FPP to take full control

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Guinness Guzzler said:
Spot on. FPP are the great unknown in all of this. If they tipped their hat and said that they wanted to buy us but the price was unrealistic, that would give real impetus to a protest movement. The worry is that we don't know if they're still interested, and they don't seem the type to do any business publicly. I do know that it was definitely a takeover initially and that they have closely monitored things at safc since (as you'd expect when they've got money tied up there).

The trouble is that Donald saying that they were investing in him sounds like one of his half truths. Of course they didn't just want Stewart donald, the bloke who couldn't even succeed at Eastleigh, but they did want a management team to invest in. So they were investing in his team, but I imagine that they'd also invest in other people at safc just as readily if they believed that they were capable. The trouble is (and I haven't been told this, it's just my opinion) I don't think that they would want to take us on with a failing management team and in league one. They won't have the time to run us themselves and the idea of having to try and recruit a whole management team in an industry that they don't know would be a major headache. Its a big risk, when they need to get up two divisions to start making it worthwhile for them.

Either way, whether they're still in the picture or not, we need Donald out. It is pretty bloody obvious to anyone that cash flow is a major concern, and it doesn't seem like he's going to put the rest of the money that he owes back to cover it. So at the minute it's selling Mumba, trying to rip off season card holders until they were told that they couldn't, they'll probably sell other academy players if anyone actually wants them. He can't stay here because he is slowly killing us off, and he needs to accept that and leave, and not think that Covid gives him another chance to roll the dice
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See my bold part GG.

Couldn't they go back to the individual who was advising them (whether it was McLaren or not) and ask them to put a team together and if he wants to be involved, pay him what he's worth or just pay him for putting the management team together? They would easily get there return on monies paid if we rose up the league/s. I can completely understand why they wouldn't want to take over atm with the circus in town though.
 
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Guinness Guzzler said:
Dave is a really good lad, he got in touch with me about becoming a coopted rep, which I accepted after talking to him because I liked the sound of what they are doing and knew that it wasn't just a group full of people wanting access and not asking questions. Generally the more sensible, passionate fans we can get involved the better (obviously there has to be a limit on how many reps there are but they certainly seemed happy to get people involved which is a positive compared to other fairly closed groups where it feels like if you don't know the lad in charge you won't get a look in).

In terms of a protest, I think we should have one, and as a rep I have mentioned that to RAWA. Personally I'm not convinced they should be the ones leading it though. As per the email you got, any protest would really need to be voted on by the members this time after the criticism last time, that immediately means it takes time and there would need to be agreement in terms of what the proposed actions would be which again takes time. This is why I've been saying on the SMB that I think a fanzine should start it. They don't answer to anyone, they could do a fairly decent protest idea and release it almost instantly, then as it gains momentum RAWA could poll the members on joining in. To that end I've messaged a couple of people from fanzines (there are reps from them among the coopted rep group) and I've asked if they're doing anything and just making the point that I think it would be a positive. We'll see if anything happens but, like many others, I'm past the point of silently hoping something changes.
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It's good to see that people like you are getting involved in this. Your posts give the impression that you look at things from all angles before reaching a considered decision on a given matter, and that is the type of person needed in a situation like we find ourselves in. There's a major difference between passion and hotheadedness, and a considered approach is needed, and a plan of action drafted and voted upon asap.
 
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The trouble is (and I haven't been told this, it's just my opinion) I don't think that they would want to take us on with a failing management team and in league one. They won't have the time to run us themselves and the idea of having to try and recruit a whole management team in an industry that they don't know would be a major headache. Its a big risk, when they need to get up two divisions to start making it worthwhile for them.

If what we were led to believe is true, they consulted with an Ex-England manager (probably Tufty), so could use him or other similar people to recommend the right personnel to run us on a day to day basis, so I don't think recruiting a management team will be a major hurdle for them. No doubt, still being in League One is, but if they are looking at this as being part of a long term investment both in the club and the city, then they cannot fail to see that the infrastructure is there to turn this around.
 
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Bank of England 2 said:
The trouble is (and I haven't been told this, it's just my opinion) I don't think that they would want to take us on with a failing management team and in league one. They won't have the time to run us themselves and the idea of having to try and recruit a whole management team in an industry that they don't know would be a major headache. Its a big risk, when they need to get up two divisions to start making it worthwhile for them.

