Playing Devils Advocate

[DerbyRed]

I'd like to point out before I start this post, I am most certainly not a supporter of the board and their mismanagement over the years is almost unforgiveable.  I am also not a fan of all this secrecy surrounding this takeover and as frustrated as everyone else at knowing nothing regarding the identity of these new investors (apart from the fact we think they're Portugese!).

However, I have an open mind and am willing to be patient and wait to see what the exact details of this new takeover are before passing judgement.

So having got that pre-ramble out of the way - playing devils advocate I believe too many people are writing off these new investors before they have even taken over.  I'm sure I read a lot of pessimism when Blackpool's Latvian owner was in the process of buying them, fans were questioning his alterior motive(s) - but I'm sure if you asked most Blackpool fans about him now, they would be delighted to have him.  he has done as promised and pumped a few £m into the club which has allowed them to climb into the Championship.

Now I'm not for a second saying this is how this situation will unfold, but it is plausible that these investors genuinely want the club to do well (as the higher we climb through the leagues, the better it is financially for them - obviously) and are happy to pump some money into the club to achieve this.  It may also be that they want to progress with the CG redevelopment, maybe they have secured another site in Swindon, who knows, but they may have decent reasons for buying the club.

As for the secrecy - if as has been rumoured they are football agents, they will know that rumours of a multi-million pound takeover will get other agents trying to tout their players to Swindon for more than they would, say Leyton Orient.  By revealing their stance, and the amount of money they will be putting into the club they would be opening themselves up to fellow agents trying to rip them off so silence keeps us getting players in at the same price as other clubs after the same players.

Finally, if some of the board do stay as part of this new development, so be it.  One underlying theme throught all the comments and speculation on any Swindon forums is that if STFC continue to survive, and hopefully go forward and prosper, then I'm sure most fans won't mind who is at the helm.

Apologies that I rambled a little bit but I hope I made my point!  Here's to hoping this investment is good news and good times will soon be heading back to the CG!  

[Colin Todd]

Good post Derby.  

Things could go either way at the moment and quite simply no-one knows.  I'm trying to err to the side of positivity, I cant live my life thinking everything is going to be shit, it does my head in. Thats said, it is cautious optimism bearing in mind what has happened in the past, I'm not kidding myelf.

[ibelieveinmrreeves]

Two good posts. Nice to read something that isn't doom and gloom (either about this or the striker situation).

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

 

[Phil_S]

I'd like to point out before I start this post, I am most certainly not a supporter of the board and their mismanagement over the years is almost unforgiveable.  I am also not a fan of all this secrecy surrounding this takeover and as frustrated as everyone else at knowing nothing regarding the identity of these new investors (apart from the fact we think they're Portugese!).

However, I have an open mind and am willing to be patient and wait to see what the exact details of this new takeover are before passing judgement.

So having got that pre-ramble out of the way - playing devils advocate I believe too many people are writing off these new investors before they have even taken over.  I'm sure I read a lot of pessimism when Blackpool's Latvian owner was in the process of buying them, fans were questioning his alterior motive(s) - but I'm sure if you asked most Blackpool fans about him now, they would be delighted to have him.  he has done as promised and pumped a few £m into the club which has allowed them to climb into the Championship.

Now I'm not for a second saying this is how this situation will unfold, but it is plausible that these investors genuinely want the club to do well (as the higher we climb through the leagues, the better it is financially for them - obviously) and are happy to pump some money into the club to achieve this.  It may also be that they want to progress with the CG redevelopment, maybe they have secured another site in Swindon, who knows, but they may have decent reasons for buying the club.

As for the secrecy - if as has been rumoured they are football agents, they will know that rumours of a multi-million pound takeover will get other agents trying to tout their players to Swindon for more than they would, say Leyton Orient.  By revealing their stance, and the amount of money they will be putting into the club they would be opening themselves up to fellow agents trying to rip them off so silence keeps us getting players in at the same price as other clubs after the same players.

Finally, if some of the board do stay as part of this new development, so be it.  One underlying theme throught all the comments and speculation on any Swindon forums is that if STFC continue to survive, and hopefully go forward and prosper, then I'm sure most fans won't mind who is at the helm.

Apologies that I rambled a little bit but I hope I made my point!  Here's to hoping this investment is good news and good times will soon be heading back to the CG!  

A very good point expressed eloquently. I'd have said it would be my view up until Sept last year.
Now, I have to disagree on a fundamental point.  The current boards mismanagement IS unforgiveable. No almost about it, they have lost all credibility with me.  Because of that they should all go. The only one who has shown any shred of decency is Starnes.
I have no axe to grind with the investors at all if only because, no body can be as bad as the current lot.

[pauld]

I believe too many people are writing off these new investors before they have even taken over.

I don't think people are writing off the new investors, just asking legitimate questions as to the nature and scale of any investment, and what their intentions are.

I'm sure I read a lot of pessimism when Blackpool's Latvian owner was in the process of buying them, fans were questioning his alterior motive(s) - but I'm sure if you asked most Blackpool fans about him now, they would be delighted to have him.  he has done as promised and pumped a few £m into the club which has allowed them to climb into the Championship.

Conversely, far too few Pox fans questioned when Kassam took over, those that did were shouted down by the majority saying "Oooh, be quiet, it'll be fine, he's putting money in and building us a lovely new stadium". Except he wasn't, was he? To echo your words, I'm sure if you asked most Pox fans now, they'd wish they hadn't been quite so head in the sand welcoming.

