Linnets' Fans' Forum

Hopefully someone from the B&G Trust will clarify the situation sooner rather than later, maybe it's just a mistake in the filing at Companies House.  Given the web of intercompany loans under the previous regime, I don't think it is unreasonable for fans to take an interest in the new ownership structure and for the new owners to be open about what that looks like.

Quote from: Tennylad on January 04, 2026, 08:46:21 AMThanks for the info Tony. You've kind of proven my point. Apart from Tonbridge and Methyr, the other clubs mentioned are all ex league clubs with a far superior fan base than KL will ever have .

Being ex-league doesn't give you any more or less right to be successful on or off the pitch - we have played Hereford at both step 3 and step 2 for example.  Of the 6 teams I mentioned, two have lower attendances than us (Tonbridge and Scarborough) and Darlington only average 150ish more than us which when they are in a playoff spot and we aren't suggests there isn't much between us, Merthyr are also riding high after their promotion last year so you would expect their crowds to be good this season.  I think another factor is that three (Scarborough, Merthyr and Tonbridge) all have artificial pitches which is perhaps how they can compete at step 2, but that isn't exclusive to Trust run clubs as that could equally apply to Bedford or Curzon for example - the benefactor model isn't the only model available but is often the precursor to a boom and bust rollercoaster.

Quote from: Tennylad on January 03, 2026, 08:48:04 PM... The trust model is fantastic in a hot bed of football ie the north west and north east . Unfortunately in Norfolk it will never work . I'm not interested in KL playing 2 steps below . Like most on here I'll be gone in 20 years so I say let's live for the moment.

Glad you think the Trust model is 'fantastic' but not sure why you then talk about dropping two steps down the pyramid and equally maybe you need to have another look at a map.  Not sure any of Tonbridge Angels (NLS), Hereford (NLN) 50% fan owned and Methyr Town (NLN) would consider themselves in the North East or North West joining Chester, Darlington and Scarborough who also manage to compete in at NLN.

Given the fact that we are 97% not fan owned, I think it is fair to say we are still very much operating under the benefactor model so any 'concerns' you have about the Trust model are probably irrelevant in the short to mid term if not longer.  That isn't to say that fans can't or shouldn't have an active role in many aspects of the club but that doesn't have to come from ownership as plenty of EFL clubs (and lower) have shown

Quote from: Mallard on January 01, 2026, 07:25:47 AMTony, For sure Cully can only put out what he has available to him, but then he can't lay all the blame at the players door when he asking them to climb out of sick beds or play when they aren't 100%  fit.  You can only drawer from well so many times before you come up empty.

Cully has to take his share of the blame for allowing this situation to continue.  The real culprit of the situation is further up the food chain.
Time questions were asked about how the Club is being run and in what direction Bal is taking it.

Seems money is an issue, though it didn't seem an issue when Rowe was in charge ( apparently well in charge). So what's changed ?  Funds must have come in now from Trust. So why aren't we getting players in rather than having to go with a bench where only 3 players are even fit enough to actually play.?

Wouldn't disagree with you on where the ultimate responsibility lies but what do you suggest IC does?  Looks like as many have been taken off the payroll since the start of the season with departures and loan deals so we are presumably left with what Bal deems a workable budget.  Hopefully there is room for at least one addition if the rumours on Tuesday evening were true as the player mentioned would certainly add something we are lacking and would probably be one of those IC could build the 2026-27 squad around.  The problem is that to make any further adjustments to the squad would probably mean losing one or more of the higher earners who you would imagine are the more experienced players so catch 22 for IC and even then are there clubs willing to take them?  I think on current form you are probably only looking at Wilson (who would be a huge loss imo) and maybe Williams attracting any sort of interest.

Quote from: Mallard on December 31, 2025, 03:22:13 PMJust had a listen to Cully's post match intereview.  One of his 'Waspie' unhappy ones.  Don't see he can lay the blame all at the players door.  He is asking the same players to go again every few days.  Illness, some carrying knocks some out of sorts.  What does he expect ?

