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by jayess27/1 19:08Tue Jan 27 19:08:14 2026
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Ask Phil Thread
Views: 1298
Nice touch by him again, first drink free.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 701
Full Q & A now available on Neil’s Substack for all to see. He said it won’t be behind a paywall because most of it is out there already. Good way to sample what Neil does if you haven’t subscribed yet. He needs more subscribers to keep this going, and for a very modest charge it is well worth it. It will be a great resource lost if not financially sustainable for Neil.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 366
The write up on Neil's Substack is great. He's put a good deal of work into transcribing all of PW's answers. Top stuff
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 636
Fantastic read, especially for those of us who live miles away and can never get to an event like that.
I've gleaned two things:
1. We probably have the best chairman in football.
2, Dan Phillips just might be on a 2 plus 1, and therefore not free to walk at the end of the season.
Thoughts on point two anyone?
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 517
1-Agree 2-Thought just 2 yrs.But if there is an option it normally has triggers on both sides.On his it could be he can still go on a transfer for x amount So at least we may get a few bob.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 516
In reality anyone can go on a transfer (try keeping a player who doesn't want to be there) and at our level every player is for sale. I think he is our most valuable asset, so it would b great to get a few quid for him.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 517
Agree but at least if there is an option we will get something.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 1171
Any news from tonight then? I've seen we have another tour abroad.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 734
To summarise what I read on Twitter:
Everyone is making losses and he is on a board with other chairman to try and find a solution.
We will need £15m investment for the Championship.
If we did make it to the Championship he would look to improve the ground to 12,000 capacity, building above the ET and on Main Stand.
White and Goode are keeping their options open but aren't definitely gone. Sweeney sacrifices a lot to be with us and he's considering his options too.
Revs is ultimate pro and great to work with. Doesn't listen to the noise.
We are going to Spain again for Pre Season for a week in July playing two games, Tuesday and Saturday.
(That's all I can remember)
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 629
Just remember he also said we have the option to change kit suppliers from Macron this coming season.
And it's our 50th anniversary....
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 527
What kit manufacturer would you want to change to?
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 506
One that old codgers like me can fit in to would be a start.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 382
I like what you did there...excellent 😉
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 501
They made the only England kit I ever owned. In about 1977
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 488
Hope you had the Keegan style perm to go with it.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 687
He also said Goode is one of the league's best, because Phil knows ball 👌
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 713
Assume the investment includes the apparent extra wages we have to pay and the ground improvements? What happens if we don't get any investment ? Pretty blunt way of putting i know.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 697
Might have been 12 million actually, don't know what for or why.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 720
He said - if we go up we will need serious investment to even get near paying the minimum wage bill. He put a positive spin on it, but the reality is Championship football pretty much blows his sustainable model away. Risky business
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 696
Did not know there was such a thing as a minimum wage bill. Know there are the FFP rules , not an expert on this,but no such thing a a max salary I think ?
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 698
Could be wrong but I’m sure full time pros have to be paid a certain minimum wage based on their age and the level the club competes at. May even be the case at non-league clubs these days.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 685
A football employment law website says this (from 2020). Its all I can find.
regulations of the Football League provide for a “minimum weekly wage for full time contract players of £90 per week or such greater sums as shall be specified by law from time to time”.
Position may have changed since then. Chuds might know as he reads the rulebook...
On a separate note I was surprised to hear Phil include the increase in the National Minimum Wage for all staff as a contributory cause of the financial pressure and exponential.losses by EFL clubs. It ain't the 40 odd stewards and 25 full time low wage staff that are losing clubs millions Phil. Its the player wages you as Chairmen choose to pay to compete.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 664
On the minimum wage it would take about seven hours to earn £90, slightly longer if you’re under 21. I can’t imagine many full time players only doing a seven hour week. Seven hours of effort across a season from some may be hard to come by but that’s a different story.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 692
Im guessing the £90 is geared towards 'apprentices' if such a thing still exists with young pros.
I remember 16 year old players on apprenticeships and YTS (£26 a week) deals.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 475
It was meant as the minimum you can get away with at that level - ie wages are sky high.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
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Subscribe to Neil Metcalfe's substack for some detail on our finances...
More to follow, I'd imagine.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
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Get the audience on your side before the questions start. Smart.
Edited by Sev at 15:45:10 on 31st March 2026
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 1202
My first question will then be can you improve the beer choice.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 1205
I like the range of hipster beers and pale ales, plus the Estrella too. Much better than the Carlsberg/Fosters you find at all of the larger stadiums.
I'm guessing you're a real ale drinker.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 1170
A place that serves a shitload of beer for 2 hours, then basically none for up to a week is not the easiest to run in terms of pipes and keeping beer decent
Real ale once the barrel is tapped has a shelf-life and needs to flow regularly to avoid going stagnant in the pipe and becoming a bacteria fest.
Its always going to be more economical to serve beer designed for volume with a low % waste.
And let's face it, no-one goes to footy for the quality of the ale. Its good we have a variety and a few bottled options though.
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 1103
I've had the pleasure of going to a couple of non-league grounds with either a clubhouse which sees regular non-football use during the week or an actual pub attached, which is amazing. It can't work with an actual stadium for the above reasons.
In some past years Edgeley Park has hosted the Stockport beer festival in the off season, with all the concourses filled with barrels. That's good fun.
Edited by Freemo at 20:09:44 on 31st March 2026
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Re: Ask Phil Thread
Views: 1149
Yeah , may still ask though where's the barrel of Ringwood Old Thumper etc 😭
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