Turbulence (then calm sailing, then turbulence) thread.

[midfielder]

D

As a humble accountant maybe I am not getting my message ...

I posted .... at what stage does Gosford Council become a big part of the debate .

You replied with reasons... I find it hard to believe that anyone could think Gosford Council are the problem.

I said part of the debate not a problem ... and I stand by this comment ...

I also said in an earlier post ... "the ball is essentially in Gosford Council hands"... which I still believe to be true to the extent of what they want for the stadium ..

 

[true believer]

I can't see the point of any part of this discussion. other than upsetting Gosford council , MC and the forum punters

 

[dibo]

D

As a humble accountant maybe I am not getting my message ...

I posted .... at what stage does Gosford Council become a big part of the debate .

You replied with reasons... I find it hard to believe that anyone could think Gosford Council are the problem.

I said part of the debate not a problem ... and I stand by this comment ...

I also said in an earlier post ... "the ball is essentially in Gosford Council hands"... which I still believe to be true to the extent of what they want for the stadium ..

Why is it up to Gosford Council? Saying it is doesn't make it so.

 

[bikinigirl]

. has somebody been talking to mike cockerill?

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...little-team-that-shouldnt-20140418-zqvzw.html

The season could be over for Central Coast Mariners by Thursday morning, and then again it might not. Either way we can say it's been a miraculous season by the players and coaching staff. As for the ownership, maybe not.

Miraculous is the right word, even in the context of a club accustomed to producing miracles. In a history of incredible overachievement - none more so than last season's epic championship success - there's never been a campaign quite like this. It's not just been the usual mid-season exodus by a clutch of key players but - for the first time - there's been a mid-season exit by the coach. Not just any coach, but a man many regard as the finest in the business: Graham Arnold.

If you don't understand tribalism, you don't understand football.

So what his replacement Phil Moss, the rest of the coaching staff, and the players have achieved since has truly been miraculous. Edged out of the runners-up spot on goal difference, and going into their final Asian Champions League match next week in Japan still with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. Even if it goes pear-shaped in Saturday's sudden-death final against Adelaide United, and in the trip to the Big Arch Stadium in Hiroshima, the dressing room can feel rightly proud of what it has done.

On the field, there has been the emergence of Storm Roux and, to a lesser extent, Anthony Caceres, the renaissance of Liam Reddy, and the steady progress of Zac Anderson and Nick Fitzgerald. If they stick around, they're sure to be even more influential next season.

In the technical area, Moss, and his assistants John Crawley and Wayne O'Sullivan, have not only steadied the ship after the departure of Arnold, but pointed it in the right direction. Moss, after a long apprenticeship, has surprised many, but not me. Too "nice" to be a head coach was the expectation, but that ignored two things. One, Moss knows how to get his message across - I'd like to think this has something to do with his former trade as a journalist. And two, the culture of the Mariners remains incredibly strong - thanks largely to influence of John Hutchison - and that makes the team a resilient bunch.

Either way, the great pity of this season is that all of this is at risk because owner Mike Charlesworth can't seem to grasp why his club has been so successful in the first place. And that, without doubt, is the connection between the players and the community - something he seems determined to break by flagging moves to North Sydney and Brookvale, despite overwhelming opposition from his fan base.

There is, of course, evidence of how fraught this can be very close to home: the Northern Eagles. There are many other examples further ahead. Talk to Wollongong people, and they'll tell you they can't support the Dragons because they're not the Steelers. Look at what's happening right now with the West Tigers in Campbelltown. Or in the AFL, with North Melbourne's drive into Tasmania. Bean counters, and stadium managers, might like to chase the rainbow, but fans do not.

If you don't understand tribalism, you don't understand football. I wonder if Charlesworth does. Ever since he started making noises about shifting games to North Sydney, and later Brookvale, what have the crowds in Gosford done? Dipped.

Charlesworth talks about the economic necessity, but here's the thing. The Mariners have the cheapest stadium deal in the A-League, they have one of the smallest wage bills in the competition, which is now effectively paid by broadcasters, sponsorship is up, membership has almost doubled, and despite all the uncertainty the crowd average of 9398 compares favourably with past seasons.

In other words, there is a strong foundation to build upon, so why knock it down? The players who work so hard for the blue and yellow shirt deserve better, and so does a community that loves the fact that in the Mariners they have the only professional sporting team they can truly call their own.

What the Mariners, as a team and a club, need right now is certainty. If Charlesworth can't give it, it's high time the FFA got the point across: the Mariners are going nowhere. Every league on the world has its big teams and small teams. The dream is when the small teams do big things. In most countries, that doesn't happen any more. But it does here, in Gosford. Every year. When will the owner realise he's one of the lucky ones?

 

[gull]

Seems he's been reading the forum...

