alpine_saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I know I am going to get slagged off for this, since I stated a while back that his legacy to SFC could be as big as MLTs in terms of saving the club (I stand by this comment, btw..), but has anyone started wondering if Fry is the cause of the ball-achingly slow allienation of anyone interested in buying us ? I am sick-to-death of the daily banal plattitudes about progress being made, I want to see him get someone to put the money down and sign on the dotted line. Then he can p*ss off back to his office in Southend or wherever it is, for all I care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 No, the way i see it, it's a difficult job to do, he is progressing well, got held up by a group of w*nkers that somehow managed to con MLT in on it. And is also on the verge of the biggest coup since KK, IF the mail's report of the Swiss groups wealth is true, considering we are in league 1 on minus 10 i'd have said it was a herculean task. This is also about the 2nd thread you have written on this, calm down, look over the no doubt stunning views of the Alps and wait a few more days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I know I am going to get slagged off for this, since I stated a while back that his legacy to SFC could be as big as MLTs in terms of saving the club (I stand by this comment, btw..), but has anyone started wondering if Fry is the cause of the ball-achingly slow allienation of anyone interested in buying us ? I am sick-to-death of the daily banal plattitudes about progress being made, I want to see him get someone to put the money down and sign on the dotted line. Then he can p*ss off back to his office in Southend or wherever it is, for all I care. My first thought was that this was a development in your spat with C B Fry. Fry hasnt taken verty long though has he? There has been one false start with Pinnacle - not his fault it fell through - and now the Swiss /Germans have had a couple of weeks. The only current delay seems to be for the FL proper persons check. It just seems like a long time when you are desperate for news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 July, 2009 My first thought was that this was a development in your spat with C B Fry. Fry hasnt taken verty long though has he? There has been one false start with Pinnacle - not his fault it fell through - and now the Swiss /Germans have had a couple of weeks. The only current delay seems to be for the FL proper persons check. It just seems like a long time when you are desperate for news. I cant be the only one tearing his hair out.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I cant be the only one tearing his hair out.............. I agree, this is all ball achingly hard.... but i don't think it's Fry's fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Yes. ... but I sense he's finally got the deal done this time. To be fair to him he probably would have had it completed before July if Pinnacle hadnt turned out to have been so lame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I cant be the only one tearing his hair out.............. No - we all are. I'm a bit more relaxed now it seems like we definitely have a good and serious buyer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washsaint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Just because you want, doesn't mean you get! The whole thing will be a complex deal......and obviously not straightforward what with all the plc stuff to untangle, etc. Face it, before the Internet a group of fans would not be waiting with baited breath for what Fry had for lunch, etc. Darlington and Stockport (who went into Admin at about the same time and are at about the same stage as us. More pertinent question is how Fry got duped by Pinnacle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 No - we all are. I'm a bit more relaxed now it seems like we definitely have a good and serious buyer. +1 i hope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I know I am going to get slagged off for this, since I stated a while back that his legacy to SFC could be as big as MLTs in terms of saving the club (I stand by this comment, btw..), but has anyone started wondering if Fry is the cause of the ball-achingly slow allienation of anyone interested in buying us ? I am sick-to-death of the daily banal plattitudes about progress being made, I want to see him get someone to put the money down and sign on the dotted line. Then he can p*ss off back to his office in Southend or wherever it is, for all I care. Has a different agenda to the rest of us so difficult to be objective. If any part of the role he has played is questionable it is the reasons that made him confident in the Pinnacle bid to give them exclusivity over the Swiss bid. I don't suppose we will ever know but IMO that has undoubtedly lost the club ground to plan effectively for the new season and I assume has also cost the creditors as I would have thought the Swiss were able to negoitate a discount on their original offer. Afterall, Fry went back to them allegedly cap in hand, hardly a great bargaining position. Pinnacle is the route of all this and how Fry was convinced. To all the experts in this field do you think we will get to know the truth? Is there such a thing as a post administration/takeover report for public consumption? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggers Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Some of you will recall my connections, - if the DD is as shocking as I'm led to believe then its no surprise the man has his work cut out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 No, the way i see it, it's a difficult job to do, he is progressing well, got held up by a group of w*nkers that somehow managed to con MLT in on it. And is also on the verge of the biggest coup since KK, IF the mail's report of the Swiss groups wealth is true, considering we are in league 1 on minus 10 i'd have said it was a herculean task. This is also about the 2nd thread you have written on this, calm down, look over the no doubt stunning views of the Alps and wait a few more days. How was MLT conned? Lynam and others on here kept telling us how intelligent MLT is and not to underestimate him and his ability to act in a senior capacity. IMo he can't be a shrewd and savvy businessmen and potential saviour of the club and capable of being conned the next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Some of you will recall my connections, - if the DD is as shocking as I'm led to believe then its no surprise the man has his work cut out. Some of us need reminding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Has a different agenda to the rest of us so difficult to be objective. If any part of the role he has played is questionable it is the reasons that made him confident in the Pinnacle bid to give them exclusivity over the Swiss bid. I don't suppose we will ever know but IMO that has undoubtedly lost the club ground to plan effectively for the new season and I assume has also cost the creditors as I would have thought the Swiss were able to negoitate a discount on their original offer. Afterall, Fry went back to them allegedly cap in hand, hardly a great bargaining position. Pinnacle is the route of all this and how Fry was convinced. To all the experts in this field do you think we will get to know the truth? Is there such a thing as a post administration/takeover report for public consumption? Probably, but I have little doubt that transparency-wise it will be right up there with MPs expenses and the Iraq inquiry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sold To The Man @ The Bar Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 No, difficult job carried out in the spotlight of this forum !! The man is dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn’t. He can’t force people to sign on the line, he can broker the deal within a legal framework but that is as far as it goes. Buying a business is a hard enough; believe me I know, but buying one from a Plc that is in administration will be a legal nightmare, especially when you add the football league into the mix. Give the man a break Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 More pertinent question is how Fry got duped by Pinnacle If any part of the role he has played is questionable it is the reasons that made him confident in the Pinnacle bid to give them exclusivity over the Swiss bid. Pinnacle is the route of all this and how Fry was convinced. To all the experts in this field do you think we will get to know the truth? Is there such a thing as a post administration/takeover report for public consumption? I'm no expert - but in Fry's position if I had two bids, one of which could prove he had £15m sitting in a bank account and promised to buy Saints subject to DD and the other also promised to buy Saints and paid £500,000 into my account as a sign of serious intent - I know which I'd go for. Bird in the hand and all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 How was MLT conned? Lynam and others on here kept telling us how intelligent MLT is and not to underestimate him and his ability to act in a senior capacity. IMo he can't be a shrewd and savvy businessmen and potential saviour of the club and capable of being conned the next. Probably in the same way they managed to Con TSW and Fry and then sneak out the back door like that of the last snake at the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windmill Arm 2 Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I know I am going to get slagged off for this, since I stated a while back that his legacy to SFC could be as big as MLTs in terms of saving the club (I stand by this comment, btw..), but has anyone started wondering if Fry is the cause of the ball-achingly slow allienation of anyone interested in buying us ? I am sick-to-death of the daily banal plattitudes about progress being made, I want to see him get someone to put the money down and sign on the dotted line. Then he can p*ss off back to his office in Southend or wherever it is, for all I care. We share the same sentiments I assure you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Patience is a virtue Alpine. If you had your way we would have been snapped up by some second rate buyer weeks ago. Hopefully we will end up with something of substance and not just a cheapo quick fix. And if we do Fry deserves credit, not a dose of Alpine vitriol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I thought it was all the league's fault? Or was that last week. Sorry, I can't keep up, I'm not nearly as intelligent as some people on this forum. Not nearly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Some of you will recall my connections, - if the DD is as shocking as I'm led to believe then its no surprise the man has his work cut out. I'm with you on that - from all I have been able to analyse, the final act in the "self defence of Rupert" during his nedia rounds would have been the 2008/09 accounts which were no doubt horrific and told a pretty clear tale and on top of that I would guess the cash flow forecasts of Dave Jones in the early days were grim enough to send 30 or so of the intially interested parties on their way. Going back to the OP, I know I got stick, but I had a weekend in London with friends from the City and was told pretty much what to expect, nothing I have seen since has made me change my mind. I know it isn't evidence to support Alps' case because it was tainted by the MJ link, but if for one