Plymouth Albion
38 days forward, how many back?
Pete Drewitt
By Frank Stormont
January 4 2012
38 days and are we back to square one or has the club been moved forward?
38 days of promise!
Just 38 days after we are introduced to our new and promising coach Pete Drewitt he is telling the players he has to walk away as the man who had promised to pay his wages this season walked away from PARFC.
Pete new before the Christmas that he was not going to be with the club in 2012 but still put forward a very professional front and it came as a shock to the players when he announced his decision after they put on the best performance of the season against Doncaster.
I went home after the match on such a high, singing the praises of the team, convincing my wife to come back to the club after 3 years of not wanting to watch the team. It was a blow when my son came home the following day saying that Pete and Phil had left the club.
Not only had I noticed a better game to watch but the training set-up had changed, coaches were empowered, supporters were spoken to, and individual players were improving.
Once the backer who had promised to pay for Pete and Phil until the end of this season decided to walk away, because things did not go the way he thought they would in the club the two coaches felt that needed to walk away too. I believe the club tried all sorts to try and keep the two here but even January's money would not persuade them.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon38 days forward, how many back?
Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 04/01/2012 15:55
04/01/2012 15:55
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Sadly this is all indicative of how the club has had to be run we have been living hand to mouth for some years now! I am afraid it does not look good for the future of Plymouth Albion.
But as discussed in another thread it is a symptom of the malaise that affects Plymouth in general! Why does a man like Chris Dawson prefer to put money into Yeovil Town rather than support a Plymouth team?
Lets face it with someone like him involved the problems Albion face would be gone!
But as discussed in another thread it is a symptom of the malaise that affects Plymouth in general! Why does a man like Chris Dawson prefer to put money into Yeovil Town rather than support a Plymouth team?
Lets face it with someone like him involved the problems Albion face would be gone!
I would say the reason is twofold, 1 he isn't a rugby fan ,and 2 he can't see a return on his investment. As a club we have nothing to use as security. We are a sports club, but I bet most of our fans are now moving heaven and earth to try and help!
"How many more times,Ref?"
"How many more times,Ref?"
Nothing will change at Albion until we get a new Board and the last few months just go to show how unstable the Club is right now.
I suspect we are not the only ones, but no permanent solutions are appearing, so we have the same old policies being recycled.
Old ideas will not work any longer. We have the worst global recession for decades and new more creative ideas are needed to restore confidence and ensure survival.
I suspect we are not the only ones, but no permanent solutions are appearing, so we have the same old policies being recycled.
Old ideas will not work any longer. We have the worst global recession for decades and new more creative ideas are needed to restore confidence and ensure survival.
It is a shame so many blamed GoD for where we are at. At least it is now becoming apparent where the real problem lies.
I think ' the problem ' started when the Directors didn't act fast enough to replace Jan Colam's previously generous and long term sponsorship. They also haven't reacted fast enough to combat the effects of the recession.
To be honest, I'm just fed up with the threat of ' no more Championship rugby for you unless you cough up more spondulas '. That is not the solution here.
I agreed with GD's departure myself and I am not going to regret that, but the way it was handled was not good and to me in retrospect seems just like part of a whole string of poor decision making.
I know the Board, but, sorry guys, it's time for your retirement also because change is well overdue and new thinking is needed along with a stronger helmsman on the tiller.
To be honest, I'm just fed up with the threat of ' no more Championship rugby for you unless you cough up more spondulas '. That is not the solution here.
I agreed with GD's departure myself and I am not going to regret that, but the way it was handled was not good and to me in retrospect seems just like part of a whole string of poor decision making.
I know the Board, but, sorry guys, it's time for your retirement also because change is well overdue and new thinking is needed along with a stronger helmsman on the tiller.
we need cash fact.
its my belief that we charge the least of any championship club. we charge lots less than a game at home park we have but a few oppotunities to raise cash.
its an idea.
lets raise the gate price to £16 and same for covered/seats.
for those with season / pre paid tickets a £3 surcharge at the gate to help the club.under 16 say £2
stop the free tickets if these people want to watch rugby let them pay as everyone else.
next year lets raise ticket price at least this will help club.
come on albion sort it out
its my belief that we charge the least of any championship club. we charge lots less than a game at home park we have but a few oppotunities to raise cash.
its an idea.
lets raise the gate price to £16 and same for covered/seats.
for those with season / pre paid tickets a £3 surcharge at the gate to help the club.under 16 say £2
stop the free tickets if these people want to watch rugby let them pay as everyone else.
next year lets raise ticket price at least this will help club.
come on albion sort it out
To raise the ticket price would be a totally ludicrous idea,based on the fact that we have a 20% drop in attendances as it is now,surely to lower the price to say £10 pounds for a ground ticket as it would make more sense to get 2 in for £20 rather than 1 for £16,in the hope that money will be spent in various outlets.
crouch........touch...........pause..........engage
crouch........touch...........pause..........engage
05/01/2012 17:18
Time to discuss Plymouth " United " again. Oval & Round balls as one............. crouch,touch, pause,engaged !
Hope you get through this ! You can make a lot of money from the bar if you are able to sort it out and not keep people queing for hours
all the AWAY GAMES I HAVE ATTENDED I HAVE PAID MORE THAN THE PRICE AT BRICKFIELDS.