If what we were led to believe is true, they consulted with an Ex-England manager (probably Tufty), so could use him or other similar people to recommend the right personnel to run us on a day to day basis, so I don't think recruiting a management team will be a major hurdle for them. No doubt, still being in League One is, but if they are looking at this as being part of a long term investment both in the club and the city, then they cannot fail to see that the infrastructure is there to turn this around.
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I do think the main stumbling block will be price, at the price Donald wants it just isn't a good purchase. If the price was lowered maybe they'd be tempted to invest in another group, but even if they trust someone like McClaren it would be a bit of a leap of faith to let him recommend people to run the club. It would certainly be easier if the people were already in the club and they could see that they were moving things in the right direction. Currently it doesn't look like Donald is prepared to cut his losses though
 
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Guinness Guzzler said:
I do think the main stumbling block will be price, at the price Donald wants it just isn't a good purchase. If the price was lowered maybe they'd be tempted to invest in another group, but even if they trust someone like McClaren it would be a bit of a leap of faith to let him recommend people to run the club. It would certainly be easier if the people were already in the club and they could see that they were moving things in the right direction. Currently it doesn't look like Donald is prepared to cut his losses though
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Just a note on McClaren, he's just been interviewed for the Dundee United job so if successful will be tied up doing that.
 
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Bank of England 2 said:
It's good to see that people like you are getting involved in this. Your posts give the impression that you look at things from all angles before reaching a considered decision on a given matter, and that is the type of person needed in a situation like we find ourselves in. There's a major difference between passion and hotheadedness, and a considered approach is needed, and a plan of action drafted and voted upon asap.
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I'm certainly hoping to provide a bit of balance. I've gone into it with the aim of not just criticising every single thing the owners do (as an example I'm not complaining about them getting the ex Eastleigh lad as secretary, the role with us won't be massively different to at the other clubs he's been at, so that role is more about being diligent and accurate, if he does that and they know he's good then it's probably less risk than hiring someone else, it's different from hiring someone from Eastleigh to run the academy). Typically though that's about the only thing they've done that I don't think is worth criticising in recent times, they seem to be stumbling from one problem to the next.

I don't have much faith that Rodwell will be any good, but I'm not going to rush to judgment on him. Apparently he came across well at the meeting, and he has just arrived at a club with a lot of issues. Giving him the benefit of the doubt maybe he wasn't fully involved in the season card debacle, that approach might have been decided before he came. The lack of update regarding refunds is testing my patience though. Ultimately, we all want Donald gone, but until he does it will be better if RAWA can have some level of interaction with someone at the club to try and improve the things that can be improved at this stage. Being too confrontational won't help. That being said there is no place for sycophants or people who just want access and won't stand up for the fans. I'm pleased that so far, and from what I know of previous meetings, it doesn't seem that any of that type are involved in RAWA. If I ever had to attend any meetings with club officials I'd make sure I was polite and professional, but if they were doing anything that was against the best interests of the fans I'd always call them out on it, if not theres no point in being involved.
 
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Guinness Guzzler said:
I'm certainly hoping to provide a bit of balance. I've gone into it with the aim of not just criticising every single thing the owners do (as an example I'm not complaining about them getting the ex Eastleigh lad as secretary, the role with us won't be massively different to at the other clubs he's been at, so that role is more about being diligent and accurate, if he does that and they know he's good then it's probably less risk than hiring someone else, it's different from hiring someone from Eastleigh to run the academy). Typically though that's about the only thing they've done that I don't think is worth criticising in recent times, they seem to be stumbling from one problem to the next.

I don't have much faith that Rodwell will be any good, but I'm not going to rush to judgment on him. Apparently he came across well at the meeting, and he has just arrived at a club with a lot of issues. Giving him the benefit of the doubt maybe he wasn't fully involved in the season card debacle, that approach might have been decided before he came. The lack of update regarding refunds is testing my patience though. Ultimately, we all want Donald gone, but until he does it will be better if RAWA can have some level of interaction with someone at the club to try and improve the things that can be improved at this stage. Being too confrontational won't help. That being said there is no place for sycophants or people who just want access and won't stand up for the fans. I'm pleased that so far, and from what I know of previous meetings, it doesn't seem that any of that type are involved in RAWA. If I ever had to attend any meetings with club officials I'd make sure I was polite and professional, but if they were doing anything that was against the best interests of the fans I'd always call them out on it, if not theres no point in being involved.
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My issue with the new secretary is it'll be someone Donald knows, as with Rodwell, and I can't imagine they'll have come here without assurances he's going nowhere and you'd think if he does know them well he wouldn't put them into a situation where he's employing them, moving on and leaving them in a quandary with new owners. So the assumption is, imo, he's going nowhere and digging deep with trusted people to protect him. That is bad news for us as a club.
 
