Pre-Match Thread HMRC v SUFC - FINAL hearing on 1st March. DISMISSED

[kentblues]

Yep... I'm sure people think we get loads of gate receipts and Ron is just waiting in the lobby with a big sack, puts all the coins in it, throws it over his shoulder and tiptoes out the ground laughing his head off.

I've said before, when finances get like this, there will be SO many people per day phoning into the club asking for payment. Generally whoever is shouting loudest (or threatening the worst sounding court action) will get some sort of payment.

The players and staff SHOULD be paid first, but its INCREDIBLY difficult.

Ron could make this all go away with outside investment - thats the only thing I blame him for at this moment and thats what is killing us.

The decision (if true) to delay the draw down of the bridging loan is understandable from a business sense, but baffling on a humane level for the sake of a couple of weeks. Surely the interesting isnt THAT much in that short period vs the mental health of your staff?

As before I think the bridging loan has been in place for a while BUT it is conditional on something. Further to Ron's email statement I do still wonder if an outstanding condition relates to the planning process. Has anyone found out if the change from hotel to residential is approved yet? Makes a lot more sense than just wanting to save what is now a couple of weeks interest payments. And may explain the sudden mention of SBC and slower progress than anticipated?

 

[Cricko]

As before I think the bridging loan has been in place for a while BUT it is conditional on something. Further to Ron's email statement I do still wonder if an outstanding condition relates to the planning process. Has anyone found out if the change from hotel to residential is approved yet? Makes a lot more sense than just wanting to save what is now a couple of weeks interest payments. And may explain the sudden mention of SBC and slower progress than anticipated?

I had a quick look but all the planning apps seem to stem from last year, although is does say some are still pending consideration.

001EVRPABU000 | Part Of Fossetts Farm Playing Fields And Jones Memorial Rec Grd And SUFC Training Grd Eastern Avenue Southend-on-sea Essex

publicaccess.southend.gov.uk

The next planning sitting by the council is March the 1st. Coincidence? Pah no such thing.

 

[Jai]

I had a quick look but all the planning apps seem to stem from last year, although is does say some are still pending consideration.

001EVRPABU000 | Part Of Fossetts Farm Playing Fields And Jones Memorial Rec Grd And SUFC Training Grd Eastern Avenue Southend-on-sea Essex

publicaccess.southend.gov.uk

The next planning sitting by the council is March the 1st. Coincidence? Pah no such thing.

Hmm. If there is such a condition on the money then agendas tend to get published a week in advance. Not sure if that will be enough for a judge, as the decision is not made until the day.

 

[LBBlue]

The 3 other Directors are

Franklin van Wezel appointed in 2000 now aged 81 made his money though Hi-Tec footware

David Michael Markscheffel appointed before 1991 now aged 82 made his money through Universal Cycles

and Gary Lockett appointed in 2012 (for second time), aged 63 this month, and made his money in insurance.

According to the last set of accounts (2019) David Marksheffel had lent the club £117k and Gary Lockett ( and companies) about £230k. .

SEL UK Ltd were owed £13.24m and the mysterious Mezcal Investments another £1m.


To get the FF project to where it is Ron’s companies will have incurred significant up front costs - land purchases, planning fees etc and I assume he has maxed out his able to raise any more credit secured on the value of the assets.

To get the project started I guess he has had to construct the training pitches to release some land that will produce an income stream. Otherwise he/we would be stuck in complete limbo and further delays in obtaining the income stream would render the whole thing completely unviable.

In the meantime HMRC, the staff and other suppliers are providing the borrowing whether they like it or not and he is just hoping that they don’t shut us down before he can find someone to lend him some more money.

Ron has never had sufficient capital behind him to deliver the project after Delancy withdrew.

 

[Pak66]

Stan is on a wage. Laughable if anyone thinks he isn’t.

Excuse me but our Stan said he would not take a penny and will put in any and everything that he can for the love of the club applying his time for free

 

[kentblues]

Yes some pending consideration including this one (that seems to be without hotel element and more residential? Validated Sept 22 still not approved (is this the reference to progress being slower than club and SBC would like? Is this what is stopping drawdown of the bridging loan? If so can consideration be made before March 1st (or is SBC wed to the agenda/meeting timings come what may?

22/01528/FULM | Phased erection of football stadium replacing Phases 1A and 2A of the phased Fossetts Farm planning permission 17/00733/FULM: Phase 1A comprises east, west, south stands, changing rooms; ticket office; club shop; food

publicaccess.southend.gov.uk

 

[mattytheshrimper]

Sadly even if we get the bridging loan, this will not be the end of our money issues.

 

[kentblues]

Hmm. If there is such a condition on the money then agendas tend to get published a week in advance. Not sure if that will be enough for a judge, as the decision is not made until the day.

In which case could SBC hurry up?

 

[palexander]

Got you hook line and sinker then

Either scenario here is horrible. Either Stan has lied to everyone or you are being a massive **** stirrer. Each is not great to think about :(

For now, I take Stan at his word than a random zoner with no evidence to present to prove otherwise.

 

[kentblues]

Either scenario here is horrible. Either Stan has lied to everyone or you are being a massive **** stirrer. Each is not great to think about :(

For now, I take Stan at his word than a random zoner with no evidence to present to prove otherwise.

Is that even allowed...if so rarer than hens teeth...

