City chief operating officer James Mason gives an insider's point of view of the rumour and speculation circulating about the club's summer activity – or perceived lack of it...

I HAVE just returned from a week away after a long season; a successful, progressive season and one so close to being a fantastic one. But watching from afar, it's amazing how quickly things are forgotten.

Very rarely do you get time to enjoy things in football before a new season is upon you and expectations are raised across the board.

Clubs that struggled in the last campaign get the chance to reset the clock and go again. Those that enjoyed success feel the pressure of repeating or building on that. Those that experienced indifferent seasons must do better.

This will be my sixth transfer period at the club and being out of the country I was able to play the part of an exiled fan – and I must say that observing rumour and speculation via social and traditional media is quite interesting.

No club is exclusive to rumour and conjecture, it's part of the silly season and the thirst from football fans for 'new' news is overwhelming but understandable.

I followed the #BCAFC hash tag to see that we have once again started our pitch renovations and we're currently replacing rows of damaged, old seats. Exciting stuff, hey? Oh, and we wished a former player a happy 27th birthday.

Not the most riveting stories but at the same time the club cannot manufacture news when it doesn't exist. The official account doesn't have the luxury of leaking information or guessing.

Often we are criticised for being late to a story. The truth is, however, we own the facts of the story and so when we do release information, it's not that we are late, we just have to be correct. When dealing with contracts and confidentiality, we can only report information when it's official.

For example, look at the recent unveiling of our high-profile fixtures with Newcastle or Sunderland. Yes, it became common knowledge they were happening, but not before checks with relevant safety authorities had been done.

Whilst away I also read about the two horrific terror attacks on the UK in the space of a week. This impacts on our decision-making and the safety of events such as football friendlies have to be considered.

Lots can happen quickly at a football club and only in the last six weeks, the following is what we've had to contend with.

At the end of the regular season, we had to prepare for two additional play-off fixtures. The home leg against Fleetwood Town was some spectacle – and what an atmosphere.

The second leg had its own problems of a huge demand on tickets with very limited supply. Not easy to deliver.

Following that we had the enviable task of delivering a Wembley final and selling 24,000 tickets in the space of over a week. We achieved it but, following the disappointment of defeat, we were asked to compile complaints from fans who were left with tarnished memories of the day following the pitch incursion. We have presented these to the EFL and this issue is on-going.

Working at a football club is a 24-hour, 365-day-a-year occupation. We really don't get a minute off and so much is expected of us. Saying that, it is a privileged existence and because we get to see behind the scenes. We see the planning and hard work that is going on to build solid foundations for long-term success on and off the pitch.

After selling over 14,000 replica shirts last season, we have just launched the new home kit. All three are fantastic. The club shop and management hub are really taking shape. Sponsorship and commercial activity will again continue to grow and when the time is right, new exciting fresh players will be unveiled.

Only time will tell if a club gets things right on and off the field. The clamour for immediate success happens in every walk of life.

I have read suggestions that we are not prepared to compete with other clubs on wages. This can happen – but paying £250,000 for Charlie Wyke, one of the best young strikers outside the Championship, in January suggests the club are willing to compete in the marketplace. No panic buy there. The result of good recruitment and a long-term plan.

No club can be right in the first week in June. Judgement comes next May. The easiest thing in football is to spend money and spend it quickly. The hardest thing is to spend it wisely. Some clubs that spent big quickly last season struggled.

We achieved a Wembley final yet only signed Romain Vincelot days before the start of the season and Josh Cullen followed a few weeks after. Neither of those captures could be questioned, could they?

There is no guarantee of success. It doesn't exist. Fans will always suggest who their club should sign and how they should operate. Rarely will all the facts behind a deal be made public.

Last season we got more right than we got wrong on and off the field and we'll aim to do the same again. In a world dominated by instant media, it can pay to reserve judgement.