Club Statement: New Chairman - Paul Hornby

[McMark]

Thanks Adam.

[Jim]

It seems to me that Barrow AFC could issue shares in much the same way as they did in the original set up. People will be encouraged to buy them to show their support for the club, but if they only buy a small number they will not have any influence - it’s just supporting the club.

Yes, it has been done before. I still have a certificate for 4 ten shilling shares in Barrow Association Football Club Ltd issued in July 1965. At that time the company had £8,000 of capital in the form of 16,000 ten shilling shares. I think a lot of people bought shares at that time to help keep the club going.

[Thenotorious]

I think that the ownership model that Lewes FC have in place would be a great option for us if it's viable.

Having known the manager personally for many years- he informs me that their model in regards to shares and ownership has paid off dividends.

They are entirely supporter (with everyone having equal 1 share each and no more) owned and have 100s of local and national sponsors on board. As a community club they managed to get a 3g pitch installed which the team train on - aswell as having a brilliant income stream from it during the week.

More info below here https://www.lewesfc.com/product/become-an-owner

What are peoples thoughts on this model?

I personally think that this could be the long term solution for the club - especially if the cassons have effectively given the club back to the fans and are wanting to engage more with the local business community.

Having spent alot of time around Lewes over the years- I don't see a reason why their success could not be replicated at barrow.

https://youtu.be/sTQKkDWMQg0 this explains things in more detail.

[Jonty]

Whichever model gives us the best chance to grow as a club and not just tick over. Placing the football at the heart of the community should be the aim.
If that is achieved through one owner, a mix of owners 100% fan owned or a bit of it all then it doesn’t matter how it is set up. I would hope that part fan owned is doable, but the Trust need to be working with P Hornby now and look at the operating costs and be realistic about how much of that the Trust could contribute to on an annual basis with other owner(s) on board. A 1000 strong Trust putting 50k year into the club is not going to touch the surface of operating at this level. Needs to be backed up with far bigger crowds and 52 week year use of the ground. Need to understand the options. Meanwhile lots of research against clubs that have a good level of success. Just a look at their sites and you can see the range of community initiatives on going, ie Exeter City.

[Lancaster Branch]

They are entirely supporter (with everyone having equal 1 share each and no more) owned

We’ve done that before.

... and have 100s of local and national sponsors on board.

But not that.

For some reason we’ve never really managed to harness support of the local business community for a sustained period of time. Usually a combination of egos, shocking customer service or other factors that should never be allowed to happen.

AFC Wimbledon were always lauded for being fan owned but they also had a few rich blokes who were happy to sign a cheque for several hundred grand to pay off budget deficits.

As for the 3g pitch, Paul Hornby sounded very positive about that coming to fruition at the meetings on Saturday.

[Jonty]

Before they do anything with the pitch I need to be convinced that this will generate a sizeable income and how this would impact promotion should we ever be in that position.

[Van Der Nipper]

Before they do anything with the pitch I need to be convinced that this will generate a sizeable income and how this would impact promotion should we ever be in that position.

I think Lancaster branch is referring to the pitch next door.

[Lancaster Branch]

I am Stuart, thank you for providing the clarification.

[mickmike wilson]

In this day and age we need to be community based & right at the heart of it & help those who in turn can help us, Work with as many local clubs, activities, organizations & businesses as is possible & then go fine more...

Work with all the Football clubs & communities, in fact any sporting clubs whatever the sport.

We can not change our geographical location but we can & should make it work in our favour.

It will take time & tones of effort but not much cash but the benefits will always outweigh any negatives.

Together in strength & unity is the only way to go.

[Jonty]

Before they do anything with the pitch I need to be convinced that this will generate a sizeable income and how this would impact promotion should we ever be in that position.

I think Lancaster branch is referring to the pitch next door.

Righto, thought they meant the pitch at HS.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

A point that hasn't been mentioned ( unless I've missed it ) is from the very first meeting in the forum 28 paul casson asked pleaded for the barrow public to come through the turnstiles and support the club , as everyone knows we have a hard core of 800 ish , yes he was aware of that BUT the crowds never regularly reached 1500 unless it was a big cup game or play off game the barrow public will only support a winning team and in my opinion let down the Cassons with a belief that oh we don't need to go and watch them we've got a millionaire behind us now even this season with a brand of football that is a joy to watch people still refuse to come and support the club they claim to love , it's not rocket science the more money through the gates equals bigger budgets for the the club / manager for wages , loan fees etc people keep saying we havnt got a commanding centre half , get your backsides to the games we would be able to go and get one!
Nobody knows how financially stable we will be once the ownership etc is ironed out , but I just hope we are in a position to move forward with the current manager and his vision for bafc long after this current season once the dust has settled again !
As barra fans we stick together and go again get right behind ian evatt and the lads and show in larger numbers we are always bluebirds grab your auntie , uncle ,brother , sister ,mate ,,mam and gran and turn up loud for our Football team .bring on Barnet. Always a bluebirds.

