Neil Doncaster email contents

Dear Neil

I am writing to you to ask a few questions and to
challenge the board via yourself.

First of all, most of the fans I know are delighted to
have (at long last) a credible, experienced manager
appointed. The last one we had of his calibre was
Martin O'Neill, though ancient history to you and part
of our former regime.

I would first of all like to know what can Mr Roeder
expect in the way of transfer monies in the next
window?
YOU KNOW THAT WE NEVER MAKE PUBLIC DETAILS OF WHAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE.
THIS IS TO PROTECT THE CLUB. WE HAVE ALREADY SANCTIONED THE BRINGING
IN ON EXPENSIVE SHORT TERM LOANS OF JOHN HARTSON AND MARTIN TAYLOR AND
FURTHER MONEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER SIGNINGS

Will he be encouraged to buy (and not just
accept quick fix loan signings) and will the board
stand by his choices and assessments? Will you listen
to him and back him in his choices? We have seen
from the past three years that buying cheap is a one
way ticket to League One (the third division).

THE BOARD DOES NOT MEDDLE IN THE RUNNING OF THE TEAM. IT IS THE
BOARD'S ROLE TO PROVIDE AS MUCH FINANCE FOR THE MANAGER AS THEY CAN AND THEN
TO LET HIM MANAGE

Will the academy now be given better status (it's at
present more of a charity under your current regime).

HARDLY! WE INVEST OVER HALF A MILLION EACH YEAR IN THE ACADEMY

Most of us cannot understand why the board give more
preference to taking on more debt to fund land
purchase ahead of investing in the core business of
NCFC which of course is football.

ALL THE OFF FIELD ACTIVITIES GENERATE MONEY WHICH SUPPORTS TEAM
STRENGTHENING. WITHOUT THOSE ACTIVITIES, THERE WOULD BE EVEN LESS FOR THE
TEAM!

Glenn Roeder was
very successful at Newcastle in bringing on young
players - we should be doing the very same here (as
our near neighbours are doing also, with a greater
degree of success) - though lately the board seems to
have thought more of opening new catering outlets
rather than funding our players of the future.

PLEASE SEE ANSWERS ABOVE

Mr Roeder spoke frankly of the task ahead during his
post match interview yesterday. He sounds a very
honourable man and one who is clearly determined to
turn the club around. I wonder if the board can match
his drive and ambition and also learn from him and his
footballing knowledge.

I AGREE WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT OF GLENN

To this end can you tell me how far the board has gone
towards attracting outside investment? We all know
the Turners have some personal wealth, but are they
likely to give any of that to the club while the major
shareholders with 62% of the shareholding could tell
them how to spend their own money? We have recently
seen that Ipswich are attracting not just one, but two
possible investors. We are constantly drip fed
platitudes and soundbites (aside from Delia's annual
outbursts at the AGM) that no one wants to invest in
Championship clubs. Can you then explain why Ipswich
are able to attract investment and we are not? Is it
not the case that the major shareholders are NOT doing
all they can to attract outside investment? Who would
really want to sink viable sums into the club when
they would have little say in how the club is run? It
was once said by Mr Watling that never again should
any person have control of the football club, but that
is exactly what has happened (after the lesson of Mr
Chase, this is inexcusable).

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CLUBS SEEKING OUTSIDE INVESTMENT, INCLUDING
SOUTHAMPTON AND COVENTRY, ABOUT WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN SUGGESTIONS OF REAL
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. THEY TOO HAVE STRUGGLED TO BRING IN MONEY FROM
ELSEWHERE. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT WE ARE SIMPLY TURNING MONEY AWAY
THAT WE ARE OFFERED? OR IS THE REALITY THAT ACTUALLY RICH PEOPLE RARELY
WANT TO SIMPLY GIVE THEIR MONEY TO A FOOTBALL CLUB?

Can you also explain why a club who has made a profit
for the past three years is so underfunded on the
pitch?

WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE SQUADS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP (EXCLUSING
THE PARACHUTE PAYMENT CLUBS). IN THE LAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE MADE A
PROFIT WHICH, IN TOTAL, IS LESS THAN THE LOSS WE GENERATED IN THE
PREVIOUS SEASON

Do the board just hope that buying cheap and
selling big (and diverting funds to things off the
pitch) is going to keep them going? We don't need
hotels and land to build flats on, what we need is a
team and management system to take and then keep that
team in the Premiership. This is what NCFC is about,
it is NOT a property development company, or shouldn't
be.

NOR IS IT. BUT ALL THE OFF THE FIELD ACTIVITIES ARE NECESSARY TO FUND
INVESTMENT IN THE TEAM. THE TOTAL PROCEEDS FROM TICKET SALES WOULDN'T
EVEN COVER THE PLAYER'S WAGE BILL, LET ALONE COVER ALL THE OTHER HUGE
EXPENSE WHICH A CLUB LIKE THIS MUST CARRY

I can assure you Mr Doncaster that come February and
the annual season ticket letter, you will not get
20,000 takers unless the ambition bit starts to take
over from the prudence. Prudence has taken us (in ten
years) from near relegation to near relegation.

LAST YEAR WE MADE A PROFIT OF £100,000 WITH A £7M PARACHUTE PAYMENT. IT
DOES NOT TAKE MUCH IMAGINATION TO SEE OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION THIS
YEAR, WITHOUT A PARACHUTE PAYMENT. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS MONEY
AVAILABLE WHICH IS NOT BEING SPENT? IT'S JUST NOT THE CASE

If we are relegated, would the club then have to go
into administration? How would we pay off all the
debts on lesser income?

I would welcome a valid response to my concerns.
Please do not patronise me with the usual spin, I have
heard it all before.

Posted By: Glenn Roeder, Nov 13, 23:49:34