Originally Posted by
curious_fan
Thats a big statement when you would have little information about the plans of most (if any) of those clubs your referring too.
Belswans - I'd suggest you look at the improvements to the facilities over the last five years, the soon to be improvement via a grant to the watering system to come over this off season, the work that's gone into sponsorship and players recently seasons. The fact that the are not willing to enter into a fight over the local juniors with the Swansea Academy I think speaks worlds for the ambition the club does have..... to foster a good relationship with local juniors and provide the best system available to them. And I am sure it is something they will again try to negotiate a solution to with Northern at next months meeting.
West Wallsend - gone from nearly folding in Feb to a situation where they are negotiating with a new experienced first grade coach for 2015, by projections will be entirely debt free by seasons end and have sufficient funds in the bank to commence 2015 in a normal fashion, have increased their sponsors despite the early gloom, have successfully negotiated with Northern to become the new W-League training base, have reestablished a working relationship with the local juniors, are in the process of putting together a ten year capital plan for submission to LMCC for improvements, judging by recent rounds have the current best playing surface in the competition and a dedicated group of players within the club again.
Singleton - have dedicated quite substantial financial resources to improving the on field and coaching performances this season.
Cessnock have already a fantastic relationship with their juniors, have junior sides playing under the senior banner and playing on their field already just in the wrong age groups at this stage. Have a coach with a youth focus in his plans for the coming seasons and are highly competitive in that youth age group. Have probably the best covered seating areas in the competition, have dramatically improved the paying surface over the last 3 years and have a solid volunteer base.
Toronto and Thornton I wont comment on because I now very little about their situations aside from general impressions. You may not look at long term planning, sound financial planning or youth development as very ambitious but I will take those as means of ensuring strong solid clubs over the long term than short held glory like each of them have been put through in years gone past at attempts for short term glory.
Why is it wrong for clubs to be looking at NBN and saying, to be competitive we have to improve X,Y and Z over the coming 3, 5,7 years and doing it properly?
