Head of commercial
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horlickfanclub
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Twitter by Jon Palmer says he has gone. No loss judging by the tickets and yesterdays shortcomings.
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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Here is the Tweet: https://mobile.twitter.com/JonPalmerSpo ... 5507257350" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“Best wishes to Steve Hobin who has stepped down as Cheltenham Town's head of commercial operations to pursue another opportunity in football.”
Personally, by “pursue another opportunity” I read a bigger club who a) may pay better and b) more willing or able to implement things.
Given most bigger clubs sorted basic things like selling tickets and refreshments years ago I imagine most other opportunities are better unless one especially likes a challenge.
I know someone who recently made it to the final round of interviews for head of comms at Sunderland…I wonder if Hobin will end up there.
As for the above question re Wilcox. I expect Hobin was a Wilcox appointment as part of his desire to modernise and progress the Club and therefore conclude that the same forces that wanted to restrain Wilcox also did not approve of Hobin’s plan to bring us to the 21st Century. Moving on to a club already there makes sense.
“Best wishes to Steve Hobin who has stepped down as Cheltenham Town's head of commercial operations to pursue another opportunity in football.”
Personally, by “pursue another opportunity” I read a bigger club who a) may pay better and b) more willing or able to implement things.
Given most bigger clubs sorted basic things like selling tickets and refreshments years ago I imagine most other opportunities are better unless one especially likes a challenge.
I know someone who recently made it to the final round of interviews for head of comms at Sunderland…I wonder if Hobin will end up there.
As for the above question re Wilcox. I expect Hobin was a Wilcox appointment as part of his desire to modernise and progress the Club and therefore conclude that the same forces that wanted to restrain Wilcox also did not approve of Hobin’s plan to bring us to the 21st Century. Moving on to a club already there makes sense.
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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He has a demonstrable track record so I doubt it was all talk. Perhaps the talk was too ambitious for what the Club could do. E.g. if the Club does not have enough staff, resources and technology to go to ticket-only turnstiles, or is unwilling to invest, then the head of commercial cannot do anything about that. So if an opportunity came along where that was already in place and he could focus on bigger things then I can see why he moved..I would.Horteng wrote:Wow he didnt last long. Came in and talked a good game but maybe it was all talk?
As with any growing small business this is a dilemma we face. Do we back a Head of Commercial with the people (employed pros not volunteers chipping in), money and technology needed to make a real difference, or do we insist on doing things how they always have been done because it worked fine in the 1990s and 2000s? If we want to grow the scale of operations and off-pitch turnover we have to do the former. Seems like with Wilcox gone we did not want to do that and would happily stay as we are.
I'm disappointed in this. It seems like Wilcox and him were together. Wilcox gets forced out and now he's gone too. His CV is good. He knew what he was doing. CTFC not ready to move into the 21st century. Don't go looking for the fan zone this year. It won't be there nowHorteng wrote:Wow he didnt last long. Came in and talked a good game but maybe it was all talk?
The board really do need to say what happened. Rumours will keep popping up otherwise
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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The Board also need to confirm if a) they will be appointing a new head of commercial and b) whether plans SH set in train (fan zone, ticket-only turnstiles, etc) will be continued.Ralph wrote:I'm disappointed in this. It seems like Wilcox and him were together. Wilcox gets forced out and now he's gone too. His CV is good. He knew what he was doing. CTFC not ready to move into the 21st century. Don't go looking for the fan zone this year. It won't be there nowHorteng wrote:Wow he didnt last long. Came in and talked a good game but maybe it was all talk?
The board really do need to say what happened. Rumours will keep popping up otherwise
I have heard 4 different rumours about Wilcox
At least 3 of them will be wrong so I am not going to post them
It could of course be that Wilcox was only going to do 3 years as the commercial guy just got a better job offer by coincidence
Wast there not a twitter on Friday that Finners had left the job he had in Glos
This is where JP the investigative journalist need to break the news and no bother what his cronies in the club feel
At least 3 of them will be wrong so I am not going to post them
It could of course be that Wilcox was only going to do 3 years as the commercial guy just got a better job offer by coincidence
Wast there not a twitter on Friday that Finners had left the job he had in Glos
This is where JP the investigative journalist need to break the news and no bother what his cronies in the club feel
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VeraLickleklubsBack
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Didn't last too long at PNE, either. (He is a Preston lad).Horteng wrote:Wow he didnt last long. Came in and talked a good game but maybe it was all talk?
