First of all we must understand this:-
There has to be a balancing of the books before there’s any kind of investment, that I totally understand and agree with. There are too many clubs sailing along that financial fine line were, if their owner suddenly decides enoughs enough and they put their wallet back in their pocket the club could potentially sink overnight.
Danson took over Latics with a huge Championship wage bill and a bunch of non performing players. He shouldered this cost for 12 months and I’m pretty much sure the money coming in did not go anywhere near to covering the wage bill and daily running cost of the club for the past 12 months.
Now you might think I’m a Danson arse licker, far from it I’m stating facts were all forgetting about. No one can deny that when the Bahraini Binmen screwed up you didn’t think like me “Were cooked here !” and 10th tier football was heading out way I for one thought it was lights out for us I truly did.
Danson hasn’t got to were he is with his companies been frithful and taking huge risks he is a shrewd businessman who I’m sure is someone who makes calculated risk not gambles that will always lean in his favor.
My gripe is, he will have analysed the daily running cost of the club so he would have been fully aware the amount of money it takes to keep us afloat and how much money he will need to invest (starting this summer) but sadly this has not come to fruition.
I’m not on about splash the cash like a Birmingham far from it I’m on about backing Maloney and allowing him to bring in one or two experienced players to help nurture this super young squad.
That has clearly not happened and Maloney has been left out to dry with what I can only describe as an u23 side in 1st team kit and average age of 23 for 30 players is an incredibly low average age for a side more like Crewe than Wigan, take out Lonegran and that average age drops even lower.
What annoys me is, Danson knew the risk before taking over, he went in with his eyes wide open knowing any football club ownership is a high risk investment and rarely do clubs at this level break even let alone make money.
I’m sure his financial experts went over the books with a fine tooth comb before purchased the club & stadium. It’s as though he’s bought a run down property, he’s priced up the cost of the refurbishment prior to purchase then after he’s bought it he’s changed his mind and thought na, put that on hold let’s just give it a lick of paint.
So why?,
Well my guess is and its nothing more than a guess that he first and formost wanted the stadium and why do I think this?,
Had we have gone into administration I’m sure there might of been a few other interested parties sniffing around simply because we would be sold for peanuts. A stadium and a club for a few million ?.
There’s more and more American investors out there looking for a play toy and I think Danson could have possibly ended up in potential bidding war with other potential buyers entised by the bargain bucket price (which he managed to achieve), no challengers, no competition here’s my price, accepted.
Then there’s my thought, could Danson stand the thought of been a Landlord with his rugby club playing the role of tenant ?, I’m not so sure he could stomach that.
Remember the time when Talal once tweeted about the seats shall we make them all blue ?. I’m sure that infuriated Danson knowing someone was calling the shots on the stadium I know if it was me I’d be proper p*ssed at that remark.
Another thing, if Danson had of wasted time buying the club and the adminstration team had of stepped in he would have had to have had to foot their huge bill. As we all know from our previous encounter, any administrator would always look at trying to sell both Latics and ground together and only split at a very last resort.
My final thoughts are,
Maloney’s had no doubt been promised one thing (I’m sure of that) and the rugby post have been moved this summer leaving him to scrimp around bringing in very young lads with little or no L1 experience in this unforgiving League all on budget weekly wage so as to fit in with Danson’s yearly budget.
So who’s to blame and were does that currently leave us?,
Maloney has to make it work, there’s no point moaning,face pulling, he has to get a tune out these lads regardless of how he’s been treated or were in deep trouble.
He proved it at Birmingham this is possible then destroys the excellent performance at Birmingham with a loss against a very poor Morecambe side.
As for Danson?, I think a good chunk of that Hughes’s money should have gone towards the wages for 2 or 3 experienced players definitely a midfielder and possibly a forward. Every club needs these experienced types of player on and off the field but what we have is a bunch of kids with little or no guidance from senior pros.
You can kind of see what Danson is after, he wants a load of young lads with some potential and an manager to perform miracles with them all, make them potential stars then sell-on for a huge profit using Hughes & Tickle as the template.
For that to happen there has to be and good scattering of experienced players within the squad to bring all these young lads through slowly not simply thrown in to the lions which is currently happening.
I can see both sides of the coin but I also feel Danson has not backed the manager promising one thing then giving him the total opposite for me letting Maloney down in the summer window. The wage budget whatever it may be has been set to an all time low making any kind of promotion challenge impossible.
I hope Maloney can pull this one off and at least keep us in L1 but for me i think he will struggle like hell. The tools he’s been given to complete the task are not of his choice nor are a fair few of the players up for the job but guys, we have to simply get behind them as hard as it may be we have no other choice.
To be honest it’s no one’s fault it’s a combination of 2 previous owners throwing the cash around, both huge mistakes along the way and the EFL for letting it happen.
I honestly think Maloney will crack under the pressure. His post match interviews are of a guy who’s totally frustrated and at times there uncomfortable to watch.
His nervousness and frustration in front of camera is clearly there for all to see to the point that, at times he looks like he’s ready to explode, call Danson out then rip the mic off and shout “F*CK THIS!” I’m off.
My only gripe with Maloney is, his tactics which makes him at times he’s own worse enemy and he doesn’t help himself but he’ll always have the argument he wasn’t backed in the transfer market so again, is it Maloney’s tactics or Danson not backing him ? which do you point the finger at?. When I say that, would say 3-4 experienced players make a difference if we play his tactics ? again it’s questionable.
Oh the joys of been a Latics fans never fails to amaze me. The one thing I’ve noticed regardless of Maloney Danson or the players is, there’s a change in the whole atmosphere of the club. If feels clinically cold very them n us we’ve had one speech last week in 12 months and that’s it.
No future plans nothing, no long term plan mapped out it’s just hand to mouth football and the words should be changed to our famous song to:
“Let’s hang in to what is left don’t let go boys there’s nothing left…..”
