Jon
Admin 
Posts: 6,912
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Post by Jon on Jun 1, 2008 23:07:28 GMT
Mike Bateson took on a loser from the start I think, and eventually was not prepared to put anymore cash into a money losing prospect. What started as a bit of 'fun' ended up as a millstone. Everyone called for his head, but at the end of the day there were no takers willing to buy him out...until the Roberts scenario.....and I think that highlighted just how desperate things had become, both for him & eventually the club. Andy, you obviously haven't read "The Alternative History of Torquay United" have you? Apparently, Bateson took over a thriving club that was financially sound, played to massive crowds, had a huge playing squad and enjoyed non-stop success throughout the 70s and 80s. He then deliberately ran the club into the ground for his own selfish ends and apparently helped himself to as much cash as he wanted. The club funded a lifestyle that he obviously could not have afforded otherwise. Because of this, he definitely did not want to sell the club and cruelly silenced the hundreds of locals who were queueing up to take over. He then deliberately sold the club to a conman out of malice. Or are you saying all of that is b******s? |
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Post by andyparsons on Jun 3, 2008 17:08:19 GMT
Nooooo.....
I must have got the abridged version though!! ;D
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Post by the92ndfish on Jun 3, 2008 17:17:55 GMT
Enough of this post Batesonite revisionism, yes he inherited a tough situation and in the end it was apparent that it was nothing other than a millstone around his neck as he wanted to get out and thus lost all enthuiasm for the club but it doesn't change the fact that he allowed the club to go the way it did.
Theres this concept around Torquay that the club is and always will be small fry, it has no potential and whoever takes it over must accept that, this was always Mikey B's position and to be frank it's a load of old toss, I won't go into why it's not true but the club blatantly has the potential to be a solid League One side or even Championship side if things go exceptionally well.
Bateson ran the club like a cottage industry and never attempted to source any alternative funding nor find any other buyers, he just sat around slowly winding it down expecting someone to come along and proposition him out of nowhere, wasn't going to happen, sorry.
When he finally had the chance to push the club on when we go promoted to League One, we had barely any investment and the youth set up winded up, he could have got a damn sight more for the club had he secured them in that league and then openly put them on the market.
The close of the Bateson years were dark dark days.
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Jon
Admin
Posts: 6,912
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Post by Jon on Jun 3, 2008 20:02:22 GMT
Enough of this post Batesonite revisionism... Revisionism is one of my pet hates. I've even been known to fall out with people over it! Of course people have different views about what is going on now, so there is no one version of the past that is the absolute truth. But I cannot abide it when people blatantly misrepresent the past and paint a totally false picture. It is quite startling how people can start to believe things if people repeat them ad infinitum. You're a bright lad, mad on TUFC and have a good understanding of what's happened at the club in the 00s. One day, us old farts will have to fill you in on what happened in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Then maybe a really old fart can bring us both up to speed on what happened in the 60s. |
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jack
TFF member
Posts: 24
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Post by jack on Jun 6, 2008 9:58:54 GMT
I am sure that Alex Rowe has more important things to do than answer questions on a website. Whilst I quite liked Mike Bateson as well, the fact that he spent most of his time answering questions in response to internet posters it actually meant nothing really as Mike seemed to lose his way completely. By the end he didn't really seem to have a clue. Who can forget the Birmingham City away Fa cup tie when he refused to take a big enough allocation of tickets.
As for Roberts, well I wouldn't put his openess to fans aquestions down as a good point. In fact he didn't have anyway. He was just a liar.
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Post by andyparsons on Jun 6, 2008 13:04:29 GMT
I gather Alex has been busy in the washrooms....hanging all the towels out to dry! ;D
(old habits die hard!
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