Thetownend.com

ANDREW Fitton has made a last-minute dash across the Atlantic in an attempt to rescue his stuttering Town takeover bid - while admitting he already has managers in mind to succeed Paul Sturrock.
The Swindon suitor has cut short a business trip in America by 24 hours after revealing he is still at a loss to explain why takeover talks are stalling and has called a meeting today to "hammer out the problems".
Town claimed the deal could be sealed as early as today just a few days ago but, even if talks go well today, an abundance of paperwork means completion will probably have to wait until next week.
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Swindon have welcomed the news, insisting they are determined to complete the deal and are confident any outstanding issues will now be dealt with.
Fitton is expected to be at tomorrow's FA Cup second round clash at the County Ground against Forest Green Rovers.
Speaking from the States yesterday afternoon, the Ramsbury businessman revealed: l He would arrive back in London today hoping for a meeting between both parties.
l Nothing has advanced within the last 24 hours.
l He has two or three ideal candidates in mind for the vacant managerial post at the County Ground.
l He would only appoint a manager with a proven track record, but admits a former Town player would be ideal if he had the necessary experience.
l The right man' would bring stability and take Town into the Championship and keep them there.
As the Town takeover saga rumbles on, Fitton is convinced both parties are determined to complete the deal but admits the last couple of weeks have been frustrating.
He is confident rumours the Inland Revenue have given a deadline of today for the club to repay the debts are wide of the mark, but warns time is fast running out for all issues to be sorted.
He said: "I really don't understand why nothing is moving on this deal. The legal process has not progressed whatsoever within the last 24 hours.
"I am coming back from the US early and hopefully we can arrange a meeting between both sets of lawyers to hammer out the outstanding issues.
"There is an art at getting these things across and at the moment we don't seem to have it.
"It is only natural that soon people will start getting bored.
"There is still a lot of paperwork to be generated even if everything is sorted. It is frustrating the length of time this is taking."
Club director Bob Holt welcomed Fitton's homecoming.
He said: "To complete the deal is what everyone wants.
"Hopefully at this meeting everything can be ironed out and we can look forward.
"I think it is still on course.
"We have some big games coming up and I just urge all Swindon supporters to get behind their team."
Some Town fans though, are planning a funeral procession' and peaceful protest at tomorrow's match.
7:30am today

Is he back yet? According to WDP it's this pm when he arrives and goes straight to a meeting:

http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145787&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145780&contentPK=19117845&folderPk=100269&pNodeId=145803

Less positive reporting, but at least something is happening:

CRUCIAL MEETING FOR SWINDON TAKEOVER BID
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BY JAMES [email protected]

08:00 - 30 November 2007



The consortium planning a takeover of Swindon Town is set to concede defeat if the deal is not completed today.

The bid's leader, Andrew Fitton, is due to return from America this afternoon and go straight into a meeting with current owner Sir Seton Wills to find out if the offer he tabled a fortnight ago has been accepted.

The Wiltshire-based millionaire met Wills and his business advisors earlier this week to address a number of outstanding issues. The Daily Press understands some last-minute amendments to the offer were requested at that meeting, but have since been refused by Fitton and his associates.



Article Continues  

 
 
 


The consortium is understood to have made an offer to take on Swindon's existing debts, thought to amount to about £6 million, in return for full control of the club.

The bidders are expected to issue a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum at today's summit, which has been described as "crucial" to their continued pursuit of the club.

Worried fans are already planning protests before the FA Cup tie against Forest Green Rovers at the County Ground tomorrow.

Supporters Trust chairman Paul Davis said: "It is quite clear that the only way the club can survive is for a takeover deal to be completed.

"The current owners have an obligation to do what is best for the club and that means they have to sell up and go now."

Joint caretaker-managers David Byrne and Ady Williams will take charge of the team for the first time since Paul Sturrock left for Plymouth Argyle this week.

Former Leicester City boss Martin Allen and a number of other candidates have already confirmed their interest in the vacancy. But Byrne and Williams have yet to rule themselves out of the running for the job on a full-time basis.

Byrne said: "We have been asked to do the job and until told otherwise we will continue to do that.

"We don't need to apply for the position because we are in the job and all we have to do is steer the ship in the right direction.

"If we get results and the board thinks it is fitting that we should be offered the job permanently, then we will sit down and discuss it."

Sotoday is our last chance.

Thanks Diamandis- i hope what goes around comes around

Bart, lets give it a chance eh? If MD Fucks this deal up then it will be time to unleash hell but until that time lets try and keep optomistic because this is really beginning to get me down.

I disagree Foggie, I think we've given this lot far too much time to look on the bright side.  I'm with Bart on this until the current board have gone I'm looking on the negative, this is gonna fook up, side of things.

Now is not the time for optimism, I hope Fitton manages to convince Wills to go, taking his cronies with him, but I fear it's not gonna happen.

Why can't our club just be boring behind the scenes for a few years.

It's all so depressing.

We'd still find something to complain about though.  8)

Yeah, we demand a new multi-purpose, state of the art 80,000 capacity stadium, with a fully retractable roof NOW... FRITTON OUT

If he suceeds in screwing upo the deal, it will be too late to "unleash hell". If we want to save the club, this deal needs to go through. Diamond promised us last December that he will if nessecary take the club under with him. If this deal is not dome in the NEXT FEW HOURS, DAYS AT MOST, the club dies.

1 hour 40 minutes  and counting. Tick tock...

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Does anyone else feel like you're waiting outside an operating theatre, pacing up and down waiting for news, whilst a close member of your family is having a life saving operation at the moment??  :cry:

Or is it just me that feels like that??!!  :-))(

Not sure how I've managed to do any work today - just seemed to be glued to the websites waiting for news!!!!