Mall, if you were there last night, waspie was exactly the right tone.  IC can only select from the resources he has available, he did swap a few things round last night and to be fair we looked a bit better and more balanced in midfield but we didn't create much and there are a number of players I am sure he would like to give a rest to but who does he replace them with?

Quote from: Mallard on December 31, 2025, 03:22:13 PMI fear for Saturday if he goes with the same players again we could be on the wrong side of one. How things have changed since we turned Merthyr over at home.

In his post Peterborough interview he said Doherty was a week, RHJ another couple and Mazza five weeks so we have what we had last night plus maybe Gold?  I think many of us fear the worst with the respective form but Hereford were on a worse run than us and got a point last night so lets keep hoping.

Quote from: Mallard on December 12, 2025, 07:43:18 PM...  5 players being out on loan must be generating some spare cash.  Plus now the Trust are on onboard with cash on the hip there surely is no reason for some of that investment not to be used to support the Manager, when he needs it...

That's an interesting idea Mall but I had always thought that loans at our level were more about reducing the overhead rather than generating a profit.  I think 4 of the 5 have dropped down a level so you are assuming that step 3 clubs are happy to pay more than the wages (and on-costs) of what are, in effect, full-time players?  Obviously Gyasi is a different case but again, looking at his history of staying anywhere for any length of time, I can't see Kiddy would have wanted to pay much over the odds.

I think we have to accept that the 'player development model' that TSI want to see help fund the club isn't a perfect science, not all players signed will turn into future EFL stars and unfortunately some may not even be step 2 standard but what we currently have is a squad primarily signed by JR with a few he inherited from AL and IC is having to make the best of what he has at his disposal, something that is not helped with injuries to experienced squad members.  IC seemed resigned to dealing with this when he spoke at the meeting and I think why he emphasised that he is looking at 2026-27 for when he will have his 'core' to build around.  For now I think fans have to accept there will be days like Chester but equally there will be more and more performances like the first half in midweek, IC is too good a coach to think otherwise.

Quote from: Mallard on December 11, 2025, 06:05:11 PMTony I would suggest the likes of Williams. Van Lier, Toll have got to be an improvement on a bench that can't be filled and running with either a youngster  or unfit players.  Cully also suggested a couple of weeks back he needed to bring in a right sided player for the injured Reece-Johnson...

I haven't seen Van Lier in a competitive game so can't comment, Williams got games at this level for Sports this season so seemed a strange one to ship him out with Marriot now missing for four to six weeks and I think Toll is injured again but would be good to have him around the squad for IC to have a proper look at him as he returns to fitness. 

Ultimately it's down to IC but you would hope there will be at least one in before Darlington.  Hopefully Collins illness clears up and Lambert will have had another weeks training in his legs, is there any indication on timescales for RHJ and Gold?  I also assume Maja is injured or did I miss him going out on loan?  We must be getting close to Doherty being back in training too? 

Mall, I think the fact we have players out on loan is a bit of a red herring and sure that if IC thought any of them were a better option than we have in our current squad (when fit) he would be making the case to bringing them back to the Walks.  This is part of the issue with going down the 'developing younger players' model, they won't all develop into EFL players or even step 2 players so there will always be some signings who end up dropping down to find their level.

As IC explained last Thursday the squad will be adapted but it won't be overnight and we don't appear to have the financial luxury of carrying a huge squad 'just in case'.  Fingers crossed we can get one or two loanees in but Christmas isn't always the time when clubs are keen for players to go out, particularly experienced ones.

Fair result with Lynn having the better of the first half then Macclesfield putting us under plenty of pressure in the second and getting a deserved equaliser.  Neither side happy with the officials and you do wonder what on earth Sealey had to do to win a free kick having endured 90 minutes of being pushed, kicked and thrown to the floor tonight. 

MotM was an interesting choice, I like Crane but he hardly had a touch in the second half.  Much better performance first half but moving Troso further forward to support Sealey left Clunan desperately needing help in the middle of the park

Hopefully the rain stays out to the west and there are no issues with getting the game on tomorrow evening.

