Mark L
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Post by Mark L on Nov 1, 2016 18:52:37 GMT
While there is still doubt in whether the safety net is actually required you will only get a half-hearted campaign (however hard you try). If it is a case of TUST or nothing, that's when you will see the full force of the fans. I'd say administering a down-payment in lieu of some future potential community share offer would be a nightmare and not very attractive whereas a straight sale of shares would be a doddle in comparison. Until TUST are handed ownership of the club, that will be impossible. You could sell a virtual share scheme and the funds kept aside for the day it is needed but it wouldn't have the same appeal and, once again, it would be half-hearted. I really am sick of this situation. It's the stringing along that has upset me the most. Incompetence I can cope with (I mean, we pay to watch it from the terraces most weeks) but I feel the whole situation is disingenuous and is about to lead to Clarke Osborne getting his wrecking-ball hands on the home of Torquay's football for the past 95 years. We also have a football manager who has done all he can to keep our team afloat with absolute dignity despite what is happening behind the doors and his pathetic budget.... he deserves a lot better. What can the fans do until Dave Phillips and 'the board' (who are they!?!) let us have our club back? He has the power and, unless there is a mass revolt against him, we're looking at buying a new flat at Plainmoor heights. Can we wait until 12 and a half weeks until our loan is due? No, I don't think we can. Just wringing your hands and saying it probably won't work, will see the club fold. I'm in Florida so I can't be too hands-on but I am willing to give money. I just need someone to start the ball rolling. I see that someone as being TUST. I come from a background of grasping the nettle and getting on with it. I'm fed up with reading why things won't work. Let's have a go and see where we end up, eh. If TUST tries to make itself a viable alternative who's to say where that might lead? We already know what doing nothing will achieve. Anyone whose total contribution is just to bemoan the fate of the club should just fcuk off somewhere else. If it doesn't work at least we can say 'we tried' instead of just being a smirking pessimist saying 'we told you so'. I'm not saying I'm against just cracking on with it... but I'm certainly saying that it needs some crisis momentum. Anyway, glad to have you back onside  |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Nov 1, 2016 18:56:25 GMT
Reported on another site - Masters and GI take control, KN out Steve Tully in. A wretched mess with the club sinking to new depths after shite boardroom "leadership" for a number of years. Not convinced of a bright future ahead - more likely than not we will be routed uin the bowels of non-league football for eternity! Rumoured on this one days ago of course. Any conflict with Masters and Truro? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2016 19:39:43 GMT
I've got my doubts that telling people on the doorstep that 'we've negotiated a 3 month exclusivity deal that stops other investors putting their money in and trying to salvage the club, and therefore it means that you and your neighbour have to stump up the money to pay off Gaming International and then help run the club' would really have received the warm welcome from a local population who are in the main totally disinterested in football, that so many others are convinced it would.
Neither was I surprised to learn that TUST still haven't finalised a business plan. I'd keep it on hold, in the not quite ready state if I was them, as the degree to which they'd have to shrink the club in order to survive on TUST's projected budget, might well have come as a nasty unexpected shock to a lot of fans.
Sensible business decisions are needed to get the club back on a firm footing, and while there's a realistic chance that there are people around who might provide those, the Board have to put the best interests of the club first, however much they might have wished to give 'Community Ownership' a go.
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Mark L
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Favourite Player: Paul Baker
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Post by Mark L on Nov 1, 2016 20:17:07 GMT
I've got my doubts that telling people on the doorstep that 'we've negotiated a 3 month exclusivity deal that stops other investors putting their money in and trying to salvage the club, and therefore it means that you and your neighbour have to stump up the money to pay off Gaming International and then help run the club' would really have received the warm welcome from a local population who are in the main totally disinterested in football, that so many others are convinced it would. Neither was I surprised to learn that TUST still haven't finalised a business plan. I'd keep it on hold, in the not quite ready state if I was them, as the degree to which they'd have to shrink the club in order to survive on TUST's projected budget, might well have come as a nasty unexpected shock to a lot of fans. Sensible business decisions are needed to get the club back on a firm footing, and while there's a realistic chance that there are people around who might provide those, the Board have to put the best interests of the club first, however much they might have wished to give 'Community Ownership' a go. Yes, that's exactly how it would be put. Would you like to be in charge of marketing? You've nailed the facetious message right there. Someone's best interests may have been served by taking large loans from a property developer but I don't think it was Torquay United's. Are your paragraphs intentionally contradicting each other? |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Nov 2, 2016 10:42:16 GMT
Bit more of an update in the Herald this morning - linkFurther background talk about Masters / GI - rather worryingly, talks are ongoing with Torbay Council about obtaining the freehold for the ground. This is the bottom line, it was ever thus....... I suspect Truro fans will be screwed first. |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Nov 2, 2016 15:56:26 GMT
Flo - He can get around that via family or ditch Truro, as options.