moment you take a leap of faith and believe (for a second) that some money men COULD have been talking directly to Fry, then their tales would also make very interesting reading. Unfortunately since MJ tainted the whole thing it just isn't going to get an airing. One word I was told very early - Silverjet although I never bothered to follow it up or google it all, and that joke I told about the goalposts at Fry's home - wasn't from me, it was from "City Types". At the end of this I really don't give a cr*p what he is really like as long as he does actually CLOSE a deal, he will be judged on that, but from what I heard, all HE will worry about is whether he can upgrade his Bentley to an Aston Martin. His standing amongst his peers - well they won't care either IF the deal gets done. I never judge a person on hearsay or first impressions but the course of events has been interesting. In Fry's defence I was told today that ONLY 1 in 8 purchases from administrators actually goes through - eek so 4 more to go yet then (Oh and for the conspiracists - the wild guess from my mate the taxi driver would be that Rupert couldn't release the accounts when he was no longer in the club. He gets removed by Admin so the accounts never become public... and then Richard Fry gets a cushy partnership. Nah not likely isit? The final weird theory would be the whole "delaying any deal until there is only one course of action and one possible bidder left analysis", but I told the bloke in the pub who suggested that idea that he was talking complete b*ll*cks and I wouldn't even consider it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I know I am going to get slagged off for this, since I stated a while back that his legacy to SFC could be as big as MLTs in terms of saving the club (I stand by this comment, btw..), but has anyone started wondering if Fry is the cause of the ball-achingly slow allienation of anyone interested in buying us ? I am sick-to-death of the daily banal plattitudes about progress being made, I want to see him get someone to put the money down and sign on the dotted line. Then he can p*ss off back to his office in Southend or wherever it is, for all I care. If he had said nothing since the process started people would moan about that. I'm afraid it's banal platitudes or silence; and quite right too. You're right about him being up there with MLT though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 There was me thinking I could get away from all this in Banavie but no, even up here they have wireless connection!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Godfather Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I lost faith in Fry after he gave Pinnacle to long after the 3 weeks ran out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 There was me thinking I could get away from all this in Banavie but no, even up here they have wireless connection!!!!! Oh you LUCKY sod.... and the weather isn't TOO bad either Have a wee dram of the good stuff for me too while you're up there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Oh you LUCKY sod.... and the weather isn't TOO bad either Have a wee dram of the good stuff for me too while you're up there!I will drink your health sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxfordshire_saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I have mixed feelings about the man. I appreciate what a hard task it must be for him, as securing the sale of a normal business in administration is a complicated enough proceedure but I imagine it's far more complex when the business involved is a football club, especially one left in the state that Lowe left us in. That said, he has at times appeared completely out of his depth. Anywho, as long as he sells the club rather than liquidating it, technically he's done his job (which I'm sure he will be paid handsomely for, having seen a few administrators bills in my time) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Nope - these things take time alps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Nope - these things take time alps. True, but they tend to go a little quicker if your standard negotiating technique is to hang up on a caller and then not answer your phone for 2 days or more Allegedly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I'm no expert - but in Fry's position if I had two bids, one of which could prove he had £15m sitting in a bank account and promised to buy Saints subject to DD and the other also promised to buy Saints and paid £500,000 into my account as a sign of serious intent - I know which I'd go for. Bird in the hand and all that. Maybe, but as i was told once you don't get given the keys to a house and inspect it through the letterbox unless you are a gynaecologist. Are you suggesting Buctootim that he didn't look beyond the £500,000 as I suspect the Swiss had theirs ready to handover but got cold feet competing with a bid backed the greatest Saints Legend. Would be nice if there isn't an official report post completion to stop the speculation then someone gets the book rights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambosa75 Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I know I am going to get slagged off for this, since I stated a while back that his legacy to SFC could be as big as MLTs in terms of saving the club (I stand by this comment, btw..), but has anyone started wondering if Fry is the cause of the ball-achingly slow allienation of anyone interested in buying us ? I am sick-to-death of the daily banal plattitudes about progress being made, I want to see him get someone to put the money down and sign on the dotted line. Then he can p*ss off back to his office in Southend or wherever it is, for all I care. No offence, but werent you calling for him to be instated as chairman shortly after his appointment for his professionalism? Pretty sure you were... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Probably in the same way they managed to Con TSW and Fry and then sneak out the back door like that of the last snake at the club. Conning the TSW? You don't exactly have to be Derren Brown to whip up a feeding frenzy with the majority of posters on here believing every unsourced word they read provided its good news. Doubt Fry could have been so easily duped but would still like to know what favoured Pinnacle over the Swiss especially given his comments today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 the fact he too was done by Pinnacle says a lot.... Although i don't think it's an easy job, i still think that if you are getting paid the kind of money he will be, he should be doing more... Of interest, who makes sure he is doing the job he is meant to? His line-manager at BT is obviously happy for it to drag on, time is money and all that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I'm running out of patience with people saying they're running out of patience with Fry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 There was me thinking I could get away from all this in Banavie but no, even up here they have wireless connection!!!!! Go for a walk it must be still daylight up there, watch those midges though they take a bite quicker than a member of this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 Maybe, but as i was told once you don't get given the keys to a house and inspect it through the letterbox unless you are a gynaecologist. Are you suggesting Buctootim that he didn't look beyond the £500,000 as I suspect the Swiss had theirs ready to handover but got cold feet competing with a bid backed the greatest Saints Legend. Would be nice if there isn't an official report post completion to stop the speculation then someone gets the book rights. If you use the parellel with selling a house - many of the people who come for a view have the money and say they are interested. A few even make offers. However you dont do thorough DD on all prospective purchasers - instead the one who puts the 10% deposit down gets the jump on the rest. You 'know' they're serious because who is going to waste that money. Pinnacle put £500,000 down first and earned the right to purchase. For all Fry knew the Swiss could have just been very well heeled tyre kickers - and he couldnt be expected to foresee that the £500,000 was put down by a well meaning friend who never expected that junior had no hope of raising the mortgage for the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faz Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 the fact he too was done by Pinnacle says a lot.... Although i don't think it's an easy job, i still think that if you are getting paid the kind of money he will be, he should be doing more... Of interest, who makes sure he is doing the job he is meant to? His line-manager at BT is obviously happy for it to drag on, time is money and all that His Line-Manager might be, but the Creditors won't. You can bet that the two major creditors will be taking a very keen interest in fees and billing. It's not nearly the fee-fest it used to be. I heard stories at the start of all this that the big boys turned this one down - they didn't think they could get it away and get paid sufficient. It's a complex and difficult transaction and when you say he should be doing more, against what yardstick are you judging his performance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 True, but they tend to go a little quicker if your standard negotiating technique is to hang up on a caller and then not answer your phone for 2 days or more Allegedly Funny how key players in this club past and present ket accused of being somewhat terse in their communication techniques whilst using a telephone. In this case he appears to have allegedly hung up on the wrong people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Luke Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 The question is - what do you intend to do about it? As you can do nothing - it begs the question - why keep on going on about it? Yes it's bloody infuriating and it affects productivity at work but we just have to wait and hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 To be fair to Fry, I think the biggets problem initially was that we had interest from well meaning, but perhaps unrealistic brokers, who felt that there MUST be backers willing to take a punt at the price ... Pinnacle played teh PR card well with getting MLT on board, but realistically seemed to have a rather fluid group of backers that in the end did not have the readies... The initial requirement for a deposit to gain exclusivity was in effect a put up or bugger off, but also a way of ensuring the club could pay satfff and players for another month, thus buying more time. Having made that request, Fry was probably as surprized as the Swiss that Pinnacle were able to find the deposit - and thus was duty bound to give them a fair hearing and the exclusivity. We also heard that they beat the Swiss by a matter of hours. I will probably get shot down for this, but it begs the question about who fronted teh 500k... did they get shafted by not doing sufficient homework on the solidity of the backers, did they really believe that it was the only way to guarrantee the club survived, for another month, or was it the only way to be sure of maintaining an interest in the club after the sale... ? If as we have been told teh Swiss were ready to pay the deposit, and that they seem from what we have heard the best deal for the, if the latter of reasons, it could be seen as bit of self interest ahead of wat was best long