loan players part of long term strategy, more important to ensure Academy players progress into first team.

ND: Good contacts with other clubs to recruit loan players.
Lowe's plan is to use talented young players (loan and home grown) who are improved with coaching.

SH: Data analysis helps make good decisions, insists club will use data analytics. Decisions won't be made on gut feeling or instinct. Data analysis gives club a big edge.

ND: 9 to 18 year olds have a full match training programme. Kevin Nancekivell is tasked with loaning out young players and to monitor their performances.

AP: iFollow has been a roller coaster but has improved, club now has its own commentator.

AP: ST holders from this season possibly to be rewarded. Club looking into doing something.

SH: Very possible to financially compete in the Championship. Likely to be in the bottom 35% of Championship budgets which is good enough to compete.

SH: Manager isn't under pressure and not driven by poor results, as shown earlier this season.

ND: Exciting project to be announced to attract the best young players in the region.

AP: Plans to attract younger fans, rather see kids wearing Argyle shirts and not shirts from the PL.

Finish.

Keepitgreen · Mar 23, 2021

My only complaint is that the 60 minutes flew by. Let's have 90 minutes next time Simon.

Eddie · Mar 23, 2021

Well done, all concerned. As many have said recently, we are so fortunate that our beloved football club is being led by such a dedicated and professional group of people. I was very impressed with the two lads who are on the administrative side of things at HP.

Gary Wills · Mar 24, 2021

Extremely impressed by the prep and frankness (optimism, sure, that’ll be the biz of sports ad fi-life-numb) of the participants of Argyle, sound blokes it seems, look forward greatly to the next one!

Andy S · Mar 24, 2021

Can't see anything in there to set any alarm bells ringing.

Maybe the "the manager's on the next train outta here" brigade will now cease their babble!

The club is in very good hands,

UptheTamar · Mar 24, 2021

Really enjoyed that last night. I thought David Ray spoke really well, I must admit his appointment passed me by.

Interesting comments from Simon that he thought it wouldnt be a problem for us to be a sustainable Championship Club. ‘being smart’ was the phrase I think he used.

The Grandstand corporate space sounds like it will be a game changer for the club.

Very positive! :scarf:

memory man · Mar 24, 2021

UptheTamar":3m0g57kk said:
Really enjoyed that last night. I thought David Ray spoke really well, I must admit his appointment passed me by.

Interesting comments from Simon that he thought it wouldnt be a problem for us to be a sustainable Championship Club. ‘being smart’ was the phrase I think he used.

The Grandstand corporate space sounds like it will be a game changer for the club.

Very positive! :scarf:

Fully agree. I really believe that the corporate space will make a huge difference, especially on non match days. Let's hope it is recognised as an asset for the city's wedding and family party sector. Also would make great venue for local football presentation nights.

Graham Clark · Mar 24, 2021

I thought the Virtual Fans Forum was an exemplar on how to communicate with supporters during these difficult and challenging times. The production value was extremely high and the ability to contribute live during the broadcast was innovative. I doubt whether many other clubs have reached this standard of communication and transparency. Combined with the detailed explanation on the website of the most recent accounts the club is clearly abiding by its expressed vision and values . A very big well done to all involved. I thought David Ray was particularly impressive (and seemingly impossibly young!) and on message.

For me the most interesting outcome was how much data analytics is being integrated within the club. It is no secret that Simon is an admirer of what Matthew Benham has achieved at Brentford and FC Midtjylland in Denmark and the route that Chien Lee is following successfully at Barnsley. Previously, this approach was the preserve of the elite clubs but in an era where competitive advantage is everything, particularly when finances are tight it can only make for better decision making over the long term or as Simon expressed it 'Making us smarter'.

Such a strategy gives us the best chance of making the Championship and more importantly staying there. Time will tell and perhaps the recruitment this summer will be an indication of how ell the strategy is beginning to work, particularly if there is greater financial certainty from gate income and non-matchday income.

Finally, it was good to see how much focus is being placed on the Academy. Time, again, will tell how effective the improvements that are to be announced will have an impact. The strategy is to bring on our own into the first team, rather than improve other club's loanees, unless of course we have the option to buy them. it's long overdue but we do seem to be very firmly on the right road to have a successful Academy and the best in the region.

