Ron speaks

[ol blue eyes]

Got the e-mail

There is some assurance here, but saying there will be a further statement in a week or two worries me when D-Day is just a few days away.

Yes, I will be in Carlisle tomorrow Ron, and yes I too hope for three points.
Another three points now seems to be even more significant!

 

[GBJ]

Looks like I picked a good time to move away... Still not got internet access sorted out out here so haven't been keeping up with too much news in the last few weeks but would administration be the end of the World? Serious question.

Unfortunately i think it would be, but it all depends. With a 10 point deduction, we MIGHT just about survive, but even that is unlikely.
If we copped a 30m point deduction then we would be playing league 2 next season - without a doubt.

The big question is, can we bounce back from that? I could see us;

1) having crowds of 4k-5k
2) the income would be so low, it would be almost impossible to compete.

Don't get me wrong, i'd rather take admin, and watch SUFC in league 2/Conference, than NOT watch SUFC at all.

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Looks like I picked a good time to move away... Still not got internet access sorted out out here so haven't been keeping up with too much news in the last few weeks but would administration be the end of the World? Serious question. Other clubs have done it and recovered well and if it means that we can restructure the debt and the Club's finances in the next couple of months then maybe ten points isn't a huge price to pay. It's gutting that it's come to this, if it has, but hopefully it's the low point.

Not the end of the world perhaps, but when considering all of the revenue streams this club has enjoyed over the last 5/6 years, it's almost incomprehensible.

Ron's blog said everything without saying anything. It was about as gloomy as it gets, and yet again, the delay in planning permission line was rolled out for everyone to read.

I don't doubt the delay has caused a financial bottle neck, but for us to be in a position where we POTENTIALLY cannot pay HMRC, cannot bring loan players in and subsequently, could end up in administration with a 10 point penalty, something has gone badly wrong in the running of this club... Badly wrong.

As much as I hate these 'my next door neighbours sisters dog walker twice removed heard this rumour....' stories, someone very close to me who was heavily involved with the club, including sponsorship, told me that Ron Martin has absolutely no money whatsoever, and however good things are right now, it will only end in tears whilst he is in charge.... At that point, he refused to put any more money into the club he has followed since he was a boy, and would not do so again until Ron was not involved.... This was over 4 years ago. I, at the time, scoffed at those comments, and he said just wait and see..... I have this gut wrenching feeling that I may have to apologise to him.

 

[Firestorm]

10 points for going into administation
The additional 20 points (maximum) is the penalty for failing to have a cva (creditors voluntary agreement ) in place at the start of the season.

 

[Crawliano]

The thing is, if we went into administration the tax bill would effectively be shrunk to 60k as we'd be paying back 10p in the £1 for everything we own? I still think that if we keep the nucleus of the squad together we should be ok and stay up, only just mind you, but I think over 46 games the team is capable of picking up 60 points, and finishing on 50.

If this meant that the club was purchased again it a cost of 500k and all debts wiped with SEL resuming control (I have no idea about this stuff, but I know that Bates did similar with Leeds didn't he?) with the club on a fairly even keel it wouldn't actually be THAT bad....

On the other hand we could be about to be in for 5 years of crap praying for an away game at Old Trafford/Emirates in the cup...

Like the man Alexander O'Neal once said, "the party's over, when I say you've got to go, you've got to go."

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Not the end of the world perhaps, but when considering all of the revenue streams this club has enjoyed over the last 5/6 years, it's almost incomprehensible.

What's incomprehensible is looking at revenue streams without also considering the out-goings.

We might have had massive increases in revenue, but we've also had massive increases in costs (namely wages - we won the league one title paying league two wages, since relegation we've been paying championship wages in league one). I suspect the increase in costs was greater than the increase in revenue.

The club hasn't been on a good financial footing for years, probably not even in my life time. Ron maybe could have done some things differently (as I've argued before, I think he got too swept away with the back-to-back promotions and thought the success would always come) but ultimately this club would be in crisis regardless of ownership.

Ron's blog said everything without saying anything. It was about as gloomy as it gets, and yet again, the delay in planning permission line was rolled out for everyone to read.

I don't doubt the delay has caused a financial bottle neck, but for us to be in a position where we POTENTIALLY cannot pay HMRC, cannot bring loan players in and subsequently, could end up in administration with a 10 point penalty, something has gone badly wrong in the running of this club... Badly wrong.

It's what went wrong with Luton and Leeds, who IIRC were relegated from the championship with us. It's happening at Southampton, Stockport and countless other clubs. It happened at York, Scarborough, Barnet, Halifax, Aldershot, Maidstone etc etc

We won't be the last club this season to go through this.

