Thetownend.com

There are rumours around that talks between the board and the consortium have collapsed, i this is true do you think it is finally time to have mass demo's behind the arkells after every home game plus several other methods of hard action?

Definitely yes. The club agreed to talk, but they can't agree to do a deal so now we have to force the bastards out.

I'm still waiting on news of the CVA.

If the whole pie in the sky re-structure plan doesnt work, and they have no plan B....then....yes we start to kick ass.

The CVA isnt like sacking Andy King, or selling the club. The CVA isnt optional, you cant ignore it, you cant brush it off. YOU HAVE TO PAY IT OR ELSE!

All speculation at the minute. I would rather sort out the CVA then worry about the mighty consortium

its clearly not all speculation is it?

Yes the CVA is the most important thing but are you a board supporter Gazza? i think the board are a bunch of clown who should be working in a circus not a football club.

And clearly the CVA won't be renegotiated. All it takes is for one creditor to say no and from the looks of it SBC are saying no.

I'd say so or there would be something out whether a press release from the club or MW or the trust or consortium running around like headless chickens and announcing on BBC or local media.

i am banking on some hard action tonight :wink:  :)

Hopefully the CVA isn't renegotiated that way the current board are fucked and it will be game over for them!

Gary, believe it mate. It's over.

No fact is. CVA is not paid or re-negotiated, you dont have a club next season. Thats Fact. So even if the club re-negotiate the CVA which should be priority number 1 and not talking to Bill Power then after an agreement is reached, speak to BP and iron out a takeover agreement and BP can still pay the CVA etc.

townfanupnorth, I think you need to enable the BBCode in your posts.

 :shake:

So where has all this 'speculation' suddenly come from?

no smoke without fire and all that

What a stupid fucking comment. Yes lets let the club potentially fold, I'm sure I'm not alone in saying I would rather have a club run by this board than have no club at all? There is time AFTER the cva agreement to sort out a takeover. CVA MUST BE PRIORITY NUMBER 1.

Could be someone trying to stir things up, cause unrest amongst the fans?

I don't think so Gary, as I've said before, I heard it from someone very reliable.

STFC Gazza do you love the board?? thats the way it seems! at the end of the day if they cannot renegotiate the CVA the consortium are waiting in the wings and the board will have no choice but to let them take over and they will pay the CVA, we wont fold.

I dont see how this could cause unrest amongst the fans. It seems only you and Maveric stick up for the board.

I agree with you, the CVA should come first.....HOWEVER the board cant afford to pay it and Bill Power can. So in that respect they should at least considering his/the consortiums proposal because they can sort the CVA out where as the current lot cant.

This lot stay in charge and we're fucked, we're gone, we're dead. Its over.

I think sam stfc is right, there's something in these rumours, i don't think it's bollocks, it wouldn't surprise me if it is true, just another example of what the clowns are like.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, these cunts we're talking about have no morals or ethics at all - they will let the club go bust.

I wouldn't be so sure of that.

I agree with DV85 the only people on here who lick the board's arses are gazza and maverick, why do you stick up for those clowns?

We will have to force the board out then, as us fans aint letting them make us go bust!!

If the CVA renegotation fails I'm hoping HMRC step in and force the takeover.

I didnt quite say arse lick, but I dont understand it, esp as Gary was anti-board a few months ago.

I really dont understand the complete 180 turn.

Nothing against you personally Gaz....but the turn still makes no sense to me....

I reckon he's on the payroll...

He is.

Its a Vital football thing.

they must have something on him, he's being bribed....

I'll reserve judgement til I hear the facts. I just want the best for the club- current board or not.

what a twat of a comment

I am afraid that the moment has now come that we cannot play the "dignified, calm heads" approach any further (this is my personal opinion and in no way constitues any form of official stance)

It saddens me to add that I think that now the fans will decide to do exactly what they feel they need to do.

Whilst I do not condone that, I perfectly understand that patience has now expired and I fully expect for things now to move to another level.

All I will say is, if any form of protests are going to happen, please make them after the game and not before.

whats changed then?

So are you saying that you believe the negotiations are over Fred?  

If so, wouldn't it be sensible to wait until Mike W/Bill/Phil say so officially?  

After all they asked (as did the Trust) for a period of calm to let talks proceed.

If there is a protest before any official statement (at least from the Consortium side), then surely that in itself could help to screw things up?

