Surely we must give COSU 5 years before we start doubting them.

[USAShrimper]

Have been a committed fan since 1969. Have lived in the USA for the last 40 years but still make the pilgrimage back several times a year and watch approximately 9 games live a year. Love and cherish each game, cheering on my team within a crowd of like-minded people.

Over all these years I've never wavered in supporting my home club through ups and downs. If I'm truthful, there's been a lot more downs than ups in that time.
I've still enjoyed the entire journey and will until I die.

The hyperbole that this is the worst team we've had, playing the worst standard of football ever at Roots Hall is just not true. The old days stuck in the old 4th Division brings the terms "Kick and Run" and "Huff and Puff" to mind. 0-0 draws at home to Bury and Exeter are etched into my mind as far worse than anything I've witnessed since.

I came over 3 different times a season for the last 5 seasons we were in the Football League. Every game I was present at we lost. I did not see my team win or draw once in 5 seasons. Last seasons and so far, this season I've watched a total of 14 games and never seen us lose a game. In fact, Boreham Wood at home, more recently Eastleigh and FGR at home and Halifax away have been great games to watch as a fan.

So, let's put things in perspective. I never in all my time as a fan thought we'd end outside of the Football League (Except at the 11th hour when we were doomed).
It's no longer the part-time Vauxhall Conference or some other manifestation. It's a professional league with big clubs with big stadiums and if they're lucky major investment.

The major mismanagement of everything SUFC over the last 10 years has now been well documented. A "BIG HOLE" was dug for our club that nearly buried us. I'm sure we are still in that hole, just not as deep. Out of nowhere and after a worrying period of time up steps JR and others (mainly SUFC fans like us). If not them than who else? They are businessmen, who maybe naively took a jump of faith and were deceived and mislead by what they had committed to. Putting millions quickly into the club to save it and then realizing they didn't yet own the club. That showed me their resolve not only to save the club but also to move it back to where it belongs and maybe to heights it may never have been at.

They are businessmen, they are pragmatic and have a 5-year plan to reach certain goals. They are sustainability, stability and success on and off the field. They have earnt my respect and credibility with their actions already to give them that 5 years of my confidence and support. It sounds "Churchillian" They were there in our club's darkest hour. They stood up and acted when no one else would.

I'll be 70 in 5 years' time and hope to still be supporting the "Shrimpers" at Roots Hall. All long-term fans realize that supporting SUFC is about enduring the downs and enjoying the ups while they last. So, in that respect nothing has changed.

 

[leeblue]

There is no doubting them surely.
Have spent millions on the club.
Saved the club
Kept us at roots hall.
Literally up there as the most important figures in club history.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Under Ron Martin, we just wanted him gone, the club saved, and good new owners. COSU don't help themselves because they're not telling us, or boasting about the massive amount of money they have already put in. They knew it was a massive job on and off the pitch, but of course there were unexpected debts etc, due to Ron. Roots Hall needed more love, care and repair than expected. But some fans are ignoring what they have done, and are expecting a massive cash injection into the playing side. I think we are very lucky still to have this club to support. It was on the absolute brink. They are trying to sign players, but are also trying to make the club self sufficient, which is one of the first things they said when taking over. I'm quite happy to let them get on with running the club properly, so we never get into that sort of trouble again. If they decide to dig deep into their pockets again, then great, if they don't, it's totally understandable.

 

[WestyReturns]

Have been a committed fan since 1969. Have lived in the USA for the last 40 years but still make the pilgrimage back several times a year and watch approximately 9 games live a year. Love and cherish each game, cheering on my team within a crowd of like-minded people.

Over all these years I've never wavered in supporting my home club through ups and downs. If I'm truthful, there's been a lot more downs than ups in that time.
I've still enjoyed the entire journey and will until I die.

The hyperbole that this is the worst team we've had, playing the worst standard of football ever at Roots Hall is just not true. The old days stuck in the old 4th Division brings the terms "Kick and Run" and "Huff and Puff" to mind. 0-0 draws at home to Bury and Exeter are etched into my mind as far worse than anything I've witnessed since.

I came over 3 different times a season for the last 5 seasons we were in the Football League. Every game I was present at we lost. I did not see my team win or draw once in 5 seasons. Last seasons and so far, this season I've watched a total of 14 games and never seen us lose a game. In fact, Boreham Wood at home, more recently Eastleigh and FGR at home and Halifax away have been great games to watch as a fan.

So, let's put things in perspective. I never in all my time as a fan thought we'd end outside of the Football League (Except at the 11th hour when we were doomed).
It's no longer the part-time Vauxhall Conference or some other manifestation. It's a professional league with big clubs with big stadiums and if they're lucky major investment.

The major mismanagement of everything SUFC over the last 10 years has now been well documented. A "BIG HOLE" was dug for our club that nearly buried us. I'm sure we are still in that hole, just not as deep. Out of nowhere and after a worrying period of time up steps JR and others (mainly SUFC fans like us). If not them than who else? They are businessmen, who maybe naively took a jump of faith and were deceived and mislead by what they had committed to. Putting millions quickly into the club to save it and then realizing they didn't yet own the club. That showed me their resolve not only to save the club but also to move it back to where it belongs and maybe to heights it may never have been at.

They are businessmen, they are pragmatic and have a 5-year plan to reach certain goals. They are sustainability, stability and success on and off the field. They have earnt my respect and credibility with their actions already to give them that 5 years of my confidence and support. It sounds "Churchillian" They were there in our club's darkest hour. They stood up and acted when no one else would.

I'll be 70 in 5 years' time and hope to still be supporting the "Shrimpers" at Roots Hall. All long-term fans realize that supporting SUFC is about enduring the downs and enjoying the ups while they last. So, in that respect nothing has changed.

