GTFC - The Way Forward

Forget about the past (if you can). There's an honest and open debate regarding the future direction of the club to be had. Which way do you think is best?

You can choose more than one option..

I admit a lot of JF's decisions have been poor (particularly the managerial appointments) plus the Mike Parker saga just showed what a complete control freak he is but he is a Town fan, his heart is in the right place, I take him at face value when says he won't pull out his loans and I fear the unknown, the club is stable financially and we will survive in the league again this year then Slade can get rid of all the dead wood in the squad and sign all of his own players.

Pretty loaded questions there so a poor poll which I won't be answering directly. Fenty is doing an OK job for me. He's a lot less trigger happy than he was a few years back and I think Slade is a reasonable appointment.

Quoted from gtfc98

Pretty loaded questions there so a poor poll which I won't be answering directly. Fenty is doing an OK job for me. He's a lot less trigger happy than he was a few years back and I think Slade is a reasonable appointment.

Sorry you feel that way. I did spend a few days thinking about the options based upon much needed investment, especially if you have a good look at the accounts.

In the spirit of transparency my marginally favoured option was

JF to attract substantial new investment and relinquish his complete control

This was made on the basis that I think it would be healthier for the club to be better invested than it is, have a greater pooling of minds to come to decisions especially on purely footballing and PR matters and JF to remain on board to realise his dream of seeing GTFC in a new stadium. I respect the hard work (however misplaced at times) and financial commitment he has put in but I think the club and the fans need a fresh approach with fresh ideas and the club needs a sounder financial footing..

I'm also leaning towards the Trust being more actively involved if more professionally adept marketing and financial personnel can be attracted to the fold..

I wonder if the club being a PLC means there are rules and regulations in respect of 'soliciting' for investment??

Although i agree it would be a good move, i think in practice it may be far more difficult and costly than I first thought?

Anyone KNOW whether this is an issue?

Quoted from Cloudy

I wonder if the club being a PLC means there are rules and regulations in respect of 'soliciting' for investment??

Although i agree it would be a good move, i think in practice it may be far more difficult and costly than I first thought?

Anyone KNOW whether this is an issue?

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00034760/filing-history

Full accounts 2016 PDF, note 22 GOING CONCERN on page 24

I'd forgotton some of the directors - Colin Graves! Not done too bad for himself since leaving GTFC

Quoted from Bigdog

I'm also leaning towards the Trust being more actively involved if more professionally adept marketing and financial people can be attracted to the fold..

Oh my god no. The trust is partly responsible for the position the club is in now. If thet hadn't gifted Fenty the shares they would have had a lot more leverage in deciding who runs the club. At best they are a bunch of enthusiastic amatuers. Stick to running the bars.

Quoted from Cloudy

I wonder if the club being a PLC means there are rules and regulations in respect of 'soliciting' for investment??

Although i agree it would be a good move, i think in practice it may be far more difficult and costly than I first thought?

Anyone KNOW whether this is an issue?

That's why they become PLC's to garner investment. Sell the public a share in you company and use the money to grow your business. Oh yeah forgot to add that at the same time the directors of the company who have been rewarded with equity for years usually make a bundle. I'd not get to hung up on PLC's and A shares, it's the B shares in a business that give you the real power.

We can moan all we like for lots of reasons Fenty is not going anywhere for a while yet.

Quoted from gtfc98

Pretty loaded questions there so a poor poll which I won't be answering directly. Fenty is doing an OK job for me. He's a lot less trigger happy than he was a few years back and I think Slade is a reasonable appointment.

How many managers did we have last season?

I was relatively pleased with how the club was ran over the last few years, could say previous to that could be down to inexperience, felt that theres been a few poor PR choices and our steady transfer policies seem to have gone out the window, which partially understand due to the pressure to spend the Bogle money, but hope we don't lose our way in signing young none league talents and our squad needs downsizing a bit

I'd like to see the debt dropped and the club put up for sale properly.

I am bemused why there's a sudden resurgence of unrest and Fentyoutitis.

After 6 years in non league we regained our league status.  Some clubs have gone back up quicker but many have not.  Some have gone further down into oblivion.

In our first season back, we were a solid mid-table.  We've lost a few games this season but it seems at worst we have established ourselves as a mid table L2 side.

Our 'true' position in the league these days is probably as a L1/ L2 yoyo club.  We may one day make it to the championship for a brief stay.

We are in reasonable shape financially and seem to have a few exciting young players who could earn us a few quid one day.

What exactly is it that everyone expects?  Champions League in 5 years?

Quoted from headingly_mariner

I'd like to see the debt dropped and the club put up for sale properly.

why should JF drop his debt?  Would you?  If you have a mortgage, try asking the bank to let you off your debt.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

How many managers did we have last season?

