Have We Got The Best Chairman In The Country?

[Azman]

@loneranger

Sorry but i'd have to disagree with this, in the past i supported United because my family did but as i grew up i realised i was Glory Hunting, i decided to support a more local team which was QPR.

[Rangers77]

Very true it is rare that a Chairmen is also a fan but that would be the ultimate scenario and produce the best Chairmen. I just dont believe Fernandes has only the clubs best interests in mind when moving us to this 40k multi purpose venue. Think him and his backers have more than one eye on what they can earn personally. 40k is too big and dont want to share our home with the 1D fans etc...but thats just me personally and i will be gutted when we leave behind Loftus Road and all the memories.

I'm already missing the Ellerslie Road toilets....

[Johnny Tightlips]

To answer the OP, no sadly that honour goes to the lot down at Fulham Broadway.

[vblockranger]

@loneranger

Sorry but i'd have to disagree with this, in the past i supported United because my family did but as i grew up i realised i was Glory Hunting, i decided to support a more local team which was QPR.

So your really a United supporter then? turncoat that left the team you support?

[Bluehoop]

Mmmmmmmmmm, let me see - a Chairman/men that support the Club they own. A good thing? Well I'm not too sure because decisions then are even more likely to be from the heart than the head perhaps?
Or on the other hand, the decisions can be made by people like Gold and Sullivan who support Wet Spam - the decisions they have made say one thing only, we aint going mad with our money (tenants at the White Elephant Arena and citing FFP as a reason not to buy a striker even knowing that Carrol is going to be out for months. even though FFP has no impact on the PL yet) and the Club is going to struggle to improve/flirt with the dreaded drop because we won't spend.
Fernandes knocks those two Wet Spam supporting pimps into a cocked hat in my rose tinted eyes

[Rangers77]

Anyone else going to miss the Ellerslie Road toilets?? It can't just be me....

[Snaxo]

Personally I think TF is as good a chairman as we could hope to have right now.

Also, I'm not convinced that having a rich QPR fan as our head is Nirvana. Decisions made with the heart, over the head, are rarely the best ones.

Tony Fernandes likes to be the underdog. He likes to build success out of small beginnings. At the same time, he would seem to be about as genuine a businessman as you could hope to get. Everything at this club is slowing improving under his watch. He's already had setbacks (relegation), learnt some tough lessons, but continued with his drive and ambition to build something successful. I have no doubt there will be further setbacks, but I don' think he'll give up until he gets that success and that can only be a good thing.

I will miss Loftus Road too. I empathise wholly with Vblock on that. I've been going there nearly 40 years, and first started doing so with my late father. Many memories - including when my grandfather wrote to the club to see if I could meet the players for my birthday as a young lad. They replied positively and I was able to go in and meet Tommy Docherty and the players. Will never forget it. Anyway...I digreess

The point is though that change, and adaption to that change is constant. Under this Chairman - the club will do that and it's vital. I don't hold the view AT ALL that they will put us in financial peril. Ultimately, you support a club as you want them to do well. So taking that to the extreme, there's a part of everyone that will want the club to (have the potential) to go to the top. Tony is systematically laying the foundations for that to happen.

Ok so to fill the new stadium we'll have to entice lots casuals. But who cares? We can't massively grow a hard core fan base quickly - but in the interim those casuals help us on our way to success. Great ! And look at the plans - QPR in the centre of one of the most prestigious new developments in Euorpe. It's a mouth watering prospect. 24,000 news homes built in the area - massive office buildings and retail parks. High speed travel connections. All of a sudden perhaps 40,000 is not such a dream. To be part of this new development is nothing but a coup. Amazing job from Tony and Phil.

Anyone who doesn't think so- I suggest you grab a copy of the book 'Who moved my Cheese' ?

[jfish]

Really don't see how anyone can knock him.

Vblock has got to be on a windup.

[Kirill]

He should have sacked Hughes earlier.

[QPR Richard]

Some reactions on here are laughable. In walks a bloke who is prepared to rebuild the club's infrastructure such as a new training ground/academy and stadium. He backs his managers in the transfer market, then gets coated off for doing it. Unbelievable!