Here's to hoping this investment is good news and good times will soon be heading back to the CG!  

Totally agree - I think I'm like most people trying to keep an open mind about what the investors intentions may be, but extremely worried that the board seem wholly unwilling to answer even the most straightforward of questions as to the club's future.

[DerbyRed]

I'd like to point out before I start this post, I am most certainly not a supporter of the board and their mismanagement over the years is almost unforgiveable.  I am also not a fan of all this secrecy surrounding this takeover and as frustrated as everyone else at knowing nothing regarding the identity of these new investors (apart from the fact we think they're Portugese!).

However, I have an open mind and am willing to be patient and wait to see what the exact details of this new takeover are before passing judgement.

So having got that pre-ramble out of the way - playing devils advocate I believe too many people are writing off these new investors before they have even taken over.  I'm sure I read a lot of pessimism when Blackpool's Latvian owner was in the process of buying them, fans were questioning his alterior motive(s) - but I'm sure if you asked most Blackpool fans about him now, they would be delighted to have him.  he has done as promised and pumped a few £m into the club which has allowed them to climb into the Championship.

Now I'm not for a second saying this is how this situation will unfold, but it is plausible that these investors genuinely want the club to do well (as the higher we climb through the leagues, the better it is financially for them - obviously) and are happy to pump some money into the club to achieve this.  It may also be that they want to progress with the CG redevelopment, maybe they have secured another site in Swindon, who knows, but they may have decent reasons for buying the club.

As for the secrecy - if as has been rumoured they are football agents, they will know that rumours of a multi-million pound takeover will get other agents trying to tout their players to Swindon for more than they would, say Leyton Orient.  By revealing their stance, and the amount of money they will be putting into the club they would be opening themselves up to fellow agents trying to rip them off so silence keeps us getting players in at the same price as other clubs after the same players.

Finally, if some of the board do stay as part of this new development, so be it.  One underlying theme throught all the comments and speculation on any Swindon forums is that if STFC continue to survive, and hopefully go forward and prosper, then I'm sure most fans won't mind who is at the helm.

Apologies that I rambled a little bit but I hope I made my point!  Here's to hoping this investment is good news and good times will soon be heading back to the CG!  

A very good point expressed eloquently. I'd have said it would be my view up until Sept last year.
Now, I have to disagree on a fundamental point.  The current boards mismanagement IS unforgiveable. No almost about it, they have lost all credibility with me.  Because of that they should all go. The only one who has shown any shred of decency is Starnes.
I have no axe to grind with the investors at all if only because, no body can be as bad as the current lot.

The only reason I didn't write 'is unforgiveable' was because if these investors turn out to be genuine and progress the club, then the board will at least have done 1 decent thing in their otherwise dreadful tenure.

[STFC_Gazzza]

All people want is answers. People are bound to be skeptical however Bill Power wasn't exactly bad was he?

[stfctownenda]

All people want is answers. People are bound to be skeptical however Bill Power wasn't exactly bad was he?

Mark Devlin got Bill to the club tho not the current bunch of clowns.  Bill is a decent human being the board are slimy downright crooks so it makes us all a little weary to who they may have attracted to the club....trying hard to keep an open mind tho  :|

[herthab]

All people want is answers. People are bound to be skeptical however Bill Power wasn't exactly bad was he?

Mark Devlin got Bill to the club tho not the current bunch of clowns.  Bill is a decent human being the board are slimy downright crooks so it makes us all a little weary to who they may have attracted to the club....trying hard to keep an open mind tho  :|

No proof of that is there?

I just thought they were inept, useless, tossers.........

[neville w]

All people want is answers. People are bound to be skeptical however Bill Power wasn't exactly bad was he?

Mark Devlin got Bill to the club tho not the current bunch of clowns.  Bill is a decent human being the board are slimy downright crooks so it makes us all a little weary to who they may have attracted to the club....trying hard to keep an open mind tho  :|

 :roll:

[RobertT]

All people want is answers. People are bound to be skeptical however Bill Power wasn't exactly bad was he?

Mark Devlin got Bill to the club tho not the current bunch of clowns.  Bill is a decent human being the board are slimy downright crooks so it makes us all a little weary to who they may have attracted to the club....trying hard to keep an open mind tho  :|

No proof of that is there?

I just thought they were inept, useless, tossers.........

Does Diamandis' disqualification count as criminal?  I suppose he's not technically a Board member though.

[stfctownenda]

All people want is answers. People are bound to be skeptical however Bill Power wasn't exactly bad was he?

Mark Devlin got Bill to the club tho not the current bunch of clowns.  Bill is a decent human being the board are slimy downright crooks so it makes us all a little weary to who they may have attracted to the club....trying hard to keep an open mind tho  :|

 :roll:

I said trying to keep an open mind just not succeeding  

[red macca]

All people want is answers. People are bound to be skeptical however Bill Power wasn't exactly bad was he?

Mark Devlin got Bill to the club tho not the current bunch of clowns.  Bill is a decent human being the board are slimy downright crooks so it makes us all a little weary to who they may have attracted to the club....trying hard to keep an open mind tho  :|

If i was bill power i would of kicked fuck out devlin for that

[sonic youth]

i'm going to market a new drink - devil's advocaat