Thetownend.com

Fans demand answers from club's new owners
           
           


  TRUST STFC have issued four questions they would like to see answered by the prospective new owners of Swindon Town, in the wake of manager Paolo Di Canio’s statement on Friday.

           

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/10203633.Fans_demand_answers_from_club_s_new_owners/?ref=rss
           
           
           

I'm all for the trust but should they not be encouraging patience form the fans rather than asking for immediate clarification. They should be aware of what an NDA is.

They probably don't understand what NDA  means.

Can some one just remind me what happened when Fitton & Co took over? I remember it being announced that the deal was complete then I'm sure it went pretty quiet until the FL approved it. i.e not much different to this time. Is that the case? My memory is a little cloudy on that one.

Edit: Just had a look at the questions and they're fairly stupid in all honesty.

Think it's people on here that don't understand what NDA means - an NDA isn't a gagging order or a superinjunction, it just prevents two parties to a proposed business transaction revealing details of that transaction publicly. If the new owners are choosing to interpret it more broadly, OK, that's fair enough and they're entitled to be cautious if they're worried about scuppering a deal if they say anything at all, that's their prerogative.

But it still seems to me to be perfectly reasonable for a fans' organisation to articulate the very real concerns that very many fans have around this process - as has been amply demonstrated by the pages and pages of guff generated on here alone! I'd be rather more concerned if the Trust weren't speaking up at a time like this. And if the new owners choose not to answer right now, fair enough, doesn't mean people aren't asking those questions anyway and that they shouldn't find a more public voice. Does it help the new owners to think that people aren't concerned?

There seems to be a very great appetite for "Sit down, shut up, don't ask" toward both fans and press from some on here lately which I find extremely curious. Bob Holt would have loved to have had some of you guys on board.

Is it a gangsta-rap group like NWA ?

Straight outta Compton (Bassett) :D

+1

Paul - that's not quite what an NDA is but I get your point

We work with NDA's all the time in my business and its accepted that if the two parties (or more than two parties) agree that nothing will be talked about until such a time, then that's what happens

If either party breaks that silence in any form, the NDA is worthless and the 'deal' breaks down through lack of trust

I think it's perfectly reasonable (although frustrating for us) that there has been absolute silence - I would be more worried if any of the people involved were openly talking - whether it be about the actual nuts and bolts of the deal, or anything else relevant

If anything it gives the new owners a heads up as to what to answer first, and gives them time to consider how best to answer it. Better for them than being bombarded on the hop at a fans meeting.

So do we, and what is covered by the NDA is whatever is in the NDA documentation! But its not a defacto blackout.

So Paul - what questions can they seriously expect answers to or perhaps should reasonably expect to get answers to at this moment in time?

Secondly, can you remind me what happened last time between the takeover being completed and it being approved by the FL (this is when Fitton & Co took over). Did the new consortium make any statement during this time? I honestly cannot remember.

Our board are notorious for making people stay silent,they put it in contracts.Wilson being a prime exampke.

There really is only one question:

Is PdC staying?

If yes, everything else is irrelevant as the club would have convinced Paolo their vision is the same his

He took over 21st Dec 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/7155257.stm

And main backers weren't revealed until FL approval in Jan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/7183623.stm

It was quiet in the meantime iirc, but the difference is as can be seen from the first link during the takeover Fitton and Wray kept open dialogue with press. There wasn't complete silence

That's it  in a nutshell.

But even if there is an NDA giving a blanket ban, I don't think the Trust were out of order with their questions. They may not get answered soon, but the club has said they expect the takeover to complete this week so its not that stupidly timed.

Realistically, an NDA is not stopping the consortium releasing a short statement saying IF we takeover the club we plan to continue to provide the funds necessary in keeping the squad together to push for the Championship.

It's totally ridiculous to suggest Black would say 'that constitutes a breakdown of trust' and pull out of the deal after all he's been through. I'm pretty sure that's not the sort of thing the NDA is in place to stop them talking about anyway. Why would Black want to stop them talking about something that could calm down the fanbase and take a lot of the heat off him that's been coming his way in the confusion about what lies ahead?

