More Boardroom blurgh

[Kinky Tom]

Where there's a Wills there's a way – Club look to Sir Seton again as growing debt stalls takeover
By Andy Cryer
Comment | Read Comments (7)
SWINDON Town have pleaded to the Wills family for more money to safeguard the club's immediate future with Cheltenham Town the latest to join a long line of creditors.

With Paul Sturrock's squad still waiting for their September wages, the Swindon Advertiser understand Cheltenham are owed £25,000 for their share of the gate money from August's League One fixture, with Town unable to pay up.

As the protracted takeover saga rumbles on, the latest revelations highlight the club's fight against their debts is becoming increasingly grave, and Town's board have admitted they cannot cope as they are.

advertisementWhile insisting the Portuguese takeover deal, worth around £6million, is still on target, the board were yesterday forced to approach their major shareholders to meet their immediate debts.

A refusal to plough even more money into the club from Sir Seton Wills could throw the club's future into doubt but officials were hopeful Wills would once again come to the club's rescue.

Chairman-designate Jim Little last night refuted claims the takeover was already dead and claimed meetings with lawyers were constantly happening as prospective buyers Best Holdings attempt to figure out of the size of the club's debts.

He said: "As far as I am concerned the deal is very much still on. We are going through so much paperwork trying to figure out exactly what the club owe."

Club officials also insist the Portuguese consortium is still highly likely to finalise a deal in the near future but as the stalemate between the current shareholders and the prospective buyers continue the club's future is still uncertain.

Wills has already ploughed millions into Town and, just when he finally thought he was rid of the financial noose around his neck, it seems he has to be the saviour again.

Ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Gillingham, Town boss Paul Sturrock was keeping tight-lipped on matters off the field but was full of praise for his players' reaction to an increasingly difficult situation.

He said: "I am very pleased with the endeavour of the players because it has been difficult times here and they have shown a commitment to the cause I am very pleased about. It has probably been the best thing for me how they have just got on with their work and they have never let anything phase them. It has been a rollercoaster because we don't know who owns us.

"I told them today I was delighted with their attitude. They have got great team spirit and hopefully that will not be tarnished.

"I try to keep a barrier up. Although I do try and keep them as informed as I can because, with the fans, they are the lifeblood of the club.

"I have said all along we need to be a bit more open on what is happening. Swindon fans, which is what Sir Seton is, need to know what is happening. So we will have to wait and see."

This is getting very boring, the last paragraph says it all - supporters need to know, so we'll just wait and see.

Sturrock hasn't got a clue what's going on, we haven't got a clue what's going on, Little and his pals don't seem to know what's going on and Diamandis etc. certainly don't know what's going on.

Personally I think Rich Pullen's got the right idea - fuck off up north and distance yourself from all forms of media - that way you still know nothing but don't need to be told you know nothing all the time.

I'm fed up.

[Luci]

I'm not going Saturday and I'm so glad I'm not.

As for the players - my sympathies lie with them too not being paid.

[Samdy Gray]

I'm actually getting really quite bored with all this takeover malarky now. I just don't feel like caring about it any more.

We knew ages ago, before any of this started, that if any takeover got to due dilligence then the skeletons would start launching themselves out of cupboards which is so obviously happening here. Like the article says, no one's got a fucking clue how much debt we've got.

Add to that you've got mysterious new debts appearing, a CVA still to be paid and the £1.2 million owed to Bill Power - it's no wonder they've reached a stalemate. I'm really surprised Best Holdings even stuck around after having a look at the [non-existant] books the first time.

I'm not bothered that Jim Little is taking his time with this and I really can't blame him for not wanting to pay for Diamandis & Co's past misgivings. What really, really fucks me off though is that Micky D and his cronies really don't seem to care at all. I'd love to have a Chairman like Cheltenham's who wants to find additional investment for the benefit of the club, but ultimately for the benefit of the fans.

[Arriba]

i'm only going out of habit tomorrow.i'm seriously thinking of getting fitter and start playing saturdays again.
i'm falling out of love with the club big time

[herthab]

I'll be going (If my attempt to drive to the petrol station today is successful)

Sturrock is doing a top job for the club and deserves our support.

This situation will be resolved soon, one way or the other, so until it is I'll do the only thing I can do, which is support the team.

[McLovin]

Wills has probably taken a hefty chunk in 'interest payments' on his loans down the years...

[Kinky Tom]

I'll be going (If my attempt to drive to the petrol station today is successful)

Sturrock is doing a top job for the club and deserves our support.

This situation will be resolved soon, one way or the other, so until it is I'll do the only thing I can do, which is support the team.

There's no limit to my fed-upness about the shenanigans, but also there's no limit to my desire to see us perform on the pitch so I will be there with bells on.

[Luci]

As long as the lack of wages doesn't affect their performance.

[Kinky Tom]

As long as the lack of wages doesn't affect their performance.

Sturrock won't let that happen, we'll be right.

[pauld]

I'll be going (If my attempt to drive to the petrol station today is successful)

Sturrock is doing a top job for the club and deserves our support.

This situation will be resolved soon, one way or the other, so until it is I'll do the only thing I can do, which is support the team.

There's no limit to my fed-upness about the shenanigans, but also there's no limit to my desire to see us perform on the pitch so I will be there with bells on.

I'm with you two on this, although I'll probably skip the bells as I don't wish to be mistaken for a morris dancer. Best way I can think of of taking your mind off the boardroom shenanigans is watching us tonk the driveway tarmacers with Aaron Brown flailing uselessly before laying into a tirade of abuse against the away support (him, not me, I'm ever so polite to away fans)

[janaage]

i'm only going out of habit tomorrow.i'm seriously thinking of getting fitter and start playing saturdays again.
i'm falling out of love with the club big time

I'm with grumpy!!  

That is exactly how I'm starting to feel.  The fact we're 9th in the league doesn't seem to register with me at the moment, as I'm just too bored/frustrated with this whole boardroom stuff.  Same shit different day.

[The_Plagiarist]

I've supported the club for the last 20 years through thick and thin home and away blah blah blah and all of that. It's in my blood.

But, I have lost something recently. The spark definitely aint there. I believe Paul Sturrock is the best manager since Saint Glenn, and with a solid structure behind him (!!) we could really enjoy happy times again, much like we began to enjoy 20 years ago at the start of my love affair.  :old:

My big problem is that I can't ignore all the nonsense any more. It's got to a level where it impedes on the matchday experience. Which started last season with the fans consortium I suppose. but was probably brewing for longer than that. I don't know if I can be arsed to go along tomorrow. The instinct to support the team at all costs is always going to win me over, so hard not to go, but also don't want to associate myself with this whole shamble of miscreants any longer.
It's a sickener, and it's the reason why crooks are always attracted to football clubs. The customer loyalty elasticity (I made that up) is infinite. They can do what the fuck they want and we feel guilty to withhold our custom as a show of dissent.
What I'm trying to say is, ah fuck it I'll see you in the Town end tomorrow

[RobertT]

I'm going to stay at home, drink some beer with some mates, have a pizza and watch England crumble against the Aussies in the RWC.  It'll cost me £1.99 for the pizza with my mates buying some drink and me providing the big TV.

I've only actually managed 3 games so far and money pressure has made the decision normally go in favour of not buying a ticket.  It's not a specific protest, just that for now, the day at football is not what it was, but the cost still is.  If these little shits would fuck off it would probably swing back the other way, I hope it does.

[Phil_S]

I'll be going, & if there is a protest, this time I will join in.

[flammableBen]

I won't be going. Shock.