Around this time last week, we posted a guest blog from Andy Delf, and a roaring success it was too.
Delfie, the holder of a small number of NCFC shares, put forward the case in favour of the waiver and, in doing so, triggered quite the debate.
So, to continue said debate, here’s his follow-up blog…
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This time I’m using a crystal ball. As you’ll see, this article requires some time travel and is based on a fair amount of assumptions. Also, it’s not intended as a debate on the current City football team per se but more about how to build a sustainable football club that can dream of a future at the top table.
One further assumption – that the Attanasio Norfolk group is in it for the long term.
So, let’s imagine the vote in favour of the waiver has been overwhelmingly passed and Mark Attanasio and his Norfolk group are firmly embedded in the club as joint-minority shareholders.
How then do they go about adding value to the Norwich City brand?
1] The immediate goal has to be a return to the Premier League but to do that the club will require either some very good luck or an organic improvement of the squad or both. I would suggest this particular goal is realistically one to three seasons away.
2] Once/if we are there it is imperative to stay there (at least for more than just one season). We should aim to mirror Brentford as a minimum while striving for something like the Brighton model.
3] The Sporting Director issue remains high on the to-do list and needs to be resolved quickly. I expect Stuart Webber to move on or up and wouldn’t be surprised to hear that an opportunity has arisen in some super-position that straddles the Atlantic – one foot in the Norwich camp and the other in Milwaukee. This would certainly be a way for the Attanasios to tap into the complexities of owning a British football club with an experienced hand at the tiller.
4] The data management and data sharing that has been spoken about regularly needs to be fully maximised. It seems to be the growth area for the biggest and most successful teams across all areas of the sporting world and so it is absolutely imperative to grab this potential with both hands and to tap into the Brewers’ knowledge and expertise.
To support all of the above aspirations and in order to smash through the glass ceiling that size, location, and previously unavailable funding have prevented us from doing, a significant change in mindset has to prevail.
I am confident that the Americans will not be constrained by the limitations of our past and so in the future I expect to see the following…
- Mark Attanasio becoming Chairman of Norwich City FC and leading on…
- Stadium re-development and renaming.
- American sponsorship deals.
- Broadcasting/streaming deals.
- Partnership deals with not only the Milwaukee Brewers but also an MLS team or a team from ‘lower-league soccer’. I believe Milwaukee (the city) has now invested in a franchise/team of their own and there may be opportunities via the Brewers to explore in that area.
- Marketing deals and diversification of products.
- The use of Carrow Road for many more concerts and non-footballing events.
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That’s how Delfy sees it unfolding while tightly gripping onto his crystal ball. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
I like the current trend of mirroring the models of both Brentford and Brighton; their use of analysis and intelligent is something we should aspire to. But.
Let’s not forget that both have had hundreds of millions of owner loans tipped in without the obvious peril of the banks breathing down their necks, and lately, Brighton have had the benefit of being able to use Chelsea like a cashpoint.
Everything on the wishlist stems from one thing; cash. No matter how much luck, or how organic the club is, Attanasio & Co are going to have to get their wallets out otherwise we’re playing the same game as now.
Maybe we could try the Forest trick and just throw cash at it after getting lucky, maybe it’s a slow build, but money is what it takes.
Thanks for the response Dave. I agree it absolutely is about cash. I do prefer the more measured approach to the Nottingham forest method. But good luck to them if it works. By the way they have a first class manager who I believe would have been great at Norwich.
This.
Everything comes down to how much cash they are prepared to invest/lend and when. And who they trust to spend it wisely.
Personally, I think the stadium improvements will be first.
Well thas the brace completed Andy – short sharp, to the point and another fine article.
I love yr notio at #3 and the way you’re looking at some transatllantic superjob forr Stuart Weer.
Webber played it straight with us since he put his papers in so full respect to him for that. He is a free agent and Norwich woudn’t stand in his way. Far from it I would imagine, as leaving NCFC wouldn’t preclude Webber rejoining Attaasio in a different capacity with a different company, Why should it?
And whie Zoe is at home to look after things on the English side, the idea might just appeal to Webber.
Especially if he gets on as well with Mark A as is sometimes rumoured by those in the know.
Even I think it could work, believe it or not!
Thanks for a great pair of reads.
Hi Martin thanks for your comment. Webber certainly breaks the mould on most football folk and I think an opportunity in the Attanasio set up may well appeal to him. I’m probably way off track but it certainly would offer him the chance to affect change and I certainly think he has outgrown his current role.
Sounds good. Here’s hoping. Full support from me.
Hi Trev there is plenty of blue sky thinking in my article but I hope that some or all of it comes to fruition as it could be really exciting.
