A Word of Sympathy for the Current Board.

SteveDeckchair · Post by **SteveDeckchair** » 20 Dec 2015, 01:35

Holy Crap. Worrying times indeed. Best check my Lottery ticket.......

samuel · Post by **samuel** » 20 Dec 2015, 01:50

Not sure about 'the facts' of this. Are these people mushroom in disguise. The two directors who resigned who 'saved' the club got every penny of their money back - isn't that so ex-directors. I happen to know one of the directors and the last thing on his mind would be wanting to make a big profit out of TUFC. He has family connections to the club going back over 50 years and doesn't need the money anyway. Finally Steve Breed has been connected with the club for years as a fan and then as someone who arranged the away trips etc. I have sat next to him several times in Bristows and if he is engineering the demise of the club for some ulterior motive you could have fooled me - a more passionate fan you could not wish for. Why can't the disaffeted ex-directors go to Plainmoor, is there an ASBO out on them or something. I agree it is an awful time at Plainmoor but I fail to see who can expect to make a load of money out of the club being relegated or going into administration when that club doesn't have any property assets. Horse shit.

Dave_Pougher · Post by **Dave_Pougher** » 20 Dec 2015, 06:16

Horse Shit maybe, maybe not, but I am afraid I shall need clarification and assurances before I will part with upwards of £100 per match about who owns what and that their intentions are in the best interests of TUFC. Far to man IMO have taken advantage of a kind old lady.

Who did what, with and when is now irrelevant, they are presiding over this current embarrassment that is Torquay United.

Staffsgull1 · Post by **Staffsgull1** » 20 Dec 2015, 08:49

This is obviously all really worrying. The sad thing is that whilst the board may have announced an immediate meeting to discuss 'how they will improve things on the pitch', the reality is that most of that meeting will probably end up discussing the claims from the Roberts family and what they do about it. The priority is actually how do we find the cash to get 3-4 decent players in that will save us from relegation - and real players too.

Whilst the current board have continued to make some pretty hapless mistakes, I'm pretty astonished at the insinuation that they are there to make money for themselves. It's certainly not the Steve Breed I (vaguely) know. Or does power really corrupt that quickly? And whilst in the longer term, the 'hand grenade' thrown in by the Roberts family might turn out to be a good thing, it's time for absolute transparency and openness, and some questions need to be answered by each party. I'm no expert and may miss something fundamental but mine are:

To the existing board
What is the current financial situation. Honestly? Tell us the facts. What is the new 'break even' attendance we need. Something, just tell us the truth.
In the spirit of openness, how much money have you invested in the club?
What is all this about a 'proposal to strike off' the club at Companies House? is this 'just' because we didn't submit our accounts in time. Please tell all.
Please explain the current ownership of the club in %s and is it true that Dean Edwards did or does still own 40%?
Please can we have clarity on the Masters deal, and is it true that the son just been given 20% ownership in return for £36k from his dad? If not, what is the truth.
Please can we have more openness about the Truro ground share deal, so have they paid £60k already in advance of next years ground share?
Did you really ask for £2million for the club from the Roberts family? And was that revised £220k figure set because that's the money you've invested?

To the Roberts family
I think I'm grateful for your intervention, but your statement is slightly vague. What do you mean about the existing boards 'different direction'? And 'lining others pockets'? Please tell, because it might be important.
So how much would you be planning on investing? I'm sure you're doing this with the best of intention but handing over control of the club from one board with little or no money, to another with little or no money probably doesn't help us much does it?
Did you get your investment back when you resigned from the original board, and in the spirit of openness, how much was that?
Most importantly, any chance you lot can all get together as true fans, make up, sort things out and you reinvest your money so we can sign 3-4 decent players? Cos that's more important than anything right?