Board members old or new aren't going to say anything yet and that has been made quite clear so it's just wait and see for now and the Trust putting this out with questions thought of around a pub table isn't going to get anywhere.

If I was the Trust I would have put a statement out a long time ago about the buckets of cash flying out the window, the transfer embargo and Wray leaving the board. The wheels came off a long time ago.

There's nowt wrong with voicing concerns.

But demanding immediate answers?

I don't understand why people consider it so inconceivable that there's not some sort of gagging order in the NDA they've signed. Sure, it's not common, but there could be a clause saying the meetings have to be conducted dressed as transvestites, we don't know and just because it's not common, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

It's got to be patently clear to Jed and co that the fans want answers, that's surely not in doubt, he's supposedly known for being open, so surely the problem is there's something preventing him talking?!

I can't imagine for one moment that he's not aware our fans want answers, or he's sitting back, feet on desk, deciding silence is the best course of action. He's even spoken to Banbury fans for fucks sake, if he could talk, I've no doubt he would.

Agreed.

Black has hinted via twitter that there may be more going on than meets the eye, I read that as issues surrounding monies owed to AF, SMA and JW. Perhaps their roles in this and the new lot coming in has a sensitive side to it meaning silence is the best option?

Even if they did release a little information that would only lead to more questions and so on and so on.

Whatever happened to SMA? If Black has been the sole financier for a while, I guess he's been gone for quite a bit?

He is on Dairy Lees (day release)

I'll get my coat!

Have you thought of volunteering  for the Trust, i'm sure they would welcome the help

“We urge Mr McCrory to allay these concerns immediately.”


Have to say, I assumed they meant immediately after takeover complete/FL approval. If they meant immediately as in today then I think they'll be disappointed.

If they do mean once it is complete then that would be furry muff. I didn't read it that way however, I took immediately to mean right now.

Can't possibly hurt to keep these concerns in the public domain.

As someone else has pointed out above, I am certain the Trust would welcome another volunteer with fresh ideas.

Immediately means now Batch. I don't see how that can be interpreted any other way.

The takeover was agreed less than a week ago. In my opinion, since the last takeover happened, we've had 5 more years of blanket media coverage (in general, not just STFC), 5 more years of instant updates, 5 more years of Twitter (I don't know if I'd even heard of Twitter 5 years ago) and consequently, people have just been getting more impatient and demand to know things NOW! NOW! NOW! Sometimes that just cannot happen.

Don't get me wrong, I want this sorted out and want to know what's going on as much as the next man. If we are still in this position in a week's time I will be chomping at the bit to know what is happening.

In the mean time - this is a general question to anyone - what would be your idea of a perfect (but realistic) statement from the old/prospective owners?

i'd settle for a hello...

With a name like Jed he's definitely a red neck. So we'll be more likely to get a 'howdy'

If you were a member of the consortium, and for whatever reason the Football League don't sanction the deal (not suggesting that is going to happen), you would forever be linked with a failed takeover & people would read between the lines as to why.

Take Jed for instance, people have already raised questions about his involvement with a failed takeover at Luton, without having any idea as to what level of involvement he had or in fact if the reasons were anything to do with him.


From Andrew Black's perspective, I'm sure he doesn't want to say anything that may jeopardise the deal. We all know he wants out (and has done for some time), so I am happy that he stays quiet until it is all sorted, however frustrating that is to all of us.

I do wonder how/why the little info that has made it in to the public sphere (ie that the new people are fronted by a Worcestershire businessman called Jed) got there.  In retrospect, it would have been better not to have known this because, frankly, this info generates a lot more questions than it answers.

I can understand the Trust's stand on this.  Everyone - and especially John & others most closely involved with the Trust - know all about NDAs and what can & cannot be said.  The call for immediate answers appears to me more like a marker from the Trust; a signal to the new owners that we value transparency at Swindon (where it is possible) and that communication with the supporter base should be very high up their list of priorities when conditions allow.

People within football say what they want fans to hear,or confirm what the fans want them to say. It means nothing. Actions are all I'm interested in.

