Weston Saint

I think the answer is simple. The Pinnacle offer was the best on the tabe for the creditors. It followed other failed bids (walk aways because of the manner of the Administrator and his demands for a large unrefundable deposit) Other large Administrating companies had turned away from acting before Fry's company appointment. Others saw it as too much of a risk of failure. Fry was a very worried man. Wages needed to be paid, Surman was told he might have to be sold, we were near to extinction and I mean days not weeks. He confided in someone that he was almost certain he would fail. Pinnacle had been around and making noises. Crouch joined with them and produced the money needed (not for the first time since Administration) The Swiss were new and unknowns at that stage and likely offering less to the creditors. In a nut shell, Fry in panicked. I make these assumptions part from what I have been told and part reading between the lines. I could be wrong though.....won't be the first time as some, I am sure, would be quick to point out.

Stop antagonising

That was very impressive. Pardew talks a lot of sense and honesty. The club is in safe hands as far as I am concerned.

Appears he is still on cruches (17/09/09) but there is hope he will be back in 3 weeks.

Walked out in protest against Lowe...came back with Wilde on a paid job...mixed and influenced when Crouch took control...refused to be part of the Lowe comeback....came back on a free ticket under the new regime but has disappeared since he was told to pay. Wonder why Crouch has not been back? No doubt his money saved us in the summer but without a position is he hurting?

I think once Saga is in a settled side, is prepared to work and have a supporting midfiled both centre and on the wings he will start to score again on a regular basis.

Sorry Nick, I believe my source. He was closer to the action than those you and I associated with at the time all that was going on.

One thing is abundantly clear though is Lowe would not listen to anyone that the "kids" experiment was doomed to failure. The alternatives might have put us into administration earlier but that is speculation. The alternatives might have increased the paying fan base and balanced the cost of the alternative but that is speculation also. As for MLT, he has made a mistake with the betting scam or has wrongly reported his involvement to sell his book (ie that it did happen but not with him) and he was clearly hoodwinked by the Pinnacle Group (it is possible Tony Lynam was as well but he is unlikely to admit to that and further damage his reputation in the industry). I consider MLT keeping his own counsel on these matters now to be the most sensible approach. There will be some (like yourself and Duncan) who want answers and he is in a no win situation. Keeping his own counsel on a slightly tarnished reputation will keep it at that.

Actually the Administrator was not the first choice. The company Lowe wanted refused to act as they were worried they would not be paid, such was the state of our finances and the belief in the industry no buyer would be found. Fry and his company took the risk others had refused. My source was close to the action, a shareholder and a board member in the past.

Stop being such a drama queen Robbie.

I would have Saganowski up front with Lambert every time but he has to be the workhorse. My side: ----------------Davis------------------- Murty (Thomas)-- Trotman-- Jaidi-- Harding -------------Hammond-------------- Waigo-----------Lallana----------Holmes (Mills) ----------Saganowski -- Lambert-----------

http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/425399.html It may be being widely reported that Kabir Ali will leave Worcestershire at the end of the season, but county chief executive Mark Newton is adamant that won't happen unless someone agrees to pay £60,000 to release him from the last year of his contract. Kabir is said to have verbally agreed a three-year deal with Hampshire, but Newton remains determined over the issue of compensation. "£60,000 is the minimum we would accept to let Kabir leave," he told the Kidderminster Shuttle. "We feel very strongly about this. Do we run the risk of having an unhappy Kabir next season? Of course we do, but we all know Kabir well enough to know that if he is here next year then he will give 100%." If, as seems increasingly likely, no other county agrees to the fee, then he has the choice of seeing out his last year with Worcestershire or paying the money himself. Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire's chairman, also looked to play down his county's association with Kabir until the contract issue is resolved. "We can't agree a deal until he is released by Worcestershire. He is a player we are interested in, as I imagine are others, and we will continue to be interested in."

Someone who has mixed in LM's company regularly once said to me "the problem is that Laurie thinks the world owes him a living" I have spoken to Laurie a couple of times recently and found him pleasant and polite. I do know he is very unhappy at having to pay to go to SMS. Don't think he has attended since that happened. By the way I understand Crouch has not attended either but that may be for another reason. On the subject of paying to see Saints there is a consensus that the present ownership have got that wrong and should understand that ex loyal players and long standing past officials should be given a free season ticket to the club. It happens elsewhere. It happens at Hampshire Cricket as well. Time for Mr Oldknow to review this policy. Supporters want to see ex players in the stands. It is part of the "match day experience"

Spoke to Trevor Jesty before the start today. He said there was a rough area which might trouble left handers. I suspect Hants have held Ervine back by playing the right handers after the loss of Lumb & Adams. Seems to have worked so far. Only explanation I can give. I have not heard he is injured.

