What did he say?
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Followtheox1
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The usual/what you would expect. Lots of work behind the scenes. Have to be balanced in terms of trying for short term success against long term future, well known issues (I took that to mean Kassam) that they will try to work through and really want to capitalise on the name of Oxford internationaly.
Sarge
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...and, he went to Oxford Uni
Followtheox1
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And that!
yellowbow
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He spoke very well, talked about his family buying a minority share of the club and, with other individuals that Tiger is assembling, are looking to build sensibly a club capable of at least reaching the championship. He did say he knows Tiger through their business dealings at Reading but because of his connections with the city of Oxford, he’s coming in as a fan, not a business angle. Even though he emphasised several times of Tiger running the show, he spoke very confidently and sounds like he’ll be a major player and said he has money available be it for on field or off field requirements. He hinted at looking to resolve the stadium issue, referring to it as the issue that everyone is aware of.
Gary Baldi
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Interesting that the investment hasn't been reported yet. Wonder when we'll see Companies House updated. Interesting where this will end up
DreamInYellow
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The Oxford brand...they are so far removed...careful what you wish for.
Gary Baldi
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Shoes without socks, pension schemes, investment bankers/asset strippers, formula 1, going on a journey, rugby league owner, etc.
Feels like another normal ride on the OUFC roulette wheel.
Don't forget the recycling scheme!
Witney Wag
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What do they mean by the Oxford brand ? Yes we all know that Oxford is a renown educational city, but how is tha going to promote a third tier football club? The biggest issues which need sorting are the stadium and the manager, no real indication on what is going to happen on these two fronts. We have been promised by Kassam that he was taking us on a journey in the past, it action not words that we need.
yellowbow
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Only a guess but I suspect it’s all about the level of investment the brand can attract. It’s all marketing b#llshit but if it can help us be successful I’ll go with it
D
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They mean exactly what you’ve identified: a world famous city famous for its university. While we take that for granted and some may resent the University, to investors it provides a foundation from which they can market a club.
Imagine trying to market Swindon Town to an Asian market. What will they use as collateral? Trains? Roundabouts? Or, perhaps, Diana Dors? It would be impossible. Yet, with Oxford, they have recognition of the city, albeit for something else.
There’s also the prestige that comes with the association with the Univesity. To foreign markets that is very attractive.
Many OUFC won’t buy it, what people want to see is players, a new manager every week and a fight-to-the-death between Tiger and Firoz. However, unless we have a local benefactor to donate the required funds, we need to attract outside investment. Oxford’s ‘brand’ makes that more likely on the basis that a successful team can be marketed to a much wider audience than Oxon.
Of course it’s a case of chicken and egg. What comes first, on-field success or off-field marketing? The two things can be symbiotic and with the addition of outside wealth, contacts and expertise it may be nearer than we hope.
It could all be B*****s of course but there is something to be made of Oxford’s wider reputation and value.
I hope that what’s happening right now can deliver it.
Imagine trying to market Swindon Town to an Asian market. What will they use as collateral? Trains? Roundabouts? Or, perhaps, Diana Dors? It would be impossible. Yet, with Oxford, they have recognition of the city, albeit for something else.
There’s also the prestige that comes with the association with the Univesity. To foreign markets that is very attractive.
Many OUFC won’t buy it, what people want to see is players, a new manager every week and a fight-to-the-death between Tiger and Firoz. However, unless we have a local benefactor to donate the required funds, we need to attract outside investment. Oxford’s ‘brand’ makes that more likely on the basis that a successful team can be marketed to a much wider audience than Oxon.
Of course it’s a case of chicken and egg. What comes first, on-field success or off-field marketing? The two things can be symbiotic and with the addition of outside wealth, contacts and expertise it may be nearer than we hope.
It could all be B*****s of course but there is something to be made of Oxford’s wider reputation and value.
I hope that what’s happening right now can deliver it.