Sorry about the literals in the first few lines – NEVER type when your Patterdale Terrier doesn’t want to take it’s antiflea meds 🙂
Martin I once watched my neighbour holding a cat whilst wearing welding gloves and goggles while his wife did the flea treatment
Blimey mate I can’t beat that!
Sue does all the mucky stuff, not that there’s much of it with our two!
Will there be part 3 with a view if the waiver wasn’t taken up ?
Hi Alex I will definitely do that.
Mike Attanasio to become City chairman.
Shoot the proofreader from a cannon.
Apart from that a good version of a possible future.
Oops… that’s me. The proofreader that is!
It doesn’t much help your cause to be confronted by the gibberish in my reply to Andy D
Blame my wretched dog mate – I always do when it’s true 😀
Funny, I thought Norwich City was a football Club. Not a ‘brand’….
Like it or not Dan it’s the way of the world now.
Here here !
Yes and the enjoyment of sport is when it is not predictable and can’t be planned in a business meeting. Expect nothing and you’ll never be disappointed, but we are good enough to get promoted this season.
A lot of assumptions Andrew, I’ve had concerns about Mark Attanasio for as long back as when his name was first mentioned, concerns that is as to his what he wants to achieve with Norwich City on the field, and as many of the comments here are suggesting the obvious, it takes money, serious investment, and historically he’s not known for this. As I mentioned in a comment last week Andrew is that it’s high time we heard from the horses mouth, a fair dinkum statement via an interview letting the supporters know what the hell is going to happen, it would be nice for them to see his face in match attendance a bit more frequently, not just call in on his way home from a holiday elsewhere, or is he going to continue on with this secrecy and keeping the supporters at arms length and in the dark like mushrooms. It’s fine to write positive articles Andrew but it would be nice if it was backed by something substantive, and I’ve not seen or heard anything from the club that suggests it’s not going to be same old same old, sorry Andrew.
Hi David,
In my time I have commented both positively and negatively about the club, the team and the Board.
I will try and respond to your comments.
“It takes money, serious investment”.
I agree, but where the hell is it going to come from if we don’t take a chance on this guy.
“high time we heard from the horse’s mouth”.
Again nothing to disagree with here and following the vote, and freed from the confidentiality clauses that apply whilst ensconced with the regulatory authority, I would expect to hear more.
“It would be nice to see his face more often”
Again I agree, however he lives in America.
“It’s fine to write positive articles Andrew”
I think the debate is quite balanced. However I would like to see credible arguments that set out the alternatives from those who focus on the negatives.
One thing is for sure, David – change is coming and we can either stand still and get left behind or jump on board and enjoy the ride.
Andrew, I didn’t set out to be critical of your article. In fact, I too wish for most if not all the suggestions you made but to me it’s just wishful thoughts, simply because we are like mushrooms and kept in the dark.
As supporters we have no bloody idea in what direction our club is going although, admittedly, in recent months the door has been ever-so-little left ajar. That in itself is some progress, but Attanasio living where he does is something that he’s going to have to work on. He needs either to be here himself (obviously not going to happen) or if he becomes Chairman then he has to appoint a representative that we look upon as being in control of the club.
My fear is that somebody is already here and running the show – the “Missus” (you know who I’m referring to).
Hi David – thanks for your comments. I don’t mind in the least if we differ on some points of view. It’s good to stimulate debate on a topic dear to our hearts.
There appears to be some debate as to whether the vote should be carried by shareholders.
The consequences of voting against the proposal will have immediate and far reaching impact on the football club.
Norwich City FC has been run into the ground by self funding and without the financial release provided by the attanasio money is in deep trouble.
I simply cannot understand why any person would argue against the share issue going through. It is tantamount to turkeys voting for Christmas.
Without attanasio there is no club left to have any shares in. The issue isn’t whether or not attanasio is a fit and proper custodian, or whether delia Smith is being replaced or losing out on proper remuneration. The stark truth is that if the shareholders wreck this they are calling time on the club.
Just maybe if the vote goes against the proposal, Attanasio will have to make a choice – either take control now or sell his stake to someone else.
Those who think they are in the know say he’s in it for the long term. If he is, why has has he agreed to wait 3 years?
Losing the vote kicks the timelapse into touch, so it will be now or never for him.
I’m kind of baffled. Being a shareholder and being asked to vote on this with zero information really sticks in my throat. Nobody seems to think we deserve to know “why”. The only thing in the pack is a statement saying the independent financial advise suggests acceptance. As this is not just a financial decision I’m just not voting.
Hi Chris – like you, I think a vote against could certainly have very serious consequences for the long term well being of our club.
Andrew, I’m more concerned now for the future of the club than at any stage in the last 25 years. And that’s saying something.
Norwich City would certainly by run into the ground without self funding