Frank's cousin

I uspect it was very simple - not meeting the asking price for the shares...

I think Wilde like most of us would be attracted to the 'glamour' of the football environment - it would certainly appeal to ego, mine included, but5 that yes ultimately he saw that we had development potential away from football. I have nmo real problem with that provided the benefits are loaded in teh clubs favour, but its the spin and rhetoric that came before that I found difficult to swallow. When Wilde originally spoke to Lowe to see if they could work together, how do we know that they simply did not fall out over (speculation alert).... Lowe: sorry mike, but we cant touch JF at the moment. The market is suspressed and we wont get it rezoned for some time... I'm also wanting to keep it out of the media and let te current option on it expire before we move on this in the future... Wilde: sorry rupes, merilion and I want to move now, I'm going to have to go in with CRouch and MC and see if they will be more supportive...

I suspect if these investors were 'true' - and I am speculating here -sorry- any deal may have actually been scuppered by Crouch and MC... why? because I susupect Wildes buddies were looking at Jacksons farm and all that it potentailly entailed? As good a piece of speculation as any really. Lowe never attracting investment himself? - fair point, but since his initial departiure we had two years of lOwe free opportunity and what did we attract? nothing. This is not a slur on any one, but IMHO a simple result of the fact we have never been or were an attrcative investment - when in the Prem, there was no money to be made, as teh costs for a club of our size menat no real profits, and indeed to much danger of not being able to susutain top flight without additional sources of cash, and when relegated to much debt.

Uhm not sure, the above seemsto make it clear that they would look to internal investmnet BEFORE admin - or to prevent it. Wildes decison to share the duvet, was more about control of his destiny if you ask me.... Crouch had him on the outside and all these rumopurs of SISU etc potentially leaving him with cash again but out of the potentailly lucrative property opportunities that would be posiible in the future..

Agree with your first point, but surely care should still betaken with suuch stuff as its hardly helpful? The second part? Well the fat lady aint singing just yet Derry, maybe has been resting the voice for a crucendo of a performance, but even the warm up for that has not yet really started? lets hope that we can 'cancel' her performance.

But cant you see its bullsh!t? think about it - if wilde had those buddies willing to invest, where were they then when Lowe went and where are they now, that he has joined the Lowe camp? This is more to do with 'terms' and 'conditions' - if it even remotely had any legs. I humbly suggest it is once again merely PR spin.

With all the recent and current speculation on Administration - I remembered something publsihed in the Financial statemnet last NOvember that was of interest then, but easily overlooked: ''Going concern The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for the period to 30 November 2009 which include the sales of various assets, further cost reductions and deferrals, and rely on the support of the bank and loan note holder. The Group currently manages its working capital through a bank overdraft facility and in addition has issued long term loan notes to finance the development and construction of the St Mary's Stadium. Whilst the Group presently has an overdraft facility, for £4.5m, the Board remain in negotiations with Barclays Bank, who are seeking a progressive reduction in their position, and the loan note holder. These negotiations involve the Group having to achieve further significant asset sales in 2009, which the Board are confident they can achieve, but there can be no certainty at this time. Furthermore the Group are seeking to reschedule the payment of certain current liabilities, and the Board are confident that these will be successfully negotiated. In the event that the Group do not comply with the terms of the new overdraft facility being discussed and the agreement still to be reached with the loan note holder such that the facilities would be withdrawn, alternative financing would need to be found for the Group to continue as a going concern. The Directors would then consider seeking additional opportunities for finance from internal sources. The Board continues to explore avenues for external funding. Based on the above, the Board consider it appropriate to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis. The above matters indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast material doubt over the Group's ability to continue as a going concern. The accounts do not include any adjustments that would result if the Group is unable to continue as a going concern.'' The points of interest: 1. The date of the prepared cashflow forecast being November 30 - with the proviison to make further saving and asset sales - firstly, its mentioned that this may take time, so it copuld be presumed that the bank have agrred to this and understand that asset sales may not happen during the open season... hense no sales in Jan? 2. The agreement clearly states that additional sales WILL be necessary butthese asets do not necessarily mean players, but could mean Jackson's farm etc. 3. ''The Directors would then consider seeking additional opportunities for finance from internal sources.'' This is the most interesting bit - to me it suggests that they do have feelers out or potentially could eventually instigate the deal with Crouch? as surely any 'funding' internally would include him in siome way? What do you all make of this and is there anything of value in this statement or is it still too wishywashy?

What evidence? Rumour and hearsay - feck all else...

