As much as i hate the premier league and its members, i have to say hats off to the two local clubs to us.

Sunderland are putting cash back into the community in buying new kits for junior clubs, and looking to reward their loyal fans, ie season tickets in the "Credit Crunch". I dont know how sunderland will protect their season ticket holders as ticket prices are staying the same. maybe they will honour this seasons prices, or even drop them. cant see it though.

While Boro on the other hand are looking to drop prices using TV cash. FAir play, but how will their st holders feel?

Sunderland
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 753286.stm

Boro
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 751612.stm

you think Pools will or could do something like this. I know we have discussed this previously, but like Niall quinn says, clubs need to protect their loyal fans!

Pools help fans?

the mackams and boro get enough money off the premier league and sky,the money paid by fans is a bonus they could survive if they played behind closed doors,unlike pools where every penny counts,how much do you think it will cost quinn for these strips if he goes direct to the manufacturer?

2 clubs who earn 40 million a year in tv money giving away a hundred grand? Its fuck all really.

Pools havent got the money or income to do anything of the sort.

As I understand it Sunderland are using the cash saved from the VAT rate reduction to fund buying new strips for local teams. rather than upsetting season ticket holders by reducing the gate price or merely pocketing the saving themselves as a windfall.

If HUFC haven't budgeted for a VAT reduction then they should pass the saving on at the gates in order to try and help struggling attendance figures.

so you think that paying 17.60 to get in to the town end instead of 18 will make a difference?

It might be seen by some as symbolic or a nice gesture and encourage them to make the effort to attend.

It might not either, so does that mean it's not worth a try?

the people taking payment at the turnstiles have trouble working with rounded numbers as it is. Imagine waiting for 2.40 change? They would have to delay each home match by half an hour. Besides as pools are constantly running at a loss i would be suprised if fans didnt understand the reasons why they wouldnt pass the saving on

Something or anything at all, any gesture would be enough.

It doesn't have to be massive, no ones expecting that.

But a little fan interaction, a little showing that they give a toss is what counts.

Yes Niall Quinn will probs pay peanuts for these kits for kids, but its the gesture that will stick in peoples minds, and when they have any spare cash, they might go spend it on watching Sunderland, it might only add an extra 500 to the gate, it might only add an extra 50, but its 500 or 50 they didn't have before.

nial quinn said sunderland would save 100 grand so will pass that on.

I estimate pools would save around 13,000 over the rest of the season. Thats based upon a 40p saving for 2200 people per match over the last 15 games.

Now taking into consideration that pools
a) lose three quarters of a million per season
b) have already saved fans a fortune with their season ticket deals
c) have given money to charity already this year


the only thing that pools should do with this 'extra' money is to put it towards the youth team.

The youth team which gets thousands put towards it every season yet our first 16 features no current youth player or no players at all who started at the club in the youth system when wilson was appointed.

All well and good giving it to that, but no point if it isn't utalised.

because they are the youth team! And they cant play unless they have signed a pro contract!

And even then they might not be good enough. there are only 2 players who are anywhere near 1st team quality and they have both been on the bench this season.

But the point is without a youth team there would be no future boyd, brown, miller etc. The club have stated that the fa keep cutting money that is to be spent on youth policies. This is a chance to help finance it for another year

Of course you can play without a pro contract you numpty, foley, wilkinson, appelby, jones, craddock, brackstone all played whilst still on youth contracts.

ok fine i may have been wrong. But all those players you mentioned were not good enough!
We need a youth team even if the players produced are not good enough. A youth team needs funding and pools might be in 13000 less debt than they thought they would be. Problem solved

Your right they were not, but we know this cos we played them.

And collectivly they played in a team which got to the play-offs twice, you can't fault that, they achieved more than the current crop.

Totally agree.

But a public gesture of good will my psychologically get some disgruntled fans back on the clubs side.

I'd certainly think twice about re-attending pools if there was an offer or incentive.

The recent low crowds would hopefully mean they are thinking about doing something.

Offering the 3 home games around Xmas and New Year for £50 for seating, £45 for standing would be a start. Guarantees that people would go to all 3 games for the club and saves about a tenner for the fan. I'm a genius.

the point i have been trying to make though is other clubs are using the vat savings. Our vat savings wouldnt allow us to do anything of note.
And if i was one of the disgruntled stay away fans and the club said 'come back' and we will knock 40p off you entrance fee i would boot off. It would be offensive.

No one is saying knock a pound off, knock 50p off etc misterb i think your missing my point.

Sunderland for example have made a public gesture, regardless of finances its a gesture, that puts out into the local and national press a feel good factor for SAFC.

Pools could do summit around this, we all know the VAT savings are pennies, but you can use summit so trivial and small to your advantage in a big big way.

Even if it only attracts 1 fan, then it's worked.

[quote="Yubep"]No one is saying knock a pound off, knock 50p off etc misterb i think your missing my point.

Sunderland for example have made a public gesture, regardless of finances its a gesture, that puts out into the local and national press a feel good factor for SAFC.

Pools could do summit around this, we all know the VAT savings are pennies, but you can use summit so trivial and small to your advantage in a big big way.
But you are missing my original point too. These clubs are using THEIR VAT savings to do it, and it sounds like a lot of money because of their large fan base. These football clubs wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for the VAT saving.

We as a club who need to constantly penny pinch simply can't do what you suggest.

What exactly is it you are suggesting anyway?

may i also suggest that a saving of £13,000 could allow us to sign an extra decent player on loan for a 3 month period.

Most people scoffed at the government for knocking 2.5% off VAT, why wont people scoff at Pools if the did the same?

Don't make me laugh, all these 'nice gestures' are also a useful marketing tool to oil the wheels in a PR way, in much the same way businesses love to be seen 'investing in the community'...( .. and their fan base).It's all a way of investing in future fans and massaging the feelgood button of their fans