Is there a plan?

[Nonayforever]

Imagine you owned a business and you had progressive plans for that business. You think the best way to support your business is to bring in a manager to recruit talent to your business. Your middle managers then rebel and meet with you to say quite bluntly that if that manager comes in then they will down tools and look for new roles. You politely remind them of their role and how that fits into the bigger picture of the business.

You then find out that one of your middle managers has been actively courting a different business on your business time and that he is talking your business and you down.

What would you do?

Can't believe this post hasn't been discussed in great detail as everything is there apart from names.

[claretandy]

Can't believe this post hasn't been discussed in great detail as everything is there apart from names.

I know, i clocked it, Pace wanted to bring in a DoF, Dyche didn't, he's been caught hawking himself about and sacked.

[claptrappers_union]

Dyche had his feet firmly under the table and was on a great wage compared to other managers in the division. I can’t see why he’d be hawking himself about.

If he was, then in believe he could see the writing on the wall with these clowns running the club.

[Lancasterclaret]

I wouldn't say we were the better side against Brentford, it was pretty even until they scored.

Right, so a bit of a stretch saying they weren't playing for the manager then?

[Lancasterclaret]

Can't believe this post hasn't been discussed in great detail as everything is there apart from names.

Yeah, and actual facts

Its all speculation, and that makes a lot more sense than the Duncan Ferguson/Sean Dyche one that was doing the rounds yesterday

[Murger]

Dyche had his feet firmly under the table and was on a great wage compared to other managers in the division. I can’t see why he’d be hawking himself about.

If he was, then in believe he could see the writing on the wall with these clowns running the club.

So it's perfectly acceptable to be job hunting (if that is the case)?

[claretandy]

It's certainly not a straightforward sacking, I would have expected some kind of statement by SD by now, as others have said, his settlement could have an NDA, we may never find out the real reason.

[claptrappers_union]

So it's perfectly acceptable to be job hunting (if that is the case)?

No, just a possible reason. I wonder which job they were angling for?

[Nonayforever]

It's not the search for a new job, or the fact that they may wanting to take certain players, or even the failure to accept change or criticism.
It's the viciousness of actively destabilising your employer to satisfy your disenchantment against certain people.

[spt_claret]

Yeah, and actual facts

Its all speculation, and that makes a lot more sense than the Duncan Ferguson/Sean Dyche one that was doing the rounds yesterday

The thing that doesn't make sense is the alleged club(s) involved.

If Everton- if we stay up, they drop presumably- why jump? If we go down, Everton probably won't cut Lampard, how can he jump?
If Watford- why jump unless both go down and he's assured far more control there than now?
Derby is an absurd link. Why would he drop 1, probably 2, divisions?

It's a story that makes sense on paper but the fine details don't add up. I'm not dismissing it out of hand, but I would suggest that the alternative of 'Owners want a Director of Football, Dyche objects as this undercuts his role (already being undercut in transfers allegedly), owners insist on a DoF, Dyche threatens to walk, they sack him.' NDA keeps all this under wraps, but then the rumour mill can start to try justify the decision 1 way or the other, as speculation that isn't true is naturally not covered by the NDA.

Fits more with Dyche's character also, given the reported multiple opportunities he's had to jump previously and generally loyal (often overly loyal to some players) demeanour. Seems wildly out of character to cut a backroom deal, for a guy who has often been criticised for excess loyalty.

But again, NDAs can both cover up wrongdoing, and create the impression of it. What's certainly clear is the culture at the club has changed radically in the past 12-15 months, and not for the better. Which creates a very low-trust environment all round.

I'm not saying it's impossible that the story painting ALK in a favourable light and Dyche in a negative one is true. But it doesn't fit right with me, based on what we know of the people involved, so I'd like to see more evidence than posting from Blakesboots- who in other threads has pretty clearly demonstrated to have some connection to ALK.

[Nonayforever]

The thing that doesn't make sense is the alleged club(s) involved.

