Robbie comments on breakfast interview.
Following an interview with Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell on BBC Essex's Breakfast Show on Tuesday morning, U's chairman Robbie Cowling has issued the following comments in response.
Interestingly, I established at that time that Bob was only attending games if he was receiving a free invite into a prawn sandwich filled corporate box and once he was outed as freeloading, prawn sandwich eating fair-weather fan, he stopped coming to games altogether.
A few years ago, Bob Russell decided to take a swipe at the way I ran Colchester United and claimed it was just a play thing that I would soon get fed up with and that I was only interested in prawn sandwich eating corporate fans.
In the meantime, I got on with running the club during four of the most successful seasons in the club's history in terms of league position and Bob found other sources of free lunches.
Little did I know that he was biding his time so that, after four successful seasons, he could spout a load more nonsense the very first time that Colchester United hit a bad run. So let’s dissect his nonsense.
The following list details the average attendances for the past 28 years and although our gates are currently down by 9% compared to last season, League 1 gates to date this season are down 10% overall by comparison to last year, so we are very slightly bucking the trend.
In the club’s promotion season from the Conference it averaged 3,381 fans a game and so far this season we have averaged 3,525.
Interestingly, I established at that time that Bob was only attending games if he was receiving a free invite into a prawn sandwich filled corporate box and once he was outed as freeloading, prawn sandwich eating fair-weather fan, he stopped coming to games altogether.
A few years ago, Bob Russell decided to take a swipe at the way I ran Colchester United and claimed it was just a play thing that I would soon get fed up with and that I was only interested in prawn sandwich eating corporate fans.
In the meantime, I got on with running the club during four of the most successful seasons in the club's history in terms of league position and Bob found other sources of free lunches.
Little did I know that he was biding his time so that, after four successful seasons, he could spout a load more nonsense the very first time that Colchester United hit a bad run. So let’s dissect his nonsense.
The following list details the average attendances for the past 28 years and although our gates are currently down by 9% compared to last season, League 1 gates to date this season are down 10% overall by comparison to last year, so we are very slightly bucking the trend.
In the club’s promotion season from the Conference it averaged 3,381 fans a game and so far this season we have averaged 3,525.
Season Average
1984/85 2,225
1985/86 2,253
1986/87 2,753
1987/88 1,776
1988/89 2,871
1989/90 3,139
1990/91 3,196
1991/92 3,381
1992/93 3,768
1993/94 2,833
1994/95 3,201
1995/96 3,299
1996/97 3,422
1997/98 3,267
1998/99 4,303
1999/2000 3,801
2000/01 3,466
2001/02 3,705
2002/03 3,367
2003/04 3,730
2004/05 3,481
2005/06 3,843
2006/07 5,466
2007/08 5,446
2008/09 5,096
2009/10 5,530
2010/11 4,247
2011/12 3,817
Peter Heard has not run the club since it has been located at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and Bob is so unfamiliar with Colchester United's recent history that he is unaware that the club’s best ever season was when we finished 10th in the Championship and that was the season after I bought the club from Peter.
Bob does not have a clue what the break even point for the Weston Homes Community Stadium is and how could he, because he doesn't have a clue about running a football club.
Bob does not have a clue what the break even point for the Weston Homes Community Stadium is and how could he, because he doesn't have a clue about running a football club.
Three years after buying the club I honoured the sales contract and offered an agreed price for the remaining shares.
Because the price was so generous the shareholders who held the largest shares all chose to sell and left me with no other option than to exercise my legal right to mop up the minority of shares that remained so that I could spare the club from unnecessary expense.
Because the price was so generous the shareholders who held the largest shares all chose to sell and left me with no other option than to exercise my legal right to mop up the minority of shares that remained so that I could spare the club from unnecessary expense.
I make no apologies for making sound commercial decisions for the club at a time when so many clubs are close to financial ruin.
In further response to Bob's points, the BBC offered the club a dramatically reduced fee for live commentary this year and we have improved medical provision for players and fans (working with a local business) and saved nearly 40% in doing so.
If Bob was familiar with Colchester High Street he would know that Bobby Swift Bookmakers, who provide betting facilities at the stadium, are a local business.
In further response to Bob's points, the BBC offered the club a dramatically reduced fee for live commentary this year and we have improved medical provision for players and fans (working with a local business) and saved nearly 40% in doing so.
If Bob was familiar with Colchester High Street he would know that Bobby Swift Bookmakers, who provide betting facilities at the stadium, are a local business.
Instead of criticising the way I run my businesses perhaps Bob should be more concerned with the way his political party is being run.
It was reported on the news that only 16% of the public trust what Nick Clegg tells them and, if I ever get to a stage where only 16% of Colchester United fans trust what I say, then I promise Bob Russell that I will actively seek to sell the club.
It was reported on the news that only 16% of the public trust what Nick Clegg tells them and, if I ever get to a stage where only 16% of Colchester United fans trust what I say, then I promise Bob Russell that I will actively seek to sell the club.