Sean Jarvis - GUAH Comments

[Deleted]

In this weeks match-day program Sean Jarvis said about finances and a bit about the family club stuff.

Progress off the pitch -

"Match-day income is up 51% on this time last year.
Commercial and communications income is up 13.8%
Overall off the field operational revenue is up 33%
Town have 11,000 season ticket holders
All 42 corporate boxes are sold"

- In a recession to, so the club is doing well off field.


"I do believe that the club has had a soft underbelly in recent time. Now we are replacing that with determined people in every area of the club, from the manager to the ticket office. I never want anyone to think of us as just a family club. Of course we want all the positives about that title, but none of the weaknesses that are also attached to it."
- So he clearly knows about the image of the 'family club' at least, and they dont want to be seen as a soft club.

[smj1]

absolutely right - if I do say so myself

And as for the Vuvuzelas - its intended for the kids in the FM stand!

[Deleted]

Apr 9, 2010 18:22:55 GMT 1 smj1 said:

absolutely right - if I do say so myself

And as for the Vuvuzelas - its intended for the kids in the FM stand!

Does that mean I can't have one.

[ShortbreadPete]

Especially all those pikey kids!!!!!!!!!!

[andyeastleake]

Apr 9, 2010 18:10:36 GMT 1 @galpharmstadium said:

" I do believe that the club has had a soft underbelly in recent time. Now we are replacing that with determined people in every area of the club, from the manager to the ticket office."

I also saw the comments in the programme but I was a bit bemused about this extract.

I was surprised SJ didn't expand on what he meant by a "soft underbelly" especially when he chose to imply this covered every aspect of the club?

What do you mean SMJ1?

If it means they publicised season ticket offers better & gave a wider window of opportunity that the window applied for, then TBH I think the "soft underbelly" could be translated to treating loyal customers with respect, but then I'm probably old fashioned in that I thought I supported a club rather than just a business.

Didn't they try to fleece supporters sorry "customers" hard enough for you SMJ?

[thewrongboy]

Hold on Andyeastlake, this fella's job is to make money for Huddersfield Town.

This - in order to make sure, I would suggest - that we don't find ourslves in the predicament we found ourselves in only a few years back, where we were being asked to stick tenners into a bag in the event that the club went belly up.

If the club's making a profit, then brilliant! This is positive news. Right?

But no, this is DATM and we are dour Yorkshiremen.

[andyfcuk85]

Apr 9, 2010 19:02:11 GMT 1 andyeastleake said:

Apr 9, 2010 18:10:36 GMT 1 @galpharmstadium said:

" I do believe that the club has had a soft underbelly in recent time. Now we are replacing that with determined people in every area of the club, from the manager to the ticket office."

I also saw the comments in the programme but I was a bit bemused about this extract.

I was surprised SJ didn't expand on what he meant by a "soft underbelly" especially when he chose to imply this covered every aspect of the club?

What do you mean SMJ1?

If it means they publicised season ticket offers better & gave a wider window of opportunity that the window applied for, then TBH I think the "soft underbelly" could be translated to treating loyal customers with respect, but then I'm probably old fashioned in that I thought I supported a club rather than just a business.

Didn't they try to fleece supporters sorry "customers" hard enough for you SMJ?[/quote]

::

[ritchie]

Apr 9, 2010 19:02:11 GMT 1 andyeastleake said:

Didn't they try to fleece supporters sorry "customers" hard enough for you SMJ?

give over

[Notinyourmums Forest]

Apr 9, 2010 19:02:11 GMT 1 andyeastleake said:

Apr 9, 2010 18:10:36 GMT 1 @galpharmstadium said:

" I do believe that the club has had a soft underbelly in recent time. Now we are replacing that with determined people in every area of the club, from the manager to the ticket office."

I also saw the comments in the programme but I was a bit bemused about this extract.

I was surprised SJ didn't expand on what he meant by a "soft underbelly" especially when he chose to imply this covered every aspect of the club?