Apparently, Dave Thomas has apologised for and amended the first version of that article. He had claimed that TUST broke the NDA to reveal that GI take over the club when we default by 31st January. Which was incorrect as loads of people already knew that.
The Council previously stated they had not been approached about Plainmoor around the time of GI's initial takeover talks that were shelved, (because we handed them the club on a plate via the loan) so why that particular line remains, I am not sure. Perhaps he is being fed this by Dave Phillips, who seems hell bent on destroying the Club by handing it over to property developers. The quote from Phillips that the Council were willing to "re-open" talks that were never open could probably be delved into a bit deeper, for starters.
How a share issue, or mock share issue via escrow could get off the ground when the local press and TUFC Board are peddling bright new stadia bullsh1t on behalf of our future property developing owners is anyone's guess, Flo. The GI bullsh1t machine hasn't even had it's chance to shine yet, and that's far more advanced in it's pursuit of non-build land grab.
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simonb
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Post by simonb on Nov 2, 2016 17:49:14 GMT
Still suspect TUFC are FUCT. Will there be any positive news tonight? Answers on a postage stamp!
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aj
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Post by aj on Nov 2, 2016 18:58:28 GMT
Dear fans,
We would love to be at the meeting but we would be refused entry if all seven of us turned up.
It is 18:20 and we would like to categorically state that Torbay Council has no idea why the Herald Express or Dave Phillips have stated the development at Plainmore is a possibility. Dave Phillips must be talking to someone in his dreams because it not any individual at Torbay Council. If you ask Dave Phillips to confirm the names of the individuals at Torbay Council, he will be unable to.
Ask Dave Phillips who is paying for Pete Masters travel costs to and from Cornwall/TUFC several times a week to provide "advice" when we live in a digital age whereby you can email, face-time or phone for free or minimal costs.
The lack of respect shown to the fans and the TUST whereby Dave Phillips rejected the TUST's offer of community ownership via the media, without the decency of informing the TUST beforehand, shows his utter contempt for both the TUST and the fans.
Although we are season ticket holders, we are now boycotting the games because it is clear that Dave Phillips is only interested in the development of Plainmore and making a profit for himself. We eagerly await the true facts because what goes around comes around and certain individuals will get their come-uppance.
We believe you will be given little or no information tonight and all sorts of excuses will be made as to why information cannot be divulged. However, sooner or later, whomever takes over the club will find themselves, at some point, in serious financial trouble and it will end up in community ownership in the end like so many other clubs. This said, we all want the best for the club; but we have all had enough of the current regime and its shenanigans.
Yours sincerely
The whistle-blowers
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hector
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Post by hector on Nov 2, 2016 23:03:40 GMT
Just seven of you?
