Weston Saint

I am going to apologise but I have not read this thread fully but thought I would make some comments. I agree there are a proportion of the season ticket fan base who are “disappointed” by the late withdrawal of the interest free instalment plan. I can understand that and it will put them in some difficulty. The club should have indicated this at the end of the season at the latest. However we do not know the circumstances which led to this late decision. The suggestion is that it is too expensive for the club. I am prepared to accept that reasoning. When the club was purchased Mr Cortese made it quite clear his remit was to run the club as a viable business. That entailed some cost up front but he was determined to look at all aspects of the business for cost cutting. Season tickets cost last season reflected the dire position the team were in with -10 points, a losing mentality, a division that was not aligned to our expected status and a fan base diminished by the actions of the previous regimes. May cuts and changes behind the scenes have been made during the year since they took control and now it is the time for ticket pricing strategy. The cost of this year’s tickets have increased but the majority still seem to think that is a fair reflection of what we have i.e. one the best stadiums in the division, one of the best teams in the division, one of the highest goal scoring teams in the division and a real anticipation of automatic promotion next season. Some have said that the lack of stage payment plan means they are unable to buy a season ticket. If that is a large minority then just think what that will cost the club by way of administration or outsourcing. Someone has to pay for that. Should that be on the price of the season ticket the majority pay up front and on time? Some say by paying up front that is a form of credit to the club. Do not forget that in return for that payment a substantial discount is given on the match day prices. Quite simply the club have made a painful decision, they will have been aware of that, and it may be that a thousand or so will be unable to renew. However, I anticipate they will still be able to attend some and that the club revenue over the season will not be damaged. It is a business decision and like all decisions there are winners, losers and some unaffected. That is the world we are in. If it makes for a stronger, viable and successful club long term whilst I am sorry for the “losers” by the decision the majority will give their support. The decision may not be poor but the delivery date, without a full explanation from the club on their web site, is an own goal.

Pothas can shave off his beard now. He said he would when Hants got 3 wins in matches. Notts in CC and Warwickshire & Scotland in Clydesdale. Latest is Dimi suffered a reaction to his second 11 outing last week and will not likely play in the T20 opener on Thursday. Kabir Ali having a trampolene test this afternoon and if no reaction to his knee injury he may be back against Essex in CC on Friday. Griffiths still out with hip issue. Jones progressing but not likely to be risked just yet. No sign of overseas replacement for Afridi in T20. Mendis still due after the Asian cup. Brett Lee still a possibility but still looking at his recovery and information from Cricket Australia

Yes he will be the liquidator but HMRC will be watching him very carefully

I think some may be missing the point if I understand the document properly. An Administrator has less power that a Liquidator when it comes to investigating what has been going on. So, the Administrator gets on with trying to get the business on a decent footing and has agreed to it being a new company in 9 months liquidating the old at that time. The creditors 20% is safe (relatively speaking because it is over 5 years and the new company could fail in that period) BUT, and here is the important part, the old company goes into liquidation giving powers to the liquidator to investigate what went on and if the directors etc are complicit they can be prosecuted and or made to pay money to the liquidator which he passes on to the creditors as that is outside of any CVA The CVA will be agreed. Pompey will start without a points penalty, will limp through the next few seasons and even suffer further relegation.

Boring Yorkshire refused to set a target. Reason for their declaration was that they were carrying over a -2 over rate from the first innings whch would have meant a 2 point penalty. Opened the bowling with their 2 spinners to get it back to 0 which they did. Hour delay did not help but Yorkshire never loooked up for it. Good match for David Balcolme. Bowled well and looked a genuine number 8 batting.

Spoke to Dominic Cork this morning. He agrees Hants bowled poorly first morning. Asked him about his knee injury as he went off for a while on the first day. He said he felt a problem but it is ok now. He is positive about the remainder of our season. I see and talk to enough of the players to share that optimism Yorkshire are 216 ahead and if they play right they should declare when they have a lead of 300 or so leaving Hants to bat for 70 overs. Yorkshire will want to win so they need to give us a stiff but getable target. With 70 overs and over 300 they will back themselves to bowl us out. The wicket is playing well but there is something still in it for the bowlers. Hants will start cautious but if they can avoid losing much in the way of wickets by the mid afternoon session it is game on.

Spoke to Kabir Ali today. His knee is getting better but he has not tried running yet. Hopes to be fit for next week.

First, Lumb will replace Dawson tomorrow. That is not the reason Hampshire bowled first despite winning the toss nor did it preclude Dawson from batting or bowling. The wicket was very green but it was a baking hot day and a mistake. I spoke to David Fulton (Sky) ex Kent skipper. He would have batted. He told me some years ago that he won the toss on a similar green wicket on a baking hot day against Sussex. He put them in, they scored a massive amount and Kent lost. He said he learned from that decision. Spoke to Tim Tremlett. They expect the wicket not to deteriorate. Hampshire's bowling in the morning was poor. David Griffiths tells me he has a hip injury but hopes to return soon. The same applies to Ali. I heard second hand that Dimi is playing for the seconds this week so he should not be far away. That is todays news.

