Thetownend.com

Fitton ready to seal vital Town takeover
By Nick Mashiter
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Andrew Fitton
Andrew Fitton could be unveiled as Swindon Town's new owner tomorrow as his takeover nears completion and he starts to appoint his own board.

A possible chief executive was being shown around the County Ground yesterday and it is hoped the deal will be completed by the time Brighton visit SN1 in League One on Saturday.

Town non-executive director Bob Holt confirmed they were optimistic for a conclusion tomorrow.

"Everyone is trying to get it sorted for then and Mr Fitton will be at the match, so hopefully everything will be settled," he said.

Fitton, who flew to America yesterday, said: "The deal is getting done, I don't think the fans need to worry about this matter particularly."

The completion of the deal is widely expected to signal the end for the current board. Acting chief executive Martyn Starnes resigned on Tuesday.

 He said: "Andrew will no doubt want to bring in his own management team.

"In his position, I would do the same and therefore now is the right time for me to move on.

"I have acquired a deep and genuine affection for the club and, despite the difficulties, I have really enjoyed my time at the County Ground."

Holt says he is expecting to follow Starnes out of the club.

"I expect James Wills will stay and Sandie Gray will stay for the short term but myself and Willie Carson will leave," he said.

"I don't think there is a space for me so I fully expect them, when they take over, to say thanks for the help and ask me to resign."

The takeover would be a U-turn from Fitton after he withdrew his bid last week, only to resume talks.

9:57am today
Gazette and Herald

see this is where the story breaks down

Please, please have this takeover sealed for Saturday and then we can all celebrate at the game.  Plus it would be rude not to do an all dayer then to celebrate the departure of these clowns  :beers:

Something still doesn't feel right...

I cant see it being completed without Andrew Fitton there, maybe I am wrong?

I just presume that he had to be there to complete it and sign it over...unless he has that done already awaiting the final "small" bits being ironed out.

God I hope it is completed so I can get my life back on track.

I think I may retire from the TEF when this takes over, suddenly the thought of discussing football all day is kind of scarey!!

It'll be well quiet on here with no politics to discuss.

Hang on a minute I'm almost expecting this to go ahead now, what's the matter with me?

I hope im wrong but Im sure they are just buying more time ... please dont let Fitton be a fit up

how short is short term...? but this is certainly more positive than this time last week

More time for what though? theres no where left to go, sell up or go under its that simple.

aaaargh I'm in Cheltenham on Saturday - I'll miss all the fun

aaaargh I'm in Cheltenham on Saturday - I'll miss all the fun

That suggests Wills permanantly and Gray temporarily. Gray makes sense - she'll need to decipher her own bespoke accounting 'code', i.e. bullshit, to the newbies.

But Wills? That means MD to me, at least unofficially.

I would assume the Wills family will keep some minor shareholding in the club so would be around permanently because of this.

I can't see James being retained on the Board for very long, not after Fitton gets his own men onboard.  Shouldn't take long to realise it's not really James' sort of thing.

Putting aside the finer points of separating probable fact from fiction in Robin’s interview does anyone know why James Wills could remain at the club?  

He doesn’t have any role or input on the day to day running of the club and he’s scarcely seen at the best of times.  The worry is that James is joined at the hip with Diamandis and while I’m happily speculating away here I'm concerned that where there’s a Will(s) there’s usually a…

Diamandis.

Sandy I can understand as someone will have to handover the accounts.  

Plus by the tone of that interview it sounds like Bob is offering himself up as Andrew Fitton’s new lap dog.

As they say in Ireland I suspect the whole thing is utter shoite to calm the natives prior to Brighton and dampen any riots.  I do wonder if the James Wills slip is actually related to the clause that’s going to break the camel’s back.

James Wills is a co-director of a companny called ELEVEN 59 LIMITED the other co-director of this outfit is one Sue Parkinson ... a close employee of dunwoody and Micky D's .. it is her that most of his enterprises are fronted by ..

Odd that eh !!!

Tel me that this is not so he has an ear on the inside with the new lot then ..

Please dont take this the wrong way but ....Shut the fuck up

I'm as much for Fitton taking over as the vast majority on here, but this little nugget concerns me slightly.

You see Mr. Fitton, as long-suffering fans of Swindon Town FC, we have a right to remain worried, as things have a nasty habit of going tits up at the last minute - do I need to remind you of the events of last Thursday?

Until this deal is signed, sealed and delivered, with word from your good self that it is, allow me to remain just a little bit worried.....

Thanks, and good luck!

Is that his wife who still uses her maiden name?

Spot on Pumbaa, IIRC that's exactly what a certain Jim Little said to the Adver just about 2 months ago.

I have more faith in AF though.

No, she's his secretary. His wife's name is Sarah

What difference does it make , such conspiracy theories and neagativity. If AF is stumping up the best part of 5 mill why unearth is he going to give the greasy greek any say in what is  going to happen in the future. Lets just rejoice at the fact we are close to securing the future of our club if Diamond Mike/SSW has mole on the inside let the cunt he is going to have fuck all influence to do anything as they will be minority share holders.

I await for Bob Holt to be wheeled out and it all goes tits up.  :wink:

Perhaps we can raise some money by lining up to kick Bob, Diamandis & Gray out the door...all money raised to the RAF so a worthwhile cause  :D

I guess it is inevitabe that some of the current guard will be retained for an interim period while a hand-over takes place. I expect the to depart pretty swiftly after, who in their right mind would want Sandy Gray working for them?

Exactly - can't see why she is needed though, surely the accounts dept deal with the day to day bill's - and you would like to think the CEO that Fitton brings in may have experience within football so knows what papers etc have to be lodged with the FL etc.