Fuber

They're spending plenty on wages between the likes of Vinagre, Twine, Delap, and Connolly. And thats not even counting the sheer number of signings (and over £11m spent) last season.

Their owner also has a clear idea of what he's doing.

Key factor being - change in ownership. Ergo immediate outlook.

Last league outing before the window closes. Lets see what happens.

I'm in no way saying NP is god's gift to management, but I'd argue he had earned some credit with the off pitch improvements to have a go this season with at least some of the money bought in. My point is that if we go off of the fact we're at the declared upper echelons of our designated wage budget - and the noises SL has made recently - it points towards stagnation, which can greatly influence over-arching club culture. Look at what happened under Millen through to O'Driscoll. It took significant (for League 1) investment from the Baldock sale and Cotts hauling this club by the scruff of its neck until that slide arrested.

Think it was written off before it even began with our recruitment since selling Scott was confirmed. That'll only change for me personally if we sign a keeper and a forward. Too little depth. Dont think it matters who is in charge. Nige has done well with the tools he has - we have an aging squad in some areas who are more than likely not up to another season at this level (James, King, Wells, Weimann), but all are technically limited - not many have much end product and those that do (Naismith, Conway) have been, or are currently, injured. Not many managers and coaches have a set style - and those that do specialise don't have much adaptability, Russell Martin springs to mind. The risk for me is allowing Nige to run down his contract - in that players could down tools as they will be aware he has no owner backing thereby disturbing the culture built that took years to sort. If we were looking to replace him, it would've made more sense to sack him or mutually part end of last season with a replacement (and associated targets with what Scott money was available) lined up - also allowing the likes of King to either leave or move into coaching the U21s further reducing wage budget spending. Think we'll just have to sit and watch what happens.

Sat on the South Stand, without a name, for how long now?

If we promote Euell from within. I'm off to support Manor Farm.

Contract doesnt need to expire in leiu of a retirement decision. Nothing prevents giving NP a season extension this summer - he could still, if he so wished, retire at the end of this season.

Thats assuming WBA arent paying a portion of the wages. Which may be why there's a decent chuck initial fee?

This has a massive risk of completely undoing all the work beehind the scenes, from the squad/club culture aspect if true - echoes of close-season 20/21 all over again. Why would players give 110% for a manager if they know he wont be there next season? From that perspective - as others have echoed - if I was NP, I'd step aside now if not being backed. And from the club perspective it makes less sense, as may as well transition to a new manager now if they (CEO/Ownership) aren't happy with the dynamic. Seems like especially poor planning if it turns out to be true. Could it work? - Sure. But much riskier than need be.

Solely up to the purchasing club. Option in the contracted agreement of the transfer. Kulusevski is an example -- his option was automatically triggered based on an appearance clause - Juventus had no way to cancel it.

Aware that people don't like a target man on here, mostly due to the long ball stigma - but personally feel its what we desperately need at the minute.

Worth remembering, but do we know if transfers sit under NP or Tinns? - Assumed the latter was now moved into a player recruitment role?

Adam El-Abd at LB? Think that sentence just gave me an aneurysm. Going to go lie down now. Others off the top of my head - Connor Lemoneigh-Evans, Aaron Amadi-Holloway.

Bold gives me hope. If we get Murphy in, if we can get one more midfielder and a forward in a similar manner. Could be (cautious) cause for optimism we may yet see more incomings.

Its more purchase with a trial period. Much prefer loans with options than just loans.

Gould knew the area, club, culture, and fans. All that good work is slowly being undone.

No faith in SL appointing anyone to CEO after Ashton - that simple really.

Suggest a struggling season battling relegation. This could get toxic quickly. If they expect fans to turn on NP faster than them they'll be in for a nasty surprise - at least in my opinion, especially in lieu of the sale of Scott and Semenyo with next to bare minimal reinvestment.

My view on SL is based on his 20-odd year stewardship of fixing his own **** ups. End of Story. The only proper progressive years after 2009 were under Keith Dawe. Coincidence? Bold is case in point - over spending then austerity wasn't just MA/LJ being the first rodeo was it? - the exact same happened with GJ. Hence the McInnes and O'Driscoll cost cutting measures. He. Does. Not. Learn.

Doesn't necassarily need to be owners - although I could name some examples such as Tony Stewart (Rotherham), Tony Bloom (Brighton), Matthew Benham (Brentford), Darragh MacAnthony (Peterborough), Steve Gibson (Middlesbrough), and the recently passed MIllwall Chairman John Berylson. Other solid owners include the likes of Simon Hallett (Plymouth), Doug King (Coventry - but possibly too early to judge), Andy Holt (Accrington), among others. All either had philosophies (see Benham, Bloom, Jenkins (former Swansea), MacAnthony, Holt) or were hands off, and accepted consultants or appointed experience CEO/Chairman (See our period under Dawe, Steve Kavanagh under Berylson at MIllwall, our current CEO Alexander under Parish). Case in point, the previously referenced example of Dawe here - viewed it as stewardship and job - wasnt emotional over involved like how SL tends to act (see Tinnion and LJ Appointmentsa as Manager). 'Proper' owners can be quite a wide and vague term, but its either owners who act as guardians of the club and appoint under themselves and advisors (Millwall), or stratagem and cultural figure heads such as Benham, Bloom, and MacAnthony. SL doesnt have the knowledge or nouse to seemingly appoint under him - see MA for reference who had no controls over him like he now does at Ipswich under O'Leary. Namely because his son is our utterly useless crayon-wielding chairman. Emotions and nepotism never work well in football.

Disagree. The club have all the facilities required. Would depend on whether Ashton Gate Limited(?) Would be included as part of the sale.

Agreed - however if we by the fact the club were in line with FFP after the Semenyo sale (and willing to try keeping Scott) - surely that leaves some headroom to help out NP with more reinvestment than has occurred and has been rumoured (£1m for Thomason) thus far. Added to the further wage reductions from Baker, Kalas, Bentley, Kose, Martin, Moore and Massengo also fairly outweighing the wages in from Dickie, McCrorie, Roberts, and Knight.

Bit in bold is the key. Backed LJ to the hilt as he was a friend. But can't trust the consummate professional in NP as he doesn't get along with him. At least that's my take. LJ got 75% retention of sales fund as spending budget - in spite of over £30m in wages annually. In a completely non-sustainable stratagem as proven by COVID. Nige has spent at most £6m while bringing in over £34m. Effectively 20%.reducing the wage bill by almost 30% - the only seasons LJ had a wage budget similar or less were his first two; Nige finished 5 points better off with a younger and smaller squad in 14th compared to LJs 17th, the latter also had Tammy bailing him out. Secondly, cant get the Luton comparison interview out of my head. 100% need new ownership. For all the money he's put in - SLs decision making (outside of appointing Dawe chairman) has been a sh*t show.