Potential Buyers

[happytorq]

Ok.. I will repeat myself for one last time as I am obviously not articulating myself very well.. To a certain extent this is somewhat of a pointless discussion anyway if the TUST / Consortium bid is off the table. But should it come back on again if the preferred bidder decides not to proceed, it is important to clear this up:

1 - Where has anyone said that £150k would be sufficient to cover expenses for the season? Of course it isn't. The £150k was a fundraising proposal to raise capital alongside that being injected by the Consortium in order that TUST had a share in the bid. As long as other funds were being injected then this would provide the necessary assurance with the TUST capital then being raised over the coming weeks. Of course there is no guarantee that funds would have been raised to that extent, but they do have a certain amount of available capital to initially inject anyway and I am sure the "astute" business people preparing the bid will have made provision for this. Let's be honest, for a long time it has not been clear there was anyone else commiting a bid and therefore at least the TUST and the consortium were willing to step up and try to do something. If another bidder with deeper pockets has come along then happy days!

2 - What confidentiality clause are you talking about? Have you seen any of the Non-Disclosure Agreements that may or may not have been signed? Since when has it been a state secret to announce you are bidding to buy something? I am sorry, but I take issue with you over this and feel strongly that you are doubting the intergity of the people behind the bid and TUST. If you are an organisation that has 850+ fans of the club as members who are paying subscriptions then you have to keep them updated. I would want to know where my money is going - wouldn't you?

My sense from regarding the TUST involvement (no evidence, just supposition on my part) was that the 'local businessmen', one of whom we know to be Michael Wescott, would each have been putting in some money to get the bid off the ground. In order to be involved, the Trust would also have needed to put in a similar amount. The £150k was perhaps the buy-in for board-level involvement. Seemed entirely reasonable to me.

[RobinStubbsHero]

Ok.. I will repeat myself for one last time as I am obviously not articulating myself very well.. To a certain extent this is somewhat of a pointless discussion anyway if the TUST / Consortium bid is off the table. But should it come back on again if the preferred bidder decides not to proceed, it is important to clear this up:

1 - Where has anyone said that £150k would be sufficient to cover expenses for the season? Of course it isn't. The £150k was a fundraising proposal to raise capital alongside that being injected by the Consortium in order that TUST had a share in the bid. As long as other funds were being injected then this would provide the necessary assurance with the TUST capital then being raised over the coming weeks. Of course there is no guarantee that funds would have been raised to that extent, but they do have a certain amount of available capital to initially inject anyway and I am sure the "astute" business people preparing the bid will have made provision for this. Let's be honest, for a long time it has not been clear there was anyone else commiting a bid and therefore at least the TUST and the consortium were willing to step up and try to do something. If another bidder with deeper pockets has come along then happy days!

2 - What confidentiality clause are you talking about? Have you seen any of the Non-Disclosure Agreements that may or may not have been signed? Since when has it been a state secret to announce you are bidding to buy something? I am sorry, but I take issue with you over this and feel strongly that you are doubting the intergity of the people behind the bid and TUST. If you are an organisation that has 850+ fans of the club as members who are paying subscriptions then you have to keep them updated. I would want to know where my money is going - wouldn't you?

My general feeling is that TUST were looking to scoop up the club on a last resort basis, ie. no-one else was showing any interest. I have never doubted the integrity of those behind that bid, I just feel they are woefully short of the required funds to put on the table.
Of course, I haven't seen the non disclosure agreements, but to have got the necessary information to put forward a bid, you will have to have signed one. We have heard nothing from any other bidders, which is exactly as it should be, but Messers Westcott and Broderick came out and told the world. Interestingly, since it became serious, they appear to have clammed up.

[knightmaregull]

Ok.. I will repeat myself for one last time as I am obviously not articulating myself very well.. To a certain extent this is somewhat of a pointless discussion anyway if the TUST / Consortium bid is off the table. But should it come back on again if the preferred bidder decides not to proceed, it is important to clear this up:

1 - Where has anyone said that £150k would be sufficient to cover expenses for the season? Of course it isn't. The £150k was a fundraising proposal to raise capital alongside that being injected by the Consortium in order that TUST had a share in the bid. As long as other funds were being injected then this would provide the necessary assurance with the TUST capital then being raised over the coming weeks. Of course there is no guarantee that funds would have been raised to that extent, but they do have a certain amount of available capital to initially inject anyway and I am sure the "astute" business people preparing the bid will have made provision for this. Let's be honest, for a long time it has not been clear there was anyone else commiting a bid and therefore at least the TUST and the consortium were willing to step up and try to do something. If another bidder with deeper pockets has come along then happy days!

