But there has been no sign at all of Virgin s alleged marketing expertise in the club s operations. The long-running problem of where to play has no obvious solution. The Valley, with banks of empty seats facing the only stand open to spectators, unavoidably lacks atmosphere with crowds of little more than 2,000. But there is a strong case for putting down long-term roots there. More than anything the club needs the continuity on which a sense of identity can be built.
Continuity is also essential on the pitch.
It is hard to build up identification with a team when, each March, your opponents are more readily recognisable than your own players. And the fans also need, and deserve, some excitement. Currie s 1997 team apart, nothing since the Broncos takeover and the change of name in 1995 has remotely approached the level of entertainment provided by Tony Gordon s London Crusader teams. All of which will take astute strategy, patience and money. Quite how much money Virgin have is, as anyone following the row over the National Lottery licence will know, open to question.