New beginnings - 25% Truth, 80% Bollocks

[STFC_Manc]

Maybe. But I'd go to football regardless.

Have we got to the point of wanting Clem out? Not sure that's quite been the underlying current - high degrees of skepticism, derision and worry for the future yes. No arguments there.

Not all fans are as loyal as you and me and we are getting 3k+ people paying on the day.  Agreed in the last few weeks it's turned because of form and lack of squad depth.

[Costanza]

Yeah I think that’s accurate. Most with criticism aren’t “Clem out” they’re more “Clem sort it out”

I'd like a clean break from the timeline created as soon as Black/Patey gave McCrory the keys to the club.

I suppose that makes me 'Clem Out' but I'm content for him to 'sort it out' if he can.

[Peter Venkman]

I'd like a clean break from the timeline created as soon as Black/Patey gave McCrory the keys to the club.

I suppose that makes me 'Clem Out' but I'm content for him to 'sort it out' if he can.

Agree 100%.

[Mooneyraker]

I'd like a clean break from the timeline created as soon as Black/Patey gave McCrory the keys to the club.

I suppose that makes me 'Clem Out' but I'm content for him to 'sort it out' if he can.

Yup. We need to go back and find the exact moment that Jed got hold of Gray's Sports Almanac otherwise it is next stop Clem's Town End Casino. I see Paolo playing the unhinged teacher with the shotgun.

[horlock07]

I'd like a clean break from the timeline created as soon as Black/Patey gave McCrory the keys to the club.

I suppose that makes me 'Clem Out' but I'm content for him to 'sort it out' if he can.

That's lovely and all that, but that ain't gonna happen, so what does sorting it out entail which will be acceptable to our fans, he obviously hasn't got any more cash to fling in so the budget will remain what the budget is (or most likley drop as fans stop going/don't renew next year when we don't get promoted) leading to ever greater disquiet, he has never indicated that he has any intention of getting shot of those in the background, so we are stuck in a perpetuating misery??

[UTR]

I'd like a clean break from the timeline created as soon as Black/Patey gave McCrory the keys to the club.

I suppose that makes me 'Clem Out' but I'm content for him to 'sort it out' if he can.

I wouldn’t be opposed to that

[ChalkyWhiteIsGod]

I am not sure whether you are joking or not, but the opportunities for back stabbing are enormous and I have had similar thoughts for quite some time.

A friend of mine is presently doing some work for a close associate of Mr Power, I believe the phrase used is 'biding his time'. 

I mean Power got the club by backstabbing Jed in the first place. They're all at it.

'biding his time' sounds ominous.

[ChalkyWhiteIsGod]

This is true, but don't forget the loyalty of a football fan runs much deeper than a 'normal' person. I'd say the number of fans that aren't currently going because of Clem is probably a tiny number. People only really stopped going because of Lee Power quite a way into his tenure.

My final straw of no more money at all with Power was the Bristol Rovers abandoned game no refund, so can be pin pointed. Although I was royally pissed off and rarely going before that.

[ChalkyWhiteIsGod]

That's lovely and all that, but that ain't gonna happen, so what does sorting it out entail which will be acceptable to our fans, he obviously hasn't got any more cash to fling in so the budget will remain what the budget is (or most likley drop as fans stop going/don't renew next year when we don't get promoted) leading to ever greater disquiet, he has never indicated that he has any intention of getting shot of those in the background, so we are stuck in a perpetuating misery??

Either give us the completive budget we were promised or give us some real and logical answers of why we can stretch little beyond a first XI and a couple of back ups.

Is he getting some of his money back on the loans at the moment because he is skint? That would at least make sense and we'd be reducing our real debt.

He either needs to provide answers or given our past, I'll assume he's a cunt and we'll being fleeced, because things don't add up.

[RobertT]

That's lovely and all that, but that ain't gonna happen, so what does sorting it out entail which will be acceptable to our fans, he obviously hasn't got any more cash to fling in so the budget will remain what the budget is (or most likley drop as fans stop going/don't renew next year when we don't get promoted) leading to ever greater disquiet, he has never indicated that he has any intention of getting shot of those in the background, so we are stuck in a perpetuating misery??

It's something worthy of debate.

If we accept the positive thoughts, that Clem is doing the best he can and has the best intentions and maybe Flynn forgot about the second bank account we keep for a rainy day, then what can we expect if Clem is out of money?