Very well said, and let's hope that the right people listen.

 

[Phish Phart]

. has somebody been talking to mike cockerill?

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...little-team-that-shouldnt-20140418-zqvzw.html
....................

Just be warned bikinigirl, you may soon have Fairfax after you for breach of copyright.
Under copyright you are not allowed to quote articles holus bolus.
And don't think the big players won't go after small fry. They do it to set an example and scare off others.

 

[Atomic]

Just be warned bikinigirl, you may soon have Fairfax after you for breach of copyright.
Under copyright you are not allowed to quote articles holus bolus.
And don't think the big players won't go after small fry. They do it to set an example and scare off others.

Are you Mike Charlesworth in disguise?

 

[Atomic]

I would like to know if Mr Charlesworth and the new CEO fully understand and appreciate the scar that was left upon us Coasties as a result of the Northern Eagles debacle.

 

[Roy Law]

I would like to know if Mr Charlesworth and the new CEO fully understand and appreciate the scar that was left upon us Coasties as a result of the Northern Eagles debacle.

I still have a scar from a couple of games in Canberra!

 

[Roy Law]

.

What the Mariners, as a team and a club, need right now is certainty. If Charlesworth can't give it, it's high time the FFA got the point across: the Mariners are going nowhere. Every league on the world has its big teams and small teams. The dream is when the small teams do big things. In most countries, that doesn't happen any more. But it does here, in Gosford. Every year. When will the owner realise he's one of the lucky ones?

Loved that

 

[bikinigirl]

Just be warned bikinigirl, you may soon have Fairfax after you for breach of copyright.
Under copyright you are not allowed to quote articles holus bolus.
And don't think the big players won't go after small fry. They do it to set an example and scare off others.

. i thought since i provided the link to the source i was being good ... if that is a problem i apologies unreservedly to fairfax. next time, if i find something worth posting, i'll just include the link and you bastards can go and find the words yourselves

 

[bikinigirl]

I would like to know if Mr Charlesworth and the new CEO fully understand and appreciate the scar that was left upon us Coasties as a result of the Northern Eagles debacle.

. can't comment from charlesworth's point of view but we did try to explain to brucey ... he initially tried to pass it off as 'different code, different rules'. but we persisted and explained it was an emotional thing for many people on the coast and you were responsible for making an emotional connection to those very same people. he finally said he got it ... talk of relocation is the wrong emotional connection

 

[Gratis]

yeah hope this is taken on board

 

[midfielder]

Just on NSO & Brookie options ... I never felt either where serious and still don't other than as a bargaining chip with Gosford Council ... However it all depends on where the rental levels are set my gut tells me it is going to be OK ... meaning break even with around 7K or thereabouts ...

Tis interesting the article from Mike ... he has a deep knowledge of Football in Australian other than Ray Gratt is arguably the most experienced if years are considered ... he is way better than Gatt [IMO] ...

The broader question is where would you put another team .... third Melbourne no ... second Brisbane no .... sorta only leaves two areas the Gong or Canberra and the Gong is simply a CC team south of Sydney ... Canberra already has a RL / RU / Basketball & Cricket team and is not much bigger than the CC in population...

The bigger question as I see it is how we grow the support base on the Coast and surrounding areas of Lake Macquarie and the Northern Districts of Sydney ... feel shitty when I got my CC Express back page an item on the Final against the Drive Bys turn the page and similar size articles for the local RL / RU sides ... we don't have a major daily who give us pages of stuff ...

I think deep down its needs a greater connection in a marketing sense to the parents of local players and to the senior sides in the CCA ...

BG its good to see the new El SupremeO is listening .... maybe he should hold an early forum of interested folk and openly discuss ideas and hear from the horses mouth what people think ...

 

[rbakersmith]

Was anybody here at the meeting mentioned in this article?

Central Coast Mariners planning home games at Brookvale Oval, North Sydney Oval

Central Coast Mariners plan to play up to two home games in Sydney next season by bringing games to Brookvale Oval and North Sydney Oval, subject to the approval of the Football Federation of Australia.

After months of speculation surrounding the future of the Mariners' home, the club confirmed Gosford will remain their primary ground with a minimum of 11 games a season but up to two games could be played in Sydney's north next season as part of their strategic push into the region. The Mariners are yet to confirm the dates, venues and opposition for the two games but have agreed in principle to play at least one and possibly two games in Sydney. A fixture at rugby league ground, Brookvale Oval, is a near certainty while a match at North Sydney Oval is on the cards.

"We've had negotiations with stakeholders about bringing a game of A-League to North Sydney Oval and Brookvale Oval," chief executive Bruce Stalder said. "It's in the context of a broader strategy right through that region. The view of the club is that two games is more than efficient to establish a presence in that area to complement all the other community and grassroots activities we plan."

