Barrow AFC.net

Not shouting Steve just so frustrated for the board and the fans we all deserve better!

barrowaberdeen wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:19 pmDP

I agree.

Get this appointment wrong and its double penetration for all of us.

barrowaberdeen wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 11:18 am Lets use John Brady as an example.

Given inflation, 120k a year easily
Assistant: 90k
Various staff x 2 100k

Then there's 'tried and trusted players I need' so ler's say 3 at 100k a year each

Add any pay offs.

Then there's folk we'd have to get out to the National League. Let's say Marcus Cooperio and Mika Jollie are on 2k per week. Gateshead copper up 1k a week and we still pay the rest.

Crowds are down and they are worried about long term sustainability

And theyve done this on several occasions over the last five years.

We've a home support, some of whom only know the league we are in and rightly expect a reasonsble standard of competitiveness at Holker Street.

Another section are firmly glass half empty, utterly love the club and utterly expect disaster and struggle...will embrace that narrative at every turn (see also town improvements)

All are demanding 'action' (including me)which likely means putting hands in pockets, notwithstanding the result of is going through the trapdoor.

Youve an 'old head' scenario that worked with Rob Kelly post Jolley...they must have been praying McDonald would improve matters. But it seems the opposite.

What would you do?

The club in the EFL is worth more than the club in the National League, so understanding the value of beneficial debt, they will have to fork out to get the right Management “Team” in place and that means digging deep again. They recognise this or else they would have stuck with Whing. The value of the club on future sell off for them is dependent on being in the EFL. The potential of this club has never been realised. I saw a picture recently on FB of the crowds at HS stood behind the Crossbar End (before it was seated), I presume it was early in the season that got curtailed but crowds were hitting 3k and that was without any large away support. The buzz and football was amazing. We need to get back to that.

In many ways the success story of Evatt and his team raised the standards. In short, That is the bench mark we have to strive towards.

Have this nagging concern that we may have offered a deal with a prospective out of work manager but they are not interested because we may not be able to afford their salary demands. I haven't a clue what our finances are like but if what some people are saying on here is true rather than just a wild stab in the dark at what is happening behind the scenes then this might be the case. Paying off managers and their assistances at a rate of once a year also doesn't help finances as well as squad morale.

I should think it's within the remit of the CEO to explain the situation.

If we can’t afford a half decent manager then what’s the next best thing? Sure isn’t McDonald. Ex player maybe?

andyg wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 12:53 pm Have this nagging concern that we may have offered a deal with a prospective out of work manager but they are not interested because we may not be able to afford their salary demands. I haven't a clue what our finances are like but if what some people are saying on here is true rather than just a wild stab in the dark at what is happening behind the scenes then this might be the case. Paying off managers and their assistances at a rate of once a year also doesn't help finances as well as squad morale.

And to add to the last sentence, we, as a fanbase are going to have to grit our teeth at some point. I'll most likely get a deluge of disagreement on this point but I don't think we've helped matters for previous managers either - disgruntlement and calls for change from some sections at the first sign of trouble. Without any investment, the more we change the more we'll further we'll be scraping in the bottom of the managerial barrel.

Matty wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 1:13 pm

andyg wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 12:53 pm Have this nagging concern that we may have offered a deal with a prospective out of work manager but they are not interested because we may not be able to afford their salary demands. I haven't a clue what our finances are like but if what some people are saying on here is true rather than just a wild stab in the dark at what is happening behind the scenes then this might be the case. Paying off managers and their assistances at a rate of once a year also doesn't help finances as well as squad morale.

And to add to the last sentence, we, as a fanbase are going to have to grit our teeth at some point. I'll most likely get a deluge of disagreement on this point but I don't think we've helped matters for previous managers either - disgruntlement and calls for change from some sections at the first sign of trouble. Without any investment, the more we change the more we'll further we'll be scraping in the bottom of the managerial barrel.

Fans don’t need to directly voice concerns. They vote with their feet and is the best measure the board has for the feeling. They wont go if they aren’t happy with performances and results. The exception is a team where fans can see what the Manager is trying to do but we have not had the rub of the green. If anything I i think we got the rub of the green with some of the results we have had this season which is an alarm bell if any is needed.