I am sure that some form of statement from STFC will be made shortly.

We have had a period of calm, I have been impressed that, to a man, it has been observed.

But you cant ask for that indefinately

If the negotiations have collapsed with reason, lets hear them and lets hear the consortium response to these reasons. We can make our minds up then.

If talks have failed to take place, have been blocked from being meaningful or rejected without good reason then bring on the demos after each game.

Folks, i would be absolutely amazed if the creditors agree to renegotiate the CVA.

75% of the creditors by value must vote for the change for it to be passed through, this is highely unlikely to happen in my opinion. If you as a group were owed £100,000 from 30/6/06 and £900,000 on 30/06/07, and you knew a rival group were waiting in the wings that would pay these figures in full, would you really agree to spread this over 10 years which is what Diamandis is proposing?

The club do not have the £1m needed by 30/6/07- fact
The council do not trust them and they are highly unlikely to get a redevlopment.

They are in a weak position. Tbh many of you have slated me on here but i have backed the calm shown for a preaceful protest. I think if talks have broken down now is the time for hard action. We appear to have little other choice

i think a statement from the consotium and bill power with proof of funds to take stfc forward needs to be made public before a protest takes place.

Arriba that hs already been provided- look at themanifesto on trust STFC.

Believe me i have voted at many creditors meetings on these matters and i would be very suprised if a renogotiation is agreed. As i said it comes down to the biggest creditors by value

Fred - surely you will already know if the talks have broken down?

Why must the statement come from the club?  Surely they are the last people who will want to announce it (knowing the likely backlash?).

Let's hear it from Mike W/Bill/Phil - especially as I am sure they will also tell us the reasons if things have broken down.

I cannot believe that people are reacting to a rumour.

It is speculation, but If it has happened I think it best that the consortium release the information.

The trust and individual comments from trust officials have been slated in the past as "unprofessional", etc, etc as you well know.

Is that not HM revenue and excise? Do they hold 75% or near it on their own.

It has been stated elsewhere that the full council cabinet have not been consulted on the CVA renegotiation. Given they were by far the largest non-preferred creditor I can only assume their opinion is not required to conduct a restructure.

As you say, this really doesn't seem to be the way to go if you are seriously going to try and get them onside re: the CG redevelopment.

It also begs the question as to how the club expect to balance the books for an extra 100k per annum on top of our normal 700K loss whilst they try and get a ground redevelopment going (and hence investment). Playing staff? Sack more secretaries? A question I will be asking at the fans forum.

I agree Batch, completely.  That's why I said "Let's hear it from Mike W/Bill/Phil - especially as I am sure they will also tell us the reasons if things have broken down. "

In fairness you did ask if Fred has heard anything, it is not really his place to say (we agree!).

Seems to be a fair few people saying it has happened though. Could be internet guff, but I have my doubts. I think we'll know by Monday morning.

Batch, with all these mixed messages, do you get the feeling that perhaps the £100k may get paid sooner rather than later, leaving the way clear until the biggie is due in June?

But all this 'internet guff' has come from one source who is extremely close to the consortium. If anyone had an ounce of sense they'd realise who it is and would see we're not talking utter bollocks.

I only asked him Batch, cos he said "I am afraid that the moment has now come that we cannot play the "dignified, calm heads" approach any further".

Let's hope it is just all internet guff eh?

Ok sam_stfc - clearly I have no ounce of sense!!  Who?

Two voted 'lets wait longer'.

Gazza and Maverick, you're on your own gents.

I haven't voted  :P

No. If they renegotiate the CVA I see no point in the 100k being paid off outside the restructure. £1m @100K p/a over 10 years or 900k @ 90K per annum over 10 years. Makes no odds to the creditors or the club really.

Of course you may be right, paying the 100K may buy time to renegotiate the remainder because  the CVA will be (properly) up to date whilst negotiations continue.

Personally I'd rather have somebody in who a) can pay off this debt in its entirety thus freeing funds for other things (hopefully players) b) has a realistic chance of getting the council onside in regards to the CG redevelopment c) doesn't treat it's own fans (customers) like shit and doesn't feed them with popetual lies and half truths.

Is the 10 year plan what they are going for? I knew they were supposedly renegotiating, but not the terms.

Well I could be wrong. It's happened before :)

edit: Can't find the source that I read 10 years now, only a non-specific  "variance...over longer period of time"

What rumours?

