Frank's cousin

8.45 am Mark takes a large order for 11 toner cartridges

'Henry'

Cant argue with that. Its very true that the strategy failed. Now this is not a 'defence' as some would suggest, but an attempt to try and understand why this strategy was employed. I suspect several things. Firstly there is a striong argument for capping wages at a percentage of income - I do believe that is the best and wisest policy - te most sustainable, but it should be flexible to allow for individuals to have unrestricted income based on value to teh club - provided you have a manager that can keep everyone happy. Secondly, we got ourselves into that mess, by teh manager revolving door as you mention. NOw at least half of that WAS LOwes fault - the merits or otherwise of promotinng from within become irrelevent as the inexperience of the likes of Gray and Wigley told in their disasterous results, but can Lowe be blamed for Jones, Hoddle or even Strachan? Feck knows what happened with Sturrock... I think this issue wih players and managers leaving because they could not have what they wanted, to spend on players or wages to match the bigger sides is what convinced him to go down different roads - be it to try and get an edge through the whole Sports science and woodward thing or the youth approach - invest heavily there and create a conveyor belt of talent to replace the best players as they left? The problem was he was so obssessed by these strategies that he took his eye off teh ball so to speak and failed to understand the simple fact that in teh prem, you needed annual investment and experience just to stand still, let alone progress - he probably felt that the squad we had was arguably good enough to keep us up even under the inexperience of Wigley and that was a huge blunder... As I have said countles times, I dont support the man, but I have recognised the rationale in some of his approaches - his problem was his total failing to think the short term when obsessed about the long - its no good thinking about the long term possibilties of such ideas, if the impact short term is utter failure. I do see positives in thinking differently to looking to the long term and anything that might give a club an advantage when you dont have a sea of cash to splash, and I do believe in living within ones means (still baffles me how some can still go on about spending 15 mil+ on a couple of players and ages after teh cup final when that money was not there without serious selling) - but the fundementals have to take priority and thats where he failed.

The Echo will be digging, but are not really any better off than any one one else - FRy and or the bidders will leak what is to their advantage and like us teh Echo reporters with attempt to fill in the gaps. NOt sure I believe the overseas in the wings, if Fry has set a deadline of today - (believed) as it does them no good, they are either going to bid or not. Still think its all down to proof of funds and up front deposits to keep things ticking over while the deal is finalised.

LOL... you just dont get it do you... there is a big difference between being a lowe supporter and yet acknowledging independently that his influence on the gate as many shouted about is far less significant than the impact of CCC or L1 football and poor results - Lowes actions may have been a big factor in the poor results - but you are kidding yourself if you think that now he is gone fans will 'return in droves' - lets not forget shall we that teh biggest crowd of the season was whilst Lowe was here - the opposition being a bigger draw that folks hatred of that particular satan....

Say with annoyingly patronizing Geordie accent... Its 7.55 am and all is still quiet in the SMS household. Fry is slowly munching on a piece of Lowe's stale cucumber sandwich that he found abandoned in the Boardroom fridge. He can hear the vacuuming going on and he sighs... Leon is in the corridor in his pinny, pulling the 'Henry' this way and that to remove teh stubborn pieces of fluff from the carpet as he inches close to the door to try and listen in on what Fry is up to. Lawrie is in one of the executive boxes having a manicure. sharpening his nails ready for his next Echo piece but its pretty quiet in the rest of the house. 8.05 am - Fry is agitated, hes been hoping for that call all weekend that will mean he can finally afford to hang up on Whacko Jacko - who has been lingering like a bad smell. 8.10 am Leon finishes the hoovering

To be honest, anyone expecting a takeover with any real cash behind it is going to be dissapointed. Why else would Jacko and Greens group still be at the table? We will be poor for years to come, and only 25000-30000 gate would give us any kind of advantage over teh rest in L1 - which will naturally happen as Lowe has gone and the crowds will come flooding back...no?

Was also the most successful part of his career here so I should hope so! ;-)

Yeah this was seriously worrying as for the first time I have heard 'rry speak and not wanted to through someting at the telly! ;-)

Sadly I suspect its being a scabbling effort to sow the money is ready to be handed over .... all the other possible delays are clutching at straws IMHO as they are all things that can be overcome with money and time.... just a hunch as we have said before when other clubs have been bought or taken over, it happens quite quickly... only we have these things drawn..... ;-(

Thats abit scarily like ...'Ein Volk, Ein Reich...' ;-)

NOt quite sure WHO or when that urban myth sprang up about him being a sound businenessman - All most who have not continually ahted him have said is he seems good at managing a company within its means - which we did well in the rem, despite how this was seen as lacking ambition and undermining any footballing progress - Its one thing keeping hold of teh purse strings and another actually growing a succesful busines - which is pretty much impossibe in football as its a business that simply eats money if you want success...

Appears to be the case - bit of a panic earlier with the stock exchange announcement - until that was quickly cleared up - Mr Fry, has told Pinnacle to put up or shut up (according to the echo) and there was panic when a rumour flew around that no one was left in and only 1 bid for SMS was left... mostgot suckering by on of these but overall, i guess the truth in any of teh above will be if we hear anything this evening about Pinnacle being in or out?

Never said it would work, but there was no need for the rather agreesive negativity towards Deryy and his colleagues at teh time... just trying to do something and the NAYSAYING (;-)) was OTT IMHO.

So anyone the wise apart from the ECho and Dubai Phil?

To be fair everyones portfolios have taken a dive recently - check out your latest pension plan statement....

Seems it received the ususal negative neighsaying response from fans on here....

Jeez and you thought the first two were serious? FFS.....

Brugge?

If its true/confirmed thatMark Fry has a bid on teh tabel for SMS, who do we suspect its from because it could be quite nasty... 1. ALDI 2. LIDL 3. The council 4. Someone looking to set up a new SFC debt free and with no points deductions in the BS? 5. LLS -HELP! 6. someone else?

You know - you're OK for a Skate ;-)

Eyes... maybe not a hiddeous suggestion, but TBH its not just about having a stadium wher the red and white stripes play - its about 124 years that the club we support has been in existence and the history that goes with it - good and bad. It would not be the same team - to me no different from Wimbledon becoming the MK Dons...

Ultimately, the media channels would prefer if we all stopped supporting our local sides and just sat and watched TV - premiership only with pay per view at 3pm on a Saturday for your match choice....

NOt so sure - is there an advantage to keeping them seperate as the deals done on asset sales can be done independently with the administrator - one deal for the club, another for the stadium as the I believe Aviva have the first dabs on any satdium sale value?