Ali still not fit but McKenzie returns Hampshire Squad: 4 Jimmy Adams 6 Michael Lumb 7 Sean Ervine 8 Liam Dawson 9 Nic Pothas 12 Dominic Cork 14 James Vince 15 Michael Carberry 20 Chris Benham 21 James Tomlinson 27 Neil McKenzie 34 Rangana Herath 84 David Balcombe http://www.rosebowlplc.com/news/hampshire-v-yorkshire-cc-preview/

Please try and stop the bickering. When Cortese appointed Pardew it was with a publicised 5 year plan. Even though we had a -10 point start our early form was diabolical and I am told Cortese, after about 6 games were uncertain he wanted Pardew to continue but was persuaded by others with football experience to persevere and Cortese apparently took that advice. In December we were making good progress so Cortese and Pardew got together to consider updating the time plan. Pardew has admitted that he told Cortese that with the right signing he could get to the playoffs. Money was made available and the new time line was agreed i.e. playoffs with probable promotion followed by consolidation and the target of Premier in 3 more years making 4 overall. Pardew failed to get us into the playoffs despite a gallant effort from him and the team so obviously his position was in doubt. I suspect Cortese was not happy and likely took advice again from those who understood the game. He also had a meeting with Pardew to discuss the plan, requirements and no doubt laid on the line that failure to gain promotion next year was not an option. The outcome was that Pardew lives to fight a new campaign. As for the suggestion that Cortese does not engage with the staff my information is that he is a hard taskmaster, firm but fair. Perhaps he wants the lines of communication at SMS understood and applied. We know the club was in a shambles before he came in. Why should he communicate with the supporters or press on a regular basis? He has a Manager to engage in that process. If there is an issue with any staff including Pardew that is private and not for public consumption. That includes praise or criticism. How many times have we heard a Chairman tell the press he had faith in his Manager only to sack him within weeks? Cortese, for me is still on trial but so is Pardew. Can Cortese deliver? He is not doing too bad so far and we will see how he takes the business forward next season. Can Pardew deliver? I can see weaknesses but I am confident he will get us promoted next season. After that I am not so sure.

Tomorrow sees what might be a high scoring match. Why do I say that? Most runs this season in Championship Div 1 1. A Lyth 633 from 6 matches 2. J Rudolf 595 from 6 matches 3. S Ervine 553 from 6 matches 4. A McGrath 522 from 6 matches 5. J Adams 504 from 6 matches 12 M Carberry 425 from 5 matches From the bowling most wickets 8. K Ali 19 from 4 matches (but likely to be out injured) 9 O Hanon-Dalby 19 from 6 matches 10 D Griffiths 18 from 5 matches 14 A Rashid 17 from 6 matches 15 D Patterson 16 from 4 Weather looks set fair. Looking forward to this one after the win against the leaders Notts in the CCC and the leaders Warwickshire in the Clydsdale 40's Confidence will be back in the dressing room.

Good post Frank and comments I subscribe to as well

I suspect nothing will happen until after the world cup

No loan approach in January so he had nothing to turn down.

Fanstastic result. Just what was needed. McKenzie justifies his signing at last

Not asked the question but I suspect he would. Reason for no other enquiries is that he is still under contract with Wolves and as far as I know he has not been put on the transfer list. We have a world cup just about to start and I suspect until that is over we will hear very little about transfers. Sheffield Utd we after him when he signed for Wolves so they might come back if he is to move on. I expect Pardew to do the same but wages might be a stumbling block. I do not know what Drew earnes but it is quite a bit more than he previously earned with Saints.

Not correct according to my contact, his father.

103 to win in 32 overs minimum with 6 wickets in hand but only 14 overs to the new ball. Three results still possible. Hants slightly favourite but another wicket loss will change all that!

Absolutely agree. The person who put up the post and photo must have the mind of a demented portsmouth supporter.

If you are who I think you are, if you were educated where I think you were, if you work for who I think you do and if you hold the position I think you do, I am very worried about not only you but the rest of us as well.

Really, so his father who played golf with Drew yesterday is wrong when he says that Drew knows nothing about any approach. And your source is who?

I am a close friend of his Mum & Dad going back to before they were married. Kept in touch when they worked in Jersey and then SA including when they visited UK to see family with Paul & Drew as young kids. When they came back they rented my brother in laws place until they bought there own. So no not professional.

I did not ask the question as to whether he had been told he could go so VFTT may be right. My question was before he posted this thread.

That is a question I will not ask whilst he is contracted to Wolves or until they say he can move on.

OK I can now confirm this is unfounded speculation. Drew is not aware of any approach. It is known that Pardew rates him but that is all at present.