DSJ1983 wrote:
That was my first thought. It’s great for the club if people want to commit 3 years and it’s absolutely no risk to them to offer it. If they were that desperate to generate cash to pay the bills or whatever I’d imagine theres better ways.
Completely agree it's great if people want to commit for three years and show a belief in the club, as some of us feed direct debits monthly and with the caveat of potential personal disasters will do so till the day we die, we owe that to the club that has been part of our lives since we could first walk. Not everyone's like that but well done to anyone who takes this offer up. It's sold to us as an advantage to fan's as we take it out and it is I guess an inflation busting offer, in a period when it looks like everything else in our lives will be going up. From that point of view I agree and welcome it.
However, I guess I understand the caution too. Many followers of sport across the board have seen it all before and I think it's worth considering that many, many clubs in different sports have used this tactic to accrue much needed income at a time of strain on their business. If the business and the team improve its worth it and a calculated risk to get over the hump, but its hardly a way to guard against unforeseen problems at the Club in the future, particularly with a long long way back for the team, a new Stadium lease imminent, a diminishing of central funding and harder economic times for our sponsors. All those things could impact on the clubs trading account. If we knew there was investment going forward and indeed we aren't short of cash, all that concern would melt away. Winter is a hard period for clubs and right back to Kath's days I know we have at time borrowed or used Directors 'reserves' to get through the period without any games.
Lastly though I also worry about the fact that we still hear nothing about that investment/ownership etc going forward that vacuum whilst it exists will always make folks wary of any such 'get rich quick' schemes at the club and not see them for what they likely are, just the club trying to engage fans and give them an incentive to support Hull FC going forward. As I always say until we know the position of the club financially going forward we can only guess, speculate and as is always the case on here, with some, wring our hands and doom monger!
All that said it's all pretty academic because in reality I can't see that many taking up the offer myself, but well done to those who do.