Tough one for IC after the 'men against boys' comment in his post match interview at the weekend, very few options for him to shuffle things round and really he was just stating the fact - we do have a lot of inexperienced youngsters, unfortunately the only way for them to learn is by coming up against sides like Chester (and potentially Maccesfield)

I thought the two centre halves were OK at the weekend but we were completely overrun in midfield and offered very little going forward, Crane is a shadow of the player he can be when played out wide so with no Marriott I would move him into the centre.  Fleming hasn't been half the player I hoped when we signed him at the start of the season and has been shown up for pace in a number of games so wondered if IC might move him a bit further forward to play as the holding midfielder and take a bit off Clunan's shoulders.  My team for tomorrow

Jones
Wilson, Wilson, Dickens
Williams, Collins, Fleming, Clunan, Clements
Crane
Sealey

Quote from: Mallard on December 07, 2025, 08:14:30 PM...That of course creates its own issues in so much as the Trust consists of 130 people.  Or on this occasion would the Trust board be asked to keep this from the membership?

Mall, not picking on you but the idea that 'if the Trust knows then ALL the Trust members should know' every bit of information about the internal running of the club is a strange idea to me.  Maybe this hasn't been communicated well enough or maybe the Trust directors are still working on arrangements with the club but there are things that the Trust board will find out (in time maybe through the Trust having a director on the club board) that are rightfully kept within the management group and I think personnel matters, as appears to be the case with Gyasi, would be a clear example of this.  In fact if this issue has been shared with the Trust board then I think questions need to be asked of the club as to whether this was appropriate - I don't see any reason for anyone outside of BS, IC, PB and JS to know anything more than Veritas has posted. 

Part of the problem is, as B&G alluded to on another thread, there are too many people connected to the club who don't really understand the meaning of confidential for whatever reason and this the snowballs to the situation the club finds itself in where lots of people think they are 'in the know' or worse still, think they have a right to know every little detail about the club.  Having said all of that the club could also step up and produce some proper information about player availability, financial information etc that it wouldn't be unreasonable to share with fans that might help fill some of the vacuum where rumours start

Quote from: Mallard on December 06, 2025, 08:25:27 PMCully was quite scathing  of his team in his post match interview.   Described it as men against boys.  That was a worry as at the fans forum he said the way forward was to get youngsters in who could be improved.

Mall, to be fair IC also said he needed a core of the side to enable youngsters to come in and improve and we weren't there yet with that core, telling that he was already looking at 26-27 so that's probably an acceptance that it is going to be difficult to move some of the players currently on contract so we have to make the best of the situation.  Also said after the game today on Radio Norfolk that you can't bring too many of the youngsters in all at once (missing RHJ & Mazza today)

Thought IC's post match interview on the club website was spot on, Chester came and played well, managed every aspect of the game and we were second best.  That said, I thought IC's substitutions didn't help us but maybe some of the younger players aren't yet used to Sat-midweek-Sat or he was just rolling the dice? 

A few notes of last nights meeting:

As others have said, Bal read a lengthy statement, repeating much of what was in the press release when the takeover was confirmed but then expanding on a few more areas:

• looking at merging all age groups below under 16s with KL Elite
• thanked David Griggs and Mervyn (apologies I didn't get the full name) for their help on the commercial side and also Michael Clunan for help on commercial and finance
• quick plug for the launch of the business club coming up
• looking to monetise the stadium with ideas including paddle/5-a-side pitch in Hospital End car park, fanzone behind the main stand, upgrade of bar to include darts, looking at funding options on 3G pitch
• need to work more on the community side and get the charity back up and running including outreach to the more deprived areas of the town/area
• 1st payment of DCMS loan has now been made including all of the accrued interest, this will take 16 years to clear with payments due every 6 months
• TSI have now put in over £1m (described as a seven figure sum)
• explained it wasn't the original intention for TSI to own the club but SC was no longer able to fund the club so TSI have stepped in to keep things going.  They had looked at selling at the end of the 2024-25 season but there were no credible buyers.  Bal did also say that TSI's involvement will be for 'multiple seasons' to come

Travis then started the Q&A section of the evening with some nice 'half volleys' for each of the top table