Penlee · Mar 24, 2021

Graham Clark":3vkki5g9 said:
I thought the Virtual Fans Forum was an exemplar on how to communicate with supporters during these difficult and challenging times. The production value was extremely high and the ability to contribute live during the broadcast was innovative. I doubt whether many other clubs have reached this standard of communication and transparency. Combined with the detailed explanation on the website of the most recent accounts the club is clearly abiding by its expressed vision and values . A very big well done to all involved. I thought David Ray was particularly impressive (and seemingly impossibly young!) and on message.

For me the most interesting outcome was how much data analytics is being integrated within the club. It is no secret that Simon is an admirer of what Matthew Benham has achieved at Brentford and FC Midtjylland in Denmark and the route that Chien Lee is following successfully at Barnsley. Previously, this approach was the preserve of the elite clubs but in an era where competitive advantage is everything, particularly when finances are tight it can only make for better decision making over the long term or as Simon expressed it 'Making us smarter'.

Such a strategy gives us the best chance of making the Championship and more importantly staying there. Time will tell and perhaps the recruitment this summer will be an indication of how ell the strategy is beginning to work, particularly if there is greater financial certainty from gate income and non-matchday income.

Finally, it was good to see how much focus is being placed on the Academy. Time, again, will tell how effective the improvements that are to be announced will have an impact. The strategy is to bring on our own into the first team, rather than improve other club's loanees, unless of course we have the option to buy them. it's long overdue but we do seem to be very firmly on the right road to have a successful Academy and the best in the region.

Agreed, they all came across very professionally and there were some tough questions so they didn't seem to be vetted or watered down.

I imagine Ryan Lowe would be delighted with all of it, not least where Simon Hallett clearly said he would not be knee jerk sacking a manager due to a run of bad luck such as a series of poor results some of which could have gone either way (although of course he has got the mental strength to do so for other reasons).

Biggs · Mar 24, 2021

Graham Clark":1y48bf0q said:
I thought David Ray was particularly impressive (and seemingly impossibly young!) and on message.

This and this :lol:

I'd never seen him before, so was good to have him attend. The appointment passed me by a bit too, where did he join us from?

Lundan Cabbie · Mar 24, 2021

Over this past year I have watched so much football online and on TV and have discovered online “watch-alongs” to have on at the same time that add to the occasion as if you aren’t watching alone. I never watch an Arsenal game anymore without AFTV’s live watch-along on the side.

Sparksy mentioned that such a broadcast happens for Argyle games but didn’t say how or where you can tune in. Does anyone know where to find it?

Keepitgreen · Mar 24, 2021

Lundan Cabbie":70uyv2xy said:
Over this past year I have watched so much football online and on TV and have discovered online “watch-alongs” to have on at the same time that add to the occasion as if you aren’t watching alone. I never watch an Arsenal game anymore without AFTV’s live watch-along on the side.

Sparksy mentioned that such a broadcast happens for Argyle games but didn’t say how or where you can tune in. Does anyone know where to find it?

I haven't seen it advertised since the end of last year, but you joined by registering your interest at zoom@argylefanstrust.com. I would assume it's still the same.

Lundan Cabbie · Mar 24, 2021

Keepitgreen":1f994d5w said:
Lundan Cabbie":1f994d5w said:

Over this past year I have watched so much football online and on TV and have discovered online “watch-alongs” to have on at the same time that add to the occasion as if you aren’t watching alone. I never watch an Arsenal game anymore without AFTV’s live watch-along on the side.

Sparksy mentioned that such a broadcast happens for Argyle games but didn’t say how or where you can tune in. Does anyone know where to find it?

Click to expand...

I haven't seen it advertised since the end of last year, but you joined by registering your interest at zoom@argylefanstrust.com. I would assume it's still the same.

That was to be a participant. I am referring to watching/listening to the cast.

IJN · Mar 24, 2021

Jesus, I can think of better things to do.

Lundan Cabbie · Mar 24, 2021

IJN":2c67nodt said:
Jesus, I can think of better things to do.

I would understand that from a fellow Palace supporter but for an Argyle fan to say that he can think of better things to do than watch Argyle live online is beyond me.

Virtual Fans' Forum live!

Site Manager

Administrator

Keepitgreen

Eddie

Gary Wills

Andy S

Administrator

UptheTamar

memory man

Graham Clark

Penlee

Biggs

Administrator

Lundan Cabbie

Keepitgreen

Lundan Cabbie

IJN

Site Owner

Lundan Cabbie