|
|
What now?
May 7, 2016 20:24:55 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by cterry103 on May 7, 2016 20:24:55 GMT 1
Hi,
First time posting on the den. Been a Livingston fan ever since I was given free tickets at primary school.
To say the very least it's been a rollacoaster following livi. Sadly I can't make it to games anymore as I'm at uni up north but do my best when I come home.
Just interested to see what everyone's thoughts are for the future:
I've watched this club rise and fall over the years. This season has been hard but with the budget we have I guess it's not unexpected. I believe our budget is the lowest in the league (although not 100% sure).
From here where do we go?
Obviously getting back to the championship (and quickly) is a must...
Or is it? I'll take a stable team over a successful one any day.
Should we go part time or remain a full time team?
The money troubles of this club are no secret. So would going part-time be that bad?
I feel going part-time (indefinitely) would potentially be the best option. Yes that might cost a lot of people their jobs and cause a real overhaul. To be honest I don't really know what going part-time would entail. But we cannot expect to compete at a full time level on such a low budget.
This club rose rapidly and it was excellent, best memories as a kid came from livi games. But we fell hard. Now we have a stadium which let's be honest is far to big for us and every other story about the club is money related.
Going part-time may result in us having to spend a few seasons lower down but it could help us to rebuild. Maybe give the youth a chance and keep some experience in order to stay in league 1.
This club needs stability more than anything. My dad didn't support any teams so free tickets to the local team fast became my team. Over the years I've nearly lost my team and all I want is to know they will be around.
Like I said this club needs stability. It means a hell of a lot to so many people. How that stability comes around, I don't really care, it just needs to come!
I appreciate that this all comes from someone who doesn't go to games week in week out or indeed know a whole lot about the day to day running of a football club. But if I could go to every game, I would.
I guess I'm just a little emotional today and there's not many fellow (if any) fans that I can talk to. So if you take the time to read this, thank you.
Well in short where do we go from here?
|
|
|
|
Post by orco on May 7, 2016 21:16:35 GMT 1
An excellent first post cterry. I don't have the answers either but like you have a passion for the team.
Part time may be an option but by all accounts the Livi wage bill is comparable to some of the teams who are not full time. There might be more to be lost than gained.
|
|
|
|
Post by edinlivi on May 7, 2016 21:49:13 GMT 1
Recently, following Livingston has been a total rollercoaster, as epitomised by todays game.
I very much echo your sentiment; I'd sacrifice success for a stable team to support. However, until there is more transparency with the club's board members, I don't see how we will be a stable business.
Financially, I'm not sure how big the financial gap between part time and full time football is, as I'd surmise that a significant outlay is the rent of the stadium. In the absence of hard figures, I'd also suggest that the difference between higher end part time wages (such as Dumbarton) and lower end full time wages (such as Livingston) is not that large. Therefore, I'm unsure of the exact difference between the two is.
In terms of where we go from here; I think we desperately need to bridge the gap between the board members and the fans. The operation of the board is reminiscent of a masonic group, shrouded by secrecy. Who actually runs the club on a day to day basis? What is the current financial position of the club? There are so many questions that are unanswered, and I cannot see that changing due to the poor transparency with which the board operates.
Anyways, today was a major disappointment which will take a while to get over. Once that's out the way, I'll be raring to go again, irrespective of whether I'm backing a part-time or full-time outfit.
|
|
|
|
What now?
May 7, 2016 22:24:23 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by toughatthetop on May 7, 2016 22:24:23 GMT 1
They are on part time wages anyway might give them a kick up the Arse on what's happened I blame hoppy bringing in total crap loanees who now can. Look at us when they say their goodbyes on Monday and say I was part of the worse team ever that's came out of Livingston total shambles and laughing stock
|
|
|
|
Post by Auldnick on May 7, 2016 23:31:33 GMT 1
Welcome to the boards cterry, like Orco I appreciate your first post. Free school tickets also got me coming along, as a parent though and my two sons mirrored your experience of becoming fans of their local team. They experienced the highs of winning the second tier and finishing 3rd in the SPL as well as the League Cup & Petrofac Cup wins and last day survival successes against Dundee and QoS. We also endured the awful relegation season from the SPL and the administrations and demotion followed by back to back promotions and the debacle of the season just ended. They almost pulled it out the fire today but pushing for the goal that would win the tie left space at the back and the same story chasing the goal that would have taken it to penalties.
