Fans' Forum Summary

Last updated : 20 April 2006 By Andy Beill
Photo © The Magic Rat
City fans in a packed Kingston Suite at the KC Stadium (Photo © The Magic Rat)
Pearson, Taylor and Cooper all have learnt a lot from going to Championship grounds.

Coles a month away from starting the season – mid-September return. McPhee and Ashbee ready for pre-season July 3rd. Taylor denies suggestion of injured players having serious problems. Burgess training well.

Taylor finds referee's decisions even out over the season, but assistant referees can be problems.

Taylor rates Wiseman "very highly", needs to be stronger physically. For up-and-coming players it takes longer to get in the first team because Hull City is such a big club.

Marques knee injury may rule him out for the season. Taylor looking for another central defender (for next season). Not discussed signing Marques; he has another year on his Leeds contract.

Photo © Corred
Scott Wiseman - rated "very highly" by Taylor (Photo © Corred)
Looking at 3/4 positions. Need to improve in central midfield. More quality, less risk, players with Championship experience. Premiership players bring problems with wages, and Taylor wants to stay in the club's wage structure.

Taylor would consider Barmby in wide midfield or off a big striker, but not in central midfield where he'd have to track back.

Taylor has big hopes for Ashbee's return.

Pearson to look at suggestion of showing first half highlights on concourses during half time.

Taylor says City don't sit back or back off, it's simply the opposition attacking.

New facilities at Ideal Standard ground - deal to be completed next week. Setup for centre of excellence (under-16s) to be in place for start of next season. Youth team to stay at Cottingham training ground with Taylor and the first team. Taylor says current facilities are "not good enough" but training is pleasing. Players, eg. Wiseman and Fry, making the first team would encourage youngsters to join. Pearson says young players are no longer going to rival local clubs in preference to City.

Photo © Corred
Boaz Myhill - not for sale (Photo © Corred)
One full time chief scout watches 4-5 matches per week, including opposition. 5/6 further scouts work across the country. Taylor usually only watches potential signings once before signing them.

9,226 season tickets sold to date. 1,000 Premier Club members in addition to that. Pearson expects another 2,000 to add to that. Will delay renewal date by 4 weeks next year. Direct Debit is a good option for the fans and the club.

Pearson says chances of spending £1million on one player are "very very slim" – but perhaps possible for the club to do so with three-year payment structure.

Elliott has played "very poorly" by his own admission this season. Taylor says that he needs to improve his open play.

Pitch cost £614,000 when the stadium was built. Cooper says pitch suffered from coldest March in 10 years.

Aston Villa first pre-season friendly on 25th July at KC Stadium. Second, and final, friendly takes place on 29th, opposition unconfirmed.

Photo © The Magic Rat
Peter Taylor - would take the England manager's job (Photo © The Magic Rat)
Taylor hopes City concede 10 less goals next season and score 20 more to accumulate 10-15 points.

Taylor says Duffy could be as good as Reading's Doyle.

No official bids received for Myhill. Club don't want to sell him unless a "ridiculous" offer comes in.

Problems with PA system in the ground are known about. Club will try to do something about it.

Taylor says players have gained more confidence and learnt more through the season and no longer fear top teams.

Club will look to help arrange transport to away matches for disabled fans – contact Fans' Liaison Officer Dan Pratt to register interest.

Taylor says players appreciate the fans' support and is surprised if he hears they don't go over to the fans to applaud them at the end of any matches.

Photo © Corred
Darryl Duffy - highly rated by Taylor (Photo © Corred)
Taylor says he would have booed if he'd paid to watch the Burnley game!

No apology received from Leicester regarding turnstile situation at Walkers Stadium. Clubs will be asked to make games all ticket due to City's large away following.

Taylor says nobody has put a transfer request in, and anyone who does so "must be mad". It's difficult to keep 6 fully fit strikers all happy, 4 is manageable.

Taylor would definitely take the England manager's job. Any other role would only be taken on a part time basis.

Taylor blames himself for not ensuring the pitch was watered at 12:00 on the day of the Burnley game. This made conditions difficult for City's play.

Taylor "very, very confident" Duffy will become the team's top scorer. Player sometimes prefers playing away from home due to opposition defence playing a high line.

Stockdale and Thelwell out of contract in summer. Taylor will talk to them after the last game, and others who may not feature much for the team next season whom it may be in the best interests of to move on.

Photo © The Magic Rat
Adam Pearson - says stadium extension isn't necessary yet (Photo © The Magic Rat)
Rogers has done well and got fitter. Taylor hopes he will be able to sign him.

