By Dale Hurman

Alan Parry, head of Media and PR, was MC for the evening and after an introduction to the evening, he introduced Martin Gomm, Football Intelligence / Liaison Officer for the Thames Valley Police.

Mr Gomm spoke about creating a Supporter Action Group, to be primarily made up of Wycombe Wanderers supporters. The intention is for it to work in a similar way to a Neighbourhood Action Group and would be a partnership between the Thames Valley Police and Wycombe Wanderers supporters.

The aims and objectives of the group would be to discuss and take action when necessary on issues relating to affecting supporters of the Blues.

Alan Parry then introduced Managing Director Steve Hayes. Mr Hayes began by discussing the Blues upwards trend of success which started in 1990 and continued through to 1996.

Despite reaching the semi-finals of both the F.A. Cup and the League Cup since then, he explained that since 1996 the club had plateaued. Wycombe Wanderers supporters have high expectations and we need to match those expectations.

He spoke of the excellent working relationship of the board of directors and that they had never needed to decide matters on a vote, having always talked through instead. He spoke of the positive attitude and of having strong management team with professionally run departments that run the club on a day-to-day basis.

Mr Hayes emphasised strongly that his and the clubs first priority is always safety. He spoke of the compliment received from Accrington Stanley about their positive matchday experience on the opening day of the season.

He spoke of the investment in the youth team and of the significance the board and the manager place on youth development. The club have worked hard on a new structure and are looking to move forward.

He described the Football In The Community scheme as the clubs "jewel in the crown." He explained that the scheme sees some 160,000 children every year and thanked the playing squad for their continued support for the scheme. He also covered the many partnerships with the scheme that play a huge role in the town of High Wycombe and the community as a whole.

Mr Hayes then covered the subject of moving to a new stadium. Any new stadium will be a community stadium and will be funded through an "enabling development" scheme, one such scheme has seen the development of a new stadium in Milton Keynes.

An Enabling Development scheme would involve development over a large site which in addition to a new stadium would include further development of retail outlets or housing.

The stadium would involve three major partners - Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, London Wasps Rugby Football Club and Wycombe District Council.

He spoke of his desire for the new stadium to include terracing. Despite having been told that a new stadium would or could not include terracing, Mr Hayes explained that he felt it was something that was worth fighting for.

He emphasised that the long-term future of the football club must be protected in any contract. He explained that the window of opportunity was now and that we need to take this opportunity. To do so, there needs to be a true partnership with Wycombe District Council.

The CRM database is also key to future success. The club wants to listen to all supporters, it needs to know what they think so it can move forward. This will be a long process that involves analysing and intepreting the data and allowing time for the information to have a history.

He said that ideally supporters would own 25% of the club but any supporters trust, club or association needs to have thousands of members to be truly representative.

Mr Hayes re-iterated that Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is not sustainable if it does not go up, if it does not regularly sell out matches, if it does not regularly sell its best players, if it continues to play at Adams Park and if London Wasps leave.

He said that London Wasps are the club's biggest partner. He revealed that has invested in the rugby union club and joined as a non-executive director with an 11.6% shareholding.

He warned that if London Wasps cannot increase the capacity of the stadium, they will have to leave Adams Park.

Mr Hayes revealed that he is working to a two-year plan. He cannot fund the club indefinately and will review the situation and make a decision at the end of the season whether the required support and the plans for a new stadium can be achieved.

If they cannot, finances will be scaled down. The consequences will include shutting down various departments, selling players and showing a perceived lack of ambition.

He reminded the forum that despite having to face the facts that Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is not sustainable, it is not all doom and gloom and that the future of Wycombe Wanderers is very, very exciting.

He concluded with a reminder that we have all got to work hard and we have all got to pull together.

Questions were then invited from the audience.

Q: Having bought a shareholding in London Wasps is there going to be a conflict of interests?
SH: I have been working with people involved with both clubs for some time. It will depend on the behaviour of both boards.

Q: Is there any possibility of a merger between the two clubs?
SH: I can't see the benefits of a merger to either club. Being involved with London Wasps will allow me to represent the interests of both clubs.

Q: Who will own any new ground?
SH: The ownership of the ground will be shared.

Q: Do you have any idea what the capacity of the new ground will be?
SH: 17,000 - 20,000.

Q: What capacity will suit London Wasps requirements?
SH: They are looking for 15,000 now,  increasing to 20,000.

