Steve Davison


The one fact alone that the club shop was only open on two days in the build up to Wembley, and lacked a lot of basic stock like kit, should be enough to question SD. The ticket office scenario and general lack of communication with the supporters is also questionable.

The level of business that KLD and Sartori and their family businesses operate at, you'd think they'd be able to see how poorly the off field commercial infrastructure is and put out an ad for someone who knows the ins and outs of running a successful [hopefully] football club, someone with pedigree who could oversee the whole non playing side of SAFC.
 
The one fact alone that the club shop was only open on two days in the build up to Wembley, and lacked a lot of basic stock like kit, should be enough to question SD. The ticket office scenario and general lack of communication with the supporters is also questionable.

The level of business that KLD and Sartori and their family businesses operate at, you'd think they'd be able to see how poorly the off field commercial infrastructure is and put out an ad for someone who knows the ins and outs of running a successful [hopefully] football club, someone with pedigree who could oversee the whole non playing side of SAFC.
KLD oversees the whole non playing side of SAFC..
Kristian Speakman oversees the playing side
 
directors leave all the time..he isnt a shareholder.
He hasnt impressed me..he comes from a biog corproate world and seems to be trying to use that style at safc which isnt bi g enough to need it..

Fair enough, I just haven't noticed that at Sunderland, are you relating that to the corporate world context and then criticising him for doing similar?
 
You mean people dont want to but cheap looking no brand Sunderland gear you can only get online for extortionate prices and rip off delivery fees?

That Sunderland England crossover shirt they sold a while back was beyond embarrassing and I'm sure they were trying to get £30 for them.

We used to have a load of good Sunderland items on sale when the club had the shop in the town and the stadium open, now they just can't be fucked and what little they do put out is shit and overpriced.

Then add on the Nike shite while admittedly we don't control their prices as much as we do our own stuff it's still absolutely ridiculously priced.

Don't get me started on the absolutely amateur job they did on making the new store website as well when the old one had nothing wrong with it
 
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Despite all the positives with KLD increasing his stake and money being invested in the team is it time for this fella to be moved on?

Appears out of his depth, the match day operations, ticketing (still no cov tickets on sale), club shop is bettered by some league 2 clubs. Time to raise the standards now we are back in the championship in my opinion and he’s not cutting it
FFS... Toot and Ploot are to blame for mess in our staffing levels and the clubs ability to function this side of things at the moment.

Now KLD has ultimate control I can see this area defo changing over time.

I've spent time in SD (Steve D) company and he seems a thoroughly decent chap, a MLF and very passionate about his job at SAFC.

Just cut him some slack, let him do his job and FFS... if you're going to have a go at anyone, make sure it's directed towards SD (Duck boy) and CM...!
 
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The managing director of British Shoe Corporation (who owned most of the country's shoe shops at the time) once said "We don't make our profits on the shoes we sell; we make them on how few are left in the warehouse". In other words, it's down to getting the buying process, delivery schedules and stock control right, rather than shops being fully (or worse, over) stocked at all times.

So they've got it wrong then if people are turning up the store and there not being enough shirts in stock?
I assume we are trying to maximise season ticket sales before we start selling match by match tickets. Seems sensible.

The thing is mate there will be fans that don't want season cards but want to buy tickets for the Coventry game? Surely they could give people an update on when tickets are going on sale and how much they'll be?

What about exiles that have to book travel?
 
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I don't think it's his preference to annoy folk, perhaps what some see as out-of-depth is a reasonable decision given all things considered.

Plus, isn't he a director and therefore unlikely to be moved on?

If my director was underperforming I’d expect the owner to address his role
FFS... Toot and Ploot are to blame for mess in our staffing levels and the clubs ability to function this side of things at the moment.

Now KLD has ultimate control I can see this area defo changing over time.

I've spent time in SD (Steve D) company and he seems a thoroughly decent chap, a MLF and very passionate about his job at SAFC.

Just cut him some slack, let him do his job and FFS... if you're going to have a go at anyone, make sure it's directed towards SD (Duck boy) and CM...!

