Steve Gibson your time is up!!

[Gunslinger]

Is anybody able to provide any statistical data that could form a hypothesis that Gibson has underperformed as a club chairman?

The start of the 'decline' of the club was in the 3rd year of Southgates tenure when there seemed to be a drastic shift in the recruitment model
and the purchasing of younger more mobile and dynamic players to replace a rapidly ageing and declining experienced squad which, of course
in hindsight we all knew backfired

This time period did coincide with the development of rockcliffe hall and the investment in that but that could purely be coincidental

What has been the average wage bill of the club in respect to the rest of the clubs in the championship since the clubs relegation in 2007?

Have we on average (aside from 2016) finished were the clubs wage bill would have predicted?

 

[Soutra]

I suspect our wages will be lower than 100% this season, its calculated on a three year window and the last window included the last year of Britt, Fletcher, Howson (original deal), McNair (original deal)

The accounts for the year ended June 30 2023 show wages etc at about 105% of revenue. That's not a three year window, it's just what was spent last year.

The three year window is FFP, which is wholly different.

to manage FFP within the rules you have to be clear of big earners and big transfer fees for 3 years. That gives you the FFP room to invest. We couldn't invest big the last few years because of the impact of the Garry Monk experiment. Here's one players impact, but Fletcher, Howson and McNair are all the same to a lesser degree.

17/18 - Britt amortised transfer fee 3.75m + wages 1.5m = 5.25
18/19 - Britt amortised transfer fee 7.5m + wages 3m = 10.5m
19/20 - Britt amortised transfer fee 11.25m + wages 4.5m = 15.75
20/21- Britt amortised transfer fee 11.25m + wages 4.5m = 15.75
21/22- Britt amortised transfer fee 7.5m + wages 3m = 10.5m
22/23- Britt amortised transfer fee 3.75m + wages 1.5m = 5.25
23/24 - Britt 0

This year is the first time we have been free of Britt, that's why we tried to spend 7m on that Everton striker, because from an FFP perspective we finally could. It didn't come off though. We've been hamstrung for 6 years, not just Britt but fletcher too, Last season those 2 players will have eaten up 7m+ of our FFP allowance. This is why we cannot allow players to run their contracts down and leave for free, and we cannot panic buy expensive players.

A bad buy like Britt, and make no mistake, he was a terrible buy, can eat 5.25m of your FFP allowance even 2 years after he has gone, a good signing like Rogers can give you +7m on our FFP calculation for the next 3 seasons. That's a a 12m difference on the impact of those players. We are not in a position to just get someone in, because the good work of re-levelling our spend will be ruined very quickly with a couple of bad buys.

The three year window on FFP includes Britt Assombalonga only in the 2020-21 year. Once a player leaves then the club doesn't amortise his transfer fee any more. The club can't amortise something that isn't there to amortise. Assombalonga affects the FFP calc only in as much as 2020-1 is the oldest of the three years in the current three year window.

 

[fmttmadmin]

Is anybody able to provide any statistical data that could form a hypothesis that Gibson has underperformed as a club chairman?

The start of the 'decline' of the club was in the 3rd year of Southgates tenure when there seemed to be a drastic shift in the recruitment model
and the purchasing of younger more mobile and dynamic players to replace a rapidly ageing and declining experienced squad which, of course
in hindsight we all knew backfired

This time period did coincide with the development of rockcliffe hall and the investment in that but that could purely be coincidental

What has been the average wage bill of the club in respect to the rest of the clubs in the championship since the clubs relegation in 2007?

Have we on average (aside from 2016) finished were the clubs wage bill would have predicted?

It was McClaren's last league game where we fielded the Teesside XI or X with almost all academy players.

 

[Borocrazy]

Where is your ambition and what's your long term goal for the club?

Them ticket prices are ridiculous for season ticket holders and those who buy match day tickets, where is this money going because it is clearly not going back into the first team and if it is, its the cheapest option possible, it's not good enough!!