term? The mystery of the 500k is an interesting one. I know many rate Crouch for his donations or loans and I will admit that he has made a contribution that has undoubtedly benefited the club, but were they ever truely selfless as some would like to proclaim? He has also been touted as an astute businessman, yet this would be second time he seems to have been 'let down' because the funds were not guarranteed, but 'promised'. Fry is in a difficult position, because legally his role does not really involve thinking about whats best for the fans and club, but just the creditors who are going to lose out anyway - I suspect he has been given a bit more leaway than usual because of the bad PR that Barclays and Aviva would recieve on a national basis, if seen not to give a flying fig about the football club... the fact that he has stated he wants to try and ensure teh clubs future, may be PR platitudes but it perhaps indicates that Barclays and Aviva would ideally like the same thing, even if just from a PR perspective. Alps, before you respond and give me a good kicking about my dig at Crouch, PLEASE remember I dont hate him, not the way most hate Lowe, I just never felt he was as selfless and as right for the club as many obviously do. It does not make him bad person in my eyes, as its only human - I would probably act in exactly the same way - its human nature especially after losing 2 mil on his shares - its just that IMHO he seemed 'too good to be true' - spoke alot of nice things without much substance, an improvement I guess on Lowe who spoke a lot of crap without much substance... I will say again, the only reason why I defended Lowe to some degree was because of the way we managed finances in the prem... the avoiding of increasing borrowings to fund potential success - which many clubs were and are still doing - it simpy cant be sustained. The fact that successive managers wasted alot of what we did have is another matter, but for that 'prudence' was an important thing for our club without teh sugar daddy to underwrite any debt. For me Wilde and Crouch, in response to the desire for a new era, and anyway but Lowe's way, went too far in an effort to be popular first and pragmatic second... That has been my 'beef' with Wilde and Crouch... Hopefully This week will see a proper new dawn, aftr so many false ones and if the Swiss bid is as good as Fry is making out, then he will have done his job very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 i have heard some stuff about him, which may well be bull, but if true then its a bit of a worry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 If you use the parellel with selling a house - many of the people who come for a view have the money and say they are interested. A few even make offers. However you dont do thorough DD on all prospective purchasers - instead the one who puts the 10% deposit down gets the jump on the rest. You 'know' they're serious because who is going to waste that money. Pinnacle put £500,000 down first and earned the right to purchase. For all Fry knew the Swiss could have just been very well heeled tyre kickers - and he couldnt be expected to foresee that the £500,000 was put down by a well meaning friend who never expected that junior had no hope of raising the mortgage for the rest. Fair point but in that analogy the deposit is paid with all the legals, mortgage and key dates agreed. As a minimum surely proof of payment of the balance must have been provided and be as strong as the offer in the wings minus the celebrity? Perhaps the house analogy doesn't work when you drill down into the nitty gritty but the principle at least is very similar i would have thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 To be fair to Fry, I think the biggets problem initially was that we had interest from well meaning, but perhaps unrealistic brokers, who felt that there MUST be backers willing to take a punt at the price ... Pinnacle played teh PR card well with getting MLT on board, but realistically seemed to have a rather fluid group of backers that in the end did not have the readies... The initial requirement for a deposit to gain exclusivity was in effect a put up or bugger off, but also a way of ensuring the club could pay satfff and players for another month, thus buying more time. Having made that request, Fry was probably as surprized as the Swiss that Pinnacle were able to find the deposit - and thus was duty bound to give them a fair hearing and the exclusivity. We also heard that they beat the Swiss by a matter of hours. I will probably get shot down for this, but it begs the question about who fronted teh 500k... did they get shafted by not doing sufficient homework on the solidity of the backers, did they really believe that it was the only way to guarrantee the club survived, for another month, or was it the only way to be sure of maintaining an interest in the club after the sale... ? If as we have been told teh Swiss were ready to pay the deposit, and that they seem from what we have heard the best deal for the, if the latter of reasons, it could be seen as bit of self interest ahead of wat was best long term? The mystery of the 500k is an interesting one. I know many rate Crouch for his donations or loans and I will admit that he has made a contribution that has undoubtedly benefited the club, but were they ever truely selfless as some would like to proclaim? He has also been touted as an astute businessman, yet this would be second time he seems to have been 'let down' because the funds were not guarranteed, but 'promised'. Fry is in a difficult position, because legally his role does not really involve thinking about whats best for the fans and club, but just the creditors who are going to lose out anyway - I suspect he has been given a bit