The below raises some questions over the long term future of our club: http://www.plymouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=244704 I am a little uneasy about some of the points in this article...
There are things to be concerned about Hobo but I don't think this article adds anything new. In view of the fact that sport & leisure property development is key to the rescue, it COULD make a lot of sense for the stadium to be part of it e.g. if the old grandstand was rebuilt back to back with a conference centre or hotel, then there's scope for shared executive facilities, catering, car parking etc which does nobody any harm and increases the overall potential of the site. It could - but it will ease our minds when we know what the plans are, I absolutely agree about that. Key to it all of course is the club's lease - security of tenure, level of rent etc etc. Similarly, it's a worry until we know the details, but presumably Ridsdale has assured himself that the numbers work before he agreed to take it on. Only a madman would not do that and the whole purpose of the exclusivity period is to allow the buyers to do that. We can only hope he isn't being overly optimistic as he was at Leeds. Lastly, I don't think any of the bidders said they that intended to put big money into the football side, so I think in any of the possible outcomes the club would have been left to finance itself. Personally, i think that's how football should be run, maybe I'm old fashioned. But it was unconstrained spendind that got us into the current mess.
I agree with you Distant. My only concerns really surround the removal of the stadium from the club. However if they purchase the stadium separately and give Ridsdale some of the proceeds to spend on the squad and staff then all well and good.
I don't think that will happen! Ridsdale will buy the football club & a lease to use the ground I'm afraid! The question will be what's in the lease? And given Ridsdale's comment a couple of weeks ago about "being out of debt by DD/MM/YY", he's obviously expecting to assume some debt with the purchase. Otherwise, surely, with season ticket sales bringing in a big slug of cash before the season starts, you'd think the club would start cash positive even if it didn't stay that way throughout the season. Who can the debt he's referring to be owed to, given that all the old debts are wiped out by the administration and the club has been running on a cash on the nail basis ever since? Can only be to the purchasers can't it? Are they expecting the club to repay the running costs they've been paying in since exclusivity started? The only other thing I can imagine is that the secured and possibly the preferred creditors - the bank & Mastpoint and the football creditors - still somehow have a call on the club. I told you there are things to worry about but that they weren't in that article!
Its not good news, we are all worried about the future and what will happen. We are all in the dark and can only guess what is happening.No doubt we will all know soon. When do the players return for training? if there any players left. You would think that the season tickets would be on sale at least. I reckon it will all be last minute.
I agree with Distant, its not anything we havent heard before and from what I understand all the interested parties in one way or another are going to do the same thing. Even the "champion" Brent said he would give Peter Ridsdale the football side of things to look after, and lets be honest he is also not in it for goodness or the benefit of the fans. He is a business man who would not spend money if he didnt think he could get it back or make a profit long term, thats what business people do, we all know that. The only benefits I can see from this are If you wanted a street smart, savvy operator to run a club and make himself some money who better than PR If he does indeed "own" the football club I am assuming he can bring in his own investors to generate some more money (although I dont expect this to be a lot) PR has already said he would not sell it back for £1 so he must have a plan, again he is a businessman not a charity worker so he must sniff money somewhere what i would really like is a super rich super fan to buy the club but that is not going to happen so I am going to sit back, plan which games I can get to this season and see what happens
That´s about all we can do at the moment. At the end of the day there is no Daddy Warbuck's for Argyle some get lucky some don´t and unfortunately that´s life and not something we can control. We are on the fixture list and what we have for a team at the start of the season seems also to be out of the clubs control at the moment but as long as we have 11 on the pitch for Shrewsbury then I will be pleased enough. I have my reservations about Risdale but will give the man a chance and try not to judge on past form. Joe´s right it looks like it will be a last minute mad dash to pull everything together not exactly ideal but Sir Reid is used to that now. Think the players are due back on the 28th will be interesting to see who turns up!!
Can anyone enlighten me in a sentance or so on what has happened lately as internet been down around here. Timing! Cheers.
Not much is the simple answer. Internet or not we are still in the dark as to the Irish interest, Risdale will buy the club off them and lease ground but very little as to how and funds available have been released. Still under embargo, everyone seems to be edging to the door and entering new season while in admin still has been mentioned. Apart from that all is good
Just read the vitalfootball artical.....what utter nonsense!....time for questions to be asked after all this waiting!
My stance is the same as it has always been. All the huffing and puffing at the powers that be have achieved absolutely nothing and it isn't going to is it. we still have a club, not entirely as we would want it to be, but a club nonetheless. That is one step up from what some were expecting us to have so it is in the right direction. All the supporters can do is what we have always done. Suport the club and carry on with business as usual once season tickets come on sale. It will be when it is and if it is last minute then it is. No amount of screaming shouting and stamping of feet will alter one thing.
