Robert Chase Fan

[komakino 272]

40 minutes ago, Hairy Canary said:

Chace almost brought the club to financial disaster, ending up with player sales dictated by the bank, often at knockdown prices to force sales through quickly.

It wasn't just that he spent money that we didn't have but also what he spent it on. The £40k spent on carpet that Dylanisabaddog mentioned earlier in the thread is exactly a case in point and was just one example. I remember having a conversation with the much-respected Roy Blower (RIP) where he outlined many similar examples of wasteful expenditure on non-football projects. Many of them were nothing more than for the self aggrandisement of Chase and his cronies.

He lived beyond his means, spent in all the wrong areas and not surprisingly it resulted in a serious downward spiral. We were lucky we managed to survive his stewardship and he deserved all the vitriol he got IMO. The difference between him and our current regime couldn't be starker   

Chase had to go, but at least he had the desire to keep Norwich City as an established Top Tier outfit. He didn't go round slagging it off or slagging the fans. I think for most of his tenure, he was ideal and in some ways, his way of running the club was similar to now expect he was reasonably ambitious, whereas Smith & Jones are happy with second tier football. However, football outgrew Chase and maybe our stock at that time led him to be less than financially astute and the banks forced his hand more than the fans. His time was up. 

We needed somebody to move the club forwards in the modern era, instead we got Smith & Jones and their parochial vision of football. Nevermind. 

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by komakino

[Segura 84]

Chase was successful at a time when it was possible for smaller clubs to make a mark - at the same time, Coventry, Luton, Oxford and Wimbledon all enjoyed notable successes, simply because the playing field was much more even - sure he deserves some credit, but he wasn't some footballing visionary achieving things that other similar clubs weren't doing.

No problem with criticising the current owners etc, but comparing the Chase era to what we have now, is for me anyway, completely bizarre. 

Chase has had no involvement with football since 1996. Two generations of fans probably have no idea who he even is. Perhaps it's time to let it go.

Edited October 21, 2021 by Segura

[nutty nigel 7,509]

7 minutes ago, komakino said:

Chase had to go, but at least he had the desire to keep Norwich City as an established Top Tier outfit. He didn't go round slagging it off or slagging the fans. 

 

 

Really?

He just built sound systems in the ground  to drown them out. And then set police horses on them when they got outside.

[Duncan Edwards 2,218]

17 minutes ago, nutty nigel said:

Really?

He just built sound systems in the ground  to drown them out. And then set police horses on them when they got outside.

The good old days. 

How I long for that toxicity, anger and vitriol. Might give the ex-wife a ring. 

[king canary 7,578]

46 minutes ago, Segura said:

Chase was successful at a time when it was possible for smaller clubs to make a mark - at the same time, Coventry, Luton, Oxford and Wimbledon all enjoyed notable successes, simply because the playing field was much more even - sure he deserves some credit, but he wasn't some footballing visionary achieving things that other similar clubs weren't doing.

No problem with criticising the current owners etc, but comparing the Chase era to what we have now, is for me anyway, completely bizarre. 

Chase has had no involvement with football since 1996. Two generations of fans probably have no idea who he even is. Perhaps it's time to let it go.

I was too young for the Chase era really but this feels about right. The successes under Chase were not to be sniffed at but they are also evidence that in 80's/early 90's footvalling success could be achieved without significant owner investment. 

[Google Bot 3,256]

42 minutes ago, nutty nigel said:

He just built sound systems in the ground  to drown them out. And then set police horses on them when they got outside.

Did you go to the protests outside his home? There was some carnage there that went unreported.  I remember people trying to break in to his house they were so angered, again police presence and horses outside.  

I can't remember what game it was either, but I remember supporters refusing to leave the ground after an evening match and the Barclay were cheering the ride on mowers (or whatever they were) going up and down the pitch, and police forced people out - and that's what ultimately lead to maybe 40-50 people getting in cars and turning up at his house that night.

I was too young to really appreciate what it was all about, but got swept along with the older lads we were with.

