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Post by rocky on Dec 30, 2019 18:29:59 GMT
Looks like he is set to leave Sunderland with the fans wanting him out.
Is he set to come back here & finish what he started?
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Post by Bruce Forbes on Dec 30, 2019 20:52:25 GMT
I hope so.
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Post by goderz3 on Dec 31, 2019 8:45:30 GMT
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Post by nobadspitfire on Dec 31, 2019 10:40:17 GMT
He could be on his way back sometime, but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it. To be fair, I would suggest that the club has been run on a more sustainable basis in the past 18mths, last season's play off semi final was more than we expected, and the long held desire among supporters to develop youngsters is, arguably, starting to work, under an excellent Management team of Ben, Jason, Ross, Luke etc. I'm sure there is an element within the fan base that wants a return to the days of "free stuff", and no doubt they can't wait for his return, but to what extent does that help the club in the long term? The stadium is perfectly adequate for the level at which we're playing & would only need a few tweaks should we be promoted, being in a similar situation now to how we were at this stage last season.
To those clamouring for his return, all I would say is - be careful what you wish for.
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Post by taylov on Jan 1, 2020 0:32:19 GMT
Martin, I agree with you - "I would suggest that the club has been run on a more sustainable basis in the past 18mths, last season's play off semi final was more than we expected". I'd add to that the very unexpected level of FA Cup income this term - over £100,000 including the TV money for the Crewe game.
The days when we feared for the club's future when SD left seem to be behind us. The club seems to be living within its means without daydreams about a 10,000 capacity and the like.
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Post by unknownquantity on Jan 1, 2020 10:21:24 GMT
I think that he first of all needs to find a buyer for Sunderland and it is a difficult time in relation to the transfer window.
I think last season worked well with Stewart generously subsidising the contracts of existing players and the new players being bought in being on one year contracts and lasting the whole season which made the team more settled. I also think that since Jason Bristow came in more younger players with both local connections and have been found.
If Stewart did return to the club and was involved in all the day to day aspects of the club I think some things would have to be done differently and I am not sure how easy that would be for him. In fairness though if Stewart had not come in though it is almost certain that the fans would not be watching National League football at relatively cheap rates and the facilities would be less good.
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Post by unknownquantity on Jan 1, 2020 11:41:41 GMT
The last sentence of my second paragraph should read
I also think that since Jason Bristow came in more younger players with both local connections and potential have been found.
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Post by rocky on Jan 1, 2020 20:07:59 GMT
cannot agree with all this. blimey, hope Mr Donald is not reading. I think 99% of true Eastleigh fans would love him to come back. What he did to our club in the space of 6 years was incredible in terms of investment and enthusiasm,going up a league and chaning the ground completely. Sure he made mistakes and money was not always well spent and he got carried away sometimes but he carried the can for his financial errors.
Would think the man has learnt from his mistakes the hard way and would love him back. Our current team are good but a bit frustrating to watch, feels like we are 2 or 3 players away from really having a go at this league. Do think a lot of people got a bit carried away with Stewarts dreams with the stadium and going up the leagues. If so you have a word with yourself. Don't put your own silliness on SD
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Post by unknownquantity on Jan 4, 2020 8:10:54 GMT
I personally do not think that anything controversial has been said on this thread. I think though that whatever else you say about what Stewart has done for the club and undoubtedly he has done some great things during his time here that in the last three seasons Stewart was directly involved with the club the player recruitment policies have not been as effective as they could have been. This is indicated by two lower half of the table finishes and another failure to reach the playoffs when the club had a promotion or at very last playoff budget.
I would say that since Stewart stopped being involved in the day to day running of the club the policy for bringing new players into the club has changed. If Stewart returned and had an influential role in this aspect of the club I think that it would be a challenge to change things back without restoring the club's reputation for paying over the odds for players/managers who are only motivated by the money. My personal view is that if Stewart did return he would be better off providing valuable financial support, but staying in the background more than he has done.