No and I'm sure they could. Membership numbers have fallen as the interest isn't there from fans or from them to try and approach new members. In a crisis it's all hands to the pumps but without a presence on the board it's fairly worthless in my view.


It's been all over the internet and press so an additional statement from the Trust isn't going to make one point of difference, no one knows WTF is going on and that's the way it's going to be until later this week...

You're probably taking the piss but I've no interest in approaching the Trust for many reasons and I'd rather pass judgement from the sidelines.  ;D

Quite....what's the point in having a Trust, if they're not going to represent the fan's view. The sit down, shut up don't ask brigade, are the same sort of people who thought our players would be distracted by displays of orange at games. They've got the Supporters Club to express their views.

Quietly.

The Supporters Club seem to be the ones who get spoken to the most by the media mind you. Hardly sit down and shut up.

Hang on a sec.....

Supporting the view of which fans exactly? We all wan't to know what is happening but we are not all making demands for immediate answers while things are still being finalised.

The trust members views. Obviously they can't speak on behalf of everyone unanimously...

Well it shouldn't be spun to be 'the fans views' then.

And I would hope the trust would be a little more rational. That things are not being disclosed right now is shitty but there is a reason for it. A lot of people accept that, whether they like it or not.

Actually, over the last few months Sam Morshead has regularly been speaking to the Trust chair, John Ward.

Whether you like it or not....if things turn to the sort of shit that look increasingly likely, then we're going to have to hope that  any people involved in the Trust are irrational...namely not asking why bother?

If things turn to shit then it's time to take action.

However we know fuck all about these people yet. They could well be a bunch of cowboys yet they could also turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to the club. You don't know, I don't know, nobody else here knows and the trust don't know.

So how's about getting to meet them first and finding stuff out about them before being hostile? We don't have to be warm and fluffy to them either. It has been mooted it could all go through on Thursday, is it really that difficult to wait a few days before condemning people we don't even know?

You might like to acknowledge occasionally that while it's not your fault etc etc being so far away does sometimes make you a little out of touch with what's being talked about off the internet. Virtually everyone I've bumped into in town over the last week or so is very very worried by what's going on and the myriad rumours flying around and are desperate for some clarity and answers.

The statement was done by the Trust board, who were elected at the last Trust AGM, so are the voice of the members.

At the end of the day, if the membership do not like what we have done, we can be voted out at the next AGM, which is in the next month or so. In the last few weeks our membership has increased by over 20%, so we must be striking a chord.

Summerof69 out!!!! :D

I think this statement is a fair reflection of fan's concerns, both members, lapsed members and other fans.

Are these people better informed than I am (along with other people on here)?

I'm also concerned paul but being hostile toward a group of people we know nothing about yet is not rational. Everybody just has to wait. It's tough shit and not nice but casting aspersions will make not an iota of difference.

Flashheart has been on www.thestfcsupportersclub.com too much  :D

No, none of us are. But the point is that there is a general feeling of disquiet, which I think the Trust statement reflected quite well FWIW. And I don't know that you can really pick up on that "vibe" from just what you read on the Internet. Easy to forget there's a much bigger constituency out there (and I do it too, so not having a pop, quite often find myself being pulled up when I talk to "real people"!)
If the Trust statement had been hostile or cast aspersions, you may have a point. But they didn't, they just politely asked the same questions everyone is asking.

It's a pretty clear pattern throughout human history though.

 :D

I don't see how demanding answers immediately can be considered polite.

Were the board, old or new suddenly going to reveal details because the trust asked it to? I would guess no, and that's what's happened. There was no point in doing it and doing it in public was going to get even less response.

I'm sat here waiting to see what happens along with the next fan but getting out your pram over the time it's taking isn't going to get anywhere.

As said earlier perhaps the Trust should have released a statement a long time ago about previous concerns with the club that led us to this situation in the first place instead of being in the "Sit down, shut up, don't ask" club.

This as well.... what were they hoping to achieve with it?

To me it just looks like chest beating or an act of petulance. Were they really expecting their demands to be met especially when it is all expected to be finalised in a few days. Why can they not just wait a few days?