Anyway apologies for the long mail, I will email my questions to the current board, and apologies if I've asked something answered elsewhere. Maybe I am getting too sucked in, and should be imploring everyone to concentrate on matters on the pitch. But i think we urgently need transparency and then everyone can concentrate on the important issues, and saving ourselves from part time oblivion in the Conference South.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 20 Dec 2015, 09:30

Yes, I'd like to know the answers to all (or most) of these questions. Please tell us what the hell is going on.

6667GULL · Post by **6667GULL** » 20 Dec 2015, 10:22

If the board and players showed even the smallest amount of the passion of the previous posters on this thread we would be top of the league not relegated with half the season still remaining.
Neither deserve our support or loyalty, our club does but not them as individuals.
Excellent post by Andy which should be copied and distributed to all directors and players for them to read and reflect on.
All we can do is make sure we fulfill all our fixtures as required and then lock he gates and go home.
TUFC RIP.

Bobbytanz · Post by **Bobbytanz** » 20 Dec 2015, 10:36

I have read this topic with interest and thought I'd put my three penny worth in ! I as a long term season ticket holder sent our Mr Breed an email expressing my worries and concern for TUFC and offering my help if required as an experienced recovery and restructuring professional

BUT I haven't even had the courtesy of a response whether it be a yes please or no thank you so my love for the club is now waivering big style and after following the Gulls since 1971 I now am considering severing my ties ...... And not making the 160 mile round trip to home games ............ A sad sad day

Dazza · Post by **Dazza** » 20 Dec 2015, 10:43

I hope you feel better for that rant 6667. Does it actually contribute anything do you think ?

BayGull · Post by **BayGull** » 20 Dec 2015, 10:56

Staffsgull1 wrote:
Whilst the current board have continued to make some pretty hapless mistakes, I'm pretty astonished at the insinuation that they are there to make money for themselves. It's certainly not the Steve Breed I (vaguely) know. Or does power really corrupt that quickly?

Come on, get real ... Mr Breed is a human being running a separate business as well as being heavily involved with TUFC.
He is not a millionaire as was Mrs Bristow - so if the chance arises to make some decent money then he will try to take it, as would any sane human being in this day and age.

Regardless of his pledges to TUFC .. and the end of the day we all know money talks today, as it did yesterday and will do tomorrow!

6667GULL · Post by **6667GULL** » 20 Dec 2015, 11:03

Yes thanks Dazza I feel a lot better and thank you for your contribution at least you read what I said whether you agree or not.

wodger of awabia · Post by **wodger of awabia** » 20 Dec 2015, 11:16

I have every sympathy for the current board after the mess that the last board left the club in, their mistake was sacking Ling & not supporting him, & employing the clown Knill, since this appointment the club has sunk lower & lower almost by the day. If there is no money to bring in 5 or 6 experienced players, then I think relegation will be a certainty, we are 8 points adrift ( 7 + 1 extra for goal difference ) so to get back in touch we most likely need to win 4 of the next 6 games. On current form this will not happen with this team. I hope that the board realise this & are meeting to plan the strategy for next season in the South. There is no doubt that Tqy will be the biggest/best supported team in this league , & given a decent team & results, gates should rise to 2,000+ . Decisions need to be made in the next few weeks re sounding out decent players who are out of contract at the end of the season, employing some, or all semi pro players & finding them jobs in this area, & other footballing staff matters. The vast majority of the teams in the South are within 80 miles of central London, so we will still be miles away from the other teams, certainly not a case of hopping on a 36 bus to get to away games.