If other clubs get away with these prices why not us ?
i happily paid £6 to park at deer park how much at brickfields they were able to cope with around 30 vehs only how many do we host ?
what cost at pirates ? i didn't get there this year bet you paid greater than £13.up the prices even if we get 1500 its still an extra £4500 .
i agree with specials get in early beer £2 until 30 mins prior to game something we sujested at begining of season. this will stop the late arrivals we had people coming into grond 20 mis after kick off at last game. and to keep people in ground spending after game reduced beer prices again for say happy hour.
come on sort it out
If other clubs get away with these prices why not us ?
i happily paid £6 to park at deer park how much at brickfields they were able to cope with around 30 vehs only how many do we host ?
what cost at pirates ? i didn't get there this year bet you paid greater than £13.up the prices even if we get 1500 its still an extra £4500 .
i agree with specials get in early beer £2 until 30 mins prior to game something we sujested at begining of season. this will stop the late arrivals we had people coming into grond 20 mis after kick off at last game. and to keep people in ground spending after game reduced beer prices again for say happy hour.
come on sort it out
05/01/2012 19:43
after last nights meeting i'm still not sure if the £200K will be enough. the 'business man' who pulled out from the plans suggests that it will take £500K to see out the season. the more this situation goes on the more we learn.
what is the answer to this huge problem. i think pressure will be put on the 22 each match to play out of their skins
and hopefully bring back the crowds. mind you from what i've seen this season the 22 are already doing that! all the best you guys, carry on the cause.
what is the answer to this huge problem. i think pressure will be put on the 22 each match to play out of their skins
and hopefully bring back the crowds. mind you from what i've seen this season the 22 are already doing that! all the best you guys, carry on the cause.
£18 at pirates i do think people are missing the point with the drop in attendances. In my opinion our attendances have dropped year on year because we are losing more and more and the rugby we have been playing has been poor. It does seem that as we are starting to get it together on the pitch it all goes wrong off it.
I hope Albion gets its act together and survives the play-offs. I have always enjoyed coming down from Old Deer Park to watch Plymouth both at the previous ground and at Brickfields.
I agree the remarks about gate price - better 2 people at £10 than 1 at £16. Pockets are empty right now, and good value at the gate repays in terms of loyalty (though you need to keep the season ticket holders not undercut by the pay at the gate rate). Personally I think what attracts crowds is open running rugby with snappy passing and deft footwork, and if you have a defence that can survive the openings for the opposition that open running rugby inevitably creates, then you have the formula for a really popular Champsionship side.
I agree the remarks about gate price - better 2 people at £10 than 1 at £16. Pockets are empty right now, and good value at the gate repays in terms of loyalty (though you need to keep the season ticket holders not undercut by the pay at the gate rate). Personally I think what attracts crowds is open running rugby with snappy passing and deft footwork, and if you have a defence that can survive the openings for the opposition that open running rugby inevitably creates, then you have the formula for a really popular Champsionship side.
I agree! Before we even consider raising ticket prices we have to ensure that the team are playing the rugby that will enthral and excite! There were signs that this was beginning to happen under the new regime!
Under the current circumstances however getting people into the ground has to be a priority and cutting the price could work!
Just as a matter of interest can anyone explain why Mr Colam decided to withdraw his support?
There are many of us who follow Albion who do what we can however it is as someone says above small beer when you look at the scale of the problem! Even if you could persuade all those who attend the next home game to stump up an extra fiver it is not going to make a whole lot of difference!
The bottom line is we need someone or a group to sponsor Albion that have deep pockets once we get that in place we can then look to improve what is on offer and hopefully get people back into the ground.
On the current performance we also need someone who knows how to run a business at the helm! It was a good idea to pick the brains of the guy from Bath however he has had his nose put out of joint because of the way the GD situation was handled although I believe he has now said he would be willing to held again!
Under the current circumstances however getting people into the ground has to be a priority and cutting the price could work!
Just as a matter of interest can anyone explain why Mr Colam decided to withdraw his support?
There are many of us who follow Albion who do what we can however it is as someone says above small beer when you look at the scale of the problem! Even if you could persuade all those who attend the next home game to stump up an extra fiver it is not going to make a whole lot of difference!
The bottom line is we need someone or a group to sponsor Albion that have deep pockets once we get that in place we can then look to improve what is on offer and hopefully get people back into the ground.
On the current performance we also need someone who knows how to run a business at the helm! It was a good idea to pick the brains of the guy from Bath however he has had his nose put out of joint because of the way the GD situation was handled although I believe he has now said he would be willing to held again!
Plymouth Albion News 24/7
More Plymouth Albion headlines
- Prediction League 2025/26
- Fixtures Announced for 2026/27
- Ins and outs ahead of 2026/27
- NL1 Attendances for 2025/26
- Where are we going next...
- NL1 Promotion Play-off: Blackheath v Plymouth Albion
- Round 26: Albion v Leeds Tykes Preview
- Round 25: Sale FC v Plymouth Albion Preview
- Round 24: Albion v Sedgley Park
Plymouth Albion latest threads
- Seta Raumakita Testimonial
- Fixtures Announced for 2026/27
- Ins and outs ahead of 2026/27
- (How) did we blow it?
- NL1 Attendances for 2025/26
- Where are we going next...
- NL1 Promotion Play-off: Blackheath v Plymouth Albion
- Round 26: Albion v Leeds Tykes Preview
- Round 25: Sale FC v Plymouth Albion Preview
- Round 24: Albion v Sedgley Park