[PurpleCanary 5,554]

54 minutes ago, Segura said:

Chase was successful at a time when it was possible for smaller clubs to make a mark - at the same time, Coventry, Luton, Oxford and Wimbledon all enjoyed notable successes, simply because the playing field was much more even - sure he deserves some credit, but he wasn't some footballing visionary achieving things that other similar clubs weren't doing.

No problem with criticising the current owners etc, but comparing the Chase era to what we have now, is for me anyway, completely bizarre. 

Chase has had no involvement with football since 1996. Two generations of fans probably have no idea who he even is. Perhaps it's time to let it go.

That is spot on, but I wouldn't expect some posters here to let it go and move on. Of course the comparison is bizarre without the necessary context but admitting that context would totally undermine the whole point of the comparison, which is to show Smith and Jones in a bad light.

[nutty nigel 7,509]

1 minute ago, Google Bot said:

Did you go to the protests outside his home? There was some carnage there that went unreported.  I remember people trying to break in to his house they were so angered, again police presence and horses outside.  

I can't remember what game it was either, but I remember supporters refusing to leave the ground after an evening match and the Barclay were cheering the ride on mowers (or whatever they were) going up and down the pitch, and police forced people out - and that's what ultimately lead to maybe 40-50 people getting in cars and turning up at his house that night.

I was too young to really appreciate what it was all about, but got swept along with the older lads we were with.

No I didn't and neither would I.

Neither did I stand outside St Andrews hall chanting "Robert Chase is a homosexual" in 1987. 

Neither did I take part in the zigger zigger chanting at Geoffrey Watling in the 60s.

The world is a much better place under Smith & Jones..

🙃

[TheGunnShow 5,930]

Whilst the article makes some decent points re. sales and making profit as a way of being sustainable, it falls down spectacularly as a defence as it forgets to mention the financial issues that happened when Chase moved away from it and started spending on less necessary things.

If anything, in its aim to defend Chase compared to our current set, it actually makes the case for a sustainable, debt-free approach to building a club stronger. As Lakey said, S&J have most certainly got it wrong on a couple of occasions, but they've had the good sense to learn from their mistakes with the recruitment of Webber now and giving him relatively free rein.

[Graham Paddons Beard 2,424]

One thing is for sure that the transparency of running Norwich City now in comparison to the Chase era is remarkable. No one really knew what the club was up to until it all unravelled with (what turned out to be bank lead) player sales like Jon Newsome . 
 

I loved those times , and loved the European trips. The club seemed in a good place until such time when it was not . It was the highest league positions that we have achieved and genuinely competed. That won’t happen again without serious finance behind the club which currently isn’t going to happen. 

I also loved watching us go up under Lambert and watching Emi and co destroy the Championship. So it’s peaks and troughs .

We do have to move on though, otherwise we all sound like a team banging on about the past …

Edited October 21, 2021 by Graham Paddons Beard

[Kenny Foggo 1,116]

I think Chase got as far as he could but they way he sold players behind the back of his managers rightfully led to his demise. 

Was at a football diner for Nordoff Robins charity on transfer deadline day and was introduced to Harry Rednapp, who asked if Keith O'Neill was any good (he asked who I supported) as Chase had offer him to (I think) West Ham that very day. They didn't have the money so turned down the offer. On the very same day, Chase was in the local press saying he had no intention of selling anyone... he constantly lied.

Saying that, we had the best times on the pitch and after all that is what matters to 99.9% of fans (not on here I doubt..)

I think, currently, it looks like our current owners have taken us as far as they can but their performance in the top flight I find embarrassing and all the fans of other clubs (including lower league clubs) I know are not jealous of the experience we have in the top flight. We are seen as kind of pointless... "why go up if you are not going to invest to at least try...). I don't 100% agree with that but there again a 10.8% win rate under Weber / Farke would not be acceptable in any other professional club. If this is far as we can go with this model what is the point of it... we are a big Crewe as far as I can see.

Unlike Chase though the current owners will leave behind a more financial sound base and for that they should be commended.

Edited October 21, 2021 by Kenny Foggo

[essex canary 491]

One thing I recall from the time Chase left was fans saying that no one individual or family should have so much influence over the Club going forwards. Chase owned 34%, S&J 53%. That one didn't work out well.

[Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB 1,017]

It always amuses me that we slag of that lot down the road for living in the past and then use the past in the form of Chase as a stick to beat the club with. The Chase era was at a totally different time to the way football is these days. He nearly destroyed the club I love and that should never be forgotten.........

[Kenny Foggo 1,116]

1 hour ago, nutty nigel said:

Jimbo and Vinnie could be our saviours 🙃

But do you want saving Nutty? Is accepting one's lot the purpose of life?

🤔

[Kenny Foggo 1,116]

4 minutes ago, Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB said:

It always amuses me that we slag of that lot down the road for living in the past and then use the past in the form of Chase as a stick to beat the club with. The Chase era was at a totally different time to the way football is these days. He nearly destroyed the club I love and that should never be forgotten.........

Never in the old 3rd division though... 🤪

[nutty nigel 7,509]

7 minutes ago, Kenny Foggo said:

But do you want saving Nutty? Is accepting one's lot the purpose of life?

🤔

I think those who say they do but then happy clap on match days and when we win things are hypocrites.

Perhaps that's not the answer you wanted Kenny 

🤔

Edited October 21, 2021 by nutty nigel

[Jim Smith 2,314]

15 minutes ago, essex canary said:

One thing I recall from the time Chase left was fans saying that no one individual or family should have so much influence over the Club going forwards. Chase owned 34%, S&J 53%. That one didn't work out well.

Not just any old fans. Our current owners said that as I recall. 

[nutty nigel 7,509]

3 minutes ago, Jim Smith said:

Not just any old fans. Our current owners said that as I recall. 

Geoffrey Watling said it. Go figure...

 

[essex canary 491]

3 minutes ago, Jim Smith said:

Not just any old fans. Our current owners said that as I recall. 

Well there you go Jim. Perhaps they are very good owners in the overall scheme of things but the kind of people I really like are those who stand by their words and back them up with actions.

[nutty nigel 7,509]

Just now, essex canary said:

Well there you go Jim. Perhaps they are very good owners in the overall scheme of things but the kind of people I really like are those who stand by their words and back them up with actions.

Could you provide that quote?

As I remember it they criticised Chase's "all singing all dancing" approach and vowed to build a team.

[Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB 1,017]

1 hour ago, Kenny Foggo said:

Never in the old 3rd division though... 🤪

Very true and I cannot and will not deny or argue against that, a low in my time supporting Norwich. That doesn't change my view that that nostalgia for the "good old days" is just that and conveniently ignores the bad stuff, and ignore that the football world back then bears no resemblance whatsoever to the football world now........

[essex canary 491]

1 hour ago, nutty nigel said:

Could you provide that quote?

As I remember it they criticised Chase's "all singing all dancing" approach and vowed to build a team.

You appear to be more familiar than me given the attribution to Geoffrey Watling.

Given the eminence of  Geoffry Watling in Club history it would have been good if his views had been respected in what transpired even if not initially then perhaps subsequently?

[A Load of Squit 5,123]

1 hour ago, essex canary said:

One thing I recall from the time Chase left was fans saying that no one individual or family should have so much influence over the Club going forwards. Chase owned 34%, S&J 53%. That one didn't work out well.

That's the first time I've ever seen the 'or family' bit added the 'no one individual' when discussing the share ownership.

Is this poster correct?

[Greavsy 2,412]

7 minutes ago, A Load of Squit said:

Is this poster correct?

that'll be a first! 

 

[Big Vince 318]

7 hours ago, dylanisabaddog said:

You forgot to mention that the sale of Ashley Ward was forced by the bank in order to keep the club trading. Shame that Chase forgot to tell Gary Megson about it. In that year we lost Bryan Gunn to injury. Chase couldn't come up with money for a replacement due in part to the fact that he had spent £40k on canary embossed carpet for the boardroom. The failure to replace Gunn led in a large part to relegation from the Premier League and the loss of the income it provided for several years. 

