eurosaint

Supporters Direct: What attracted you to the role of Supporters Direct chief executive? David Lampitt: Everything that I’ve been involved in since coming into football has reflected a personal determination to improve the way the game operates, whether that’s part of the overall standards at a governing body or at an individual club. That continues to be a passion and something which resonates strongly with the work of Supporters Direct. I’ve worked closely with SD previously so know it has a great reputation, as was recognised by the Select Committee in their report last year, and some excellent staff who I look forward to working with. It’s also an exciting and challenging time for the Trust movement with continued economic uncertainty that will undoubtedly affect clubs, along with the significant growth of our work at European level. SD : Tell us a bit about that thread then – you’ve been involved on a number of fronts over the last decade… DL : Well I come from a financial services background having trained as an accountant with Ernst & Young in the Nineties. I moved to The FA in 2003 and for the next 7 years I worked across a variety of areas on the regulatory side. In my first week in the job, there was the “battle of Old Trafford” between United and Arsenal and Rio missing his drugs test - I can safely say it was never dull. The latter part of my time at The FA was spent focussed on some of the more complex issues around club finances, agents, the transfer system and betting integrity. I was part of the UEFA Club Licensing Committee and the working group that developed Financial Fair Play as a concept. In 2010, I decided to take on a huge challenge at Portsmouth FC which was in an extremely distressed state. Plenty of people questioned my decision at the time, but I believed in the club – and still do - and felt it was something of a personal calling to do what I could to try to set it right. Having pulled it through an incredibly uncertain and precarious period which was only achieved with the hard work and dedication of a lot of good people, it is obviously gut-wrenching to see that work undone following the catastrophic collapse of the ownership last November. Whilst those experiences have been extremely tough, I know that they will be of benefit in this new challenge taking Supporters Direct forward. SD: With your experience in the UK and Europe, you’ll undoubtedly be aware of the crucial role that supporters can play in making the game better. What’s your personal view on the importance of supporter involvement? DL : Supporters are the most important stakeholder in football, and are still under-represented in terms of their involvement in the key-decision making processes that affect the running of the sport. But that is changing and SD has played a key role in bringing about that change with successes such as those at Exeter City, AFC Wimbledon, Wrexham, Chester FC, and many more. For me perhaps the most compelling fact is that the Trust movement has brought in over £30m of new finance to football and rugby league since 2000. So the evidence base that it works is there, and it’s growing all the time. It’s also being reinforced by experiences in other parts of Europe. We need to make sure that continues and that it is promoted as widely as possible. We also need to ensure that those supporters already involved continue to get our support and assistance to face an ever-changing set of challenges. SD: And you feel that Supporters Direct is the organisation to keep the momentum going? DL: Supporters Direct's record of achieving that sort of representation and positive outcomes – from the raising of finance by the Trust movement generally to the saving of sports clubs – is a testament to the importance of that work, although it is probably an even greater testament to the incredible power that fans can generate. Harnessing that energy and channelling it to best effect is a critical part of SD’s role now and in the future. With the increasing focus on financially sustainable ownership, we also need to make sure our voice is heard, and that we are actively involved in the discussions around financial regulation frameworks that are on the agenda both in the UK and Europe. SD: If you could sum up where you want to lead SD in a single sentence, what would you say? DL: I would like SD to be widely recognised throughout the UK and Europe as the leading organisation for improving professional sport by involving supporters in the governance and ownership of their clubs. I've read some sh#t in my time but this doesn't half take the biscuit !! Vomit inducing in the extreme !!

http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Football-League-Statement-3440.aspx? Strange article to reproduce on their official website ? They offer no reason why, do I assume that they perceive this to be good news for them ?

I'd be surprised if they offered him anything other than a 'pay as you play' type contract ? Mind you, with the Skates anything is possible !

I guess that other thread has been deleted then ??

Am staying put, almost relieved to only pay a 22% increase this year after a 72% hike last season (60 to 65 change!) although if I recalculate for 3 less matches it's about 50% ! What I do notice though is that OAP concessions are very small compared to other clubs (no discount at all in premium areas, average about 15% elsewhere, excepting the family stand where you get 34%!).