Personally stakeholder theory dictates that us fans, as a collective, have the most power and interest in this club. In other words it can't survive unless it keeps us informed and active (and happy?).

If any action was to be taken a boycott would be most effective.

The terms are supposedly 10 years but if they cannot meet the current agreement, then surely the administrater can take up talks if there is a offer on the table.

If talks have collapsed, the only way is to not go to games. Stakeholder theory suggests that the fans are the most important part of this club (and business) and so should be involved and informed of all relevant decisions. This hasn't been the case. On the contrary, we've been kept in the dark, lied to and slagged off. I was saying to my brother I was optimistic about these talks and there has been no bad press with regards to the fans recently. I was considering going to the game next Saturday - I may have changed my mind. For all the people calling me a mug for boycotting before, I hope you see my point.

If we don't take action now
We settle for nothing later
Settle for nothing now
And we'll settle for nothing later
If we don't take action now
We settle for nothing later
We'll settle for nothing now
And we'll settle for nothing later

There will be a statement from the club within the next 48 hrs.

THIS IS NO FUCKING INTERNET GUFF !!!!!

STFC Board = Planet Fucking Cuckoo Land

I am fucking ANGRY !    :twisted:

Fred. Can you tell us why the talks broke down?

And is that definitely the end of the road?

I reckon Fred's playing us all for fools, and everythings going perfectly.

Sorry Hertha I can't

Its only right and proper and courteous that whatever the catalyst to the breakdown be detailed by the right people.

And yes...................its the end of the road !

 :cry:

Don't think so, this lot are a joke

yeah................that'll be right    :twisted:

That evil grin confirms im right :D

I never bought Bowden's appearace at the open meeting. Clearly was a spy. The club have undersold us fans. I say we fuck them.

You can have Sandy 1st Si

I dont want her

The board have buttered him up, quite literally. Promised him a role as fan's representative so he gets absolutely roasted.

Every hole's a goal Fred. At your age you should understand that.

i wanna know what the fucks going on!

Talks have broken down. The current owners of Swindon will not sell. The management team of Swindon remains the same. We are fucked.

And I have no inside information to know that....

yeah but some do and i wanna know the facts

If people are withholding details then there's probably a very good reason for it.

However, there is one fact that is 100% correct and that fact is talks have ceased over the sale of the club.

Facts:

Talks have broken down.

We haven't paid the CVA yet (I do not know what the status is with renogitation)

We haven't released a set of accounts for nearly 3 years

The board have done nothing but 'poo poo' the fans and their views

We will probably move to Chippenham or not have a club at all. Either way STFC dies.

i never expected the board to agree from the outset.
seemed blatantly obvious to me

Well fuck me, if you knew it was all pointless why didn't you just say and then none of us would have wasted our time.

Inconsiderate bastard.







I'm hiring a PA system to play some protest songs outside the Arkells at the next home game, suggestions welcome. So far I've got 'Fight the Power'  :D

thats why i said protest weeks ago.i got slated for it too

oh and play fuck the police by nwa,just to get the riots started :twisted:

Fred I appreciate you can't give details but when you say this is the end of the road do you mean it completely?

Does this mean there is no hope of any takeover or signify the end of the 'Mr Nice Guy' approach

Swindon in a coma, I know
I know - its serious
Swindon in a coma, I know
I know - its really serious

There were times when I could
Have murdered them
but you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to them

No, I dont want to see them

Do you really think
They'll pull through ?
Do you really think
They'll pull through ?
Do ...

Swindon in a coma, I know
I know - its serious
My, my, my, my, my, my Swindon, goodbye

There were times when I could
Have strangled them
but you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to them
Would you please
Let me see them

Do you really think
They'll pull through ?
Do you really think
They'll pull through ?
Do ...
Let me whisper my last goodbyes

I know - its serious

Dignified calm heads approach has failed.

It is time for us as fans to mobilise and force the situation

why should fans do so when only a few know whats happening?

OK well thats kind if lifted the gloom abit for me, I thought you were saying that the Consortium was giving up

FFS Arriba. What more could you want without Fred coming round and tattooing it on your fucking arse? Stop being a prick.

Thats the other reason for Sonic bringing his PA system I'm sure, so he can shout his propaganda through it

he and others know alot more than me.i aint jumping on no bandwagon until i know whats happened.
if that makes me a prick then so be it

Let's start hard action now!! Let' get these fucking bellends out of town!!.

