The owners - what went wrong for them

[Brogue]

I’m hearing Tim Kilpatrick has been made redundant and left the club.

So has Luke bishop

Who are these?

Tim was the chief revenue officer

And Luke bishop head of player logistics. I’m sure you’ll recognise him

[Stranded]

Do we have any back office staff left?

The lack of any advertising of tomorrow's game v Wycombe, suggests probably not.

[Uke]

So has Luke bishop

Who are these?

Tim was the chief revenue officer

And Luke bishop head of player logistics. I’m sure you’ll recognise him

Are these posts common in L1 clubs? What is the salary expectations? How big is the “Player Logistics” team?

Redundancies are often a necessary part of any business decision.

It’s sad for those affected, but business is business, not sentiment

[West F]

I’m hearing Tim Kilpatrick has been made redundant and left the club.

So has Luke bishop

Who are these?

Tim was the man who steered the club through its darkest financial period. Maintaining its ability to trade and play in spite of all the constraints. I am sure he had long hours and sleepless nights.
Luke is a dyed in the wool Reading supporter, who along with the rest of the staff ensured that there was a functional club during the worst of the Dai era, and in his case, further back than that. These are the staff who did all they could to give us matches to watch, frequently while not being paid. Working longer and harder due to the reduction in headcount which has not been redressed. It has in fact become worse. By getting rid of them, the club ends up being a soulless franchise, administered by those who will never question any decisions or direction the business seeks to take.
Not everyone at a club kicks balls or coaches the kicking. They are paid far less than industry standard in most cases. They do it primarily because they are like us, supporters who want the best for our club.

[Hound]

What was the reason given for sacking them? Sounds a poor decision though can’t say I’m familiar with either

[Marcel]

So has Luke bishop

Who are these?

Tim was the man who steered the club through its darkest financial period. Maintaining its ability to trade and play in spite of all the constraints. I am sure he had long hours and sleepless nights.
Luke is a dyed in the wool Reading supporter, who along with the rest of the staff ensured that there was a functional club during the worst of the Dai era, and in his case, further back than that. These are the staff who did all they could to give us matches to watch, frequently while not being paid. Working longer and harder due to the reduction in headcount which has not been redressed. It has in fact become worse. By getting rid of them, the club ends up being a soulless franchise, administered by those who will never question any decisions or direction the business seeks to take.
Not everyone at a club kicks balls or coaches the kicking. They are paid far less than industry standard in most cases. They do it primarily because they are like us, supporters who want the best for our club.

This is why I said in another post that this isn’t a very nice club anymore.
The yanks have certainly driven me away from the club with no intention to return in the foreseeable.
Had a fantastic weekend at British Superbikes at Thruxton instead of lining the pockets of bloody Americans.

[Uke]

What was the reason given for sacking them? Sounds a poor decision though can’t say I’m familiar with either

Redundancies, not sackings

Surely player logistics, used to be "kit man" (aka Ron Grant) - do we really need a team with a Head of Team?

[Sutekh]

Who are these?

Tim was the chief revenue officer

And Luke bishop head of player logistics. I’m sure you’ll recognise him

Are these posts common in L1 clubs? What is the salary expectations? How big is the “Player Logistics” team?

Redundancies are often a necessary part of any business decision.

It’s sad for those affected, but business is business, not sentiment

What exactly is player logistics anyway? Thank god there wasn’t a Director of Football Methodology!

[Uke]

Tim was the chief revenue officer

And Luke bishop head of player logistics. I’m sure you’ll recognise him

Are these posts common in L1 clubs? What is the salary expectations? How big is the “Player Logistics” team?

Redundancies are often a necessary part of any business decision.

It’s sad for those affected, but business is business, not sentiment

What exactly is player logistics anyway? Thank god there wasn’t a Director of Football Methodology!

Ensuring match day kits, training kits, towels, balls, etc are in the correct place at the correct time?

Gemini AI states

A Head of Player Logistics (or Logistics Manager) in sports is an administrative backroom staff member who manages day-to-day scheduling, travel arrangements, accommodation, kit and equipment flow, and facility operations so players and coaches can focus entirely on performance.

Core Responsibilities

• Travel & Accommodation: Booking flights, hotels, buses, and secure transport for away games, training camps, and tournaments.
• Matchday Coordination: Organizing pre-match meals, kit setups, and arrival schedules at home and away stadiums.
• Daily Operations: Managing training ground logistics, scheduling pitch use, and coordinating player appearances or community visits.
• Equipment & Kit Management: Overseeing inventory, transport, and delivery of team gear, training equipment, and match kits.

Key Skills Required

• High-level organizational and multi-project planning.
• Strong crisis management and problem-solving under tight deadlines.Budget tracking and vendor negotiation (hotels, transport providers).
• Excellent communication skills to bridge players, coaching staff, and external venues.

Salary Structure Breakdown

• The financial packages are strongly determined by the tier of the sports league or company:
• Lower Tier / Academy Teams: £35,000 – £50,000
• Mid-Tier Clubs / National Governing Bodies: £55,000 – £75,000
• Elite Tier (e.g., Premier League Football, Formula 1): £85,000 to £120,000+

Because League One is the third tier of English football, budgets are vastly different from the Premier League. Many clubs combine player logistics with other roles, such as kit management, stadium operations, or general football administration.

