Supporters Council Meeting 16th May 2019
Supporters Council Meeting
Thursday 16 May 2019
Purvis Suite, East End Park.
Ross McArthur – Chairman
Thanks everyone for their support in a difficult season; a lot of people who are almost here every day - including myself - without you - all of you - we wouldn’t have a club.
In summary it certainly was a challenging season, so many different things that could have gone wrong did go wrong, underperformance on the park which affects every aspect of the business, the walk up fans, the replica kit, the hospitality, right across the business.
The financial year isn`t yet finished, we have literally no income now until the start of the new season, through the close season, and this must be thought about.
Retained capital reserves were depleted, the board must reduce costs and increase income which is a massive challenge for a full-time club, and the size of the stadium.
We made the same assumptions as the previous seasons.
Poor home form caused attendances to drop significantly, and the walk-up receipts were a six-figure drop.
Associated costs, salaries are higher, championship and premiership clubs are banded together, and our costs are a lot higher than they were four seasons ago.
Five unprecedented changes in management - Allan and Sandy, two different physios and John Potter.
There were 14 operations on players.
Related costs, play offs, pre op consultations, overnight stays - it has been a very hard period. 3 or 4 operations in the first season when we took over.
Four home matches displaced at 3pm.
We backed the Manager at the start of the season, on paper we had a good line up of players.
An encouraging start at Dundee, but league season was very disappointing.
Most competitive Championship since promotion play offs were introduced but standard is challenging to watch and type of football not entertaining.
Good league cup campaign, unlucky to lose to Hearts in the League Cup.
Losing out on Scottish Cup revenue at Kirkcaldy
Challenge Cup well named! Lost money in that campaign.
Budgeting for next season, tickets, centenary, attendances, know who is in the league, shop, catering
Falkirk no longer in the league - we could lose Dundee United too
We will lose two whole games to a Friday evening- TV
Admission fee increased by £2 per game - not ideal time but no other option. Pretty competitive compared to say Dundee - £26!
Season tickets - 43% are sold at full price - average prices is £9 per ticket.
Walk up £11.62 per ticket income - kept the same for the last 3 seasons
Need extra income - no sugar daddy to top us up.
Community Club needs the backing of the community with everyone doing their bit - in good times and bad.
Trying to boost sponsorship and advertising income
Looking at other means of further investment - new equity
Football - strategy
Invested in a diligent enthusiastic coaching staff.
The reserves have been good. One or two players we have been keeping our eyes on.
Looking to recruit young hungry players, right characters, players who are happy to be here rather than players who think they are doing us a favour.
Want to develop players as assets, looking to get at least 2 or 3 experienced players in.
Squad shape
14 players under contract end of season
Planning of summer transfer window started in February
Looking at a player squad - 30 (20 plus 10 reserves)
9 existing players were not offered terms for next season
4 loan players returned to their parent clubs
6 existing players (first team and reserves) have agreed to re-sign
Cannot name players yet.
Contracts - prove very difficult - some only want 1 year as they think they have potential to get up a league - because of where we are, many players we attract don’t want 2-year contracts
Jackie McNamara - looking to improve scouting and recruitment - should be some good news soon on that aspect.
2019-20 Season
Our club really needs YOUR support We cannot afford to have a season like the one we`ve just had
Renew or purchase a season ticket
Join, or re-join, the centenary club lifeline
Encourage friends and families
Encourage the young players and get behind them
Purchase our replica kit next season
Look to use the facilities at East End Park for parties or family occasions
Volunteer your time and skills to the club
We need positivity - around the whole club.
Abusing the players does not help anyone.
Some people think the club runs itself - everyone here are volunteers - all doing that to help the club - please give us your skills / transferrable skills - please come forward and help.
Sincere thanks on behalf of the Board for your continued support, we do not take it for granted, we have challenges that face the club, but if we stick together and we can move the club forward.
Genuinely believe the coaching staff we have are an exciting prospect and we are positive about the new season to come.
Q&A
Q - 60-64 walk up fans - a big game like Dundee, if it`s warm weather, if the pars win the next six matches £12 to £20 is a concern - these are those people.