If Everton- if we stay up, they drop presumably- why jump? If we go down, Everton probably won't cut Lampard, how can he jump?
If Watford- why jump unless both go down and he's assured far more control there than now?
Derby is an absurd link. Why would he drop 1, probably 2, divisions?

It's a story that makes sense on paper but the fine details don't add up. I'm not dismissing it out of hand, but I would suggest that the alternative of 'Owners want a Director of Football, Dyche objects as this undercuts his role (already being undercut in transfers allegedly), owners insist on a DoF, Dyche threatens to walk, they sack him.' NDA keeps all this under wraps, but then the rumour mill can start to try justify the decision 1 way or the other, as speculation that isn't true is naturally not covered by the NDA.

Fits more with Dyche's character also, given the reported multiple opportunities he's had to jump previously and generally loyal (often overly loyal to some players) demeanour. Seems wildly out of character to cut a backroom deal, for a guy who has often been criticised for excess loyalty.

But again, NDAs can both cover up wrongdoing, and create the impression of it. What's certainly clear is the culture at the club has changed radically in the past 12-15 months, and not for the better. Which creates a very low-trust environment all round.

I'm not saying it's impossible that the story painting ALK in a favourable light and Dyche in a negative one is true. But it doesn't fit right with me, based on what we know of the people involved, so I'd like to see more evidence than posting from Blakesboots- who in other threads has pretty clearly demonstrated to have some connection to ALK.

It's not which team or teams. It's not which player or players.
It's pretty evident that it's a personal grudge with one person trying to make life difficult for one or more other people.

[JohnMcGreal]

I'm not dismissing it out of hand, but I would suggest that the alternative of 'Owners want a Director of Football, Dyche objects as this undercuts his role (already being undercut in transfers allegedly), owners insist on a DoF, Dyche threatens to walk, they sack him.

If that was the case then surely it would have been a lot cheaper for Pace to call his bluff and let him resign, rather than sacking him (along with all his staff).

[spt_claret]

If that was the case then surely it would have been a lot cheaper for Pace to call his bluff and let him resign, rather than sacking him (along with all his staff).

Possibly. It's possible this happened previously, or Pace isn't a man to be challenged or call bluffs. It is also possible the rumours are true, but it really breaks the established 9 1/2 years of what we know of Dyche's character. This isn't a Coyle situation where he was here for a couple of years then shot off. It's a well known fact that Dyche established a very specific culture at the club, with old fashioned values and loyalty. It also is apparent that ALK have been clearing out longterm staff from day one.

If Dyche really did court outside offers then that speaks volumes as to changes that have been going on. Still absolutely puts him in the wrong, would make the sacking understandable, but seems so drastically different to what we've known of his time in charge that it worries me deeply about where we're headed.

[JohnMcGreal]

Possibly. It's possible this happened previously, or Pace isn't a man to be challenged or call bluffs. It is also possible the rumours are true, but it really breaks the established 9 1/2 years of what we know of Dyche's character. This isn't a Coyle situation where he was here for a couple of years then shot off. It's a well known fact that Dyche established a very specific culture at the club, with old fashioned values and loyalty. It also is apparent that ALK have been clearing out longterm staff from day one.

If Dyche really did court outside offers then that speaks volumes as to changes that have been going on. Still absolutely puts him in the wrong, would make the sacking understandable, but seems so drastically different to what we've known of his time in charge that it worries me deeply about where we're headed.

I suppose it will all come out in the wash. We can only speculate at this stage, but there's undoubtedly a pattern of letting a lot of long serving and good people go over the last 12 months, which now includes Dyche and the coaching staff.

[Nonayforever]

The management looks like it was unhappy with planned changes, actively sought pastures new but, and its a big but, were talking about issues that shouldn't have been discussed with a potential new employer.
My guess on the other team is Derby, as there is a common link as to how the info leaked backed to Burnley. MSD.

[taio]

The management looks like it was unhappy with planned changes, actively sought pastures new but, and its a big but, were talking about issues that shouldn't have been discussed with a potential new employer.
My guess on the other team is Derby, as there is a common link as to how the info leaked backed to Burnley. MSD.

