Mark L
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Post by Mark L on Mar 30, 2016 11:28:03 GMT
So it looks as though these are the Gulls' latest suitors: www.torquayunited.com/news/article/club-statement-chairmans-update-3032607.aspx?They run a number of dog tracks around the UK and have some links with Torbay (although I can't see any evidence of this having given Google a cursory bashing). Re-opening the youth academy would make me very happy although I am not sure this will be as easy as they expect. The finance director is Steve Hayward (that name rang some bells)... could it be this Steve Hayward? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_HaywardThe rollercoaster never stops at Plainmoor. |
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Mark L
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Post by Mark L on Mar 30, 2016 11:34:03 GMT
Looking further into this, they appear to run the 'MK Bowl'. I'm shuddering a little at what that could mean!
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simonb
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Post by simonb on Mar 30, 2016 15:41:14 GMT
Well, now we have some information about the potential buyers I not sure I feel that greatly enthused. Trust will need to be built and part of this will be the provision of a clear medium-term plan for TUFC which gives supporters an outline of what the owners will be investing in and why. In the back of my brain I am getting niggles over stadium developers and opportunistic money grabbing miscreants. I just hope this is the start of a fruitful era and not an end game that will see club destruction prevail. No doubt we will all find out in due course!
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Post by tufans on Mar 30, 2016 21:27:20 GMT
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Mar 30, 2016 22:19:56 GMT
Looking further into this, they appear to run the 'MK Bowl'. I'm shuddering a little at what that could mean! To be honest Mark, I've been to a couple of gigs at the bowl when I lived up that way. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but the organisation side of it seemed sorted. |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 30, 2016 22:54:40 GMT
From the latest Gaming International Ltd accounts:
The principal activity of the company is the operation of gaming and leisure facilities (including greyhound racing) and PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT.
The emphasis is mine.
The man behind this company Clarke Osborne has now set up a new company "Riviera Stadium Limited".
Gaming International Limited was once known as Bristol Stadium PLC.
Clarke Osborne was a director of Bristol Stadium PLC when Bristol Rovers could no longer afford to pay them the rent in 1986. Rovers were forced to play in exile in Bath for ten years.
Osborne was Chief Executive of Bristol Stadium PLC when Eastville was sold to Ikea for £19m. There were promises that a new greyhound site would be found in Bristol - but it did not happen. I think Reading has suffered a similar fate.
I am sure that the new owners will lend the football club enough money to keep those fans who don't look beyond the end of their nose happy for a couple of years. My fear is that the day will come when they will want everything they lend back plus a return on investment. They are not fans and they are not a charity.
I hate to say it, but I fully believe that Dave Phillips is about to sign the club's death warrant.
I have some sympathy for the current board as they were suckered in to Dean Edwards' ego trip and left holding the baby, but I cannot be an apologist for their current course of action.
I don't buy this "they saved the club" and "there is no alternative" stuff.
They were the first on the scene of the accident and administered CPR. They then said "Don't call an ambulance, we've got it all under control". They are now saying "We haven't got time for an ambulance, call the undertakers".
The fans of this club could have saved the club given the chance - just as the fans of Newport County were given that chance. My blood boiled when the board refused to even listen to how James Mathie achieved that. My fear was that they would sell to a property developer instead ....
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 31, 2016 6:36:32 GMT
Pity that TUST Don't own the freehold of the ground.
I wonder how much due diligence the current owners have undertaken? Not much if they couldn't be even bothered to listen to the TUST representation....
What can we do?
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Mark L
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Post by Mark L on Mar 31, 2016 10:26:24 GMT
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 31, 2016 11:55:34 GMT
No, they haven't moved. Jon is right, Speedway has not returned to Reading since demolition in 2008. Fans are currently trying to set up a supporters trust (not as straightforward to do as in football) but in their case, the land that had been earmarked for a new site has now been developed on and matters may well be too little too late. |
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Mark L
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Post by Mark L on Mar 31, 2016 12:22:54 GMT
So, how keen are Torbay Council to sell the land Plainmoor sits on? Judging by all the struggling local councils around the UK they will probably bite the hand off the first bidder.
Bristow's bench could be one of the most short-lived stands in the history of football... unless Thea feels inclined to step in and buy the freehold for the Trust perhaps? One can dream.
