captain sensible

Could this happen? Given Reed's success in identifying academy talent, and first team bargains? Looks like an identical role...would have thought Reed would be a frontrunner for an approach?

Yes, the Father/Son relationship was the most intriguing...although I would say not uncommon. You basically do as yer Dad tells you...or you suffer the consequences...and the young Channon falls foul of the "law" on many an occasion. The advice not to show any weakness is as sound as it gets!

Managed to get through it in three hours straight! Riviting read and great insight into the Saints legend.

Basically...yes! I know they gave shares back etc and all that is in the public domain, but the Liebherr Group in Germany and Switzerland are major players in the German economy, along with Bosch...BMW..Siemens etc. All I am saying is...that its coming to something when a Liebherr has to go to a Bank or Hedge Fund for money...just an opinion...observation.

How can it be cheaper to go to a Bank for finance when the family are loaded? I thought they were all so flush that they would never need to borrow a pfennig from any Bank? She inherited all of Markus' Mali group...where the hell has all the money gone?

Well...I think if the outcome had been the same with MLT on the pitch...statistics of 47 out of 48 might have suggested that Batty would not have took a pen?

That decision to leave MLT at home in '98 cost England the World Cup...not Beckham getting sent off. Am I alone in thinking that?

If you look at his top ten goals...yes some were dead balls...but he had this knack in a counter attack...he was lightning quick for 2-3 seconds when it mattered...and he had the accuracy of that great Austrian striker...William Tell!

I asked him once...how it affected him when he wasn't included in the England '98 squad...he replied quite candidly.."a loss of form". When Beckham got sent off against Argentina, and it was all or nothing...no Gazza either...what must have been going through Hoddle's mind...I need one player that can single handedly turn this game on its head...and I've left him at home. In his best seasons...the best player in the world.

Let me clear that up..by using the phrase "smoke and mirrors" I was not accusing or implying that the club were "filing fraudulent accounts". Far from it. If that gave anyone else that impression then I would would wish to catagorically retract that. The point I was making was that if the figures as mentioned by yourself...looking at it simplistically...£53-£24 would state that the club is in the red to the tune of £29mill. Accounts are made up to 9 months after year end, and that would likely not reflect the enhanced current value of VVD. Similarly, looking at the period when the club went into administration, the debt figure was far less. What I am saying is, that the £53-£24mill figure, would not necessarily reflect a true assessment of where the club is at in terms of needing to sell VVD, and to stay on the original topic whether Les Reed actually has a say in that process. You are right in querying whether KL is on every board or not as that would have an implication on those matters. I think it goes without saying, if you want to narrow the question down to whether Les Reed makes £70mill decisions or not...he has pretty much exceeded all expectation in player trading...and I suspect the board acknowledge that. I am sure they will be asking the question as to if the club sell for that figure, what has he got up his sleeve vis a vis a replacement.

I wouldn't read too much into that...all accounting smoke and mirrors. Who is the money owed to? One of her subsidiary companies? She is just way off the scale when it comes to personal wealth and influence. The empire has no doubt been steadily built up since the end of WW2. She has her advisers and experts and the question really is does she actually care enough beyond turning up on the odd Saturday afternoon? I think she probably views the club more as a sentiment as it was her late fathers favourite boy-toy.

No...all loans were settled as far as I am aware by Marcus. £400mill is probably right...shocking when you think the club was bought for £12mill cash! Cash is the King everytime!

Come on...what is wrong with this forum these days...there used to be moles throughout the entire club infrastructure sharing privvy information. Where and when is the Group stages U12 being held? This is not a Hatton Garden heist!

I couldn't download it unfortunately! There is an U12 & U14 category. It is pretty decent. Chelsea are there...Probably Denim Nnamudi playing...Porto are there...any kid would want to see that. Mad that they announced it and then don't want people to watch?

That is rather stating the obvious? No one player is bigger than the club and Captain Mainwaring has another promising recruit lined up from the Albanian 3rd Division to replace him...and sell on! That's business!

Well...I blame Les "Captain Mainwaring" Reed and his platoon of yes men/women. This is obviously his idea and it is announced on the main site, but no-one can go and see anything apart from the final. "Don't tell 'em your name Pike"!

I heard a rumour that Kat had a meeting with Randy Rabbit if that sheds any further light on the query...totally unsubstantiated of course.

Already done that! Shrouded in secrecy! Have advertised it on the main site but do not want an audience wherever the group games are being played. Finals are at Test Park.

Anyone ITK on this? 11 year old nephew wants to go and watch the U12's but the whole tournament, despite being advertised on the main site, is shrouded in secrecy?

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/12/article-2656017-1EAF6D1700000578-800_634x731.jpg

Saw on the Daily Mail that Cortese's son is in the Academy! Anyone know anything about that?

That should be the first task on the agenda!

Personally, I think he has timed his departure to cause maximum damage to the Club and cause maximum instability....He could have waited till the end of the season and worked out a notice period, but he clearly wanted to hold KL to ransom over whatever demands he was making. I don't think that is someone who has the Club's best interests at heart. I think it is someone who has an out of control ego and full of their own self importance. KL paid him well for the job that he did, and that is how he repays his Boss and the fans! Good Riddance is what I think! We've had much more serious crisis' to deal with and at least we have an owner with the financial clout to keep our club going!

No, He graciously accepted the Sack and kissed Don Cortese' hand before heading for the exit door!

All Prem Clubs are doing this....It's the Academy Lite version. West Ham have just started this and QPR and Reading field an Academy Lite side.......which got smashed by Richmond College 7-1.