Alan Pace Interview

[AlargeClaret]

Presume the “11” Pace is referring to is based of JBG who surely leaves when fit and one of the long term crocks Westwood/Vydra ?
Pope, Cornet,Wout are of course gone and bound to be another couple . Collins most likely ,can’t see Dwight getting a prem gig but he might get a decent champ team . Everyone is up for sale per se .

AP is a smooth charismatic highly experienced operator who got a breathtakingly good deal when he bought us . He talks the talk very well . I’m impressed with him ,it’s hard not to take to the guy , but don’t be fooled for 1 min he’s here on anything but a carpetbagger deal . Long as he leave the club in a good state that’s all good imo .

[GodIsADeeJay81]

There is one quite important difference between the owners of Villa and Wolves , and our own

Yeah I know, but owners are right to state a target/ambition, it's a realistic one, we've done it in recent years within a similar timescale of our last takeover and if he'd said nothing, people would complain about lack of ambition etc etc so they're damned either way as evidenced on here.

[NottsClaret]

When Pace finds the time to do PR, he's very slick, always has been.

I'm more with Lancaster on this though. He's not saying much different to what you'd have heard from the late, great Shebby Singh at one time.

[Vegas Claret]

"We've made the switch from 'what is expected of Burnley' to 'what is possible at Burnley'"

Hallefooooooooookingllujah !

[Vegas Claret]

Just a note on people saying "Pace is slick" etc - it's absolutely bog standard owner talk over here in the US, nothing different to anything any of them say BUT If you can't be positive in your outlook and strive to achieve something then why get out of bed in a morning ?

[Burnley Ace]

Again, perhaps Dyche thought he had enough with what we had. We didn’t improve the midfield under the previous owners.

There was always money available for Dyche, he turned down more players than he signed.

[DCWat]

Yeah I know, but owners are right to state a target/ambition, it's a realistic one, we've done it in recent years within a similar timescale of our last takeover and if he'd said nothing, people would complain about lack of ambition etc etc so they're damned either way as evidenced on here.

I’d be happier if the ambition was to get us back to a similar position that Pace found us in. Premier League regulars and a sound financial position.

Europe in five years, taking into account where we are now and the monied clubs in the Premier League is, in my eyes, an unrealistic aim. It smacks of naivety.

[RVclaret]

When Pace finds the time to do PR, he's very slick, always has been.

I'm more with Lancaster on this though. He's not saying much different to what you'd have heard from the late, great Shebby Singh at one time.

‘We want more communication!!!! Where is Pace!?!?!?’

Pace delivers a positive interview discussing his vision with VK and calms concerns that promotion is a MUST this season

‘Everything was expected’

Hilarious

[taio]

Yeah I know, but owners are right to state a target/ambition, it's a realistic one, we've done it in recent years within a similar timescale of our last takeover and if he'd said nothing, people would complain about lack of ambition etc etc so they're damned either way as evidenced on here.

All he needed to say was the single objective is to gain promotion to the PL as soon as possible.

[RVclaret]

All he needed to say was the single objective is to gain promotion to the PL as soon as possible.

Well he did say that.

[taio]

Well he did say that.

Did I say he didn't?

He needn't have mentioned Europe - that's why I referred to single objective

[elwaclaret]

I largely agree with this but find it fascinating as you were wanting Dyche gone back in March for Knutsen and I could be wrong but I seem to recall you arguing that actually Dyche wasn't the main reason for our success. If that wasn't you I apologise but a lot of the Dyche Out crowd were insisting he wasn't responsible for our success, held us back, had no ideas, was too reserved, didn't have ambition in transfer policy, etc.

(Edited because of original post length - full post available above)

And the burden of proof is on the person claiming it has been- the material facts we know relate to a £65m loan, possibly relieved/part paid by £15m. If someone claims that final total has been reduced it's up to them to prove it, not on the people saying it hasn't to show it hasn't- they're not the one making a claim of change.

A well thought out and interesting piece. I agree with much of it, however- I disagree with the claim their is any onus on anyone to PROVE anything to the fans. It is their business, you wouldn’t walk into a KFC and demand to see the accounts… you want chicken. There is no reason the Club need to disclose anything other than their year end accounts. We either don’t trust them, wait to find out or accept their explanations… that is up to us, not for the owners to prove.