A - we inherited a price strategy - overly complicated - people are working longer, in that bracket too, as well as younger people - we look at all these different things - if you buy a season ticket (£11 per game for this age range) - we are also conscious of - the age profile in the centenary club are that range too - trying to balance that out - you still get a big discount but in terms of walk up we have tried to balance out - not only do people come forward to offer their time, older fans aged 60 and over, we are happy to pay the full price, in a position to do this, launched the Gold Card - a large number of 60+ cant get a season ticket, it`s there if they want to do it, there will always be an age group that feel disadvantaged, under12s are now £18 and some people were using children`s tickets to gain free access to the stadium and it`s galling.
Q - 14 operations - would the club not have insurance for something like that? we must have something for players? 2 games for Friday evenings - can we not sort that? we don’t want Alba here; is there no way we can do that?
A - £85,000 to take out an insurance policy - exclusions for previous injuries, excess level, it just isn`t worth it - factor these in, so it`s easy to think we should have these kinds of things, but the costs are too high.
£85,000 is the cost of insurance - cost of operations is more than that, pay the excesses it would be a lot more than that.
Championship TV - we do not get any benefit to change it from a Friday to a Saturday - either than the ad boards to show the game. This is part of a bigger central revenue - it goes into the SPFL distribution - we only get a small part of that. We can’t change the day of the game. The SPFL were very good re the falkirk game - they did try and work with us - we just must have those two games.
Q - Operating budget from last season - whats our expectations for next season - what are we budgeting on for this season
A - Our budget doesn’t start till end of June - cup games, matchday hospitality, raw matchday catering, it`s taken a hit this season
Q - Ayr (full time) - Alloa (part time) - how did they do it and we didn`t
A - Alloa = they were fantastic, take my hat off to Jim Goodwin. Ayr have paid more for their players this season - saw what happened to Morton, one contract, manager goes, chief exec goes, all clubs will be cutting their cloth this season - QOS talking about going part time. it`s going to be challenging, half-a-million parachute payment for teams coming down, Partick got £350,000.
Q - Financial challenges what’s your opinion on expanding the championship - two colt teams?
A - First part if you think about a couple of weeks ago, you are looking at half the league were possibly going down, thistle could have been in play off spot, try and get a fairer distribution - bottom £160,000 top is £450,000 - just in the championship, everyone apart from one club sees the sense in that, full time football, and if we have that fairer distribution and you finish 7th you get 1% you get 1.1% which makes a huge difference.
new tv deal - next season -
League of 16 - 44 games, what`s the pricing model, here`s another £80 on your season ticket for the extra games, i think it would be good to have a 12 team championship, but the implications from that goes all the way down the other leagues - the media assume it was celtic and rangers colts - the intention is for highland and lowland league teams that want colts in.
Q - 23% of the total, 42 clubs - the distributions needs to be a lot better, the only teams to object to that are the top two.
A - 6/7 yrs ago when rangers went down the leagues there was a chance to change it, they (SFL) didn`t do it, celtic and rangers have the tv companies, and the formats, we are through at Hampden on a regular basis and the top two hold all the power, making the best of what we can from the scraps, look at the distribution in the championship is something we can do it, there`s a bigger top up from the new tv deal for the championship, the best that we can hope for.
Q - In agreement with championship clubs for split of money
A - Acceptance / majority - one of the problems that two of the representatives that look after the championship boards are on the SPFL are owners of the clubs - they leave us high and dry - they understand the issues we all have but trying to get it through is difficult
Q - Legends - all but given up on it - shut ten times after games this season, £4 for a tin of Guinness – Charlie Ds then open but don’t have the beer we want.
A - in terms of legends, if we are trying to have parties etc we have to say it`s only to 6pm, as terms of prices I don`t know, if you`re saying then it`s dear, we can look at it, the drinks are more expensive (open to the floor but most fans are happy to pay at legends / charlieDs) - only closed for functions.
Q - Do we have to take part in the Irn Bru Cup? can we exit early?
A - we must enter it as it`s cup competition. english / welsh / Irish clubs - Borehamwood cost the club money.
Greg Shields - Assistant Head Coach
2019 Reserves
Obstacles - so many backroom staff changes- after Stevie comes in, then there`s me. Im very happy with the reserves. Trying to change the mindsets of the youngsters, make them good in their minds that they are good at what they do. First training session - work ethic - trying to impress me. Just play.