You what?! :P

Surely we have til after 5 if we need it?

i still have some serious reservations that fitton is any good for us.
i know nothing about the bloke and his reasons for wanting to take over.
are people just desperate for him to take over to rid us of the current lot?basically i mean, could it be anybody and people would be demanding they get the club.
or is he the real deal and i've missed something?

 
Fucking too right!

The bloke also sounds like a proper businessman which is what the club needs.

I think the phrase "beggars can't be choosers" springs to mind with me.  We're basically the homeless and Mr Fitton is offering us a place to crash for the winter.

He could be a mass murderer ready to pounce as we sleep at night, but he might be a secret millionaire from that Channel 4 programme.  And I'm willing to take the gamble.

 :D If it pleases you i have changed it back from my jargon

i want the board out but wont chant somebodys name i know nothing about.
he will have to earn it

To be fair arriba, he's covered that fairly extensively in interviews with the Adver Radio Swindon etc.

1) He's an honest decent bloke
2) He has business savvy and access to the funds needed to stabilise the club
3) He's a genuine football man

And let's face it, any one of those three would be a novelty for us.

That's completely fair enough and eminently sensible, IMHO.

come on fitton deal or no deal

I think a statement will be released about 5.30 saying some bullshit like they are hoping that the takeover will be completed next week, i don't know about you but if that does happen the shit has probably hit the fan.

I'm working on that basis that 'no news is good news' this afternoon.

Crossed fingers, toes and testicles that we get a deal.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE x a million

PLEASSSSE

let there be a statement saying TAKEOVER COMPLETE - FITTON TAKES CHARGE!!!

PLEASSSE

no news is good news? can't believe how much good news we've had lately

Only a statement from Fitton will be acceptable though, a statement from the board saying it has been completed is not acceptable and will not be believed and will not stop tomorrow's protests, we heard it all before from them regarding the best takeover, if they really want to stop tomorrow's protest's then fitton will need to come out and say it has been completed.

fucking hell, are you a teenage girl?

soapy tit wank!!!!111111onetwothree

I believe they issued some statement in August saying that when BEST was around.....and it wasn't !!!

Had you not realised that?

Fatbury went to see Take That recently and I think he messed his thong.

you're not the only one :|

If the takeover was completed, would more people go tomorrow??

I'd love it if that happened... I seriously doubt it though. We'll be told to wait til Monday.

I'm "working" from home  :wink:

Im not too keen on the whole Chanting for Fitton thing. Seem to remember we did the same thing for a certain mr Brady and his pals :(

Yup that's what i'm expecting as well.

I wouldn't wan't to be slimey mike if it all goes Tits up

Still you make your bed you lie in it

i know what you are saying, but with respect this is a totally different situation.

if fitton doesn't take over, then it's more than likely that we will get a winding up order, and a subsequent 10 point penalty from the football league. suddenly, your martin allens, steve cotterills, martin lings, etc disappear and are replaced by the likes of mel machin, andy king and ian atkins.

And Brady never did takeover, Wills never sold to him, just let him have a go at the train set.

:soapy tit wank:

Fat controller?  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

We're waiting...

 :tea:

Is it :beers: or is it :suicide:  

As tails says, unless Fitton throws a fit and tells them to do one it'll be left open until next week.

I think maybe we need some speculation to chew on!!

That prompted me to go and grab a coffee :D The power of emoticons

I take no responsibility for people getting drunk and blowing their brains out. I'm looking at you Flammibleben

I think we've got quite enough speculation to chew on myself.

I feel that anything other tha completed tonight will result in a holtism saying next week.

Even if Fitton has walked and told them to keep their profitless bigtop, squirty flowers, custard pies and funny men, a statement will still say it will be completed next week to not exacerbate the already angry fanbase.

I'm doing the drunk bit, but not the blowing my brains out - I would only miss anyway. FFS the tension  :(

:porn::wanker:

Have agood night chaps  :D

Next week isn't really good enough, if it's going to get done surely it will be done today, if the board really want to stop the protests then they will get it done today otherwise hopefully tomorrow's protests will be really strong and maybe make them piss off next week.

I have to be honest I really wasn't expecting an announcement at all today, but for some strange reason as we approach 1700 I can't help but feel a little disappointed.

As I posted on another thread - brace your self for a "Deal to be complete" on Monday statement from Bob.  It will be painted as a certainty but the only purpose will be to try and dampen the protests.  Like most of you, I'll be protesting unless Fitton stands in front of the press and announces he's taken over.

There has to be an announcement today surely.  At some stage.

1734, 1816, 1923 who knows when they will have to say something.

IF they really are doing a deal, it could be a late night/early morning job. My money is still on a 'holding' statement,

I'm actually fricken nervous. This is madness. I can't do anything about it!

If Baghdad Bob does release a statement saying that the takeover will be done next week a few people may believe him, but the majority won't believe it as holt talks so much shit, like redbullzeye said above the protests must go ahead unless Fitton announces that he is the new owner, anything less just won't work, i hope the protests are big tomorrow and i sincerely hope they have the right effect this time as usually it doesn't do much, if 500+ protest tomorrow the board will be shitting themselves.

Yup, my trousers are in danger of filling up. And not in a good way.

That's the problem mate, if that were true it'd be great, but it's not.  The majority choose to believe everything they read on the net/in the papers.  Therefore Bob Holt could say Elvis Presley is trying to take over the club and the majority would believe the bloke.

