Billy: Sell 6,000 season tickets and we can be contenders (From Swindon Advertiser)

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Billy: Sell 6,000 season tickets and we can be contenders

9:15am Saturday 10th May 2008

comment Comments (26) Have your say »

By Andy Cryer »

BILLY Paynter believes a united County Ground effort can lead to a realistic promotion push - as he puts his weight behind Town's radical season-ticket gamble.

With prices slashed by chairman Andrew Fitton's new regime, the race for 6k starts in earnest on Monday with striker Paynter adamant a packed County Ground can help Town cement themselves as a force in League One.

In a bid to boost disappointing home attendance, Town are offering football for less than a tenner in Wiltshire if more than 6,000 season tickets are purchased - the cheapest prices for well over a decade.

Town fans can renew season tickets from 10am Monday, with normal sales starting a week later, and Paynter has urged fans to repay the owner's huge show of faith.

He said: "It is a brilliant thing to do because football can be expensive for fans nowadays. The support we received this season was fantastic but just imagine how good it could be with more people in there.

"If we could pack the place out it would be more intimidating for the away teams and would also help the team perform. I suppose it would give us that extra edge.

"Home form is vital if promotion is realistic and if we could make the County Ground a fortress then who knows what we could achieve."

FULL STORY IN TODAY'S SWINDON ADVERTISER

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Loft Conversions, Swindon says...
9:57am Sat 10 May 08

One minor point Billy. Our home form this season was, on the whole, pretty good. It was away from home where we we shocking.

Maybe if we get a decent striker to replace Paynter we might stand a chance.

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wombat, highworth says...
10:08am Sat 10 May 08

Yes Bily your absolutely right, Football can be expensive for supporters. However, if average players like yourself stopped ripping off clubs with unrealistic wages and living expenses just to move here the pricing could be more in tune with todays 'real world'.

It's less than able players like you conning clubs that is making football expensive!!!

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stickybeak, . says...
10:27am Sat 10 May 08

How much is he on the Wombat? I'm sure most of our players are on what most would be called a good wage, but not enough to retire on.

Anyway, 5999 to go come Monday. Even if we don't do 6k it's still a bloody good deal.

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colin.a, Northants says...
10:41am Sat 10 May 08

What a load of c**p from Loft & Wombat. The strikers during last season were not so much of the problem - it was lack of supply. What happened when MacNamee showed us what is possible when you supply crosses like he did - the strikers and others will provide the goals! The supply from MacNamee was thawrted at away games and the goals stopped coming. Stop blaming the strikers - I believe Billy is a good asset. He always puts in 100% when he gets on the pitch. If we had a right sided provider like MacNamee our goal tally would soar. Incidentally if you bothered to look at the finished table you will notice that STFC were along with Leeds the highest goal scorers in League 1 at home! In my mind we need to improve the supply at away games and improve our defending at set plays both at home and away.

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Loft Conversions, Swindon says...
10:54am Sat 10 May 08

Billy Paynter is ****. If we're going to challenge next season we either need Corr back or we should push the boat out and sign another goalscorer to play alongside Cox.

With the likes of Paynter we're going nowhere.

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tractorboy, south bucks says...
11:55am Sat 10 May 08

Colin a , you were spot on mate. However I think another factor with our strikers was that not many of them had a long run in the side due to injury , suspension and bad team selection.
Get another winger equal to McNamee or better and we'll do o.k.
I think McNamee away from home would benifit by dropping deeper and therefore creating more space for himself and for someone else to push in on the full back.This would allow McNamee a decent run without being shackled.
Paynter is still young and has great potential give him time.

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Brain, West of Swindon says...
3:01pm Sat 10 May 08

I feel if Paynter had a decent run in the team he would score quite a few, Hull paid big money for him so people have rated him before.

MM changing the front two constantly has never helped give the attack a stable platform. Get a good pre-season done and Billy with Simon would make a good partnership, they seem to have the best understanding out of all the combinations tried.

