Puff the Magic Peacemaker

[Dazzza]

Could well be puff needs a pacemaker by the time he's done?

The whole exercise seems cracking in theory but without everyone or at least representatives of all concerned present it's not going to put these issues to bed once and for all.

First of all to clear up the issue surrounding Bill Power’s withdrawal surely it would be rational to include either his wife of business partner Phil Emmel.  Just as important but I’d suspect highly unlikely is Mark Devlin who should be given the opportunity to publicly redress some of the accusations levelled at him yesterday.

I’m interested to hear what Cliff will have to say in relation to the finances but with the greatest of respect to the man he is close to those involved and the question it raises is how impartial he will or has the freedom to be.

FORMER Swindon Town chairman Cliff Puffett is to act as a peacemaker to bring the club’s board and supporter’s groups together.

Following last week’s Trust STFC meeting, which questioned the current running of the club, a rift between the board and supporters appears rife.

Director James Wills responded yesterday with a statement on the club’s website saying that both he and his father Sir Seton are seriously considering their future involvement with the club.

But Puffett, pictured, who has been asked by the current board to look at the club’s current finances, says it is time for everyone to get round a table and sort out it out once and for all.

And by the end of this week Puffett hopes to have held a meeting between all parties so that any disagreements can be resolved.

“I am going to set up a meeting with the Wills family, Mark Diamandis and all the representatives from the Trust and supporter’s groups and let them talk about it all.

“Once that happens hopefully we can all go forward.

“My idea is that we could continue this dialogue between the fans here on in. I’d like to get the meeting arranged for this week.

“Basically what I’m trying to say is that everyone needs to attack these issues face to face.”

[Frigby Daser]

There's noting in it for him to come in and protect the current board - as a fan with baordroom experience I'd like to think that he'll be quite impatial, but I see what you mean.

Whens this meeting taking place?

Its clear from this that the consortium appears to be a bit of a non-starter....real shame.

[STFC Bart]

They do not want anyone else in control no matter what money is available- shows their motives tbh

[STFC Bart]

The consortium isnt a non starter- put it this way- if we stick with the current ownership we will soon be out of the league

[Bushey Boy]

yeah were second and look like going up! bart your right were be in league onw!

[Reg Smeeton]

I've speculated previously that CP and RH...might be interested in acquiring the remains of STFC, in order to move it into Hunt's Copse, where they have land and development plans.

  As things stand the Board will look to retrench unless they can be ousted, this will mean Wise leaving sooner or later, and a likely flirtatuion with the Conference.

 By their own admission, relegation was engineered by the Board last season to cut costs, and similarly promotion must be avoided to avoid paying bonuses, and expensive staff manoeuvred out.

 We're well and truly stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 I can see no purpose in the present Board and its advisor carrying on....they're discredited.  It would be conforting to see a white knight on the horizon,  but there isn't one to the best of anyone's knowledge....so the true commitment of the fans must face its ultimate test.

[janaage]

Locomotive Swindon FC it is then.  We will rise from the ashes.  Least we won't have to spend hours going up north to away matches for a few years!!

[DV]

 By their own admission, relegation was engineered by the Board last season to cut costs, and similarly promotion must be avoided to avoid paying bonuses, and expensive staff manoeuvred out.

I remember saying the same thing about relegation last season and I got slated for it.

It was obvious, also was the fact Cureton was in on it...you play shit, miss open goals and we get relegated you can leave for free wink wink nudge nudge

[Samdy Gray]

 By their own admission, relegation was engineered by the Board last season to cut costs, and similarly promotion must be avoided to avoid paying bonuses, and expensive staff manoeuvred out.

I remember saying the same thing about relegation last season and I got slated for it.

It was obvious, also was the fact Cureton was in on it...you play shit, miss open goals and we get relegated you can leave for free wink wink nudge nudge

Is this club really that corrupt? That's fucking terrible!

[janaage]

We're the Juventus of the Rochdale league!

Locomotive Swindon Juventus 2006, that can be our new name!

[Batch]

 By their own admission, relegation was engineered by the Board last season to cut costs, and similarly promotion must be avoided to avoid paying bonuses, and expensive staff manoeuvred out.

I assume you mean engineered as in cut costs to a minimum and pad the squad with loan players.

Surely the 'riches' gleened from promotion will more than exceed the bonus payouts?

However with most of our squad out of contract at the end of the season, coupled with the evidence of last seasons playing budget, added to a shortfall of up to £2M plus - well let's just say I agree next season may be a stinker.

[Fred Elliot]

 By their own admission, relegation was engineered by the Board last season to cut costs, and similarly promotion must be avoided to avoid paying bonuses, and expensive staff manoeuvred out.

I assume you mean engineered as in cut costs to a minimum and pad the squad with loan players.

Surely the 'riches' gleened from promotion will more than exceed the bonus payouts?

However with most of our squad out of contract at the end of the season, coupled with the evidence of last seasons playing budget, added to a shortfall of up to £2M plus - well let's just say I agree next season may be a stinker.

The added revenue from a good promotion run would certainly go a long way to meet it Batch

[Reg Smeeton]

Locomotive Swindon FC it is then.  We will rise from the ashes.  Least we won't have to spend hours going up north to away matches for a few years!!

 I think Salisbury are currently 2 leagues below us in the pyramid....they nearly went bust but were saved at the last minute a couple of years back...they can get a crowd of 1500 on a good day and are currently well at the top of Confernce South...so may well be playing O*frod next season.

   A reconstituted STFC....could get back to our present level within 2 or 3 years, have no debt a new ground and the opportunity for fresh income streams.

  SBC would be out of the picture as well as Newbury.....has to be something to consider.

[Bogus Dave]

By their own admission, relegation was engineered by the Board last season to cut costs, and similarly promotion must be avoided to avoid paying bonuses, and expensive staff manoeuvred out.

It was obvious, also was the fact Cureton was in on it...you play shit, miss open goals and we get relegated you can leave for free wink wink nudge nudge

any proof??

[Reg Smeeton]

 By their own admission, relegation was engineered by the Board last season to cut costs, and similarly promotion must be avoided to avoid paying bonuses, and expensive staff manoeuvred out.

I assume you mean engineered as in cut costs to a minimum and pad the squad with loan players.

Surely the 'riches' gleened from promotion will more than exceed the bonus payouts?

However with most of our squad out of contract at the end of the season, coupled with the evidence of last seasons playing budget, added to a shortfall of up to £2M plus - well let's just say I agree next season may be a stinker.

  I take this passage from JW/Diamandis to mean relegation was welcomed as a way of reducing expenditure for the final CVA season

 

At the time, we assumed the Club would be operating within budget and although we knew Dennis and Gus were coming on board, we were of the belief that the 20% contracted salary reductions resulting from last season's relegation together with the agreed value of the proposed new contracts would allow the club to maintain the playing budget at the same level as 2005/2006.