Snow White not coming along as well?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2016 17:52:16 GMT
Floridagull Unless Floridagull mends his ways and starts expressing views more in keeping with prevailing TUST militancy, I can foresee his continued membership coming under scrutiny . I've just been reading another Forum, where TUST militants are preoccupied with getting maximum exposure for this in the public domain. That dog won't get a wink of sleep if some get their way and succeed in persuading it to bark it's head off. Suggestions so far include, informing the national press, contacting the BBC, plus trying to persuade Sky Sports to run the story. Add to that the further advice that 'I would also be looking into pursuing a case against the individual involved, to strengthen TUST's position in buying the club'
While I'm quite sure that the average Torquay fan most probably is shaking his head and mouthing 'churlish', while reading TUST's latest statement, those who find themselves struggling to support the Party line, will again wonder whether they should remain in that Party. |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Nov 3, 2016 17:56:40 GMT
Apparently, Dave Thomas has apologised for and amended the first version of that article. He had claimed that TUST broke the NDA to reveal that GI take over the club when we default by 31st January. Which was incorrect as loads of people already knew that. I see that TUST have now written to the club asking for an apology, stating 'We believe it is the club that is in breach of the NDA not TUST and expect an apology to protect the integrity and reputation of the TUST board.' And reading Rob's post above I am not clear on whether it was the club that made the statement or misreporting by Dave Thomas that implied they had. It was Dave Thomas that first wrote it. He was also told by Dave Phillips that the club had been in discussions with Torbay Council and will continue to do so about freehold sale. The same day Dave Phillips told supporters the current suitors are not interested in the freehold. DT then retracted it re NDA and apologised for the error. Subsequent to that, Rob Stanley repeated it to last night's fans forum. I agree that you do not always get what you want in business. I also agree that when falsehoods are used to attempt to discredit you, as a business, you might seek to do something about it. In the big scheme of things, it may seem minor, but TUST will still be there when this ownership has gone, whether that be via default on a loan (something they didn't want public but have forgotten many knew) or from a suitor not interested in the freehold (or interested, depending on which time of day you catch Dave Phillips). I'm sure most will make their own minds up on this and move on. I see Alpine already has. Am going to have a watch as I believe it's up on YouTube. Enough Keyboard winking from this supporter for now. |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2016 0:04:11 GMT
Apparently, Dave Thomas has apologised for and amended the first version of that article. He had claimed that TUST broke the NDA to reveal that GI take over the club when we default by 31st January. Which was incorrect as loads of people already knew that. I see that TUST have now written to the club asking for an apology, stating 'We believe it is the club that is in breach of the NDA not TUST and expect an apology to protect the integrity and reputation of the TUST board.' I'm not sure this will achieve anything. In my experience, sending letters quoting dates, times, agreement excerpts, and pointing fingers rarely achieve the author's aims. They just come across as churlish and for sure will do nothing to endear TUST to the club. And reading Rob's post above I am not clear on whether it was the club that made the statement or misreporting by Dave Thomas that implied they had. Either way, I believe we should have let sleeping dogs lie. It was already yesterday's news and all this will do is bring it back into the public domain, for no good reason or gain. You don't always get your own way in business. My advice to TUST is to develop a thicker skin, move on, and concentrate on the more constructive matters. You have totally missed the point. This does not refer to the Herald's inaccurate reporting but to Rob Stanley falsely accusing TUST of breaching the NDA at the Fans' Forum - an allegation that is damaging to TUST and is untrue. The statement was clearly designed to turn supporters against TUST. I struggle to understand quite why the board is so keen to divide the fan base in this way at a time when it is more important than ever to be united. If you bother to read Michael's email, it is quite clear that the club has breached the NDA as they were obliged to : immediately inform the Recipient of any discussions they may be having or that arise with any other party who has the the intention of achieving or working towards the Purpose or any similar or equivalent outcome. The Disclosing Party shall make such third party aware of the Recipient’s interest with a view to setting up a meeting between the Recipient and the third party for the purposes of considering working together for the Purpose. Funnily enough, I had asked at the forum whether fans could be involved in talking to interested parties and was told that this would be impossible. Yet the board had signed a legally-binding document agreeing to do just that. I don't think that there was any malevolence in the board's breach. I fully expect that they had just signed a legal document without making the effort to read and understand it. That is quite worrying and would explain some things that have been signed in the past. It also doesn't raise much confidence when the next legal document they sign could be an extremely important one. |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Nov 4, 2016 0:13:15 GMT
Possible justification as not to consider TUST as a viable ownership model?
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2016 0:15:50 GMT
I believe we should have let sleeping dogs lie. Disagree. Sleeping dogs should have to tell the truth like everyone else. |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2016 0:52:55 GMT
I can't really see where TUST was expecting the IFR to lead them or what it would achieve. TUST had no real money then, has no real money now, and is doing nothing to get some money for the future. I think I am boring myself now by repeating yet again that preparing for a community share issue is very much "doing something to get some money for the future". The IFR, as agreed with the board, was a significant step in that process. The next step would have been full due diligence, but of course we never got that far. Wasted money then? I think not. Of course, it will not now be at the centre of a business plan for a sustainable club, but you would hope that the existing board can take it, digest it and find something in it to help them run the club. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. I would rather that TUST gift the board £2k of expert advice than give them £2k cash. I don't know what is in the report, but I gather that Nick Igoe's reports are very detailed and draw on a wealth of expertise and experience in this particular field. The cost of such expertise on the open market would be far in excess of £2k. Far better value than Kelvin Thomas whose expert advice was "find someone to give you £1m". clubdevelopment.coop/executif/nick-igoe/ |
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