The stuff Ron Grant seemed to do single-handedly when we were in the Prem or did he need a team to do it though?

I do feel really sorry for Luke as he's been a fan all his life and a "business decision" has shattered his dream.
https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2022/a ... the-club-/

[Sutekh]

Are these posts common in L1 clubs? What is the salary expectations? How big is the “Player Logistics” team?

Redundancies are often a necessary part of any business decision.

It’s sad for those affected, but business is business, not sentiment

What exactly is player logistics anyway? Thank god there wasn’t a Director of Football Methodology!

Ensuring match day kits, training kits, towels, balls, etc are in the correct place at the correct time?

Gemini AI states

A Head of Player Logistics (or Logistics Manager) in sports is an administrative backroom staff member who manages day-to-day scheduling, travel arrangements, accommodation, kit and equipment flow, and facility operations so players and coaches can focus entirely on performance.

Core Responsibilities

• Travel & Accommodation: Booking flights, hotels, buses, and secure transport for away games, training camps, and tournaments.
• Matchday Coordination: Organizing pre-match meals, kit setups, and arrival schedules at home and away stadiums.
• Daily Operations: Managing training ground logistics, scheduling pitch use, and coordinating player appearances or community visits.
• Equipment & Kit Management: Overseeing inventory, transport, and delivery of team gear, training equipment, and match kits.

Key Skills Required

• High-level organizational and multi-project planning.
• Strong crisis management and problem-solving under tight deadlines.Budget tracking and vendor negotiation (hotels, transport providers).
• Excellent communication skills to bridge players, coaching staff, and external venues.

Salary Structure Breakdown

• The financial packages are strongly determined by the tier of the sports league or company:
• Lower Tier / Academy Teams: £35,000 – £50,000
• Mid-Tier Clubs / National Governing Bodies: £55,000 – £75,000
• Elite Tier (e.g., Premier League Football, Formula 1): £85,000 to £120,000+

Because League One is the third tier of English football, budgets are vastly different from the Premier League. Many clubs combine player logistics with other roles, such as kit management, stadium operations, or general football administration.

The stuff Ron Grant seemed to do single-handedly when we were in the Prem or did he need a team to do it though?

I do feel really sorry for Luke as he's been a fan all his life and a "business decision" has shattered his dream.
https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2022/a ... the-club-/

At least he got twenty years or so of doing jobs many fans could only dream of. Twenty years that included the peak (so far) of the club’s league existence. God, he must have some tales to tell

[traff]

My understanding of the feelings among Wycombe fans is that there is enormous gratitude towards Couhig for putting money into the club at a time when they were struggling and genuinely needed it.

However, the criticism seems to be that his tenure ultimately involved a lot of talk and promises, with considerably less actually delivered. There were ambitious plans for the stadium and infrastructure, yet some of the basics were apparently never properly addressed. The fact that supporters still talk about the toilets not working rather sums it up.

There are other similarities that feel slightly uncomfortable too: the big personality, ambitious statements about where the club could go, talk of improving facilities and growing revenues, and an emphasis on what might happen in the future rather than tangible progress supporters can actually see.

Obviously, Reading's circumstances are different and it's still relatively early, but the pattern of big promises, plenty of publicity and relatively little visible progress so far sounds ominously familiar.

[Esteban]

My understanding of the feelings among Wycombe fans is that there is enormous gratitude towards Couhig for putting money into the club at a time when they were struggling and genuinely needed it.

However, the criticism seems to be that his tenure ultimately involved a lot of talk and promises, with considerably less actually delivered. There were ambitious plans for the stadium and infrastructure, yet some of the basics were apparently never properly addressed. The fact that supporters still talk about the toilets not working rather sums it up.

There are other similarities that feel slightly uncomfortable too: the big personality, ambitious statements about where the club could go, talk of improving facilities and growing revenues, and an emphasis on what might happen in the future rather than tangible progress supporters can actually see.

Obviously, Reading's circumstances are different and it's still relatively early, but the pattern of big promises, plenty of publicity and relatively little visible progress so far sounds ominously familiar.

I think it's clear that Couhig, Trosclair and Catania mean well. I believe they genuinely want to achieve the goals they've publicly stated. I've never taken anything any owner says at face value - every owner we've had has made promises they didn't keep at one point or another.

I trust them to keep the lights on, keep us in League 1 and maybe flirt with the play-offs every now and then. But I don't think they've got the means to get us to out of the division. I think they have made and will continue to make unpopular decisions, which may one day include downgrading the academy. However, I do trust them to keep it at Cat 1 level for the time being.

In many ways, it reminds me of Roger Smee's reign - well meaning, highly ambitious, but ultimately not having the finances to take us where we want to go.

We'll be safe under Couhig, but not successful.