The problem is it feels like this comes up every season. At least with Wilcox he felt like he understood the frustrations and seemed to have plans to make some improvements and wasnt afraid to talk to fans after the game and listen to us.
Off the field it seems the club has had a fair few bumps in recent months. There are a lot of rumours swirling around which contradict themselves but one thing I know for certain is Andy Wilcox was told to watch the game in the Colin Farmer stand on Saturday and was not welcome in the directors area or even the paddock. The commercial manager leaving smacks of a u-turn being covered up now too. I don't know anything about Hobin but it was clear he was trying to make the club more professional and that's upset some.
I thought i read that Finners was back at CTFC on Friday last week.andgarod wrote:I have heard 4 different rumours about Wilcox
At least 3 of them will be wrong so I am not going to post them
It could of course be that Wilcox was only going to do 3 years as the commercial guy just got a better job offer by coincidence
Wast there not a twitter on Friday that Finners had left the job he had in Glos
This is where JP the investigative journalist need to break the news and no bother what his cronies in the club feel
Just what I was going to say - I thought Finners was coming back.Ralph wrote:I thought i read that Finners was back at CTFC on Friday last week.andgarod wrote:I have heard 4 different rumours about Wilcox
At least 3 of them will be wrong so I am not going to post them
It could of course be that Wilcox was only going to do 3 years as the commercial guy just got a better job offer by coincidence
Wast there not a twitter on Friday that Finners had left the job he had in Glos
This is where JP the investigative journalist need to break the news and no bother what his cronies in the club feel
I presumed the role Steve Hobin was given was of far higher scope than the one Finners was doing.
I thought his appointment was a move in the right direction off the pitch for us, but didn’t think he’d be here very long. A bit longer than three months though.....
I thought his appointment was a move in the right direction off the pitch for us, but didn’t think he’d be here very long. A bit longer than three months though.....
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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Finners was good at what he did…shaking hands on matchday, phoning STs and local sponsors to renew. But felt very much like he was managed by someone else, rather than being head of commercial. When news of Finners returning was posted, I assumed he would be taking up his former role under direction from Hobin.
Please. Let's stop all this speculating. On here now, there is too much negativity - and then rumour-mongering about the Board and Wilcox. And now, it seems, criticism about just about everything else that is not on the pitch and football based. Please get real and appreciate where we are and who we are... Slowly slowly catchy monkey... (apologies if that's racist?)
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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Usually Plymrob I despair at negativity and doom and gloom but in this case I feel it is entirely warranted and fans are right to do so.
Talk of fan zones, modern ticketing, better matchday experience and offer meant that we were excited. This was not just excitement to see how we do in L1 this season and future seasons but also to see some positive change and improvement off the pitch in this and future seasons.
Sport is sport and we know that sometimes there will be bad results and performances and sometimes awful weather will ruin a game. But those things are dealt with and forgotten much more easily when everything else about going to a game is pleasant and enjoyable.
Personally I would say on the pitch I am as positive and excited as I have ever been. Watching players like Hussey, Callum Wright, Sercombe, etc who are top L1 players is fantastic. Playing sides like Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Sunderland knowing we have a team and manager who can match them is great. And our highest ever finish is real, even likely, possibility.
It is because how well we are doing on the pitch and training pitch which makes the off pitch stagnation and relative regression so hard to take. They say organisations must innovate or die. I and others do not want CTFC to die.
Talk of fan zones, modern ticketing, better matchday experience and offer meant that we were excited. This was not just excitement to see how we do in L1 this season and future seasons but also to see some positive change and improvement off the pitch in this and future seasons.
Sport is sport and we know that sometimes there will be bad results and performances and sometimes awful weather will ruin a game. But those things are dealt with and forgotten much more easily when everything else about going to a game is pleasant and enjoyable.
Personally I would say on the pitch I am as positive and excited as I have ever been. Watching players like Hussey, Callum Wright, Sercombe, etc who are top L1 players is fantastic. Playing sides like Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Sunderland knowing we have a team and manager who can match them is great. And our highest ever finish is real, even likely, possibility.
It is because how well we are doing on the pitch and training pitch which makes the off pitch stagnation and relative regression so hard to take. They say organisations must innovate or die. I and others do not want CTFC to die.