Maybe but more and more people are turning against the board, i just sincerely hope that tomorrow's protest's are not a let down like in the past when they were around 50-100 people protesting, if there's no statement today or if the takeover hasn't gone through then i hope there is chanting for Fitton during the game and hundreds of people doing the funeral march and hundreds of people behind the arkells, we need to put massive pressure on them and give them no choice but to go now.

I suspect most people will protest with their feet tomorrow and not bother going.

    I've had any number of people ask me this week, WTF is happening at the CG, and all I can do is  :shrug:.......haven't a clue.  The general public seem to have the message that this could be our last match, and not be too bothered by it.

    I think its seen like losing a sub post office....bit annoying, but sort of inevitable and there's always a bigger one to go to, with a better range of services.

   I just wish it had been  Rotherham.

Unless Fitton himself releases a statement by tomorrow morning stating that the deal is as good as done, the fans have to protest like it's 1999.

Whereas before, people were not entirely clear exactly what they were protesting about or against, there is now something tangible for everyone to rally around. i.e accept the God dammned mother fucking offer you mother fuckers or our Club dies. There's been too much pussy footing around to date. Tomorrow has to be the big one.

Agreed tomorrow has to be massive, we have to make it crystal clear to the board, get out or be forced out, it might get nasty if it does it does, this is what it has come down to.

I remember being on the pitch after the watford game when we forced Mcmahon out, it proves if you have the right amount of people and really push things it can force anyone out, let's hope the same happens with the board.

 I'll look forward to seeing you behind teh Arkells then OST.

This has just been posted on thisis....:

Lard boy Diamands wants £1.3m for redundancy payments for Starnes, Lamberet, Grey and himself, before he will release his shares in the holding company that he paid £10 for.
That is the sticking point.

Post by MrOldTownRed on thisis:
Lard boy Diamands wants £1.3m for redundancy payments for Starnes, Lamberet, Grey and himself, before he will release his shares in the holding company that he paid £10 for.
That is the sticking point.

Apart from Mike D the rest are employees of STFC arent they?

Which would mean the new owners would take them on when they take on the club and any redundancy would be paid by STFC under the new regime?

He's just posted again saying Fitton wouldn't pay it hence him not getting the club.

that bloke has a reputation for being a wind-up merchant.

i've never heard of directors getting redundancy pay though!

This is probably a wind up as well but i'll post it anyway, this was posted on myonlyswindon earlier today by town_end_wig

On the way to the town centre this morning I happened to be party to a supposedly informed discussion over the reasons why Seat and will appear completely under the spell of Dime and mike.

This unnamed person who may or may not have been connected with a Newbury based business was adamant that Dime and mike have "something big" over Seat and will which they would never want "getting out in the open".

I of course could only speculate on what said person whose name is unknown to me could have been referring to. But he or she was convinced that this was the reason why Dime and mike had enjoyed such a charmed existence over the years.

Hope this helps.

   Fuck me SY the world is awash with execs/ directors who get massive golden handshakes for incompetence.....Diamond Mike probably thinks he's some sort of major player.

Not unusual in business for the top men to get a golden handshake, even in cases of failure.

But this is surely a piss take on oldtownreds part!

Hope so Batch.

Still waiting..

 :tea:

Don't look like we are going to hear anything today  :fu:  board.

redundancy pay though? a couple of mill to fuck out off of it, sure, but never heard it referred to as redundancy pay though

how long have they been in there now? are the talks still going on? if its been more than a few hours surely there must be enough common ground to wrangle it out? redundancy package??

fuck , this is painful  :|

Meh, an overnight statement or early tomorrow wouldn't be a major surprise.

Diamandis is just being greedy as per usual, he just wants to screw people out of more and more money.

he's missing out on the sturrock compensation  :fu:

I doubt they're doing much negotiating in the Apartment...

I'd love to meet you behind teh Arkells Reg :shock:

pointless update but better than silence, i suppose...

negotiations are ongoing but no details have been leaked out yet, there's still a possibility of an announcement being made tonight.

there is still hope at least.

Oh I hope so Sonic, I havent been so on edge for years...even though I know its pointless as they wont say anything tonight  :(

They won't say anything tomorrow either if it falls through because they won't want the protests to be any worse than they are already going to be.

Wheres that from?

someone left me a voicemail

(no it wasn't ben lambert)

:D Diamandis?

mike bowden 8)

it was me doing my Holt impression

sonic im off to work but i will be on my phone til 4 30 am. please let us know if anything happens. cheers.

Ooh you tease!

(But I know who it was  :mrgreen: )

Was it Sherlock Manatee?

Fuck, Si's sussed us.

Protests must continue in earnest tomorrow unless it comes from Fitton himself that the deal is done.

The board will put out a statement sometime tonight/tomorrow am to stall protests- please dont fall for it again

Will you be protesting Bart?

Yes

come and introduce yourself :D

I agree that protests must go ahead unless we hear from Mr.Fitton, statements from baghdad bob, lambert etc won't wash with us anymore, no doubt they will come out with some rubbish to try and stop the protests, some people will fall for it but most people will just carry on.

Well lets hope people do not fall for it this time. And they protest whatever the result,. Not like Tranmere- we get a late winner and suddenly everything is ok- its not

Will you be with your trusty sidekick as always?

dont do sidekicks mate

Id like to shake Barts hand as fair play he predicted everything and many people have been a tad bit out of order to him

this is a momentous occasion - bart responded to TWO questions. he is human, rejoice!