more leaway than usual because of the bad PR that Barclays and Aviva would recieve on a national basis, if seen not to give a flying fig about the football club... the fact that he has stated he wants to try and ensure teh clubs future, may be PR platitudes but it perhaps indicates that Barclays and Aviva would ideally like the same thing, even if just from a PR perspective. Alps, before you respond and give me a good kicking about my dig at Crouch, PLEASE remember I dont hate him, not the way most hate Lowe, I just never felt he was as selfless and as right for the club as many obviously do. It does not make him bad person in my eyes, as its only human - I would probably act in exactly the same way - its human nature especially after losing 2 mil on his shares - its just that IMHO he seemed 'too good to be true' - spoke alot of nice things without much substance, an improvement I guess on Lowe who spoke a lot of crap without much substance... I will say again, the only reason why I defended Lowe to some degree was because of the way we managed finances in the prem... the avoiding of increasing borrowings to fund potential success - which many clubs were and are still doing - it simpy cant be sustained. The fact that successive managers wasted alot of what we did have is another matter, but for that 'prudence' was an important thing for our club without teh sugar daddy to underwrite any debt. For me Wilde and Crouch, in response to the desire for a new era, and anyway but Lowe's way, went too far in an effort to be popular first and pragmatic second... That has been my 'beef' with Wilde and Crouch... Hopefully This week will see a proper new dawn, aftr so many false ones and if the Swiss bid is as good as Fry is making out, then he will have done his job very well. Great post Frank and glad to see your speeling is coming along for those who can't get over it. The message is there but do you have to be so subtle? Surely the protaganists just need to answer some obvious questions? Get a job on Solent, preferably Sunday mornings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egreog Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 It will all be resolved one way or another in the next few days .........people need to be patient and let the man do his job........once someone takes over everyone will praise him for doing a great job..........impossible to please everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 To be fair to Fry, I think the biggets problem initially was that we had interest from well meaning, but perhaps unrealistic brokers, who felt that there MUST be backers willing to take a punt at the price ... Pinnacle played teh PR card well with getting MLT on board, but realistically seemed to have a rather fluid group of backers that in the end did not have the readies... The initial requirement for a deposit to gain exclusivity was in effect a put up or bugger off, but also a way of ensuring the club could pay satfff and players for another month, thus buying more time. Having made that request, Fry was probably as surprized as the Swiss that Pinnacle were able to find the deposit - and thus was duty bound to give them a fair hearing and the exclusivity. We also heard that they beat the Swiss by a matter of hours. I will probably get shot down for this, but it begs the question about who fronted teh 500k... did they get shafted by not doing sufficient homework on the solidity of the backers, did they really believe that it was the only way to guarrantee the club survived, for another month, or was it the only way to be sure of maintaining an interest in the club after the sale... ? If as we have been told teh Swiss were ready to pay the deposit, and that they seem from what we have heard the best deal for the, if the latter of reasons, it could be seen as bit of self interest ahead of wat was best long term? The mystery of the 500k is an interesting one. I know many rate Crouch for his donations or loans and I will admit that he has made a contribution that has undoubtedly benefited the club, but were they ever truely selfless as some would like to proclaim? He has also been touted as an astute businessman, yet this would be second time he seems to have been 'let down' because the funds were not guarranteed, but 'promised'. Fry is in a difficult position, because legally his role does not really involve thinking about whats best for the fans and club, but just the creditors who are going to lose out anyway - I suspect he has been given a bit more leaway than usual because of the bad PR that Barclays and Aviva would recieve on a national basis, if seen not to give a flying fig about the football club... the fact that he has stated he wants to try and ensure teh clubs future, may be PR platitudes but it perhaps indicates that Barclays and Aviva would ideally like the same thing, even if just from a PR perspective. Alps, before you respond and give me a good kicking about my dig at Crouch, PLEASE remember I dont hate him, not the way most hate Lowe, I just never felt he was as selfless and as right for the club as many obviously do. It does not make him bad person in my eyes, as its only human - I would probably act in exactly the same way - its human nature especially after losing 2 mil on his shares - its just that IMHO he seemed 'too good to be true' - spoke alot of nice things without much substance, an improvement I guess on Lowe who spoke a lot of crap without much substance... I will say again, the only reason why I defended Lowe to some degree was because of the way we managed finances in the prem... the avoiding of increasing borrowings to fund potential success - which many clubs were and are still doing - it simpy cant be sustained. The fact that successive managers wasted alot of what we did have is