Sol_ie wrote: now, now. Our government has proper things to be spending their money on. Like banks, waiting lists and Ryan Tubridy.

Do not forget all those generous pensions :whistle: :whistle:

Maybe we could apply for some funding to have an extra chip van located closer to the Clan Stand

One can only dream...

Im afraid we cant really use Ulster as an example to follow, there is quite a big difference between both provinces. Culturally they have a conveyor belt of talent stemming from tonnes of Private Schools steeped in Rugby tradition. we dont have that here. Secondly and probably more importantly is as already mentioned Ulster are being handed alot of very generous gifts from so called Sugar Daddys(Rory Mcillroy) and they are getting grants and benefits from the UK Government. Similar to the GAA in the North(Top class facilities).

Sears leaving is a big hit, they need to replace him with some one just as professional and committed.

Maybe we could apply for some funding to have an extra chip van located closer to the Clan Stand

now, now. Our government has proper things to be spending their money on. Like banks, waiting lists and Ryan Tubridy.

Let's be clear - Ulster paid not one red cent towards the new stadium. The UK government are picking up the entire tab, as they will for casement and Windsor park. Anything they raise in ticket sales and corporate goes to pay their top of the range imports.

Sweet! Free Stadium! If only are own government was so generous. :lol:

Let's be clear - Ulster paid not one red cent towards the new stadium. The UK government are picking up the entire tab, as they will for casement and Windsor park. Anything they raise in ticket sales and corporate goes to pay their top of the range imports.

I didn't mean that it paid for all of it, but as far as I know they had to raise/pay a certain percentage themselves and they did that with season tickets and corporate boxes being sold which made them money. I could be wrong so I won't argue with you. The point I was trying to make is we need a kickass CEO!

connachtexile wrote: The money helped definitely but a huge amount was done back stage which meant for a way happier dressing room/club. It was also Mr Coke aka Shane Logan who helped get those sugar daddy's. Also their corporate sponsorship expanded massively under him helping pay for the revamp of Ravenhill. While I'm not expecting the same amount of cash to be generated a well connected administrator can make a big difference.

The uprgade to Ravenhill is down to a 20 millions handout from the British government

The money helped definitely but a huge amount was done back stage which meant for a way happier dressing room/club. It was also Mr Coke aka Shane Logan who helped get those sugar daddy's. Also their corporate sponsorship expanded massively under him helping pay for the revamp of Ravenhill. While I'm not expecting the same amount of cash to be generated a well connected administrator can make a big difference.

connachtexile wrote: Regardless of the reasons, Sears was always a short-term solution. Think of him like EE someone who laid a good foundation now it's time to get someone in who will carry us forward. You look at Ulster and the difference there when they head hunted that lad from Coca Cola to run Ulster Rugby, add on top of that Dave Humphries and Ulster went from being a mess to one of the most efficiently run clubs in Ireland and Britain. We need a top pro otherwise we'll be going backwards.

Well........that and the fact that they have a sugar daddy or two to splash some cash and plus benefiting significantly from getting big chunks of money form us UK Taxpayers on top of monies received for being part of the IRFU...

Without the bags of cash coming in Mr Coke would be elsewhere, much easier job when there's money to spend...

Not the best comparison to us there CE...

"You might want want to complain about the marketing dept with that."

I did and was referred to Tom Sears.

I think people are looking at his appointment as a good thing for Connacht. People mainly use his spat with Leinster as a highlight.
It's nothing personal but I genuinely believe it is a good thing that he left. Connacht need to kick on from here and like connachtexile said; maybe use the Ulster example.
Does Johny O'Connor know how to run a club I wonder?

Regardless of the reasons, Sears was always a short-term solution. Think of him like EE someone who laid a good foundation now it's time to get someone in who will carry us forward. You look at Ulster and the difference there when they head hunted that lad from Coca Cola to run Ulster Rugby, add on top of that Dave Humphries and Ulster went from being a mess to one of the most efficiently run clubs in Ireland and Britain. We need a top pro otherwise we'll be going backwards.

You might want want to complain about the marketing dept with that.

Whether Sears had Connacht's best interests at heart, I don't think that's the issue. He's not a Connacht man. If you want someone with Connacht's interests at heart there are plenty of ex-Connacht players to choose from. Sears was there to do a job, and that he did way more than the previous timid CEO who previously said he had no problem with no having parity with the other provinces. At least our non-Connacht man Sears made a hell of a lot of noise on that score.

That's what we needed at he time and tats what we still need now

I may be the only one but I am actually delighted he has gone. I don't think Sears ever had Connacht's best interest at heart.
In his short space of time in Connacht, I feel he did change the club but not necessarily for the better.
I think the debacle over the season ticket is a good case in point. Connacht basically conned people into buying season ticket without revealing their plans on child prices for the season. Then lo and behold the prices were announced only a couple of weeks ago after thousands had paid for their tickets already.
And don't get me started about the "free gift".

This is very bad news. Was pleased the way Tom stood up to Leinster last year over the Macca controversy and he was a vocal promoter of Connacht Rugby interests.

Not happy with the way this €400k deficit and this news have hit us so early in Pat's reign.