They obviously won't co-operate with the consortium with everyone having the calm and gentle approach, now it's time for protests after games, boycotts of programmes and whatever else is going to hurt the board, something needs to be done now! starting with the darlington game next weekend!!

WE WILL NEVER EVER FUCKING GIVE UP

I PROMISE YOU THAT HERE AND NOW !!!!!!!

Does that mean we don't have to wear gay orange anymore?

I can see the forum being cancelled now.

Or a vastly reduced number of board members and 'advisors' present.....

They are going to get so much grief :twisted:

PRICK  :wink:

To be fair, I'm only going on what people have said on here. However that seems 99% more reliable than the vitriol the board spills at the moment.

if that is true, I cant think of anyone worse to represent 'the fans'

 :shock:

Exact words I wanted to hear, well I'm in on any protest then, lets hit them where it hurts..........Whits and Sonic I would turn your phones off with the stuff thats likely to get discussed on here now

Anyone who licks the boards arse from now on is a complete and utter bum licking idiot, talks have collapsed, what does it take for you to get it into your heads that this club is dying and we need to force these clowns out of town!! the board will get a hell of alot of grief from now on thats one thing for certain!

We need to really hurt Diamandis, Gray, Starnes, Holt etc, let's give them everything we've got!!

I don't know about anyone else but Seton Wills is not in my good books either, is he any better than the rest of them? i thought he had the club's best interests at heart, obviously not!!

I'm going to go back in time and give a relative a sports almanac from the future. Then when it gets to 1999 they can put a massive bid in for the club and all will be good.

alright then...lets remember what this is all about - it's not abut who we want in charge, or who we think'll be nicer to the fans...it's about whether we want STFC in Swindon, or closer to Ashton Gate than the County Ground.

If we want a protest, lets make it a proper protest - not a few kids messing around behind the Arkells laughing away because they're causing some aggro, and then go off and watch their favourite player Drogba afterwards.

So it needs to publicised, informed, non-violent and above all else, organised. Make sure that everybody knows whats going on - if talks have stopped, there is nothing to stop the whole truth coming out - we make sure everyone knows it, fairweather fans, families...everyone must know what a bunch of crooks is at the helm and what they intend to do with our club.

And we make sure it's 3000 not 300 behind the Arkells - and we stay there.

And we'll do it at every game, every single game until we make them realise that Town fans are no longer apathetic to the way they are running OUR club, and that if they won't move no, then we'll push them out.

They had a chance to move out with money in their pockets and peacefully - their chance for that is over.

I very much doubt theirs 3000 people who know much about this, and even less that actually care. Upsetting, but probably true.

Moonie - I'm 100% sure any protest will be done properly, but as you say this is imperitive

Then we make sure they do - in 1990 the whole Town flcoked onto the street when we were relegated. 1st not 3rd, swindon Town....people out there then weren't Town fans (so I'm told....I was 7) but they were concerned and angered locals.

That was then...and now we're a basement division club. But in the same way, we can make that fairweather proportion know what will happen to the club if we don't act.

3000 - it's achievable. But no matter how many it is...we show them that we care, and that we won't accept them.

I hope to gof your right

how can anyone possinly consider waiting longer? the longer we wait the worse it gets! perhaps we all waited too long! now look what has happened! its not good news fellas thats for sure and if action is not taken now then the worse could happen........

WELL, all i'm saying is that the pro-hunt lobby barged into parliament to get their message across... and then on boxing day there were more people at the hunt than ever before.

come on people, let's have it, in to the board room on saturday... who wants to defacate on bob holt's chair?

nah ill just put a whoopy cushion on mike D's chair and laugh like a sausage when he sits on it

Some very wise words there Moonraker.

I've tracked back and forth on the forums tonight trying to find out what the state of play currently is. From what I've seen a few obviously well informed and well connected lads (I thank you all for getting the message across as best you were able to do within the obvious constraints that bind you, by the way) have given a wink and a nod that all is not well with the consortiums bid to buy the club.

We can all talk this over and offer our points of view till the cows come home, but the cunts that want to make a profit from moving us to Chippenham will not take notice of internet forum comments and arguments.

Moonraker adequately summed up what now needs to happen if fans are to influence change.

Would the generals and majors of the stfc fanbase please now step forward and tell us what we can do to help the cause?