Q/A with Ray Trew #2

Once again Mr Trew's taken time out of his busy schedule to answer questions asked by our community here at Pride of Nottingham. It was July 2013 the last time we put a series of questions to the chairman of Notts County Football Club.

Several members of the community took to ask questions, we asked everyone to help select which questions should be put to Mr Trew and here we are.

Question asked by WeymouthPIE; How happy are you with the current position of the club on and off the field? Is it in the position you expected or hoped it would be in at this point when you first took over?

To be honest and frank after the promotion in 2010 i thought we would sail through league 1 and become a championship side. However, i had a rude awakening but i have never lost site of this dream. I am more than happy with the progress this season and i dont mind admitting that its shows to me that there is no correlation between monies spent and success. This season and its no secret i cut the playing budget considerably but we now probably for the first time since my take-over i have a management team who believe in what we are trying to achieve and are happy to work with the budget given to them.

Question asked by hissingdwarf; Do you think the artificial pitch is the way to go? Have you consulted the players on their feelings?

I can say that at the Chairmans Conference is Cyprus in 2011 we were one of the clubs who proposed this. Unfortunately at that time it got voted down. We did this because it was apparent to all the damage the surface suffered from the Rugby. Now we have reached agreement with the Rugby to vacate Meadow Lane then need to 3G or 4G is much less. I am still personally in favour of lower league clubs playing on this surface because the risk of getting Winter games called off is few and far between.

Question asked by Northants Pie; If you could do one thing for the betterment of football in general what would it be? More particularly the football league?

Simply change the way the voting mechanism works. We currently have a system in the FL that even if you had both League 1 and League 2 voting in favour of change if the Championship voted against it, it would fail. I personally think the voting system is outdated and at the determent o football in general. It should be one team one vote in my opinion.

Question asked by Canadian; What is your outlook for the next 3 seasons. Is the aim to reach the Championship?

I think with our management team the club is in safe hands and we are building slowly for the future. The ambition and aim is to have Notts playing year in year out in the Championship that goal has never changed.

Question asked by PTID1862; How does FFP affect both the club and yourself?... are the club currently within the rules without additional revenue injection?

We manage to work with FFP only because the cash i inject into the football club. These monies are not allowed to be put in as loans but have to be Capital. Unfortunately, without someone injecting cash each season the club could not work with FFP simply because the expenditure is greater than our income.

Question asked by Cobby; What do you attribute Derry and Abbott's current success to when compared with previous managers?

This is a very good question which i have to say i have given a lot of thought to. In my opinion the important aspect for them is team spirit and players having the right attitude. We have been offered and had the ability to sign some what i would regard as Top Players at this level but they would not sign them because in there opinion they didn’t have the right attitude. ITs ironic and i have covered this off in a previous response but it highlight to me that there is no correlation between monies spent and success.

Question asked by hissingdwarf; Out of all the players purchased, which has been the worst purchase and which was the 'one that got away' that you regret the most missing out on?

I am not going to talk about specific individuals and i am sure i dont need to mention names because we all know who they are. With regard players we have missed out on there have been a number which i scout identified but the manager in situ at the time didn’t fancy for one reason or another. A number of these players have gone on to play in the Championship and Premier League and what is more sickening for me, been sold for vast sums.

Question asked by TonyHateley; What has been your greatest regret since becoming the owner of Notts County FC?

Quite simply the number of managers i have gone through. My biggest problem was i wanted immediate success and if a manger didn’t deliver this then i was trigger happy. I decided when i hired Shaun and Greg that even if we were relegated i would have stuck wight hem because believe in what they are trying to achieve.

Question asked by Dripsey3; Do you have sleepless nights thinking about the amount of money it will cost to compete in the Championship if we get promoted? Did you know that the Championship is the 6th highest spending league in Europe? Are you sweating yet?

Surprisingly not. Notts work better as a business in League 2 and the Championship. We are fortunate geographically if we were able to get into the Championship that we would have a number of packed house in many games because there are so many Midlands Clubs playing in it. In addition next season Championship Clubs get from memory another £3million a season from the PL so as a business model is works better than League 1.

Question asked by liampie; I would like to know if there is any more plans to develop meadow lane further and if not, does that means you're happy with the ground?

We have had plans drawn up now for just over 2 years on the development of the Family Stand. When i feel the time is right we will push the button on this project.

Question asked by Cobby; Thankfully Greg Dyke's proposals (i.e. B TeamS) to "help" the English football fell of deaf ears. What were your thoughts on his proposals and do you think there is a way the FA could help the English game while also benefiting lower league teams?

In short no. We now live in a era where you have the tail (i.e The Premier League) wagging the dog until they lose some of there power within the game nothing will ever change

Question asked by Notts-Joe; Can you tell us anything new regarding the progress of Jimmy Spencer? I heard that the club have paid for some expensive equipment which will hopefully help in return and news regarding him returning to light training. Can you shed any light on this and Jimmy?

Yes we have invested in some new equipment to assist with many injuries. Jimmy has made use of this equipment and his rehabilitation is now much more advanced. We are hoping if this progress continues he will feature before the end of this campaign. My personal opinion for what its worth and this is not to say the people filling his boots have not done well but if we had him playing this season we would be much higher up the table and close on the heels of Bristol City.

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Extra question

Question from TonyHateley's six year old Grandson George: My Grandad says you bought Notts County for a pound, the tooth fairy gave me £2 last week can I buy it off you?

Its very easy to buy a football club but its no so easy maintaining one. Whilst i may have brought it for a pound i have spent over £18million to date either in direct cash or through sponsorships directly and indirectly by companies under my control.

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Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Mr Trew for taking the time to answer our questions, we very much appreciate the time and it means a lot to out community that he would grant us time to do this feature. Onwards and Upwards! You Pies!!