Bolton Wanderers Forum The-Wanderer.co.uk

...they don’t get a vote because they don’t get a vote when they go to Tesco’s on how the store is run. Why should it be any different with football?

Because the money spent at the gates goes back into the club? Do Tesco magic their profits out of thin air? No-one spends, the business doesn't develop.

By all accounts this cretin near-on wrecked York City and was eventually ousted by, oddly enough, the fans, who bought out the club from him in 2003. So no bitterness then!

Silly bastard. John Batchelor I mean, not Ratbert.

I sincerely hope this venture utterly ruins him, then ala Woolworths he has to sell the club back to the fans for a quid. The word cretinous doesn't even begin to do the man justice.

Fcuk me! I thought that was a joke at first... and a very witty one at that... then it hit me that it was a real interview with a cnut!

penis

ratbert wrote:

...they don’t get a vote because they don’t get a vote when they go to Tesco’s on how the store is run. Why should it be any different with football?

Because the money spent at the gates goes back into the club? Do Tesco magic their profits out of thin air? No-one spends, the business doesn't develop.

But that's his point - Tesco takes money off people, but doesn't give them a say in planning the business. Why should football be any different?

I've seen lots of abuse of him on this thread, but nothing saying why he's wrong. Surely, he can just do what he wants (should he buy the club), and people will come anyway. Or not - but, apparently, he doesn't need fans, anyway.

Personally, I think he's right. Who cares what the fans think - they're just sheep, who'll turn up whatever. The real money's elsewhere.

I'm particularly enamoured with his idea to change the club's name to Fulchester Rovers, and sign a half-man, half fish goalkeeper. Or something like that. Why doesn't Gartside think up these things? Although his two-tier, no relegation premier league wasn't a bad attempt.

Gerald Ratner.

Moral of the tale; If you're an arrogant sh*tbag, be careful how many people you tell.

The word "cockend" springs to mind when reading that.

Puskas wrote:

ratbert wrote:

...they don’t get a vote because they don’t get a vote when they go to Tesco’s on how the store is run. Why should it be any different with football?

Because the money spent at the gates goes back into the club? Do Tesco magic their profits out of thin air? No-one spends, the business doesn't develop.

But that's his point - Tesco takes money off people, but doesn't give them a say in planning the business. Why should football be any different?

I've seen lots of abuse of him on this thread, but nothing saying why he's wrong. Surely, he can just do what he wants (should he buy the club), and people will come anyway. Or not - but, apparently, he doesn't need fans, anyway.

Personally, I think he's right. Who cares what the fans think - they're just sheep, who'll turn up whatever. The real money's elsewhere.

I concur. I'm not saying it wouldn't piss me off if I were a Chester fan, but if football is a business (which it is) then rules of business must apply to it, and that includes rebranding, and maximising revenue streams. He's being honest, at least, with what he's doing.

blurred wrote:

Puskas wrote:

ratbert wrote:

...they don’t get a vote because they don’t get a vote when they go to Tesco’s on how the store is run. Why should it be any different with football?

Because the money spent at the gates goes back into the club? Do Tesco magic their profits out of thin air? No-one spends, the business doesn't develop.

But that's his point - Tesco takes money off people, but doesn't give them a say in planning the business. Why should football be any different?

I've seen lots of abuse of him on this thread, but nothing saying why he's wrong. Surely, he can just do what he wants (should he buy the club), and people will come anyway. Or not - but, apparently, he doesn't need fans, anyway.

Personally, I think he's right. Who cares what the fans think - they're just sheep, who'll turn up whatever. The real money's elsewhere.

I concur. I'm not saying it wouldn't piss me off if I were a Chester fan, but if football is a business (which it is) then rules of business must apply to it, and that includes rebranding, and maximising revenue streams. He's being honest, at least, with what he's doing.

For Liverpool fans it's a shame Liverpool are so useless at it, considering they have been one of the most supported clubs in the world for the past 30 yrs or so. They should be generating a lot more revenue than they actually do.

seanworth wrote:

blurred wrote:

Puskas wrote:

ratbert wrote:

...they don’t get a vote because they don’t get a vote when they go to Tesco’s on how the store is run. Why should it be any different with football?

Because the money spent at the gates goes back into the club? Do Tesco magic their profits out of thin air? No-one spends, the business doesn't develop.

