| How fragile are we? 12:54 - Apr 4 with 1713 views | Veggie |
I’ve loved following ITFC this season more than any in the last 10-15 years. Everything is positive. New owners with money and ambition. New manager(s) who emit positivity and intelligence. New structure with people in place who seemingly understand what the club needs to succeed and are striving to implement it. New squad of young skilful players with great attitudes. Great attendances off the back of this and a general feel-good feeling about the place.
But I wonder how far we are away from falling attendances, bearing in mind our attendances under McCarthy in the Championship. I am concerned that Mark Ashton is pushing for average crowds of 28,000 and maybe this is to appease the worries of the owners in terms of finances and expectations. I know the football was turgid under Mick, but I worry that once the honeymoon period wears off, enthusiasm might begin to fade from both the fans and the owners. I guess I’m just trying to temper the current optimism with a little bit of reality. Something we as Town fans are unfortunately quite used to having to do. [Post edited 4 Apr 2022 12:58]
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| How fragile are we? on 12:58 - Apr 4 with 1657 views | abracaDOBRA_ |
There's always a 'but' with town fans. Just enjoy the present, no point worrying about something that has not yet or may never happen
I know its engrained in us to be negative, but cmon |  | | |
| How fragile are we? on 13:02 - Apr 4 with 1627 views | Vic |
By just about any measure we're in a better place than we have been for a while so enjoy the ride Veggie and try not to over think it. |  |
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| How fragile are we? on 13:03 - Apr 4 with 1628 views | clive_baker |
There are wider economic factors, and there's definitely a correlation between price and attendances, as well as the quality of the football we're playing, but I maintain that the biggest factor in getting bums on seats is our results. We saw it under Mick, while we're competing at the right end of the league table we'll get a decent level of support. We've been starved of any sort of success for so long that there's definitely pent up demand so if we're in and around the top 6 next season we'll see good crowds all year. |  |
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| How fragile are we? on 13:04 - Apr 4 with 1612 views | wkj |
Unless something stupid happens, I don't think there is much chance of the bubble bursting next season. Most sain people will acknowledge our fortunes would have been much brighter if McKenna came here sooner, so I reckon there will be a huge swell of support for his first full season in management. Your concern now might be very very valid this time next year if next season is a banana skin though. [Post edited 4 Apr 2022 13:05]
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| How fragile are we? on 13:14 - Apr 4 with 1544 views | Dubtractor |
I think that freezing ticket prices, given the current financial climate, was a masterstroke and has helped feed into the feelgood factor at the club. Ashton (unlike Evans) realises how important it is to keep communicating with fans, to try and stoke up enthusiasm, to get people engaged and interested.
That's all more than enough to take care of next season. The season after that we shouldn't worry about for another year IMO. We all know we really need to get out of this sh1t hole division next year, so lets just hope we do! |  |
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| How fragile are we? on 13:19 - Apr 4 with 1511 views | patrickswell |
I think within the club, there's no danger of the owners losing interest, especially given that McKenna has done well since arriving and that the methods which they are trying to bring into the running of the club/football side are being applied by him and his team. There's a unity and support structures in place which should yield positive results next season.
Also, the results/performances since McKenna arrived have given him something which Cook - or Hurst - never really got: credit in the bank with the fans and, crucially, buy-in from the players. |  | | |
| How fragile are we? on 13:22 - Apr 4 with 1490 views | NBVJohn |
We are currently punching above our weight attendance wise - part of this I suspect is also related to not being able to attend games at all last season as well as some long overdue positivity after years of decline. Assuming that the Gamechanger project continues to take shape as planned I would expect our attendances to plateau though.There aren’t many seasons where we have averaged 28k plus for home games, and whilst it is right for Ashton to make aspirational comments, he will know what is realistic. Also, 28k at what admission price? That will have an influence, and I see the freezing of ST prices as indicative.
Your references to the McCarthy era rightly include turgid football but omit to mention the high price of admission, the flat unimaginative match day experience and the sense of managed decline of the club in general. Gamechanger inherited the club at its nadir.
This season has been exceptional in that it coincided with the return of crowds as well as an upturn in investment in the stadium / playing staff / club. The introduction of a more inspired managerial appointment as the enthusiasm started to wane after a poor start helped to maintain trajectory in terms of crowds.
Whatever my reservations about Gamechanger in the longer term, the truth is that we are no more or less secure than about 80% of other clubs, and it’s not surprising that events have captured the imagination. Given the dross of the Evans era, confidence remains fragile in our renaissance - only a sustained effort from everyone; supporters, players, owners will change this.
