Just through on the WW website. http://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10430~2472835,00.html He has included a statement about his long term commitment to the Wanderers - do we believe him ?
Have now received an email from the club / Hayes - for those of you who aren't signed up to the club email service here it is... Message from Steve Hayes As you will see today I have made the decision to begin a search for new owners for London Wasps. I have spent much of the past few months considering the best course of action for Wasps following the decision by Wycombe District Council to stop supporting our plans to develop a Sporting Village which would have included a new stadium. Ultimately I have come to the decision that the best way forward for that club is under new ownership. However I want to assure you that I remain fully committed to Wycombe Wanderers. Of course, as ever, if approaches are made to me for the club then these would be considered carefully based on what is best for the club but for now my intention is to remain the owner of the club for the foreseeable future. Whatever happens, I expect London Wasps to remain tenants at Adams Park for the next few seasons – a lease agreement means that there is at least at two year notice period – so we have a long period to consider how to cope with any financial impact should they move to play elsewhere. Steve Hayes
On the face of it, this appears to be good news. Hopefully it means that Wasps will eventually leave, we no longer have to contend with any future plans to move to a new stadium, Hayes commits more to us while removing the conflict of interest in Wasps and everyone feels happier at not having to share our ground with the egg chasers. But we will be losing a lot on income from Wasps and Hayes appears to be ready to sell WWFC if he can get an offer. There will surely be budget cuts across playing and non-playing staff and the threat of administration will still loom over us. It's all a bit unclear at the moment. This news was unexpected.
i was very surprised by this news, but I think this gives hayes a chance to show his real committment or otherwise. l really hope he will increase the funding to the club and help keep the club up. however, i dont know
This is the first time I have heard him actually say that he is open to offers for us as well. I think putting the club into administration will be an absolute last resort for Hayes as that will only reduce (most likely) the amount that he will stand a chance of recovering, as he will likely be a creditor ranked with everyone else for his "loans", as I do not think he has a security on the loans, and for his shares he will rank behind any creditor. In administration he would likely on receive a very small fraction of what he is owed whereas even a heavily reduced sale would see him likely recover more.
For many months the Wasps baords have been saying "Hayes doesn't care about Wasps, he just a footie fan" and the Blues boards have been saying the opposite. Well, I guess he has shown his colours somewhat by selling Wasps and keeping the Wanderers (unless someone can tell me an alternative ulterior motive?). I'm not very knowledgable about Steve Hayes, but I'm sure there a lot worse potential chairmen out there and I pray we don't get one of them, because they could kill our club stone dead. We have all seen them in action and it's not pretty. On another matter....get rid of GW already?...Bonkers. He will learn from his mistakes and I think we will survive this year.
"Whatever happens, I expect London Wasps to remain tenants at Adams Park for the next few seasons - a lease agreement means that there is at least at two year notice period -" Nice one. So until they give notice we should be assured of another £1.3m. Not sure hat happens if they can't pay it.
This news today was expected by a few of us WWFC folk. From a business point of view selling Wasps is the right decision. Premiership Rugby wages are certainly not low and gates of 5500 or so simply do not make it viable. At least this way WWFC would be due at least 2 more years rent from Wasps in some way, shape or form. Should any buyer have plans in place to move elsewhere they may even buy out that 2 year notice period as part of the takeover. Today has certainly not been as bad a day as many las night were suggesting it would be.
Hayes is a buisnessman first and foremost - people like him will claim to be a 'tiddlywinks man' if it means making a quick buck. I dont think it has anything to do with the sporting side - I would hazard a guess that Hayes has realised that he'll get a decent price for Wasps at the moment as opposed to waiting another year or two when they will also be homeless. What he now does with our football club is anyones guess but rest assured it will have nothing to do with being a fan of the club and everything to do with his children's school fees!
Hi Devon, Assuming he is a savvy and very rich businessman, I wonder if investing in WWFC is the best use of his cash. Do these people really make money out of football clubs, or is it more of a hobby / ego trip? We see losses every year, as do most clubs. So, unless he was to sell the ground to Tesco and ditch the club, I can't see the profit motive for him. Am I missing something?
Hi Bucks. No, I dont think investing his cash in WWFC is the best use of his cash - I think merging Wycombe and Wasps, selling our ground and building a sports village would have benefitted Hayes greatly. Firstly, he could have sold them both as one big package and poss made some cash. Secondly, his profile would have been raised significantly by owning 2 sports club. TBH, I think we are all missing something! Rest assured though that his motives will have very little to do with the football side of things.
i dont really know what steve hayes motives are now ,but one things for sure his big plans for both clubs have been severely dented by wycombe councils decision to turn down his plans for a sports village.he may well put more effort into wanderers now but will that be in bank loans putting us further in debt who knows,he may well be genuine and have wwfc at heart only time will tell.