But that's his point - Tesco takes money off people, but doesn't give them a say in planning the business. Why should football be any different?

I've seen lots of abuse of him on this thread, but nothing saying why he's wrong. Surely, he can just do what he wants (should he buy the club), and people will come anyway. Or not - but, apparently, he doesn't need fans, anyway.

Personally, I think he's right. Who cares what the fans think - they're just sheep, who'll turn up whatever. The real money's elsewhere.

I concur. I'm not saying it wouldn't piss me off if I were a Chester fan, but if football is a business (which it is) then rules of business must apply to it, and that includes rebranding, and maximising revenue streams. He's being honest, at least, with what he's doing.

For Liverpool fans it's a shame Liverpool are so useless at it, considering they have been one of the most supported clubs in the world for the past 30 yrs or so. They should be generating a lot more revenue than they actually do.

Seems to me like they do milk quite a lot of money off the Liverpool fans. Pretty much everyone here walks round in replica clothing - be it coats, hats, shirts, trackies, shorts or whatever. Plus tickets at Anfield are expensive and they sell out most of the time.

jimbo wrote:

seanworth wrote:

blurred wrote:

Puskas wrote:

ratbert wrote: Because the money spent at the gates goes back into the club? Do Tesco magic their profits out of thin air? No-one spends, the business doesn't develop.

But that's his point - Tesco takes money off people, but doesn't give them a say in planning the business. Why should football be any different?

I've seen lots of abuse of him on this thread, but nothing saying why he's wrong. Surely, he can just do what he wants (should he buy the club), and people will come anyway. Or not - but, apparently, he doesn't need fans, anyway.

Personally, I think he's right. Who cares what the fans think - they're just sheep, who'll turn up whatever. The real money's elsewhere.

I concur. I'm not saying it wouldn't piss me off if I were a Chester fan, but if football is a business (which it is) then rules of business must apply to it, and that includes rebranding, and maximising revenue streams. He's being honest, at least, with what he's doing.

For Liverpool fans it's a shame Liverpool are so useless at it, considering they have been one of the most supported clubs in the world for the past 30 yrs or so. They should be generating a lot more revenue than they actually do.

Seems to me like they do milk quite a lot of money off the Liverpool fans. Pretty much everyone here walks round in replica clothing - be it coats, hats, shirts, trackies, shorts or whatever. Plus tickets at Anfield are expensive and they sell out most of the time.

Talking more about overseas, which brings in huge revenue. Man U's overseas marketing is vastly better than Liverpools. Even Liverpool fans here are disgusted at the wasted opportunities. When I first came here (Thailand) in the 80's Liverpool was by far the most supported team, followed by Juventus and Real Madrid distant second and third. Certainly Liverpool's lack of success has contributed to this, but they should actually be performing (marketing wise) much better than they are. I believe Hick's even addressed this a few months ago. I don't think can all be blamed on Rafa being a prick.

But the bottom line is, the fans pay their money, and expect value for money or a statement of intent from those that run the club to that end.

Not to be told they're scum, which is what Batchelor is basically saying.

ratbert wrote:But the bottom line is, the fans pay their money, and expect value for money or a statement of intent from those that run the club to that end.

Not to be told they're scum, which is what Batchelor is basically saying.

They may well expect that. But what are they going to do about it?

Nothing, I suspect.

And he gets away with it, and makes his money.

He may be a cockend but he may just've hit upon a fantastic marketing idea that makes him millions. And if he does you can bet your life that other clubs will copy his formula. Who knows?

Yeah - lets move to the American Football model - where a team that was once called Chester, the next season is called "Penzance Raiders", because this year's franchise owner lives at Land's End...

If the model makes him millions in the manner that he's proposing, then it's ceased to be anything to do with football in my opinion. What happens when he wants to extend half time by 30 mins so his "in stadium" sales reps can try flogging the latest Amway products to the non-football supporting people that may have turned up to watch?

Thin End - Thick Wedge - Big Knob. Shouldn't be allowed to own a football club IMHO.

I'd be really interested to know where these income streams are going to come from. Has anyone seen other owners of other League 2 clubs coining it in?

What an incredibly dull world we live in that the only value something has is its ability to make money.

Worthy4England wrote:Yeah - lets move to the American Football model - where a team that was once called Chester, the next season is called "Penzance Raiders", because this year's franchise owner lives at Land's End...

What are you referring to, Worthy?