Off Topic Chairman Report

A

allbluelenny

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2011
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We have at some stage slagged our owner. But If it was not for him GFC would not exist, however, he has managed it.
I have read his last report, nothing really that we would not expect to see from an owner.
But thankfully we still have a squad. But more importantly, we still have a large loyal supporter base.
We are at present close to play-offs. I for one never fore-saw this, the ups and downs of how we are in this position, has been a remarkable journey. Games we won and should not have and games we lost which we should have won.
But we do have even through these sad awful times have a support base, young and old, that hopefully will see support for the club to continue into the future.
Our future after tomorrow with nine games left could see us in the mix, but a win is a must.
After tomorrow we have what looks an easier passage to the end of the season. the last game at home to my adopted Plymouth, having lived for 20+ years in Cornwall and Plymouth being my closest top-flight team.
Also very fond memories of taking my grandson to his very first ever BIG match 9th December 2017, which we had an amazing bonding day. It was a bottom-of-the-league match that saw 11.000 supporters. What an atmosphere.
We will whatever happens still be in Div 1 next season. Would be fantastic to get through to the play-offs.
We will see.
Keep the faith UTG

Here is a link to Mr Scallys report https://www.gillinghamfootballclub....hairman-document-march-2021-final-version.pdf
 
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Don't you dare complain !
https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2021/march/a-letter-from-the-chairman---26.03.21/

I have a certain level of 'sympathy' for Mr. Scally. I also agree that everyone is entitled to their opinion - and sometimes the opinion may be 'derogatory' towards individual squad members -- or management tactics.

These opinions may not make for pleasant reading for Mr. Scally - but should not be supressed ( just because he won't like what he reads. ) ---- of course, any criticism should be given without vitriol ( as described by Mr. Scally. ) - nor with anything defamatory or libellous --- but, I will not refrain from grading a performance as excellent or excrement as I see fit.

It seems that Mr. Scally has a problem with certain individuals, whose comments are, in his opinion, causing damage to the integrity of the Club or staff / players. I am perfectly happy that he considers his options when considering his ( if any ) response - given that he repeats that he ignores much of what he reads.... But, provided people do not overstep any 'legal' lines, Mr. Scally needs to understand that Football, players, managers, chairmen, is subject to close scrutiny from every angle. ( perhaps a 'trade-off' for their privileged lifestyle. )

Football clubs have no right to be immune from criticism from its' paying customers....
I have expressed my opinion of our squad - and of the actions for which Mr. Scally has to take ultimate responsibility. I have no 'personal' issue with any players, management, or even Mr. Scally - but if I believe that any present or future 'performance' ( on or off the field ), is not good enough ( especially if commitment is so obviously not 100% or even close to being fair to the 'paying' supporters ), I will continue to express myself --- I just hope that the Club can continue to provide me with sufficient opportunities to heap praise.
 
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The Gills PegLeg said:
I'm happy to give you the reins on this one but maybe nothing about our chairman before I make the naughty list too <laugh>
Click to expand...

Thought of one with a double meaning:

Oliver's Army, self explanatory in relation to the teams top striker

or alternatively, Elvis Costello from my younger years...

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Mercifully for anyone who may care to read this, my comments will not be as lengthy as the Chairman's statement.

My criticism of PS's tenure has mostly been based on the financial situation, so as an opener I'm not going to stray too far from my usual stomping ground.

That said, I agree that without him it is unlikely that GFC would exist, certainly not in its current form, but let us not be blind to the financial cost to others on which our survival has depended.

I fully appreciate the extent to which a budget that would have been in place at the beginning of the 2019/20 season will have been affected by the events since March last year, and how difficult it must be to continue to run a business when there is no matchday income and supplementary event income. In that respect every credit must be given for arranging the reported refurbishment that has been carried out at the stadium at apparently very limited stress to the severely restricted financial situation. But once again I raise the point that over a period of many years, financial statements are seldom lodged at Companies House within the statutory timescale. This does not seem to me to be the action of a well organised and well run business. The next financial statements (for 2019/20) are due by 31st May. We'll see if those are on time.

Whilst it is better to hear from the Chairman than to have no communication whatsoever, it is I suppose inevitable that we only hear from him when he feels he has a point (or two) to make. If he really wanted regularly to communicate with / to supporters perhaps a scheduled newsletter a couple of times a year would do the job.

It is interesting that he makes a specific point about Bristol Rovers' external funding. Would this funding be any different to the funding that he was seeking from potential new owners of GFC? I'm not going to spend time establishing exact figures, but I estimate that over the years more than £15m of debt has been written off. In addition to that the Chairman's remuneration has been, let's say healthy. Not all of the financial write-offs have been to trading companies and individuals, some have been with banks, but at the end of the day it is all money that has not found its way to those to whom it was actually due.

I think most of us are aware of the imbalance of funding of lower tiers compared to the PL, but the fact that no workable proposal has been put forward as to how that imbalance can fairly be rectified illustrates how complicated the problem is. The operative word is 'fairly'. In recent seasons GFC has been run far more responsibly that in the past, but we still have to compete with clubs like Bristol Rovers or clubs like Bury which are run by (lets say to avoid potential litigation) irresponsible owners and run up huge debts (as indeed historically did GFC). So any additional regular distribution of funds from the PL or SKY (or other broadcasters) somehow needs to take account of such circumstances.

On the point of abuse I have to admit that I have no knowledge as to what has been happening. I only visit this and one other forum, which whilst more vocal than this one certainly doesn't tolerate personal abuse. I would certainly be supportive of legal action being taken if the extent of any information being published breaches legal limits, but that is the height at which the bar should be set.

I personally welcome this statement. Whilst it might not answer all questions that all supporters might have it is certainly better to have the information than not.
 
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