Spoke to Tim Tremlett and Chalky White today. He has not signed yet. Remember the quote says he has agreed a 3 year contract. He has to sort out with Worcestershire & it may be subject to us staying in the 1st Div. I think it may be pretty much nailed on but...........

http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/425176.html Kabir Ali has agreed a three-year deal with Hampshire, subject to negotiating his full release from Worcestershire. While the bowler hopes to join Hampshire ahead of the 2010 season, the thorny issue of compensation has yet to be resolved. Worcestershire have demanded £60,000 in return for releasing Kabir from the final year of his contract. The bowler, however, suggests that the club exasperated his injury problems by asking him to bowl when injured and failing to provide adequate medical treatment. Unless a compromise is reached, it is an argument that could have to be settled by lawyers. Kabir would certainly represent a decent signing for a Hampshire side that are still not certain of avoiding relegation. While he has missed much of the 2009 season through injury, Kabir has the best strike-rate of any England-qualified bowler (with more than 100 first-class wickets) and was close to an England recall before injury struck. Though several clubs expressed an interest in the fast bowler, Kabir only held talks with Hampshire and feels the club offer him the best opportunity to regain a place in the England side.

First, this is the wicket England & Australia played on Wednesday. Secondly it was the pitch chosen by Hants coaching staff. Thirdly, Durham have a good seam attach so to go for a wicket that will take spin it a good decision. Tremlett & Tomlinson are fit but not able to get into the side. Griffiths tells me he has agreed contract terms with Hampshire despite interest from Middlesex & Yorkshire. Club are looking to strengthen with quality players. No announcement yet and as always it may depend on staying in this division but I suspect they are still eying up Kabir Ali of Worcestershire. I also suspect that Simon Jones will not be coming. Shame about the bad light & rain

Thought this might be interesting. Bullet points from a meeting with Pompey Exec on 12th Sept Al Fahim does own the club Club will be close to break even this year Peter Storrie has saved the club this last year, and has had to fight off the banks (all of the Sky money this summer went straight to Standard Bank). Players had to be sold as Standard Bank were calling in their debts, all Sky money this summer went straight to them Peter Storrie is staying with the club The club has to refinance but Al Fahim has not done that so far Too much talk from Al Fahim, no actual doing as yet. Al Fahim is not giving answers on how the club is going to be funded Al Fahim currently in the States seeking refinance Al Fahim doesn't seem to have much grasp of the operations of English football...in fact, football at all The Al Farraj brothers are still interested in getting involved in the club The 48 page dossier doesn't exist, this seems to have been a publicity stunt Training ground cannot start until the club receives finance

The story was wrong. Lallana did not want out. He was still injured and Wotte was playing silly buggers with him, hinting that he was not committed. Adam will tell you that was far from the truth.

Would appear you might have been spot on. Sporting Index said that in the early days of the Premier League you could only bet if their was a live game on TV. Spread Betting was it its infancy and live TV was the only way of keeping track of what was going on. Sky also confirmed that the game, played on Easter Monday, was never shown live by them.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4625896.New_twist_to_tale_of_the_Le_Tissier_betting_scam/ But last night it transpired that the Premiership match in question against Wimbledon in 1995 was not screened live on TV – meaning that the betting system would not have been available to gamblers.

Sussex only got 2 batting & 2 bowling points. Assuming they draw that puts them 12 behind us with 2 games to play.

Spoke to Tim, his dad as there was rumour of Sussex and Surrey interested. He said he had heard nothing. Griffiths is out of contract and Middlesex & Yorkshore are interested. Hants talking to him about a new contract when I spoke to him. He may have a difficult decision to make. He is a Man Utd supporter by the way!

We only need 4 runs to win makes 21 points

For the Somerset game he had a shoulder injury and was having an injection. He played in the 2nd 11 as stated above but his figures were not impressive. Simple fact is that he cannot get in the side at present even when fit.