As much as I hate these 'my next door neighbours sisters dog walker twice removed heard this rumour....' stories, someone very close to me who was heavily involved with the club, including sponsorship, told me that Ron Martin has absolutely no money whatsoever, and however good things are right now, it will only end in tears whilst he is in charge.... At that point, he refused to put any more money into the club he has followed since he was a boy, and would not do so again until Ron was not involved.... This was over 4 years ago. I, at the time, scoffed at those comments, and he said just wait and see..... I have this gut wrenching feeling that I may have to apologise to him.

Your neighbour seems to have a very strange attitude. Ron Martin may not have any money, but expecting wealthy individuals to prop up failing football clubs seems odd to me.

 

[* ORM *]

Well thanks for cheering me up. :stunned:

Can't say the writing wasn't on the wall. Seemingly no money to pay the tax bill, we knew that. No foundations laid at FF, we knew that. Next to no-one available on Saturday and no more loan players, coupled with Ron's (lack of anything tangible) suggests to me that administration looms. I'd rather take the 30 points if it means we can get rid of some of the high wage earners and start planning for surviving next season in the basement now.

If we go into administration does that mean effectively we wouldn't have to pay Barrett's contract up ? Oooooh look I've cheered up already. :)

 

[mattytheshrimper]

CLASSIC still managed to bring the bloody stadium into it. can't stand the bloke. so much more important issues going on with the club.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

How do we know we're going into administration, could be that he's trying to negotiate a down-payment from Sainsbury's to cover the tax bill ?

 

[BrettieAngell]

How do we know we're going into administration, could be that he's trying to negotiate a down-payment from Sainsbury's to cover the tax bill ?

We don't, people seem to be assuming that will happen.

 

[Mick]

How do we know we're going into administration, could be that he's trying to negotiate a down-payment from Sainsbury's to cover the tax bill ?

Thought that was Plan A and if it was going to work, it would have been sorted by now. I wonder what Plan B is ?

 

[McNasty]

Thought that was Plan A and if it was going to work, it would have been sorted by now. I wonder what Plan B is ?

1 goalkeeper , 3 defenders 3 mid-fielders and a striker.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

How do we know we're going into administration, could be that he's trying to negotiate a down-payment from Sainsbury's to cover the tax bill ?

Thanks for pointing that out. I had scanned his message a number of times and could not detect any evidence that we are facing immediate administration. I think that everyone has got SO pessimistic that they are willing to read the worst in any bit of information given. I'm not saying that it will not happen but I think that it is best for all of us to wait until next Wednesday, when hopefully, things become a bit clearer........it's not long to wait. For the moment let's concentrate on this afternoon and hope, in spite of all adversity, that we can get three points.

 

[GBJ]

Thanks for pointing that out. I had scanned his message a number of times and could not detect any evidence that we are facing immediate administration. I think that everyone has got SO pessimistic that they are willing to read the worst in any bit of information given. I'm not saying that it will not happen but I think that it is best for all of us to wait until next Wednesday, when hopefully, things become a bit clearer........it's not long to wait. For the moment let's concentrate on this afternoon and hope, in spite of all adversity, that we can get three points.

We all know administration is possible. I don't think it's pessimism, i think it's 'bracing for the worst'. That way, IF it does happen, it doesn't come as that much of a shock. Whereas those people who choose to not talk about it/accept it etc, will be hit harder by it.

 

[canveyshrimper]

We all know administration is possible. I don't think it's pessimism, i think it's 'bracing for the worst'. That way, IF it does happen, it doesn't come as that much of a shock. Whereas those people who choose to not talk about it/accept it etc, will be hit harder by it.

Agree pretty much, irrespective it will still have its shock value if it does happen.

 

[blue shrimp]

IF the worst happens I am certain us the fans and the football club will emerge stronger from these worrying times.

 

[GBJ]

Agree pretty much, irrespective it will still have its shock value if it does happen.

Without a doubt will be one of the worst day in the clubs history, and every supporter will be shocked.

I think personally, for me, i'll be disappointed to see us go into administration, but i'll be more shocked by HOW we got ourselves into the situation.

Poor management from the top level? This stadium dream? Who knows?

 

[Beefy]

One thing that points towards the Club still trying desperately to get out of this mess and get the tax bill paid is surely that we're not even prepared to spend any money on signing a new loanee defender. Surely if we had no chance of paying it we'd be better off signing someone to partner AB rather than playing Grant there.

 

[Mick]

IF the worst happens I am certain us the fans and the football club will emerge stronger from these worrying times.

There's certainly no point in going into administration if you are not going to emerge stronger.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Not understanding the legal side of things, I would be tempted to ask what are the exact consequences of going into administration?...........apart from the obvious points deduction. However, I would imagine that, if it comes to pass, there we be plenty of people on here ready to explain it, in all its minutia.