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Just posted this over the road

Well just had a great phone call from RAWA and my mind is more at ease. They are on the case, it’s just about being the right time, having the right information and most of all the backing of Sunderland fans. I’m going to sign up for their newsletters and if you haven’t already, I suggest that you do. At least you could have a say in what action to take next, but sitting on our hands isn’t achieving anything. Time isn’t on our side and I’m not sure how much of a rush Donald will be to sell, but this will certainly be hitting him hard, financially. We may have to put up with another season of ****e, (my opinion, nothing else), but we need to look at the long term future and I doubt that will involve Stuart Donald or his cronies. Sign up everyone, if you want your voices heard, let’s use RAWA as that conduit, or moan on here and achieve absolutely nowt.
 
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Confucius said:
Just posted this over the road

Well just had a great phone call from RAWA and my mind is more at ease. They are on the case, it’s just about being the right time, having the right information and most of all the backing of Sunderland fans. I’m going to sign up for their newsletters and if you haven’t already, I suggest that you do. At least you could have a say in what action to take next, but sitting on our hands isn’t achieving anything. Time isn’t on our side and I’m not sure how much of a rush Donald will be to sell, but this will certainly be hitting him hard, financially. We may have to put up with another season of ****e, (my opinion, nothing else), but we need to look at the long term future and I doubt that will involve Stuart Donald or his cronies. Sign up everyone, if you want your voices heard, let’s use RAWA as that conduit, or moan on here and achieve absolutely nowt.
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99.9% over the road will choose option 2 mind.
 
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Confucius said:
Just posted this over the road

Well just had a great phone call from RAWA and my mind is more at ease. They are on the case, it’s just about being the right time, having the right information and most of all the backing of Sunderland fans. I’m going to sign up for their newsletters and if you haven’t already, I suggest that you do. At least you could have a say in what action to take next, but sitting on our hands isn’t achieving anything. Time isn’t on our side and I’m not sure how much of a rush Donald will be to sell, but this will certainly be hitting him hard, financially. We may have to put up with another season of ****e, (my opinion, nothing else), but we need to look at the long term future and I doubt that will involve Stuart Donald or his cronies. Sign up everyone, if you want your voices heard, let’s use RAWA as that conduit, or moan on here and achieve absolutely nowt.
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Do they have a website mate
 
Wackyjacky said:
My issue with the new secretary is it'll be someone Donald knows, as with Rodwell, and I can't imagine they'll have come here without assurances he's going nowhere and you'd think if he does know them well he wouldn't put them into a situation where he's employing them, moving on and leaving them in a quandary with new owners. So the assumption is, imo, he's going nowhere and digging deep with trusted people to protect him. That is bad news for us as a club.
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Aye, that's a concern. Certainly haven't heard of anything being even remotely close, although obviously that doesn't mean it isn't! Trouble is, Donald might be looking at getting £15m in this league and losing money or maybe getting £30m and making a small profit in the championship. Very few would walk away from that. He knows teams can go up with very little/ no spend (albeit with better recruitment than we seem capable of) and he thinks we'll weather the Covid storm better than most (we've cut our costs dramatically, don't have debt, the big earners were out of contract, and we'll get more than anyone else in streaming revenue, much more than most, and some others might not even survive, hell enough in the league above might fold that we get invited in!), he also knows he can raise funds from the likes of Mumba, and maybe even Willis if there's a bid. I'm sure he'd sell but only for the money he wants, and the likes of FPP (and you'd assume everyone else) knows it isn't worth it
 
Gil T Azell said:
Cheers for the link Confucious. I have signed up. Is there an average donation? eg £10, £20, £50,40p etc?.
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Personally I wouldn't worry about it mate. I mean, feel free to donate anything by all means but I'd say the vast majority don't donate at all. Sometimes there are community initiatives and things, and it would be great if people could donate then, or they might call for donations towards flags or whatever (I'll be honest I often wonder what happened to the haway the flags group, are they still a thing?). Equally if the vote is passed and RAWA becomes a trust there will need to be a small fee from £5-10 or something for those who want to join, so maybe save it for then! Just joining and voting at the EGM is the best thing people can do at the minute. There's not much in the way of ongoing costs though so I wouldn't feel any obligation to donate :emoticon-0148-yes:
 
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Confucius said:
Just posted this over the road

Well just had a great phone call from RAWA and my mind is more at ease. They are on the case, it’s just about being the right time, having the right information and most of all the backing of Sunderland fans. I’m going to sign up for their newsletters and if you haven’t already, I suggest that you do. At least you could have a say in what action to take next, but sitting on our hands isn’t achieving anything. Time isn’t on our side and I’m not sure how much of a rush Donald will be to sell, but this will certainly be hitting him hard, financially. We may have to put up with another season of ****e, (my opinion, nothing else), but we need to look at the long term future and I doubt that will involve Stuart Donald or his cronies. Sign up everyone, if you want your voices heard, let’s use RAWA as that conduit, or moan on here and achieve absolutely nowt.
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Fly2u will not like that, the dole walling pothead will be furious marra.
 
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