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yeti, swindon says...
4:16pm Sat 10 May 08

we have a hardcore fan base of about 5000.even if all of them bought a season ticket we'd not reach the numbers.
6000 is an unrealistic target that will not be met.

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steve, brentford says...
4:50pm Sat 10 May 08

yeti wrote:
we have a hardcore fan base of about 5000.even if all of them bought a season ticket we'd not reach the numbers. 6000 is an unrealistic target that will not be met.

Iagree with you yeti, 5000 would have been more realistic and still a difficult task.

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daddikins, Walcot says...
4:52pm Sat 10 May 08

I think it only fair to comment on the recent price offer if 6,000 fans sign up for season tickets. The size of the crowd is not important at the start of the season. What is badly needed are players and staff at Swindon Town who are aiming for automatic promotion. Get results and show the right attitude and the crowds will return.

"Play-off" mentality is useless. Why aim to be one of the four teams who hope to get promoted.
Personally I would not buy a season ticket in the hopes that 5,999 others will join me.

It is good football that will fill the County Ground, not gimmicky offers.

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steve, brentford says...
5:12pm Sat 10 May 08

daddikins wrote:
I think it only fair to comment on the recent price offer if 6,000 fans sign up for season tickets. The size of the crowd is not important at the start of the season. What is badly needed are players and staff at Swindon Town who are aiming for automatic promotion. Get results and show the right attitude and the crowds will return. "Play-off" mentality is useless. Why aim to be one of the four teams who hope to get promoted. Personally I would not buy a season ticket in the hopes that 5,999 others will join me. It is good football that will fill the County Ground, not gimmicky offers.

Just said something similar daddikins on the other adver post before reading this,good football is the all important recipe.

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bring back burrows, Swindon says...
5:57pm Sat 10 May 08

At least paynter cares whats happening. In my opinion he alwyas gives the effort on the pitch and as a season ticket holder thats all you can ask for. If MM picks the team and the team gives it all they've got then the fans will begin to come back.

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castle9, Bath says...
6:21pm Sat 10 May 08

Gimmicky offers??? Size of the crowd not important??? You pil@ock!

Its not a gimmick its a more than realistic offer to get the crowds back at more than realistic prices. You were probably one of those that moaned for years about the prices at the County Ground - now they have reduced the prices massively and your still not happy.

''Come on then - entertain me'' - its chicken and egg - take advantage of the offer and more people equals more atmosphere equals hopefully more points and more chance of exciting football.

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Android, melksham says...
8:14pm Sat 10 May 08

To some extent it is a catch 22 thing whereby you need attractive football to attract more fans and more fans to attend to get more funds for better players.Maybe 6000 is a big ask but for the first time in a long time i reckon i will be able to afford season tickets for me and my family.If we want others to see Swindon as a big club we should do our bit to help make it big by supporting our club and encouraging others to do so and not be negative.The previous prices have been the only factor in stopping me watch the Town.Thanks AF.

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josh_ maguire, braford on avon says...
9:08pm Sat 10 May 08

now the transfer window is becoming nearer (slowly)! Who do you think we will buy and sell?

INS:
Darren Potter (Wolves CM)
Danny Woodards (Crewe RB)
Rickie Lambert (Rovers ST)
Charlie Mulgrew (Wolves but on loan at Southend LB/LM)

OUTS:
Roberts
Comminges (we all know)
Paynter

let me know your thoughts and any REALISTIC targets etc...

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Dover Red, Dover says...
9:11pm Sat 10 May 08

Its a fantastic offer, but as usual good old town fans find a negative! madness.Ten quid a game? buy, buy, buy,and the players and atmosphere will do the rest!

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Dover Red, Dover says...
9:12pm Sat 10 May 08

josh_ maguire wrote:
now the transfer window is becoming nearer (slowly)! Who do you think we will buy and sell? INS: Darren Potter (Wolves CM) Danny Woodards (Crewe RB) Rickie Lambert (Rovers ST) Charlie Mulgrew (Wolves but on loan at Southend LB/LM) OUTS: Roberts Comminges (we all know) Paynter let me know your thoughts and any REALISTIC targets etc...

