Thetownend.com

I've sat back over the last three weeks and avoided chipping in with my tuppence worth, mainly because, a) it's actually not worth a lot and b) I don't think an extra opinion, regardless of my personal feelings on the off-pitch shenanigans would actually help matters one iota.

That said, the one thing which is tearing away at my STFC supporting heart is that for the first time in a very, very long time I've got something special happening before me on the pitch which will, at some point begin to crumble as off pitch disputes overspill into the footballing mix. Never before has a football club managed to put off the pitch strife completely to one side and allow it's football to do the talking. Why should we be any different?

I know it's been said before but for goodness sake folks, can the public washing of dirty linen please stop and be taken back behind closed doors. I've actually got a huge amount of admiration for individuals on both sides of the apparent fall-out and it's depressing to be on the recieving end of negative banter again from my social circle and beyond - the usual crap about my club being a laughing stock off the pitch etc. My pride is being rapidly replaced by the seemingly consistent, red-faced embarrasment I, and so many other like me have put up with for the best part of a decade... and then some.

As fans, we've also got a responsibility to the club and each other. I'm all for open and honest debate and encouraging progress but let's not lose sight of the fact that, as I type, Dennis, Gus and the lads need our support more than ever. Can we ensure this remains at the forefront of our agendas and that any off pitch issues be dealt with in a proper, grown-up manner by those parties concerned. Bitching and tittle-tattle achieves what? Sod-all that's what.

Let's not let a season which promises so much disappear into a black-hole of infighting and squabbling that could result in immeasurable damage both on and off the pitch.

Not sure why I've just dumped that lot on the forum. More out of desperation than anything. Sorry if this has all been said a million times before.

Nice one.

Its to late the damage is done off the pitch.

It goes without question that the Football side have our full support though.

and as far as I can tell, those in the process of setting up the consortium and the two major fans groups have indeed retained a level of restrained public comment.

Individuals will be....individual.

you epect me to get along with the board? i dont get along with half of the fucking mongs on here.

More a case of asking the board to get on with each other!

i agree. that might be a good start

Me too!

I can't say i have any confidence in the board but Mark Devlin has my full support.

I also back the Trust fully and i think if all of us get behind the team at Accrington on saturday it's a good start. Lets sing our hearts out and show the non-leaguers what proper support is!

I kind of agree with this although I felt the Trust should not have responded to Wills' statement as it seemed a bit of a tit for tat response.

I don't think the fans support of the team has wavered at all, but as long as the fans the board have a responsibility to support the club as well.

Why? I know Wills/Diamandis aren't the easiest people to trust but if you believe Wills' statement then Devlin has really cocked up and maybe isn't whiter than white... He's yet to come out and refute it either.

Devlin's a top bloke and has made an impact in the club but you shouldn't really be doing stuff like what he did (providing it's true). It was wrong of Wills to slate him as much as he did in the statement though.

im with Tails here. i like Mark D and he has been great for getting the board communicating with the fans. but we don't know if he has made a mistake somewhere along the line or not. i suppose we wont know until we here something from Mark D himself

even then we will never really know what t believe....it'll always be a believe whomever you want problem....
At the end of the day....if the club is still here next year and we win promotion this season.....i couldnt care if it was Muhammed el BobHoltIsPlayingWithHisRectalCanal Diamandis Wills Fayed as long as its in the best interest for the future of the club!

Erm, we didn't. We put out what was pretty much a "we're not getting involved in a public slanging match" statement, precisely to avoid that:

http://www.truststfc.co.uk/news_item.php?id=791

"TrustSTFC are saddened to read in a statement from James Wills today that his family are distraught at recent criticism and considering their involvement with the Football Club.

The departure of Bill Power from the club caused a large amount of concern among fans. Our objective in forming a fans consortium is to harness this concern in a positive way for the benefit of the club.

As a democratic organisation we are duty bound to act on the wishes of our members, wishes which were clearly expressed at a fans meeting last week. Very detailed minutes of that meeting are available on our website for anyone who wishes to read them.