Why on earth would they choose to leave to go to Derby?

[Newcastleclaret93]

The management looks like it was unhappy with planned changes, actively sought pastures new but, and its a big but, were talking about issues that shouldn't have been discussed with a potential new employer.
My guess on the other team is Derby, as there is a common link as to how the info leaked backed to Burnley. MSD.

Where has all this rubbish about our entire management team looking elsewhere come from?

Dyche was one of the top paid managers In world football. Do people honestly think he would leave that to go somewhere like Derby?

[Nonayforever]

Why on earth would they choose to leave to go to Derby?

Derby are potentially a bigger club than 7 or possibly 8 current PL clubs.

[taio]

Derby are potentially a bigger club than 7 or possibly 8 current PL clubs.

They are on the verge of dropping into League 1. It's hilarious that you think Dyche would choose to leave a PL club on circa £4m a year to go there. Where does shite like this stem from?

[spt_claret]

Where has all this rubbish about our entire management team looking elsewhere come from?

Dyche was one of the top paid managers In world football. Do people honestly think he would leave that to go somewhere like Derby?

Primarily from Blakesboots, who joined the forum Saturday and from other threads seems to have a close connection to ALK. Worth noting it also only started up after people became less sure of the dressing room mutiny theory- and a few posters have switched to this story.

Doesn't make the claim impossible. But it goes to show how fast rumours can spread, especially if gag orders prevent people from correcting them. As the saying goes, a lie can travel the world before the truth gets its boots on.
Which puts the club in a rather unpleasant situation- if its true, it signifies seismic problems to trigger such a change in 9 1/2 years of established character record. If it's false, we have someone spreading stories to discredit our ex-manager and prop up the board. Interesting that Darren Bentley was relieved of his post as media manager last August.

Worth bearing in mind- ALL of our problems began when takeover talks started in Summer 2020. Investment dried up that summer as Garlick fattened the books to sell, we were nearly relegated, a huge backroom clearout occurs, we still spend less Summer 2021 than Summer 2019, we sell our top striker and as per the board's admission would have made no incomings in January 2022 if Wood hadn't been sold. Talks of transfer policy interference. Now talks of a Director of Football. Now these rumours. Talks of loan repayments being missed, issues with the share buyback, talks of ownership reverting to Garlick.
True or false these are all the signs of a massive crisis at every level of the club, and anyone who can't see that- especially the ones celebrating ALK's position and Dyche's demise- is deluding themselves.

[jedi_master]

Cannot believe how people are buying all this crap about Dyche looking for other jobs, beating people up with Duncan Ferguson and any other fantasist bullshit to try and justify the timing of the decision.

I mean, no, I fully can believe it.

I might sign up on here with the name RealAlanPace and say I sacked Dyche as it had come to light that he was under investigation for repeatedly breaking into zoos across the country at night to have ‘time’ with the wombats - pretty sure it would be believed by two or three.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Primarily from Blakesboots, who joined the forum Saturday and from other threads seems to have a close connection to ALK. Worth noting it also only started up after people became less sure of the dressing room mutiny theory- and a few posters have switched to this story.

Doesn't make the claim impossible. But it goes to show how fast rumours can spread, especially if gag orders prevent people from correcting them. As the saying goes, a lie can travel the world before the truth gets its boots on.
Which puts the club in a rather unpleasant situation- if its true, it signifies seismic problems to trigger such a change in 9 1/2 years of established character record. If it's false, we have someone spreading stories to discredit our ex-manager and prop up the board. Interesting that Darren Bentley was relieved of his post as media manager last August.

Worth bearing in mind- ALL of our problems began when takeover talks started in Summer 2020. Investment dried up that summer as Garlick fattened the books to sell, we were nearly relegated, a huge backroom clearout occurs, we still spend less Summer 2021 than Summer 2019, we sell our top striker and as per the board's admission would have made no incomings in January 2022 if Wood hadn't been sold. Talks of transfer policy interference. Now talks of a Director of Football. Now these rumours. Talks of loan repayments being missed, issues with the share buyback, talks of ownership reverting to Garlick.
True or false these are all the signs of a massive crisis at every level of the club, and anyone who can't see that- especially the ones celebrating ALK's position and Dyche's demise- is deluding themselves.