Im going to wait a day / 3 days after I saw them.
2 weeks must be challenged every day.
Not a lot of tactical sessions - who wants to win, who wants to compete.
Bert Paton watched training but never said anything - all about challenging.
Coach driven / player driven. At the start they were player driven, after that it was coach driven because i want to teach them.
In the latter part of the season - look at the Raith Rovers game, the players attitudes weren’t good, knew rovers would win because they had a different attitude.
how to get the best -
some players want to stay next to you, some players need to work out more
tried to get to grips with that
coach player - does the player trust me? comes from one to one session, what I`m coaching them. do they apply it on the pitch? they will trust you if you see it on the pitch. can you do it? im testing you. apply it in game time.
coach player trust is massive - over 4/6 weeks - then evaluations - that relationship you must have with the younger players.
training game focus - what i was teaching in training, thats what i wanted them to play - no identity before i came along, now there is, overcome a few hurdles, get the focus on the team.
Q&A
Q - Who does the coaching for the first team?
A - Myself, Stevie and Callum
Ross - taking the mic - you`re talking about results, difficult to come in halfway through the season to take everything on. No idea what Stevie had to put up with when he first come in, I see what Stevie brings in and we hope he will give you everything you all come to expect. Appreciate it does come down to results, it`s about dealing with what you have at your disposal, he can’t repeat what has happened in the past. Must move on.
Q - Raith Rovers - the attitude from the guys in the reserves - never seen so many players come down with cramp, first class attitude in that match.
Q - Squad - how many of the first team players are reserves?
A - You`re allowed as many as you want back in, no limit on it, when coaching the reserve groups, I`d rather have the young guys as they have more energy.
All players go through different types of assessment and mind thinking.
The youth team run through Fife League now. Other clubs are dropping their reserves, so the Pars are a big interest to a lot of youngsters.
Train / play - Monday / Tuesday at 2pm
Q - McCann / Todd - a fan for 55 years - every team had a leader, someone to look up to - the last couple of years, we need someone, like in the past, is it in the plans to get a more and better leader on the park?
Q - Some speculation in the media, big clubs about to pull out.
A – I’ve never picked up a newspaper or on social media (except the reserve stuff on Twitter); that`s fine if clubs want to leave, then do it. More experienced players for us.
Q - Is there any comparison with coaching in America than in Scotland?
A - Yes. The differences are the American players are very technical, on the ball. on the ground, the right way to play, play in heat, the biggest difference is sheer heart. Tactical piece was massive. US kids are very affluent, education high. They got good things but didn’t have a care on the pitch. If you don’t have heart and desire, there`s not much you can do.
A year in, I coached a youth fellowship team. The kids would come up to me after match - got to do homework not train. The education and job piece are very big for those kids. That was the hurdle. We had a lot of Hispanic player and they had the drive the passion and they lit it up. They wanted to be there; the kids would make it.
Q - How long do you think you are going to need and how many players can come into the first team.
A - Three every two years - all these kids are not going to make it but if we can break them in at the right time and the right opportunities. I think under my guidance they will be in a better place, to come in as a youth player with the
Q - Has the job been harder than you thought?
A - This is what we get, I’m honest, I’m upfront, i`ve really enjoyed it, result wise the first team is the hardest part and when we are winning we came back - walked down Dalgety Bay we should enjoy winning, as a player week to week, as a coach from one week we are hoping to win, that the ups and own of being in the job and there are so many different factors we weren’t playing good football, flip side is will we lose a silly goal against ayr . dundee united, affected their confidence, We want players to work hard.
Stevie Crawford - Head Coach
Thanking everyone coming here tonight, the support for the team to the end of the season. It`s a community club, and I’m free to answer questions from anyone tonight, season was hard and it was important to get wins on the board but we were looking over our shoulder to a league that we didn`t want to go down to.
I’m protective of players, try to be respectful because I don’t want to sidestep and hang players` washing in public.
Q - Is there any way in the training schedule for the players to get more than a 50-50
A - We ended in 7th place because we weren’t getting the 50=50 balls. I wasn’t the most physical player - no one had to ask Greg to go out and play there, it was a given, Bert Paton, Leishman, they all had different styles. it was all about better formations.
