Here are some quick notes from SFU fans forum with John Radford, 17 August 2015
Notes by Pete
Wright
At top table,
Darren Shaw (DS), John Radford (JR) & Mark Hawkins (MH)
JR said that
'club' run as three separate businesses
1) Football Club
- managed by Adam Murray
2) Stadium -
managed by Paul & Tina Broughton
3) Youth Academy
- overseen by Steve Hymas & Mark Hawkins.
Q - Why stadium
in name of JR and not MTFC?
A - Need to
protect it against suing against Football Club
Q - Though you
had kissed and made up with SH?
A - AS ( in
audience) not kissed and made up yet (
ha ha), JR confirmed stadium safe in his hands, no intention of selling up, has
club best interests at heart.
Q - What's
happening at Woburn Rd training facilities?
A - Still being
held up by red tape. Meeting on Friday, hoping to get go ahead from Notts CC.
land bought from
MDC two and half years ago, Andy Sutton eager to get on with levelling land.
Hope to have it ready for next season, but might be earlier if things get a
move on. Woburn would be for first team, but at present training on 'top' pitch
and have option of using other places (eg Rainworth, Fretwell).
Q - Where's
scoreboard?
A - Ready to go
but waiting permissions, SAG red tape.
Q - when will
extra corporate facilities be used?
A - Need to be
ready by Sept as an event is booked for room. Was going to be called 1897 suite
but now 1861 is being considered with reference to oldest ground record. New
suite holds 250 whereas present Kevin Bird Suite only holds 75. Possibly have
hospitality at games in new suite and having Kevin Bird Suite as bar for Upper
West supporters, but need to increase numbers in hospitality to make it viable.
This should happen if/when team starts winning games consistently.
JR confirmed a
lot of behind scenes stadium infrastructure improvements had been made, but
still more to do.
Q - Fans still
complaining about problems with toilets, DF said SSA have regular meetings with
Tina and Paul and things are getting done.
JR confirmed
smoking areas are working well and folk in West Stand can change season tickets
to QLE if they want to take advantage of smoking areas.
Q - View on AM
as manager
A - Pleased with
Adam, most chairmen the would have sacked him last season, but he could see the
potential of Adam when he had is own team. JR target last season not being
relegated, AM had confidence that he had JR support even if he lost 5 games on
bounce. Not going to be a selling club in future. Big coup to get Matt Green
back at MTFC. JR in for long haul. MG got two year contract, had worries that
he might get injured again, but now only same worry as any other player.
Q - How long are
players contracts.
A - Majority are
one year with options, only player without option is Ryan Tafazolli, nearly
lost him last season, but pleased we could keep him. Hope to keep JT for a
number of years, he is an excellent player but still has a lot to learn, might
be a struggle to keep him.
Q - What have
you learned from the transfer market?
A - Learned a
lot, made a few mistakes which will not be made again.
Q - What went
wrong with Paul Cox?
A - Went a bit
stale, he came to JR and said he needed a break from Football.
Q - What are
your views on Notts County performance A - Very Good, NC boardroom directors
said they would win before the game but at the end they admitted we were better
team and were very polite and complimentary about it. JR very positive about
this season.
Q - any chance
of more signings this season?
A - Yes, If
injuries and suspensions kick in, results are paramount.
Q - Why have sub
benches been changed around ( home team North stand end)
A - so home
management team can get at linesman, as Lino runs the right wing and hence
nearer to our bench. Lot more professional this season especially in training.
Q - Is Adam Murray
on a two year contract?
A - No comment,
Adam has a contract.
Q - Why One Call
shirt sponsor?
A - If someone
pays more than the £70k per year that one call pays then they can have their
name on shirt.
Q - Any chance
of having a female Sam stag mascot.
A - No
objections if you have a costume. ( questioner didn't have a costume)
Q - Are you
surprised we have two first class keepers this season?
A - No, AM
planned it that way, a bit expensive but Adam is managing his budget well.
Q - Worried
about Lee Collin's injury?
A - No, should
be ok for weekend.
Q - What are
your views on Police costs?
A - I have wrote
a letter to them and are awaiting reply, bills being paid on time.
Q - What are
your views on Stewarding? DS says away fans at SD conference told him that
stewards go over top at Field Mill.
A - Think we
have not got any major problems this season, difficult to get balance right,
but much better now than previous seasons.
Q - a specific
complaint from floor about an OAP not being able to use lift by a steward last
January.
A - JR asked for
details outside meeting and he would get Tina and Paul to get back to him with
an answer tomorrow.
Q - can we do
anything about the Bishop Street Stand.
A - not viable
until crowds improve and extra capacity needed.
Q - What would
you do differently if you had been around when ground redeveloped.
A - not had to
do retro fit projects. Would have put everything in first time round ( eg bars,
gyms etc). KH had told him that BSS not done because grant capacity was 10K and
folk wanted a very big impressive west stand and not a Scunthorpe type single
tier stadium, so nothing left for BSS.
Q - How are
payments to KH getting along.
A - All payments
on schedule to finish in March 2019.
Q - any chance
of having North stand back for home fans?
A - No chance,
police not budge.
Q - any issues
with SAG?
A - No, have
good relationship with SAG now and have got 100% capacity again for this
season.
Q - Why do car
park drivers have to wait 'half an hour' after a game to leave car park?
A - H&S regs
as part of SAG to prevent accidents with pedestrians leaving ground. Same as
most grounds around the country.
Q - What is
break even figure this year.
A - 4,500, JR
still having to cover losses, trying to use his companies to 'spend' more on
sponsorships to reduce his own personal input.
Q - Could the
club have an away fans beer tent like Plymouth?
A - would like
one but realistically siting would be a problem.
Q - Could Mark
Hawkins explain the youth academy situation?
A - very
exciting, over 300 young kids (7- 16 years) and 80 over 16's in elite and
development squads. (55 players at Brooksby (16-18 years) from Sept and
another 24 older players based in Mansfield). Teams playing in FLYA and Conf YA
leagues and two college teams in Leics.
Q - Where do you
want team to be in two years?
A - Love to be
in Championship.
Q - what is
situation with Matt Blair?
A - talking to
him regarding a contract.
Q - what is
situation with Luke Jones
A - not looking
good, he could retire from game.
Q - When are
your horses going to win?
A - one has won,
and Rupert could do next time.
DS - Thanked JR
for attending and confirmed JR always happy to attend these meetings and answer
fans questions.