Bart's alright really, least he cares and is not a fencesitter, just got to wait and see whether his predictions for the inland revenue deadline are correct or not.  :mrgreen:

I wonder whether we are going to hear anything tonight? surely someone can get some info from someone close to the club?

no news might be good news in some respects

no bullshit attempts to put people off protesting
no "we've cocked it up again but? we'll blame it on fitton, what's plan b?" statements

the silence could mean that they're locked in some hardcore negotiating. anyone wanna pop down the CG and see if any lights are on

I don't think they're at the county ground, probably in london.

i was joking.

You bastard, I was just warming the car up.

it's gone 11 now and still no news.

maybe it's a done deal and they are going through the formality of completing all the paperwork before making the big announcement...

No news is no news. I'm going to bed, when I wake up there might be news.

It feels like Christmas eve/morning as a kid. Has he been yet? Did he bring me what I wanted?

So what do you guys reckon then do you think they have finally managed to complete the deal or is it no deal?

No Deal

More talks over the weekend. Ultimately deal, but I won't be surprised either way.

Evil Knevils died..it could be a sign :shock:

He is home, lives near Marlborough!

My mate delivers his post, spoke 2 him 2day, just said hi etc

poor evel.

how did he die?

bbc.co.uk seems to have missed that bit out of it's article.

i was sure tony hart was going to be next.

DIAMOND OUT

No to Tony Hart!

and

http://mensnewsdaily.com/2007/11/30/motorcycle-legend-evel-knievel-dead-at-69/

He had diabetes, pulmonary fibrosis and an incurable lung condition.

I wonder if they will fire his ashes over the Grand canyon.

(I stole that joke).

By the looks of things they have done a lot of talking today, surely it's either deal or no deal.

In what way was that coinstructive or helpful to the debate?I'm not disagreeing with you...it's just that you seem to have some weird thourettes/OCD combination where you repeat yourself over and over and over and over and over again needlessly needlessly needlessly

what makes everyone so sure they've been in discussions all night?

Sonic Youth posted this at 8.30pm:

pointless update but better than silence, i suppose...

negotiations are ongoing but no details have been leaked out yet, there's still a possibility of an announcement being made tonight.

there is still hope at least.

yes

yes?

01:00

Doesn't look like we'll hear anything tonight!

Night all!

It appears that way, maybe we will hear something in the morning, then again maybe night, i thought someone might have some inside info but it appears not.

I'm not sure where all this hanging on news has come from.....its pretty obvious that this board will cling on  and reject Fitton's overtures.

 The only question is how you as a fan will respond to this.

It wouldn't surprise me with this board however later today us fans are going to show the board how much we want them out and things are going to be very uncomfortable and i can see things getting out of hand, it's the end for this board one way or another.

  You and I know both know that the response of the fan base will be a sullen walking away, of the flaky.  The regular TEF mob will be there and maybe 50 or so more.  

 Its just how it is...still we'll have a laugh.

Sorry but this time i disagree, more and more people are turning against the board and a lot of people are aware of the situation, i would be very disappointed if there were less than 300 people protesting tomorrow, to be honest i can see it being more than that, maybe in the region of 400-500, i think things have gone too far and more people are now on board to protest, if people are not going to protest now they never will, the current situation will hit home with people who were once fencesitters, this is the time to fight for our club, it could be our last chance and i think this time we are going to take it, i could be wrong but i can honestly see more than 50 people protesting, if 50 were to turn up it would be a total joke and a disaster and then we will watch the club disappear as the board will be laughing.

I'm with you OBP, i do a see a quite good turn out. I hope there's a good turn out anyway. I'm even motivated to take part and i normally find any excuse to retire to the relative warmth of home.

Although i'm motivated to take part, there's an unfortunately strong possiblity i may not be able to leave the house tomorrow. :(

The old dear is going away for the day and my dear old 88 year old Nan, who lives with my Mum can't be left alone. I promised my Mum i'd look after her a while back, but wasn't to know quite what tomorrow would bring.

Maybe i'll drag her along. Her continual repeating of the same question and being both blind and deaf, along with having an ability to tell very long mindless stories, with no real start or conclusion, could give us a great weapon to inflict upon the Holt circus.

Maybe i could tell her to ask holt if fitton is going to get the club and if he fails to answer, then to tell him a lovely stories about shortcake until we get an answer.

i'm sure by 5am we'll have comfirmation, it's only ten past four in the morning, give them a chance.

I have gone squared staring at this screen hitting the refresh button waiting to see if its happened! :shock:

i'm going to bed now, want to be in the pub in less than seven hours. fB lost at poker again btw.

I guess that puts me on the morning shift then, hmmm, the only one here. Time for football manager then innit!

Oh well, still nothing solid then from the adver

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/display.var.1873434.0.the_wait_goes_on.php

TALKS to break the deadlock over Andrew Fitton's proposed Swindon Town takeover continued late into last night - as two more names were linked with the vacant manager's role at the County Ground.

Ramsbury-based Fitton headed straight into meetings with club owner Sir Seton Wills' team, after jetting back from the United States in an attempt to end the impasse over his offer.

Fitton told the Swindon Advertiser yesterday that several problems surrounding the deal still needed to be "hammered out'' - taking them past the original November 30 deadline he had set for the process to be completed by.

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It is understood that the sticking points are last-minute amendments requested to the original offer.

Fitton, who has expressed disappointment at the length of time the deal was dragging out, was expected to be in the stands for this afternoon's FA Cup second round clash with Forest Green Rovers (3pm), as supporters planned protests over the ongoing crisis.

Town director Bob Holt, who was not present at yesterday's meeting, said he was "waiting by the phone for news'' from the major shareholder Wills.

Meanwhile, two further candidates emerged as possible replacements for the departed Paul Sturrock, as Swindon Advertiser readers voted in their hundreds in our Next Town Manager' poll.

