Frank's cousin

Beacuse he would have been a club asset and therefore part of any agreed deal - teh sale of McGoldrick could impact on the nature of any contract already drawn up between teh administrator and any of the interested parties... This is therefore a worrying development - as is the fact that if nothing is signed today/tomorrow, more assets in some case our most valuable will be off on frees - or if teh wages are not paid teh whole bloody squad!!! Pinnacle going for exclusivity and then not completing ahs put pressure on the other bidders to complete in a very short time if they are to avoid buying a stadium and being left with no squad. Also if the back has several hundred million and is cloise to completing teh deal, WTF cant they stump up cash for Junes wages ? Seems to me they are a lot further from completing than I or others had thought/hoped.

Hence the confusion. Were we 'taken in' by Pinnacle's association with MLT? Afterall is it any differnt from Wilde and Crouch bringing in names familiar to fans to increase acceptance of the new folk (Lawrie and MC) ? I am sure they ahve worked very hard to get a deal off the groud, but thi whole delay on teh -10 points which looked like clasisc stalling, then the misleading comments from TL about first it being a consortium, then a single invester worth hundreds of Millions (Wilde investors in teh wings anyone?) then Mr Fialka, now Mr Fialka threatening to pull out because of the Echo looking into his background, then is a consortium again.... and here is another thing - IF they knew the -10 points was going to be an issue, if they new that the money man was unlikely to be happy with the FL stance, why enter the period of exclusivity thus denying other bidders the chance, and risk the staff not being paid as they failed to complete? Is that teh actions of a group who care about the staff? Finally MLT is without doubt an excdellent figurehead for any bid, his status with fans is unquestionable, but is he really qualified to be a chairman during what will still be very difficult and demanding financial times? Seems another populist rather than pragmatic decision. Surely MLT should sit on the board as a non exec? I really wanted to believe, but too much just seems like what we have heard before and seen before. The contradictory nature of teh communicatios from TL as well have undermined the credibility of the bid IMHO.

Its the BeeGees taking over then?

This is the frustration, not knowing who would best and the simple fact Fry wont care because its just about getting a deal signed to satisfy creditors... do we know details of aeither bid? NO. If its to be the swiss, surely they will need to complete today to avoid being beaten to the finish line by Pinnacle? Who are the Swiss, who is behind pinnacle? Do we know any facts and who would we preferbased on knowing nothing?

He may well have done, but considering his group only contrilled about 25% of shares, anyone serious about a takover of saints would simply have gone hostile and bought the rest - got to 51% and taken control... What we often forget is that those taking over prem clubs dont really give a flying feck who they are buying - just look around and try and bag a winner that is easy to takover, say by simply buying out the existing majority shareholder...

Its about controll.. But dontbe surprised if teh Swiss were to win and then bring in some fan friendly names...

Maybe its simple - maybe the 'consortium' behind teh bid has been fluid - drop outs and new names over these last few weeks? Could explain the 'delaying tactics' with the -10 point debate. It could also be that they have teh 14 mil ready, but are still trying to entice an additional investor who may well be teh 100 million plus man? But TL and co need to understand that this inconsistency in hat has been told to us is naturally suspicious to many.

Thing is, by being 'secretive' about things, it naturally leads to suspician... we can be naturally cynical given the fake bids of previous periods. The problem is that we as fans do not ahve access or any control in deciding aboutthe bids - The concerns stems from this fact - It may be that The Pinnacle bid is teh BEST for saints, but without knowing details of this or the swiss or other bids how do we know that the others might not be better, ust got to the table too late? This is the problem with admin - Fry will not be interested in the best bid for SFC or its future, just getting someone to sign on the line to satisfy the creditors... I was very positive towards pinnacle at first but had that confidence erroded over this -10 points thing - it simply smacked of stalling to me as it would not have been in the spirit of the regulations or the game had we pursued it. Now we have alternatives who seem serious and its such a shame that teh one group that has most to gain or lose form all this ...the fans... have absolutely no say in who will be our next owner... The way of the world, but given the place clubs have in fans hearts does not seem right somehow...

BILL SHIET alert frankly - the -10 is not a problem when put in perspective of staff and players not ebing paid and teh club folding - Looks like an excuse to me to delay things whilst scrambling for teh cash? Come you Swiss.

She has 5 days to turn St Marys into a baboon sanctuary. Just open the door to teh boardroom - that should do it.

The rats leaving the sinking ship... Is it just me or given the amount of wages these twonks have had, they owe us a bit of grace? If on a free they have choices anyway and can wait a bit as some clubs will want to leave it a bit later to sign new players anyway to avoid paying wages...

Ok..I admit it, I too was convinced beyond all doubt of our 'several hundred million' backer... I was hopeful for the first time since we entered admin that we might through a bit of good fortune at last come out the other end a leaener but meaner machine able to compete and with a united fanbase... But back in the real world, it appears that TLs bid was built like a house of cards - and that thsi whole issue of -10 points appeal was a an excuse - no wonder TL has been working flat out on this deal - it would appear he's been working flat out to get teh funding because whatever arguments put forward there is SIMPLY NO JUSTIFICATION on earth for putting -10 points ahead of the survival of the club and a fresh start..NONE whatsoever - its an excuse because when they needed to hand over the cash, like old mother hubbards poor wee hound, they discovered the cupboard was bare and have been desperatly trying to find suitable funds ....iMHO of course.. So what else in hindsights looks odd with this deal? Obviously there is the question of the 'unknown backer' or perahps they had not been confirmed? Why choose MLT as chairman - AFTER he the bid has been launched? Has MLT anything to offer as a chairman or was this nice fan friendly rhetoric again - MLT is a legend, bband is welcomed back at teh club in a role, but as chairman? sorry, not enough experience for that. Then we have the issue of the deposit... if someone is worth several 100 mill why teh ned for CRouch to alledgedly supply teh deposit? MOre questions than answers at this stage really....