Fair enough, it’s exactly what I thought then. A load of bullocks made up by some bored individual.

I think your right Dyche probably isn’t happy about the all changes that are happening but I think people are just being silly if they think he is going to walk away from potentially a once in a lifetime contract to a lower club. I believe he was in the top 20 paid managers in world football if the 15m payout is accurate.

I agree with your sentiments about the club being in crisis. I think we are in a downward spiral and it’s likely that all of the good Dyche built in ten years will quickly unravel.

[daveisaclaret]

It's amazing to realise the extent people will both just make things up and/or believe something a complete stranger posts anonymously on the internet.

[Burnley Ace]

Cannot believe how people are buying all this crap about Dyche looking for other jobs, beating people up with Duncan Ferguson and any other fantasist bullshit to try and justify the timing of the decision.

I mean, no, I fully can believe it.

I might sign up on here with the name RealAlanPace and say I sacked Dyche as it had come to light that he was under investigation for repeatedly breaking into zoos across the country at night to have ‘time’ with the wombats - pretty sure it would be believed by two or three.

Any more unbelievable than with 8 games to go, 3 of which were within the next week, the entire first team coaching staff were all sacked to be replaced by the U23 coach because the board suddenly had concerns about the results???

[Newcastleclaret93]

Any more unbelievable than with 8 games to go, 3 of which were within the next week, the entire first team coaching staff were all sacked to be replaced by the U23 coach because the board suddenly had concerns about the results???

Yes very much so more unbelievable.

ALK have shown they are inexperienced to the extreme and have struggled at every step so far. This is just another example of it.

[jedi_master]

Any more unbelievable than with 8 games to go, 3 of which were within the next week, the entire first team coaching staff were all sacked to be replaced by the U23 coach because the board suddenly had concerns about the results???

Yes, because it’s been clear for a long time that Alan Pace is a clueless individual. Do not expect common sense from a man who has already removed almost everyone inside the club from behind the scenes who had been there years.

It is certainly a far more likely scenario that he did this on a whim than any of the ridiculous crap I’m reading on here.

[claptrappers_union]

What’s this about Duncan Ferguson?

[daveisaclaret]

What’s this about Duncan Ferguson?

There is a rumour that Dyche and Ferguson are in the habit of getting drunk and smashing up pubs together and Dyche has been sacked because he's facing years in jail. I am running a charity appeal to support anyone thick enough to believe it.

[bumba]

Yes very much so more unbelievable.

ALK have shown they are inexperienced to the extreme and have struggled at every step so far. This is just another example of it.

I'm intrigued, what have they struggled with?

[claptrappers_union]

Dyche smashes up pubs?

[taio]

Any more unbelievable than with 8 games to go, 3 of which were within the next week, the entire first team coaching staff were all sacked to be replaced by the U23 coach because the board suddenly had concerns about the results???

Yes far more unbelievable. Some absolute horseshite is being posted.

[taio]

I'm intrigued, what have they struggled with?

It would be easier to ask what have they done well. Although it would be difficult to respond to.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I'm intrigued, what have they struggled with?

What haven’t they?

Signed players that don’t suit our system. Talk in public about more finances being available then give Dyche a net spend of 5m over 3 windows.

Offer our manager one of the most lucrative deals in the premier league and then sack him 6 months later. Costing the club more money.

Pour money into the female football team which struggles to now get 100 viewers a game.

Start the season with 11 players out of contract at the end of it and expect to stay in the league.

Sack experienced staff that have been part of our most successful period in recent history.

Continue to receive negative press regarding the finances.

Partner with an NFT firm (yellow heart) then nothing happens 18 months later.

Comment in the public space about not understand agents and there excessive fees.



Bumba the list would be shorter naming what they have done right.