The Advertiser understands that Bury boss Chris Casper and ex-Preston chief Paul Simpson could also be interested in the post vacated by Sturrock.

Casper has emerged as a new candidate, having done well on a limited budget at Gigg Lane and could be ready to make the step up to League One.

Former Carlisle and Rochdale chief Simpson is available, having only recently parted company with Championship Preston North End.

Nearly 1000 votes were cast in the first few hours of our poll to choose Town's next manager, with four names clearly out in front.

Supporters can continue to vote at today's game between 1-3pm, via our special booth on the corner of the Arkells Stand next to the Town End at the County Ground, or via our website http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/poll (See panel below).

The results will be announced in Tuesday's Swindon Advertiser.

7:00am today

Chris Casper?!

Still nothing - atleast they've not tried to quash our protests this time

I am a twit but protesting is a waste of time, as is inteding to chant the name of a person who is 'set to complete' a 'takeover'

Protesting is never a waste of time. If the only thing protesting achieves is getting our voices heard that at least is something.

Do you wants us to go down without a fight?

It may end up as a futile gesture, but at least those that protest can say they tried (And I'm a person that doesn't usually protest)

change the record you clueless prick

Oh and you know it all don't you, and of course you are the final word in this matter?
Whos to say this bloke isn't another time waster like Best? They talk a good talk but when push comes to shove nothing

Why don't you reply to my post?

I've never really though protesting in football was worthwhile, the voices may get heard but it doesn't come off very good on the club involved and invariably we could always have something to complain about (like how there are too many Germans in this country :wink: ) - I just don't anybody knows the full story and that protesting may get vocies heard but achieves very little.

it's generally accepted common practice that you have some knowledge of something before passing comment on it.

and you don't.

Protesting seemed to work for Lou Macari........

The story is that we're skint (The club admits this)

The owners want to offload (The club admits this)

We've had a number of takeover offers, but they always seem to stall. For a club in debt, with no real assets, ie ground, how much do you think we're worth?

Fitton may not be a knight in shining armour, but he wants to invest in the club, which is more than the current incumbents do.

What would it take for you to do something?

Protesting may achieve very little, but doing fuck all (Which you appear to advocate) does exactly that............................FUCK ALL

the way I see it is that we have had many false dawns with regards takeovers, with people like Best being, effectively time-wasters for what reason I don't know - publicity? So I am sceptical about any takeover talk until the people invloved have it signed, sealed and delivered.
I know the board get a huge amount of stick and I think that sometimes they are used as a scape-goat for the problems - and I dare say that they have contributed to it. But in general I don't think they have done badly after all we are still in business thanks to SSW money and we will conunite to be regardless of if Mr Fitton takes over or not - I firmly believe this. All football clubs at have huge financial problems it comes with the territory.

However this is just my view on it.

And besides (fingers crossed) it may be the last time we ever get the chance to give them hell!!!

Well your view is a crock of shit.

we are have negative equity and therefore are worth whatever minus figure the debts equate to. I don't think as supporters short of not turning up every game - which people just will not do en mass (and anyway this would hit the club in the pocket so is not a great idea to hurt the finances even more) there is much that can be done

if you believe we can continue to lurch from crisis to crisis for an indefinite period of time, then so be it. however, that is naive in the extreme - SSW has kept the club afloat by mortgaging every property he has, what happens when that money runs out?

fitton might not be the saviour, nor might he turn out to be the right man to take this club forward but we do not have the luxury of time and beggars cannot be choosers.

this club needs new owners and if fitton is the man to takeover then i'll be thrilled.

fwiw, he's made all the right noises and the way he's conducted business in tems of negotiations is very encouraging and suggests that he will run this club like a proper business.

not all clubs have overdue CVA payments due to HRMC which threatens our very existence - that is indisputable fact my german friend.

I agree any NEW money invested is vital and essential to maintaining a football club of any substance, and I also agree Mr Fitton does appear to going about it the right way. Its just when investors - not just him- use the board as an excuse, I do question whether or not they really want to. But who can blame them a club is a great big money pit that constantly needs feeding

Ok. You do nothing then.

I'm not going to resort to personal insults, I just can't understand the mentality of someone who purports to be a Swindon fan just letting the club lurch from crisis to crisis without at least voicing their dissatisfaction with those at the helm.

I'd rather 'waste' my time protesting than do nothing, at least I'll know I did all I could.................................

Let the protest begin, I will be in the Merlin by 1...lets do it!

what's the single common factor in the failed takeovers?

if they didn't really want to takeover, why would they piss about trying? they're businessmen, not minor celebrities.

yes, I see what you mean. I think they look at the finances closely and :shock:

and who is to blame for the state of the finances at STFC?

the fans?

its disappointing nothing has been concluded .. is Fitton pissing us around too I ask myself?? Was there ever a serious takeover bid?? Is it just another bid to buy some time??

by all accounts he put some money up front to keep HMRC sweet, so i would suggest that he is, or was, very serious.

I think Fitton's trying to do a deal. But he's not stupid - he's a businessman who's after the best possible deal he can get. And time's on his side. If the end really is nigh for the club in its current state then the "price" (i.e. future rights etc) gets cheaper by the day.

It's not Fitton that's messing around it's this fucking board, they amended the last deal with BEST at the last minute and they are doing the same again, hopefully today they will get the message that we want them and fitton in now, this cannot go on much longer the board are taking the piss.

I've noticed that banbury has posted on thisis that diamond is not in the running? this indicates that wills could possibly be the one delaying this takeover?

Possibly. Unless he means that after last nights meeting Diamond is no longer a factor in getting a deal done.

