Thread by @StevenSOS1987

Fans forum just starting. Kevin Johns is introducing the panel

There’s an emphasis on not just the right players but the right characters

Birch and Cooper asked what success is for us, Cooper says there’s 3 making things, we can have a promotion push this year, commitment to the style of play and to bring through our young players

Birch says he can add much to that as he firmly believes in Cooper’s answer. Says we need to keep hold of key players but we may get offers we can’t refuse.

Question about exploiting loan market. Birch says he agrees and is hopeful with Cooper’s connections we can utilise it

Cooper is aware some high profile loans haven’t worked but if you can get it right then it’s a good thing and we need to maximise. We are speaking to clubs about potential young talent who need loan moves. Says both clubs and player can benefit from them

Birch says we are looking at loans and free transfers

Question about players we need to sell. What happens if we can’t sell them? Birch says we don’t need to offload players if they don’t go. Dan James sale has helped us enormously

We have to pursue promotion to create value in longer term so we don’t want to sell

Leon says 80/90 applicants for managers job. Spoke to around 15/20 managers. Wanted someone to carry on style of play. Cooper blew the panel away in his first interview and for Leon it was an easy decision. Compares him to Rodgers on the training pitch

Will we offload players we want to sell even if we can’t get any money for them? Birch won’t give his negotiating position away. Main criteria is to get them off the payroll.

Cooper discussing the academy says they will all be aligned with the first team. Wants big connection with all the staff, says he’s rather everyone was in sane site but will attend as many games as he can. Said there’s nothing better than home grown player playing for us

Cooper talking up Mike Narsh as top coach. Chuffed to bring in Martyn Margetson (emphasised that he is strong at set pieces) and says we’ve got great coaching team. We need to address mentality and then put strategy into place

Cooper will make decision on captain closer to start of season. Wants to allow players to show leadership qualities before making the call

Cooper says he’d consider bringing Carter-Vickers back next season

How do Americans feel about their investment? Birch says he’s not sure, not posed that question. Birch says he has complete control over of running the club.

Question on fan engagement. Birch asked how can he bring club back in line with local community? Birch says he wants to do that on wider basis, not just with trust. For him it’s all about the club rather than share percentages.

He’d like to extend engagement groups

Question on head if recruitment. Birch says it has to be club wide in terms of type of player. It’ll be a club appointment, they have someone in focus and hope to conclude that deal shortly

Cooper agrees with that process, said it doesn’t make sense to consistently change managers and all the staff

Question on players needed and positions. Says we needed left back, Dan James needs replacing. Emphasis on top end of the pitch. Wants exciting and athletic players, but again reiterates we need the right characters

Question on statistics. One man has brought pages of them to present to the board which has drawn much laughter from the room

Cooper says they’re very important and happily accepts the sheets.

Question about Cardiff games. Cooper says he’s spoken to Curt and he told him no one has done the double and he’ll take it if we can get it

Question about do we bring the likes if Andre Ayew back into the fold if we can’t sell them. Birch says good question but let’s hope it doesn’t happen!

Leon asked will he be in the dugout next season. Answer is no but he still might pass on information during the game

Trevor hopes his role is a long term role. Says first task is to stabilise, and that he’s a football man. Says he’s grabbing opportunity with both hands and is loving it

Question on Routledge negotiations. Birch says Wayne is highly intelligent with great future once he retires but he can play a big role for us still on and off the pitch. It wasn’t hard to persuade him to stay

Cooper also met him before return to pre season. He’s still hungry to play and is a good person and says him, Dyer and Naughton are similar characters

Leon said Routledge had a lot of clubs before joining. But has settled down here, has been brilliant and grown into one of the senior players and can help younger players

Does Tom Carroll fit into our plans? Currently injured, Cooper knows many coaches who he’s worked with. He’s shown professional attitude to rehab, Cooper is looking forward to working with him

Cooper won’t give names of players he’s after. Some players have reached out to him for a loan deal.

Question on goalkeepers. Cooper says we have 2 experienced ones and a young one who will be with first team. Goalkeeper is very important position, whoever he picks will be at the level we want