2 - What confidentiality clause are you talking about? Have you seen any of the Non-Disclosure Agreements that may or may not have been signed? Since when has it been a state secret to announce you are bidding to buy something? I am sorry, but I take issue with you over this and feel strongly that you are doubting the intergity of the people behind the bid and TUST. If you are an organisation that has 850+ fans of the club as members who are paying subscriptions then you have to keep them updated. I would want to know where my money is going - wouldn't you?

Spot on. The TUST bid would have been solid and undoubtedly the guaranteed initial funding coming from the individuals involved.

Submitting a bid / being interested is never going to be subject of a NDA!! It's the contents of the datasite about club finances, sponsors etc etc that access is given to that is confidential.

To suggest TUST have breached NDAs is nonsense.

[knightmaregull]

Most likely bollocks, but I’m told one bidder is James Watt, Brewdog. Previously pulled his bid before administration due to an outstanding 500k Covid loan that has now been written off.

https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2017/1 ... ccer-club/

Interesting link based on this rumour ...

[GULL 67]

Call me an old cynic, and admit i don't know much about it all, but won't a Edwards Hayman take over have a shadowy figure in the background. Maybe a person still looking for a building plot???

[CornishGull]

Call me an old cynic, and admit i don't know much about it all, but won't a Edwards Hayman take over have a shadowy figure in the background. Maybe a person still looking for a building plot???

Actually I don't think so. Torbay Council made it clear that Plainmoor is NOT for sale. Osborne has decided to clear off. Unlike a lot of people on here I don't think Osborne cares one iota about the club so won't be wasting a further second worrying about it.

[Owlgull]

https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2017/1 ... ccer-club/

Interesting link based on this rumour ...

Hmmmm, maybe there is something in this rumour. I see that James Watt has been dating local girl and national celebrity Georgia Toffolo since last year. Maybe he wants to buy her a nice present

[PainInTheGULLiver85]

Would love this to be true, but would of thought the word would have got out significantly by now.

I know some have issues with the trust consortium but seriously if the alternative right now rumoured to be true, this ain’t gonna be good for anyone. Edwards volunteering would suggest he maintains an interest for a reason….

[Southampton Gull]

Call me an old cynic, and admit i don't know much about it all, but won't a Edwards Hayman take over have a shadowy figure in the background. Maybe a person still looking for a building plot???

Yes, absolutely. The man has many tools at his disposal. Be wary, very wary!!

[greb46]

I may be way off the mark but could it be that Edwards gets hold of the club then continues to take it lower and lower (with Osborne lurking in the background)so that it can be brought up again in another year that it's no longer sustainable and bring up the building situation again with the council.Devious as Osborne can be.

[JimNichol'sdog]

If Hayman and Edwards are the preferred bidder than it's RIP Torquay United.

[MellowYellow]

Most likely bollocks, but I’m told one bidder is James Watt, Brewdog. Previously pulled his bid before administration due to an outstanding 500k Covid loan that has now been written off.

Never say never: someone has the funds to be the preferred bidder so quickly after administration. Brewdog is the ”post-punk, apocalyptic, motherfu.... of a craft brew" so why not a craft football club. Brewdog do have their fingers in football sponsorship already with a Farnham Town FC Clubhouse sponsorship deal and also partner with Forest Green Rovers plus other associated football activities. As Brewdog CEO James Watt says "as non-league moves further into the mainstream...It’s our passion at Brewdog to support the underdog and allow them to push forward and challenge". As someone on here has already commented he is on the look out to buy into a football club and a link to your assertion could be his Torquay born girlfriend, former Torquay Girls Grammar School pupil, Georgia Valerie Toffolo. We can only but hope!

[brucie]

There was previous information that a bidder had pulled out because of the covid loan - so that part appears to be correct, but that could apply to anyone.

Local newspaper now seem to be cooling on the Hayman/Edwards bid. It does appear that the new owner could well be the unnamed bidder (whover that is)

[Admiral]

Watt is publicly anti-corruption when it comes to football and the World Cup, with Brewdog running some advertising campaigns with that message. With an affection for lower league football you never know!

[brucie]

You never know I suppose - would certainly be a good advertising outlet for his company