I have just read on the beeb football site that it is possible, and even probable, that the debt they have to their local Council will be wiped clean from the slate. That is £10.5m. Being somebody who once worked for a Local Authority I can scarcely believe what I've just read. This is public money we are talking about not the small change of some rich benefactor. The deal apparently is in exchange for some land the Council can develope. I cannot understand how a Local Authority can hand over all that money in one go without seemingly knowing where it has gone once they have. They have a duty to the Citizens of Northampton to be very careful with the publics cash to avoid crap like this taking place. I understand it was a loan for development of the ground but there appears to have been no scrutiny of the project even being started and no checks on the money at any stage. What they should have done is release the cash in simple stages whilst the regeneration was happening and could be seen to be happening. It seems on outward appearances to be incompetent at the very least. If I were a resident of that City I would be looking at this very closely and asking if any shenannigans had taken place. If it had I would want the people who gave out the loan to pay it back out of their own pockets if they can't find it. As it is it seems so wrong that a Local Authority can "bail out" a football club who gets away with financial naughties without any punishment at all.
Some one has had a large brown Envelope in this case it seems? Bigger than the one that Pengelley councillor got in our time of need.. What do people think? Of course its corrupt.. Both sides the club and council.. Merry xmas with a big brown packet under his arm..
Just shows what money-pits football clubs are if you aren't careful... which this lot clearly weren't.
We may have had our troubles at PAFC but we never had this: Meanwhile on Tuesday, Northamptonshire Police announced they had started an investigation into "alleged financial irregularities"surrounding the £10.25m loan to the club.
I don't subscribe to the envelope theory particularly but I do think it is incompetance by somebody. No Council should be chucking public money at something like this without at the least making sure it's spent on what it should be and doesn't just disappear. I know it's not the players fault or the supporters but I still think the Club should face some sort of punishment for all of this. It doesn't seem fair on all the others who have had to endure the pain previously.
With Northampton dramatically scoring three late goals to beat Northwich Victoria in the 2nd round of the FA Cup......this will mean that Argyle will have a free Saturday again on Sat 9th January at home when they would have been playing Northampton.
I like my football on a Saturday afternoon. Mostly because I can have several pints and a bit longer out than a Tuesday evening. By the time I get to the pub there is only time for one unless I pour it down and I'd rather not. Evenings always seem to be a bit of a rush for the people I go with as well as they all work.
Evening games have probably more atmosphere....generally being dark and under floodlights......but as sensible has said....it's all a bit of a rush. Meeting in a designated Pub as we in PASALB do around London venues for a pre-match pint can be more leisurely for a afternoon kick-off.....with work not generally the problem or late night travelling to be taken into account....a good time to catch up with news from back home for many, especially the younger ones....who have drifted towards London looking for work. Personally I look at the fixture list when they first come out and check out away games such as Wimbledon & Dag & Red.....if they fall on a week night I am disappointed......it means a trip up town and then getting involved with the underground rush hour and then coming home you have to deal with the late night revellers around Waterloo Station and of course not really meeting up for a pre-match drink......so I give it reluctantly a miss.......I would never consider using the car for an evening match.....too much traffic and parking problems.....nor necessary to get involved in that and of course I never drive ever if I've had even one drink. So being an exile, I don't have the benefit of a ten minute walk for a home game like Lyndy has......you lucky man......being an exile can be be hard,you have to work at it or your interest can easily wane......it can be nice being taken to Charlton now and again by my son and my grandson....although Charlton are struggling at present and they haven't been recently for various reasons. Being around London means you can be tempted by so many teams in easy reach each week.......Joe is a Spurs supporter when he comes this way....so we need to keep an eye on him.
I was merely thinking of it from an atmosphere point of view - a dark freezing cold wet Tuesday evening in February always seems more appealing (as a spectacle) than a drab sat afternoon. I never drink pre match, not for any particular reason but I just never got into the habit and as you say I live close enough to the ground so that work/travel considerations don't come into it. I do admire yr dedication though Plym - it must be horrendous trying to get across London at that time of night- definitely some perks of living in quiet little Devon, no matter how backward it is.
Plym, i may be up for the Orient game and its a Tuesday evening.. As for Spurs, my family live near and my Father was a Londoner... So a connection. Also get a lot of Invites from Suppliers for there and Chelsea , man u which i decline.. Just have been asked to Go next Sunday to see Spurs v newcastle.. got 4 tickets but i will give it a miss. I would rather watch Argyle as i said i had a season ticket for 12 years up to 5 years ago when it went tits up and my son was seriously ill.. so can't commit to every week, although i go to some now and again.. I prefer Saturday afternoon football.. Evenings are a rush for me..
I don't drink pre-match either but as I don't work anymore it is only the people I go with who have problems rush wise. It's ok for the Senior Service, they only do part time anyway.....
I see the Northampton game is now scheduled for the following Tuesday after their Cup game.....January 12th.....lets hope they have a hard game on the Saturday.
