02-06-2018, 12:25
We ARE bigger than Accrington. They ARE better than us. We ARE bigger than Yeovil, but they were in the Championship a few seasons ago.
All this stuff about Burnley managing on a small budget is way out of date. They got there on a small budget, but now they are one of the world's top 100 richest clubs. Their playing budget now is small as a matter of choice (probably a very wise choice!), but last season's TV-based income alone would buy them almost any player in world football if they wanted to go that way.
Aston Villa is a big club, but financial fair play rules will probably mean selling several of their best players this summer. So how do you even calculate big and small? Ask Father Ted? It was too much for Dougal.
Our expectations are still higher than Accrington's, but lower than Charlton's and much lower than Derby's. Orient's expectations used to be higher than ours, Wrexham's were much the same as our own. Maybe all these years in non-league have slightly lowered Wrexham's sights and fate has now made Orient our bedfellows. But expectation changes more slowly than league positions. Did Burton or Yeovil EVER really see themselves as Championship clubs? Do Stockport see themselves as a Stalybridge or a Nuneaton? Do Northampton and Carlisle view themselves as once and therefore future top-level teams.
For us being outside the EFL is a disconnect. If we were sensible we would be treating our relegation like Bristol Rovers; with both ambition and realism. And on both those counts Accrington and Mansfield ARE bigger than us. We need to make being BIGGER functional rather than merely historic.
All this stuff about Burnley managing on a small budget is way out of date. They got there on a small budget, but now they are one of the world's top 100 richest clubs. Their playing budget now is small as a matter of choice (probably a very wise choice!), but last season's TV-based income alone would buy them almost any player in world football if they wanted to go that way.
Aston Villa is a big club, but financial fair play rules will probably mean selling several of their best players this summer. So how do you even calculate big and small? Ask Father Ted? It was too much for Dougal.
Our expectations are still higher than Accrington's, but lower than Charlton's and much lower than Derby's. Orient's expectations used to be higher than ours, Wrexham's were much the same as our own. Maybe all these years in non-league have slightly lowered Wrexham's sights and fate has now made Orient our bedfellows. But expectation changes more slowly than league positions. Did Burton or Yeovil EVER really see themselves as Championship clubs? Do Stockport see themselves as a Stalybridge or a Nuneaton? Do Northampton and Carlisle view themselves as once and therefore future top-level teams.
For us being outside the EFL is a disconnect. If we were sensible we would be treating our relegation like Bristol Rovers; with both ambition and realism. And on both those counts Accrington and Mansfield ARE bigger than us. We need to make being BIGGER functional rather than merely historic.