[West F]

We'll be safe under Couhig, but not successful.
[/quote]

This is what he achieved at Wycombe during his tenure. Took them from being a mid table league one side, playing in front of 6000 fans to being a mid table league one side playing in front of 6000 fans. Apart from a Covid inspired brief holiday in the Championship, that is about it.

I tend to view his ownership as stewardship. He is stabilising the club ahead of a sale to what will hopefully be an owner. One with a vested interest in success in the long term. Borrowing £5M in order to improve the value of his main asset, suggests a sale may be sooner than promotion.

[Stranded]

We'll be safe under Couhig, but not successful.

This is what he achieved at Wycombe during his tenure. Took them from being a mid table league one side, playing in front of 6000 fans to being a mid table league one side playing in front of 6000 fans. Apart from a Covid inspired brief holiday in the Championship, that is about it.

I tend to view his ownership as stewardship. He is stabilising the club ahead of a sale to what will hopefully be an owner. One with a vested interest in success in the long term. Borrowing £5M in order to improve the value of his main asset, suggests a sale may be sooner than promotion.
[/quote]

And whilst that is frustrating and arguably even annoying, it is, arguably, what the club needs right now. It doesn't make it fun and he doesn't help the situation at all with his comments on having to get promoted etc but if we have 1 or 2 more seasons treading water in L1 and then get sold on to someone with deep pockets who wants to chuck their savings at us, then long term it may well be looked back on as a positive.

Totally understand why many aren't happy with how things are now on/off the pitch - I myself am not exactly enthralled and have gone from someone who used to watch the vast majority of games to someone who catches a handful a season.

[Uke]

This is what he achieved at Wycombe during his tenure. Took them from being a mid table league one side, playing in front of 6000 fans to being a mid table league one side playing in front of 6000 fans. Apart from a Covid inspired brief holiday in the Championship, that is about it.

I tend to view his ownership as stewardship. He is stabilising the club ahead of a sale to what will hopefully be an owner. One with a vested interest in success in the long term. Borrowing £5M in order to improve the value of his main asset, suggests a sale may be sooner than promotion.

And whilst that is frustrating and arguably even annoying, it is, arguably, what the club needs right now. It doesn't make it fun and he doesn't help the situation at all with his comments on having to get promoted etc but if we have 1 or 2 more seasons treading water in L1 and then get sold on to someone with deep pockets who wants to chuck their savings at us, then long term it may well be looked back on as a positive.

Totally understand why many aren't happy with how things are now on/off the pitch - I myself am not exactly enthralled and have gone from someone who used to watch the vast majority of games to someone who catches a handful a season.

And the new Wycombe owners? What do Wycombe fans think of them?

[MR. CYNICAL]

Tim was the chief revenue officer

And Luke bishop head of player logistics. I’m sure you’ll recognise him

Are these posts common in L1 clubs? What is the salary expectations? How big is the “Player Logistics” team?

Redundancies are often a necessary part of any business decision.

It’s sad for those affected, but business is business, not sentiment

What exactly is player logistics anyway? Thank god there wasn’t a Director of Football Methodology!

I know he used to pick all the balls up after the pre match warm up!

[MR. CYNICAL]

New pitch - Looks good, about 2 meters narrower on each side I would guess so I doubt we'll have players running down the wings crossing balls in. Not sure how that will affect corners though, for us and the opposition.

Toilets in the Lower West, Hopefully not finished as they have removed a whole wall of urinals on one side and half on the other, I'd accuse them of taking the p*ss but maybe they're actually taking less as a result.

New Sound system is good, but it sounds like the PA guy still has the same microphone as that didn't sound any clearer. Maybe they just needed a new microphone all along?

New floodlights - Didn't see them in action, Looks like they left one of the old ones on the top of the East Stand - Maybe the screws were cross threaded and they couldn't get it off.

Didn't notice any other changes

Don't think the pitch is any narrower and 2 metres a side seems alot.
May look narrower because the grass has actually been extended to the perimeter as opposed to the blue track they had there in the past.

[Uke]

I’m hearing Tim Kilpatrick has been made redundant and left the club.

Given the nature of the examples Kipatrick quotes as his successes.

I would expect there was a massive fallout with Mr Vegas to blame...

[Armadillo Roadkill]

I'm firmly in the back the owners side of things. Not saying they're perfect, but...

They have stabilised the club
They have kept us in League 1 - with realistic chances of at least challenging for promotion
They have invested (although I hope the kept the receipt for the new pitch...)
They have made unpleasant choices (redundancies, Mr Vegas) when needed, but got the one most of us really wanted (Cat 1 academy) right

And no can say they're hiding can they? Couhig makes himself available, doesn't duck questions, is open and honest (albeit with a penchant for boosterism that may be OK in the US but needs backing up with delivery in England. Yes Rob. Those toilets. Now?).

So if you don't like them, and especially if people you know have lost their jobs in the cost-cutting behind the scenes, I understand having reservations, just not the constant negativity, as if they were running the club into the ground.

[stealthpapes]

They have made unpleasant choices (redundancies, Mr Vegas) when needed, but got the one most of us really wanted (Cat 1 academy) right

Has that been confirmed?