Pearson says club would need to be selling out the stadium and pushing on in the Championship to require stadium capacity increase. Funding could come from either a casino complex being built, or the council selling off Kingston Communications shares.

Club will look to improve City's and Irish players' exposure in Ireland. Colin Murphy is former manager of Cork City.

Delaney wants to be a left-sided centre back, but "problem" is that he can play other positions. Championship experience will help his international chances, says Taylor.

Falkirk friendly to be arranged for pre-season in 2007 as part of Duffy transfer. Taylor says City will play friendlies against "little teams like Scunthorpe and Grimsby" this year, and go away to somewhere hot for a week.

Photo © Corred
Jason Price - missed by Taylor but couldn't be guaranteed first team football (Photo © Corred)
Club trying to improve on the standard of the Sports Bar. It is regrettably unfeasible for players to appear there after games.

Taylor says late goals conceded are not due to lack of fitness, but inexperience. Experienced players like Peschisolido use their cleverness against City.

Taylor says no players show lack of commitment.

Taylor says Green has the ability to be a top player, and is starting to show it.
Manager's 12-month rolling contract works for Pearson and Taylor.

Taylor couldn't guarantee Price first team football, but does miss him in the dressing room. Lack of first choice right winger may sway Taylor to play a front 3.

Taylor pleased to be able to play youth team players in the reserves, so current standard of opposition at that level is adequate.

Taylor says 28/29 players is too many – 22/23 would be preferable, if club can avoid recent injury troubles.

7 applications – one of which is KCFM – for local radio license. Decision to be announced on 8th June.

Photo © The Magic Rat
Peter Taylor - looking to bring in experienced players (Photo © The Magic Rat)
Problems with Walton Street car park are known about and work to rectify them is ongoing.

Rotation with Dawson and Rogers has been based on fitness, but Taylor rates both.

Pearson says club is aiming for more football-orientated half time entertainment for supporters who do not wish to spend it on the concourse.

Taylor thought about bringing in McIndoe but Elliott and Ellison give him more. Elliott will score 12 goals next season.

Taylor says Green is a good penalty-taker but Parkin could be given the responsibility.

Taylor will look at players from relegated teams Crewe, Millwall and Brighton. Brighton's Oatway was one player he'd considered before, but hopeful of Ashbee making a full recovery. Chose Parkin instead of Rory Fallon, who moved from Swindon to Swansea, and feels the decision has definitely worked out. Hopes to see Burgess fit again for July to compete with Parkin.

Pearson feels the current shirt is "okay" but that the standard could be better. New shirt will be manufactured by Diadora in Italy which will improve the standard.

Photo © Corred
John Welsh - swap deal could prove financially rewarding for City (Photo © Corred)
Pearson says ex-matchday PA Martyn Hainstock's departure was "completely amicable" at the time and his replacement Steve Jordan is doing a good job.

Pearson says the club can afford a big screen and it could be installed at the stadium in a year's time, but money will continue to be targeted towards the team instead.

Taylor says the team will get more out of Parkin by giving him better service, and oppositions won't be able to win as many fouls from him.

Leeds win was Taylor's most exciting moment at the club. Yeovil was a highlight for Pearson.

Taylor uses youth team players in training sessions when need be. Didn't want Paul Anderson to go and told him that he could have been playing first team football this season at City but he still wanted to go to Liverpool. Transfer by tribunal would have only been worth around £50,000. Deal is worth £75,000 after one first team appearance for Liverpool, goes up in £150,000 instalments up to £1.5m over 30 games. Club have a 25% sell-on clause. Deal was also worthwhile to bring in Welsh.

Pearson hopeful of hosting another England U21 game at the KC Stadium.

Photo © Corred
Jon Parkin - good signing but needs better service, and faces competition from Ben Burgess (Photo © Corred)
Pearson says Hull FC have a 25-year agreement to play at the KC Stadium and will continue to play there even if City get to the Premiership. Cooper says rugby actually does less damage to the pitch than football. Hopes Hull KR get into the Super League.

Taylor will go to the World Cup for 14 days, scouting on about 10 games for England.

Taylor says he only buys players who will be long-term investments, not just "for today". Experienced players are wanted, 29-year-olds, or even 23 to 25-year-olds if they have played 200 games.

Pearson says gate receipts are only 25% of the club's turnover. £30-40k profit last year. At a loss this year due to £1.4m investment in players.

Taylor says 9 out of 10 transfer targets City go for want to come to the club.