What do you mean SMJ1?

If it means they publicised season ticket offers better & gave a wider window of opportunity that the window applied for, then TBH I think the "soft underbelly" could be translated to treating loyal customers with respect, but then I'm probably old fashioned in that I thought I supported a club rather than just a business.

Didn't they try to fleece supporters sorry "customers" hard enough for you SMJ?

Very uncalled for after all the hard work SMJ1 has done for the club.

[Captainslapper]

Now we've blown any chance of retaining the family club award by almost doubling kids ST prices in one go, is there a 'Least intimidating place for an away team to visit' award we can go for instead?

I think we'd be in with a great shout!

We provide a 4000 seater 'cop' behind the goal for away fans ,whether they bring 4000 or 40.
We make the home section at the opposite end a nice cuddly family section where opposition players are 'intimidated' by family groups sat in their seats clapping and from now on blowing an annoying monotonous drone from a plastic trumpet.
We employ stewards to stop just the home fans standing and woe betide any home fan who might want to a flag or throw a bog roll on the pitch.
We meekly accept it when the plod stop us playing on bank holidays where a bigger, dare I say 'boozier' atmosphere might be a risk.
And then any home goal celebration is drowned out by some crappy pop music

Honestly, visiting teams must be bricking it at the thought of a visit to the Family Club of the year Stadium or whatever it'll be called next year.

[andyeastleake]

Wrongboy

I've no problem with ensuring that our club continues to exist but there is no question in my mind that the club recently has forgotten it's "customers" were the same people chucking money in the buckets you mention.

Hence why I believe the way it has handled the recent season ticket offer is shabby & indefensible.

Can you explain why it it wasn't publicised better, the window of opportunity wasn't more in line with recent years & why they are so reticent to give details (i.e. they didn't) of the subsequent price increases?

Are we customers of a business or supporters of a club? If it's the latter (& surely it is) then as a reward for chucking money in buckets I think we deserve to be treated better.

Or does that display a soft underbelly?

NIYMF - SMJ has done some good work, but the way the season ticket offer was handled was a disgrace (& if you think I'm wrong justify it rather than just saying my comments are uncalled for).

[shawsie]

Visiting teams dont get intimidated much by the fans capn - they get intimidated by the quality of players on show, and unfortunately like all commercial businesses we can only buy what we can afford eventually so its dean and smj's job to maximise commercial revenues to allow the funds he has set aside to invest in the club to last as long as possible giving us the best chance of success.
They havent got everything right, and have said publicly as much but if its a choice of the current regime or a return to messrs davy and taylor then its not a difficult one!!!
Atmospheres are created by the players performing just as much as any end they sit in - old trafford was rocking for half an hour on wed night when things looked good, an hour or so later and it was like a morgue and they have the biggest fan base in the country!!
Be very careful what some of you wish for guys - the current owner for all his newly found wealth, is not about to pump millions and millions in to make it a cheap, atmospheric experience for everyone - football is now very much a business and we the customers will have to do our part to contribute to its ongoing improvement and success, as there is no future relying on a wealthy benefactor permanently.

[shawsie]

Apr 9, 2010 20:16:25 GMT 1 andyeastleake said:

Wrongboy

I've no problem with ensuring that our club continues to exist but there is no question in my mind that the club recently has forgotten it's "customers" were the same people chucking money in the buckets you mention.

Hence why I believe the way it has handled the recent season ticket offer is shabby & indefensible.

Can you explain why it it wasn't publicised better, the window of opportunity wasn't more in line with recent years & why they are so reticent to give details (i.e. they didn't) of the subsequent price increases?

Are we customers of a business or supporters of a club? If it's the latter (& surely it is) then as a reward for chucking money in buckets I think we deserve to be treated better.

Or does that display a soft underbelly?

NIYMF - SMJ has done some good work, but the way the season ticket offer was handled was a disgrace (& if you think I'm wrong justify it rather than just saying my comments are uncalled for).

