The Rover

At least two of them committed suicide Farmer. Was this your point? ;-)

Thanks Phil. I'm relieved to read your comments, I'm pleased to hear that Lowe isn't involved. And yes I'm sure that Green is an astute guy, so I'm happy to retract that bit - I was really thinking of MJ. Although the latter's track record still counts against him, I'll be happy if the group he's acting for does come up with the goods although I hope he doesn't have an ongoing involvement once his fee is paid. At the moment any deal is better than oblivion.

Thinking aloud here: Jackson and Green are clearly the front for someone else. (Dubai Phil has insinuated that they may not be involved after the takeover I think.) Not many businessmen would take Green and Jackson especially, seriously. So who is heading up the consortium behind them? Who wouldn't want his name mentioned to soon? Who trusted J & G enough to give them exclusivity on selling his group's shares last year? Am I warm Phil?

Thanks for you dissertation Phil which clarifies the situation a lot to me. If I understand you correctly it all hinges around this: I can see that if SFC Ltd is to be sold as a going concern (and avoid the further points deduction), then the preferential or major creditors have to approve whatever deal is being agreed between Fry and the buyer. Presumably the creditors demands make up the lions' share of the £14 million mentioned. So on the face of it the future of the club rests with either 1. a purchaser who has agreed a £14 million package (albeit some up front and some deferred until later.) or 2. a purchaser who has bought SFC Ltd (not SLH Plc) out of administration and will have to work with a -25 points deduction. Neither option looks very good to me as 1. is going to cripple the club financially and 2. gives the team a mountain to climb. Perhaps someone needs to give Barclays and Aviva a reality check. Their must be a middle ground that gets the club running again without going through admin with the creditors getting next to nothing. Perhaps this is happening already and is why the deal is likely to go to the wire until the creditors agree a more realistic figure.

I'm sure that most fans want whatever is the best for the club Phil. Unfortunately we don't actually know who is behind Jackson and Green,although you presumably do since you're convinced they have the funds required . I don't suppose any of us know the details of Salz's strategy either, unlike yourself who are writing him off already. I can't quite understand why you are so dismissive of anyone who isn't Jackson and Green unless you have an involvement yourself. I know you said that Green bought you a pint or two of Magners but even so...

Thanks Morph, I did wonder. It looks like the next week or so could get very interesting. I have to say I prefer the idea of real Saints fans buying the club than mystery businessmen.

Interesting comment Morph. What do you think Leon had in mind when he paid the wages? Is he working with Salz perhaps?

I wondered about this. Does the Administrator have to get approval for any agreement he makes with a buyer from the major creditors or is he a free agent in this regard?

Phil you say that Jackson and Green deny talking to the Echo but this part of the article (hope a small quote is OK Baj) seems to suggest that someone from their camp has done, don't you agree:

I agree. I think we have to bear in mind that this figure was almost certainly leaked to the Echo by the Jackson camp and may not be correct - it rather depends what they are trying to achieve. If it is still Fry's asking price it suggests that either there are no genuine bidders who have been able to negotiate a reduction or that Fry thinks he still has time to d!ck around. (Perhaps he has if Leon has paid the wages for the month). I hope the end figure is a lot lower than this otherwise the club is never going to be sold and every pound over the odds that goes to Barclays and Aviva is a pound less for new players and the future of Saints.

Dictionary? Got one thanks, which word can't you spell? If Crouch hadn't made the loan there would be a lot of hard working Saints staff at St Mary's without a pay packet at the end of this month. It's probably not the sort of thing that would bother you or your master of course.

Good to see you still don't let the facts get in the way of your prejudices jonah. Not long now 'til Lowe leads the club into Europe eh?

Who else is Matt working with? I'm hearing that he's backing another group who may bid in the next few days?

I heard the oldish rumour that Saints have applied for a position in the Conference 'just in case' again yesterday. Does anyone know whether there is any truth in it?

And I bet he spells arrogant with one r.

I think it's about time I outed NC. He is in fact the original wild thing from Andover - Mr Reg Presley. :smt038

I think that top footballers wages are indecent but there isn't a lot we can do about that. What really annoys me is that if we go to the wall next week it will be largely because OUR players would rather it happen than accept a month without or with a deferral of their wages. IMO this total absence of loyalty to the club and it's fans stinks.

I just hope someone tells the boys above if we go bust. I'd hate to see them waste their money on redundant shirts.

STOP PRESS SMS to be bought by HM Government to house several hundred MP's during forthcoming fraud trials. Arrests imminent.

Well as FF says you know what you're talking about Doggface, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you're right and we'll hear soon. I'm also hoping that it is Pinnacle linked and not a Wacko consortium that are in the offing as I don't believe the latter is ever likely to become a reality.

I've just read a review of the book you mention on Amazon which makes me think it may well sum up Ruperts business philosophy too: Customers - oh the Southampton peasants.

We could just believe that every self delusional nutter that gives his name to the Echo is our saviour of course, that's probably much better

I can't believe the future of the club lies with Marc Jackson or Pinnacle Asset Management either. If it does, there is no future imo. Why shouldn't GM say it the way he sees it? You ought to read The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson alpine.

I shouldn't panic. Fry is working on a contingency plan. My guess is that if the club is not sold in the next week or so, Surman will be sold to Reading so that the wages can be paid.

not very professional looking....