Thing is, we only have MCs word that 'investmnet is moving away because of Lowe' - is this not the same as Wilde said? I think investmnet will come our way when we are an attractive proposition for investment irrespective of which characters are at te helm... that i guess is my general drift. Duncan knows alot for sure, but in recent times alot of what he knows has come from one side only, and he would admit to that it mainly being a one sided info exchange - MC and CRouch will also have recognised the potential in having someone of his profile 'spread the word' as well so what is fed will undoudtedly ahve an agenda - to which Duncan also freely admits. BUt I cant say I agree with him - he is no beter placed in understanding how close we are to admin than anyone else, sorry that is simply a misconception. Also, you ahve to admit that the current crisis is a combination of the effects of teh managemnet by Lowe, Wilde and his board, then Crouch and his tenure - all contributing to it. I am not sure why there are those who inist that there are folks waiting the wings to 'bale us out' if Lowe goes. Its fiction. Bailing out suggest gifts or loans - gifts are inconceivable - simply wont happen, and loans are never liely to whilst our position is so precarious - its naive to think this and I do think Duncan is playing the PR game very well for his side of the fence - my only cobncern for him, given that I also have a huge amount of time and respect for him, is that if ever put to the test and MC is found wanting as Wilde was, he will be tarnished with that same permanent mistrust as many now see wilde for his blatent propoganda use....

Thing is, Duncan is a decent a bloke as you could meet and a wealth of knowledge all things Saints, but is firmly in the Crouch/MC axis - and has admitted that he has a mission and agenda so its quite natural to question the validity of such statements, at such sensitive times... as you cant argue against teh fact that the way the 'information' was presented was highly inflamatory. Although I think its best left alone, jonah is quite within his rights to request clarification. There is enough stuff floating around taht is at least based on fact that suggests LOwes failings without teh need to be 'inventive' or creative' with remarks that can very easily be taken out of context - especially when the implication is potentially serious and damning

Sorry, but i stand by what I said. please hear me out. It is quite possible, if not plausible (IMHO) that there might be siome city folk who have expressed an interest of some description in 'investing' in a football club to MC. If these are 'gifts' of a benefactory kind, (EXTREMELY unlikely), then fair enough, they may not be willing to part with said cash if they believ Lowe to incapable of using it for the benefit of the club - But as I have said, who is ever likely to simply donante cash to the club with no concern of ever getting tehir money back, or for some kind of return? Its far more likely that MC may have aquaintences in the city who would be willing to LOAN the club money for a return. Now given the precarious position we are in (or any club not owned by a sugar daaddy in the lower leagues), I would place money on the fact that without a cast iron guarrantee of a return, or money back, no serious investor would be interested - or to put it a different way, would not be interested in who is in the boardroom, but be making a deceiosn solely onteh financial stabilty and thus risk benefit ration of any such loan or 'investment' - not the fact that Lowe is there - investment of this nature is never conducted on personality, but on the security. As such MC hinting at city investors has about as much credibilty as Wilde and his infamous investors in teh wings, just waiting for Lowe to go... or Crouch and his takeovers - its the SAME PR guff we have had before and its teh principle reason why I cannot support the MC/Crouch axis, whatever other 'benefits' they might have over Lowe - simply too much PR spin and fan friendly rhetoric.

Wiill that be the same investment promised by Wilde or Takeover by CRouch? Sorry buut that is just silly and a naive statemnet from MC - Serious investors do not hgive a flying feck about who is currently in the boardroom as the whole point of investing money is to take control and run the darn thing in your own way, otherwise what is the point - or its just a loan...

:-) OH dear..... ;-(

:-) OH dear..... ;-(

He probably is, but why does that brighten your day? He is currently chairman of our club and you are pleased he might be as bad as you want to believe? For me if he is, its not something I would be pleased about, more embarrassed about to be honest..... BUt this is gossip and hearay at present, yet once again many are ready to lynch without being ion pocession of ANY facts.

He probably is, but why does that brighten your day? He is currently chairman of our club and you are pleased he might be as bad as you want to believe? For me if he is, its not something I would be pleased about, more embarrassed about to be honest..... BUt this is gossip and hearay at present, yet once again many are ready to lynch without being ion pocession of ANY facts.

Sorry you have misunderstood this. I suggested best left alone, because in effect Duncan reporting his thoughts on this suggested an acusation - I was merely suggesting its wiser not to go down that route, or get involved. I am not pro Lowe, just not anti him to the extent many on here, subtle but important difference.

Sorry you have misunderstood this. I suggested best left alone, because in effect Duncan reporting his thoughts on this suggested an acusation - I was merely suggesting its wiser not to go down that route, or get involved. I am not pro Lowe, just not anti him to the extent many on here, subtle but important difference.

JOnah, I would let this lie... I too wondered why Duncan had posted this and asked fro maybe more clarification, but I would suggest that the silence on this is because its best left alone.... nothing good can come of digging here I dont think.

JOnah, I would let this lie... I too wondered why Duncan had posted this and asked fro maybe more clarification, but I would suggest that the silence on this is because its best left alone.... nothing good can come of digging here I dont think.

He Hee Hee ...pure genius ;-)

He Hee Hee ...pure genius ;-)

Dont know, looked quite young to me, but then I am 39...;-(

Dont know, looked quite young to me, but then I am 39...;-(

Batter not, might make him Bitter (lemon).