Squad for next Season

[RossMcC1874]

16 hours ago, Madton said:

Doubt many of us will know what our budget is and how it compares to last season/other clubs. I'd like to think it's at least the same as last season if not slightly improved.

"Budget allows' doesn't necessarily mean limited budget, Dougie could simply be targeting players who are on a significant weekly wage and he wants them to take a reduction to fit into our budget and still be very well paid.

Think Dougie will be playing the waiting game on a few players since we are not in urgent need of bodies like other teams. 

Fair enough and good point made, I'm not familiar with the club finances or the ins and outs and obviously I don't want to see us just chuck money at it like idiot clubs like Raith and others. 

Be interesting to see who else we can attract with the budget. 

[Jamie_M]

On 6/26/2023 at 12:13 PM, Madton said:

Tumilty

Signs new 2 year deal at Hamilton.

[Mr.Blue]

8 hours ago, Jamie_M said:

Signs new 2 year deal at Hamilton.

Surprised at that. He must have had interest from championship clubs.

[dunning1874]

On 6/27/2023 at 12:02 PM, RossMcC1874 said:

Fair enough and good point made, I'm not familiar with the club finances or the ins and outs and obviously I don't want to see us just chuck money at it like idiot clubs like Raith and others. 

Be interesting to see who else we can attract with the budget. 

While none of us can say for sure the exact size of budgets for clubs at this level, what is a readily verifiable fact through club accounts covering up to the end of the 21/22 season is that the only clubs living within their means in this division recently have been Morton and Arbroath. Everyone else has to a greater or lesser extent been dependent on external backing or piling debt onto the books. There'll be single season exceptions to that such as ICT presumably breaking even last season with Scottish Cup money, but they'll be right back to substantial six figure losses again.

I'm not sure but I imagine Airdrie will also be living within their means. Other than that we've got 7 clubs not doing so, so even with the club being in a much better financial position than 12 months ago with a higher than budgeted league position and Dalrada's sponsorship secured from the start of the summer rather than after the start of the league season, we're still going to have one of the lowest budgets in the league.

[Greacen2000]

2 hours ago, dunning1874 said:

While none of us can say for sure the exact size of budgets for clubs at this level, what is a readily veriable fact through club accounts covering up to the end of the 21/22 season is that the only clubs living within their means in this division recently have been Morton and Arbroath. Everyone else has to a greater or lesser extent been dependent on external backing or piling debt onto the books. There'll be single season exceptions to that such as ICT presumably breaking even last season with Scottish Cup money, but they'll be right back to substantial six figure losses again.

I'm not sure but I imagine Airdrie will also be living within their means. Other than that we've got 7 clubs not doing so, so even with the club being in a much better financial position than 12 months ago with a higher than budgeted league position and Dalrada's sponsorship secured from the start of the summer rather than after the start of the league season, we're still going to have one of the lowest budgets in the league.

I am very comfortable with this being the situation - it is exactly what the club needs at the moment.  We have lived outwith our means before and it didn't work out well. 

From our return to the 2nd tier in 06-07 right up until the disastrous 2013-14 season I reckon we would have been comfortably among the highest spenders in the championship, and look where it got us.  One decent season where we finished 2nd and that's about it.    After the relegation & appointment of Duffy, the late Rae-era austerity kicked in, and even then we were still making unsustainable losses.

I am delighted that we now appear to be running a tight ship & have a proper strategy (on and off the field) in place.

[irnbru]

Quite liked Broadfoot talking about 'Open Goal'. Maybe a bit harsh on the players who are part time and enjoying a drink at the weekend but he's obviously still focused on his own standards. 

[Toby]

He’s not really said anything that’s out of order- said he understands it but it’s not for him.

If only was the same furore about Open Goal’s employees blatantly accusing Morton of corruption last season when discussing the 10-2 at Hamilton.

[Pedrodelawasp]

Wonder if we’ll be fielding a trialist or two today.

Any forum users going along to Alloa?

[Ton in Shawlands]

On the train in Queen street now.

[Hayden Gillan]

2 hours ago, Pedrodelawasp said:

Wonder if we’ll be fielding a trialist or two today.

Any forum users going along to Alloa?