I dont disagree the season ticket situation could have been handled better andy, but at < £220 per season ticket average over the last 3 years for the antich stand, i dont think the club can in anyway be accused of fleecing its supporters!!

[Deleted]

Apr 9, 2010 20:19:53 GMT 1 shawsie said:

Visiting teams dont get intimidated much by the fans capn - they get intimidated by the quality of players on show, and unfortunately like all commercial businesses we can only buy what we can afford eventually so its dean and smj's job to maximise commercial revenues to allow the funds he has set aside to invest in the club to last as long as possible giving us the best chance of success.
They havent got everything right, and have said publicly as much but if its a choice of the current regime or a return to messrs davy and taylor then its not a difficult one!!!
Atmospheres are created by the players performing just as much as any end they sit in - old trafford was rocking for half an hour on wed night when things looked good, an hour or so later and it was like a morgue and they have the biggest fan base in the country!!
Be very careful what some of you wish for guys - the current owner for all his newly found wealth, is not about to pump millions and millions in to make it a cheap, atmospheric experience for everyone - football is now very much a business and we the customers will have to do our part to contribute to its ongoing improvement and success, as there is no future relying on a wealthy benefactor permanently.

exceptional last four lines

[andyeastleake]

Apr 9, 2010 20:22:38 GMT 1 shawsie said:

I dont disagree the season ticket situation could have been handled better andy, but at < £220 per season ticket average over the last 3 years for the antich stand, i dont think the club can in anyway be accused of fleecing its supporters!!

Wouldn't argue Shawsie.

......but was that just when we had a "soft underbelly"?? ( does that mean??)

I'm more concerned about the current (& future) position than the past.

[Deleted]

Apr 9, 2010 20:29:53 GMT 1 andyeastleake said:

Apr 9, 2010 20:22:38 GMT 1 shawsie said:

I dont disagree the season ticket situation could have been handled better andy, but at < £220 per season ticket average over the last 3 years for the antich stand, i dont think the club can in anyway be accused of fleecing its supporters!!

Wouldn't argue Shawsie.

......but was that just when we had a "soft underbelly"?? ( does that mean??)

I'm more concerned about the current (& future) position than the past.

quality costs andy

[galpharmer76]

I still can't believe that the club are being hammered for trying to help the supporters with a fantastic pre early bird offer. The normal renewal period will be as was last year, nice glossy brochures for those that require them, those that fancied saving a couple of quid and were in a position to do so took advantage of the pre offer.

Town do something nice, an added bonus, and they get stick for it. Typical.

[shawsie]

I think it means:-

1. We were happy to be seen as a nice honest family club...........not a family based club which had the required ruthless streak to ensure it succeeded both on and off the pitch.
2. Our managers, playing staff and in particular our home grown academy products were soft and couldnt handle difficult encounters against physical teams in this league.
3. Our merchandising/marketing/ticketing was nice and steady but not state of the art or indeed were there ever any innovative ideas.
4. We appeared to be happy to be a big fish in a small pond and mid table league 1 was ok, providing the academy and club got good press - there was a lack of drive to be successful in other words.

I might be wrong on this, but if it is what was meant then i concur totally.

[bro600]

A soft underbelly as a football club was due to the fact that Mr Davy more or less franchized every job at HTAFC out and took no control whatsoever of the main issues.
Huddersfield Sporting Pride were responsible for Merchandizing.
John Robinson and the keystone cops were in charge of stadium security.
KSDL were in charge of the stadium.
and even Huddersfield University were in charge of the training facilities.
Slowly but surely HTAFC are clawing these things back and given around 12 months you'll be able to blame just one person for the FM Lower problems and The South Stand problem..We'll even have more of a say on playing Easter Monday or Tuesday... Sadly it takes finances and time as Dean has to pay to untangle the web of companies and then has to convince individuals that HTAFC won't tolerate being pushed around and told what to do.
So many folk have had it far to easy as other companies have been the ex-chairmans only interest.