Wrong thread my son

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Woody, Old Town, Swindon says...
8:12am Sun 11 May 08

i'll consider buying one when the ground is owned by the club NOT the council..

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glasred, glastonbury says...
9:09am Sun 11 May 08

Look at this another way..A.F has made an excellent offer (not gimicky) to try and bring support back to the County Ground.Many on this site say that when good football is played at the C.C supporters will return.If Swindon cant attract 6000 season ticket holders with an offer like this what hope is there for Championship football? Are we saying lets see the goods first then the support will return?How pathetic is that?A.F @ Co have made a huge investment in our club, and are urging as many supporters to return and get the ball rolling.WE need to support S.T.F.C NOW by getting to the 6000 tickets target,NOT JUST SIT BACK AND WAIT UNTIL EVERYTHING GETS BETTER FIRST!!!I will be buying my new season ticket this week as its a great offer,and we know there ARE the supporters out there..it just needs committment to achieve the target.

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stuart randall, port de soller mallorca says...
9:20am Sun 11 May 08

"A grand gesture for the Faithful Fans"
We all appreciate the investmentAF and his Board have made to save our club.
Yet comments from MM as he is looking at freebie and loan players does not give the fans the get up and pay up front for season tickets even at a discounted price.
With the mega$$$$ imput form AF and new Board, you would think they could buy a few players???
The 2 youngsters who went to Everton and Newcastle did bring in a fer Pounds???do we know the amounts???
So my feeling is the Fans appreciate whats been done by AF, however on the playing front we need 3 or 4 players, as to the younger players coming through its so good to see.
So AF before you get your 6000 in season ticket sales you and the board may have to dig deep.The normal 3000/4000 will show week in and out but the club must invest wisely on the playing front first

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sifs, swindon says...
11:22am Sun 11 May 08

ahhhh day after day theres the same negative comments from the same select few people. If you like football and have a tiny soft spot for swindon, take up this deal of a century. Its the start of a new regime and a new outlook at swindon, be positive.
Why should AF spash out a ton of cash if were not getting the crowds to match? By not spending a huge wedge of money is doing us all a long term favour. He is testing the waters and at the end of the season will conclude whether this club has potential (if so he'll spend)or not, in which case will make it a sustainable club, with little cash to spend.

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glasred, glastonbury says...
5:31pm Sun 11 May 08

sfis...you are spot on....A.F. will SPEND when he sees supporters buying season tickets at this bargain price ,not expecting some stupid guarantee of success..which many so say supporters want before making a firm committment to buy a season ticket!!!We have TO BACK A.F AND NOT KEEP WHINGING. Negativity will result in more crap...Lets get behind our new board and support them and push S.T.F.C up to the Championship,forget the PAST and move forward!WE have to make the effort and committment BEFORE SUCCESS if we really want success....COME ON YOU REDS!!!!!

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Android, melksham says...
7:34pm Sun 11 May 08

Once again ishall remain positive.In recent times we have been so hard up as a club that when the ref tossed up the coin at the start of the game he had to stop our directors from snatching it before it hit the turf.

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Saint, chippenham says...
6:45am Mon 12 May 08

Woody wrote:
i'll consider buying one when the ground is owned by the club NOT the council..

Any old excuse!!!

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M Mack, Highworth says...
9:21am Mon 12 May 08

The new season ticket prices are fantastic and I hope and see no reason why 6000 should not be sold. For me though (and others I'm sure) 229 quid plus a ticket for my son is still alot of money. If the town charged 10 quid a game, I would go to every game, but all in one go is unfortunately too much for me.

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ivan, Bath says...
5:33pm Mon 12 May 08

Like most I think the new season ticket price is great and if the club can keep telling us how many tickets are being sold on a daily basis this will make sure the 6000 target will be achieved.I also think that once MM starts to talk about who is available and who we may be talking too with a view to signing this will also get fans to buy a season ticket.I look forward to Darren Huckerby signing for the town!!!

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