Oliver's Christmas Message

[Deleted]

Once again we have the statement that "as we all know this is a very different league to the one we dropped out of three and a half seasons ago".

All respect to Oliver, but is this actually true?

To me it seems much the same - a few big clubs scrapping to get back out, a few more ex-EFL clubs struggling to come to terms with the realities of being in the 5th tier on 'merit', one or two well-funded non-league clubs pushing to go up, and most of us scrapping to not go down and hopefully end up somewhere comfortably mid-table.

OK, so the big clubs are really going for it this time, but does it really matter to us what happens at that end of the table - apart from the collateral damage of the odd thumping?

And, down where we exist, it seems much the same sort of clubs and much the same standard of players and playing - no worse or better than 2016-19.

To me, it seems that this is more of an excuse - a bit of spin to soften the reality - because the reality is that we didn't buy well in the summer, we kept too many so-so players, we've been hit hard by injuries, and the players that are left just aren't good enough. We haven't lost 13 games and only won 5, we haven't shipped 53 (!) goals, and we didn't chuck three points away after the 90 minutes was up because "it's a very different league to three years ago", we did all that because we're not very good.

That's not such a terrible thing to admit, is it? Shit happens, especially in football. The NL is just hard, and we've been found wanting. That's all.

[Deleted]

In the 3 seasons we were in this league you had Salford, FGR, Tranmere, Solihull, Leyton Orient, Lincoln, Chesterfield, York, Wrexham, Ebbsfleet, Boreham Wood etc spending big money. Now we have Wrexham, Notts County, Chesterfield, Southend, Solihull, York, Boreham Wood etc

It really isn't any different to last time we were in this league, it's always been a league where clubs spend a lot of money.

[Deleted]

Can anyone share the statement with me please

[Deleted]

They carefully omitted the long list of injuries from their summary.

[Deleted]

I dont think Oliver misrepresented the position at all even if he didnt use jdl as his script-writer.
We all know how tough its going to be to avoid relegation.
No suggestion that Hak may be on the way out.
No capital spends on the stadium either, just hoping that the pitch will survive a futher season.

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2022 18:45:17 GMT pwoodstone said:

Can anyone share the statement with me please

Dear Supporters,

As we approach Christmas I thought I would send you greetings and wish you all good cheer.

The last four months have been a tough re-awakening to life in The National League. As we all know now this is a very different league to the one we dropped out of three and a half seasons ago. We are struggling near the foot of the league table and we are all suffering the difficult matches. In order to compete at this level, with our current financial structure and without new investment, we simply have to keep over-achieving, on and off the pitch.

Last season we did but this season regrettably we are not, so far. We have about half a season left to see the best from the club’s playing staff and try our damnedest to stay up. I know that Hak, Terry, Bill and the players we have will be giving it their all and we know that with effort and luck we can stay up. We have a limited budget remaining with which to strengthen the team but we will get there and with your support we still have a chance.

I never like to find excuses for under-performing but I have to mention injuries, we have been chronically unlucky this season. We have had to cope without Luque, one of our best players last season. Raphe Browne, a player of great promise, has also had a complex injury which has kept him out. We have not seen Sol Wanjau-Smith, who could have taken Luque’s place, all season. Jerome Binnom-Williams has also been out for most of the season and then was ill for the Woking match. George Fowler, Tom Hadler and Joe Ellul have also missed matches through injury. As if all this was not enough, Gavin Hoyte suffered a terrible shoulder dislocation a few weeks ago at Corinthian. We wish him a good recovery. Finally Ryan Sandford, who had been keeping so well during our recent run of form, also dislocated his shoulder against Woking. If there is a God he would appear not to be a Stones fan!

Although the men’s first team is understandably the focal point of the club there is much more going on to be pleased about. All the community teams and social activities are thriving, so is our academy and the Community Trust. Thousands of supporters attend National League matches and thousands more use the club and its facilities on a weekly basis. So please keep positive. This is a great club!

As far as capital projects are concerned we have put the new away end toilets and control room on standby for the time being because cash flow is tight. This is being reviewed regularly but we are trying to cope with lots of essential maintenance and repairs. As an example, the freezing weather experienced during the Altrincham game caused several water leaks and electrical failures, the remedying of which will cost thousands. We have also had to spend to improve Wifi and broadband connections around the stadium as demand increases for activities such as streaming. We are still pursuing the building of a new TV gantry as this is required by National League rules. We are in the dark shadow of a possible need to replace the 3G pitch at end of season, which would be a major expense we could do without. We are hoping we can get another season (2023/24) out of this excellent surface. We will know by year end. We are also aiming to add new community changing rooms at the South End behind the Rockingham Reins Stand.

As some may know, Terry and I have actively supported the independent documentary film by Jasper Spanjaart about the National League and its governance during Covid. Terry appears in the film and I was a consultant to it. If you haven’t already seen it, it is linked below.

Finally, can I just wish you all a very enjoyable Christmas despite all the challenges we face in our every day lives at present. Like Christmas time football is supposed to bring good cheer and hopefully it will again in 2023. Our thanks go to our loyal supporters, our business partners and all our staff, on and off the field. Through the good times and through the less good times you all make this club what it is.