[bumba]

What haven’t they?

Signed players that don’t suit our system. Talk in public about more finances being available then give Dyche a net spend of 5m over 3 windows.

Offer our manager one of the most lucrative deals in the premier league and then sack him 6 months later. Costing the club more money.

Pour money into the female football team which struggles to now get 100 viewers a game.

Start the season with 11 players out of contract at the end of it and expect to stay in the league.

Sack experienced staff that have been part of our most successful period in recent history.

Continue to receive negative press regarding the finances.

Partner with an NFT firm (yellow heart) then nothing happens 18 months later.

Comment in the public space about not understand agents and there excessive fees.



Bumba the list would be shorter naming what they have done right.

The majority of those reasons you give are Dyche's fault not Pace.

Way I see it Dyche has been given months and months of extra time to change around the season, he's also been bought better players yet HE has persisted in the same style and system.
We played the same formation yesterday but altered the style and the difference was blatantly obvious.
Pace has shown balls to give him extra time then even more balls to get rid now which is the right call by the way, he's improved our hospitality areas.
He hasn't come in at the best of times with covid then our long dip in form so deserves a bit more credit.
They've got rid of a lot of the staff in the back ground but anybody coming in seems a much more experienced and better calibre of staff so get behind them and see what happens instead of being negative because a failing manager got sacked

[Blakesboots]

What haven’t they?

Signed players that don’t suit our system. Talk in public about more finances being available then give Dyche a net spend of 5m over 3 windows.

Offer our manager one of the most lucrative deals in the premier league and then sack him 6 months later. Costing the club more money.

Pour money into the female football team which struggles to now get 100 viewers a game.

Start the season with 11 players out of contract at the end of it and expect to stay in the league.

Sack experienced staff that have been part of our most successful period in recent history.

Continue to receive negative press regarding the finances.

Partner with an NFT firm (yellow heart) then nothing happens 18 months later.

Comment in the public space about not understand agents and there excessive fees.



Bumba the list would be shorter naming what they have done right.

I think you’re out of order about the women’s team.

We have different opinions about most of the above.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The majority of those reasons you give are Dyche's fault not Pace.

Way I see it Dyche has been given months and months of extra time to change around the season, he's also been bought better players yet HE has persisted in the same style and system.
We played the same formation yesterday but altered the style and the difference was blatantly obvious.
Pace has shown balls to give him extra time then even more balls to get rid now which is the right call by the way, he's improved our hospitality areas.
He hasn't come in at the best of times with covid then our long dip in form so deserves a bit more credit.
They've got rid of a lot of the staff in the back ground but anybody coming in seems a much more experienced and better calibre of staff so get behind them and see what happens instead of being negative because a failing manager got sacked

Bumba you are obviously pro pace as you are letting your biases cloud your judgement.

I can see your point about systems etc… but managers don’t buy players to change systems. They buy players to improve there systems. Fundamentally Pace has purchased players that didn’t fit into Dyches system and it’s a big reason we are in this mess.

The other items are all at the owners feet.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think you’re out of order about the women’s team.

We have different opinions about most of the above.

What’s out of order about it?

I think female team is good initiative but ultimately it’s not been a success. The viewership is incredibly low.

[BabylonClaret]

The more this carries on the more it is getting ugly. I'm firmly in agreement with newcastle93, spt and jedi here. This smacks of misinformation to discredit Dyche.

The posts by blakesboots (who only appears actively on this board after the "lost the dressing room" Daily Mail article failed to hold properly) suggest Dyche refused to accept changes and got caught looking for a new job.

Aside from his "what would you do" post is extremely simplistic bordering on childish (I mean it's more a case of your business operationsl director who carries the can if the business fails being told someone else will hire people for key positions rather than middle managers) it's totally against what we know of his character and his approach.

The people who wanted the manager gone are so blinded by the fact that he has gone they're prepared to believe almost anything.

Sa king him might have been the right decision to inject new impetus - if that had happened after Huddersfield or Watford (or even Brentford. Sacking him with 8 games to go and 4 points adrift with no successor ready really isn't.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

What’s out of order about it?