One Trialist Starting today. Playing number 12

[Nornirontons]

Personally I'm hoping for the rabbit out the hat..,Yes last season was dictated through circumstances in way money came in....but I actually hope Dougie and the club as whole learned from that. Which Im sure almost certainly think they did.

There is most definitely deals to be done with quality free agents at the end of the window and I personally think it would be wise to hold on to a few shillings to sweep em up like we did last year. Maybe a bit if a risk but it did pay off last season...if you don't buy a ticket..as the old saying goes... youll not be in the draw/or words to that effect 

Edited July 2, 2023 by Nornirontons

[Cet Homme Charmant]

I know there's still tons of time, but it's maybe a wee bit surprising Lewis hasn't found a club yet. Could be of course he's had lots of offers and is simply holding out for a better deal, but it could also be that clubs are perhaps hesitant in making him an offer due to his long term injury. If it's the latter, do you think there may be a wee chance we could resign him? Probably just wishful thinking on my part, but stranger things have happened.

Anyone know if he's fully fit again? 

Edited July 2, 2023 by Cet Homme Charmant

[Greacen2000]

22 minutes ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

I know there's still tons of time, but it's maybe a wee bit surprising Lewis hasn't found a club yet. Could be of course he's had lots of offers and is simply holding out for a better deal, but it could also be that clubs are perhaps hesitant in making him an offer due to his long term injury. If it's the latter, do you think there may be a wee chance we could resign him? Probably just wishful thinking on my part, but stranger things have happened.

Anyone know if he's fully fit again? 

I would think it unlikely now that we’ve got Waters signed up.  Reading between the lines of the statement he made combined with the times he has been dropped I also suspect that he & the gaffer don’t see eye to eye so can’t see it happening

[RossMcC1874]

Strapp wouldn't come back as a backup and waters wasn't signed to warm the bench so that's highly unlikely. Strapp is training with us just now to keep fit like a few players, I would like to seem get a prem team but get a feeling he might end up playing against us this season for someone else. 

[SassenachTon]

3 hours ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

I know there's still tons of time, but it's maybe a wee bit surprising Lewis hasn't found a club yet. Could be of course he's had lots of offers and is simply holding out for a better deal, but it could also be that clubs are perhaps hesitant in making him an offer due to his long term injury. If it's the latter, do you think there may be a wee chance we could resign him? Probably just wishful thinking on my part, but stranger things have happened.

Anyone know if he's fully fit again? 

Dougie stated that the reason for Strapp’s departure was that he didn’t fit into his plans. We’ll probably never know what was meant by that, but there’s been speculation about an off-the-field clash of personalities - which again is restricted to behind closed doors. On this basis, I think that it’s highly unlikely. I have no idea if he’s fully fit again.

Edited July 2, 2023 by SassenachTon

[port-ton]

Imrie in the tele today saying that Doyle is just training and keeping himself fit and we aren't looking to offer him a deal. Also says he likes Deane and we are exploring possibility of a deal but his only concern about him is his height so we will see what happens. 

[Alibi]

2 hours ago, port-ton said:

Imrie in the tele today saying that Doyle is just training and keeping himself fit and we aren't looking to offer him a deal. Also says he likes Deane and we are exploring possibility of a deal but his only concern about him is his height so we will see what happens. 

Doubt he'll grow much before the season starts.  Always irks me when I hear people criticising a player for not being tall enough.  Two words: Leo Messi.  Also Bobby Collins. 

[Mr.Blue]

10 hours ago, port-ton said:

Imrie in the tele today saying that Doyle is just training and keeping himself fit and we aren't looking to offer him a deal. Also says he likes Deane and we are exploring possibility of a deal but his only concern about him is his height so we will see what happens. 

Can get why Dougie would say that as I couldn't believe how fucking small he was when I saw him on Saturday. However he's definitely got ability. Will be interesting to see how he does against St.mirren if he plays

 

Edited July 3, 2023 by Mr.Blue

[Ton in Shawlands]

As talented as he seemed to be last week, my first impression was that he was a bit lightweight. He might prove me wrong, but I thought someone had shrunk John Maisano.

[DreamOakTree]

7 hours ago, Alibi said:

Doubt he'll grow much before the season starts.  Always irks me when I hear people criticising a player for not being tall enough.  Two words: Leo Messi.  Also Bobby Collins. 

Messi’s 4 inches taller than Collins though!