[shawsie]

Now theres a surprise bro!!!

[smj1]

Soft underbelly is exactly those four above points plus the likes of...

Use of our brand too easily diluted away from the club and in return not being maximised
Some commercial deals could be improved
A more aggressive edge to our sales was needed
We were in danger of a club repeating itself year on year - we sometimes need to be hard on ourselves to improve
Sales and revenues were being lost
Looking for the competitive edge in everything we do (on and off the field)
Seizing the day

We have said it before that mistakes are likely to be made but in making a mistake we will learn and move on. In my experience its those clubs that make mistakes then shy away from being innovative in the future are the ones that will struggle.

I personally believe... try and fail, try and fail, but the true failing is failing to try!

As for the marketing of the season ticket early bird then on reflection maybe we would have done things slightly differently but we are where we are and we move on. Next season it may be different.

Rest assured however this is a club moving in the right direction - and that is not rhetoric!

[galpharmer76]

Apr 9, 2010 21:22:00 GMT 1 smj1 said:

Soft underbelly is exactly those four above points plus the likes of...

Use of our brand too easily diluted away from the club and in return not being maximised
Some commercial deals could be improved
A more aggressive edge to our sales was needed
We were in danger of a club repeating itself year on year - we sometimes need to be hard on ourselves to improve
Sales and revenues were being lost
Looking for the competitive edge in everything we do (on and off the field)
Seizing the day

We have said it before that mistakes are likely to be made but in making a mistake we will learn and move on. In my experience its those clubs that make mistakes then shy away from being innovative in the future are the ones that will struggle.

I personally believe... try and fail, try and fail, but the true failing is failing to try!
As for the marketing of the season ticket early bird then on reflection maybe we would have done things slightly differently but we are where we are and we move on. Next season it may be different.

Rest assured however this is a club moving in the right direction - and that is not rhetoric!

Have you been speaking to Blackie

[smj1]

Nope - to be honest - read it once (cant remember where?) and thought I like that! something I believe in!

[downatthepharm]

SMJ for PM

[shawsie]

Now that thats cleared up can we get back to doing what we all love best - watching and cheering the club to success on the field!!!

[Deleted]

Apr 9, 2010 21:28:01 GMT 1 smj1 said:

Nope - to be honest - read it once (cant remember where?) and thought I like that! something I believe in!

thanks for your efforts and for coming on here it shows class. :nodding: mistakes are there to be learned from.on the pitch and off it.we re in good hands the majority of us know that.

[galpharmer76]

Apr 9, 2010 21:31:50 GMT 1 shawsie said:

Now that thats cleared up can we get back to doing what we all love best - watching and cheering the club to success on the field!!!

....without standing during the game or being too noisy

[shawsie]

Apr 9, 2010 21:33:45 GMT 1 @galpharmer76 said:

Apr 9, 2010 21:31:50 GMT 1 shawsie said:

Now that thats cleared up can we get back to doing what we all love best - watching and cheering the club to success on the field!!!

....without standing during the game or being too noisy

There's always one!!! :spaz:

[keepmoving]

Glad to hear revenues are up. I was one of those who questioned the clubs ability to be self sustaining last year. We must now be moving inthe right direction at least. I suppose with the current financial climate and all, it must be difficult to find a balance, but at the end of the day the club has to push on.

Are we going to bring in income through sponsorship of the home shirt next season smj1 or are we looking at once again setting an example for the rest by including and supporting a charity on all our merchandise?

[garyroberts'leftfoot]

Apr 9, 2010 21:28:01 GMT 1 smj1 said:

Nope - to be honest - read it once (cant remember where?) and thought I like that! something I believe in!

shouldn't it be: try and fail, try again and succeed!

Good to see you on here sean. Take all comments with a pinch of salt. We are all behind you and all ( well most) criticisms are so the club can see where it is going wrong and improve.