Norgethistle

The two main reasons for our losses are funding the Women’s team and academy is FALSE. As pointed out by Woodstock womens team is around £30k to £50k, from the club and there may be no contribution needed to academy this year from club. But the womens team and especially their matches at Petershill are a pathway for young families to get the Thistle bug, a safer more family friendly environment to bring kids to, where they can run about before transitioning to Firhill. Especially it’s a pathway for young female fans to get involved. They can now aspire to wear the red and yellow on the park representing the club when they grow up an option until previously only open to male supporters.

My takeaway was the preference is to increase revenue to bridge the gap (Sponsorships, hospitality, more bums on seats, utilizing Firhill more and even revue of admission pricing was all being worked), but ultimately if that didn’t work then cuts would come. Whilst TJF’s contribution is a donation, it’s budgeted for as we committed to a set amount per calendar month, which thanks to the membership we are fulfilling.

It’s £150000 to the men’s team a year (£12,500 a month) Its £24000 to Academy a year (£2,000 a month) And only £5000 to the women’s team a year.

It was mentioned on Friday by the chair that Alistair and other directors had put in a short term loan that had to be repaid, which is where a big chunk (£260k??) of Tranche 1 went

I think you’ve missed the democratic election of the 2 trustee board reps and who voted for them, and ultimately selected them, that being the beneficiaries of PTFC Trust. Just to remind you a beneficiary is - Someone who has a season ticket and above 18 year old or - A member of the 71 club or - A member of the Jags Trust or - A member of The Jags Foundation Some beneficiaries are in 1 of the groups, some in 2 and even some in 3. They get 1 vote each regardless of whether they are in 1 group or 3. TJF never appointed them, campaigned for or against them or had any influence in it, the beneficiaries and only the beneficiaries chose then, effectively 2500 of our fan base had their say via their individual single votes.

So Jim who on the board do you want removed? The 3 fan reps who 2 were voted on by beneficiaries and 1 by TJF members? Or one or more of the other 3? What ones don’t have actual hands on experience of running a business? Donald? Richard? Elliot?

This is not true. The ground was sold by the directors for £1.3 million to partly fund their new stadium, with the company buying the land also going to put part of the profit from housing built into funding the new stadium. The shale companies who purchased the land are owned by the same Norwegian (not me) business man who owns the club. He never paid it, part of that money was costed to spend on other projects which was spent, now leaving them with a shortfall as the none of it has turned up.

Jim, TJF are not a “tick in the box” organization as you state. If we were we would not have not only challenged the budget but get them to revise it. Also we wouldn’t have insisted on the controls on spend of tranche 2 that we got put in place. Those were both done. As for cutting the spend, I’d rather focus on deficit as that can be cut by growing revenue or cutting spend or a mix of both. Our deficit was £600k if we hadn’t played Rangers and would have struggled to make payroll before season ended. Our budgeted deficit is £280 not playing Rangers and on a league prize money of 4th. That’s halved the deficit. If we improve on league position or get lucky with a televised sell out game at Ibrox that deficit budgeted for narrows. Though we should not budget for a higher position than is a real goal or hope for a lucky cup draw, ever. Do I think we should be narrowing it further? Definitely, but where that comes in short term without harming the playing side so much it affects gate revenue, hospitality and prize money is tricky. Do I want to see a better plan from club on how they get us to balance or profit in next year or so? Definitely and I’ll be asking that at the meeting. We are moving in the correct direction and tranche 2 allows us some wiggle room to do it without making savage short term cuts that could push the club back years. I get it you want club board members to resign, is this the whole board or just a few? Does it include the director who between him and his contacts have ponied up a million quid? I get it you also now want TJF directors to resign, if TJF’s membership feels that way I’d have no issue with that, if I thought TJF’s collective decision was harming the club or the organization I’d be doing that in a heartbeat, currently though I don’t believe the vast majority of our membership feels that way, nor does my moral compass say we at TJF are taking the wrong decision for a long game, I’d rather look longer term and try and build something than knee jerk reactions and fire directors each time something isn’t quite right. And on that I’m back of this thread, pop past next Friday and say hello if you’re there would be great to say hello again.

Sold to their owners but as a shelf company

Without the Rangers game we were £600k in the hole, we needed directors loans to get us through till ST money came in, those directors loans were repaid as Tranche 1 came in. Ok we lay off ALL the admin staff, where do we find the other £40 or £50k and hope the office and club runs itself. You were at the AGM the spend was presented and office staff was a minute spend compared to annual footballing wages (£1.7m) and just over half of the annual stadium running costs (over £400k) As for commercial deals, that was also mentioned at AGM, which you also attended. Whilst attendances may be up, how does the mix compare? If it’s more adults then great, if the demographic is moving to have more U18’s and more over 65’s and less adults then it’s a false marker.

The projected loss is half of what it was previously, that’s moving in the correct direction. Could it move faster? With a blank canvas, ie not having historic commercial deals still running that we could get more money for now yes. If ground maintenance had been kept up previously, Yes. We don’t have a blank canvas we are trying to balance soon, but you need cash flow to buy that time, that’s what Tranche 2 does, it gives cash flow, and a safety net cash sum in a high interest account. It also allows greater controls on spend as part of the agreement. Where would you save £280k from Jim mid season if not from playing staff?

What about woodland Jag

First 40 minutes we played some really nice football, if Chalmers had went in it would have ended a rout. It’s clear teams lacking confidence as when they scored from Milne’s mistake the team went into its shell

I think if we get an early goal we will click and get a couple, the problem so far we’re not getting that early goal (or many goals). Hopefully today’s the day, Falkirk must be clear favorites based on form. 2-0 Thistle

I don’t think we played badly in the first half, final ball was missing at times but defensively we were sound and looked more dangerous than previous games going forward. 2nd half we lost the midfield and Doolans subs probably saved us the point by stiffening up the team. Think creativity is stifled as mentally team are afraid of going forward too much due to us not scoring and scared of losing a goal and losing 1-0. We’re off the pace of winning the league currently, but I’ve also seen Thistle look like romping the league after first quarter and ending up mid table. A lot of football still to be played and I think a couple of games where we get an early goal will completely change the performance, results and mentality