[RVclaret]

Did I say he didn't?

Ahhhh so mentioning ‘as well’ that it would be great for the club to be in Europe is ‘too much’ on your ‘scales of wisdom’. Got it.

[Vegas Claret]

All he needed to say was the single objective is to gain promotion to the PL as soon as possible.

why does he need to only mention one objective ?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I’d be happier if the ambition was to get us back to a similar position that Pace found us in. Premier League regulars and a sound financial position.

Europe in five years, taking into account where we are now and the monied clubs in the Premier League is, in my eyes, an unrealistic aim. It smacks of naivety.

We made it before many other monied clubs though and it's entirely possible again with the right manager and squad.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

All he needed to say was the single objective is to gain promotion to the PL as soon as possible.

People want to know the plan.

The plan, to me, is clearly promotion, then kick on and reach a European spot but I suppose some people need more clarity.

[Spijed]

Can’t see Dwight getting a prem gig but he might get a decent champ team.

Might catch a few with that one!

[randomclaret2]

People want to know the plan.

The plan, to me, is clearly promotion, then kick on and reach a European spot but I suppose some people need more clarity.

If the plan is to reach a European spot, perhaps making more of an effort to avoid relegation would have been sensible ?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

If the plan is to reach a European spot, perhaps making more of an effort to avoid relegation would have been sensible ?

They did.
They signed players, they potted the manager who from the looks of it couldn't get us out of the downward spin and it went down to the final game.
That WW didn't turn out to be the goal machine we needed is just the luck of the draw that went against us.

There wasn't a lot else they could do to try and avoid relegation.

[Spijed]

If the plan is to reach a European spot, perhaps making more of an effort to avoid relegation would have been sensible ?

Is it actually possible for every club without a rich owner to avoid going down?

I presume therefore that every club that gets relegated from the prem is a badly run one?

[AlargeClaret]

Might catch a few with that one!

While I’d be pleased for the lad , I just can’t see it , though a newly promoted side with creative players could help him . He’s undoubtedly talented but incredibly one footed and just doesn’t score enough goals for his position . I’d love him to stay and develop with us but the board need all they can get .

[Elizabeth]

This ambition of being in Europe under this ownership is nothing more than Billy Big stuff and while it is clearly impressing the usual suspects in my opinion it’s nothing short of hot air.
As Dyche would say , a lot of noise

[Roosterbooster]

This ambition of being in Europe under this ownership is nothing more than Billy Big stuff

If Garlick had said he was aiming for Europe 10 years ago, surely you'd say the same

[Elizabeth]

If Garlick had said he was aiming for Europe 10 years ago, surely you'd say the same

He didn’t though and I’m happy he didn’t . Then again bold declarations were not part of his operations. He got his head down and did what was necessary , something I believe is more admirable than someone shouting their mouth off.
Yes , a bit of a crude way off putting it but that’s the way we say things in Burnley

[Vegas Claret]

This ambition of being in Europe under this ownership is nothing more than Billy Big stuff and while it is clearly impressing the usual suspects in my opinion it’s nothing short of hot air.
As Dyche would say , a lot of noise

Standing on the Turf in 1987 getting slapped 0-6 by Hereford I didn't for one second think we'd get out of Division 4 never mind get to the top table and qualify for Europe

As I mentioned before, if you don't have ambition you may as well stay in bed.

[Rileybobs]

Standing on the Turf in 1987 getting slapped 0-6 by Hereford I didn't for one second think we'd get out of Division 4 never mind get to the top table and qualify for Europe

As I mentioned before, if you don't have ambition you may as well stay in bed.

There’s having ambition and there’s being realistic.

If Alan Pace’s business plan is to achieve a European place in five years then that’s naive in the extreme. I wonder what steps he’s putting in place to achieve that aim?

[elwaclaret]

There’s having ambition and there’s being realistic.

If Alan Pace’s business plan is to achieve a European place in five years then that’s naive in the extreme. I wonder what steps he’s putting in place to achieve that aim?

But he does not say that is the business plan? He says the ambition is to return to the Premier League and build to challenge up the table; in an ideal world to be challenging for European places in five yers…

He’s hardly likely to say I want to get back up and settle for avoiding relegation from there on in, is he?
Damned whatever he says… and people moan he doesn’t communicate with fans.