One manager sacked is hardly trigger happy.  Do you read the sports pages?

Quoted from LondonMariner43

I am bemused why there's a sudden resurgence of unrest and Fentyoutitis.

After 6 years in non league we regained our league status.  Some clubs have gone back up quicker but many have not.  Some have gone further down into oblivion.

In our first season back, we were a solid mid-table.  We've lost a few games this season but it seems at worst we have established ourselves as a mid table L2 side.

Our 'true' position in the league these days is probably as a L1/ L2 yoyo club.  We may one day make it to the championship for a brief stay.

We are in reasonable shape financially and seem to have a few exciting young players who could earn us a few quid one day.

What exactly is it that everyone expects?  Champions League in 5 years?

£3 or 4m in debt would suggest otherwise especially as there are no readily realised assets!!

Quoted from HertsGTFC

That's why they become PLC's to garner investment. Sell the public a share in you company and use the money to grow your business. Oh yeah forgot to add that at the same time the directors of the company who have been rewarded with equity for years usually make a bundle. I'd not get to hung up on PLC's and A shares, it's the B shares in a business that give you the real power.

We can moan all we like for lots of reasons Fenty is not going anywhere for a while yet.

Sounds great but the point I was making is that in order to advertise for investment then a full prospectus needs to be issued at huge cost under current stock exchange regulations!

Quoted from Cloudy

£3 or 4m in debt would suggest otherwise especially as there are no readily realised assets!!

That has been the case for years.  I mean that we are living within our means.  

I wonder if JF wishes he'd spent his cash on something that didn't involve him getting slagged off every five minutes rather than being appreciated for bailing out the club he loves.

I almost want him to sell the club to someone who changes our strip to green, renames the team Grimsby Mariners, sells off the ground and leaves the club on its knees in the 7th tier.  Then maybe people will be less naive.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

why should JF drop his debt?  Would you?  If you have a mortgage, try asking the bank to let you off your debt.

I couldn't lend myself the money to smash my kitchen up and expect a prospective buyer to pay for it. You're no longer allowed to provide director loans because they aren't good for clubs.

Losing money is the price you pay for being in control for years. It's an expensive season ticket but that's what it is. You don't get the money back for yours. It keeps the club in a total stranglehold.  

Quoted from LondonMariner43

I am bemused why there's a sudden resurgence of unrest and Fentyoutitis.

After 6 years in non league we regained our league status.  Some clubs have gone back up quicker but many have not.  Some have gone further down into oblivion.

In our first season back, we were a solid mid-table.  We've lost a few games this season but it seems at worst we have established ourselves as a mid table L2 side.

Our 'true' position in the league these days is probably as a L1/ L2 yoyo club.  We may one day make it to the championship for a brief stay.

We are in reasonable shape financially and seem to have a few exciting young players who could earn us a few quid one day.

What exactly is it that everyone expects?  Champions League in 5 years?

For a lot of people it's not about footballing success, it's about the the way the club is run off the field and how the fans are treated.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

That has been the case for years.  I mean that we are living within our means.  

I wonder if JF wishes he'd spent his cash on something that didn't involve him getting slagged off every five minutes rather than being appreciated for bailing out the club he loves.

I almost want him to sell the club to someone who changes our strip to green, renames the team Grimsby Mariners, sells off the ground and leaves the club on its knees in the 7th tier.  Then maybe people will be less naive.

In hindsight I think I wish he had spent his cash on something else!

Administration was not the complete disaster it may be for GTFC today. Every club survived and many prospered.

I appreciate that may be a strange view to many but I honestly believe we would have been in better shape had we done so. In reality nobody knows

Quoted from LondonMariner43

why should JF drop his debt?  Would you?  If you have a mortgage, try asking the bank to let you off your debt.

In terms of publicity over the years the amount of money invested is relatively small to the amount of kudos he receives, the free advertising for the businesses he owns or is involved in, and his standing as a local councillor - it always helps having a well known name.

I think were you to do some kind of correlation between what you would need to spend physically over the term John's spent in his chair / non chair role at Grimsby, and what he's actually put into the club he's done very well out of it indeed - especially if the vast majority of the investment is in loans. In which case he's done exceedingly well. Said it before, and will say it again, ask John to drop any ownership he has of the loans as a long standing Town fan and attract new investment on the back of it.

Quoted from jock dock tower

In terms of publicity over the years the amount of money invested is relatively small to the amount of kudos he receives, the free advertising for the businesses he owns or is involved in, and his standing as a local councillor - it always helps having a well known name.

I think were you to do some kind of correlation between what you would need to spend physically over the term John's spent in his chair / non chair role at Grimsby, and what he's actually put into the club he's done very well out of it indeed - especially if the vast majority of the investment is in loans. In which case he's done exceedingly well. Said it before, and will say it again, ask John to drop any ownership he has of the loans as a long standing Town fan and attract new investment on the back of it.

