Legod Third Coming

Lol - nice one But I would write off Ferrari at your peril....

Not really. Two weeks ago, buying the club would have lined Lord Lowe's pocket. Now it goes to the people who put up the finance for the club. That is a fundamental difference, much as you and I don't like it.

I don't really want someone with the 'good of the club' at heart. I want someone who thinks they can improve us and sell us at a profit. In such circumstances, I genuinely believe that this would lead them to appoint a decent manager and invest in the playing squad. While I really admire and appreciate loyalty, it's not modern sport. Call me old fashioned, but I believe that if the focus of the 'management' (ie. the board) is on the first team, the rest of the club will run itself. Like Enzo Ferrari used to say, "win on sunday, sell on Monday..." What we need is a management that can see the success of the top clubs around the world has come through an investment in the manager and the quality of the players. I would even support an increase in ticket prices, IF the management could tell me how that money would go to improve my team and increase the likelihood of us winning football matches.

Nick, Can you name that clubs that have been asset stripped in this way?

If they visited two at a time, she could earn double for the same effort. You should point this out.

About the same as on a Tuesday afternoon is my guess... (I mean, a Partner could not be asked to open a drawer and simply charge for someone who didn't exist... )

This is theoretically possible. However, you would not bid to buy a football club on this basis. You would be better waiting to buy the bits that would come up for sale through a liquidation. When you factor in paying those players' salaries and all the ancillary costs, you simply could not make money. Put it this way - if the value of the assets was worth that much, we would not be bust would we!!!! We would simply have higher gearing. If a break-up is/was the way forward, you will see the various elements sold as that - assets - and not to be run as a going concern. It would be high-risk bordering on mental in the current climate to bid unless you believe that you can revive the business and sell at a profit. Property developers can pick up bargains right now that wouldn't involve employing Jason Euell and Rudi Skacel...

I did 8 hrs a day, 365 days a year... that's how I calculate salaries.

So she says...

Why do people think we could end up in the 'wrong hands'???? Why would anyone who did not think they could return us to the Premier League bid?? That is the ONLY way to profit through taking on a football club, surely. Whomever takes us over (if anyone) if they don't want a return then you have to question their sanity let alone their motivation. If they do want a return, then success on the field is their number one priority.

Don't get me started on legal fees. Taylor Wimpey have spent £60m on lawyers and bankers just to renegotiate their overdraft!!! (in simple terms...)

Yes, I think we've already established that and we already knew it. Teaches me for being funny...

Aye, I know that really, was just being a little cheeky

I am a partner, I just happen to like filing (it screws my clients paying £450 an hour for a £110 per hour job)...

Not being funny, but unlikely surely? I couldn't buy a Ferrari because they wouldn't sell, so I bought a Vespa... Doesn't make sense.

Several people have asked how much an adminstrator charges. Below are the fee rates of a well known Administrator from August 2007 - I would expect you could add 5% to these: HOURLY RATES Partner - £450 Director - £370 Senior Manager - £340 Manager - £290 Assistant Manager - £240 Senior 2 - £215 Senior 1 - £210 Administrator 2 - £165 Administrator 1 - £120 Secretary - £110 Filing Clerk - £110 On these rates, these are the annual salaries: Partner - £1,314,000 Filing Clerk - £321,200 Excuse me but I'm off to do some 'filing'....

I doubt very much if you'll find a football club bought for cash... Not Arry are you?

In these situations you have to provide 'proof of finance' pretty quickly. If he has that, he'll get a hearing. If not, he'll be sent away with a flea in his ear!

Mate, I have concluded you are simply on a wind up. We have no future because the long-term pland failed within six months. (some would say it was doomed from the moment JP arrived). You will notice that Churchill, having withdrawn from Dunkirk, got on the phone to Ike and asked for help...

No, the Meerkats say 'simples'...

Interesting analysis Phil - and probably not a million miles away from the reality. On the one hand who can blame those who sat on their hands and waited. On the other, they could have shown earlier and due diligence would have proven the precarious nature of the club which might have expedited a quick, clean and cheap sale.

I agree. Derby (eventually) beneffitted from their Administration much as (let us hope) it could (in 3-5 years) be good for us. But only with a new team who: understand football embrace the fans unite the club That they are erudite, successful and skilled business people is taken as read.

Duncan, how the hell (no disrespect) do Consortium B make a return?? This is not ebay where if you chance your arm you can buy and sell for a margin...

No, nor is ther any evidence he would have failed. What the sacking of Pearson and the employment of the Dutch duo did, however, was to alienate large portions of the customer base and render meaningless any goodwill and euphoria engendered by our last ditch suvival. This, with or without hindsight, was a significant mistake. The Dutch duo were a massive mistake and failure on the pitch was the major cause of low crowds - which deprived the club of cash. I think we can all agree on that, surely?

You cannot have a succesful long-term plan that fails in the short term, though.