Q: Are those figures realistic, particularly for Wycombe Wanderers?
SH: Reading used to get crowds of 4,000 in Division Three at Elm ParK and now they're playing in front of 23 -24,000 crowds at the Madejski Stadium. They are an example. We need to be better than the competition.

Alan Parry added Wigan Athletic as another example.

Q: What is current situation regarding the club's debt?
SH: The debt is mine, or my kids inheritence at least. The debt is rising but it is under control. The debt cannot be paid off, the club is not sustainable. If we can get a new stadium, my debt will be written off.

There was then a drinks break for a quarter of an hour.

Alan Parry then introduced manager Paul Lambert to the audience and discussed last season. Mr Parry asked where things had gone wrong at the end of the last campaign.

Mr Lambert explained that centre-back partners Mike Williamson and Will Antwi were a huge loss to the side, that there wasn't sufficient back -up in the squad to cope with injuries and suspensions and that the Carling Cup had a lasting impact.

Mr Parry then asked about the work he had done in the summer to solve those problems. The manager explained that he now has a strong squad and that it will take time for them to settle this season.

Questions were then invited from the audience.

Q: Is bringing in eleven players too many?
PL:  No.

Q: Could you explain the formation and personnel changes in the opening games of the season?
PL: I have been trying to find a winning formula.

Q: Why did we seem to adopt a negative approach to the match at Dagenham and Redbridge?
PL: I like to concentrate on the positives and the lads should be given credit for coming from 2-0 down.

Q: How confident are you that we can get out of this league?
PL: I believe we can do it.

Q: What is your preferred formation?
PL: I don't like the formation to be too rigid. We need to have adaptability.

Q: Are you based down here or do you live in Scotland?
PL: Martin O'Neill gave me a little piece of advice, never be too familar with people, players. Ian Culverhouse looks after the boys at training. What happens on a Saturday is when it really matters.

Q: What is the situation regarding Jermaine Easter and have you got plans for a replacement should he leave?
PL: I don't want Jermaine to go. It's that simple. I haven't thought about a replacement for him.

Q: What is the situation regarding Tommy Doherty?
PL: We had a dialogue with Queens Park Rangers in the summer but an illness scuppered those plans. We are still in dialogue with Q.P.R. and we are still interested in him.

Q: Did we play enough pre-season games?
PL: I'm not a great fan of pre-season games. They're for players to get fit. I don't think playing more games would make one bit of difference.

Q: We have drawn quite a few home games over the last few seasons, how can we make it fortress at home?
PL: Some teams are just happy to be in this league. Accrington Stanley are a great example. When the fans become anxious, it transfers itself onto the pitch. The expectation level needs be tempered with a little bit of realism as well. It certainly isn't because of a lack of trying.

Q: What is your view on the booing that has been heard at the opening games of this season?
PL: It doesn't affect me, people are entitled to an opinion. But it might affect and damage the players. It's difficult. The players and the fans have to bounce off each other and if we stick with each other we've got a hell of a chance.

Q: What is the situation regarding injuries? We have two decent centre-halves somewhere.
PL: I think that is a degrading question. The lads are trying to bring you some success. The new lads need to be given time.

C: Sorry if I worded it badly but I did not mean my question to be disrespectful.
PL: I apologise if I mis-intepreted your question. They are both working hard. Will is getting closer. Mike will be a bit longer.

Q: Do you not think we should be playing with wingers? I think we play better with width.
PL: When Kevin Betsy left it took something from our game. Bully's come in and done well and brings some trickery on the left wing. You're right, I like to play with width. We have Tom as well and we need to get him fully fit.

Q: What's the line-up for Saturday?
PL: What do you want it to be?

C: I don't know, I'm confused after three games.
PL: So am I! - Seriously, I've got a rough idea.

Q: Do you feel any pressure with regard to the club's ambitions?
PL: I know the price of failure, that's the game. I know what it's all about. Five more games and I'm out! I don't want to be in this league, I want this club to do the best it can. I'm not worried and I'm not fazed by it.

C: I am 100% behind this club, the vision of this club and the work of the community scheme is wonderful. It would good if the Wycombe District Council did nearly as much for the youth of this town as Wycombe Wanderers Football Club and get behind this club.
PL: Are you the ex-Doctor Who? Sorry, I didn't realise. I read your column in the Bucks Free Press after the Charlton game and wanted to thank you for sticking up for us.

There were no more questions and Alan Parry concluded the forum at approx. 9.20pm.