Guardian Article On Torquay
Posted: 19 Apr 2017, 20:03
A tragedy that there hasn't been, and doesn't appear to be a happy ending approaching on this issue. I planned to post my less -than-informed opinion on the issue here - then realised that what I know/assume to be happening, sadly doesn't appear to have changed since I last commented in December...
What a disgusting, deceitful and ultimately devastating collaboration. An absolute disgrace that people with the supposed interests of the club at heart have allowed this to happen on their watch. This is on them. I’m talking about the so-called ‘supporters’ in the directors box, the self-serving ‘hired help’ from Cornwall and the local paper that have failed to report any of this in a non-biased, investigative manner. Even the governing bodies, and their less-than-watertight rules that allow anyone, whatever their intentions, purchase and destroy the very organisations they have a duty of care to protect. These people were collectively the guardians of our football club, and they’ve let us all down. Those that supported the club in the past, those that continue to stand by it, and those that would’ve come after us. We’re the victims of a crime. Our final hope is the council? Might as well put the padlocks on the turnstiles now. They’re so broke, and morally corrupt there’s not a chance they’ll stand in the way of a cash windfall. All of these are complicit in a whitewash - the destruction of what, in most towns, would be considered a vital element of the community. The local football club should be cherished, and protected. Not sold off, for personal gain. This will forever be their legacy. If they had an ounce of conscience among them they’d stop it. There is still time. I’m not holding my breath.
I applaud Merse, Dave et al for managing to get this issue into the public domain. Plenty of clubs have faced similar problems, but all of them have received far more column inches. Did we become completely irrelevant when we left the football league? I guess we certainly became less noteworthy. But it's a scandal that our club is being wrenched away in this manner, without being asked so much as a question.
As for the timing, I think it's absolutely right this gauntlet is taken up now. The passion and determination of the crowd (and quite possibly the players too) certainly appeared to have been fuelled by something on Monday. Who knows how much it will ultimately help, but I absolutely don't think it will hurt. The owners and the council need to be clear - this club matters to people, more than that it belongs to those people. If you plan to take it away, you better be prepared for a fight.
What a disgusting, deceitful and ultimately devastating collaboration. An absolute disgrace that people with the supposed interests of the club at heart have allowed this to happen on their watch. This is on them. I’m talking about the so-called ‘supporters’ in the directors box, the self-serving ‘hired help’ from Cornwall and the local paper that have failed to report any of this in a non-biased, investigative manner. Even the governing bodies, and their less-than-watertight rules that allow anyone, whatever their intentions, purchase and destroy the very organisations they have a duty of care to protect. These people were collectively the guardians of our football club, and they’ve let us all down. Those that supported the club in the past, those that continue to stand by it, and those that would’ve come after us. We’re the victims of a crime. Our final hope is the council? Might as well put the padlocks on the turnstiles now. They’re so broke, and morally corrupt there’s not a chance they’ll stand in the way of a cash windfall. All of these are complicit in a whitewash - the destruction of what, in most towns, would be considered a vital element of the community. The local football club should be cherished, and protected. Not sold off, for personal gain. This will forever be their legacy. If they had an ounce of conscience among them they’d stop it. There is still time. I’m not holding my breath.
I applaud Merse, Dave et al for managing to get this issue into the public domain. Plenty of clubs have faced similar problems, but all of them have received far more column inches. Did we become completely irrelevant when we left the football league? I guess we certainly became less noteworthy. But it's a scandal that our club is being wrenched away in this manner, without being asked so much as a question.
As for the timing, I think it's absolutely right this gauntlet is taken up now. The passion and determination of the crowd (and quite possibly the players too) certainly appeared to have been fuelled by something on Monday. Who knows how much it will ultimately help, but I absolutely don't think it will hurt. The owners and the council need to be clear - this club matters to people, more than that it belongs to those people. If you plan to take it away, you better be prepared for a fight.
