retired_fitnesseeker

I have read many stories where people have guided non league clubs to champions league glory. whether they have cheated I dont know. Is it possible to do it with a club like Blyth Spartans without cheating?

I can see how it is possible to guide a team like this through the leagues to maybe the championship but if you are looking to go further you will need a lot of cash and a decent size stadium.

Blyth is a town with a population of around 40,000 so you are not going to draw in huge crowds. Therefore you wont be able to generate cash through season ticket sales and gate receipts.

The only way i can see you can generate a decent amount of income is through transfers and tv money. If a side does get into the top flight will it start to draw fans in from further a field?

KingsbayYHPE

I look at it this way, using Gretna as an example.

Gretna is a town with a population of about 2700, yet they have a professional football team and a decent average gate, Raydale Park was filled every week with a capacity of 2200.

They took over 5000 people with them for the Scottish Cup Final against Hearts, almost double the population of the town.

I suppose what I'm saying is that teams attract supporters from places other than their home area, look at ManUre and The Auld Firm, they have people attend from Ireland and Europe every week.

I'd say if Blyth ever made it to the EPL and Champions' League that they'd get a decent crowd, maybe not as much as Newcastle, but a lot.

retired_pmetzger1

I hate small fan bases. They don't stop my fans falling over when it's hot in the office.

retired_dfhern

On the other hand, when you have a larger fan base you can't get into the office and you have to stay outside in the heat.

retired_lauriekeith

I'm playing as Blyth now and only since reaching League One is Croft Park regularly sold out, so I expect a stadium expansion will be on the cards provided I can stay in the division or move up.

That being said, the money side of things has never really concerned me.

KingsbayYHPE

Man after my own heart, Aussie-bloke...let the Board worry about money :cool:

retired_travel_fit

Used to be the same way, now I obsess over the financial side of the game. I blame my company for promoting me to a level where I had to worry about budgets and things like that. Thanks to them I can no longer bring myself to exceed my wage budget.

retired_clement

The ridiculous amounts of money in the game make the attendances quite moot. It does help to have many fans, but is in now way crucial to success.

retired_rfinken77

The fan base grows nicely as you get up through the leagues so its not much of a problem until you hit championship or so when the stadium just isn't big enough and you've been spending every penny to get that far. The worst bit being when the council blocks your stadium 10 times in a row as happened in a French league game I was playing meaning I was stuck with 12500 capacity the entire time and completely sold out every single match.

marcus6363

I never used to look at finances until I started managing a cr@p Spanish team and the board cut my wage bill every year!