At this stage we have nothing to add publicly to our previous statements but we would welcome an opportunity to meet with Mr Wills and his family in private to reassure them of our best intentions towards the Football Club.

The board of TrustSTFC"

That is a response to the Wills statement Paul, which was reported by the Adver sh*t stirrers.  It wouldn't have surprised me if the Wills had issued the following,

"It's upsetting to hear that the Trust STFC board are saddened by our recent statement....."

I do want Devlin to stay though, he's the only person on the board who knows how to run a football club. Wills can't pull out anyway, something to do with coming out of administration (can you clear this up a bit Paul?).

Diamandis is throwing the toys out of the pram because he was losing control, despite not actually being a director on the STFC board.

Mark Devlin is still recovering from a plane crash. He's probally in no fit state to release a statement.

Yes that's all well and good, but I was asking why he has your full support... Unless you meant full support in terms of his recovery?

And also, he was in a fit state to give an interview to the advertiser and to post on the adver forum, he can speak can't he? Surely he has someone who can release a statement on his behalf?

Just so you know I'm not anti-Devlin, as I've said he is the only person on the board who knows how to run a football club but still I don't think he's totally innocent in this situation and some fans just seem to completely dismiss that...

Tails you are right. Thats what all this is about. Control. Why do you think his future son in law is about to be promoted.

Diamandis is not even a director and would nont pass the football league tests to be one anyway. He runs the club without qualification, football knowledge, and the reason that no investor will work with us is Mr Diamandis

I fully support him because i feel he's a victim of the board 'passing the buck'.

He is like you say, the only man capable of running a football club and we have to keep him for the good of the club.

Sounds about right. Diamandis did help to bring in Wise & Poyet, but the amount of control he seems to have over the running of the club is quite concerning, especially when he's ran just about every business he's been involved in to the ground.

But no, we can't slate him because look at how brilliant he's done for us. So brilliant that we are now playing teams like Accrington fucking Stanley.

OK thanks that's all I wanted.

I think the fact he's not part of the little Newbury clan is probably the reason why he was so badly slated in the statement yet when Sandy Gray, who is in the little Dunwoody posse, made a cock up not so long ago she got nothing...

I'd like to hear Devlins side though, especially what he has to say about his role in the overspend.

Tails, I'd have thought we won't hear Devlin's side not for reasons of health but for the very simple reason that he can't really say anything without jeopardising his position. He's still an employee of the club, but his employers have now released multiple statements (first by Bob Holt in various interviews, now from the JW statement) making it clear his position is, at least, tenuous. He'd be extremely foolish in those circumstances to say anything publicly until the situation of his continued employment at the club or otherwise has been resolved. Even then, if there are to be legal ructions, he may not be able to say anything.

You're too smart Paul :D

Never even thought of that.

So what did Linda Birrell do then? Insider trading? This board have already shown themselves very good at showing people the door.

Devlin is smarter than them though. He will take them to court and probably win.

yes Linda Birrell did nothing wrong your right. im not saying that Mark D has done something wrong all im saying is that we musn't accuse the board of wanting to sack Mark D for no reason until we know for sure if Mark D cocked up or not. and as of yet we don't

There is a reason they want to sack Devlin. Because the fall out with Power was so suvere that they cannot work with anyone who has any contact with Power whatsoever. And thats because we havnt seen the last of Power by a long shot. He wants his money back because he hasnt received what he had bought. End result, STFC fans pay for Dunwoody cock up. Again.

Thats the reason.

Re-read James Wills statement and see what you think.

So if it wasnt political why wasnt she asked to work out 4 weeks? Why did they pay her to sit at home for a month and show her the door immediately? Someone who earns in a year what Wisey gets a month. She was essential backroom staff.

It was financial? Bollocks. All internal politics.

Totally agree Spencer.

It was all politics, and it cost Linda her job.

Devlin basically is paying for Diamandis/Dunwoody fall out with Power.

Cannot see any major investment into the club until this regime have gone, no one will invest in us now after this