Gareth Jennings interview here

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fr9s41

well worth 35 minutes of your time. This sounds like a real coup to get him giving some (unpaid) input, advice & knowledge to help 1878 & the Board.
key points for me
long term project for him, which although its unpaid, is something that's already occupying his mind, and sounds like he's 'bought in' to the 1878 values and vision.
likes the idea, and seems like it's a first for him, where the board and the management team have similar values - they're all aligned in being ambitious but realistic
He's independent of the 21st Group but knows and admires their work & people. Has used some of their work in his full time job in the UAE Pro League
Says they are 'disruptors', with some disruptive, out of the box, ideas, having worked in other sports and seen what works there. top quality data scientists , who give loads of good data to work with along with different ideas and perspective.
wants to work on the youth development as he has good strengths there, but also has a global network he can tap into for advice and ideas.
like the way he described it - he's a translator (good way of describing a football consultant, helping 1878 with their lack of knowledge of the football industry), with an independent view, . He's not a fan , so he can take a step back and see the bigger picture. With his contacts and knowledge he can help with injury management and player recruitment etc.

think his ideas and input, along with t new head of recruitment, plus a bigger budget adds up to a potentially very interesting summer transfer window

Listened with interest as it’s a role I’ve had myself in a business. Every good business needs a critical friend’, the person that challenges your processes and puts fresh ideas in your head.

For me it’s very positive.

Boo… bring Alex May back  

Shite…I want a ticket tout, a board member that shouts at fans and a lottery winner…and extreme sports…

Unless he wears a turtleneck, I'm not interested.

Can’t be anything but positive after hearing that. Very shrewd acquisition by the board and bodes so well for the future.

Quoted from aldi_01

Shite…I want a ticket tout, a board member that shouts at fans and a lottery winner…and extreme sports…

Leisure.... but we know what you mean.

Doesn't get you three points on a...

I'll get me coat..

NB: Good news - modern thinking club now after years in Jurassic age

Impressive interview, impressive appointment and impressive outlook.

I did note that very early on he talks about more recent employment which is roughly helping clubs maximise their selling value or identify maximum potential profits for buying parties.  1878 have never hidden from the fact that they're here until someone better  comes along.

I do wonder if this appointment is a nod towards making us as appealing as possible to potential investors/buyers, within that perhaps developing our own USP as part of it.

Either way, it's nothing but encouraging news.  If we've become desirable, profitable, investable etc. that means we've done something right to get there.  

Quoted from promotion plaice

Leisure.... but we know what you mean.

We have been better with extreme sports I reckon…

Quoted from aldi_01

We have been better with extreme sports I reckon…

John Fenty skiing on a sea of molten lava down an erupting volcano wearing a petrol-soaked ski suit is precisely the kind of extreme sports I would pay good money to watch.

intercourse is this fella doing on our board? Quite the CV in the first few minutes.

Quoted from Poojah

John Fenty skiing on a sea of molten lava down an erupting volcano wearing a petrol-soaked ski suit is precisely the kind of extreme sports I would pay good money to watch.

Fenty on in-line skates, petrol soaked jeans and a flaming half pipe?

Quoted from diehardmariner

Impressive interview, impressive appointment and impressive outlook.

I did note that very early on he talks about more recent employment which is roughly helping clubs maximise their selling value or identify maximum potential profits for buying parties.  1878 have never hidden from the fact that they're here until someone better  comes along.

I do wonder if this appointment is a nod towards making us as appealing as possible to potential investors/buyers, within that perhaps developing our own USP as part of it.

Either way, it's nothing but encouraging news.  If we've become desirable, profitable, investable etc. that means we've done something right to get there.  

Agree with this and coupled with B Corp accreditation this should make us a safe and appealing investment.

Must say I was really enthused to hear the interview. This looks such a big and positive step forward by the club, brining in someone with his expertise is a really good move and quite exciting in a way. Who knew filling your board with football industry experts as opposed to lottery winners and solicitors would be a good idea!

Very interesting insight in a refreshingly detailed interview. Seems we really are trying to build something here but build it the right way. Growth was a common theme but also the importance of that being in stages. We've seen lots of teams chuck silly money at it and have brief periods of success, quick back to back promotions to the Championship etc, however it usually comes crashing down - What's going on down the road at Scunthorpe is a great example of this.

In reality it's the only way to go for us, build a sustainable data driven model and grow the club little by little - I wouldn't be surprised if JS & AP ultimate goal is to do that over a few years and either sell to someone to take us to the next level or bring in people to help us do that. Stockwood spoke for the first time at the end of the season about additional investment, he used to bat it off as down the road before the change in language recently.

Quoted from Mikey_345

Must say I was really enthused to hear the interview. This looks such a big and positive step forward by the club, brining in someone with his expertise is a really good move and quite exciting in a way. Who knew filling your board with football industry experts as opposed to lottery winners and solicitors would be a good idea!