Selling our better players and not backing Michael Carrick when he clearly needs it, we have brought in enough money in transfers over the past couple of season's to mount a serious push for the Premier league and now we are awaiting bids for Hackney and RVDB who will be sold at the first sign of interest.

If you can't afford to run the club then sell up and go at least give Middlesbrough fc the chance to move forward because at this stage with no clear intention of what you want going forward this club will end up back where you bought it from.

I await the "who will buy Middlesbrough fc" comments

There will be those out there who will take a chance at this great club and if Steve is as wise as some make him out to be then he will sell to the appropriate buyer!!

UTB!!

 

[Alan_Breck]

Thank you. Appreciate this.

You deserve it, and it is me who should be thanking you

#UTB

 

[Merlin]

I’ve defended the clubs decision to increase prices on the other thread but i can’t defend the clubs terrible PR between itself and the fans. It’s nothing short of terrible really. There should have been some kind of explanation as to why the decision to raise season tickets was made. They could have outlined the club’s strategy and reassured fans they intend to be proactive in the transfer market this summer for example. Just something to keep the fans informed and a thank you for their continued support. I don’t know why Gibson has stopped talking to supporters, although i suspect it’s something to do with the criticism he received after his “we want to smash the league” interview. People just want to feel like they’re valued and to be kept informed of what’s going on - even if it’s not an actual Q&A with the chairman anymore it can’t be that hard surely to do something on social media to appease supporters a little bit.

 

[Quicksilvera]

Rob,
It's fortuitous that you have the skin if a rhino when dealing with some of the issues posted on this message board. Many, including me, would have walked long ago. Keep doing what you're doing knowing that you have the support of the vast majority here.

#UTB

 

[bungydinsdale]

Why use the worst ownership example Saudi's to compare gibson to. I would walk away to if it were saudi investment as well but there are far more paletable options you choose to ignore for obvious reasons.

What are these obvious reasons you foresee, given that I didn't actually give it that much thought and just used the most recent example we have had (and it's fairly close to home) . I could have used several other examples (blackpool, wigan, bury, telford utd, scarborough FC, halifax town, etc, etc)
What I'm saying is that this mad clamour from some panicked fans for a new owner doesn't always deliver what you want it too (as some of the above examples show).
I'm more than happy, in fact very glad, to be owned by a local lad, who loves the club and the area and I'm happy to let him plan for more success, rather than import some new owner who doesn't really care.
But hey, if you'd rather have some corporate entitity own us, (possibly along with several other clubs across the world) then good on you.
Personally, I don't

 

[atypical_boro]

What are these obvious reasons you foresee, given that I didn't actually give it that much thought and just used the most recent example we have had (and it's fairly close to home) . I could have used several other examples (blackpool, wigan, bury, telford utd, scarborough FC, halifax town, etc, etc)
What I'm saying is that this mad clamour from some panicked fans for a new owner doesn't always deliver what you want it too (as some of the above examples show).
I'm more than happy, in fact very glad, to be owned by a local lad, who loves the club and the area and I'm happy to let him plan for more success, rather than import some new owner who doesn't really care.
But hey, if you'd rather have some corporate entitity own us, (possibly along with several other clubs across the world) then good on you.
Personally, I don't

I have always felt like this.

But for a long time it felt like we were a club who would eventually be back in the PL. Or we’d continue to be the yo-yo club we’ve always been.

I must admit I’m starting to get a bit bored of being a perpetual second tier club, it won’t continue forever either as we’ll eventually end up where we did in 66 and 86.

I’m now sort of torn between the desire of wanting Gibson to always be our chairman but also facing the reality that I don’t think we’ll ever be an established PL club under him again. Not because I think he is “clueless” but because the resources just aren’t there to achieve it.

The PL isn’t the be all and end all to me, by any means, but 1 season out of 16 in it (and only 3 failed play off appearances in that whole time) doesn’t make for good reading really. It’s been a pretty dull time in the club’s history this last 15-18 years, it has to be said.

That all said, I am also ambivalently grateful to have a club to support that is in safe hands too.