Well if it's not diamond that's messing things up it's will's either way they need to go now because i'm sick of this crap and everyone else is, why can't they just get the fuck out of our club? i hope there is alot of chanting for fitton today especially as he is going to be at the game, come on fitton get this scum out of our club.

Also banbury has said that the outcome must be concluded by next week so time is running out, i wonder if he means by monday or next friday? i think he's indicating that there may be a HMRC deadline of next week.

if wills is the issue, he's likely to be a lot more susceptible to pressure - which makes the protests today even more crucial IMO.

Agreed, wills will crack if these protests today are the best yet and we get high numbers.

Update from Banbury ... it's a red herring! Not True about Diamond  :(

http://forum.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1887&start=15

However he does say this:

It's all down to SSW.

so what the fuck was that about then?

Banbury is confusing me more than the architect in The Matrix did!

Either way, please, please lets try and exert some pressure today.  

See you at the funeral procession.

Wishful thinking?

If you click the link and scroll back Banbury posted Diamond out of the running. Appears he was given bum in fo.

i can't, i'm not registered.

He does say though that all 4 walls are closing in by the hour and that it's all down to ssw.

axs ...

So you won't have been able to read the details of the alleged "hold" over Wills? That's tough, explains a lot in there.

wheretherealreadsare, link please?

there's a lot of guff on there, i'd rather not wade through it if at all possible.

link to which bit?

this is to the Diamond non runner thread

http://forum.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1887&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

http://boards.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1019&p=16&style=1&forumId=3486&action=1&replytoid=527560555

the alleged hold over wills. never mind, i'm reading it now anyway.

apparently the first protest action was for someone to super-glue some key holes at the county ground. the staff can't get in. very good!

More doors than you can make stick at the CG ...

if that's true then it's genius.

i heard that as well, a forumer told me.

Nice one.

who? i demand to know your sauce.

the duke of banbury.

on another note, bape has confirmed he is now in plymouth.

i think he was either blackley, or summerfield (or whatever their names are).

Banbury said this on thisis: If the Fitton deal goes through we have a football Club.
If the Fitton deal fails we face serious closing down.

This Club owes money.......CVA, Inland Revenue, St Mowden and other Creditors including the Council.
No doubt all are waiting with fingers crossed that the deal happens now.

If no deal all will come gunning for their money and the walls will come tumbling down. Diamond has no money and The Wills have run out. Can't see them remortgaging their personal assets anymore as they could end up buying the Big Issue.

He also said that the decision is now firmly with the wills.

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: Somebody superglued the locks so that nobody can get in, if that man/lady ever identifies himself then I will shake his hand and BUY THAT MAN A BEER.

Could be Iris  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Did someone really superglue the locks?

that is genius

Just confirmed on the beeb.

QUALITY!!! Cost them 500 quid for a locksmith apparently!

Did he say the locks in the North stand? Bit muffled on t'internet, but if so sounds like an inside job! Maybewe have somebody behind enemy lines? Looking for WMD ... wankers called "---- ---------"

Hold up due to technical problem with development rights being with Shaw Park Developments according to AF on Radio Swindon. This has JUST been pointed out by lawyers ... ffs what have the briefs been doing? Why only now point this out???

Otherwise encouraging, doesn't seem to be financial problems. Hope this interview will be put on the RS website.

Quick summary from Hodgetts interview with Andrew Fitton.

Technical difficulties from a legal standpoint regarding the Ground. Development rights to the CG put into Shaw Park Developments. Trying to bring the development rights 'in house'. Big legal technicality proving difficult to break down. Down to the lawyers to solve. Other parties involved who may need to be consulted (unnamed).

Nothing to do with money.

Been wanting to do a deal for five years. Concerned though that the deal may not go through next week due to above legal difficulties.

Wouldn't name consortium backers, but all have an interest in sport and the local area. One in particular is very well known. Jeremy Rae (sp) named as his investment partner.

Open mind on potential new manager - will be based on looking for the best man for the job and not necessarily a Swindon connection. Not his style to take a risk on an unproven manager.

Doesn't sound too good with regards to the problems with the shaw park developments.

Also i've been told there was a very poor turnout today of around 100 people and i thought most fans wanted to really hammer home the message today, obviously not.

My take is that its a new issue resulting from Fitton's desire to bring everything STFC back 'in house' rather than spread through a series of holding and/or development companies.

If the deal is not going to go through next week and this problem delays and delays this takeover surely by then it will be too late?

My general summary is that he is determined to buy the club, or in his own words "tenacious".

I just hope that he doesn't get pissed off and give up.

Anybody ... listening to that AF interview, do you think any criticism on forums has been unfounded?

Possibly, although maybe AF is just being very very diplomatic!

Pumbaa ... agreed. The fact that he said effectively that the legals have been told to sort it sounded promising. Just hope that others involved in SPD are willing to allow resoltion of the technical difficulty.

If you mean criticism of the current board, then maybe. Problem is though they have a bit of 'history' with regards to failed takeover attempts that means many folk are skeptical when the board make any form of statement.

Problem is now that if the other people involved in the shaw park developments don't want to deal with fitton then it will collapse.

I am so disappointed by the turnout today for the protests i really thought there were going to be a good few hundred protesting, but 100 people protesting is not very good, the board probably find it hilarious, if i was there raining or not i would be protesting.

Amen to that. Not looking for any retraction here, maybe a lot of it wouldn't have occurred if the board had been more communicative ... oh, yeah they don't do that well.

Now football .... come on Town!

It is possible, and is stress the word "POSSIBLE", after that interview that much of the specualtion is unfounded.

