Got an email from mike bowden

He still aint replied to this.

I write with regard to my beloved football club, the enigma that is Swindon Town FC.

I note that for some time now a consortium involving Bill Power, Phil Emmell, Mike Wilkes and the independent TrustSTFC fans movement(with the support of a large number of Town fans, myself included) have approached the club with a view to buying control of the club in order to relieve Sir Seton Wills and his family of their current financial burden with regard the club, in order to put STFC back on a firm financial footing, to move the club back up the football league pyramid, and to secure the long term future of our club.

To my dismay, as a supporter with over 27 years as a regular at the County Ground, and as a member of TrustSTFC, i have recently learned that the club are not being as co-operative as they possibly could be in engaging in these talks and progressing with any meaningfull dialogue with the Consortium.

I can go as far as to say that Mike Bowden, a Club Director, adressed supporteers after the recent home game with Accrington Stanley and stated in front of myself and many others, that a formal offer had yet to be made by the consortium. When Pushed on this, Mr.Bowden suggested that the Consortium should indeed make a formal offer. When i suggested that no offer could be made by anyone, without access to the clubs books in order to make an assessment of the clubs current financial situation, the response was "well make us an offer"!

Could i ask publicly that Mr.Bowden justify this ludicrous comment? One only has to look at the recent transactions involving Liverpool FC, Manchester United, Aston Villa, to name but three, to realise that there is a set format involved in the purchase of a football club, or indeed any business come to that, this being called Due Dilligence. This allows potential purchasers to assess the net-worth/goodwill of the club or indeed it's financial liabilities and or debts. All of the above named clubs, and many like them, have entered into this process and opened their books in order for Due Dilligence to take place. Why is Swindon Town FC any different? What is there to hide?

On a seperate note, i understand that Mr.Bowden recently attended a County Ground area residents meeting to talk about the possible re-development of the existing County Ground Stadium footprint. He had vey little of interest to say to the residents of any note, other than any re-development would involve encroaching onto the green spaces that surround the ground.. This was met with short thrift.
The club have no actual plans drawn up to my knowledge and this was apparent at the meeting.
Contrast this with the Consortium/Trusts plans that were put together in consultation with residents groups and the local Ward and Borough councillors, as well as Anne Snelgrove, and it makes me wonder if the club have any idea about what they are trying to achieve. That is if they want to stay in Swindon at all!

I, as a fan(and im sure the vast majority like me) have had enough of all the lies and spin that eminates from the current Board.
The accounts not up to date, the cva not being paid on time and the mis-information released by the club regarding this, resistance to engage with the Consortium.....the list goes on and on.
Where has Mr Powers's £1.2million gone? Where has all the money gone from the transfer of messrs Parkin and Fallon, the concert money, the Wise & Poyet compensation, not to mention the increase in match day revenue as a result of higher attendences?
Why has the CVA not been paid in light of these increased revenues, with the club now seeking to re-structure these payments.
Now that Lucas J is of to Everton FC, will the cva bullett payment now be met in full?

Enough is Enough.
Bob Holt stated recently that the incumbent board would "burn Rubber" to get out of SN1 if an acceptable offer were to be made.

Well Mr.Holt, show us you are a man of your word and open the books(as has been done elsewhere) in order that the Consortium CAN make a non-blind offer based on the current financial situation at the club.

Yours,
Matt M
adress supplied etc etc

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