Thetownend.com

After reading todays adver in which Sturrock insists we need a higher budget to be competetive in League 1 I cant help but feel the board could have put a nail in there coffin.

If there is no investor which on previous history is a strong possibility then not only have they lied to the fan base but they have lied to Sturrock as well.

Sturrock said in a meeting with the board this week he would be discussing the investor with them and seeing how much it would be adding the the playing budget.

With Sturrock now saying an increased budget is essential its increased the heat severly on the board if they have no investor especially with Bill Power and the consortium still sat there promising to provide additional financial support for the playing budget.  

That with the response to the groundshare, radio deal from supporters they are under real pressure in my opinion.  

They could deliver an investor and everything will be fine but I find it very hard to believe that someone will invest big cash with them at the helm having viewed all the accounts, viewed there relationship with the supporters and having viewed the board members track record as businessman.

As far away as it may seem to some people, I think the takeover may be closer than we think as they are running out of places to go.  The clock is ticking on them sooner or later it will be decision time.

Well lets hope so. Is Sturrock now seeing them in their true colours?

It appears we will have a repeat of season 2005/2006 and be the whipping boys of league 1 unless this lot finally fuck off. We must do all we can to up the ante to see them out.

Once again, where has all themoney gone??? What is the point of being in league 1 we may have well as stayed in league 2. This shower must go and go NOW.

Exactly what I've been saying since March. I'd rather still be in league two, at the top with the Consortium in charge than at the bottom of league one with this board lurching from one disaster to the next, and staring relegation in the face (Again) with a possible 10 point deduction

Fucks sake.

All it is, is doom and gloom all the time on here.

May hasn't even finished yet and people are saying we're gonna get relegated and struggle.

Give them a fucking chance.

We haven't a clue what signings will be made in the summer so for once, shut the fuck up.

Ralphy are you going round with your eyes closed or what?

Read todays adver, we aint gonna have a budget that will compete in league 1, this has come from Sturrock himself

Thats the thing ralphy .Sturrock basically is telling us what to expect in todays adver

No cash and we struggle he has basically said we need the "mystery" investor or we will struggle

No i'm not Bart. I'm just fucking sick of people like you.

Do you believe everything you read in the Adver? Give it 6 weeks and then make judgement.

Ralph I think I didn't make my point clear.  I believe Sturrock has the ability to wheel and deal and make us a good outfit next year whatever the budget.  But just picture what kind of team he could build us with a competitive playing budget, we could challenge for promotion then.

To be honest it is all doom and gloom we have a CVA hanging over our heads due in a matter of weeks, we have a board that don't give a shit about the fans (groundshare, brunel fm, attacks in press).  Until this board are gone we will never move forward.

I do when they directly quote Sturrock.

Dead right totally agree

I think Sturrock can still get some decent players in and do alright with a low budget. Colchester had the second lowest budget in league one and they went up!

Doesn't help though.

I think we'll storm the league  :D

Colchester got much lower crowds than us and they are professionally run, say no more

If you read the following article i don't see why so many are doom and gloom.

http://www.thisisstfc.co.uk/News_Headlines_Story.asp?NewsID=6685

Power has said even if this mystery investor turns out to be bullshit, he is still waiting in the wings. Even said if the club is worth X amount, he will pay X amount plus 1 million!

Like he says at the bottom, these are exciting times for town fans.

Try and be positive for god's sake  :-))(

I'm confident we will have finacial backing sooner rather than later be it from Power and Consortium or Mr Mystery investor.

I can see why Ralph is getting angsty - I think everyone is getting fecked off with the situation now.

That Bill Power story doesn't mean they're any closer to breaking a deal - probably just as far away as before. If you read between the lines it also shows that Bill wants his money back if this mystery investor isn't that substantial, so we'd be pretty screwed if that happens.

The + £1m thing is just Bill saying he won't ask for his money back as part of the deal, or that's how I read things anyway.

Also if the board are putting nails in there own coffin, then they are either, a) not in it, or b) nailing it from the inside.

Not sure where either leaves the metaphor.

