Lee Hendrie on trial at Reading FC

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

Their crowds have started to drop off after years of mediocrity.

But 24kis still big compared to us, admittedly.

[shaka's shorts]

no squad number yet....

[Barry the bird boggler]

no squad number yet....

That's because he's only on trial

[Royal Lady]

If he plays on Saturday, will he be called A Trialist? Why do they do this?

[Stranded]

If he plays on Saturday, will he be called A Trialist? Why do they do this?

To stop other clubs being aware of who is on trial.

I don't think he can play in first team games anyway whilst on trial. I believe you can play them in Scotland but then the lower couple of divisions are semi pro/part time so the rules differ as a result.

[Barry the bird boggler]

If he plays on Saturday, will he be called A Trialist? Why do they do this?

To stop other clubs being aware of who is on trial.

I don't think he can play in first team games anyway whilst on trial. I believe you can play them in Scotland but then the lower couple of divisions are semi pro/part time so the rules differ as a result.

Correct. A triallist has to be registered with the FL by the club (i.e. signed), before they can play him in a league game.

[Millsy]

By law a triallist has to play 12 games at league, cup and reserve level before he is eligible for a squad number given to him before being signed on a semi-permanent basis with a full time contract, depending on how many games he has played in the preceding months for or against the clubs in question.

[coyrls]

By law a triallist has to play 12 games at league, cup and reserve level before he is eligible for a squad number given to him before being signed on a semi-permanent basis with a full time contract, depending on how many games he has played in the preceding months for or against the clubs in question.

Unless you invoke the Mornington Crescent precedent.

[RoyalBlue]

Where else is the £6/7m going? I don't see it being spent on players. It certainly doesn't LOOK convincing so people can hardly be blamed for coming to these sorts of conclusions. As for holding out for top dollar, that also is very plausible.

It sounds like it's The Claptrappers Vs The Gullibles.

its not "going" anywhere

it either stays to fill next years defecit, or it will go on more players fees and wages, for loans now, or in january

What deficit? Are you really telling us that your hero and his sidekicks, who have run this club so incredibly well as a business over X years still won't have managed to balance the books, by next year?

If so, I would suggest that they are nowhere near as damn clever as some like to make out.

[ZacNaloen]

Anyone got any stats on how many football clubs make a net profit every year?

[Blue Hooped Moose]

Anyone got any stats on how many football clubs make a net profit every year?

Nope, but i'll have a guess. I'm going for... none. And I'll have a cheeky reserve answer of "no more than 5"

[Blue Hooped Moose]

Anyone got any stats on how many football clubs make a net profit every year?

Nope, but i'll have a guess. I'm going for... none. And I'll have a cheeky reserve answer of "no more than 5"

Here are some stats from 2002 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1898854.stm)

Last season, only 18 out of England's 92 professional football clubs turned in a profit, with many racking up heavy losses instead

Given how much wages have increased since then I'd expect the number now to be a lot, lot lower.

[brendywendy]

Where else is the £6/7m going? I don't see it being spent on players. It certainly doesn't LOOK convincing so people can hardly be blamed for coming to these sorts of conclusions. As for holding out for top dollar, that also is very plausible.

It sounds like it's The Claptrappers Vs The Gullibles.

its not "going" anywhere

it either stays to fill next years defecit, or it will go on more players fees and wages, for loans now, or in january

What deficit? Are you really telling us that your hero and his sidekicks, who have run this club so incredibly well as a business over X years still won't have managed to balance the books, by next year?

If so, I would suggest that they are nowhere near as damn clever as some like to make out.

omg you mongtard.
its a 4 million YEARLY shortfall in our in/out deficit, until we fill the stadium each week/get promoted/have a team made entirely of academy graduates it will always be here- year after year after year.
we will have to fill it every year too, with player sales, like the sig, though hopefully, like i said, his sale will fill next years hole too.

[andrew1957]

omg you mongtard.
its a 4 million YEARLY shortfall in our in/out deficit, until we fill the stadium each week/get promoted/have a team made entirely of academy graduates it will always be here- year after year after year.
we will have to fill it every year too, with player sales, like the sig, though hopefully, like i said, his sale will fill next years hole too.

As far as i recall it was a £4M shortfall THIS SEASON. It is impossible to know what shortfall if any there would be next season and in any case it will be lower as several older players have contracts that expire at the end of this season so RFC can reduce any shortfall by reducing the squad size if needed.

[Duke the Dog]

Interesting thought, are we better run now than we were say 15-20 years ago when Mr Mad took over (scarily long time now!). Ie is the %age of operating costs against revenue higher or lower? Excluding the Mr Mad loans to build the Mad Stad etc.

Anyway we have more "assets" now.

Talking of which, whilst Hendrie is a mildly exciting acquisition for us (insomuch as he's a "name" nearly everyone will have heard of (like Ferdinand and Keown)), one thing troubles me. If he really is any good, why hasn't anyone come in for him and why did Derby let him go so readily? Is it purely on his attitude or has he had injuries, or something else?

I know Harte has had his injury problems and disappeared to Spain for a couple of seasons, so I'm less concerned about him (other than worrying he'll simply get injured of course!).

[Svlad Cjelli]

Being well run does not by definition mean making a profit.

Being well run actually means being able to survive in extremely adverse economic conditions.

[Millsy]

By law a triallist has to play 12 games at league, cup and reserve level before he is eligible for a squad number given to him before being signed on a semi-permanent basis with a full time contract, depending on how many games he has played in the preceding months for or against the clubs in question.

Unless you invoke the Mornington Crescent precedent.

Well that changes things significantly as it singlehandedly destabilises the FA legislation on the matter allowing the player in question to play for two sides at the same time.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

If he plays on Saturday, will he be called A Trialist? Why do they do this?

I think they only do that in Scotland. I can't think of any player in England having a goal credited to him like that.

Then again, I don't think trialists tend to play leagues games in England. A trailist is a player not under contract, and players in England tend to be offered short-term contracts to play, if needed.

[coyrls]

By law a triallist has to play 12 games at league, cup and reserve level before he is eligible for a squad number given to him before being signed on a semi-permanent basis with a full time contract, depending on how many games he has played in the preceding months for or against the clubs in question.

Unless you invoke the Mornington Crescent precedent.

Well that changes things significantly as it singlehandedly destabilises the FA legislation on the matter allowing the player in question to play for two sides at the same time.

True but it also means you can have rush goalies.

[Millsy]

Haha