SW11_Saint

Hey GM/19C - you know they say it's the first sign of madness don't you...?

I don't think anyone has been "campaigning" for administration - even if they were, it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference, it's down to the incompetence of successive boards that we have arrived at this event. Implicitly you seem to be turning the spotlight/blame on the fans for "wishing" it to happen, which is nonesense. Most just understood it would happen at some point in time and merely pointed that out. To my mind the appointment of the duddly Dutch duo made poor performance and the resulting economic fallout inevitable: appoint clowns to run the team; farm out experience players, play kids; get bad results; players demoralised; management clueless; customers/fans p*ssed off; less money. Simple, and sadly another classic example of Lowe's ego getting in the way of common sense.

Stoke City did this - the ground was part financed by the Stoke-on-Trent City Council and S-o-T Regeneration when it was built, and they then sold their shares back to the club for about £6m at the end of 2007. Basically, if the council stepping in to support the club helps us stabilise in the short-term, then it would be a good thing in my opinion. It will also help ensure that the club remains at the heart of the community. Of course any potential buyer will need to be comfortable with this arrangement, but there is clearly precedent for this working.

Think you mean David Sullivan, the other sordid little man at Brum. There was talk of him trying to get involved in West Ham or someone a while back - he's an Essex boy I think. The fraud police are still sniffing around Birmingham so not sure he'd be able to make a move, or right for us (oh for a rich, hard-working chairman who doesn't (want to) get his face in the paper every other day!).

He likes "Sailing" (boom! boom!)

Even though there seems to be a lot of interest - which is good news for once! - I suspect 90% of them will be ruled out immediately as lacking the wherewithall to be considered serious bidders. I believe the administrators role is twofold - certainly he has to represent the creditors and try to get them as much of their money back as possible, but he is also representing the entity going into administration, and has a duty to make a decision that will give that company the best chance of flourishing on an ongoing basis. Although clearly money will "talk" to some extent, we have to trust Mr. Fry's professionalism to make the most sound decision to satisfy both requirements. Frankly we're in a "beggars can't be choosers" situation, so regardless we have to trust Fry & Co. but I think they will weigh up all aspects before coming to any conclusions. I guess we'll find out mid next week how many 'real contenders' there are...

Glass half empty (or should that be fully empty?) - we were pitiful, clueless, abysmal. A shambles with no fight or spirit. They ought to carry the poor fans who made the journey up there back home on their shoulders as penance (they could do with some training by the look of it). Glass half full - since the Football League are determined to see us relegated regardless, maybe it's better to slip pathetically away without a fight, rather than fight to safety then have Mawhinney's boys slap the 10 point deduction on us and relegate us anyway? That would just be too heartbreaking. Everyone involved with getting this club to this lowest of lowe (sic) points should hang their heads in shame. You know who you are. There may be a brighter future out there, but I suspect it will be a long time coming...

Problem with this is timing. Even if this forensic report is carried out "as a matter of urgency", there is still going to be an impact on potential buyers? We're being told we have to find funds/a buyer before the end of the season, but surely no one is going to step in until the results of this report are published. Time is something we do not have...

There endeth the sermon (we hope!). For the record I think most on this board agree with all of what you say, it's those (in power) who refuse to accept ANY responsibilty who rile people.

It is similar to a vicious circle, but just more transparent. That is, the appointment of JP was clearly ridiculous, as all could see (bar our 'revolutionary board' of course).

GM - he's gone. Get over it. Have a good cry if that helps, but he's gone. Time to move on...

You might deem it "better", but it's still pointless. Horse, barn door and all that...

Why is he bothering? No one is listening or interested. His chapter if firmly closed, and others are now left picking up the pieces...

Agreed, but Lowe was on the board for 80%+ of the time so only fair that the spotlight is 80%+ on him at the moment... (regardless of how much he's trying to deflect it!).

Agree, that bit was somewhat contradictory - but the Matt's a footballer (and a genius at that), not on the board. I think the latter point is the most important - why didn't we push on after the Cup Final when we had the chance? Thing is with Lowe, he did neither!