Jonty wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 1:29 pm If anything I i think we got the rub of the green with some of the results we have had this season which is an alarm bell if any is needed.

Hmm, not sure we got the rub of the green with, for example, Newport's first goal. Some very dodgy decisions have gone against us in recent games; which probably proves that things balance out over the course of a season, albeit haphazardly.

MisterPleasant wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 3:19 pm

Jonty wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 1:29 pm If anything I i think we got the rub of the green with some of the results we have had this season which is an alarm bell if any is needed.

Hmm, not sure we got the rub of the green with, for example, Newport's first goal. Some very dodgy decisions have gone against us in recent games; which probably proves that things balance out over the course of a season, albeit haphazardly.

Some of the results. I don’t think we have dominated a single game that we have won from start to finish and whilst we’ve missed some glaring goal scoring chances recently, so have the opposition

Jonty wrote: ↑Sun Dec 28, 2025 3:59 pm

I don’t think we have dominated a single game that we have won from start to finish and whilst we’ve missed some glaring goal scoring chances recently, so have the opposition

As you say we have missed some glaring chances, but it doesn't matter that the opposition have done so too.

What matters is our inability to score from those glaring opportunities, and put the opposition out of reach.

As I've said I've only seen a half dozen games this season (not counting TV ones which I hate watching, rather see live games - you see more). Anyway the real eye opener was the Shrewsbury game who I believe were bottom or second bottom of the league at the time. In high winds we coped easily in the first half playing against the wind. In the second half the Shrews out thought and outplayed us and I had to be relieved with a draw. That for me was when the alarm bells started to ring. Are we really that poor? What are our tactics - hoof it up to the ever willing Gordon how had to deal with two massive centre backs? I could go on but you all know what I'm saying.

We really need to get a manager who can sort out all these so called talented players and get some sort of cohesion into the squad. Plus why on earth did we give contracts to so many experienced but historically injury prone individuals - Hemmings & Walker spring to mind. And for the record I think Rakeem is overrated. There is a player there but if what people are saying he waltzed off in a huff at Newport and hasn't been seen since then we definitely need a manager who can sort these players out and quickly. Oh for an Appleton, Wilkie or Evatt type personality.

Have been playing the same team for weeks without results - surely time to mix it up and give fringe players a chance

Pedro wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:31 am

Sonofsam wrote: ↑Fri Dec 26, 2025 6:24 pm Perhaps hornby is the problem

This is really out of order.
Very easy to spend other people's money.
The people who have backed Barrow have done it out of love of the club not for profit.
You also have to think the likes of Mr Hornby are from more of a gentle background.
Personally I think they have been hoodwinked.
There are alot of Charlatans in football.
Phil Brown had the gift of the gab.
A former Manager of ours went to a non league club and in less than half a season used 40 players turned out he was. a agent as well.
The naivety was shown by the appointment of Dunn and Jolly!!!
I think the money seen spent has wasted which comes from people.talking a good job but not actually doing one.

We have to let the board get on and the silence is indicative of us being in trouble.
Whatever happens one should not doubt there sincerity so let's get off there back.
We all know Mcdonald is not the answer ,even if Cook comes without some guidance off the field he could fail.

Some very good points but the silence may simply be indicative of awaiting an appropriate moment to 'go public' rather than fill an interview with 'holding' comments.

Bigfathoss wrote: ↑Fri Dec 26, 2025 6:45 pm Without the drive and financial support of most of the board we would be done and dusted, no doubt about that. Ultimately though, they are football fans just like the rest of us. They have no insight into football, tactics or players and managers that the rest of don't also have. That's why they appoint a DoF from a position of footballing knowledge...and they appointed a football agent instead. Not an ex-player, or an ex-manager, but somebody whose business it was to dupe/strongarm boards of football teams into getting the best deals for his clients.
Is any of that not true??

Do football agents not count as football people with their knowledge of players, contracts and, especially, other clubs? Ex-players can bring lots of experience but it doesn't necessarily make them a good coach or a good manager. Use of 'dupe' simply suggests cynicism; don't forget it's a buyers' market.