The biggest transfer budget in the club's history!

[DavTrav]

Is what we were told earlier in the summer SOD had at his disposal and up to the close of the transfer window, he's spent a grand total of £0.00 of it (assuming it is true that Billy was paid for by the Directors).

So, can we presume that either SOD never wanted the cash in the first place (and poo-poo the earlier rumours that he was upset at the previous lack of cash) or that he believes that our squad is good enough as it is?  Or are we waiting to see how we are doing in January?

Hmmmmm ...

[steve@dcfd]

DavTrav wrote:

Is what we were told earlier in the summer SOD had at his disposal and up to the close of the transfer window, he's spent a grand total of £0.00 of it (assuming it is true that Billy was paid for by the Directors).

So, can we presume that either SOD never wanted the cash in the first place (and poo-poo the earlier rumours that he was upset at the previous lack of cash) or that he believes that our squad is good enough as it is?  Or are we waiting to see how we are doing in January?

Hmmmmm ...

Or the money has been used for players wages. The board may have bought Billy but the budget has been used to pay wages. If we are bringing in loan players the money will be used to pay their wages.

[philsky]

SOD is no mug.

He clearly stated that any additions must improve the squad.

I can't imagine he's going to buy players for the sake of it.

I reckon he'd love to splash some serious cash but big purchase bring with them huge salary demands and its then an affordability issue.

He'll be lining a loan or two in his understated way.

RTID

[Redandwhitewhizards]

I think it was the biggest playing budget rather than a transfer budget - it was said he was given an extra £1.8m which would include the wages and signing on fees of any additional squad members, therefore the likes of Thomas, Payne, Friend, Gillet have all taken a chunk out of the budget, I imagine Billys wages have too.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Go back to original radio interview and you'll find it was not a transfer budget.

His budget covers all aspects on the playing side, transfers/loans, wages, and no doubt Ross Burbery the fitness coach is included in that !

He doesn't have pots of cash earmarked only for transfers. He has a budget which he has to manage all season not just in transfer windows.

[Red wizard]

DavTrav wrote:

Is what we were told earlier in the summer SOD had at his disposal and up to the close of the transfer window, he's spent a grand total of £0.00 of it (assuming it is true that Billy was paid for by the Directors).

So, can we presume that either SOD never wanted the cash in the first place (and poo-poo the earlier rumours that he was upset at the previous lack of cash) or that he believes that our squad is good enough as it is?  Or are we waiting to see how we are doing in January?

Hmmmmm ...

We have got the biggest budget the club has ever had. A 7 million pound wage bill plus our first 1 million pound player who a lot of people thought was out of our reach. Thats a 4 million pund increase since coming up from league 1.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Well I'm just glad we've got through another transfer window without too much damage. In fact we've got to be over the moon with Billy, we've kept our crown jewels apart from Gareth Roberts and, we added one or two more. AND we've got Brooker back !!

We've got to be happy with that surely.

I'm sure there'll be more twists and turns before the next transfer window when we're sitting in the top six, and praying we don't get our top players poached !!

[Jonathan]

Redandwhitewhizards wrote:

I think it was the biggest playing budget rather than a transfer budget - it was said he was given an extra £1.8m which would include the wages and signing on fees of any additional squad members, therefore the likes of Thomas, Payne, Friend, Gillet have all taken a chunk out of the budget, I imagine Billys wages have too.

That would be assuming none of the above is netted off by the departure of some of our big earners in Roberts and Heffernan (amongst others). As well as factoring in the additions, we should not forget that we've shed lots from the wage bill in recent seasons when you take into account Wellens and Mills too (plus their transfer fees). It isn't all one way traffic.

[hoolahoop]

DonnyBazR0ver wrote:

Well I'm just glad we've got through another transfer window without too much damage. In fact we've got to be over the moon with Billy, we've kept our crown jewels apart from Gareth Roberts and, we added one or two more. AND we've got Brooker back !!

We've got to be happy with that surely.

I'm sure there'll be more twists and turns before the next transfer window when we're sitting in the top six, and praying we don't get our top players poached !!

Yep well happy with that DBR now we need to add some depth to the squad............destination Prem. ?

[CusworthRovers]

Jonathan wrote:

Redandwhitewhizards wrote:

I think it was the biggest playing budget rather than a transfer budget - it was said he was given an extra £1.8m which would include the wages and signing on fees of any additional squad members, therefore the likes of Thomas, Payne, Friend, Gillet have all taken a chunk out of the budget, I imagine Billys wages have too.

That would be assuming none of the above is netted off by the departure of some of our big earners in Roberts and Heffernan (amongst others). As well as factoring in the additions, we should not forget that we've shed lots from the wage bill in recent seasons when you take into account Wellens and Mills too (plus their transfer fees). It isn't all one way traffic.

But we also need to factor in, lot's of contracts were up this summer and renewed. I dare say/suggest that it will have been on improved terms

[uros-predic]

the poor attendances has probably had a big influence on the lack of activity

[Chris]

uros-predic wrote:

the poor attendances has probably had a big influence on the lack of activity

Really! We have one of the strongest sides of most fans' lifetime!

[Alan Southstand]

Chicken or egg, when it comes to attendances!

We have, in real terms, effectively weakened the squad so far this season.

[bedale rover]

Alan Southstand wrote:

Chicken or egg, when it comes to attendances!

We have, in real terms, effectively weakened the squad so far this season.

que???

[no yam yam]

Alan Southstand wrote:

Chicken or egg, when it comes to attendances!

We have, in real terms, effectively weakened the squad so far this season.