Yorkieandy · Post by **Yorkieandy** » 20 Dec 2015, 11:19

BayGull wrote: Come on, get real ... Mr Breed is a human being running a separate business as well as being heavily involved with TUFC.
He is not a millionaire as was Mrs Bristow - so if the chance arises to make some decent money then he will try to take it, as would any sane human being in this day and age.

and therein lies the core root of everything that is wrong about football today and the reason why I have stopped going to football now altogether. There is a movement against the big money Premier League gravy train whereby many folk start going to watch football further on down the chain yet I've noticed at various clubs such as Torquay and York and others that it is actually worse at lower levels. Some of these clubs have a core fanbase of about 2500 yet still continue to piss them off and ignore them whilst year on year the football on offer gets worse, the matchday experience gets worse and the ticket prices and merchandise get more expensive. How is possible to not be able to keep hold of 2500 fans? They all know the football is shit but they still go but it's when those running the club on top of that start taking the piss that fans start rethinking if it's actually worth it. Making these fans feel as though they are contributing by regular communication and engagement takes pretty much sod all work and it keeps money in the club. It's lazy and ignorant. I can't exclusively single TUFC out for this because it's at most clubs.

An owner of a club can come in, try and make a few quid or leave the club in the shit and then they move on after a few years. The club is not in their long term interest so they don't HAVE to engage with fans or make the effort. That's the issue here. Another owner will then take over, do the same and away you go again. Unless the club is run like a family business with long term custodians and a long term strategy then it's just a merry go round and you're going to get mugged off. Simple as that.

A fan run club, although not without it's challenges is exactly that so in theory everyone is in it together and can make decisions together as it should be. There aren't any hiding places or any cloak and dagger stuff which TUFC specialises in.

Football has changed at all levels and whatever your opinion of all of it, there are two dead certs - first of all those who run clubs and the players who play for clubs don't give one shit about any of you and secondly, you'll always be expected to pay for them regardless because you've got a complex about not letting your club down.

That's how they've got you by the short and curlies.

Step back and take an objective view of everything as a whole, take into account how you feel inside, how your support of TUFC impacts your life, does it make you happy or does it make you angry and bitter? You're all different but if you do this then you can step away from all this 'proper fan' bullshit and make a decision based on thoughtful sense and not guilt. If thoughtful sense sees you never give up on your team and you feel that strongly then that's great. That's how it is for you. Everyone has a choice.

davidcaldwell123 · Post by **davidcaldwell123** » 20 Dec 2015, 11:42

Good saying in business is "manage by fact, not emotion, fear, change, uncertainty all makes people react differently, although a low level of conflict in any business can stimulate actions in the large its unproductive.

Stability and good planning is the way forward, once the dust settles we will still need this to build a solid platform for the team to perform on, the business of football is complex as you don't really get a product for your money, you get satisfaction your part of a successful dynamic rollercoaster that simulates and motivates you to keep going.

You have to bear in mind transparency is great, but sometimes you need to look at the legal, political and social impact they will have "cause and effect", the statement made has evoked much emotion, but we are no closer to stability and improvements in team performances, these distractions can be counterproductive if they no bearing on the clubs core strategy and goals, it just wastes valuable time.

Yellow-Collins · Post by **Yellow-Collins** » 20 Dec 2015, 12:06

Does anybody actually know what the plans are regarding the Club from the current board? What are their objectives and where do they ACTUALLY see the Club next season. When they took over in the Summer, I was under the impression they were the only ones available and so had no option but to save the Club as a group of 'Fans'. With no money available to invest in improving the Club then, now, or in the future, (however long that will last), shouldn't the plan have been to enable the Club to be 'functional' until new investment was found. Every effort of the current board (as fans) should have been and should still be to look for a new investor / owner with the financial clout to make a difference.

Gloomy Gull · Post by **Gloomy Gull** » 20 Dec 2015, 12:24

Dave - you are absolutely right that all successful enterprises are managed using good quality, factual information that is absorbed, considered and used to deliver successful outcomes by experienced owners/directors.

I am struggling to believe that TUFC has the team to provide good quality factual information and, for me, more importantly, the current owners/directors have yet to exhibit any ability to absorb, consider and especially, deliver any success.

BUT, we are where we are and in the absence of a team of professional and successful business people taking over, we can only pray that the current incumbents:
a) do not just walk and leave the club completely stranded
b) do acknowledge their deficiencies (we all have them) and accept offers of help, where this is a no cost option.

Fail to plan is to plan to fail!

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