Decent chaps don’t necessarily make good football operators
 
Despite all the positives with KLD increasing his stake and money being invested in the team is it time for this fella to be moved on?

Appears out of his depth, the match day operations, ticketing (still no cov tickets on sale), club shop is bettered by some league 2 clubs. Time to raise the standards now we are back in the championship in my opinion and he’s not cutting it
From some of the people I've discussed him with its a yes...but then he is a yes type of man. Tbf, he hasn't done enough other than fending off question put to him by the fans groups..I'm sure there's a long list of "looking into its" and "Get back to you's" still not been sorted.
Shop is still not open regular (Running out of gear, a shambles), the ticket office similarly, the online selling and of lack of merchandise, I'm still awaiting my replacement season card from last year (the family still have all white ones that are blank) still not sorted and after nearly a year into the job he seems underwhelming for a lads supporter. Oh, and the PA system is still fecked..
 
If my director was underperforming I’d expect the owner to address his role


Decent chaps don’t necessarily make good football operators

But what makes you think he is underperforming?

Fan satisfaction isn't at an all-time high, granted, perhaps that isn't paramount to his responsibility?
 
So they've got it wrong then if people are turning up the store and there not being enough shirts in stock?


The thing is mate there will be fans that don't want season cards but want to buy tickets for the Coventry game? Surely they could give people an update on when tickets are going on sale and how much they'll be?

What about exiles that have to book travel?
Not as wrong as if they order 50% too many. The MD made those comments after some clown bought 125,000 pairs of cowboy boots just as they went out of fashion.
is kld an executive chairman or a non exec? i know those terms are very subjective nowadays even when they shouldnt be
He's usually around a couple of days a week. More exec than non.
 
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The managing director of British Shoe Corporation (who owned most of the country's shoe shops at the time) once said "We don't make our profits on the shoes we sell; we make them on how few are left in the warehouse". In other words, it's down to getting the buying process, delivery schedules and stock control right, rather than shops being fully (or worse, over) stocked at all times.
Very true....footballs like few other businesses for a start its a monopoly niche market there is no legal competition .using shirts as an example safc will know roughly how many strips they sell per year and when and should project sales and organize the process accordingly.....
There is also a fine balance to be made between product ,quality of service profit and brand allegiance ....it looks to me that Donald has gone following his slash and burn approach for the tat end of the market to maximize profit and relying on us northern dullards to buy any old tat.

Whilst i don't expect Gucci i do expect safc fans who want to wear safc strips to be proud of the shirt on their backs and not feel like a poundland mannikin! this years strip is cheap and they cannot even get the the badge at heart level .
 
Very true....footballs like few other businesses for a start its a monopoly niche market there is no legal competition .using shirts as an example safc will know roughly how many strips they sell per year and when and should project sales and organize the process accordingly.....
There is also a fine balance to be made between product ,quality of service profit and brand allegiance ....it looks to me that Donald has gone following his slash and burn approach for the tat end of the market to maximize profit and relying on us northern dullards to buy any old tat.

Whilst i don't expect Gucci i do expect safc fans who want to wear safc strips to be proud of the shirt on their backs and not feel like a poundland mannikin! this years strip is cheap and they cannot even get the the badge at heart level .
safc dont make the shorts and dont decide on the qauality of the shorts..go ask the kit sponsor about the quality..
 
maybe the current model is to operate on a minimum waste strategy, so packing the club shop out in stuff that potentially might not sell etc, is a way of creating financial waste for little gain.

It’s not like you can’t buy online either. I really don’t get this obsession with the club shop. Surely in terms of revenue it’s a tiny fraction in the modern game for most clubs? Give me investment on the pitch and the academy any day.
 
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It’s not like you can’t buy online either. I really don’t get this obsession with the club shop. Surely in terms of revenue it’s a tiny fraction in the modern game for most clubs? Give me investment on the pitch and the academy any day.
I agree to an extent but then it should also be free delivery. Also some people like to actually try for size/quality etc, and some people aren't IT literate or kids who can't buy online unless there parents pay for it as they may just get cash for pocket money/birthdays etc. Also the website itself is really poor as is safc.com
 

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