• To IC - Reflections on return
  Under no illusions to what he was coming back to, squad still needs adjusting but won't be done overnight
• To MC - How is dressing room
  Been back for five months and three managers in that time with lots of drama, this understandably unsettled the group and they lost confidence.  Now more stable and can see confidence returning
• To JS - Explain the recruitment process
  Lots of turnover in playing squad (last three seasons about 80% each year) but having worked with IC previously has a good idea of what people to get in and working on being destination for players leaving higher level academies
• To PE - Introduce the Blue & Gold Trust
  Formed in 2009 and lots of hard work has seen ~£100k raised.  Good to have an owner who wants to engage with fans but now need to find ways to grow the Trust and encourage younger age groups to volunteer

Questions from the floor

• Are there plans to repair the main stand
  BS - Not filling the stand at present and obviously have to consider where we spend our money, looking at funding options to ensure things don't get worse
• Position of loans (bounce back/DCMS/TSI) post-takeover
  BS - bounce back only has 10 months left, DCMS £470k (capital element £15k every 6 months), TSI is confidential
• Expand on community activity
  BS - not too much happening without volunteers but actively looking to restart
• Comment on quality of refs this season
  MC - nothing to say ;)
  Norman (from the audience) - lots of clubs seem to be complaining this season
• What involvement will the Trust have on day-to-day activities
  PE - Trust is ready to help but with limited numbers of active volunteers there is a limit on what they can do but always looking for new volunteers
• With comments about looking to profit from player sales what is club doing about multi year contracts
  IC - try to secure players we like, and have a core of players going into 26-27 then bring youngsters through
• So looking at staying FT into the future?
  BS - wouldn't have got IC if not
  IC / MC - when here previously recruited all of Norfolk for part-time but market harder with likes of Spalding etc.  Getting players to turn from p-t to f-t can be costly (lost earnings).  FT and accommodation gives more options.  Probably not a lot in it
• How to expand Blue & Gold Trust
  BS - experience with AFC Wimbledon, maybe look at doing something with season ticket holders next year
• Question re fines for yellow / red card
  No definitive answer

Quote from: Mallard on December 03, 2025, 09:11:35 PMI take it they never had a Sports England loan to pay back. Have we started making inroads into that I wonder 🤷�♂️

Chester were vocal in the fact that they were unable to take out a Sports England loan due to their fan owned status so, like many others in NLN (and appreciate we were NL at the time) don't have a DCMS loan.

Just seen this in respect of our opponents on Saturday https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7400181390803378176/

Whilst I appreciate there are many differences between us and Chester, it is good to see a fan owned club holding their own at our level and being prepared to share how things are going off the pitch.  Understand we all look for different things from owners but for me this level of transparency is worth far more than the (often secretive) benefactor model.



🔵 Chester FC made a profit of £53k for the 2024/25 season, it was announced at the Annual General Meeting of City Fans United (CFU) on Thursday evening.

CFU members received a detailed report on the club's finances for the year ending 31 May 2025, during which Treasurer Neil Berry outlined the major achievements across the season, including:

- Turnover was £1,629,000 - an increase of £200k on the previous 12 months
- Expenditure was £1,585,000
- Pre-tax profit recorded was £52,667
- Matchday revenue up £154k to £811k - includes £274k from season tickets
- Commercial income was £258k - £23k above budget
- Fundraising income was £182k - includes £104k Boost the Budget and 50% increase in CFU membership fees
- Club shop profit was £57k - 9% increase
- Transfer income from player sales and loans was £78k
- Club reserves have increased to £268k

While the club's participation in the National League North play-offs contributed to the increased gate income, it had also resulted in additional match and playing budget costs due to the requirement for extended contracts.

During the meeting, CFU board members also provided reports on their respective portfolios before answering questions from the floor and online.

The AGM also includes the CFU board elections, however as there was only one candidate and four available places, an affirmative ballot was held instead, with Kieron Shiel, who had completed his three-year term, successfully re-elected.

The full AGM minutes, financial statements and reports will be published on www.cityfansunited.com (http://www.cityfansunited.com/?trk=public_post-text) shortly