BUT, if that is the case then the board STILL only have themsleves to blame for not keeping us in the loop. If we knew what was happeneing then we would have no to to speculate in the first place would we.

How do you know only 100 people were at the march? Sauce?

Recieved a text from someone at about 2.45 informing me of the poor turnout.

So you were vastly exaggerating then?

I just think that considering the club's future is on the line 100 people protesting is poor and i expected a few hundred at least.

Weather a factor maybe? Ed Hadwin did say it was pissing down earlier.

Maybe but the weather wouldn't stop me protesting, hopefully if it stops raining they may be may people protesting after the game.

Ah, just a misunderstanding, iampissedafterall. Surely a better turn out for the attendance after the match though! Although if Fritton's interview filters through the crowd then it may take the edge off.

Thats certainly possible. What I don't understand is the nature of the problem with SPD - is anyone from the board also involved in this company? Something in the back of my mind tells me they are, but I'd need confirmation of that.

Bear with me here! SPD??, sorry if I'm being fick!

This Shaw Park Developments thing concerns me, it probably do has something to do with the board no doubt! Also it will involve other people, i know Fitton said that lawyers are working on it but they need to sort it out quickly we have very little time left, i fear this could be a stumbling block and could potentially ruin this takeover, i don't know too much about Shaw Park Developments, hopefully someone can shed some light on this situation.

Ahhhh SPD = Shaw Park Developments.

I may be slow at times but I always get there in the end.

Somebody somewhere (RobT I think) posted some information on SPD some time back. I'm trying to find it, bear with me.

Google's not helping me.....

Here's some info: http://www.sfpg.org.uk/shawpark.doc

Right, I see now.

Thanks for that, cos it makes sense now.

As you can see from that document Bob Holt, Sandy Gray and James Wills are director's in that company along with 3 other's.

Yep, the penny has now fallen.

The board should of had this soughted before negotiations started with fitton surley they must of known the score when dealing with best holdings before that went tits up . These people are bloody amateurs who are running our club and a disease i cant wait to they leave :fu:

And three names spring to attention pretty quickly. James Wills, Bob Holt and Sandy Gray....

Exactly what I was looking for, but couldn't find. Cheers.

Directors on there include Sandy Gray, Bob Holt and James Seton Wills. Others may be something to do with St. Modwen who IIRC were involved in the failed Shaw tip plan.

I agree with newmarket red surely the board knew the situation with regards to this before having talks with best holdings and fitton? they have left it a bit late haven't they, too late i wonder?

IIRC, isn't SPD a joint venture between the CLub and St Modwen?

Just like domino rally, you knock over the first domino and the rest just fall into place!

In regards to my understanding of the situation I mean.

Yes i think you are correct.

SPD are registered up in Brum and have a St Modwen director on the board.  They're currently developing the Marina on the old piggeries site in Hungerford, which was/is SSW's land.

If I remember rightly some of the loans are through SPD.

So Dazzza, would it be fair to say that this 'technicality' could be the 'fault' of the club, indirectly through their relationship with SPD. Hypothetically.

Does our favorite GM have anything to do with SPD?

Is this situation likely to scupper the takeover? our time is running out even banbury has said we only have until next week surely this cannot go on much longer.

Last time I looked Not directly or even through a proxy but if Bob and Sandy are listed they're usually under his control.  Both originally came from Dunwoody and usually represent his interests on the board of his companies.

If you go back a bit Dunwoody always had the development rights for the new stadium.  Even back in the days of Shaw park.

It hasn’t really been mentioned much since the last development went belly up and there was the reported “lovers tiff” (Bob’s words) a few years back to boot.

Bit naughty really if the board and SSW’s haven’t divulged that information as it’s certainly never been publicly reported that those rights had been terminated.

Listening to Fitton the impression is,  if they don't resolve it no deal. And it seems they have until the end of next weeek, if I read Fitton right.

Do St Modwen have a debenture in this company?

So if Hungerford FC decided to build a new stadium in/near Swindon and invited STFC to groundshare or leased it to STFC for say 999 years ... would that circumvent the technicality?

I'm sorry to be negative but i cannot see this takeover going through as it's upto other people as well as seton wills etc, as i said above banbury has said we have until next week, fitton's not going to hang around forever and as he said he goes off abroad next weekend so he will want it done by then.
I can see it collapsing though unfortunately and then it leave's us with no club as we cannot continue with this board and creditors are going to take matters into their own hands.

You have to keep hoping, but this does sound like a complex legal issue.  And issues like this do not, on the whole, resolve themselves in the timescale we need.  This could be with the lawyers for months...and we simply do not have that much time.  I'm hoping, but not enormously optimistic.

I agree, there is not enough time for this, it's just not going to happen, what i can't understand is shouldn't the board have done something about this a long time ago?

Not directly, it's the Holding Co and St Modwen. The other directors are all St Modwen

So what do you think of the situation paul? do you think it is likely to be resolved? or is this issue going to scupper the takeover? i know it's a fairly big legal issue but how much of a problem is it?

Until we establish exactly what the nature of the problem is, it's very difficult to tell. The claim that SPD/Holding Co hold some form of rights to do ANY ground redev has always seemed extremely tenuous, but Fitton clearly wants to buy the club unencumbered by any residual problems or anyone stomping up and saying "Aha, I see you're planning on doing a ground redevelopment, we'll have £25m for that, ta". They might not have such rights, but it may be a question of wishing to avoid any prospect of a legal tussle in the future. Most likely, the current incumbents are waving the SPD claim around in an attempt to secure a pay-off, rather than there being any hard and fast black and white certainty over it. The problem is as others have pointed out that any such issue may be complex and hence timeconsuming to unravel and determine the full legal position. And time is not something we have here. Hence the current lot are holding this over Fitton's head - either give us the payoff and you're guaranteed not to have any trouble down the line on this or we'll sell you the club without it and you run the risk of a complex legal battle in the future if you try to redevelop when we turn up again and try to stick our snouts in the trough again.