In the games I have seen Sam Smart and Rob Atkinson have been two of the better players and the emergence of Tom Bearwish has been a great plus and in my view these players have made a greater contribution than many of those on much bigger wages. I wonder whether these type of players would have been high on the wanted list in previous seasons. |
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Post by spiritofeastleigh on Jan 13, 2020 6:55:49 GMT
Stewart Donald is the best thing that has ever happened to Eastleigh Football Club, and when he returns we'll be able to complete for promotion to the Football League with strong financial backing from Stewart. I would suggest 99% of Eastleigh fans support this view and the couple of grumblers here are most welcome to toodle off if they don't like it - yes you nobadspitfire and back4more, you both appear ungrateful for what he has done for the club in the past. Why is the club sustainable? Because he made it so. Why is the club debt free? Because he made it so. Why do we have a nice stadium? Because he paid for it. Yes mistakes were made, Stewart knows that better than anyone, he has admitted to those mistakes, he won't do them again. I believe Ben and Jason would welcome him back with open arms, his financial muscle and Jason's knowledge of good local young players would be a good combination and Ben would have an exciting team to manage and take forward. Stewart will know the days of the club being a retirement home for old experienced players looking for a last payday will not be a feature of this club ever again even though there could be exceptions for example Danny Rowe is available from AFC Fylde, and earlier this season had Stewart been here perhaps Liam Noble could have been gotten, a player of that talent going down two levels is incredible. There is not an Eastleigh fan who wouldn't want those players in their team is there surely? So welcome Stewart back with open arms, the football experience from Sunderland will have made him a better football man, their loss would be our gain in the long term. He'll complete the stadium, his heart is set on it being a family club for everyone, Mums, Dads, Kids, Grandparents all enjoying a day at Eastleigh FC watching the match in good comfortable surroundings. Never mind the groans about the 'free stuff' Stewart used his money to enable fans to travel to away matches cheaply, away support is vital if you want the club to obtain promotion. There are unfortunately some free loaders, but don't doubt for a moment Stewart knows who they are, while he is very generous with his money, he is no fool with it either. I made a point, as did most of whom I call the first real hard core group of supporters before Stewart came along, and he met all of us on his first game away at Salisbury when becoming owner, of always asking him if he'd like a pint. We didn't wait to be given one first, Stewart is like us, a football fan, he mixes with us, he stands with us, he just loves his football. So please do get behind him when he returns, we do need an owner with his kind of financial support, players on two year deals is a must if we want to build a side, our players are at risk of moving on each summer on one year deals with no sell on value to us, you can't build a team that way. We've just lost Rob Atkinson because he wanted league football, and its right and proper a club like ours should not stand in his way, a record deal softens the loss of course, but had Stewart been here I'd bet he would have asked him to give one more season at Eastleigh FC with a view to get league football with this club in 18 months. That kind of financial backing allows a club like ours to genuinely build a team and keep it together, something I suspect Ben and Jason would love the opportunity to do.
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Post by back4more on Jan 13, 2020 11:04:54 GMT
Actually I haven't even posted on here so you seem to be hallucinating again spirit.
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Post by spiritofeastleigh on Jan 13, 2020 12:05:57 GMT
Not hallucinating pal, you 'liked' the views on this thread from Malcy….which more or less agrees with those of nobadspitfire. You've not changed a bit have you John, still arrogant with your opinions and trying to put others down.
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Post by blackie on Jan 13, 2020 12:43:03 GMT
Yes, agree with you SoE, I’d welcome back Stew with open arms.
He made mistakes but even then everyone makes them and we definitely wouldn’t be where we are without his drive and financial backing in the past.
We also were better at advertising ourselves and events at EFC when he was here, that part of the club has gone backwards since he left.
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Post by back4more on Jan 13, 2020 13:29:52 GMT
Not hallucinating pal, you 'liked' the views on this thread from Malcy….which more or less agrees with those of nobadspitfire. You've not changed a bit have you John, still arrogant with your opinions and trying to put others down. I'm not your pal and the put down seems to be coming from you spirit. I don't think even the most twisted mind could accuse someone of being arrogant for liking one post which expresses a balanced opinion, whether you agree with that post or not. You certainly seem to be a bitter person intent on making personal issues out of people's honest opinions. |
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Post by spiritofeastleigh on Jan 13, 2020 16:25:14 GMT
1st post: You said I'm hallucinating. 2nd post: You said I'm a bitter person. Do you just not see why you aren't liked, I repeat, still arrogant with your opinions and trying to put others down. You're one of those smart alec's who are comfortable twisting words to make yourself look the aggrieved when responding. You've had plenty of bad words to say about Stewart over the past 12 months and how much better run the club is without him...go on deny it pal. When he returns you'll be the first to put an arm round him and say how much he's been missed, now that my boy is being two faced, and what's more Stewart knows it too cos he's been reading the forum these past 12 months so I think, what's that saying, oh yes 'caught with your pants down pal'. Byyyyeeeeee.
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