[Nori1958]

I’d be happier if the ambition was to get us back to a similar position that Pace found us in. Premier League regulars and a sound financial position.

Europe in five years, taking into account where we are now and the monied clubs in the Premier League is, in my eyes, an unrealistic aim. It smacks of naivety.

We have never been Premier league regulars... That's just taking the argument one step too far

[Nori1958]

Well he did say that.

Not, if for some reason, you don't see what is clearly stated in front of you

[Nori1958]

If Garlick had said he was aiming for Europe 10 years ago, surely you'd say the same

One chairman said the club was set up for life after one promotion..... Silly statement looking back... But they all do it.. Some get critised... Others are seen as hero's..... Some are local... Others are foreign

[Claret Till I Die]

I’d be happier if the ambition was to get us back to a similar position that Pace found us in. Premier League regulars and a sound financial position.

Europe in five years, taking into account where we are now and the monied clubs in the Premier League is, in my eyes, an unrealistic aim. It smacks of naivety.

To be fair I've doubted him/ALK and quite possibly always will but who knows what is around the corner. 5 years is a long time off and nobody can say for certain that his goal won't be achieved.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

So in summary -

The fans want better communication and the club to show ambition but not the communication we've had and not that sort of ambition....

That's clear as mud then

[Elizabeth]

The communication is full of big ideas he thinks he wants the fans to hear. Even then he can’t stop shuffling in his seat.
He tells us he isn’t lying in one part , was that necessary?
He tells us Europe might not be in 2 years, then expands to 4-5 years, then expands to even longer.
Unconvincing only to those who’ll listen to anything he says

[RVclaret]

The communication is full of big ideas he thinks he wants the fans to hear. Even then he can’t stop shuffling in his seat.
He tells us he isn’t lying in one part , was that necessary?
He tells us Europe might not be in 2 years, then expands to 4-5 years, then expands to even longer.
Unconvincing only to those who’ll listen to anything he says

Yawn

[jedi_master]

There’s such a massive divergence on this site regarding Pace, I think both sides should take advice from each other really.

I’ve said repeatedly that I’m terrified of our financial situation, I was sad he sacked Dyche, and I think a lot of the stuff he seems to fiddle with (eSports, Womens football, black paint, LED lightning etc etc) seems superfluous to what makes the money and what we need to really knuckle down on to get back in the black and sustainable.

BUT

The appointment of Kompany represents such a massive step change in our identity as a club in terms of footballing style and potentially international attention that I’m excited IN SPITE of the black cloud that (I feel) continues to hang over the club. Everything could go brilliantly and we all hope it will do of course, but it’s daft for some posters on here to totally disregard our financial status as quite a few are doing.

You can see things from both sides and be simultaneously excited for the season and worried for our long term future, and that’s basically where I am at currently.

[Elizabeth]

Yawn

You are normally not short of plenty to say . It’s a shame you are feeling tired.

[Rileybobs]

But he does not say that is the business plan? He says the ambition is to return to the Premier League and build to challenge up the table; in an ideal world to be challenging for European places in five yers…

He’s hardly likely to say I want to get back up and settle for avoiding relegation from there on in, is he?
Damned whatever he says… and people moan he doesn’t communicate with fans.

No he doesn’t. His own words are “Our goal is European football”.

Maybe it’s unfair to pick apart a statement like that, but if that’s his goal he’s almost certainly going to end up with egg on his face as it’s not realistic.

If the Venky’s came out and did an interview about their new manager and stated their goal was to get European football in four or five years we’d rightly be p!ssing ourselves.

[It Is What It Is]

Pace went on to mention change with Kompany being the 1st foreign coach in Burnley history.

Now change is difficult for a lot of Burnley fans to come to terms with especially some of the older end on this football forum.
I welcome the different outlook of nurturing young talent it's the only way forward for a club the size of Burnley with what appears to have limited financial resources

I'm 70 and have always believed in a good youth policy.
We had the best Youth Policy in the league in the late 60s/70s under Bob Lord. It's essential for a club like Burnley.

[elwaclaret]

There’s such a massive divergence on this site regarding Pace, I think both sides should take advice from each other really.