It can't be anymore damaging that the vitriol some of our more simple fans have been spouting all over the internet and social media.

This is true.

But it was done through an 'official' fans channel who are an elected body and not done by some faceless idiot on twitter or email.

It certainly wasn't as damaging as some of the stuff I've seen as well as by a lot on here saying that we are now "tinpot" and owned by a double glazing salesman when none of us know anything. That's more damaging in that it turns some of the fan base against something they have no knowledge of.

you lot are spoiling for some more drama from the club.

That is true, it's building up for a Friday statement.

It was a few questions, that's all. The new board, if approved, can answer them, ignore them or do whatever they want. At least they have them.

Mountain, molehill.

With so much of what has happened over the last week, this does appear to be further manouvering and possibly posturing, possibly in mind with gaining a foothold when moving forward.

I cannot believe that the Trust honest believe that this statement will make the new owners say 'fuck what the NDA says, they have demanded answers so answers we shall give'... equally if we want to be factually correct, we don't have new owners at the moment so there is no-one to answer.

However what this will possibly facilitate is that when the new owners take over they will see the Trust as the key supporters group to engage with for the future which they may not have done without the statement being done.

Not sure what it will achieve to be honest, but it did fill some space on what compared to the last week was a comparitively quiet news day.

Hopefully a statement saying, takeover complete we are your new owners and lets shake that money stick.

I think we would all like this to be right...unless it is Bob Holt waving that stick !!!

Is @TrevorSTFC anything to do with the Trust?

I want a Thursday statement. That's when the emergency loan window open and other clubs are looking at BWP and Green.

Orange hats at the ready again?

He's not on the Trust board. He was the one who started up the 'Di Canio Fund' talk on Twitter.

It's not like the statement will spoil the deal or stop a £100m redevelopment of the County Ground because the Trust demanded what many town fans want. All McCrory or Black has to say is that there is an NDA in place which requires details cannot be released until the takeover is sanctioned by the Football League and thus the concerns will be addressed at that point in time.

It's targeted, to the point and doesn't assume or insult anyone. I can't believe anyone is getting their knickers in a twist about it. In fact I can, a lot of people don't like or distrust the organisation (no pun intended). The Trust aren't a bunch of political activists who moan about everything, they just only seem to get knocked down when the shit starts hitting the fan and they have a bit of media coverage.

In fact, if these concerns aren't addressed when the takeover is complete then season ticket sales are going to go to shit.

I have to ask as I am dipping in and out of web access (and will be in the black hole of Torquay for the next two days), but why is it looking increasingly like things will be shit, my understanding is:

Sale is agreed but no one can talk about it until agreed due to legal NDA. We don't know who imposed the NDA so have no evidence that new owners have anything to hide.

We have no evidence of new owners financial position. They would or could not fund the shortfall, but why should they do so when they don't own the club and their taking ownership is dependent upon the most undemocratic and disfunctional organisation (the FA) making a decision, would you trust those buggers with £500k of your money.

We have no evidence of who they are bar a gentleman from Evesham who is fronting the bid but likley not the cash behind it. His takeowver at Luton seems to have failed, but no one seems to know why (how long ago was it), Banbury supporters seem to be happy with his appraoch.

We tried to sign some players but then the league would not let us as the ownership issue was outsstanding, I assume as we couldn't prove we could pay them till the end of the loans as Mr Black won't fund and the new owners ability to fund was based upon the agreement of the FA - its a self perpetuating circle really.

Therefore what actual facts are their to support the hand wringing, doom etc. If it does tits up fine, but at the moment do we have any evidence of this? ??? ??? ???

Sam morshead seems to have an inkling that things might be done by Thursday, which is good enough for me!!

I would have had a lot more respect for the Trust if they had tagged an additional question on the end and broached the cheese issue.

Morshead (who I have criticised in the past but really seems to have come into his own in the last week) keeps mentioning this Thursday, is this based upon any evidence or just a hunch.

5 live di canio interview on any minute now.

he's gonna resign on national radio

Has it been on yet?

no

Cheers.

talking about swindon now

matt ritchie on

Matt Ritchie on now.