I was at that meeting at the Forum and remember Paul Casson asking for the club to be supported.
I also remember him unfurling his plans for the building of a new stadium etc etc...we all know what happened!

The football played under Paul Cox was atrocious - however; we did win games.
The team that turned out for us last season shouldn't even be mentioned in the club's history!
The football being played at the moment is better - though not as exciting as some on here suggest, yet we've won very few games.

Football fans like to watch exciting football.
They expect to watch it in the pleasant surroundings of a modern stadium.
Most importantly they like to see their team win!
THAT'S what drags the punters in! And that is what will drag the Barrow public to games. It's not rocket science.

At the moment we're failing miserably on two of the above factors.

After the Forum presentation the town was buzzing. There was optimism, hope and belief that our club was going to be transformed and that FL status wasn't far away.There were many who would have returned/paid their first visit to Holker Street if the promises made had been kept. I'm 100% certain of that!

I remember Paul Casson's comment not that long ago (whilst being photographed on the centre circle of the pitch) as he looked around the ground: 'All it needs is a lick of paint'. He remonstrated with the EM after that comment was published saying the photographer had no right to have repeated his words. Those words sent shivers down my spine!

Anyone reading his words - especially those who were starting to show interest or had had their interest in the club rekindled - would have been thoroughly disillusioned with that remark (as I was) and would have given Mr. Casson & Barrow AFC a wide berth.

Somebody on this thread has mentioned Lewes FC and others have highlighted community enterprise as the way forward. No amount of community initiative is going to bring spectators back to Holker Street. Forget it. It's a step in the right direction. However; Football today is all about money! BIG money! Even in Non-League circles.


It was a Tranmere Rovers fan (he now lives in Barrow) who brought Casson's departure to my attention. The news gutted me! As I reflected on the bad news my first thoughts were: 'Why does it always have to be Barrow?
My thoughts then turned to Fleetwood, Fylde, Salford, Newport, Lincoln and Tranmere - there are probably many others - who were in the doldrums and then via the influx of money and a solid business plan have continued to rise.

I honestly can't see that great a future for us. I reckon within a couple of seasons (maybe next) we'll be playing in the National League North. I'm not being negative - just realistic. Is that really good enough for a club with our history?
An ex FL Club/Twice FA Trophy Winners.

...'grab your auntie , uncle ,brother , sister ,mate ,,mam and gran and turn up loud for our Football team'...
D'yer really think they'd want to?

[DaveP]

All of those other clubs you have mentioned were in a far better position than we are in terms of geography, fan base etc and lets not kid ourselves not one of them would have been bailed out without much more than the 3 or 4 million Paul Casson has thrown at it. We all moan and groan but he has shown that in this modern day we'd need at least 10 million to update the stadium etc. (along with a good business plan ,the backing of several people and good marketing). Fleetwood & Fylde due to money and Blackpool's demise, Salford due to money and the pursuance of a football league franchise, the others for varied reasons including money and fan bases.

At least he had a go and I'm sure his intentions were honourable. He was too far away, had no real grounding in football, didn't appoint a football man, no real business plan beyond hope, made many mistakes and was subsequently overwhelmed by it all. I'm sure he naively felt the support base would be like it was in the old days if the team was improved. Football is a unique business and although a successful business man he never really understand the mechanics of football in the modern era.

Now a question where are all the barrow fan wealthy fella's who could get involved? I'm sure there are many in the Furness peninsular just as there are in other towns. where were they when Paul Casson came along? Not one of them got involved did they. I'm not having the argument there is no money in the town there are lots of businesses to tap and house prices in Barrow are not dissimilar to many other towns in the north. There are plenty who could get involved if they wanted to but probably their ego's won't let them work with others and they can't afford it all on there own.

so lets have some perspective and instead of blaming everyone else lets have a look at those fickle people, many on here, who can't see the wood for the trees.

I'm becoming more convinced that even if we got back into the football League our gates wouldn't be much more than 1500 because people just aren't interested and haven't been for years.

I truly wish the new regime all the luck in the world but I feel they have a huge job on their hands.

Please don't let a certain horse race come rugby league man get involved because I'm pretty sure he'd merge with the rugby and form a super club and ground share. Our identity would be lost for ever.

[barrowaberdeen]

The Trust is looking at models with Supporters Direct advice and in contact with Paul Hornby. I think that's one piece of that jigaaw Paul was talking about. Everyone's got to take a breath though. All of us, especially Paul Hornby have immediate securing of the seasons budget to secure but also plan a model going forward. We don't have. lot of time for the former but we must keep the latter in mind.

[McMark]

Uncertain times ahead, but I feel Paul Hornby will broker the best deal for all going forward. Sounded willing to explore all avenues.

[Jonty]

Matchday experience & The Crossbar - what can be done to turn this into the pre and post match “FanZone” get that place packed out to cater for all fan groups.