The Mariners will likely have to submit a long-term strategic plan to the FFA before gaining their approval and the governing body will not permit the club to uproot from the Central Coast in future years.

“FFA currently has several submissions from clubs who wish to explore new markets for A-League matches, but the prerequisite is a strategic plan and a business case for the move,” an FFA spokesman said. “In the case of the Mariners, the club has taken matches to other markets in the past, including this season’s community match at North Sydney. The point to make is that the Central Coast is the club’s home and where it’s firmly entrenched in the community. Taking a match or two to new markets won’t change that.”

The club revealed their plans to a core of their fan group on Wednesday night at a meeting and reassured them that the number of games played in Sydney will not be more than two each season.

"I brought up the two games, where we're going and why we're doing it and they were 100 per cent behind us," Stalder said. "The general complaint was that this was never discussed with them, it was just imposed on them."

They have not made any formal commitments regarding bringing games to Brookvale Oval and are awaiting more information regarding costings and ground status.

The Mariners have been in negotiations with Manly Sea Eagles for a number months over the prospect of playing some home games at Brookvale Oval and have agreed in principle to play just one at the venue next season. The Sea Eagles are pushing to have the venue upgraded significantly and it's understood that the NSW government will only provide funding under the proviso that Brookvale Oval can become a multi-use stadium.

Securing Mariners games is essential to the Sea Eagles bid along with the prospect of hosting a number of baseball games for Australian Baseball League club Sydney Blue Sox. Representatives of the three sport clubs, along with Warringah Council met with then NSW treasurer Mike Baird on April 11 to discuss requirements for the upgrade of Brookvale Oval along with potential usage. A feasibility study is expected to be completed within a month and will be presented to all stakeholders regarding the potential renovation of the ground.

North Sydney Council recently completed a costing breakdown of bringing North Sydney Oval into accordance with the FFA guidelines for A-League venues. It's understood the council will unlikely commit to the upgrade of the playing surface, change rooms and other facilities unless they can secure regular professional sports, including Mariners' games, at the venue.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...le-oval-north-sydney-oval-20140424-zqz06.html

 

[crock]

No but at least its only two games per season I think its ok if its one game at each ground for those two games so at least some comon sense I always believe they wouldnt take more than two games away from the coast because FFA wouldnt allow it

 

[gull]

Here we go again.

So we will now have only a "minimum" of 11 "home" games instead of the 13 that we had this year. Interesting to see how they try to sell this to the members, and the coast. It won't go down well.

Also interesting how it was released on the morning of ANZAC day to get as little exposure as possible.

Love to know who the core supporter group that agreed to this is? No comments from the CCM supporters club...

 

[bikinigirl]

Love to know who the core supporter group that agreed to this is?

. i know there was a 'focus group' that met with bruce a few weeks ago (regarding memberships) ... i assume this was an extension of that. just to clarify i was not part of that 'focus group' but i know somebody that was - apparently it was a small group of randomly selected members

. by the feedback i received from the session a few weeks ago the participants were a bit 'lost' and uncertain of their role at the meeting ... so, yeah it would be interesting to know what was discussed - and who agreed to what - regarding matches played 'away'

 

[gull]

. i know there was a 'focus group' that met with bruce a few weeks ago (regarding memberships) ... i assume this was an extension of that. just to clarify i was not part of that 'focus group' but i know somebody that was - apparently it was a small group of randomly selected members

. by the feedback i received from the session a few weeks ago the participants were a bit 'lost' and uncertain of their role at the meeting ... so, yeah it would be interesting to know what was discussed - and who agreed to what - regarding matches played 'away'

Randomly selected from the northern suburbs of Sydney no doubt .

The CCM Supporters Club weren't consulted which seems strange given that they are the verified group. Perhaps they knew what response they would get.

 

[dibo]

There are ways of asking questions in a way that lead to an answer. To borrow from Yes, Prime Minister:

Bruce: Are you worried about the ongoing sustainability of the Mariners?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Are you worried about high matchday costs at Bluetongue Stadium affecting the Mariners’ bottom line?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Do you think the Central Coast is a small market?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Do you think the Club would benefit from having more fans engaged with the Club?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Do you think it would be good to get more fans from Sydney to bolster our numbers?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Would you be in favour of taking some games to Sydney to engage Sydney-based fans?
Fan: Oh...well, I suppose I might be.
Bruce: Yes or no?
Fan: Yes

***or***

Bruce: Are you a proud Coastie?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Do you feel that the Mariners represent our region?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Do you think there could ever be a danger that chasing fans ins Sydney might distract from the Club’s focus on the Coast?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Do you think that the Mariners taking home games to Sydney would be a loss to the Central Coast?
Fan: Yes
Bruce: Would you oppose the Mariners playing home games in Sydney?
Fan: Yes