Transfer Embargo, Winding Up Petition & Staff Salary Issues

[Blue43]

I don’t buy into Ron won’t sell now, no one will buy us. Every man has their price.

Ron is almost 70 years old and it’s been pretty well documented that he’s not in the best of health. If his development dream finally does come off then correct me if I’m wrong but he won’t see any money personally until all of the housing is completed, which at best will be another 4 years (if it’s completed on time) that would take him to his mid 70’s.

I don’t like the guy but wouldn’t wish him Ill health obviously but maybe if someone offered him enough money then between he and his family he might just think enough is enough, I can walk away now and enjoy my retirement a very rich man rather than wait another 5 years where I might not be able to enjoy my wealth as much as i would now.

The constant financial issues and battles he has every month with HMRC must be having a detrimental effect on his health, it would be enough to make someone of a much younger age unwell, let alone a man of Ron’s age.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I don’t buy into Ron won’t sell now, no one will buy us. Every man has their price.

Ron is almost 70 years old and it’s been pretty well documented that he’s not in the best of health. If his development dream finally does come off then correct me if I’m wrong but he won’t see any money personally until all of the housing is completed, which at best will be another 4 years (if it’s completed on time) that would take him to his mid 70’s.

I don’t like the guy but wouldn’t wish him Ill health obviously but maybe if someone offered him enough money then between he and his family he might just think enough is enough, I can walk away now and enjoy my retirement a very rich man rather than wait another 5 years where I might not be able to enjoy my wealth as much as i would now.

Why would anyone pay Ron off to take control of a loss making football club and a property development project that appears to have been blighted with setbacks and delays for well over a decade?

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

I don’t buy into Ron won’t sell now, no one will buy us. Every man has their price.

Ron is almost 70 years old and it’s been pretty well documented that he’s not in the best of health. If his development dream finally does come off then correct me if I’m wrong but he won’t see any money personally until all of the housing is completed, which at best will be another 4 years (if it’s completed on time) that would take him to his mid 70’s.

I don’t like the guy but wouldn’t wish him Ill health obviously but maybe if someone offered him enough money then between he and his family he might just think enough is enough, I can walk away now and enjoy my retirement a very rich man rather than wait another 5 years where I might not be able to enjoy my wealth as much as i would now.

The constant financial issues and battles he has every month with HMRC must be having a detrimental effect on his health, it would be enough to make someone of a much younger age unwell, let alone a man of Ron’s age.

I agree. I certainly wouldn't wish him ill health. But surely, he must get to a point where he's had enough of the constant battles to keep the project and club afloat

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Whilst I don't approve of putting his family in the firing line it did work for Wrexham

Unacceptable, that is crossing a line.

 

[nevereatwhitesnow]

Not so - at every government level, even down to council tax, if there is a time to pay agreement in place and a payment is missed then the whole amount is immediately due.

The winding up order being simultaneously issued is as a result of football clubs generally (historically) using HMRC as a bank. A few years ago they said "Enough is enough" and now, whenever a football club misses a due date for a tax payment, there's no grace period; it's straight to a winding up petition.

This won't be anything to do with us or Ron personally (although they will be obviously gunning for him). I'm sure Ron will not have been taken by surprise by this and if it hasn't already been sorted, then it will be by the 9th November.

Either way, there's sod all any of us can do about it. Stop worrying and enjoy the games between now and then.

You are trying to normalize what Ron is doing when it’s largely the exception.

By %, by frequency and probably by value SUFC would be top of any league of Winding Up Petitions over the last 5 years or so.

Yes they get paid but each time it chips away at the reputation of the club in the industry

It’s one thing having a competent CEO (who isn’t allowed to actually spend the budget) a strategist who can sell a positive dream which is then trashed via the PR disaster of court appearances, hiring John Stills golden pocket book of contacts but having players reject a move because of the financial uncertainty.

The damage this does is significant and will last years, plus it’s an additional financial drain caused by legal fees at a time when some staff are worried about paying their mortgages because of a few hundred quid that’s going into expensive lawyers pockets instead

 

[Linda Loan Shark]

So how will Ron pay off this expensive bridging loan? Seems like this will plunge us further in debt. Do we just increase the bridging loan for the next tax bill? We are just papering over the cracks here

 

[fbm]

You are trying to normalize what Ron is doing when it’s largely the exception.

By %, by frequency and probably by value SUFC would be top of any league of Winding Up Petitions over the last 5 years or so.

Yes they get paid but each time it chips away at the reputation of the club in the industry

It’s one thing having a competent CEO (who isn’t allowed to actually spend the budget) a strategist who can sell a positive dream which is then trashed via the PR disaster of court appearances, hiring John Stills golden pocket book of contacts but having players reject a move because of the financial uncertainty.

The damage this does is significant and will last years, plus it’s an additional financial drain caused by legal fees at a time when some staff are worried about paying their mortgages because of a few hundred quid that’s going into expensive lawyers pockets instead

It didn't say it wasn't the exception - historically plenty of clubs were "guilty", but to be honest I don't know how many now play as fast and loose with HMRC as we do. Probably very few, if any.

The point I was making was a direct reference to people thinking HMRC are taking this action because it was us, which I don't believe is the case.

 

[fbm]

So how will Ron pay off this expensive bridging loan? Seems like this will plunge us further in debt. Do we just increase the bridging loan for the next tax bill? We are just papering over the cracks here

That's not our concern. None of it is. It is all just a question of Ron juggling debt to keep us afloat until the big payday comes, then it will be repaid.