I dont think anyone has a right in football to be excluded from doubt for 5 years however there is nothing to doubt the new group as of yet. Everything they have done has been great so far. It's still very early days.

Our fans on a whole were far too trusting of Ron for far too long. Some of us knew it was gonna end badly a long time before it was obvious!

 

[Barry.C]

Surely we must give COSU 5 years before we start doubting them.​

Theres a fair chance 2 minutes would be something of a record in this day and age

Congrats by the way on your amazing attendance !!

 

[blues exile]

A sceptical and questioning approach is always advisable and in that way there is no disappointment if things do not work out as you hoped or were led to believe they would. Yes, the consortium saved the club from extinction and started out with a flourish of PR initiatives which led to huge anticipation of better things to come and perhaps unrealistic expectations. The reality is that the football side of things has undeniably regressed and we are in a worse position than in the dog days of the previous administration. Apologists will no doubt keep trotting out all the old familiar litany of excuses for our present situation but we have a seriously weakened squad and all the previous upbeat talk about exciting developments in the January transfer window seems to have mysteriously been receded till the summer but we are advised to be patient and there will be jam tomorrow. In the meantime the season is in danger of petering out with only the consolation prize of a Wembley appearance in a Poundshop competition a possibility. Only the fact that there are demonstrably a handful of worse teams than us will probably stave off a relegation threat. Questions will undoubtedly arise about the consortium's actions and, strategies for the future. There have been no meaningful updates or communications from Justin Rees for quite a while as far as I am aware.

 

[BriggBlue]

Since the takeover they have increased revenue by £750k, looking at the 2023 accounts that is an increase of over 150%.

Success on the pitch will follow

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

We will not doubt COSU. Don’t forget our previous owner. End of thread.

 

[Holy Joe]

Since the takeover they have increased revenue by £750k, looking at the 2023 accounts that is an increase of over 150%.

Success on the pitch will follow

2023 Revenue was £2.9m. £750k will be about 25% increase - still a great effort, although need more detail on the increase in costs.

Is the £750k an assumed figure for full financial year or just to Xmas?

 

[Guybrush13]

I have no doubt in COSU. Our management team I feel otherwise.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

2023 Revenue was £2.9m. £750k will be about 25% increase - still a great effort, although need more detail on the increase in costs.

Is the £750k an assumed figure for full financial year or just to Xmas?

Would think some of the extra revenue has been spent on important things like the Training Ground, which is still a work in progress. Must help with attracting new players if we offer decent facilities. COSU it has been said have sanctioned expenditure of over £100,000 on equipment, which includes the means to maintain the ground.

 

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

I don't and never have doubted COSU but I do doubt our coaching tactics on Match day and reserve the right to

 

[Thundersley Blue]

I have no doubt in COSU. Our management team I feel otherwise.

The same management team that stopped us from starting this season in the National League South. Remember they have been operating with their hands tied behind their backs since they were appointed. They managed to get a Group of players to play above themselves for a season, rather than walk out because they weren't getting paid on time. Playing through injuries because the squad was so small. List is endless really.

 

[tottenham541]

Just be grateful you have a club to support, it could of been so much worse.

 

[Holy Joe]

Would think some of the extra revenue has been spent on important things like the Training Ground, which is still a work in progress. Must help with attracting new players if we offer decent facilities. COSU it has been said have sanctioned expenditure of over £100,000 on equipment, which includes the means to maintain the ground.

I'm not sure cost of training ground improvements, gym equipment and ground maintanence equipment would be included in the cost of sales increases - maybe if we have an accountancy expert on here they could opine?

I totally get the increased cash outflows on things like historic debts and capital expenditure on ground/training ground - but it was reported cost of sales had also increased £750k, which I find curious

 

[SuperRonnieP]

I don't think TL put a figure on the increase in cost of sales, but did say that they'd increased 'in line with' total sales. I took that to mean that sales had increased by **% with a similar increase of **% in the cost of sales.

As the total sales figure should always be greater than the cost of sales figure you would see an increase in the profit from sales if both total sales, and their associated costs, increased by the same percentage.

No expert though, so that may be total bollox.

 

[MikeLapper]

Whose doubting COSU?

Certainly not me. They saved our club.

 

[USAShrimper]

Whose doubting COSU?

Certainly not me. They saved our club.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly I've read enough criticism and negative comments from posters on this forum about COSU's priorities, plans and leadership for me to generate my original post. Maybe I should not be so sensitive.

For the most part I really enjoy and appreciate "Shrimperzone" It allows me to feel connected on a daily basis with fellow supporters.

 

[annie1954]

Don’t know where we would be without the consortium coming in and the 3 amigos and the players at the time staying loyal and playing through those terrible dark days without payment

 

[RHB]

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly I've read enough criticism and negative comments from posters on this forum about COSU's priorities, plans and leadership for me to generate my original post. Maybe I should not be so sensitive.

For the most part I really enjoy and appreciate "Shrimperzone" It allows me to feel connected on a daily basis with fellow supporters.

In the last days of the Rat's reign I worried every day that our club would be no more. Then, finally, he was gone and COSU were now at the wheel and I breathed a sigh of relief. Either side of that sorry saga Kevin Maher and co were working miracles producing results that we had no right to expect, and now COSU are doing what they need to do to take the club forward and Kevin is doing the best he can with what he has. Let me tell you, there is nothing wrong with being sensitive when criticism comes our way, it was bound to happen given our current circumstances, and supporters are entitled to demand this that and the other. They, maybe, also need to remember that from our past comes our future. It's going to take time to recover from the **** show that was Ron Martin, and pretending that what was finally despatched has no bearing on what we have now, is blinkered, it absolutely does.