That's the question I am asking, or putting it another way, were the brothers fully prepared for Notts to get promoted?

I think the question has to be asked because with less than a week to go before the regular season begins, the Notts squad is very light at this particular time. Even Martin Paterson has eluded to it.

There have been plenty of rumours that players are on the verge of signing, but I do have concerns that even if players are recruited this week, it will take time for them to adjust to life at Notts, with a new squad to acclimatise with.

No way that I am criticising the owners who have done great things for Notts since they bought the Club. I just think that maybe they may have been taken a bit by surprise when we go promoted via the playoffs.

Since the brothers bouth the club they are doing like they need few years to be ready for the place where they are

Something doesn't feel right, but I remember saying the same thing last pre-season. I think although we are in league 1 and don't seem anywhere near ready, the aims this year are different. Last year anything but promotion was seen as failure. This year is all about avoiding relegation. The lack of readiness at this point may not be so critical.

The playoffs reduced the time available to rebuild the squad. The Jatta and Jodi sagas will have caused uncertainty. Competition for signings is strong (looks like York might have beat us to Boyes). Season ticket sales, although up, aren't spectacular.

I think they were as ready as they could be. They did make three good signings very quickly suggesting they had some plans in place. But it would be great to have some announcements asap!

Edited August 3Aug 3 by Sheffield Pie

There seems to be a lot of negativity around at the moment which is a real shame, we should be confident and relishing a new season in a higher league, instead some folk are questioning the direction the club are taking.

If I remember right it was the same at the beginning of last season and after a poor start look how that turned out.

I for one trust the brothers and their team to get it right and help the club to consolidate in league one.

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/ollie-cooper-makes-notts-county-loan-move

Of course the Brothers were prepared!

2 promotions in 4 years!

From total disarray to planned progress in 7.

And yes, August will be a nightmare start but it will all end well.

I suppose you could argue that promotion came too soon for us - ideally you should already have a squad capable of being competitive in the division above and be able to add extra quality and depth on top of that. This time, only seven members of our promotion-winning team are still with us, a couple of those are injured or possibly on the way out, and we don't have a proven goalscorer, so it feels like MP has a job on to make us competitive.

I felt more confident in our ability to compete after our last two promotions into L1 than I am now. However, squad fluctuation is generally greater now so maybe this is just the way of things. I like the sound of most of our signings individually, but we'll just have to wait and see whether they can cope with what is for most of them a step up.

I think the owners and RM are largely sticking with their guns this summer. They've been proven successful so far, but I have the feeling that they're plugging gaps rather than complementing what we've already got.

5th Bottom seems to be a safe bet

15 hours ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

There seems to be a lot of negativity around at the moment which is a real shame, we should be confident and relishing a new season in a higher league, instead some folk are questioning the direction the club are taking.

The question was, not about the direction of the Club should be questioned. It was about whether the owners were ready for League 1 or not.

League 1 is a big step up for a club getting promoted from League 2.

That includes things like having enough money in the kitty to recruit quality players. Whether the club can offer competitive wages that could attract the quality players required. Whether the club can afford to have a strong squad.

And I reiterate. No way that I am criticising the owners who have done great things for Notts since they bought the Club.

A competitive ball hasn’t been kicked yet so let’s wait and see, we’ll eventually find out if the owners were ready or not. I personally think that they were prepared for every scenario but perhaps things haven’t gone quite as well as planned with regards to their first choice signings.

There’s no doubt it will be a tough league the first few games will be particularly hard the fans need to stick with the team, the manager and the owners.

2 hours ago, 4everapie said:

5th Bottom seems to be a safe bet

I’d take that, no one should expect us to be flying high at the end of the season. Consolidation is the key.

I think that the vast majority of fans will stick with the team, Head Coach and the Owners. I am sure they are all working hard to make the team competitive for the new season.

Head Coach Martin Paterson has already made it known that the squad is "light" at the moment. I believe he gave a strong hint that more quality players are needed to make up the numbers.

Recruitment is a fast paced world, but slow movement doesn't mean that doors are never opened. I don't want the club to rush out and sign players because they feel the fans won't like waiting. We have had this with previous regimes where they put their thoughts and concerns above what is best for business.

Last season there was a porition of complaints about the signings or lack of them, we really should have learned by now that the Reedtz appear to have options in terms of their policy on transfers.

The start of the past campaign had concerns, and there was a spell where I did feel concern but I always felt that once things settled that the players were able to pick up form. We ended up sealing promotion, and winning comfortably with one of the best performances at Wembley from a team in the lower tiers.

No club can truly say they are ready, not Liverpool nor Manchester United.

There's a level of unpredictabity in football, and it's what makes it resonate with us fans. I feel content with the business, and how things have gone even during the quieter spells. I do wonder how we are going to fit all the signings in, but that just leaves me to think that rotation will be a big thing.

I would rather the club have depth at this level, than hold back and assume the squad is strong enough. Notts must establish themselves in League One, our job is to be patient about it and support the team.