I think female team is good initiative but ultimately it’s not been a success. The viewership is incredibly low.

How quickly are you expecting it to grow?
Do you have annual growth projections?

[gandhisflipflop]

The majority of those reasons you give are Dyche's fault not Pace.

Way I see it Dyche has been given months and months of extra time to change around the season, he's also been bought better players yet HE has persisted in the same style and system.
We played the same formation yesterday but altered the style and the difference was blatantly obvious.
Pace has shown balls to give him extra time then even more balls to get rid now which is the right call by the way, he's improved our hospitality areas.
He hasn't come in at the best of times with covid then our long dip in form so deserves a bit more credit.
They've got rid of a lot of the staff in the back ground but anybody coming in seems a much more experienced and better calibre of staff so get behind them and see what happens instead of being negative because a failing manager got sacked

You’re flogging a dead horse here bumba. These posters have made their minds up very early on regarding the new owners. They haven’t given them a chance. Anything they do will be wrong. The model for our club has always had to have been buy players to sell on for a profit. Previously that could be achieved by shopping in the UK market, and Dyche did very well from it. The last 5 years or so that has shifted, and the new owners know that there is better value to be had abroad. From word go my fears were that the new owners business model and Dyche wouldn’t align and so it has proven. He deserved time to adapt, and he didn’t do so. Pace must have looked at the OOC players and thought that if he wasn’t willing to move with the times and adapt, then he isn’t the man to take us forward. A lot of our fan base have revelled in the small club mentality, and anyone who dares challenge the status quo at the club won’t be well thought of, and unfortunately pace must ride this out even though the level of criticism has been completely uncalled for at times.

[Top Claret]

With the way Dyche and his team were shown the door there is more to this than meets the eye . They may have had their heads turned although I doubt its from the likes of Derby.

Was disappointed to see him go with 8games left but I think change is needed as relegation looked nailed on under Dyche, with his rigid 442 we just kept playing the same type of one direction football that as become sterile ,boring and not bringing in the results with 4 wins in 30 games.

From the performance yesterday the lads didn't look to be down beat at losing Dyche , they looked relieved and energized

[daveisaclaret]

What haven’t they?

Signed players that don’t suit our system. Talk in public about more finances being available then give Dyche a net spend of 5m over 3 windows.

Offer our manager one of the most lucrative deals in the premier league and then sack him 6 months later. Costing the club more money.

Pour money into the female football team which struggles to now get 100 viewers a game.

Start the season with 11 players out of contract at the end of it and expect to stay in the league.

Sack experienced staff that have been part of our most successful period in recent history.

Continue to receive negative press regarding the finances.

Partner with an NFT firm (yellow heart) then nothing happens 18 months later.

Comment in the public space about not understand agents and there excessive fees.



Bumba the list would be shorter naming what they have done right.

I think every point of this is spot on, except I suspect the amount of money spent on the women's team is probably trivial.

[Newcastleclaret93]

How quickly are you expecting it to grow?
Do you have annual growth projections?

If I’m honest I personally expected it to get considerably more views. Especially given the reaction to it when it was announced. I’ve watched a couple of the games and genuinely wonder how it’s going to be sustainable with the viewing levels it’s at.

I would also be interested to see what happens to the womens team if we are relegated and how it would be funded.

[taio]

You’re flogging a dead horse here bumba. These posters have made their minds up very early on regarding the new owners. They haven’t given them a chance. Anything they do will be wrong. The model for our club has always had to have been buy players to sell on for a profit. Previously that could be achieved by shopping in the UK market, and Dyche did very well from it. The last 5 years or so that has shifted, and the new owners know that there is better value to be had abroad. From word go my fears were that the new owners business model and Dyche wouldn’t align and so it has proven. He deserved time to adapt, and he didn’t do so. Pace must have looked at the OOC players and thought that if he wasn’t willing to move with the times and adapt, then he isn’t the man to take us forward. A lot of our fan base have revelled in the small club mentality, and anyone who dares challenge the status quo at the club won’t be well thought of, and unfortunately pace must ride this out even though the level of criticism has been completely uncalled for at times.