Where do we go... Well in the last few years QoS, Morton and Dunfermline have been relegated to the third tier and next season they will all be in the second tier. So relegation need not be the doom and gloom that it could be. We have a largely young squad which could gel in a division where wins could and should be easier to come by. The opportunity therefore exists to regroup and rebuild but the reshaping has to begin with the management team and sooner rather than later to give the new guy the chance to wheel and deal in the summer.
|
|
|
|
What now?
May 8, 2016 6:55:06 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by cterry103 on May 8, 2016 6:55:06 GMT 1
I may not go to the games anymore but my dad still does. From him and general match reports it's easy to see hopkin is not the man for the job.
But who would want it?
I thought back when bollan got sacked that it was harsh and since we've not had anyone come in and look like they'll be there more than a season.
In the modern day game long term managers are hard to come by but the board, I feel expects too much considering the budget.
When hopkin took over, signed the loan players and then sent Gibbons out on loan I was shocked. Was under the impression that he was having a good season, all things considered.
According to hopkin, after the game, we have 14-15 players signed up for next season but I seriously hope he is not in charge.
Like everyone I believe that transparency from the board about our money issues is needed. Our main issue is a stadium too big and expensive for us but what can we do about it?
|
|
|
|
What now?
May 8, 2016 12:17:42 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by Mr Angry on May 8, 2016 12:17:42 GMT 1
Who is 'in charge' of Livingston FC? Who is on the board? Who does the club owe money to? How much money does the club owe to them. What plans are in place to repay these debts? They want my season ticket money then these are some of the questions that I need answered.
|
|
|
|
Post by Auldnick on May 8, 2016 18:13:10 GMT 1
Write to them then, cause I doubt the people on this forum know all the answers you seek
|
|
|
|
Post by edinlivi on May 8, 2016 18:17:53 GMT 1
Write to them then, cause I doubt the people on this forum know all the answers you seek I very much doubt they will provide any of the answers that we all seek. I think that the club is sorely missing a 'fan representative' on the board, who could help bridge the gap by relaying information between the board and the fanbase. |
|
|
|
Post by Auldnick on May 8, 2016 18:19:26 GMT 1
Don't disagree with you but I suspect you have more chance of getting answers to these question there than here.
|
|
Pedro
Administrator 
Posts: 1,172 
|
Post by Pedro on May 8, 2016 18:49:11 GMT 1
We've just been relegated to the third tier of Scottish Football.
It's clear that fans will have questions, concerns and worries with what has happened on the pitch as well as what may, or may not, be happening behind the scenes.
What better time than now to hold an open fans forum to allow the fans of the club to question those who have brought us to where we currently are?
|
|
|
|
What now?
May 8, 2016 19:05:46 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by toughatthetop on May 8, 2016 19:05:46 GMT 1
We've just been relegated to the third tier of Scottish Football. It's clear that fans will have questions, concerns and worries with what has happened on the pitch as well as what may, or may not, be happening behind the scenes. What better time than now to hold an open fans forum to allow the fans of the club to question those who have brought us to where we currently are? pedro what chance have we got with that ? We've been running on a tight shoestring for the last few seasons and more but particularly with the last 2 seasons we have had the best income we could ever had expected in the form of rangers hearts and hibs , now that were relegated what will we get probably 500 fans at a push it all went wrong when martindale appointed hoppy and prior to that burchill finishing up the reserves it showed on Saturday our fitness levels are dire no excuses we arnt the force we used to be we have 2 nd rate players who don't give a toss about us or the club |
|
|
|
Post by Auldnick on May 8, 2016 20:04:30 GMT 1
We've just been relegated to the third tier of Scottish Football. It's clear that fans will have questions, concerns and worries with what has happened on the pitch as well as what may, or may not, be happening behind the scenes. What better time than now to hold an open fans forum to allow the fans of the club to question those who have brought us to where we currently are? While I would agree that this would be a good idea in an ideal world, where people are open and honest...we have had a few of these in the past...have they ever been worth the time and effort? It seems to me that while the concept is good the practice is, much like politicians before and after election, that the club tells the fans what they want to hear and then don't deliver. |
|
|
|
Post by edinlivi on May 8, 2016 20:24:10 GMT 1
I agree with Auldnick. Pedro's idea is a great one, but I fear that the board will embellish the truth to make everything sound a-okay.
Change needs to happen, though. I don't know how, but until the fans are sure we're on a sound financial footing, free from reigning charlatans, we will not attract any new fans to our dwindling fan-base.
|
|
|
|
Post by jonsnow on May 8, 2016 20:33:57 GMT 1
Yep, one of our fans on here got a dose of how great everything is when he got drawn for the boardroom experience. However it would be good to hear what their plans are, whether they actually deliver them is another matter but getting some idea of what's going on would be better than nothing at all.
|
|