I’ve said repeatedly that I’m terrified of our financial situation, I was sad he sacked Dyche, and I think a lot of the stuff he seems to fiddle with (eSports, Womens football, black paint, LED lightning etc etc) seems superfluous to what makes the money and what we need to really knuckle down on to get back in the black and sustainable.

BUT

The appointment of Kompany represents such a massive step change in our identity as a club in terms of footballing style and potentially international attention that I’m excited IN SPITE of the black cloud that (I feel) continues to hang over the club. Everything could go brilliantly and we all hope it will do of course, but it’s daft for some posters on here to totally disregard our financial status as quite a few are doing.

You can see things from both sides and be simultaneously excited for the season and worried for our long term future, and that’s basically where I am at currently.

I don’t think anyone is suggesting the debt is not a concern, of course its not ideal - but it is where we are and there is nothing we can do about it except encourage positivity from the sidelines. In my experience it is better to worry about things it is your power to change, rather than those over which you have no control.

The club may nosedive, I’ve seen us so desperate to hope a wood merchant from Nelson to rescue us… it is no more or less in our (fans) hands now than it was then… only now there is a lot more hope that we can look up rather than down. We’ve seen the bottom of the barrel - we’ve moved on as a club… and this is not what it looked like.

[Rileybobs]

So in summary -

The fans want better communication and the club to show ambition but not the communication we've had and not that sort of ambition....

That's clear as mud then

I think what is clearer than mud is that Burnley fans are individual people with individual thoughts. I don’t think you can attribute any criticism of the club to our fan base as a whole because that would be daft.

Are the people who complained that they wanted better communication the same people who are questioning Pace’s comment about European ambitions? I haven’t asked for better communication so don’t fall into that category.

[jedi_master]

I don’t think anyone is suggesting the debt is not a concern, of course its not ideal - but it is where we are and there is nothing we can do about it except encourage positivity from the sidelines. In my experience it is better to worry about things it is your power to change, rather than those over which you have no control.

The club may nosedive, I’ve seen us so desperate to hope a wood merchant from Nelson to rescue us… it is no more or less in our (fans) hands now than it was then… only now there is a lot more hope that we can look up rather than down. We’ve seen the bottom of the barrel - we’ve moved on as a club… and this is not what it looked like.

I think there absolutely are people suggesting the debt isn’t a concern/Pace isn’t concerned so why should we be etc. I wish I could be more sensible and worry only about what I can control Elwa (so does my Wife!) but it’s not in my nature. I’m a worrier!

As I say though, I’m also, on occasion, an optimist. I have a good feeling about Kompany and about this coming season. I have no idea what I’m basing it on as he has SO much to do, but I just have this inkling it’s going to go well for us.

[dsr]

Is it actually possible for every club without a rich owner to avoid going down?

I presume therefore that every club that gets relegated from the prem is a badly run one?

Burnley for several years managed to be a club without a rich owner that didn't go down.

Whether it's possible to stay up if you're a club whose owner takes out £112m in his first year and loads £6m+ annual interest on the club to fund it? Probably not. Though we came close.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

No he doesn’t. His own words are “Our goal is European football”.

Maybe it’s unfair to pick apart a statement like that, but if that’s his goal he’s almost certainly going to end up with egg on his face as it’s not realistic.

If the Venky’s came out and did an interview about their new manager and stated their goal was to get European football in four or five years we’d rightly be p!ssing ourselves.

Why isn't it realistic?

Is it because he's actually said it?

We've done before so why can't we do it again?

If he just said it's about promotion and staying in the PL, he'd get battered for lacking ambition especially as a number of fans were bored of just making up the numbers and wanted to be in the championship again so they could see us win more games

[Nori1958]

The communication is full of big ideas he thinks he wants the fans to hear. Even then he can’t stop shuffling in his seat.
He tells us he isn’t lying in one part , was that necessary?
He tells us Europe might not be in 2 years, then expands to 4-5 years, then expands to even longer.
Unconvincing only to those who’ll listen to anything he says

Remember when we didn't own the ground, or Gawthorpe, and had to sell it back to the guy who had said we were set up for life?.... All chairmen / owners make bold statements, which only history can judge.

[Juan Tanamera]

God bless the cotton socks of people who read this interview and see anything other than a chancer.

European football in four or five years or, gasp, maybe even longer. Would be quite funny if it wasn't so scary.