another matter, but for that 'prudence' was an important thing for our club without teh sugar daddy to underwrite any debt. For me Wilde and Crouch, in response to the desire for a new era, and anyway but Lowe's way, went too far in an effort to be popular first and pragmatic second... That has been my 'beef' with Wilde and Crouch... Hopefully This week will see a proper new dawn, aftr so many false ones and if the Swiss bid is as good as Fry is making out, then he will have done his job very well. Sorry, just read this through again and it really is probably the best post I have ever read on this forum and sums up in a few paragraphs the recent history of this club and raises the same reasons why I backed Lowe (financial prudence) and raises questions about some justifiable concerns which I doubt we will ever receive truly transparent answers. However, the message is clear no more false prophecies, mascot led bids, fan friendly rhetoric or alleged donations. Hopefully, this week we will have a future with a f**king great big line drawn over the past and a period of financial stability and sensible rebuilding ahead. That needs to be in line with a realistic ambition for the club in the medium term. We need to back this bid with ST purchases and 20k + attendances because without that we will be left with the foundations once again and no chance of a return to the highest echelons of the English football that he have occupied for about 1 third of our existence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 NIneteen, we have to remember though that football fans generally tend to be obsessive passionate stubborn freaks ;-) We will all be demanding big spending the moment someone takes over and will be expecting great things ... and the moment we dont see it we will have the usual disillusi0onment that follows....unless this whole sorry episode has maybe taught us a few wise lessions; the club and its history are way more important than anyone in the boardroom or the success that we yearn for. Supporting a club IS in the blood and the very nature of what the game has become means that the highs and lows are so much further apart that this bizzare rollercoaster is becoming even more difficult to rold on to... but hey its one hell of a ride ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints foreva Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 i have heard some stuff about him, which may well be bull, but if true then its a bit of a worry He's a Pompey fan? At first, Fry came across a very decent block who knew what he was talking about. His job can't be easy, we are hardly an attractive buy tbf. If we get brought, he deserves a lot of credit imo. If it hadn't been for Pinnacle, we may have been sold weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 NIneteen' date=' we have to remember though that football fans generally tend to be obsessive passionate stubborn freaks ;-) We will all be demanding big spending the moment someone takes over and will be expecting great things ... and the moment we dont see it we will have the usual disillusi0onment that follows....unless this whole sorry episode has maybe taught us a few wise lessions; the club and its history are way more important than anyone in the boardroom or the success that we yearn for. Supporting a club IS in the blood and the very nature of what the game has become means that the highs and lows are so much further apart that this bizzare rollercoaster is becoming even more difficult to rold on to... but hey its one hell of a ride ;-)[/quote'] Very true, I was told to chase your dreams not stay at home listening to the radio moaning about it. I will be amazed if next season is anything other than a moment of consolidation to allow the new buyers to get their feet under the table and see what exactly they purchased. The jubiliant in July may become the disillusioned by Christmas and nothing less than a £25m + resurrection by next Easter will halt the next march of the moaners. You're right lessons need to be learned but I suspect many will not be happy by the end of next season. Bit like a heart attack patient forgetting the surgeon saved his life and moaning to him about the size of the scar. Time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 True, but they tend to go a little quicker if your standard negotiating technique is to hang up on a caller and then not answer your phone for 2 days or more Allegedly criticising him for avoiding MJ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mower Posted 6 July, 2009 Share Posted 6 July, 2009 I know I am going to get slagged off for this, since I stated a while back that his legacy to SFC could be as big as MLTs in terms of saving the club (I stand by this comment, btw..), but has anyone started wondering if Fry is the cause of the ball-achingly slow allienation of anyone interested in buying us ? I am sick-to-death of the daily banal plattitudes about progress being made, I want to see him get someone to put the money down and sign on the dotted line. Then he can p*ss off back to his office in Southend or wherever it is, for all I care. For somebody who has so much to say, you are remarkably ill informed. Fry isn't here to please you or I, he's here to realise the best capitol return for the creditors of SLH. Fry updates the fans or "customers" with snippets of information in the interests of the creditors. The rational being, that he is trying to maintain as many customers as possible as this adds to the value of the brand. As such, this should increase the sale value for the creditors. Therefore, all your pointless ****ing and whining is pointless and your personal opinion of him is pretty irrelevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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