 

[mattytheshrimper]

Either scenario here is horrible. Either Stan has lied to everyone or you are being a massive **** stirrer. Each is not great to think about :(

For now, I take Stan at his word than a random zoner with no evidence to present to prove otherwise.

I don't think Stan has lied to be honest, I'm sure he mentioned something about pay when he pulled out (for the 12th time) before actually taking the job that Ron had changed the terms etc and alluded to pay.

I have no way of knowing whether Stan's paid or not but I can't see someone doing a job for free, even if the pay he gets just covers his petrol to and from games/meetings etc. Who knows, maybe he hasn't taken a penny.

 

[Medway Blue]

Sadly even if we get the bridging loan, this will not be the end of our money issues.

Yep, I think this is sometimes being lost. Ronnie doesn't even seem sure that Fossett's building work will begin over the summer. If it doesn't, how much of a delay are we talking? Will the bridging finance last long enough to cover a delay? Or are we going to be back here in 5 or 6 months' time?

 

[mattytheshrimper]

Yep, I think this is sometimes being lost. Ronnie doesn't even seem sure that Fossett's building work will begin over the summer. If it doesn't, how much of a delay are we talking? Will the bridging finance last long enough to cover a delay? Or are we going to be back here in 5 or 6 months' time?

I think it'll buy us a few months but that's it. I doubt we'll hear anything for another few months after that but things will stack up AGAIN. Ron needs to accept external investment and that's based on him not already ****ing off every single person with a few quid who could be interested. IF the bridging loan happens, that's what us as fans should be striving to achieve.

Sadly that won't happen, fans will just be all happy without looking at the bigger picture AGAIN.

 

[kentblues]

Hmm. If there is such a condition on the money then agendas tend to get published a week in advance. Not sure if that will be enough for a judge, as the decision is not made until the day.

If SBC turned up and said it was approved and we had evidence of funds released conditional on that we would get another short adjournment- but if that the case there zero excuse not just to in these extreme circumstances bring the decision forward. All speculation of course but the pieces seem to fit?

 

[Grayson]

I think it'll buy us a few months but that's it. I doubt we'll hear anything for another few months after that but things will stack up AGAIN. Ron needs to accept external investment and that's based on him not already ****ing off every single person with a few quid who could be interested. IF the bridging loan happens, that's what us as fans should be striving to achieve.

Sadly that won't happen, fans will just be all happy without looking at the bigger picture AGAIN.

What becomes your view if the delay is caused by Ron awaiting external investment? I wish I knew that was the case, I'd rather Ron ****ed off, but curious to know what people would think if external investment is causing the delay.

The bigger picture is Ron is all in on Fossetts, and it's worth more to him than it is to any buyer. If it wasn't, it'd be sold by now. There isn't much the fanbase can do within the law to change that, so sniping at them is unhelpful.

 

[Shrimper]

In which case could SBC hurry up?

Election coming up. So will be purdah soon

 

[LennySUFC]

I think it'll buy us a few months but that's it. I doubt we'll hear anything for another few months after that but things will stack up AGAIN. Ron needs to accept external investment and that's based on him not already ****ing off every single person with a few quid who could be interested. IF the bridging loan happens, that's what us as fans should be striving to achieve.

Sadly that won't happen, fans will just be all happy without looking at the bigger picture AGAIN.

This.

We've been stuck in this cycle since 2009-2010 and we're still no closer to breaking it with a positive outcome. The second it goes well on the pitch the fans stop worrying about what Ron is up to.

We've let him get away with Murder for 14 years...

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Personally, I don't give a sod as to whether Stan is being paid or not. I take him at his word that he isn't. Anyway, this is just an unnecessary diversion. For me RM not paying the taxman is a dangerous game of poker but not paying the players is just totally unacceptable.

 

[mattytheshrimper]

This.

We've been stuck in this cycle since 2009-2010 and we're still no closer to breaking it with a positive outcome. The second it goes well on the pitch the fans stop worrying about what Ron is up to.

We've let him get away with Murder for 14 years...

and by getting this bridging loan it'll be getting even worst. Yes it'll save the club and all want that but at what cost? With interest rates being sky high, based on a £5,000,000 loan for a national league side for gods sack we're going to end up paying A LOT of money to cover Ron's inept business standards. God knows how many other loans the club pays already paying off who knows what.

People will probably be expecting new signings etc, I'd be amazed and probably very worried if that happened. We need to live to our means!

 

[mattytheshrimper]

What becomes your view if the delay is caused by Ron awaiting external investment? I wish I knew that was the case, I'd rather Ron ****ed off, but curious to know what people would think if external investment is causing the delay.

The bigger picture is Ron is all in on Fossetts, and it's worth more to him than it is to any buyer. If it wasn't, it'd be sold by now. There isn't much the fanbase can do within the law to change that, so sniping at them is unhelpful.

It's possible of course but knowing full well how many times Ron hasn't even spoken to potential investors, in fact just outright ignored them I highly doubt it. Especially considering the sound of his email to bbc essex, it certainly sounded like the loans the only option.

If it comes out that we've paid off the tax bill without a loan and he's accepted investment then that would be great (ish) but don't expect an ounce of gratitude from me, he should of done it years ago because he's skint. I will never be happy until Ron's gone and even then I won't be happy because he'd of likely earnt himself a lot of money.