Witney Wag
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The Oxford University brand is somewhat misleading as it encompasses 36 colleges each with their own history and unique brand. Some of these colleges have worldwide fame in their own right and have had some notable alumni members. The college buildings are places that people from across the globe wish to visit and be associated with. Now this cannot be said of our great club. We are homed in a 3 sided stadium with little or no assets, have a owner who has little or no history to be of any interest to serious investors. The fact that we languish in the bottom two of the 3rd tier of the EFL will again not be a great marketing tool for wouldbe investors. Just because we have the name of Oxford in our title does not mean that there will be a clamour from overseas investors, if this was the case then Oxford City would also be in the EFL as they too would be using the name Oxford to market their aspirations. What will get our club noticed is promotion to the Championship and a stadium of the same quality as MK Dons. Like it or not we need quality on the pitch and ownership of our own stadium, why else do you think Methven and Donald took a risk with Sunderland and not Oxford United (part of Oxford)?
D
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The point, though, is that someone can speculate with some mitigation. Unlike OCFC, we are only one step from the level you quote. If they can get us to there then serious money can be attracted. A world famous city with a team only one step from the PL, now that’s a recipe for investment and marketing.
Witney Wag
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Looking at the table we are far closer to the 4th level than the 2nd level and in addition more likely at this time to be fighting against relegation than for promotion. We are celebrating 125 years and have been in the top division for 3 seasons, owned our own stadium in an expensive area and at no time did anyone mention that we were a viable investment due to our name containing Oxford. It’s just a marketing ploy which history would suggest makes no difference to OUFC? Kassam brought the club because he saw the investment potential which no longer exists. He made a mint from the ground and the additional development at Grenoble Rd. That has now been exploited at the expense of the club. If Methven and Donald failed to see great investment opportunities in investing, then why would we expect others too.
Of course I could be wrong and Tiger has the ability and investment contacts to buy the stadium and get the promotion we all want and in addition provide us with our own stadium we can be proud of. We can only hope.
D
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When we were in the top flight, Arsenal and Spurs regularly attracted crowds of 20k. The comparison to football then and now, particularly at the top level, is meaningless. No one was investing in football. Remember Michael Knighton? He agreed to buy MUFC for £5m in the same era. How many billions are they worth now? The difference isn’t inflation, it’s world-wide popularity of the English too-flight game.
Methven and Donald have access to funds but do they access to the right amount and the contacts in the right geographies to make this work? Sunderland is a fantastic club, huge fan base but I doubt anyone in Thailand knows of the city. It’s a different proposition, albeit a more tangible one for a UK investor.
I’m not suggesting that Tiger can deliver, none of us know that, all I’m arguing is that I think something can be made out of the Oxford name. I wish him all the luck in the world.
Cheers
Methven and Donald have access to funds but do they access to the right amount and the contacts in the right geographies to make this work? Sunderland is a fantastic club, huge fan base but I doubt anyone in Thailand knows of the city. It’s a different proposition, albeit a more tangible one for a UK investor.
I’m not suggesting that Tiger can deliver, none of us know that, all I’m arguing is that I think something can be made out of the Oxford name. I wish him all the luck in the world.
Cheers
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WokinghamYellow
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+ the championship is the third most watched league in europe (in terms of attendances) and over 30 countries around the world have broadcast rights. in particular ESPN in the US show the games. BeIN sports in Australia and SSPORTS throughout Asia. There is a huge worldwide TV audience at that level.
Not many may be bothered to watch Preston v Aston Villa but they may be swayed by Oxford v Villa because they have heard of the City.
We need to open our minds and accept that we must embrace these markets if we want a sustainable club at a higher level. I am glad we have a chairman with certainly the vision, and hopefully skills and people in order to achieve it.
We should be targeting the tourists that visit oxford (anyone have annual visitor figures?) if our attendances can be increased by 2 or 3 % from tourists in the city that would be awesome. Better facilities and championship football would help there too though.
Didn't we have a load of germans at a game last year on a stag do? more of this = more money for better players
Not many may be bothered to watch Preston v Aston Villa but they may be swayed by Oxford v Villa because they have heard of the City.
We need to open our minds and accept that we must embrace these markets if we want a sustainable club at a higher level. I am glad we have a chairman with certainly the vision, and hopefully skills and people in order to achieve it.
We should be targeting the tourists that visit oxford (anyone have annual visitor figures?) if our attendances can be increased by 2 or 3 % from tourists in the city that would be awesome. Better facilities and championship football would help there too though.
Didn't we have a load of germans at a game last year on a stag do? more of this = more money for better players