Slightly smaller squad - in terms of recruitment - we`ve got to be articulate, go about to get players in several positions, that they can bring positivity to the squad, 33 goals isn’t good enough, we shut up shop, in how we go forward, now got an opportunity in the close season, pressing high up the park, coming off the game and luring teams into traps and look better in the counter attack. Man, for man, we need to recruit and who wants to play with the dunfermline badge on their chest.
Q - Callum Davidson
A - He was out of work, had done a pro licence with callum, he was working at stirling uni, he`s got to work out for himself if he is going to be working full time at the club. if im asking the players to be fully committed then Callum must be fully committed too. Ive asked this to him himself, and it is up to him to take this forward.
Q - Jackie McNamara
A - Working with Greg and we brought in Jackie - he`s in the role of football side to Ross, knew him for years, Scotland u20s, Jackie has been instrumental in the background, plenty of experiences on that side of things, he also, at dundee united, brought through Souttar (at age 16) and a younger squad of players, people think of the bad times but he has lots of experience, and he is well respected in the game, across europe not just Britain.
Q - Are you the manager / head coach? Unique for the club to have one / other?
A - See when things are hard, people stand up to be counted, so I want everyone to be positive in this room, how do we make DAFC a better football club, it`s a great honour, it`s to follow in the footsteps of those in years gone back, i judge myself, on the last 8 games there, could i have done better, could i have done something different tactics, i did it with the best intentions with this club, if i have failed then i am trying to make the pars a better football club, im lucky with the board and coaching staff. Ive been given the opportunity of doing something special.
I played in teams where youth were given an opportunity, to come in for Potts` role was a massive compliment. The youth element is important.
I`ll be here for the next 12 months. Im not trying to pat myself on the back. If you want players to be honest, I could have gone and been an assistant somewhere else but from what I saw I didn’t know I was going to be asked to be the manager. There must be an honesty about the club - some people can be so judgemental - I never applauded fans after a defeat as a player - in my heart after a defeat I felt embarrassed, if I clapped it would be a false impression.
Q - Lee Robinson
A - Never a problem with Lee, great competition for places, Ryan Scully, he’s done well, offered a new contract, a good servant to the club, and Lee is one of the ones that have moved on.
Q - Experienced players in?
A - Yes, three or four names would want to come in, how many players are out there, Michael Gardyne, is he going to win tackles, ross draper, good type, if he becomes available, it comes out to finances, we will cover everything we can, if the one thing that I’ve always said, we wont bring experience in if they don’t bring what we want. IAN FERGUSON comes in, relationship with dinger and Barry Nicholson, Barry standing outside of the ball, free kick, dressing room after the game, protective for the players, had Barry by the throat, no in a bullying way, if you do that ever again, Barry has carried that throughout his career, the academy football i watch is every touch of the ball, but it`s a dying breed, if you go to games and watch younger players do, players don’t learn for themselves because the coaches are telling them what to do.
Q - Do you think youths will take us to the top level?
A - They`re the spine of the team, they give foundation, im not promising we are going to be up there winning the league next year, need to be running about, giving their best, from that youth has a chance, there has to be a spine to try our best, to give us a chance to build on, we put up a foundation, a culture, and values to bring back to this football club, anything else after that is for the good of the club.
Q - The least we expected was play offs, then we lost Fraser Aird, Joe Cardle, Dec McManus, we never replaced these guys, bruce anderson who was up there himself, i felt sorry for him, we need a main striker to get goals, we need wingers, to get midfield
A - I don’t disagree with you - i know where you are coming from - was it crap to watch? yes. we got a wee boost from it; we didn’t ask them to punt balls. there has to be a certain level of conditioning, best way to win a formation with the personnel that we had, a long way short totally agree with you and yes we want to provide width someone with pace and creativity recruit wise, if we can encourage passing through the midfield than over his head, this is stuff we can try and address.
It baffles me at the lack of importance of a throw in - we played QOS in the air, the worst performances since we came in. after recovery session i took the boys at the start of the game just to take throw ins. the amount of times the ball gets the ball and we give away possession. having to explain to them to receive the ball in the final third. one striker off, inside the box, I don’t get why you’re coming in 5/6 yards. if a defender tackles, there`s a chance of a penalty.
What supporters take for granted, and what we can take for granted, are two different aspects.
Thanks.
AOB = none.
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