Ritchie still saying 'we' and 'the gaffer'  :D

he sounded gutted to be fair to him , kept saying 'we' when talking about swindon . Top man hope u come back in the future matt

Dunno where the di canio interview went then? From what Richie said he went down to Bournemouth and told do canio who didn't know.  Oh dear.

that came out on the Friday

I didn't realize Richie told Paolo. That's not good

I'm honestly not trying to be belligerent, but that's old news.

Has he been on? Just tuned in...

I wonder how long it takes before a player genuinely gives a shit about the club he plays for?  Someone mentioned it was strange watching him celebrating with the Bournemouth players on Saturday.  I imagine it must have been strange for him as well, I don't expect he felt any real joy if it wasn't his choice to leave.  How I wish we could rewind a week when everything was relatively normal at STFC  :(

Yeah, just missed it.

I assumed the deal was done and di canio was informed by whoever from the board after they had sold him, not the player himself. Oh well missed that bit  on friday.I was at work and checking in and out of the tef

He deserved so much better.  A move to Palace, or another club at that sort of level, was his in the summer if we didn't go up.  Personally, Matt has paid a high price...unless Bournemouth really fly from here.

Dead right.  Depending on what happens, he could end up being the real loser in this whole episode.

He's worth far more than a place on their sodding bench and being brought on as a left back.

Here you go:

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/10200873.Di_Canio_did_not_know_of_Ritchie_sale/


And a "Don't go Di Canio" campaign:

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10205123.Send_your_messages_to_Paolo/?ref=mmsp

Gutted we let him go, 100% player which are rare these days, could have gone on to better things with us (if we were promoted). Such a shame.

Dont agree folks.

He could have said no..........end of story.

No one forced him to go....he was under contract and no contract says you have to leave a club.
He has already stated that the Portsmouth debacle when he got sold was a reason why he decided to leave us.....so if he does become the big loser in this then that was his choice.....and his choice only.

Now he's stuck on a 3 and a half contract there. I don't doubt Bournemouth will end up in the championship in that period, but he deserves to be playing in his prime at a proper team in that division, one who'll get 17,000+ fans, not at one with even less than he's used to here! Now he'll have to wait at least 2 years for an opportunity like that when he should have been enjoying it next season at the latest or now if we had decided early enough we were going to sell him and sent messages of our intent around the Championship, instead of the last minute cash grab that went on.

Stuck with us through relegation while lesser players jumped ship and didn't want to leave this window but was forced out by circumstances. One player who always deserves a warm welcome back at the County Ground.

Got MotM on the Bournemouth forum for the game at MK, even though he only played 45 minutes and at LB!

I agree no one has to sign another contract but I do feel sorry for him

He didn't want to leave his boyhood club Pompey but had to cos' of their financial situation.  He got his head down and got on with it here - and as you say showed loyalty when we got relegated - and now he pretty much has to leave again for similar reasons

But if he's been told, look we have to sell you to cover costs between the takeovers, or else this whole thing is in jeapordy, I'd like to think he's done it for the good of STFC, much like he would've done it for the good of his boyhood club.

That probably isn't the case, I haven't been able to bring myself to listen to his interview. Genuinely gutted about him leaving.

So am i....just so you know i wasn't knocking him,been a good player for us and a good pro.

Just saying he could have said no.........and the club couldn't have forced him.

Nick Watkins to Matt Ritchie on deadline day...

"Now then Matt, we have an offer on the table from Bournemouth. You are of course under contract to STFC and are under no obligation to go if you don't want to. I should just point out though, that if you don't go, STFC, you and your team mates will be fucked. Ultimately its your decision though - no pressure".

You're quite right Leefer, he didn't have to go. ::)

Maybe the poor guy is a sign your club's going to have financial difficulties. He's been at 3 clubs now: Portsmouth: Admin. Swindon: Takeover that could be the end of our upward trajectory if not carefully done. Bournemouth: obviously spending beyond their means, so it's only a matter of time...

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM TO THOSE WHO SIGN MATT RITCHIE!