Well, the Suffolk Socialists have just spent £750k on a BocSoccer gizmo from Germany and money is being spent all the time on things at Colney like the plaque with every single player named on it. How much did that cost? Who authorised that? It seems that Delia can get away with these little expenditures here and there because butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Now, if Big Bad Bob did it then it leads to police on horseback. The role of gender and who you are simply can never be overstated.

[dylanisabaddog 4,866]

55 minutes ago, Big Vince said:

Well, the Suffolk Socialists have just spent £750k on a BocSoccer gizmo from Germany and money is being spent all the time on things at Colney like the plaque with every single player named on it. How much did that cost? Who authorised that? It seems that Delia can get away with these little expenditures here and there because butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Now, if Big Bad Bob did it then it leads to police on horseback. The role of gender and who you are simply can never be overstated.

Taking things out of context aren't you? We don't need a goalkeeper at the moment but we do need to use everything at our disposal to develop our young players. I very much doubt Delia had any input whatsoever in the purchase of BocSoccer and I think I would be wasting my time if I tried to explain to you why the coaching staff thought it was worth the money. You sound a little bit more like the 'run up and down Mousehold' sort of person. 

[Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB 1,017]

1 minute ago, dylanisabaddog said:

Taking things out of context aren't you? We don't need a goalkeeper at the moment but we do need to use everything at our disposal to develop our young players. I very much doubt Delia had any input whatsoever in the purchase of BocSoccer and I think I would be wasting my time if I tried to explain to you why the coaching staff thought it was worth the money. You sound a little bit more like the 'run up and down Mousehold' sort of person. 

I was going to post something similar, saved me the job. The good old days where the owner royally pissed off one of the best managers in the game at the time so he left us for Leicester, years later Leicester win the Premier League and we are saddled with the   Suffolk Socialists, all roads to the start of the demise of NCFC lead to Robert Chase 😀.............

[komakino 272]

10 minutes ago, Faded Jaded Semi Plastic SOB said:

I was going to post something similar, saved me the job. The good old days where the owner royally pissed off one of the best managers in the game at the time so he left us for Leicester, years later Leicester win the Premier League and we are saddled with the   Suffolk Socialists, all roads to the start of the demise of NCFC lead to Robert Chase 😀.............

I remember the whole O'Neill situation very well. If you recall, Chase did not want O'Neill as manager. But, unlike now, he could be outvoted, so he had to employ him. However... he made his job difficult, though it took a little while for Martin to see this. The Windass deal was the final straw and off he went. I remember being told by someone at the club a couple of weeks before O'Neill left that Megson has already been tapped up to replace him.

Although the football was a bit economic under Martin, he was the ideal Norwich manager for me. When he joined he said that Norwich always made 'one pass too many' and never has a better word been said, though that could equally apply to now. 

I'm more pro Chase that against, but messing O'Neill about was the most stupid thing he ever did.  

Edited October 21, 2021 by komakino

[TeemuVanBasten 3,327]

9 hours ago, BroadstairsR said:

Who had the most personal wealth Robert Chase or D & M? I suspect the latter, but that there won't be much in it.

Either way, that rich investor with deep pockets that many long for and that many other clubs manage to attract has always avoided Norwich City despite a fair degree of success and exposure over the years.

Chase owns about £7m worth of student accommodation near the UEA (still now, at 83) and if he's still got his Acle manor house then that's got to be worth a couple of million now, so won't be much in it. 

MWJ only got £7m when selling his publishing business. 

Neither rich enough to own a club of this size in the modern day, so pointless to compare their respective regimes.

[TeemuVanBasten 3,327]

My grandfather did a bit of business with Chase, sold him some land and bought a property from him, I met him a couple of times and got a few free tickets from him.

Had a very dry sense of humour, lovable rogue type demeanor, Arthur Daily-esque. 

Not the demon that he was made out to be, although I do think he was chasing an IPO as an earner when loads of clubs were floating and got that wrong. So in a way it was down to his greed, but he would have thought he could pull it off without damaging the club, possibly even that he could pull it off and it would be a good thing for the club. 

He still owns an extensive portfolio of property in Norwich, mostly student blocks near the UEA.