 | |||
| |
It was an extremely frank, relaxed and informal meeting, and the first comment that should be made is how positive the whole experience was, particularly after everything we have gone through since the administrators arrived. Pearse was easy to talk to, and answered our questions as openly as he could, given the situation at this moment.
The main message to the fans is that Pearse sees enormous potential in the club, in its infrastructure, it’s sponsors, and it’s potential fan base. He sees an organization that can be run very successfully, and on a very stable financial footing, otherwise he would not have become involved. He says that by next season, if his bid is successful, we would be the most financially secure team in the SPL. The club will be run with the head, not the heart. Importantly he sees himself to have a moral obligation to ensure the futures of the staff at the club, and gave them great credit for everything they have done over the last few weeks.
He describes himself as a fan of football, but clearly stated that the club itself will be run by an appointed Chairman, not him, and that the day-to-day running of the football side will be done by the Manager, who will have the say in which players he wants and who goes out on the park. The management team will get a budget, which will be one of the better ones in the SPL, without being unrealistic. Players will be paid realistic salaries, but will be rewarded according to performance – the higher in the league we finish and the further we go in the Cups, the better the rewards to the players and the management. He compared the salary structure to being like a First Division club, but with a rising scale of excellent bonuses for success – an incentive to players and management alike.
Pearse wanted to tell the fans that he sees our involvement as essential, and one stated aim was be the first SPL club to get a properly elected fan’s representative on the club board, if that was possible, saying that he sees no problem with that as a way forward for us. He said it was important that his running of the club and his plans for it were 100% transparent.
Some of his comments about the club itself are that he sees us as being something quite unique within the SPL, and he felt that as soon as he walked in the door. It has a different atmosphere from the others, and one which needs to be built on and promoted to as wide a public as possible. He wants every season ticket holder to want to come to every game, and to enjoy the games and the atmosphere. He sees football as entertainment, and that the club needs to build up that aspect of the game of football, and be unique and innovative in it’s approach to the game. He likes the drums, the banners and flags, and the fact that so many families with kids come to the games. One comparison he made was how he couldn’t take his kids to OF games because of the behaviour and the language of the OF fans, but sees Livi games as a totally different experience, one which can be enjoyed by everyone. He said if he was asked what his aim would be for the long-term future support at Livi games, it would be to have 10,000 Livi fans singing and shouting, and when the OF came they would get an allocation of 200 tickets!
Obviously there are still things which Pearse cannot divulge at this stage, as the deal has yet to be completed and formalized, but he has had positive meetings with the Council, sponsors and others. We are still at the stage where we are in administration and have a target date to meet, in order to avoid the 10-point penalty, and to be in a position to sign and re-sign players, but he seemed confident that we will meet our targets.
Pearse came across as someone who genuinely has the future of Livi at heart, and all in all, the meeting was very positive. It bodes well for the future of our club.
wulsonforlivi