New beginnings - 25% Truth, 80% Bollocks

[ThreeDrawsMentality]

Corrected for you

It's inevitable

[Frigby Daser]

I'd imagine that Morfuni is open to selling as long as a condition of the sale is that Axis get the construction work. That complicates things, because that deal would then need to be negotiated as well as the sale of the club. New owners wouldn't simply write a blank cheque to Axis. I also wonder how new owners would view the fan ownership of the ground (accepting that this is a great safety net for survival, but does it inhibit new investment from owners that want full ownership of the ground?....).

It's tricky. We're in the process, it seems, of watching a slow but steady reduction in our league status because the owners have the intention but not the means to financially compete with the best in League 2. We're at the stage that we're potentially giving up one of our good prospects in Lavinier because we can't pay a tribunal fee to a village team....If that's the case, then it is difficult to see what a realistic long-term plan is. Muddle along, on a shoestring budget (or at least one that is mid-table) and *hope* that we don't fall through the trapdoor. If we go up, then what? We certainly couldn't financially compete then without more investment. Michael Doughty, now's the time to see that the future is STFC and not trainers....

[DMC]

He is not selling at all. 100 percent false that the club is up for sale

[Bob's Orange]

For any football club, the ground always seems to be the golden egg, the piece of real estate that's your biggest asset. For a new consortium/investor to come in and not have access to that asset, surely makes it not very appealing. The only real way for them to make money is to come in, invest heavily, get up the leagues and then sell onto a more wealthy consortium when in the Championship/Premiership. That's a huge gamble based on where we are currently.

[STFC_Manc]

I'm sure if the right offer came up, he would be stupid not to sell? 

The stadium not being owned 100% by the club I doubt is an issue, with a long lease agreed they can still do what they want re development and the land isn't worth much due to the covenants on the land.

[Batch]

@wobby - park in Tesco car park. Walk to get steps up

[ChalkyWhiteIsGod]

For any football club, the ground always seems to be the golden egg, the piece of real estate that's your biggest asset. For a new consortium/investor to come in and not have access to that asset, surely makes it not very appealing. The only real way for them to make money is to come in, invest heavily, get up the leagues and then sell onto a more wealthy consortium when in the Championship/Premiership. That's a huge gamble based on where we are currently.

How exactly do you "not have access" to it? You half own it and only have to pay "rent" to the fans on the other half, which is then reinvested in the club anyway.

It doesn't really stop you doing anything unless its unscrupulous.

[Bob's Orange]

How exactly do you "not have access" to it? You half own it and only have to pay "rent" to the fans on the other half, which is then reinvested in the club anyway.

It doesn't really stop you doing anything unless its unscrupulous.

Yeah my wording was very poor. I guess not having "complete" access would have been more accurate. I guess it probably helps keep the more unscrupulous owners away, which is clearly a positive thing. The chances of having a wealthy scrupulous owner that is passionate about STFC does seem minimal though, sadly.

[ChalkyWhiteIsGod]

Yeah, it might make it harder to sell, but hopefully less likely to end up with a bunch of Jed McCroaaarry chancers.

[horlock07]

Suspect the club has been for sale since day 1 if someone made the right offer.

[joeydubya]

I'm sure if the right offer came up, he would be stupid not to sell? 

The stadium not being owned 100% by the club I doubt is an issue, with a long lease agreed they can still do what they want re development and the land isn't worth much due to the covenants on the land.

Ask every fan owned club, it takes one Extraordinary AGM of the shareholders/Trust and a highly highly recommended yes and it's done in no time.

[Mooneyraker]

Clem basically became the owner by accident. Of course he wants out.

[DMC]

Clem basically became the owner by accident. Of course he wants out.

No he doesn’t,not at all.

[Cowley38]

No he doesn’t,not at all.

You sure!

Seriously underestimated cost of running a football club...

Threw all his money into promotion on his 1st season....
Failure last season was a massive disappointment

[Mooneyraker]

No he doesn’t,not at all.

Ultimately he will want to sell at some point. That point may be now, tomorrow or in 10 years. But I’m quite sure he doesn’t see himself as the owner in 25 years.