I think my point was lost way back when it became an argument on positivity or negativity.  What I was trying to say was by Sturrock saying in the press he NEEDS a higher playing budget to do well he has increased the pressure on the board to either have an investor (i.e not make one up) or sell to the consortium.

Yes and it'a May 25th.

Wait and see.

Cos waiting did us good last time Ralphus.

I can see both sides of the coin, but the signs don't look good, you'll have to agree Ralphykins

well spotted ralph but we have also been waiting since november to find out whats happening with the consortium, sorry if we are a bit worried but we have a cva payment due soon

I thought we'd been doing that for the past five odd years, no?

Lets face it. SSW / Diamandis / someone does not want to sell to the consortium.

Its not going to happen, especially if this "mystery investor" turns out to be real and puts a few million working capital into the club. So no, I dont think the board have put a nail in their coffin. They know they are disliked and a fair percentage of the fanbase properly hate them but they dont really seem to care. They are not going anywhere any time soon.

You're right Ralphy. We should all be thinking about Star Wars.

They could be working tirelesly behind the scenes to secure investment as they are in the last chance saloon, if this doesn't come off which should be the case as any succesful businessman would have to be insane to invest with them at the helm then I still see they have little choice but to sell up.

There is every possibility they could be stalling on the NDA with the consortium as long as possible as they try every person they know in the desperate hope that someone wants to chuck money down the pan and if it all proves fruitless then just enter the NDA and sell the club.

http://static.flickr.com/37/74353767_04c2efc838_m.jpg

A year ago I would have agreed with that , but A certain Mr B Power invested with them at the helm

I agree, if this investor turns out to be nothing we are well and truly fucked. Unfortunately there is very little I think we can do. The whole Bill Power thing just looks less and less like it will ever happen now. Its a shame, be nice to have someone who respects and understands the fans running the club.

I can see us getting relegated next year, low crowds, this then leads to an increase in ticket prices and us going to administration. Its a never ending circle.

Fuck it.

If you challenge anything the trust say you get slated.

Surely hes the perfect example why anyone else would be reluctant tho.  He put 1 million in and it basically went missing on operating 'costs'.  Would you invest having known the previous investor was shafted?

Has Maverick hacked your account?

Thats how we see it, obviously the board arnt going to tell a potential investor "No-one gets on with the *cough* General manager, because by all accounts hes a bit of a cunt"  They are going to put a positive spin on things - they desperatly need money to hang on to control.

No i'm just tired of all this bullshit.

I normally don't get involved in any of the politics cos i'm more interested in supporting my club but i'm fed up of reading about all the doom and gloom.

Ralphy what the fuck is wrong with you? This has got fuckall to do with the trust its to do with the article that sturrock has done in todays adver

Have you read it yet

Well i suggest you dont read forums then mate,we are in trouble face facts and people want it to get sorted, or shall we sweep it under the carpet for summer and just hope its ok in august

And the Trust haven't said anything on this thread

Yes I imagine they will put a positive spin on things but surely as an invesor willing to put in substantial funds you would do your homework and research at least all recent history of the club i.e the recent accounts, stories from past season and fellow board members past career records.  This is why I firmly believe there is no other investor there, because no one in there right mind would invest money in the club with them there.

No but if you as so much question anything then you're slated.

My positive outlook obviously isn't welcomed.

All go and slit you're wrists then.

I've just read the article and a couple of things strike me.  Firstly it's clear statement that if new money does not come in Sturrock is advising us to expect a real challenge next season.

Secondly, it would seem to make his previous ramblings about our wages and bonuses look odd.  Wasn't he the guy saying we were overpaying? now it sppears he's had a wake-up call and realises we don't actually pay that much - he mentions how it suprises him in the article.

Stop being a cock Ralph.

No one from the trust has said anything.

ralphy,you're very entertaining today.
seriously though,people are only commenting on what sturrock has said himself,he needs money to compete in league 1.pretty simple really!

I see where you are coming from Ralphy, but the board have been given enough time and they still havent sorted any of the problems out that BP could clear straight away.

Can we afford to really keep waiting? There is being positive and there is being naive. No proof of any investor has been shown yet. Can we afford to wait till the start of the season, have a weak squad for league one, start losing, attendances dropping, not being able to pay all the bills etc ..........

