qwertySFC

"To make this deal work, PST has selected a Hampshire property developer as its strategic partner. In the short term they will buy back Fratton Park and lease it back to PFC at an affordable rent, with a secure buy-back option and if there is future development at Fratton Park the Club will benefit financially. Our lawyers Verisona have worked hard to secure Fratton and we believe we are well protected. In an ideal world some would argue it would be better if we still owned the stadium. There may be some truth in that but previous mismanagement has left us with no alternative, and we believe this is a good one for the long term future of the Club. Were the amount raised by PST to exceed expectations, this would be our first priority. The last professional football club to be taken over by supporters in the English Pyramid was Wrexham in December last year. As part of their takeover the ground was sold to a third party – in this case Glyndwr University. They are thriving with a deal that is good for both parties and that’s what we believe we have with our partner, Stuart Robinson. Will we stay at Fratton Park, or are there plans for a new stadium? In the longer term we shall look at ways to buy back Fratton Park, as well as work with the property developer to improve the club’s infrastructure. PST recognises a significantly improved stadium is vital to the club’s future prosperity and its ambitious aspirations for the Club. Furthermore we believe that any development of Fratton Park for the benefit of the Club and supporters, is more likely to take place if the Club is owned by supporters as our model of ownership appeals more to stakeholders that we need support from for developments to happen." What does the contract say if the 5 years elapse? It is conceivable that funding won't be available within 5 years to purchase outright, as lenders may be reluctant to lend against a football ground (ultimately it isn't a very liquid asset). The original concept would have allowed the Trust to purchase Fratton Park outright. However, the re-working of our financial forecasts to cover amounts owed to football creditors meant it quickly became obvious we were unlikely to be able to raise sufficient capital from fans to do this from Day One. Two main alternative options were considered to finance the purchase of the stadium. A loan to the Trust was approved in principle by Portsmouth City Council in August, but the strings attached made this ultimately an impractical solution. The decision to instead work with Hampshire property developer Stuart Robinson is a strategic one. In the first instance he is leasing the stadium at a very affordable rent, rising to a commercial rate only in Year 5. Secondly, Stuart also intends to purchase the land surrounding Fratton Park and work with the club to redevelop that land – subject to planning consent - and provide the land needed to the club and a contribution towards developing a stadium fit for the 21st Century, which the club desperately needs. We have a ten-year lease on Fratton Park (this length was on the advice of our lawyers to allow for renegotiation in our favour) but the intention is that PST will have re-acquired the stadium for the club long before then, as part of the deal outlined above.

Premiership for fans is sterile - The Germans know how to create an atmosphere - where as here, you are treated like a terrorist if you have a flag longer than six inches - pathetic sterile atmospheres

Another source of investment which has enabled a route for supporters to take control of the club has come from a Hampshire property development company. The company will be investing £2.65m, which was a key component of the finance that was required to secure the bid for the club. In return the company will buy Fratton Park and it is being leased back to the club at an affordable long-term deal, with a secure option allowing the club to buy-back the stadium in the next five years. PST has been actively seeking a strategic property partner. We will be working in partnership with both the company and Portsmouth City Council to devise a scheme which will enable the club to improve Fratton Park and the surrounding area allowing for the future growth of the club. It is recognised the club needs to aspire to a modern stadium, with a substantially increased capacity and improved facilities if we are to compete at the ‘highest possible level’ which is one of our seven core values and we are delighted to have a partner who understands this aim

promoting a so called "legend" as manager has never worked at any club in my opinion - what you need is someone who will make tough decisions , take the flak because that is going to happen no matter what - all clubs have a wobble during a season and just because a former player has an association with a club what makes them a better manager just to appease their fans , if they were serious about getting out of that league they need someone with a track record - but I guess that cost money - and all the crap bumming up Guy & Awful , after-all it was these two that got the team relegated and took them on that wonderful non winning streak - Got to love the Pompy myth that all is rosie - when they have acquired a 4th division club once again on borrowed money , their are no real foundations here to a success except their own self belief that they will rip up this league, I suggest they have a chat with some Plymouth,Bradford and Bristol Rovers fans about how tough the lower leagues are - looks like Aldershot will be going down on about 48 points and our fishy friends have achieved the huge amount of 42 points this year . They will say its because of the players, managers but they did have some good standard players this year early on and still not much of a points return - and when the team is no where near the instant top of the league playing each of the opposition off the park the cries will soon being ringing out over the few that they need a new manager - the pressure to get out of this league in 1 season is by far the biggest test of all, and Guy has been able to use every excuse this year about being "not good enough"

Stadium plans will be discussed and out lined on Wednesday

Heres a thought - get them in for the last home games then hit them with the bombshell on Monday thats its not all as clear cut as they thought - if they release the bad news now etc ect

Heard on 5 live yesterday a discussion about the farce that is running Blackburn - the general consensus was "this is what you get when you have amateurs or people with no experience of running a professional football club "