Thank you for blessing my cotton socks (Actually 80/20 with polyester), much appreciated.

[tiger76]

There’s such a massive divergence on this site regarding Pace, I think both sides should take advice from each other really.

I’ve said repeatedly that I’m terrified of our financial situation, I was sad he sacked Dyche, and I think a lot of the stuff he seems to fiddle with (eSports, Womens football, black paint, LED lightning etc etc) seems superfluous to what makes the money and what we need to really knuckle down on to get back in the black and sustainable.

BUT

The appointment of Kompany represents such a massive step change in our identity as a club in terms of footballing style and potentially international attention that I’m excited IN SPITE of the black cloud that (I feel) continues to hang over the club. Everything could go brilliantly and we all hope it will do of course, but it’s daft for some posters on here to totally disregard our financial status as quite a few are doing.

You can see things from both sides and be simultaneously excited for the season and worried for our long term future, and that’s basically where I am at currently.

It's often the extremes that come to the fore on here, and for me the jury is still very much out on AP, he's appointed a promising young manager in Kompany, and the club do appear to be changing direction, and targeting younger players we can hopefully develop and then sell on for a decent profit.

The captures of Collins, Cornet and Roberts demonstrate this strategy, and represents a welcome change in approach, however whether fans like it or not we can't simply ignore our large debts, and if we don't gain promotion in the next 2 years, I for one really fear for our long term prospects of a PL return, as it's likely all the crown jewels will be sold to fund the repayments, plus the parachute payments will also be ending.

So it really does seem to be make or break over the next 24 months, if Kompany can work the oracle and mastermind promotion, then all might be well, however if we gamble and don't win promotion, it could set us back for several years, the stakes are now much higher than they were after our last relegation in my view anyway.

Immediate target has to be a PL return, but talk of European football is fanciful right now, and AP would be wiser to manage expectations, as grandiose ambitions rarely come true.

[Rileybobs]

Why isn't it realistic?

Is it because he's actually said it?

We've done before so why can't we do it again?

If he just said it's about promotion and staying in the PL, he'd get battered for lacking ambition especially as a number of fans were bored of just making up the numbers and wanted to be in the championship again so they could see us win more games

It’s possible, not realistic.

Is it realistic for Leicester City to win the Premier League in the next five seasons?

[spt_claret]

A well thought out and interesting piece. I agree with much of it, however- I disagree with the claim their is any onus on anyone to PROVE anything to the fans. It is their business, you wouldn’t walk into a KFC and demand to see the accounts… you want chicken. There is no reason the Club need to disclose anything other than their year end accounts. We either don’t trust them, wait to find out or accept their explanations… that is up to us, not for the owners to prove.

To clarify I wasn't meaning ALK have to prove this- there's been some debate on the loan deferral thread as to whether the actual final debt due has also been reduced or just the repayment due immediately. I was meaning that if people are arguing that the final debt total has changed its on them to prove it, not on anyone to prove it hasn't, as all we have is stuff to suggest the immediate amount due has been reduced ie. the debt deferred not reduced.

[RVclaret]

It’s possible, not realistic.

Is it realistic for Leicester City to win the Premier League in the next five seasons?

The way City / Liverpool are going, no.

But getting to a cup final / finishing 8th isn’t outside of the realms of possibility / unrealistic.

By the way, Pace said ‘possibly 5 years but it may take longer, as long as Vincent wants to be here, we’ll work on it together’.

So he even said it may take longer than 5 years.

Basically it’s a long term goal. What’s wrong with that?

[Rileybobs]

The way City / Liverpool are going, no.

But getting to a cup final / finishing 8th isn’t outside of the realms of possibility / unrealistic.

By the way, Pace said ‘possibly 5 years but it may take longer, as long as Vincent wants to be here, we’ll work on it together’.

So he even said it may take longer than 5 years.

Basically it’s a long term goal. What’s wrong with that?

If you want to believe that it’s a realistic goal then fair play. I personally don’t. I’m not particularly arsed because it’s just words and it’s one of the reasons why I wasn’t bothered about communication from the chairman aimed at easing the worry of fans. Because ultimately it’s easy to say things but less easy to back those words up.

Anyway, no point keep going in circles. Genuinely ‘exciting times’ at the moment - but time will tell whether that’s for good or bad.