The Kraken

How dare you say we can't afford it or couldn't fill it. Shame on you.

:lol: Bravo!

That includes us with our Champions League qualification aspirations though.

When you said "I expect Southampton to announce either an expansion of St Mary's or a relocation to a new stadium relatively soon." How soon did you intend? Any quantifiable amount?

Maybe we can get a BVI loan to bring along the extra 20K fans we need too.

Once St Mary's gets expanded to a 50,000 capacity it will all be fine.

Sorry, I'm missing your point. How can we reasonably speculate to all of those things?

Nicola Cortese is a fantastic businessman, he knows what he is doing. And all of these contradictions can, I'm sure, be very easily explained.

Yep, it truly is that simple.

Indeed. Despite being the richest league in the world, Premier League clubs are probably in the most debt in the world. And there has been a sudden shift in the winds of change on this board tonight. We were debt free; debt was terrible; we'd learned our lessons from our previous administration; we wouldn't make the same mistakes again; and, by God, we'd ask the right questions if we did look to overspend again. It would seem that's changed.

I'm saying I can't see how this could be an "ok" thing, and therefore I'm concerned how we're being funded.

Maybe the tooth fairy will pay it off.

I'm intrigued, but would you perhaps explain how gambling against next season's TV money / parachute payments is "ok" to supplement this season's cash flow? I'm genuinely interested, because personally I only see the downsides to it.

To be fair, I don't believe NC has ventured in with any financial collateral of his own; therefore he does remain an employee, albeit also a company director.

Why is it a risk? I consider it to be a risk because it is income that will be needed next year. Why isn't this year's income and financial backing enough? Why do we need more? Also, where is the funding for the training ground going to come from. Perhaps this loan was to pay for some of that? We don't know. Those unanswered questioned are why I think its a risk.

It's limited information, so don't go getting your knickers in a twist about a throwaway comment just yet. However; I would be very comfortable about this loan were it tied in with payments from this season, and not next. That would suggest a cash-flow loan, and not an equity loan. And we don't know what terms it is on so there is no point speculating right now one way or the other. I'm suggesting nothing more than, until I know further details about this loan, I remain very worried about it. Borrowing against next year's revenues is a risk, quite clearly. Especially so for a club who have shouted from the rooftops their desire to live within their own means.

That, in itself, worries me greatly. The rest is also quite worrying. So much for no debt, we're now basing this season's fortunes upon next season's income.

Good post; agreed.

If you can show me that its been paid for, up front, then I'll consider that evidence. If not, I'll assume it hasn't.

This, for me. We have yet to pay for the training ground and £30M of player purchases (plus associated wages and costs). Also what does it do for poor old MLG's 50,000 seater stadium? We're going to have to pay for that now.

I think norwaysaint must have been a tropical fish in a former life.

I used to have a tropical tank and made the mistake of adding to it with a couple of (very small) crabs. Unlike the existing fish, who seemed quite happy with their carefree environment and regular feedings, the crabs were a more adventurous sort and obviously on a mission to explore. After realising the full confines of the tank weren't going to live up to their exploratory needs, they bided their time and colluded an ingenious plan. Then, one quiet night, they made their break for freedom; climbing up the water pump and out of the tank through an almost impossibly small crack in the join, and fled as fast as their claws could carry them away from their gaol. "FREEDOM", they must have thought. Sadly, it was not to last, for these brave crustaceans sadly hadn't counted upon a life without water. Both were to be found the next morning in a perished and dehydrated state, their bold journey having taken them only so far as the back patio door. Crabs; brave souls, but none too bright.

I gues he went from looking at one pointless cock to thinking about another one.

Thanks for the PM, Turks. Interesting.

Dunno; with Kyle Walker and Glen Johnson already there (plus Micah Richards being ignored) it would be a hell of a fast-track. I don't particularly rate Jenkinson; he's ok but not a very dynamic right back IMO. Although he seems to be stronger defensively than going forwards, which is a bonus for England.