I would guess most fans of any club would want TF as the boss. For me, he's the best chairman in the business and I wouldn't swap him for anyone.

[brightonr]

Personally I think TF is as good a chairman as we could hope to have right now.

Also, I'm not convinced that having a rich QPR fan as our head is Nirvana. Decisions made with the heart, over the head, are rarely the best ones.

Tony Fernandes likes to be the underdog. He likes to build success out of small beginnings. At the same time, he would seem to be about as genuine a businessman as you could hope to get. Everything at this club is slowing improving under his watch. He's already had setbacks (relegation), learnt some tough lessons, but continued with his drive and ambition to build something successful. I have no doubt there will be further setbacks, but I don' think he'll give up until he gets that success and that can only be a good thing.

I will miss Loftus Road too. I empathise wholly with Vblock on that. I've been going there nearly 40 years, and first started doing so with my late father. Many memories - including when my grandfather wrote to the club to see if I could meet the players for my birthday as a young lad. They replied positively and I was able to go in and meet Tommy Docherty and the players. Will never forget it. Anyway...I digreess

The point is though that change, and adaption to that change is constant. Under this Chairman - the club will do that and it's vital. I don't hold the view AT ALL that they will put us in financial peril. Ultimately, you support a club as you want them to do well. So taking that to the extreme, there's a part of everyone that will want the club to (have the potential) to go to the top. Tony is systematically laying the foundations for that to happen.

Ok so to fill the new stadium we'll have to entice lots casuals. But who cares? We can't massively grow a hard core fan base quickly - but in the interim those casuals help us on our way to success. Great ! And look at the plans - QPR in the centre of one of the most prestigious new developments in Euorpe. It's a mouth watering prospect. 24,000 news homes built in the area - massive office buildings and retail parks. High speed travel connections. All of a sudden perhaps 40,000 is not such a dream. To be part of this new development is nothing but a coup. Amazing job from Tony and Phil.

Anyone who doesn't think so- I suggest you grab a copy of the book 'Who moved my Cheese' ?

Fantastic post mate.

[bhujio]

What was the average gate for Brighton before they moved and now.

[Greg1882]

Some reactions on here are laughable. In walks a bloke who is prepared to rebuild the club's infrastructure such as a new training ground/academy and stadium. He backs his managers in the transfer market, then gets coated off for doing it. Unbelievable!

I would guess most fans of any club would want TF as the boss. For me, he's the best chairman in the business and I wouldn't swap him for anyone.

Totally agree mate . It seems some would prefer to see us without a pot to **** in again

[brightonr]

What was the average gate for Brighton before they moved and now.

Was about 6000 in the Withdean stadium until they bought a few more temporary seats and increased it to almost 9000.

Once the new stadium was built, it pretty much filled up the capacity, (excluding all away fans) of about 22000 and the capacity is being increased now, as the facility to do so was built in and the lower original capacity eased the planning permission, I believe.

Absolute nightmare of a place to get to by car. Direct cattle truck shuttle from Brighton Station if you can stand it. Various park and ride sites dotted around town offer better alternatives.

A slightly skewed set of figures though as they went to a small local athletics ground after having to play at Gillingham for a few years. Their original home was sold by their lovely chairman for the cash to developers who built a retail park. (Ironically includes a Comet ).

Certainly worked for them as I think it would work for us. But to counter the argument, other than Crawley which is about 25 miles up the road, the nearest league clubs are Portsmouth and Crystal Palace, both total dumps.

My wife's two brothers have now bought season tickets, following in the footsteps of their parents who had one from the start, despite their ages and not having been for donkeys years. It has undoubtedly attracted a lot of new fans, but not surprising since the previous place made Loftus Road look futuristic. It didn't even have a roof. The stands were taken down in the close season to be used for The Open golf championship.

[hal9thou]

I think we were always more than a vanity project for TF, but I don't think his stewardship has been problem free..... ;) I think he made some very poor calls early doors, football just is not like any other business.

In terms of better charpersons, I would suggest that the evidence is that supporters trust run clubs are healthier.