For what it's worth, my opinion is that LUST lost credibility under GC's chairmanship. Sorry but for the last 12-months Cooper has made himself available to every media outlet and put himself as the face of LUST. He's made some silly statements that he couldn't back up and has tried to put himself over as being in the know, when he obviously wasn't party to all the goings on recently. Put that to one side, and yes I feel sorry for the guy who's about to be kicked when he's already at a low point after losing his house etc. The story is only being aired because of the interest in the takeover and a possible voice on the new board. The story questions GC's judgement and I was already questioning that, but even though he's trying to say it has nothing to do with LUST or Leeds Utd, it does. He said he set up a business for his brother to take him away from the people he was mixing with, but he knew his brother would probably get jail, so obviously wouldn't be around to run the business. That was the reason the business failed according to GC, well it was always going to fail then, so a lack of judgement. His judgement has been questioned in the YEP recently because of some of the things he's said about GFH etc, without knowing the full details, so he should have kept silent until he knew the facts, but liked telling everyone he was in the know when he clearly wasn't. Lack of judgement I'm afraid, so loses credibility with GFH and the media, which makes his role untenable. Sorry Gary, you went into LUST because you were like the rest of us and needed the club to answer serious questions. You went into it with the best possible intentions and I feel sorry for you, because its come back and bit you. I feel sorry for your family especially at this time of year, but LUST needs a new face in front and a new plan.
What credibility would that be? David Haigh exposed the myth two months ago, even those dumb enough to have been sucked in should have seen through LUSTs chairman at that point.
So to stop Bates "winning" LUST should continue to saddle itself with this clueless buffoon? Are you Gary Cooper? Have you had his babies? Do you actually have a clue?
Anybody who is stupid enough, to let a smackhead run a business, when you've put your house up against it, wants their head testing. Yes help your brother, give him a job, but **** me, you'd have to be idiot to do what he's done. Serious question marks about gray cooper being the chairman, when he's this stupid. And it wouldnt surprise me if there is more too it
The loan was secured against GC's house, which clearly he defaulted on, hence the house was reposessed. When sold will repay the loan, so no, the tax payer isn't paying. However, it does show a clear link between the two activities. Two points then. The first is that Gary Cooper is well aware that by being involved with his brother's criminal actitivies at whatever level, he is going to attract criticism. If you are white than white and the story is just hot air, you say so and stand firm. If it isn't and you have behaved foolishly - see above - then you accept that and resign and sort your affairs out. Once you have cleaned up your act, you put yourself forward a year later for re-election. You don't put it to the fan club and ask them whether they want him to resign, you make the judgement call yourself. Anything else is simply unprofessional. The other point is that not all journalists work in the news though I agree, news journalists generally are muck-rakers looking for gossip for eye-catching headlines.
Of course there's more to it - when you get nicked for drugs, the OB will freeze your bank accounts - this business was probably set up to fund his solicitors fees and lifestyle! What surprises me is that he had his house repossed for just £10k - surely you would have friends and family that could help you out for such a small amount - even agree to pay it off in installments - its not that much really!!
I agree - but according to the Daily Mail article, he has 3 o/s county court orders so there is more to it than just his brothers business. The most damning thing on him is probably the fact that LUST had a financial advisor look into Leeds Uniteds accounts and question Bates' integrity while all this was unfolding - you can bet your life that the LUST accounts will come into question now that it is public that Gary Cooper is skint
LUST has pennies in revenue compared to LUFC. A non-issue. If he stole 100%, it would be 6,000 - 10,000 at most. In Ken Bates terms... one day's drawings from Leeds United.
What Gary Cooper's brother is all about is all here http://www.beverleyguardian.co.uk/news/local/men-convicted-over-cannabis-factory-1-2864514 Has fire arms offences, ecstacy, skunk, amphetamines - he is one bad apple, and they never fall far from the tree - the gear to grow it all was being delivered to their Mums address FFS - was it a family operation?
I think it is a huge leap (that we should not be taking) to suggest GC might be dipping in the till. But leaving that aside, there is a world of difference between stealing and drawing money from an organisation. IMO if there has been any cooking of LUSTs books its the absurd claim that today it has 8500 members. Double counting, duplicate memberships by the same person are without a doubt in there somewhere.
TC This smells of bullshit all over. No way did cooper, set his brother up in business. This isnt no junkie, but a hardened drug dealer. Something not right
Why would he need to set him up in business when he already has a business (ebay spares) ? Definately something not right - I'm sure there will be lots moe to come out of this - he needs to resign ASAP stop LUST getting dragged into it!!
But Garys statement has already covered this. His brother is just a loveable rogue who fell in with the wrong crowd and it wasn't his fault. Most worrying is that I am sure WJ and the other fan bois still believe him!!!!!
I forgot that all of you have made totally rational decisions where your flesh and blood are concerned and never protected them blindly. I haven't, but that obviously also makes me 'stupid' and unfit to ever lead an organization. Well done lads, you've successfully sided with Bates and the Daily Heil over a dedicated Leeds supporter. Proud lot you must be.
Nothing wrong with helping your family, but going into business with a convicted drug dealer with fire arm offences to his name and putting the house that your young children live in as collateral is much worse than very stupid
Exodus Sorry scum like cooper brother, deserves no help. And gary cooper has shown what he is, either a fool or a b ullshitter
GC has made you and others look a complete tool. There is no point lashing out at those who tried to tell you. Best to just say sorry I got him wrong and I should have listened. You were taken in by a snake oil salesman. You wernt the first, you wont be the last. Can I sell you a non melting igloo?
Someone did just that above. Sometimes there can be a fine line between the two. I used the word "drawings" in an ironic way. "Consulting fees" is a very fancy phrase for stitching up cash out. This is minutiae. LUST gained its following by being the only organized fan group to speak out regarding the poor stewardship of the club most of us (and yes, I include those Londoners who live near a club in South Bermondsey) claim to support. Cooking is nothing compared to what has happened at Elland Road the last 8 years. To suggest anything different is beyond comprehension.
I had a hot dog and Bovril at ER last Saturday, trust me there was precious little cooking going on!!!