End this season as strongly as possible, keep the feelgood vibe going and see where it takes us. Whatever, I can only see us being stronger next season. |  | | |
| How fragile are we? on 13:29 - Apr 4 with 1450 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
You worry too much!! |  |
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| How fragile are we? on 13:41 - Apr 4 with 1384 views | footers |
| How fragile are we? on 13:04 - Apr 4 by wkj |
Unless something stupid happens, I don't think there is much chance of the bubble bursting next season. Most sain people will acknowledge our fortunes would have been much brighter if McKenna came here sooner, so I reckon there will be a huge swell of support for his first full season in management. Your concern now might be very very valid this time next year if next season is a banana skin though. [Post edited 4 Apr 2022 13:05]
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Couldn't agree more, me old fruit.
We should have attendances that are right up there now that the Club is actively trying to get more people into PR on the regular, including many younger fans. That was never the case under ME really, even going so far as to alienate a large number of our more experienced friends by increasing their STs. It should be a captive audience really thinking about the size of the town and catchment area. But sadly we let them lot, Spammers and other clubs move in while we were dozing. Hopefully we can get a new generation of supporters back with a little effort and much better footy on the pitch. |  |
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| How fragile are we? on 13:54 - Apr 4 with 1317 views | Churchman |
| How fragile are we? on 13:02 - Apr 4 by Vic |
By just about any measure we're in a better place than we have been for a while so enjoy the ride Veggie and try not to over think it. |
We are actually in a better place in some ways (not the league we are in!) than we’ve been for 20 years, so as Vic says enjoy the ride. |  | | |
| How fragile are we? on 14:19 - Apr 4 with 1243 views | dirtyboy |
I think more than ever, there's a connect with the club and fans too, so results are the main driver, but when people genuinely feel a part of something, feel valued (clear and consistent communication from the top) then all those add up to more than the sum of their parts.
Communication is far better
Structure and planning is visible and encouraging
Community aspect is clear
Match day improvements are clear
Football is much more pleasing on the eye
I think next season will see improved attendances (not massively, but certainly up) and if results and performances start well, then 25k+ on a regular basis more likely than not.
There's a clear strategy and everyone knows it and feels part of that because it's shared.
It's not soundbites from managers and one paltry annual interview from ME, there's an honesty and openess now.
Still a long way to go, but everyone knows it. |  | | |
| How fragile are we? on 14:23 - Apr 4 with 1233 views | textbackup |
i saw people there, and in town saturday, that i havent seen at games for years
get off to a good start next season and we'll have very healthy crowds weekly. |  |
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| How fragile are we? on 15:03 - Apr 4 with 1135 views | Illinoisblue |
| How fragile are we? on 14:23 - Apr 4 by textbackup |
i saw people there, and in town saturday, that i havent seen at games for years
get off to a good start next season and we'll have very healthy crowds weekly. |
Couple of good signings, strong start and there’ll be 20k+ crowds no doubt. Good start is vital though. |  |
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| How fragile are we? on 15:20 - Apr 4 with 1082 views | wrightsrightglove |
The fans for the most part have still been behind the team even towards the end of the Evans era when things were only going one way. If we can see progress being made on and off the pitch and have a club and players who we can relate to then the crowds will be there, maybe not averaging 28k anytime soon but still there’ll be plenty of support. | | | |
| How fragile are we? on 15:22 - Apr 4 with 1074 views | clive_baker |
| How fragile are we? on 14:23 - Apr 4 by textbackup |
i saw people there, and in town saturday, that i havent seen at games for years
get off to a good start next season and we'll have very healthy crowds weekly. |
Hope so. Also makes you realise how reliant local business is on big crowds when you see how busy the pubs are in town pre and post match. | |
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| How fragile are we? on 20:03 - Apr 4 with 858 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Next season is the biggest in our recent history IMO.
We have the budget, the manager and apparently the squad. A forth straight year without even a playoff place in the third tier isn't going to leave many people thirsty for more and the KM factor won't last forever. Anything less than 6th place this year was a complete failure at the start of the season but obviously the blame for that lands at Cook and a few others.
I said in the summer I hope the new guys ship him right away after the results at the end of last year. New squad and all players leaving or not he was still the manager. Genuinely can't believe people were still saying he shouldn't have gone in December.
Either way, I wouldn't even really see a loss in the playoffs as progress next year. We need to get up, automatically. Confident we have the man in place to do that with a few additions. [Post edited 4 Apr 2022 20:04]
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