Something has to be done now. The time for giving them a chance and being positive is long gone im afraid.

Actually the Trust could step in and help - reminding him of the RAF being available, every little helps as our supermarket gods advise us.

Does anyone know what the TEF record for most quotes in one post is?

Does anyone know what the TEF record for most quotes in one post is?

 :soapy tit wank: Trying to beat it in this thread.

I see your 7 and I raise you

to be fair we should have a lower budget than most clubs. millwall, forest, leeds....  all bigger clubs than us.  Also we have come up from league 2.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Exactly.

We never had millions when King got us in the playoffs.

Just a team that played well together.

To be fair though Ash its not questioning we should have a massive budget its just saying we would like to see Sturrock given every available funds to him to make us a force next yeat.  

In Mike Wilks interview last week in the adver he said Bill was prepared to invest in the playing budget as well so if this investor doesn't exist as some of us fear then Sturrock will be asked to struggle through wheeling and dealing which he admits himself is going to be difficult.

But our budget is less than that season - I'd put money on that.  We slashed it in 2005/06, with a slight increase for last season on that - which was mostly used to expand the squad size.

I don't expect us to be have bigger budgets than half this league, but to be in the middle would be nice given that's where our average gate for last season would have us.

I heard Sturrock say he would have a squad of 20 next year . Does this seem small to anyone, and is this Sturrocks normal approach?

Who did we finish with this year?

(Brez), Smith, Nicho, Ifil, Smith, Williams, Vincent, Pook, (Evo), Weston, Roberts, Brown, Zaboub, Peacock, Timlin, Corr, James, Nabouski, Gnapka, Westwood, Pook, Grimes

actually, 20 seems about right then...I guess it comes down to the quality we bring in. Too early to say just yet.

Think we had a higher wage budget though what with Mooney, Parkin, Fallon to name a few.

20's not a bad number if he can manage that. Can always be suplemented by loans and/or young lads like caton, allen etc

a club promoted with gates way above 7000 should have money to spend.all we get is excuse after excuse why there is none

 :nod: Exactly we have all done the sums 3 million into the club over the last year and a half and yet were still running at the same loss and Sturrock has to work with a small budget.  It makes no sense at all and is infuriating especially with Bill and the consortium waiting in the wings with a bright future for us.

Id love to know what the directors are paid

I heard Rockin' Robin is on £2000 a week plus a £400 stupid dance before kick off bonus  :soapy tit wank:

According to Diamandis in last years adver hes on £80k a year and he hasn't claimed it in few years so he is owed backpay of it all.  Plus don't forget how much Dunwoody make out of the club on the marketing side so its very lucrative for our friend Diamond Mike.

I would imagine Bowdens on alot although surely Starnes, Gray and Ben Lambert wouldn't be on stupid money.

atleast he was working for his dollar unlike that twat whalley  :wink:

edit: in response to give us a s

Paul Wardell sent Martyn Starnes an email last week reminding him of precisely that and we are told that Paul Sturrock has been informed of this.

Sorry to be picky, but we don't know what the true losses for the last two seasona are as the accounts aren't out (last seasons aren't due).

I'd be pretty pissed off that if during our relagation season we lost the same amount as the latest accounts indicate (the year before relagation)!

I know we have no official line that we made the same loss due to lack of accounts but I am pretty sure I have read at some point someone saying we were running at the same loss this year (can anyone help me out Rob T, Si Pi) could just be imagining it though.

in one of the meetings they held with fans they told us they expected another year of about £750k losses, much as it had been for the previousd year (which would be the one not yet finalised).  We have also been told Power's money went to pay bills etc that were due, which is a hefty wad of bills if true.

Im not on teh wind up but 80k isnt the greatest wage to run a company with 30+ employees

Rich cunt you are!

£80k a year is a fucking good wage!

I dunno, with only £3m turnover I'd say that's more than fair, especially when the company in question also employs a Chief Exec and an active Chairman.

Between them at that rate we'd be spending 1/10th the company revenue on people supposed to be running the show.

