patred44

rom the archive, first published Saturday 29th Mar 2008. DISGRACED former York City chairman John Batchelor will not fall foul of the Football League's Fit and Proper Persons Test in his bid to takeover League Two strugglers Mansfield Town. That was the admission of respected Football League spokesman John Nagle this week as Batchelor signalled his ambitions to become the Stags' new owner. Furthermore, Nagle was unable to provide the name of a person who has yet to be disqualified as a football club director since the test was introduced as part of the league's regulations in 2004, simply adding: "It's always difficult to say if anybody has fallen foul of the test. All we can say is since it came in people may be aware of the rules and have decided not to get involved with a club." Former motor sport team owner Batchelor, however, has clearly not been dissuaded from pursuing a return to the football world and Nagle added: "John probably wouldn't fail the test and anything that happened while he was at York was before it came into force." Such comments appear to make a mockery of the test's existence and, after closer inspection, there appears nothing to prevent Batchelor becoming a director again at any Football League club. In its current form, after a 2005 update, sex offenders, people given a custodial sentence of 12 months or more and individuals who have been disqualified by a professional body have joined bankrupts and directors who have run two companies into insolvency on the test's blacklist. There is no protection against individuals such as Batchelor, whose defence of "I did nothing wrong," when asked by the Mansfield Chad newspaper of his York involvement this week, he admitted to walking away with a £120,000 profit from a club he had took into administration. Should history repeat itself, then the former toilet roll and paper towel salesman may just achieve the seemingly impossible and fail football's version of the Media Studies A'-level but surely Mansfield would be wackier than the man himself to give the Austin Powers impersonator a second chance.

Today is going to be a decisive day in the future of the Club in my opinion. Much work is going on as we speak to resolve the legal issues which caused the delay with our takeover. At the same time, work is also being done to put in place a contingency arrangement so that, with the permission of the new owner, funds can be released to pay staffs wages. Whilst the legal issue is more critical, on a more personal note the wages are at the forefront of my mind. I am aware of some very unhelpful rumours and questions about Mr Fialka and his colleagues - he choose to speak out yesterday to add not just substance, but weight to our position, with particular focus on the League issue. That continues to be worked on this morning. Quite where and why these rumours have originated is anyones guess, and I would have to seriously question anyones motives for trying to discredit the guy who approached us to try and save the Club. Needless to say, there is no foundation in any such rumours, as will be demonstrated when this deal is completed. But to speculate that our new owner in waiting lives with his parents is nothing short of ridiculous (not that living with your parents is of course ridiculous). Anyway, from the start of this, I pledged to you all one thing. Unity. And that is what is needed to overcome the obstacles in our way. I will not lower our standards and have a war of words with anyone, least of all a newspaper. That is what freedom of speech is all about - but I have reminded that newspaper this morning that they should do research of their own rather than rely upon others feeding them information before the print inaccurate stories. Clearly we are aware of other groups apparent interest so we are concentrating on the important job of resolving the issues in hand. All the best for now, and keep the faith, its time to complete the deal. Regards Tony ......................................... ONE LITTLE PROBLEM wasn't this seriously rich backer supposed to have been known to Lynham? In fact MLT said that he was a close business associciate of Tony.. But Tony Lynham is now saying the man approached him???????????????????????

The only reassurance I want from Tony Lynham, or the entire Pinnacle group is to pay todays wages, by hook or by crook. That way we avoid further sanctions from the FL, and prove they are are serious.. I'm beginning to believe we have put all our eggs into one basket, a leaky one at that.

ta muchly... and just a word from an old timer...never take life too seriously, death is far more serious in the long run

That was'nt a penalty it was a back pass:smt018

a finacial bit on Benjamin Steele http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/DevonMisc/Insolvents1778.html

Thier keeper is off..and they havent a sub keeper

Might sound crazy but there are fans who just cannot turn up, yet want the Saints to prevail. Some could easily afford the ticket, yet that is not the reason they dont turn up Some cant abide seeing the crap on offer (not my words) but yet they want to see the Saints survive. FOR THOSE PEOPLE.. donate the price of the ticket to a fund that will help the club...a non attendance fund so to speak... told you it would sound crazy..but even a few hundred could be the difference

sign up for free trial then you will get one.. its a match console and you can listen to any match, any day, any time.

30 day free trial on here at the moment http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/media/0,,~,00.asx?path=uggc%3A//zsvyr.nxnznv.pbz/6095/yvir/ersyrpgbe%3A21707.nfk%3Foxhc%3D20279

Hulse off the dangerous Simon Davis on.. HOLD ON ffs hold on saints

surman off..converting to 4-4-2

there getting back into this game...squeaky bum time Wotton on to hold the center...

LIPTAK coming on

forest equalise

I'm listening thanks to Norwich City FC http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/media/0,,~,00.asx?path=uggc%3A//zsvyr.nxnznv.pbz/6095/yvir/ersyrpgbe%3A21695.nfk%3Foxhc%3D24377

LOWE LUVVIE:D:D:p

Bristol commentators have mentioned Schnderlin TWICE..he's not playing..is he????

Ted Bates by a country mile and half

MAREK

COME ON YOU SAINTS...FIGHT FFS FIGHT

better watch it Saints

Aidy Boothroyd and Malky Mackay are favourites.. That will most likely mean that Cureton and Huckerby will return to the fold in time to face us.

defender or midfielder??? on Sky they discribe as a midfield player.. http://www.skysports.com/football/player/0,19754,11918_205275,00.html