Another hint may well have been the stalling over the -10 point appeal - the whole thing was contradictory - MLT stated publically that if teh FL did not revooke their deciosn they would simply get on with it - It was extremely naive to think the FA would change their mind so why not sign up...? Because I suspect it was a stalling tactic as the money was simply there? Does this mean if Crouch paid the deposit, he has been dumped again... is bad luck or naivety?

HIndsight is a wonderful thing,... but even I am starting to think maybe teh warning sighns were always there - An example is the way MLT went so quickly from being invited to support the bid to new chairman - wuithout experience necesssary to drive through a strategy that will work for a club in our situation... It woudl be great to have him actively involved at teh club again, but as Chairman? Seems to me a blatent crowd pleaser by pinnacle? I anm desperate to try and avoid cynicism this time around, but it all juts smacks of teh same again... so bring on the Swiss?

I feel a bit worried for him... and if pinnacle goes tits up, it will simpy highlight a bit of naiviety on his behalf - but he wont go down in my estimations. BUt maybe it was awwarning sign as I am not sure what MLT would bring as Chairman as he does not have teh commercial experience necessary to drive through a strategic plan for a business on a VERY tight financial budget that needs rebuilding - position on the board sure but Chairman? Seems to me he was offered that role because of teh way that looks to fans and how much it woudl appeal superficially... dissapopinted with Pinnacle and feel let down by these latest issues..

Sorry but again I would say this simply cant happen - because we will not be granted a lisense without having a CVA in place via SLH - which has to count as its teh reason why we got -10 in teh first place ...being 'inextricably' linked...

HI To counter that if this was thecase we would not get a license to start with so again cant happen - we will either get a license because the SLH have agreed terms (which means no future penalties) with creditors or we wont and the -10 points will be immaterial anyway...

I dont think folk are having a pop at Tiny who we know is working his nuts off.... the thing is that having had fingers burned on numerous occasions in the past its easy to get a bit suspicious - especially as: 1) the -10 points should not be a deal breaker - we deserved the punishment whether legal loophole or not because of excessive spending a few years back, so why not accept it and sign on the line? The fact they have not suggests its a bigger issue for someone - most likely with the final say... Mr X... and, 2) the secreacy relating to the backer/s - Everone can understand the desire to maintain confidentiality and out of teh media spotlightuntil the deal is complete, but it will open teh door for speculation and concern that they actually exist! - 3) we are desperate for it to succeed so as to avoid being dependant on MJ ;-)

Cant happen - we are safe from that why? Because if the creditors have agreed to the 15 mil and all debts cleared - this is in effect a CVA between SLH and the creditors which will satisfy FL rules - as in tehir own statements we are inextricably linked and the same entity. If theye were later to dock further points by suggesting that SFC did not have a CVA in place, it would contradict their original penalty by now claiming SFC and SLH were NOT linked... etc... so as long as SFC stays debt free in future its not an issue.

More likley is .... TL decides it might be a good opportunity to get involved.... he knows MLT through Charity goldf days and asks him if he would be prepared to be involved as the public face... the search is ten on for backers - some come some go and with MLT thrust into the media as a figurehead it draws out a bigger and better backer - but who has imposed certain condityions - 1) it wont be a bottomless pit of cash, teh club must be self relient, 2) he will support the buget shortfall whilst in L1 for teh 2009/10 season, but afterthat you are on your own... 3) the books /contracts show that if not promioted this season, we will have a budget shortfall again next year - therefore its a condition to get promoted - thus the -10 has to go... TL lawyers suggest this is possible/likely so teh waiver thing becomes the sticking point.... stalemate as FL wont budge we know that and TL maybe has his hands tied by the conditions imposed by the backer....?????

I suspect that the right to appeal issue is really at the end of the day an issue for the backer - afterall its is their money and their say... This leads me to SPECULATE that teh backers are looking for a RAPID return to the CCC, possibly to minimise any underwriting of budget defficit as quickly as possible? I dont have an issue if this is teh case, but Would rather see an honest statemnet form the backer along the lines of only being prepared to support the deal if we can overturn the -10 points. I might not agree with that but would respect their right to put in whatever clauses they want - afterall its their 15 mil + Ultimately As this suggests I dont think its about rights - but about overturning te -10 points to facilitate a better cahnce of an instant return to the CCC.

Sorry just edited the original to sort out the typos...well most of them ;-)

NOt sure if this has already been pointed out: We should (and Pinnacle should) maybe forget about the right to appeal. Whatever the legalities or otherwise, whatever the moral arguments etc, the waiver of the right of appeal is there for the GREATER good when you think about it. Court proceedings and appeals can take months and escalate to the high court/COAS etc... if any club were to appeal, it has the potential to impact on the whole league with clubs not being certain of their final position if the conclusions of cases are not yet known at seasons end... it can throw the whole thing into termoil....I think in this case, it may well be that the FL were not totally sure of their own rules - afterall they are complicated and seem to have been ammended everytime someone finds a loophole so hardly perhaps the most water tight of regulations, BUT that should not be the issue - what we need to do is look at the bigger picture as the FL is doing - legally we may have a case, morally we dont and so given the impact of an appeal, think we should take our medicine and move on - and maintain the moral highground rather than looking like whinging ****s.

Quiick can someone with photoshiop mock up Barry the briefcase with arab head gear - Think that about as close to a middle eastern businessmen we will get ....

LOL...true - but in typocal football arse about tit fashion i think a sort of smudge is our best hiope so to speak....;-)