If we finish outside the play offs this season, I'd expect next seasons attendances to drift down again - we rode the Covid wave which was enhanced by the Clem riding in on a Unicorn moment, but our attendances don't usually hang around this level without success.  If they do drift away, and we are already at stretching point and Clem cannot fund losses, then it does look like a circle of decline is ahead of us unless something significant changes.

But, even in that scenario, there is hope.

The Ground development does not require a wealthy backer, just a solid business plan and project plan.  Source external funding, and start bringing in new Revenue (sounds simple, I know it is not).

The Youth Academy approach - could be combined with a watered down version of what we seemed to be trying last season.  Again, invest in facilities and people to get it right behind the scenes first, then let loose on bringing in the best young talent we can afford.  It will need investors - maybe with a promise of returns based on transfer fees?  it may need creativity in finding Government grants and so on, but it can be done.  You are looking at 6 months or so to flesh this out, maybe a couple of years to have it fully in place.  Power actually showed a way you can fund the facilities side - use the Academy/Club as a Trojan horse for another development.  Just need to find a parcel of land in need of a new owner that would get planning permission for both activities.

Basically, even without a rich benefactor, a team working on this full time with the right skills should be able to come up with a Master Plan for how to develop this club over the next 5-10 years, especially given the fact the Ground got sorted for their benefit.  Actually,  the groundwork and foundations laid by Eady and the Trust mean that continued failure is indeed that, a failure.  The hard work has been done to kick start this.

[Mooneyraker]

Either give us the completive budget we were promised or give us some real and logical answers of why we can stretch little beyond a first XI and a couple of back ups.

Is he getting some of his money back on the loans at the moment because he is skint? That would at least make sense and we'd be reducing our real debt.

He either needs to provide answers or given our past, I'll assume he's a cunt and we'll being fleeced, because things don't add up.

Sad to see, having briefly threatened to make some effort to do their job again, that the Trust have gone back to total silence on Clem 'Real Deal' Morfuni.

Assume Zav has taken them all for a slap up meal and reiterated that "the good times for our magical club are coming."

I do think it is worth re-reading the "No Money No Power" campaign details that the then very vocal Trust put forward.

https://truststfc.com/2021/06/23/nomoneynopower-why/

They refer to Clem "as an owner who has committed to transparency and good governance (and who the Trust commits to holding to account for those promises)." Yet here we are...

[RobertT]

I do have a worry, that I think the Trust should be laser focused on.

Clem appointing his man as the Development lead concerns me - did the Trust, as 50% owners of the Ground, do their due diligence in finding the right person to head up this project, or did they just take Clem's demands onboard?  I understand he is the clubs CEO now, and he has experience within the industry (in a broad sense), but he has never been involved in a football ground redevelopment beyond aircon and plumbing as far as I am aware.

Of course Clem and the club need to be on the Board, making the final decisions in tandem with the Trust, but first glance suggests one of the 50% sides has outsized influence.

Were investors in the Trust side not due some sort of report?

[Mooneyraker]

I do have a worry, that I think the Trust should be laser focused on.

Clem appointing his man as the Development lead concerns me - did the Trust, as 50% owners of the Ground, do their due diligence in finding the right person to head up this project, or did they just take Clem's demands onboard?  I understand he is the clubs CEO now, and he has experience within the industry (in a broad sense), but he has never been involved in a football ground redevelopment beyond aircon and plumbing as far as I am aware.

Of course Clem and the club need to be on the Board, making the final decisions in tandem with the Trust, but first glance suggests one of the 50% sides has outsized influence.

Were investors in the Trust side not due some sort of report?

It's a good point. The appointment of Clem's Axis alumni is pretty concerning all round. How many other L2 clubs have CEOs with zero relevant experience? Rob Angus at least cared deeply and had a solid track record at a major financial company.

[The Million Pound Man]

The silence from the Trust is deafening right now. I was a long time paying member, stopped when i felt they were too close to the club but got sucked back in to paying when the CG ownership came up  

(waits for STFC_Manc to come out all guns blazing in support of his boys).

[Mooneyraker]

The silence from the Trust is deafening right now. I was a long time paying member, stopped when i felt they were too close to the club but got sucked back in to paying when the CG ownership came up  

(waits for STFC_Manc to come out all guns blazing in support of his boys).

I'd respect the organisation if it owned its part in this omnishambles.

I fully appreciate not everyone shares my view but I'd be interested to know what motivates the 1498 members still paying in to the Trust.

Are they still pushing voting shares...? When did we last hear about the Community Fund?

I honestly don't know what they do now, other than act as Clem's stenographers at the Monthly Nonsense.