Who had the banner that said "SIDNAMAID TUO" In the ground?

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:  are you serious?

Do you think we have another week at most? this is what is being indicated by people like banbury, i just cannot see it being completed that quickly.

It said "DIAMANDIS OUT" and was backwards when held up, It would have def been caught on TV when the players were going in after the game.

I think it said "Diamandis out" but was being held up to be read in the Exec area in the Arkells at the end of the game (ie facing away from the pitch) so from the other sides of the ground it looked backwards. It was good timing as those in the Exec area applauding the team off the pitch looked like they were applauding the Diamandis out banner.

 :roll: every thought it was aimed at the directors enclosure?

Ah right, Thought it would have been caught on the TV when the players went in etc... to get national exposure etc...

in other words: spanner in the works.

no prizes for guessing who the spanner belongs to (or who the spanner is)

Maybe, maybe not. It's a bargaining chip to secure a pay-off would be my take at the moment. It's chicken - who blinks first?

And who, should it all go belly up, could be facing some serious questions about their roles as directors of 3 companies (club, Holding Co, SPD) from the relevant authorities? I hope they've read the new laws on the responsibilities of directors.

It was aimed at the directors box, did the trick, just a shame they have the people who held it up on camera.

Can they actually do anything though?

Have to find us first, which sadly they wont! Wasnt just me but im not naming the others.

i've always thought you a bit of a plank.
but fuck me you have exceeded all expectations.
 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I know you have you miserable bar steward perhaps you have not seen what I did there. Clearly you haven't.

i can only see what is there in black and white.
if you are joking then haha.
as i can see only your previuos posts as evidence then do you blame me?

How the fuck can anyone or a company own the rights to develop something like a new stadium complex that has not had a nod from the council, does not exist on paper, has no outline planning permission let alone full planning consent and has not even left the inside of someones head yet, let alone been funded or had a location found for it?

I appreciate that Diamandis and Holt may have a string of holding / shell companies that are attached to to the football club in some tenuous ways, but why the fuck can Fitton not just tell them to fuck off? I'm serious. Surely no company can legally own the rights to something that may or may not ever be built! How long would they reasonably expect to keep those rights if they even existed? Could they pass the rights on as some sort of fucking family heirloom, ad infiniteum?

The whole notion that they could possibly own the rights, let alone enforce them at some future point is fucking insane.

If the law is really that loose I'm going to create a new company that has the right to build every new house in Swindon, as of next monday morning. I will enforce my rights every time some hairy arsed groundworker starts pulling out the footings of a new dwelling. As of then, no one shall build a new house in the town of Swindon without paying Delta a healthy premium for doing so.

Preposterous I know. Like I said, Fitton should just tell them to fuck off.

Fitton comes across as a man who knows how to get a deal done.  I am confident he is aware of his 4 aces he is holding in this game of poker.

I just hope he hasnt underestimated how much of a crook these newbury people are

Brilliant post!  You've managed to articulate something that I'm sure many of us have been thinking.  Anyone have an answer?

yes, yes I do  :wink:

Mike D will haul Fitton through the courts if he doesnt get this sorted now.

The point is (and I've probably not been expressing it very well) is that you can sell someone the rights to anything pretty much if they're gullible enough to buy it, normally the key issue is whether those rights are enforcible. Like those guys who sell plots of land on the moon - good luck to anyone who bought those trying to get a payment from the US/Russians when they start exploiting the moon for minerals etc. Won't happen.

But in this instance, it's not so much a case of whether the rights are enforcible, more whether either party feels they might be. There isn't the time to resolve the issue legally before a takeover either happens or doesn't happen, and Fitton clearly wants to buy the club cleanly without risking someone popping up x years into the future waving a piece of paper that then entangles the club in a complex legal dispute before a ground redevelopment can proceed. The other side know that and as I said elsewhere probably themselves don't believe they've actually got any actually enforcible rights, just using it as a lever to try and get him to increase the offer.

Thanks Paul.  That's a little clearer now (in a murky kind of way.)

And in any case- no prospective investors/takeover group are gong to come in without getting this sorted out. SSW has run out of money therefore he has no choice but to make concenssions

Does Diamandis hold the straight flush?

Let's hope this takeover goes through by the end of the week, it's getting very frustrating for us fans, surely it has to happen this week, if it doesn't get completed this week i will be less confident than ever, it needs to get done now.

The board cannot appoint a manager until fitton takes over because fitton and the board may disagree on who they want as manager and we don't want williams/byrne in charge for long so fitton needs to get in and bring his own man in and quick.

Just incase anybody missed the subtle 'mind-game' repetition propaganda hidden in that post  :D

This is pure guesswork but its possible that these rights are an "asset" on which the money SPD has leant to the club is secured. In which case it may be possible to resolve the problem by the club repaying the money.

I am not a lawyer, but it does seem like an agreement that is messy and difficult to enforce, but equally difficult to be 100% sure you were not going to be snared by it, which seems to be standard practice for certain individuals.  :roll:

If SPD do hold such a right, it may be possible to find out from St Modwen. As they are 50% owners and the sole funders of SPD. As a PLC they may be required to disclose the arrangement. Probably not in any detail but at least to clarify if it exists or not.