Oliver Ash
Joint-Owner
Maidstone United

[Better things to do in life]

In Hak does Oliver trust.
There again the whole tone of the message seems to be that we are a lovely community club that is punching above its weight being in the NL which kind of fits with keeping Hak as manager.
Shame as I thought we wanted to be an NL club but we seem to be accepting that we are financially and structurally just an NLS club that occasionally gets a season with the big boys.
Without new more wealthy owners that looks like what we should learn to get used to by the looks of it.

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2022 22:35:58 GMT Better things to do in life said:

In Hak does Oliver trust.
There again the whole tone of the message seems to be that we are a lovely community club that is punching above its weight being in the NL which kind of fits with keeping Hak as manager.
Shame as I thought we wanted to be an NL club but we seem to be accepting that we are financially and structurally just an NLS club that occasionally gets a season with the big boys.
Without new more wealthy owners that looks like what we should learn to get used to by the looks of it.

I fear you may have divined a truth there - perhaps, in Oliver's eyes, that's what we are.

As for more investment - even if we found another 'investor', the club's business model wouldn't allow that 'investment' to be used to buy or pay players - only to 'invest' in the infrastructure.

But what's the point of that, if we are destined to stay a NS club that has the occasional masochistic holiday in the NL? Why do we need any better infrastructure?

The only way to take the club further is to get promoted to the NL and stay there - then the increased gates give us the funds to support a NL standard squad.

But for that we need a manager who can build and maintain a NL side and keep us up - season after season...

[Better things to do in life]

Dec 20, 2022 23:07:47 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Dec 20, 2022 22:35:58 GMT Better things to do in life said:

In Hak does Oliver trust.
There again the whole tone of the message seems to be that we are a lovely community club that is punching above its weight being in the NL which kind of fits with keeping Hak as manager.
Shame as I thought we wanted to be an NL club but we seem to be accepting that we are financially and structurally just an NLS club that occasionally gets a season with the big boys.
Without new more wealthy owners that looks like what we should learn to get used to by the looks of it.

I fear you may have divined a truth there - perhaps, in Oliver's eyes, that's what we are.

As for more investment - even if we found another 'investor', the club's business model wouldn't allow that 'investment' to be used to buy or pay players - only to 'invest' in the infrastructure.

But what's the point of that, if we are destined to stay a NS club that has the occasional masochistic holiday in the NL? Why do we need any better infrastructure?

The only way to take the club further is to get promoted to the NL and stay there - then the increased gates give us the funds to support a NL standard squad.

But for that we need a manager who can build and maintain a NL side and keep us up - season after season...

Indeed JDL we don’t seem to have either the finances or the manager or deep enough quality in the playing staff to stay in NL and I like your description of us as an NLS team with an “occasional masochistic holiday” in NL.
That is our current reality under Oliver and Terry.
The only way that would change would be new considerably wealthier benefactors. Shame but that’s where we are.
Anyone got Chris Smallings number?

[Deleted]

The one interesting point is the installing of a new 3G pitch in the next year or so,proof positive they are not interested in promotion to the EFL

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2022 3:10:27 GMT sword65 said:

The one interesting point is the installing of a new 3G pitch in the next year or so,proof positive they are not interested in promotion to the EFL

Disagree. Artificial pitches have a finite life & have to be replaced on a regular basis, ours has already been replaced once before. The choice seems to be another artificial pitch or put down an expensive grass pitch, a no-brainer at present I think given the costs and the current high level of pitch usage. If we reach the FL in 5 years time, say, then that would be the time to switch to grass as the new pitch would again be close to life-expiry.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2022 3:10:27 GMT sword65 said:

The one interesting point is the installing of a new 3G pitch in the next year or so,proof positive they are not interested in promotion to the EFL

Let's walk before we run eh! Struggling in the NL, it's gonna be a while before we even consider possible promotion to the EFL. Might as well take the income from the 3G for the next few years and worry about promotion if we are ever in a position to do so.

[Deleted]

We could free up a fair bit on day to day running costs by trimming the squad. Even with injuries, 32 players is way too many and as we have already seen, gaps caused by injury are quickly filled with loans.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2022 9:00:47 GMT @sapereaude said:

Dec 21, 2022 3:10:27 GMT sword65 said:

The one interesting point is the installing of a new 3G pitch in the next year or so,proof positive they are not interested in promotion to the EFL

Disagree. Artificial pitches have a finite life & have to be replaced on a regular basis, ours has already been replaced once before. The choice seems to be another artificial pitch or put down an expensive grass pitch, a no-brainer at present I think given the costs and the current high level of pitch usage. If we reach the FL in 5 years time, say, then that would be the time to switch to grass as the new pitch would again be close to life-expiry.

I agree but the glory hunters will not they are likely to see this as a club that has no ambition and happy to settle for what they've got and they won't like it.

[Deleted]

I think the statement is pretty much spot on and probably aimed at providing a bit of realism.

I don't agree with the comments above that we are a NLS team who occasionally get in with the big boys. If we had done a better job of recruitment, then I think we would have a smaller but more concentrated with quality. I think this has been admitted by Terry as well. We just need to stay up this season and then sit down and decide the approach. We will have seen last seasons squad in this league and should know who is up for tis league and who wasn't. Rome wasn't built in a day! I think we have the structure to be a lower mid table team.

The league is the same league but it does feel as if the strength goes down to lower mid table now whereas in our first sojourn it felt like you could beat anyone outside of the top 5.

As for the 3G - we aren't winning promotion in the next few seasons and it makes no sense to do anything but lay a new pitch.