An informative interview with the Gillingham chairman discussing new ticketing system, catering offerings, staffing issues etc.
https://twitter.com/DavidJenkin16/statu ... 51172?s=19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://twitter.com/DavidJenkin16/statu ... 51172?s=19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A 'match day experience' is surely getting to a game, watching game and, hopefully the right result. You know what it will cost if you choose to go, you know the likely problems that you might experience getting there, during and after. Anything more that concerns you is arguably all the more 'prawn sandwich' to me... This is Cheltenham and League One. Maybe that should be - this is League One. No, this is football... The 'match day experience', good, bad or indifferent, is what most people enjoy. The lack of quality of the PA is sweet FA in the bigger picture... Having food or drink during is neither here nor there. And by the way... what's a Smart 'Phone? I do like terracing though...
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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So as far as you are concerned anyone who wants soap in the toilets, an efficient ticketing system and a decent selection of food and drink without huge queues, visible or audible information etc should go and spend their money elsewhere as you don’t want them spending at WR.plymrob wrote:A 'match day experience' is surely getting to a game, watching game and, hopefully the right result. You know what it will cost if you choose to go, you know the likely problems that you might experience getting there, during and after. Anything more that concerns you is arguably all the more 'prawn sandwich' to me... This is Cheltenham and League One. Maybe that should be - this is League One. No, this is football... The 'match day experience', good, bad or indifferent, is what most people enjoy. The lack of quality of the PA is sweet FA in the bigger picture... Having food or drink during is neither here nor there. And by the way... what's a Smart 'Phone? I do like terracing though...
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Jerry St Clair
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I think you're expressing *your* preferred match day experience.plymrob wrote:A 'match day experience' is surely getting to a game, watching game and, hopefully the right result. You know what it will cost if you choose to go, you know the likely problems that you might experience getting there, during and after. Anything more that concerns you is arguably all the more 'prawn sandwich' to me... This is Cheltenham and League One. Maybe that should be - this is League One. No, this is football... The 'match day experience', good, bad or indifferent, is what most people enjoy. The lack of quality of the PA is sweet FA in the bigger picture... Having food or drink during is neither here nor there. And by the way... what's a Smart 'Phone? I do like terracing though...
Which is valid, but not universal. For some people, decent facilities, catering etc are very important and we should strive to bring them in, not exclude them with PlymRob's version.
If only everyone was as easily pleased as I am. Turn up ticket in hand, having eaten, with an empty bladder and my own drink, don't use the toilets because I don't like queueing or missing the game, don't partake of food at the ground because it's a rip off and I can manage through a few hours without eating. Turn up half an hour before kick off, watch the game (hopefully a good one), leave 
All I want is the PA system at a reasonable volume. Somewhere between "I can hear what is being said" and "the vibrations are tearing me apart".
All I want is the PA system at a reasonable volume. Somewhere between "I can hear what is being said" and "the vibrations are tearing me apart".
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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The last few games I have been too I have had lunch with family pre-match, so always in town or somewhere. If there were some decent pop up food stalls and plenty of outdoor seating I may well do that at the stadium rather than town. Obviously not everyone does that, but even if only 250 do that is better than nothing.
One just needs to look at the pre-match pubs to see how many people meet up and socialise pre-match. The Club could easily get a share of that revenue with a better range of bars and seating. That’s what the fan zone is/was aiming to do.
One just needs to look at the pre-match pubs to see how many people meet up and socialise pre-match. The Club could easily get a share of that revenue with a better range of bars and seating. That’s what the fan zone is/was aiming to do.
Yep, also agree with Shade. I might occasionally purchase food at away games in the evening when I've gone straight from work but the fare on offer at home games never appeals. I'm usually driving, but paying a premium price for a can of John Smith's or, God forbid, Fosters which I have to drink like I've got a problem and can barely get through to half time without something to take the edge off. And I've always hated public toilets at the best of times - but I would have to be desperate beyond belief to step into the ones at any football stadium, not just the ones at Whaddon Road. Bleugh...
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
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You kind of make the point…the current offer is bad quality and poor value for money so it is a disincentive to buy anything or to spend longer at the ground. If the food offerings did appeal and the drinks were nice and reasonably priced you may think differently…asl wrote:Yep, also agree with Shade. I might occasionally purchase food at away games in the evening when I've gone straight from work but the fare on offer at home games never appeals. I'm usually driving, but paying a premium price for a can of John Smith's or, God forbid, Fosters which I have to drink like I've got a problem and can barely get through to half time without something to take the edge off. And I've always hated public toilets at the best of times - but I would have to be desperate beyond belief to step into the ones at any football stadium, not just the ones at Whaddon Road. Bleugh...
Your post is a bit like a potential retail start up saying “the current shops are rubbish and don’t sell anything anyone wants so there is no point me opening a good shop selling things some people do want”.