No we have a stronger squad at the start of this season. Sharp, Shackell, Ward, Jet and probably others were all brought in on loan, and I fully expect a similar thing to happen throughout this season. Further increasing the demand on SOD's budget

[kybone]

I think in situations like this the club often shoots itself in the foot. Why did John Ryan have to come out and start shouting about having a big budget when he knows that fans will expect to see that backed up with big money signings. It wouldn't have been so bad if he hadn't have made it public knowledge that Billy Sharp was signed with cash straight form the directors pockets and was in ADDITION to the biggest ever budget. I assume it was all a publicity stunt to try to engineer more st sales but the fact is that fans respond to signings not big talk.

[wilts rover]

Alan Southstand wrote:

Chicken or egg, when it comes to attendances!

We have, in real terms, effectively weakened the squad so far this season.

what by getting rid of players in whom the view on here was that they 'were not good enough'....come back Lewis Guy and Ben Smith - all is forgiven!

[Alan Southstand]

So, everyone thinks that, presently, the squad is stronger! Take a look at the numbers guys and take off those rose-tinted spectacles and then come back to me.

If we get the 2 loanees that have agreed to come, then we'll be somewhere near, I'll agree wholeheartedly with that, but until that happens, we are down in squad strength, whether you like it or not.

[CusworthRovers]

Squad strength/size I would agree may be weaker to some, however the class level has risen IMO, which is equally/if not more important.

Forget loans and concentrate on the ones that are ours:

Class out = Roberts

Class in = Billy, Thomas, Friend, Payne, Gillett.

The argument for the incomings is subjective in respect of class/quality, as time will tell on that, but IMO 4 of those will be regular first teamers. I can only think of Roberts who was released and, who was a first team regular. Therefore, one could say we have considerably improved the quality that takes to the field.

[hoolahoop]

CusworthRovers wrote:

Squad strength/size I would agree may be weaker to some, however the class level has risen IMO, which is equally/if not more important.

Forget loans and concentrate on the ones that are ours:

Class out = Roberts

Class in = Billy, Thomas, Friend, Payne, Gillett.

The argument for the incomings is subjective in respect of class/quality, as time will tell on that, but IMO 4 of those will be regular first teamers. I can only think of Roberts who was released and, who was a first team regular. Therefore, one could say we have considerably improved the quality that takes to the field.

Of course we have Cussie , only a fool would deny that we just need a bit more depth and we've cracked it (notwithstanding injuries to vital players)

[Alan Southstand]

Therefore, one could say we have considerably improved the quality that takes to the field.

That's why I originally said 'squad'! (The clue is in the question).

We already had Billy and Simon at some stage last season and yes, if we make similar loan signings this season (say, for example, JET and the equivalent of Shackell) then I believe we'll be fine. At the moment we're OK, but just OK. A sending off and a couple of injuries will put pay to 'just OK' though.

[CusworthRovers]

There has to be a balance in Squad size and Quality that will take to the field. This is an unhelpful position Doncaster find themselves in due to our size/finances.

In one hand we could have a huge squad with plenty of back up, but lose many games as the first 11 is not strong enough. I am sure many would demand the first 11 quality is improved and to sacrifice one or two of the overall squad.


On the other hand, we could have 13 class first team players and then 13 Mr Averages, who shall we say 'do a job, are 100% committed, good honest pro's' and all the other narratives they use. If we lose 3-4 of the first team class players it may have a knock on effect to the whole balance when the so called lesser lights come in.


Me, I think the balance is good for where we are and where we are at. I am sure Sean will say different, but don't all managers want 30 odd class players in their squad.

I think we have cover in every department to cope with suspensions and short term injuries.

If we can get something, I would go for JET. He can play a multitude of positions and gives you class almost everywhere. For the price of one he could save us getting 1-2-3 players in

[Jonathan]

CusworthRovers wrote:

Class out = Roberts

Class in = Billy, Thomas, Friend, Payne, Gillett.

How can you say Thomas, Friend and Payne are \"class in\" and omit Heffernan, Guy and Smith from \"class out.\"

I'm not criticising any of our incomings, infact I think Payne and Friend have the potential to become good players, but in footballing terms they are unproven as yet and are probably on no more money (and in Payne's case less) than the departees I've listed.

Like I said it isn't all one way traffic. The wage bill has multiplied over the last five years, so too have the income streams available to the club such as gate receipts, transfer fees received and television money.

[CusworthRovers]

CusworthRovers wrote:

Class out = Roberts

Class in = Billy, Thomas, Friend, Payne, Gillett.

The argument for the incomings is subjective in respect of class/quality, as time will tell on that, but IMO 4 of those will be regular first teamers. I can only think of Roberts who was released and, who was a first team regular. Therefore, one could say we have considerably improved the quality that takes to the field.

Note my little narrative underneath. Yes it is only an opinion on 'class in' and time will tell, but like I say, in the eyes of Sean (the one that counts) Heffs, Smith, Guy etc were not deemed class enough by Sean, and let's be honest never threatened a run in the first team and to remain there bar Roberts (we will all have our own less informed opinions, but facts tell the tale). Again, at least 4 of those 5 'ins' IMO will be regulars when fit and available. So does that not mean to our manager/coaching staff that we have more class in and less class as left.

Doubt none of us know what wages have been saved or if our wage bill has increased, but like you say we would all guess Payne is most likely the only one who is on less or equal to Heffs, Smith, Guy.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Doubt none of us know what wages have been saved or if our wage bill has increased, but like you say we would all guess Payne is most likely the only one who is on less or equal to Heffs, Smith, Guy.

Alan Irvine: \"Sorry Paul, I can only offer you 6K a week\"
Heffernan: \"Be jesus, that's great ! I was only on 3K at Donny !\"