 

[Shrimper]

Unacceptable, that is crossing a line.

Like I said I don't approve it

 

[nevereatwhitesnow]

It didn't say it wasn't the exception - historically plenty of clubs were "guilty", but to be honest I don't know how many now play as fast and loose with HMRC as we do. Probably very few, if any.

The point I was making was a direct reference to people thinking HMRC are taking this action because it was us, which I don't believe is the case.

It didn't say it wasn't the exception - historically plenty of clubs were "guilty", but to be honest I don't know how many now play as fast and loose with HMRC as we do. Probably very few, if any.

The point I was making was a direct reference to people thinking HMRC are taking this action because it was us, which I don't believe is the case.

Many clubs used to pay late until the HMRC started being more aggressive in recovery (from memory I believe it was around the time that their preferential creditor status was being reviewed/removed) since then, very very few have done so.

I don’t think many people think HMRC are doing this to spite Ron (well apart from 1 or 2 posters maybe) but they are doing the because OF Ron.

 

[Target man]

New updated revised images released of Fossets Farm and how the stadium will look in 5 years ...... further reduction in overall capacity

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

I think hardly anyone believes him to be thé 'right man' to run the club. A lot more believe that, for the moment, we have, unfortunately, little say in this matter.

No that’s not true the trust will still tell you they would rather him than someone unknown to them .. they say that like they/ we actually know Ron

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

The biggest worry is who in their right mind would lend Ron 1 mill. to pay it off. I wouldn’t lend him 10p.

Harry redknapp the historical asset and club stripper another odious little man

 

[kentblues]

Many clubs used to pay late until the HMRC started being more aggressive in recovery (from memory I believe it was around the time that their preferential creditor status was being reviewed/removed) since then, very very few have done so.

I don’t think many people think HMRC are doing this to spite Ron (well apart from 1 or 2 posters maybe) but they are doing the because OF Ron.

This and no HMRC aren't acting out of spite. They are not like a normal business - when they aren't paid the courts act as their collections dept. So we knew the winding up petition was coming as night follows day. It will get paid before the hearing- normally everyone still turns up on the day so the petition can be dismissed.

The most important outstanding question remains and should be relentlessly pursued between now and then: how is the club going to be funded from now to the point that the stadium is generating income? We can't have 3 years of this and many will remember Ron stating that the RH & FF developments would allow the club to be recapitalised? So when is this funding expected? How much? Timelines? How long will this funding provide financial stability for? etc.

 

[Holy Joe]

So how will Ron pay off this expensive bridging loan? Seems like this will plunge us further in debt. Do we just increase the bridging loan for the next tax bill? We are just papering over the cracks here

You've missed the bit about the pot of gold that is planning permission on hundreds if not thousands of houses - as these are developed that allows Ron to pay off the debt

 

[londonblue]

You are trying to normalize what Ron is doing when it’s largely the exception.

By %, by frequency and probably by value SUFC would be top of any league of Winding Up Petitions over the last 5 years or so.

Yes they get paid but each time it chips away at the reputation of the club in the industry

It’s one thing having a competent CEO (who isn’t allowed to actually spend the budget) a strategist who can sell a positive dream which is then trashed via the PR disaster of court appearances, hiring John Stills golden pocket book of contacts but having players reject a move because of the financial uncertainty.

The damage this does is significant and will last years, plus it’s an additional financial drain caused by legal fees at a time when some staff are worried about paying their mortgages because of a few hundred quid that’s going into expensive lawyers pockets instead

That's the only bit I would argue with. Previously SUFC have represented themselves so there are no legal fees.

 

[thenobster]

What’s Stan said about it all?

 

[Medway Blue]

You are trying to normalize what Ron is doing when it’s largely the exception.

By %, by frequency and probably by value SUFC would be top of any league of Winding Up Petitions over the last 5 years or so.

Yes they get paid but each time it chips away at the reputation of the club in the industry

It’s one thing having a competent CEO (who isn’t allowed to actually spend the budget) a strategist who can sell a positive dream which is then trashed via the PR disaster of court appearances, hiring John Stills golden pocket book of contacts but having players reject a move because of the financial uncertainty.

The damage this does is significant and will last years, plus it’s an additional financial drain caused by legal fees at a time when some staff are worried about paying their mortgages because of a few hundred quid that’s going into expensive lawyers pockets instead

It comes to something when a Col U fan speaks more sense than 95% of our own supporter base.

 

[Medway Blue]

Harry redknapp the historical asset and club stripper another odious little man

Who would we rather be in debt to? Him or Ken Bates/Robert Maxwell? Now there's a question!

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

What’s Stan said about it all?

He'll say nothing and quite rightly so imo.

He is a club employee at the end of the day, a very high profile one, but a club employee all the same. After all the effort to get involved in the club and assist on the footballing and commercial front, I wouldn't want him to be on the outside looking in again. And as he said in the zoom meetings and the meeting that was held in the Shrimpers bar, the ground and development is not in his remit and he would not comment on that side of the club or Ron Martin.

His effort is far more valuable to us as a fanbase helping promote the development on the pitch, create better relations with other clubs, and act as an ambassador if needed to make the case why a player should want to play for us, rather than a rival, geographically or divisionally.

I think the results of his effort acting with the three amigos and John Still can be something we can say is a positive since his arrival and involvement and let's be honest, we haven't had many over the past 4/5 years.