You can get some FD and CE roles in the Times advertising between 50k and 100k for pretty big private companies.  Granted they probably get decent bonuses, but it's not like our gang could claim any even if they were added on.

Interestingly Director's Emoluments only around the £40k region for 2004 and 2005

Suffice to day football clubs also don't really fit conventioanl company models.  Based on financial success surely Mike D would be fired long ago, forgetting obviously that he doesn't actually work for the club, merely as an advisor to the main shareholder.

Yes but overall gain is far greater when you use your own company to provide marketing etc for the club.  So even though you think £80k isn't much when you add in Dunwoody's costs they do pretty well out of the club.

Yeah I agree, and its a conflict of interest.  Totally agree with that.

What I am saying is tho if he is running the show then thats a fair wage

Dunwoody's accounts suggest they are far from profitable

With his track record in business that doesn't surprise me although it still has no bearing on how much is coming out of the club going to Dunwoody or him directly.

And? So because he can't run one company (well actually three or four thanks to the habit of continually re-inventing the same company while the other incarnations are in administration/CVAs etc) profitably, we should let him supplement that from the club?

And where the fuck did I say that?

I mentioned that because I still find the myth of huge ammounts of cash disappearing from STFC to Newbury hard to believe, especially with absolutley no evidence. Show me some and i'll believe it.

Even if money is heading in that direction it certainly dosnt seem to be having much of a positive effect on Dunwoody, DSM or whatever the fuck they call themselves at this point in time. Thats my point. So if you could wind your neck in a bit it would be nice

There are hidden costs that seem ludicrous for a club at our level though.

No wonder people treat them with suspicion.

I agree Si if the moneys not going to Newbury where is it going? its not being put back in the club as we have said time and time again it just doesn't add up.

Jeees-us. Calm down.

And like what was said earlier - £1.5m of "admin expenses" - that's 2/5 of our turnover! This wouldn't be too much of a problem but you look at cost of sales and that takes up all but 150k of our turnover and we also have interest payments of 320k. It's little wonder that we make huge losses. What the hell are all these admin expenses? I think people have a right to be suspicious.

Very expensive Basildon Bond?

I've calmed down abit now.

I was pissed off this morning and felt like a fight.

Pens, paper, staples, sellotape.  
-----
Si PI, On a completely unrelated note totally - were the company formerly known as Dunwoody Sports Marketing previously under CVA too. Or am I getting confused?

One of the Dunwoody arms is subject to a CVA now.  I think it was the one called marketing Communications.

Well it depends - do you mean D421 Ltd (formerly known as Dunwoody Sports Marketing) or Dunwoody Design and Print Limited (also formerly known as Dunwoody Sports Marketing, also registed at the same address) or D460 Ltd (formerly known as Dunwoody Marketing Communications until April this year, but previously listed as PIA Advertising and Marketing which is now the name of yet another company formerly known as Dunwoody Marketing Communications listed at the same address as D421 Ltd) or the other company now known as Dunwoody Marketing Communications listed at the same address but previously known as (among other things) Dunwoody Group, PIA Partnership and PIA Advertising and Marketing? Or one of the other half-dozen or so companies that have sprung up and stagnated/died under the Dunwoody/PIA label?

I'm sure if you spoke to Mr Diamandis he would tell you the reason that he had to kill all these companys, I'm sure it makes perfect business sense....to him !!

What Dunwoody company owes the money to QPR....assume that one will go under next and re-appear within 30 seconds renamed ??

What was the first one again Paul :)?

Well it HAS to be going somewhere.  Over the last 14 - 15 months, I think a figure of over £3,000,000 of un- budgetted income received is a conservative figure.

It could be going into Willie Carson's growth fund for all we know, but as sure as hell it's going somewhere, OR we're losing about £4,000,000 a year, which I find very difficult to believe.  (And  that is despite the miracle of diadamdis's "financial engineering"

I suppose there is a possibility it's gone on paying loans back, but this would beg the question why the CVA had not be paid.

jayohaitchenn wrote:.

   Might well have been reached in this thread....

    http://www.thetownend.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16066&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=frustum&start=0

has anyone pointed out it would be their coffin, not there?

they're putting the final nails into their coffin over there.