Problem with spin is if you keep changing your story you get found out - Once the final details have come out of the final agreements of who owns what - if their is another debt secured against the ground at least the PDT can say well we got rid of that nasty man Chinny - we did what the fans wanted oh by the way the man we lent money from this time is nice guy so no worries their then

Oh dear how sad for those decent professional clubs playing in Division Four next year have to put up with these bunch of shysters. I'm sure the true magnitude of the job has just dropped onto the champagne filled carpets of Fratton - the honeymoon is over it lasted a few days and now back to reality , the demand for instant promotion is the basic requirement - any thing else is failure - Still not to worry I'm sure after all once you hit the bottom where else is there to go ..... OH Conference League silly me - Heres a thought Harry back to steer the club forward !!!

http://www.griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=104753&page=2 Plus the Brentford forum opinions - they were not a happy bunch !!!

That is quite a damming statement from Brentford FC - lets hope the new Trust will be taking action, I see that Newcastle are taking the correct zero tolerance approach - mind you who's to say that it was all in good taste after a bit of wind ups from both sets of supporters - Oh forgot thats the Trust and Managers view on it Heres the wording from Newcastle "The club will take the strongest possible action against those involved in the disturbances and will impose immediate lifetime bans on all those found guilty. Still they paid their money so the fans can do what they like now after all

“They won’t go. How are you going to get rid of them? That’s your biggest problem. They all have contracts. Who is going to pay them what they are earning here? It is going to be very hard to shift them.” So will ole Harry still be their savior next season , has the myth of Harry Houdini finally been laid to rest, after all he signed upon a 2 and a half year deal because I think he should take a quick look at his statement upon arrival; Redknapp told the club's official website: "I'm delighted to be back in the managerial hot seat at QPR. When I spoke to the shareholders and they told me about their plans I knew this was too good an opportunity to turn down. There's no doubt there's a lot of ability in the squad, but for one reason or another things haven't gone as well as everyone expected since the start of the season. I can't wait to get to work and get the results necessary to kickstart our season." Will he stay and try Championship football or will another "too good an opportunity to turn down arrive ?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/29/birmingham-city-fined-pitch-invasion-cup A while ago this fine was £20k plus another £20k suspended if further occurrences happened - i wonder what the FA will dish out ?

The following acts are offences under the Football (Offences) Act 1991 (as amended): 11.1 The throwing of any object within the Ground without lawful authority or excuse. 11.2 The chanting of anything of an indecent or racialist nature. 11.3 The entry onto the playing area or any adjacent area to which spectators are not generally admitted without lawful authority or excuse. Conviction may result in a Banning Order being made.

No mention that whether the actual facts are that it is illegal to go on to any pitch - slap those wrists with a feather - shameful approach from the board . No mention that fans who are identified will be banned -

Oh dear - those spoil sports - those Brentford fans and players mocking us - http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/trust-criticises-pompey-fans-pitch-invasion-1-4999302 Rack up the fines as I bet a second pitch chaos at their next game -

So what have they got for all the pennies spent - a division four club , 90% of the players on a 4 week contract , a manager who took them on one of longest runs without a win and of course the have the delightful Fatpipes Park - a crumbling decrepit ground and they seem so excited by all of this - it's like me saying "Hey come and see my Ferrari , its not drive able, needs a new engine , a new respray , the chassis needs replacing , new windows , the seats are missing - but hey its mine and I have the log book to prove it ..

Claims that the club are debt free is pure spin - already they have to pay PCC £1,5m plus the agreed CVA payments and any future add ons to BC - they have inherited debt , have to pay it and keep a very tight hold on the purse strings - income after the final parachute payment relies on football income , ticket sales etc. Quite different when SFC was purchased outright - we can truly say are club is debt free and ALL creditors were paid in full by Marcus

In reality the fans who have "given" money to PST are not shareholders so the fans own F All - as much as they would like you think they do

Just wait for the most important question the fans will want an answer to - How much of a transfer budget do we have next season - I can hear the cries of but I'm a "shareholder" I want a new manager , I want a better goalkeeper, why does this person get preferential treatment like free tickets, free hospitality, I'm a shareholder why not me too - the biggest problem to now come is the in fighting of who gets what and why !!!

Annoys me - the word SHARE in no certain terms is the £1000 a share its a donation you dont get voting rights

The form we are in I don't see what it matters really we should be confident in our own play rather than worrying about teams below us - we need to catch the teams above us and embrace the next level challenges all depends how your glass is half empty or half full - I'd rather focus on getting the highest position we can and relegation should not be an issue we consider from today.

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=104&fid=297&act=1&mid=2112946929 J-Rod still holding the affection of the Burnley fans

Plus - and I really hope it happens that QPR get utterly stuffed - all that money spent , nothing like seeing twitchy interviewed saying he just cant understand it - well maybe me old saggy chops your not as good as you think -

I would prefer Sunderland and Wigan to win - Why? Because i dont want us to get comfortable or psychologically think we can ease off the pedal in out last games - we have an opportunity to kick on from here and hopefully the players not start thinking about the beaches of some foreign destination