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Post by tqriviera on Mar 31, 2016 12:49:47 GMT
Jon,
It would be remiss of me not to thank you for your research and information!
I suspect that there are many people who were both surprised and concerned that the current Board were not prepared to even consider another way forward and one that could at least have involved some consultation with TUST (who, after all, do have over 400 members who are all presumably supporters of TUFC!).
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Mark L
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Post by Mark L on Mar 31, 2016 13:33:18 GMT
From the latest Gaming International Ltd accounts: The principal activity of the company is the operation of gaming and leisure facilities (including greyhound racing) and PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. The emphasis is mine. The man behind this company Clarke Osborne has now set up a new company "Riviera Stadium Limited". Gaming International Limited was once known as Bristol Stadium PLC. Clarke Osborne was a director of Bristol Stadium PLC when Bristol Rovers could no longer afford to pay them the rent in 1986. Rovers were forced to play in exile in Bath for ten years. Osborne was Chief Executive of Bristol Stadium PLC when Eastville was sold to Ikea for £19m. There were promises that a new greyhound site would be found in Bristol - but it did not happen. I think Reading has suffered a similar fate. I am sure that the new owners will lend the football club enough money to keep those fans who don't look beyond the end of their nose happy for a couple of years. My fear is that the day will come when they will want everything they lend back plus a return on investment. They are not fans and they are not a charity. I hate to say it, but I fully believe that Dave Phillips is about to sign the club's death warrant. I have some sympathy for the current board as they were suckered in to Dean Edwards' ego trip and left holding the baby, but I cannot be an apologist for their current course of action. I don't buy this "they saved the club" and "there is no alternative" stuff. They were the first on the scene of the accident and administered CPR. They then said "Don't call an ambulance, we've got it all under control". They are now saying "We haven't got time for an ambulance, call the undertakers". The fans of this club could have saved the club given the chance - just as the fans of Newport County were given that chance. My blood boiled when the board refused to even listen to how James Mathie achieved that. My fear was that they would sell to a property developer instead .... Indeed Jon, I've done some digging. The parallels with Reading and what could happen to us are stark. Basically, they wanted to move the Greyhound/Speedway to another site (right next door). It seems Gaming International negotiated a reduced-term lease on the stadium so they could pay yearly... then they shut the club down. The thing the company was interested in was developing a super casino as part of the stadium but, once that was turned down, they just feigned interest for several years and, to this day, the sports have been in exile from Reading. www.getreading.co.uk/sport/other-sport/smallmead-stadium-set-shut-october-4250686There are lots of articles over recent years which contain sound-bites from Clarke Osbourne about how they "can't wait" to get started on the new stadium! Sadly, they don't really give a toss. |
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Post by stig123 on Mar 31, 2016 13:38:04 GMT
This all looks very troubling. It looks like a deal is very close to completion so not sure what we can do other than hope for the best.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 31, 2016 16:22:32 GMT
From the latest Gaming International Ltd accounts: The principal activity of the company is the operation of gaming and leisure facilities (including greyhound racing) and PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. The emphasis is mine. The man behind this company Clarke Osborne has now set up a new company "Riviera Stadium Limited". Gaming International Limited was once known as Bristol Stadium PLC. Clarke Osborne was a director of Bristol Stadium PLC when Bristol Rovers could no longer afford to pay them the rent in 1986. Rovers were forced to play in exile in Bath for ten years. Osborne was Chief Executive of Bristol Stadium PLC when Eastville was sold to Ikea for £19m. There were promises that a new greyhound site would be found in Bristol - but it did not happen. I think Reading has suffered a similar fate. I am sure that the new owners will lend the football club enough money to keep those fans who don't look beyond the end of their nose happy for a couple of years. My fear is that the day will come when they will want everything they lend back plus a return on investment. They are not fans and they are not a charity. I hate to say it, but I fully believe that Dave Phillips is about to sign the club's death warrant. I have some sympathy for the current board as they were suckered in to Dean Edwards' ego trip and left holding the baby, but I cannot be an apologist for their current course of action. I don't buy this "they saved the club" and "there is no alternative" stuff. They were the first on the scene of the accident and administered CPR. They then said "Don't call an ambulance, we've got it all under control". They are now saying "We haven't got time for an ambulance, call the undertakers". The fans of this club could have saved the club given the chance - just as the fans of Newport County were given that chance. My blood boiled when the board refused to even listen to how James Mathie achieved that. My fear was that they would sell to a property developer instead .... Indeed Jon, I've done some digging. The parallels with Reading and what could happen to us are stark. Basically, they wanted to move the Greyhound/Speedway to another site (right next door). It seems Gaming International negotiated a reduced-term lease on the stadium so they could pay yearly... then they shut the club down. The thing the company was interested in was developing a super casino as part of the stadium but, once that was turned down, they just feigned interest for several years and, to this day, the sports have been in exile from Reading. www.getreading.co.uk/sport/other-sport/smallmead-stadium-set-shut-october-4250686There are lots of articles over recent years which contain sound-bites from Clarke Osbourne about how they "can't wait" to get started on the new stadium! Sadly, they don't really give a toss. I used to go to Reading Speedway on Monday evenings throughout childhood, into adulthood and attended the last meeting there in 2008. Torquay United and Reading Racers. Those were my two things. One has gone. I am worried. Here's an article in April 2013, with Clarke Osbourne quoted. www.readingspeedway.com/news.php?extend.1747And here's an article from this month regarding trying to set up a supporters trust to get speedway back into the town. www.readingspeedway.com/news.php?extend.1754And here is an interview with Clarke Osbourne for Radio Berkshire reported as transcribed in February 2013. 5 years after the gates closed and two months before the less optimistic story of April 2013 linked above. Audio available also. www.readingspeedway.com/news.php?extend.1746There are plenty of other earlier stories on pages 2 and 3 of latest news on that site, post closure, with Stadia UK representatives, mostly Clarke Osbourne, variously quoted. The doors have been closed for eight years. |
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Post by tufans on Mar 31, 2016 21:34:01 GMT
Thank you to Jon and Mark for the valuable information they have provided. Having read what they have said and looked at the links they provided, we can confirm that Anthony Osborne and Stephen Hayward, another Director of Gaming International Ltd, have been closely connected as Directors/company secretaries through various property and development companies for many years. Furthermore; the two companies shown below are nominee directors/secretaries for companies owned by Anthony Osborne, Stephen Hayward and Pete Masters: Swift Incorporations Limited - via Poole Stadium Limited (Anthony Osborne and Stephen Hayward) Elm Tree Estates Limited (Peter Masters) and Instant Companies Ltd - via Poole Stadium Limited (Anthony Osborne & Stephen Hayward) Elm Tree Estates Limited (Peter Masters) Do Anthony Osborne and Stephen Hayward have any links, business or otherwise, with Pete Masters via their property development companies?
If so, how long have they known each other?
Dave Philips is a bookie and as such, will have (in all probability) visited many race-tracks. Gaming International Ltd own various greyhound race-tracks. Has there been, at any time, any involvement between Dave Philips and the Directors of Gaming International Ltd ( Anthony Osborne and Stephen Hayward)?
If so, how have they been involved and how long have they been involved?
According to an interview given by Dave Philips to the BBC ( link - bbc.in/1KXg5f6 ) on 3rd February 2016, Dave Philips stated that there is a possibility that TUFC would have a new ground in Barton, Torquay and that an American developer was interested. Any American company interested in purchasing or developing companies in the UK must disclose their name and interests in accordance with company law, so we ask: Was it an American investor, if so please give the full name and registration of the company, or was this a smoke screen for Gaming International Limited?
According to Torbay Council, no applications have been made or interest shown in the development of a new stadium for TUFC. Does this mean that there is a possibility that Gaming International will apply for a reduced-term lease for TUFC stadium, through Riviera Stadium Ltd, with the intention to purchase the grounds, shut the club down and develop the site?
Previously Dave Phillips and Pete Masters stated that TUFC pitch would gain a new drainage system from the monies paid for the ground share. Now that this is no longer happening, it appears that the long awaited drainage system for the pitch will not be going in. What is happening to the investment Pete Masters made by check, from his company Elm Tree Estates Limited; is it a gift, a donation or a personal loan?
If it is a loan, when is it due to be paid back and what are the terms?
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