Iain Dowie

Can I respectfully suggest you **** off, unless you have something constructive to say? Your hero Lowe has failed - spectacularly - and has left us on the brink of League 1 and in Adminstration. Stop trying to to take your frustration out on those trying to help the club and go have a little cry... you'll feel better for it, believe me.

A must win game that we lost. To a team with virtually nothing left to play for bar pride. Sums up the dispirited ramshackle vestiges of a club that Lowe has left us with. Just a shame that he wasn't there himself to see what 26k odd think of him and his legacy. Unless we win at Watford this week we are down (and even if we do we probably are anyway), but the focus now has to be on the survival of the club - take the pain, and live for a better, brighter future.

PS Also mentioned the "magnificent gesture" of Davis, Euell etc. in deferring their wages.

Wondered when you'd raise your head above the parapet again. He's f*cked up, he's gone, good riddance, you can stop defending him now. Doesn't that feel good?

Just done a mini feature on Saints showing the cup teams, classic goals from MLT, Beatts, Theo etc. Lots of sympathy from Stelling, and Matt naturally seemed very cut up by the whole thing. Said he's meeting the Administrator on Monday morning "to see how I can help" - definitely more of a PR aid to findining investment, rather than fronting something himself. Said that "those at the top should be having sleepless nights" for what they have done - when pressed by Stelling, he mentioned Lowe, Cowen and also "previous boards" - Wilde and Crouch. Stelling listed off the players sales over the last few years and their values and ask "where has all the money gone?". Matt commented that there had been significant financial mismanagement. Also commented that when we were getting 32k gates in the Prem why didn't we try to chip away at the debt; and also wondered why we didn't "push on" after the Cup Final, when we only spent £4m on players - tellingly alluded to Stracan leaving due to that frustration. Stelling came up with something that has always puzzled me "why is it so difficult to attract investors in one of the richest areas of the country?" [imo suspect the reason has just departed the club - hopefully doors will be now open to positive investment]. Something of a positive note at the end that they hoped a saviour would be found. Cottee commented on what a great club it was. Panel agreed that League will have to dock us the 10 points to be fair to other clubs (bar Matt who didn't comment).

I still have no doubt he has SFC at heart. From what I understand he didn't get on with Lowe (who did?), so perhaps he has to shoulder some of the blame for driving away a "friend" (and a very useful one at that) to the club. If he was interested, or wanted to front a consortium, I'd have him no problem.

Mark, one thought I have had - mentioned in other posts - is whether we can get any well known Saints fans with business experience on board, or even to help front/run this. Gavyn Davies is the one who naturally springs to mind, but I am sure there are others too. I think most fans are positive about this move, but you will already have seen misgivings from some due to past experience with other fans groups where typically "the ususal suspects" end up running the show and things either peter out or become somewhat ego driven. I think the visible inclusion of a Gavyn Davies or similar will provide real credibilty to this initative and quell fears from some fans that it'll end up not being professionally organised (with absolutely no disprespect to you, Derry, or the others trying to get this thing moving, as I have no idea of your background or experience - in fact I salute you all for driving this forward). COYS!

We once did a thread on those who start posts with "I'm not a luvvie but..." and I think you have just won first prize! Don't want to start another dissection of Lowe's tenure, we are where we are - many have played a part and are culpable, but I suspect no one more than him. He's gone, good riddance, now time to try and find a way out of this appalling mess we're in...

blah blah blah I'm not to blame blah blah blah totally down to overspending in the 2 years I wasn't here blah blah blah hold my head up high blah blah will have achieved my objective of keeping the football club alive blah blah blah RJ "So you're putting these trouble down to the two years you weren't here?" RL "yes". Blah RJ "Do you accept any responsibility" RL "We got relegated when I was at the helm" (but had money in the bank blah blah blah etc.) Basically not one shred of humility, and a total refusal to accept or even share responsibility for our current predicament. Predicatable in the extreme. Let's hope he never shows his smug face in So'ton again (for his own sake as much as anything).