Richardson out

[Linden Jones' Tash]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Unless anyone is suggesting a change in manager or an improved playing style will lead to a doubling in either average attendance or ST holders, 'bums on seats' isn't the financial lever it once was...

[The Cap]

I've already said that I think LR will still be here at the start of next season, with that view purely based on all the noises coming from the hierarchy. However, the last few days have certainly seen a lot of fan pressure cranking up for his removal. Straightforward messages, subliminal messages, yada yada messages. Anyway the atmosphere on Saturday should certainly prove interesting and I'd love to know what positive Rob is 'really' thinking at this moment in time.

[Lower West]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Unless anyone is suggesting a change in manager or an improved playing style will lead to a doubling in either average attendance or ST holders, 'bums on seats' isn't the financial lever it once was...

Sky TV money is £2 million alone.

Chicken and egg. Spending big sadly is no longer the answer. Leicester City's financial woes may even make ours look like peanuts. Money is destroying the game.

[Lower West]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Unless anyone is suggesting a change in manager or an improved playing style will lead to a doubling in either average attendance or ST holders, 'bums on seats' isn't the financial lever it once was...

Sky TV money is £2 million next season in L1.

Chicken and egg. Spending big sadly is no longer the answer. Leicester City's financial woes may even make ours look like peanuts. Money is destroying the game.

[Lower West]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Unless anyone is suggesting a change in manager or an improved playing style will lead to a doubling in either average attendance or ST holders, 'bums on seats' isn't the financial lever it once was...

Sky TV money is only £2 million next season in L1. Birmingham City's wage bill in the 24/25 season was over £15 million.

Chicken and egg. Spending big sadly is no longer the answer. Leicester City's financial woes may even make ours look like peanuts. Money is destroying the game.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

3 X for extra emphasis?...

[Clyde1998]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Unless anyone is suggesting a change in manager or an improved playing style will lead to a doubling in either average attendance or ST holders, 'bums on seats' isn't the financial lever it once was...

Worth saying the 2024-25 average appears to include cup matches (possibly all games at the stadium, including development games), whereas the 2023-24 average only includes league matches. They're not directly comparable figures.

[Clyde1998]

Yes, because the "noise" will get louder and louder and owners keen to get bums on seats next season ignore that at their peril.

We say that every time

Yet everyone still renews

That surely is a weak argument. Season ticket's are at an all time low (well, they may have increased simply due to DY being booted out). But my point is we've had some games this season where 8000 people have attended.

The general footfall at the ground is declining. Look at the likes of Bolton, Bradford, Derby etc - admittedly much bigger supports, but they regularly get over 20,000. Derby when they were in league one got 25k+ at many home games.

I know we'll never get anywhere near those numbers, but our attendances have been around 10-12k mostly, with quite a few at 8 and 9k.

That's pitiful really, especially for a club just recently rescued and with a bright future ahead (on paper at least)

I've got something I'm planning on doing with the attendance figures I've collected over the years during the summer. Would say we had a maximum about 4-5k Mad Stad STHs at this level prior to our 2001-02 promotion.

I think the honeymoon period a lot of clubs were having post-Covid has started to wear off and the cost of living issues people are facing is starting to bite, hence the general drop in crowds.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

3 X for extra emphasis?...

[morganb]

Wonder who was on Couhig's manager shortlist and if any of them become available would he then act? Or is he Richardson In regardless

(Scott Parker sacked by Burnley)

[Whore Jackie]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Only 128 extra ST holders gained despite all the positivity with the end of the Dai era. That must have been a huge reality check for Couhig.
Be interesting* to see if the One Royal membership scheme as mooted helps, but realistically we're not going to break 8K ST holders next season.

[katweslowski]

I genuinely think Couhig expected to see crowds of 17-18k+ each game, and no doubt has been very disappointed. In a way it's good, as it sends a message.

But it is depressing to turn up every week to a half empty ground and a feeling of just complete disinterest as we sit through yet another 90 minutes of virtually no shots at goal and no real exciting forward pressure.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Only 128 extra ST holders gained despite all the positivity with the end of the Dai era. That must have been a huge reality check for Couhig.
Be interesting* to see if the One Royal membership scheme as mooted helps, but realistically we're not going to break 8K ST holders next season.

Around 2,800 Elite One Royal members will raise £2M/year

5,600 Elite One Royal members and you are looking at nearer to £4M...

you can see why the subscription model is attractive on paper

[Sutekh]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Only 128 extra ST holders gained despite all the positivity with the end of the Dai era. That must have been a huge reality check for Couhig.
Be interesting* to see if the One Royal membership scheme as mooted helps, but realistically we're not going to break 8K ST holders next season.

Around 2,800 Elite One Royal members will raise £2M/year

5,600 Elite One Royal members and you are looking at nearer to £4M...

you can see why the subscription model is attractive on paper

But then the downside is that the club won’t be getting, say, £300 * 5600 up front.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Only 128 extra ST holders gained despite all the positivity with the end of the Dai era. That must have been a huge reality check for Couhig.
Be interesting* to see if the One Royal membership scheme as mooted helps, but realistically we're not going to break 8K ST holders next season.

Around 2,800 Elite One Royal members will raise £2M/year

5,600 Elite One Royal members and you are looking at nearer to £4M...

you can see why the subscription model is attractive on paper

But then the downside is that the club won’t be getting, say, £300 * 5600 up front.

Yea, exactly - I just posted some thoughts on the Redwood Watch thread...

'on paper' it can look like an attractive model, but the lack of immediate cashflow over the summer makes it an interesting experiment...

Also, Reading FC's financial year runs to June 30th, so being prepared to take this kind of risk is interesting in terms of what it might signal...

[katweslowski]

Hasn't the club now got several new investment teams or partners? I remember it being announced a few times, either individuals or groups that Couhig brought in as partners. I assumed they'd be offering up money and basically ensuring we do get promoted and just not continue to rot away in League One (or lower!)

[RoyalBlue]

The Club Accounts show the following:

24/25: average attendance: 10,645 - ST holders: 8,069 - matchday revenue: £4.3M

23/24: average attendance: 13,912 - ST holders: 7,941 - matchday revenue: £4.1M

Only 128 extra ST holders gained despite all the positivity with the end of the Dai era. That must have been a huge reality check for Couhig.
Be interesting* to see if the One Royal membership scheme as mooted helps, but realistically we're not going to break 8K ST holders next season.

Around 2,800 Elite One Royal members will raise £2M/year

5,600 Elite One Royal members and you are looking at nearer to £4M...

you can see why the subscription model is attractive on paper

Do you really think that in the present climate (club and general economic) and mood that many people will sign up to it?

[Royal Rother]

He isn’t going to survive this.

[Sutekh]

He isn’t going to survive this.

Want to bet?

[Ascotexgunner]

Was it my imagination or was Richardson boo'd when he he retrieved the ball during the game?