The main issue people have is the leveraged buy out, the debt, the financial risks and what those things could mean in the event we cannot rely on PL revenues. It has feck all to do with small club mentality.

[jedi_master]

Malcolm Jenkins investment will negate any of the financial penalties from relegation.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think every point of this is spot on, except I suspect the amount of money spent on the women's team is probably trivial.

It probably is trivial whilst we are in the premier league. But if we are relegated I suspect it will be a cost that the club will have to find.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The main issue people have is the leveraged buy out, the debt, the financial risks and what those things could mean in the event we cannot rely on PL revenues. It has feck all to do with small club mentality.

I don’t usually agree with you Taio but I think you are spot on.

Paces recent interview in the local papers just confirms my fears about relegation.

[BabylonClaret]

You’re flogging a dead horse here bumba. These posters have made their minds up very early on regarding the new owners. They haven’t given them a chance. Anything they do will be wrong. The model for our club has always had to have been buy players to sell on for a profit. Previously that could be achieved by shopping in the UK market, and Dyche did very well from it. The last 5 years or so that has shifted, and the new owners know that there is better value to be had abroad. From word go my fears were that the new owners business model and Dyche wouldn’t align and so it has proven. He deserved time to adapt, and he didn’t do so. Pace must have looked at the OOC players and thought that if he wasn’t willing to move with the times and adapt, then he isn’t the man to take us forward. A lot of our fan base have revelled in the small club mentality, and anyone who dares challenge the status quo at the club won’t be well thought of, and unfortunately pace must ride this out even though the level of criticism has been completely uncalled for at times.

But the bottom line is to keep co petetive we need a team that can compete. Get players who can be resold fine but other than Collins I would argue we haven't. Neither Weghorst or Cornet are young enough to have any significant resale value above what we paid.

Let's run with your theory here that ALK gave Dyche time to adapt and he didn't so he has to go. If that's the case why give him a 4 year contract. Would you do that for some one you thought might not share your approach? No. Neither would I.

It's either bad judgement or the only way they could get Dyche to commit for a season with a view they would pot him season end anyway.

If Dyche is clearly in the wrong why isn't the real reason for the sacking coming out? If ALK are golden here then simply say so rather than hide behind the silence whilst sneakily planting rumours outside the club

[gandhisflipflop]

The main issue people have is the leveraged buy out, the debt, the financial risks and what those things could mean in the event we cannot rely on PL revenues. It has feck all to do with small club mentality.

Of course it has. I’ve never known a fan base to be so obsessed with debt. Garlick sanctioned the leveraged buy out. We couldn’t go on the way we were and improving without taking risks. A lot of fans would have been happy to drop back into the championship, wave the white flag and boast about being a debt free club.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

If I’m honest I personally expected it to get considerably more views. Especially given the reaction to it when it was announced. I’ve watched a couple of the games and genuinely wonder how it’s going to be sustainable with the viewing levels it’s at.

I would also be interested to see what happens to the womens team if we are relegated and how it would be funded.

Our women's team is pretty much non-league, it will take a number of years for viewing numbers to grow, much like it has for the WSL.
You have to take into account the way it's derided by a large number of men.
It's normal on here to see men dismissing women's football, the standard of it and the capability of women to commentate and be pundits in the men's side of it, that's before we get to the suggestion of female managers in the men's game which is always gives an amusing reaction.
Physical attendance of games will also rely in a large degree on men taking their kids to it and that's not going to happen a lot of the time, for reasons shown above.

If you're expecting rapid growth in viewing numbers then you're always going to be disappointed.
Fans of female football will be more attracted to the established teams, much like male football fans do with the top clubs.
Our team is still relatively new and unknown, especially as it's further down the league's.
You can't think short term here, you have to think longer term in regards to planning, growth and attracting a fanbase.
The owners probably have a 5 and then 10yr growth model for the woman's team.