The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

....and without wanting to return to old ground, two comments attributed to Helen Thompson in last weeks NLP caught my eye.

Firstly she was quoted as saying that the club had been returning an operating profit - either during the final months of the season or, during the final months of her involvement, I can't now remember which - but a significant comment I thought bearing in mind the overall accumulated debt figures recently quoted on this site, the accuracy of which have not been challenged.

Secondly and, to me more interestingly, she was also quoted as saying the she expected between 500 and 600 R&D fans to transfer allegiance and to begin supporting KTFC at NP next season - a hope which I suspect is a vital part of IL's future budget plans.

If IL really has been silly enough to believe those figures from her, it will be interesting to see what offer he makes to RDFC season ticket holders - and to 'weekly' fans for that matter - to try to get them to overcome past hatred / rivalry / anger at recent events and to entice them back to NP in the future.

NTFC have already offerred a season ticket exchange but I think IL will have to do a great deal better than that if he is to succeed in attracting the past Diamond supporters he will need rather than just the occasional 'floating' football fans who don't care who they watch.

It'll be interesting to see what. And also to see how KT fans react to whatever benefits IL offers to Diamonds fans to attract them back to NP to get the increased attendances he needs.

I'm sticking to my guns and NOT stepping foot in Nene Park while K*ttering are playing there, I don't care what Sadact offers!!

if I wanted to look at s*it I would go and stand in the middle of a field!

Helen did mention the operating profit at the last fans forum and I guess the 5-600 figure comes from a simple sum of 2/5 "fans" at the last meeting saying they'd want to see football at Nene Park......even if that did include the scum (although H didn't call them that ;) ).

I guess there is an element of PR in there as well, say it often enough and other people will start to believe it.

I'm with diamondgeezer on this one - I'll never support a scum side, either them playing at NP or some bastardised version. I will follow Diamonds again WHEN our appeal is successful on Thursday and the Japanese buy the club on Friday and settle everything outstanding on Monday before the Court hearing....................I have funny dreams sometimes ;)

R&DFC at NP or an AFC/Phoenix side somewhere else - those are the only options I'm interested in, accouding to HT I'm in the minority though !

AT this moment i feel the same as Piggers but i was just thinking of an amusing scenario of enough Diamonds fans turning up at NenePark to outnumber the K*ttering fans and singing our songs and calling the side Rushden and diamonds ?

I am sure that HT mentioned the figures, in relation to the clubs financial performance, during the Forum.

PigmanRDFC wrote: R&DFC at NP or an AFC/Phoenix side somewhere else - those are the only options I'm interested in, accouding to HT I'm in the minority though !

In that case I would probably be a member of that same minority but as I said originally, the point that interested me was -
a) what would IL offer as an inducement to Diamonds fans to continue going to NP next season and
b) and how would their existing fans react to whatever that offer was?

PigmanRDFC wrote:Helen did mention the operating profit at the last fans forum and I guess the 5-600 figure comes from a simple sum of 2/5 "fans" at the last meeting saying they'd want to see football at Nene Park......even if that did include the scum (although H didn't call them that ;) ).

I think it's key that we challenge this as much as possible. I don't believe the figure will be reached if challenged, especially if the fans are aware that there will be a phoenix side, that they have a real say in, to follow.

Maybe we should stand outside Nene Park at the start of the season (on the road obviously, not on the site ;) ) and hand out flyers letting folk know there will be a phoenix side next season , the real R&DFC, not some weak imitation.

Personally I reckon we must have at least a 1,000 people committed to an AFC side ........... mind you, I am using the same accountancy firm as "certain other people I could mention" though ;) :lol:

PigmanRDFC wrote:Maybe we should stand outside Nene Park at the start of the season (on the road obviously, not on the site ;) ) and hand out flyers letting folk know there will be a phoenix side next season , the real R&DFC, not some weak imitation.

Personally I reckon we must have at least a 1,000 people committed to an AFC side ........... mind you, I am using the same accountancy firm as "certain other people I could mention" though ;) :lol:

Sounds like a plan. ;)