More signings yawn

Devongone · 21-01-2021, 13:49

Gavin Gunning formerly of Gloucester City signs. 18 months! Surely till the end of the season with an option to renew would have been more sensible?

And Adam Pryzbek or something. 20 year old keeper from Ipswich whose first choice keeper isn't that hot. That must mean James Rowe thinks Letheren is a first choice. He'll learn when a few decent crosses swing in.

And we won another penalty shoot out. What's going on. And Hutchinson was on the bench, where's he been this season?

Certainly the amount of players we are signing sound as though Rowe might have eyes on some kind of development team next season, if there are ever any more seasons.

Dancingwilldoit · 21-01-2021, 18:09

Add to the above another keeper Grant Smith. Think we must have struck gold somewhere. He says he wants a reserve team next year.

Last night we beat Chesterfield Reserves with Fitzsimons, Dimaio, Tootle, and Burrows all playing. Am sure Jake Wright was once upon a time a Spireite but not 100% and cant be arsed to look it up.

**spireitematt** · 21-01-2021, 19:27

It makes sense to have a reserve team because it's show competition, without a reserve team or development squad then roughly the same squad will get picked every match. Competition is healthy. I just hope financially the club is ok.

Devongone · (This post was last modified: 22-01-2021, 16:43 by Devongone.)

Now I didn't know we'd got Grant Smith. A really really good signing. Perhaps Letheren's going to get a mutual dissent, otherwise why the kid from Ipswich with Dylan Wharton saving penalties?

Back when we were in the EFL and I was suggesting players to sign from non-league Grant Smith from Boreham Wood was on the list. He was keeper of the year in the National League the season Boreham Wood finished second. He was very good back then. I don't know what went wrong for him at Lincoln but as a perennial critic of keepers I'm prepared to give him more than a chance. Best signing since Asante? Unless something has gone very wrong in his career he is a big step up from Letheren.

Long term I think a second team is essential, otherwise what do you do with a 17 year old who isn't going to be ready till he's 19 or 20? How do you find developing talent, where do you try it out otherwise. Ideally they'd play in something competitive like Plymouth's Reserves in the SW Peninsula. Luke Jephcott, top scorer in Division One played in that team, moved to Truro on loan to step up and is now a hot property. Cooper their young keeper is also catching eyes as well as crosses having come through the reserves.

Like Matt though I'm worried about funding, especially with National North and South suspending for 2 weeks. If there is nowhere for us to loan players to we've got a huge squad for this level, and somebody like Luke Rawson urgently needs games to develop. Maybe we can loan to Kings Lynn, Ian Culverhouse seems keen on our cast-offs (which is worrying, because he really knows what he is doing!)

Dancingwilldoit · 22-01-2021, 23:45

One presumes we know what we we are doing. To keep making signings when there's every chance the league could be cancelled makes no sense whatsoever. Either we have come into some money or the Trust have no idea whatsoever what they are doing.

**spireitematt** · 23-01-2021, 01:36

(22-01-2021, 23:45)Dancingwilldoit Wrote: One presumes we know what we we are doing. To keep making signings when there's every chance the league could be cancelled makes no sense whatsoever. Either we have come into some money or the Trust have no idea whatsoever what they are doing.

I can't imagine any player is on big wages. The club will be making money from the streams and also from selling takeaway food on matchdays but the big question is it enough to cover wages? National League clubs cannot afford to take on loans during this time as it's not sustainable, either the DCMS do a U-turn and give the National League a grant to finish the season or the season will be declared invalid like last season and if that does happen again, will the Government be extending the furlough scheme beyond April? Because as it looks it looks like this lockdown could carry on for many months beyond April and if the season does end early and there is no furlough then players at the club will probably have to be let go.

Surely the National League knew that the option was going to be a loan from the DCMS before it got to this stage?

Dancingwilldoit · 23-01-2021, 13:53

The money from streams cant be that great. I think the highest number for one of our home games was 1600 and the average is about 1200. That is only £12,000 per home game which is chicken feed compared to player wages. I would imagine an average of say £40 - 60k salary per player, which is a lot of money to find. Cant see that uncle Dave left a bulging brown envelope in his desk drawer.
The clubs should take the option to make the National League take out the loan. They messed up with the original grant, let them own it.

Devongone · 24-01-2021, 13:13

Maybe the government has told us where the magic money tree is.

Mind you if the world is going to end at least we don't need to worry about debt.

Devongone · 25-01-2021, 17:49

So Letheren went for mutual dissent.

Rumour is he's off to Morecambe.

Is that the ex-Plymouth connection? Via the manager?

He'd be okay as a No2. He's the right shape for a bench ............ a sturdy bench.

**spireitematt** · 26-01-2021, 00:17

Rumour of Will Evans going to Swindon.