brucie wrote:He has allegedly been at our last two home games and according to one of the other sites his car was seen at the Braintree away game. Whether this means anything or not who knows.
The options appear to be as follows:
1. Get bought out by a bloke with money (such as Smurthwaite) who it was rumoured was going to buy us out earlier in the season, Invest 1 million in the team and install Micky Adams as manager. On the other hand he may turn out to be the devil in disguise and clean us out.
2. Continue with the current owners who are well intentioned, but completely clueless with regard to running a football club and are completely financially hamstrung. We continue with a useless management duo - lose every other game between now and the end of the season and get relegated by the end of January.
I am not saying there is any other option (other than option 2) - but if there is we have to take it surely.
It's pretty likely we'll get relegated even if Smurthwaithe takes over, it'd have to be some great escape to pull our way out of the relegation zone and there is very little quality in the team. He might be aware of this though and is prepared to fund a season overspending in Conference South to get back to the top league...or he might be expecting the relegation to help kill off the club and give him his window of opportunity. Who knows.
Clive Bissel wrote:Option 1 - 1 million and Mickey Adams sounds good as for Cleaning Us Out of what........ ?
Maybe sell Bristow's Bench to Excretia and build flats in it's place leaving us with a three sided ground which would still be more than ample for our meagre crowds.
Gary Johnson's Yellow Army! Yellow Army! Yellow Army!
A) Someone like Smurthwaite comes in and puts in some cash that may, or may not, save relegation this season. Then in the not too distant future does a deal with the council to purchase the ground to on-sell for a significant profit, which will replace his initial, and any subsequent investment and more. We potentially save the club but lose the ground and move to another venue - but most don't want some "property developer" stripping the club, so want to avoid that option like the plague.
B) No-one like Smurthwaite comes in and no cash goes into the club, and we may, or may not, avoid relegation. Then in the not too distant future we have to give the ground back to the council through i) lack of cash to pay the rent ii) some act of insolvency that precludes the club from meeting it financial obligations. We probably lose the ground and potentially the club
I would prefer to take the gamble on someone "saving" the club and maybe having to move to a new venue with a club rather than lose all because of the desire to ensure "no one makes money out of our club"
Smurthwaite explains what he would have done/would do if he was owner:
As the owner of PVFC he personally could not own any shares but consulted The FL of his intentions and putting initially 1M in to fund Club
There were some conditions
All existing Management be severanced off
New Board be appointed
Micky Adams be appointed as Manager
Academy to be retained
The council agree that the Frehold be purchased at same time as Club
Although the Council would consider TUST would not revoke their application to place stadium as a community asset so time scales would be months not weeks which Phillips could not wait to be resolved
When DE bid became a reality Smurthwaite withdrew his interest although he has dialogue with Board mainly about Loan options and advice if needed
He wants to see Club back in LG2 and reinstate its Academy
He had no contact or dealings with Cox until loan was done for Nathan Smith
So to be clear there is no intention by him to be involved in Club sadly now or in the future
Smurthwaite explains what he would have done/would do if he was owner:
I see no problem with that proposal OR the conditions applied to it, except the final comment "now or in the future" - looks like that ship has sailed!
Gloomy Gull wrote:
I see no problem with that proposal OR the conditions applied to it, except the final comment "now or in the future" - looks like that ship has sailed!
He's been at our last two games, including in the directors box for at least one of them. It's fair to say that the ship hasn't sailed and indeed if he was in the directors box, something is going on at the very least.
Clive Bissel wrote:Come on Big Norman if you're reading this do the right thing you know it make sense!!!!!!
If this is something positive it needs to be sorted quickly but these things take time. I just hope the currant board don't dig their heals in when and if there is a good offer of financial security for them and the club. There is still a chance to avoid relegation if action is taken now.