Very interesting insight in a refreshingly detailed interview. Seems we really are trying to build something here but build it the right way. Growth was a common theme but also the importance of that being in stages. We've seen lots of teams chuck silly money at it and have brief periods of success, quick back to back promotions to the Championship etc, however it usually comes crashing down - What's going on down the road at Scunthorpe is a great example of this.

In reality it's the only way to go for us, build a sustainable data driven model and grow the club little by little - I wouldn't be surprised if JS & AP ultimate goal is to do that over a few years and either sell to someone to take us to the next level or bring in people to help us do that. Stockwood spoke for the first time at the end of the season about additional investment, he used to bat it off as down the road before the change in language recently.

I think you have hit the nail on the head in that last paragraph. I think that is the plan - to make us appealing within a certain time frame to other consortiums to take us further on the journey. It seems fanciful to imagine we would have some of the success that say Bournemouth. Brentford or Brighton have had, but it might not look so fanciful when all the building blocks are in place and the club has grown and shown to have potential.

At some point, it is going to cost an awful lot of money, but for now I agree with you the plan is to improve us bit by bit for a few years and restore our reputation within the game.

I am impatient by nature, but I do appreciate there seems to be an overall long-term plan.  

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I think you have hit the nail on the head in that last paragraph. I think that is the plan - to make us appealing within a certain time frame to other consortiums to take us further on the journey. It seems fanciful to imagine we would have some of the success that say Bournemouth. Brentford or Brighton have had, but it might not look so fanciful when all the building blocks are in place and the club has grown and shown to have potential.

At some point, it is going to cost an awful lot of money, but for now I agree with you the plan is to improve us bit by bit for a few years and restore our reputation within the game.

I am impatient by nature, but I do appreciate there seems to be an overall long-term plan.  

One of the keys to that journey would I imagine be having a new stadium. Though Luton have shown that an old ground need not be a total barrier to success, one would hope that we would draw bigger crowds than BP can comfortably accommodate as we march up the leagues.    

Quoted from RonMariner

One of the keys to that journey would I imagine be having a new stadium. Though Luton have shown that an old ground need not be a total barrier to success, one would hope that we would draw bigger crowds than BP can comfortably accommodate as we march up the leagues.    

When we get to league 1 we need higher capacity one way or another . 8-10 teams would bring 2k + we 'sell' 7k home tickets nigh on every game in league 2  ;  we could add a good few home fans to for big one's in the tier up , easily looking at probably nearly 10 games that would be 5 figure gates if capacity was there .

I still think capacity is an issue now Ron  - 8400 seats .... hypothetically we get Bradord ,Donny and Wrexham first 3 home games - can anyone honestly say that's enough for those games?

Finally had a listen to the interview and quite enjoyed it.

Not a lot was really given away in terms of what we can physically expect to happen but I think that’s unsurprising. In a game where everyone wants to be the best and fans want to see exciting things happen (new training ground, stadium etc), it would be unwise to make bold statements that leave room for waves of criticism if it they’re not achieved.

What I did really take from it is the fact that when they say ambition and long term project they really mean it!

The interview alludes to the idea that they want to see Grimsby in the Premier League but the realism is it’s not likely in their life cycle. Despite that, all the work they will do is geared towards the next incumbents progressing with that ambition.

That along highlights the vast difference between the owners and JF. I’ve said before I was one that although recognising we weren’t ever likely to go great distances under JF, I fell for  and believed he was doing his best to keep the Club going and that new owners may take risks that put our Club in jeopardy, not unlike our neighbours.

Whether JS and AP ever deliver on moving the Club up the leagues I think for certain everyone can see and recognise the dedication and desire to do all they can to make it so. That for me is worth more than the millions they’re likely to have to invest on their venture.

Quoted from thefish

Boo… bring Alex May back  

Slade and Powerpoint for me

Quoted from Bristol Mariner

Slade and Powerpoint for me

You lose trust..

Quoted from Mikey_345

You lose trust..

I find it a real shame that footage of that fans forum has been deleted from the internet. I understand why the current regime might have wanted it gone, it was a total car crash, but I can’t help but feel it should be kept for posterity as a reminder of the absolute clusterfúck we were as a football club.

It was by no means rock bottom, of course, but it was perhaps the best and most iconic example of how awfully the club was being run. If the club’s leadership was prepared to behave like that in public, on camera, can you imagine what on earth must have been going on behind the scenes!?

I would suggest that you  listen to the Peter Swann interviews on the Iron Bru podcast , they are up there with the comedy of that night . Although I have to admit I was disappointed not to find that  fateful night of the fans forum on YouTube (was that the one when they did the hatchet job on the friendly but meek Matt Dean?) The Swann one definately takes the edge off .

What characters
Slade ,Honest John ,Swann ,Mr Shut Up ,Mr David
By gum ,get them in a room together it would be some show .