Are the play offs the worst thing that can happen for next season?

[Holy Joe]

Whilst most clubs in the NL will know what league they're in for 25/26 season now, or deffo by May 5th, and can begin executing their plans, play off contenders have to wait until at least May 14 and possibly 1 June until they know what division they're playing in next season.

Should we make the play offs - Does that impede preparations for next season - will Kev have another 'delayed' pre season of transfer activity because of this?

 

[Bromley Blue]

Being in the playoffs must affect plans because the transfer and wage budget should be controlled around the finances provided by the division we’re in.

I’ll let others comment on the specifics of the financial difference between League 2 and the National League but for certain things like TV money income is higher the higher you play.

I would hope we would be targeting players that have league experience or potential to play at League 2 level anyway as we need to improve the squad regardless if we want to play higher, either in the league above or targeting automatic promotion next season.

But the players you can attract and the money available to complete the deals are all centred around the division so I think waiting would be somewhat inevitable IMO.

 

[stewart]

I would like to think we already have targeted many players and are ready to offer contracts etc from day one off the transfer market, possibly the only ones not targted are ones the will be released from premiership and championship academies,but i would think JS and his team are ready for that im sure they have scouted the academies and have noted some they think could possibly be freed by their clubs.

 

[maninasuitcase]

You would have thought there will be two plans for players and budgets ready to go, one for League 2 and one for the NL.

 

[Holy Joe]

You would have thought there will be two plans for players and budgets ready to go, one for League 2 and one for the NL.

I guess that's my point though - whilst other teams will be implementing plans, teams in play offs won't be able to for upto another month

 

[Holy Joe]

I would like to think we already have targeted many players and are ready to offer contracts etc from day one off the transfer market, possibly the only ones not targted are ones the will be released from premiership and championship academies,but i would think JS and his team are ready for that im sure they have scouted the academies and have noted some they think could possibly be freed by their clubs.

But would there be different players targeted depending on if in L2 or NL?

 

[londonblue]

But would there be different players targeted depending on if in L2 or NL?

Probably not. I suspect there's one budget and they know who they want regardless of what league we're in. KM strikers me as the type of manager who looks long term and is only interested in players who he thinks are capable of playing in L2.

 

[Holy Joe]

Probably not. I suspect there's one budget and they know who they want regardless of what league we're in. KM strikers me as the type of manager who looks long term and is only interested in players who he thinks are capable of playing in L2.

But would the pool of players available to us be different in L2 than NL - we're often told players may not drop to NL or want to test themselves in highest possible division. Would a player join a club in L2 but not in the NL?

 

[londonblue]

But would the pool of players available to us be different in L2 than NL - we're often told players may not drop to NL or want to test themselves in highest possible division. Would a player join a club in L2 but not in the NL?

Possibly, but i think most players we're looking at are from either our level or below, so will be making a step up already.

Also, other players probably have more criteria than just L2/NL. They're probably more interested in salary and location, for example.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

If the club have any sense, which they hopefully do these days, they will have targets and budgets set for NL next season, and have worked on and by now have additional targets and an increased budget in case we are in the EFL. Some of them are probably the same, and player x may be within our budget and good enough for league two, but maybe wont want to play in the NL, but may well be available in league two.

 

[Tommy2holes]

There does seem to be a big gap between the play offs and the play off final.

 

[Mick]

There does seem to be a big gap between the play offs and the play off final.

Really ? Just 11 days. With the EFL playoffs over the weekend following the last NL playoff (which would have been too soon for ticketing anyway), it's the first weekend available.

 

[Roger The Alien]

I am sure the best NL players who is almost out of contract at their clubs, would be impressed with our crowds and the atmosphere on live TV, suddenly they would love to play in front of big crowd, rather than in front of under 2k at Solihull, Woking, Maidenhead etc.

 

[edwardss2]

I may be naive, but still being 'in things' can never be a bad thing. For some people this will inevitably be their last season watching SUFC; you never know what the future holds so go with the ride. Being a team that is in contention with large crowds might, I agree attract players as well.

 

[Holy Joe]

I may be naive, but still being 'in things' can never be a bad thing. For some people this will inevitably be their last season watching SUFC; you never know what the future holds so go with the ride. Being a team that is in contention with large crowds might, I agree attract players as well.

Quite agree, overall a great achievement to be in with a shout at this stage and if we make it into the playoffs great for the club and fans for this season - just seems the play off process is quite drawn out and wondered what the impact on next season's planning might be should we make them.

 

[Tommy2holes]

No. If we somehow got promoted via a Wembley final to league 2 there would be no complaints from me.

If we dont get promoted then we seriously have to go for it next season and aim for top spot.

We need to trim the squad and sign 3 or 4 top players to be in with a shout.

 

[fbm]

No. If we somehow got promoted via a Wembley final to league 2 there would be no complaints from me.

If we dont get promoted then we seriously have to go for it next season and aim for top spot.

We need to trim the squad and sign 3 or 4 top players to be in with a shout.

Next season and until we get out of this league (they have a 5 year plan), then I think COSU will be aiming for top 3. That's about as good as it can be. You can aim for and hope to win the league, but other teams may have something to say about that! Look at the season Wrexham won the league with Notts County just behind. They'd have walked it in any other season.

Obviously COSU will want to get out of the NL asap and if that happens this season then wonderful. I think the squad we have would survive in L2 comfortably and is much better than the squads that took us down twice. However, I don't disagree that we need to strengthen. I'm just not sure what a "top player" looks like. They won't be blowing a ton of money on big transfer fees or high wages.

 

[fbm]

I'd also be gobsmacked if we we didn't have some players already targeted... I very much doubt they'll be waiting until June 2nd to see what league we'll be in.

 

[CaptainSmudger]

No. 🛩

 

[Holy Joe]

I'd also be gobsmacked if we we didn't have some players already targeted... I very much doubt they'll be waiting until June 2nd to see what league we'll be in.

I'd hope so to. But there's a difference between targeted and sealing a deal. I guess the scenario I had in mind was let's say target A is interested, but only if in L2. Do we wait or move onto target B. What if target B has other offers and doesn't/cannot want to wait until June etc etc.

Would target A not being interested in joining us in NL actually rule them out as being uncommitted to the cause?