Every word Stephen Bettis said on Sheffield United's new transfer plan, loyalty points, Wi-Fi and Chris Wilder’s future
Every word Stephen Bettis said on Sheffield United's new transfer plan, loyalty points, Wi-Fi and Chris Wilder’s future
A lot of focus at Sheffield United is understandably being placed on Sunday’s Steel City derby clash against Wednesday at Bramall Lane but behind the scenes at the famous old stadium this week, another important event was taking place.
The first Blades Advisory Board forum was held on Thursday evening and saw chief executive Stephen Bettis update Unitedite on a number of topics around the club, including the owners, tickets and even issues such as Wi-Fi inside the Lane.
The Star was on hand to document the questions and Bettis’ answers, with the main themes collated here. Stay tuned for part two tomorrow covering a range of different themes.
On data and analytics
We've got a new data analytics company that we're using on the recruitment side. Not the one we used in the summer [ran by would-be Wednesday owner James Bord]. I wanted to get that in quickly, before you started throwing stuff at me!
“These guys, they have got a rich history. Worked with Liverpool in the Klopp era. Worked with Spurs. Worked with a number of Premier League clubs. And I'm happy to say they're working with us and we're the only team in the Championship that they're working with. I've agreed to deal with them the way I won't let them work with anyone else. So it gives us that kind of competitive advantage.
On the Dore training ground
It's not on hold, is the first statement. I've been given the green light to move things forward, so we've appointed the architects in question. These guys have got a great history. Leicester's training ground, Spurs' training ground.
Not that our budget's going to be anywhere near that, but they've done some really nice smaller training grounds as well. We're not getting a nine-hole golf course like Leicester, unfortunately. So that's my handicap not looking good.
But yeah, they're engaged. They've started working. We've set up working groups internally with the various stakeholders. The whole project is probably going to cost close to a million pounds to get it all designed, planned, commissioned, and costed so that we can go out to tender and get contractors to quote to do the job.
It's probably going to take at least a year to get to that point, being honest, to get planning and get it all done. But the good news is that we're cracking on with it.
On the academy
We've got a Cat 2 academy at the moment that we desperately want to be Cat 1. And we've invested. I'm really proud of our academy. I'm really proud of the team that we've got there and the work that they're doing.
I think for about the last six years I've been banging the desk with our ownership, prior with Prince Abdullah, before the American guys, to say, let's support this. Let's embrace this. Let's make sure that we're keeping the good staff that we've got.
Let's make sure we're strengthening. We're pretty much staffed as a Cat 1 academy, even though we're Cat 2. The reason why we can't be Cat 1 is because we haven't got enough space for them. But obviously moving off of Shirecliffe and onto Dore creates enough space for us to go Cat 1, which is essential for two reasons.
One, it protects us from other clubs stealing our players far more. And two, it just gives the youth system more challenging games. Because I think, at the moment, we're winning regularly and they need a tougher challenge. And I think they'll obviously get that if we go to Cat 1. So it's essential and they are correlated.
On free Wi-Fi at Bramall Lane
We've discussed this numerous times. It's still on the agenda, but not imminent. Just to be really honest about it. Sometimes the costs are quite staggering when you look at what it costs to actually do it.
It's something we'd like to do and it's definitely something we'll look at in the future, but it's not imminent, is the answer.
On redeveloping the Kop
I think we'd all like it to be redeveloped wouldn't we, and the pillars come out? I know how frustrating it can be but there's a cost implication and if you do it, you want to do it right. There has to be a return on the investment.
So how do we do that? Do we make it bigger? Do we fill it? I'm not sure we would. So we put the prices up? I don't think anyone wants that, including me. So it's a difficult one. Where does the money come from?
On loyalty points
I knew loyalty points would come up at some point this evening. It's constantly being reviewed. We've touched on it numerous times with the FAB already and I think we'll continue to engage with the FAB in terms of ways to amend it. I think it's really difficult because it's not one thing works for all. I think if I went round and asked most of the people in this room, and I mean this in a nice way, you'd all have your own selfish ways of doing it that would benefit you guys.
And that's totally understandable. I'd be the same if I was in your position. But it's like we can never make everyone happy. So we continually review it and we continually look at ways of changing it. And I've touched on already the way we're embracing the technology we are and the data that we are, not just on recruitment but around learning our supporters. And I think that will really help us in the long run change the loyalty point system.
On Chris Wilder’s future
I'm not speaking for Chris but I don't think he's got any plans to retire any time soon. He's more engaged and more committed than ever. I don't think there will be anyone more enthusiastic about Sunday than Chris, and that will never change with him. And I certainly don't think he's got any plans to retire.
I've got a really good relationship with Chris and I have had the whole way through, despite certain things that were said many years ago. That wasn't true. I think that he is a tremendous asset for this football club and I'm Chris's biggest advocate.
I think we've returned to him three times because it just works. And I don't think it's wrong to say that Chris has maybe not had the same success at other clubs when he's not been with us. But there's just something about him being here that works.
On pre-season and being announced earlier
I'll try, is the honest answer. Just being brutally honest, we've got four options at the moment for where we go in the summer. One is depending on various other things, the other three are just let's just pick a location and do it sort of thing. There are various costs involved and stuff like that. But they're on the table at the moment to be discussed so hopefully we can get it nailed down sooner rather than later and share that with you guys.
On the lack of communication from owners Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy
I think, to put it bluntly, that's what they pay me for, to do that stuff. I'm in continued communication with them on a daily, hourly basis. They're very engaged. And I think the other thing as well is that when you look other teams, how many owners do publicly come out and speak? Not a lot.
And when they do, normally it's in times of crisis. And we're not in crisis. So I don't feel like there's any need for that to happen. And I think when they want to get their point across, they give press releases. And then, for other elements of it, they get me to do it, because basically that's what they pay me to do.
On shirts being on sale in time for summer holidays
Every year, they're supposed to be on sale for the summer. Sometimes we’re at fault for that. We’re not perfect. But a lot of times there's delays from the manufacturer, etc.
The whole plan is for the new guys to be on sale in time for the summer. But am I going to sit here and say 100 per cent you're going to get them on a certain date? No, because I've seen what history has happened before. But that's our plan, yeah.
On a permanent roof in the fan zone
It's not off the cards. It's not going to happen immediately. I think we're happy that we've managed to get a fan zone, which has taken us some time to get to that point. We're trying to continually improve and make the experience better for you, and I appreciate that putting a roof on would also improve that experience for you guys. It's continually being discussed, is the answer.