Yeah, but you get to play in front of the bestest fans in the whole wide world ™ !!

http://www.fansonline.net/portsmouth/article.php?id=2180 Looks like Chinny has had a word in Appy's ear already !!!

Personally I don't care when they announce the ST prices nor when they start selling them ! What I do care about is last minute surprises ! Last year the concession rate changed from 60 to 65 without warning ! The previous year they scrapped the instalment plan without warning ! Booking fees were introduced also ! You basically had to read the small print (online only !) to find out the details and this for me was unacceptable !! Please Nic don't chuck any more Ryanairesque wobblies in our direction this time around !

That's exactly how I see it and am surprised that they think otherwise ! Their measly 2 million in pledges will surely not be enough to give Trevor Birch a negotiating position to push Mr Chinny aside ?

You took the words right out of my mouth !!

I'm well p*ssed off by this ! I have followed the thread from the start and contributed regularly and only come in at position #68 (with at least 2 Skates ahead of me!)!! Including this post, I now have a total of 250, how in hell's name Trousers and D.Phil can get to 2000+ is well beyond my comprehension !!

Have you been drinking already this morning ??

Sadly with their undoubted talent and success, 3 of the brothers have died tragically young ! Barry must be feeling pretty low now that he is the last one left ! RIP Robin, your music lives on !

He has now followed it up with this : oldredeye Friday, May 18, 2012 at 06:39 PM 159 - I don't think I have been saying he won't be able to take out the PPayments? Our worry is all along is this is what he is back into the club for. Any other justification for his re-takeover comes a distant second !!

oldredeye Friday, May 18, 2012 at 06:08 PM 123 - Ok, a bit more info from PKF on PPayments. In answer to your question, a new owner will have to sign a membership agreement with the League. This will clearly legislate what that owner cancan’t do with the parachute payments. So, its up to the FL. When the Trust talked to the FL it was by no means certain they could bring any restriction to how the PP were used. Perhaps PKF have got a guarantee, but I can't see how if they havn't presented any bid? For me the PP are still very much inder threat from a Portpin ownership. Above is a comment from Scott McLachlan of the PST published in the News, he obviously has some background knowledge and reckons than Chinny could well get his grubby mitts on the 'Parachute Payment' money ! Even the 'deludedest' must now accept that he is not coming back for the sake of the 'bestest' and that his intentions are purely those of a hard nosed money lender !

Just to remind you, this is the Skates we are discussing, legality is occasionally an inconvenience but never an impediment !

TBF there is also a club less than an hour down the A3 from Cobham who are on the lookout for some players ! Jarvis is probably in their wage bracket but alas he may want parity with Tal Ben Haim which could prove a stumbling block :)

Don't worry mate, our Nicola is better connected to the mob than you will ever be !!

I'd just like to put my name forward for the ' Saintsweb Smartarse of the Year Award' Seriously though, this is great news as the beast will (slowly and surely!) bleed to death, offering us all hours of fun and frolics ! Time for Rallyboy and Holepuncture to take a deep breath and go for the jugular ! Bring it on...............

http://www.portsmouth-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/the_greatest_collapse_in_football_744783/index.shtml? Dare I suggest that someone over there does actually seem to get it now ??

Blackpool !

Poor old Linvoy, he gets sacked one week and the next they wheel him out as the face of respectability to front the video ! Maybe he thinks that his charity have a better chance of getting paid the stolen money if he keeps the faith ? TBF, he is definitely one of the good guys down there (amidst plenty of bad ones!).

Me too, he was a great source of entertainment It is also the reason why I want Chinny to take over again rather than liquidation because it will string out the agony for them and the laughs for us ! A bit like a mass murderer being executed, it's too easy, best to let them endure a living hell ! You know it makes sense

Having read what Mick has to say, I reckon that Chinny is a nailed on certainty to take the club over at the last minute !!

My son knows 2 Thai birds who go by the names of 'Mong' and 'Poo' ! TBF they do not live in the UK but both speak English ! Also I went to school with a Ewan McEwan and a Muir Twigg !