Exactly. Who had heard of John Fenty before he became involved with the Mariners? That sort of profile is a godsend when you are hoping to further your standing in the local community. He has had all the trappings of being top dog, as well as the worries. He was the one to put the money up and fair enough to him for that but something will have to give soon.

We need to go forward as a club and start to realise our potential. New investment, new stadium or both. There must be some actual news on the stadium very soon, which I hope will be the catalyst for change, otherwise the fans will start to get despondent and become more vocal.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Exactly. Who had heard of John Fenty before he became involved with the Mariners? That sort of profile is a godsend when you are hoping to further your standing in the local community. He has had all the trappings of being top dog, as well as the worries. He was the one to put the money up and fair enough to him for that but something will have to give soon.

We need to go forward as a club and start to realise our potential. New investment, new stadium or both. There must be some actual news on the stadium very soon, which I hope will be the catalyst for change, otherwise the fans will start to get despondent and become more vocal.

Or even worse Lew's Lover, not be bothered and just stop going to games. It's started happening already.. Who would have thought six months ago that we wouldn't sell out Mansfield away this season?

Quoted from Bigdog

Or even worse Lew, not be bothered and just stop going to games. It's started happening already.. Who would have thought six months ago that we wouldn't sell out Mansfield away this season?

Fair point. I am not Lew by the way - I am his lover   Only metaphorically of course!

Edited for you  

Quoted from LondonMariner43

That has been the case for years.  I mean that we are living within our means.  

I wonder if JF wishes he'd spent his cash on something that didn't involve him getting slagged off every five minutes rather than being appreciated for bailing out the club he loves.

I almost want him to sell the club to someone who changes our strip to green, renames the team Grimsby Mariners, sells off the ground and leaves the club on its knees in the 7th tier.  Then maybe people will be less naive.

Do you want to borrow my leaf blower to get the sand out of your girl private.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

That has been the case for years.  I mean that we are living within our means.  

I wonder if JF wishes he'd spent his cash on something that didn't involve him getting slagged off every five minutes rather than being appreciated for bailing out the club he loves.

I almost want him to sell the club to someone who changes our strip to green, renames the team Grimsby Mariners, sells off the ground and leaves the club on its knees in the 7th tier.  Then maybe people will be less naive.

The naive thing to do was to burden the club with debt. Or maybe his obsession with wanting to look like the knight in shining armour overrode the proper business decision which would have been administration. I know hindsight is a superpower but many football club chairmen had the foresight to take that option.

Quoted from realist

Oh my god no. The trust is partly responsible for the position the club is in now. If thet hadn't gifted Fenty the shares they would have had a lot more leverage in deciding who runs the club. At best they are a bunch of enthusiastic amatuers. Stick to running the bars.

Agree with the first part but not the second. At least lessons could have been learned.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

That has been the case for years.  I mean that we are living within our means.  

I wonder if JF wishes he'd spent his cash on something that didn't involve him getting slagged off every five minutes rather than being appreciated for bailing out the club he loves.

I almost want him to sell the club to someone who changes our strip to green, renames the team Grimsby Mariners, sells off the ground and leaves the club on its knees in the 7th tier.  Then maybe people will be less naive.

Or you could see it as lending the club money to bail it out from losses made during his stewardship (ITV Digital part excepted).

Quoted from jock dock tower

In terms of publicity over the years the amount of money invested is relatively small to the amount of kudos he receives, the free advertising for the businesses he owns or is involved in, and his standing as a local councillor - it always helps having a well known name.

I think were you to do some kind of correlation between what you would need to spend physically over the term John's spent in his chair / non chair role at Grimsby, and what he's actually put into the club he's done very well out of it indeed - especially if the vast majority of the investment is in loans. In which case he's done exceedingly well. Said it before, and will say it again, ask John to drop any ownership he has of the loans as a long standing Town fan and attract new investment on the back of it.

Oh I don't know Jock. I wouldn't have thought being seen as the man who controls GTFC over the last decade and a bit as good publicity. Hardly a good track record.

I think the poll is skewed. The options can be summarised as:

(1) You want him to stay in control;
(2) You want new investment; or
(3) You're some kind of dimwit.

One missing option is the Trust to completely take over. If that were a declared aim I'm sure it would galvanise more fans into being more active participants.

Some way has got to be found of clearing the debt to directors. A tall order but there's got to be a deal in there somewhere. Until that happens I can't see any change of effective control.

I'm going to close my eyes , cross my fingers and wish for a billionaire invested to appear .... fooks sake OP you make it sound so fooking simple

The loans remain a stranglehold and have always felt like Fenty wanting his cake and eating it.

Over the years his PR communication and general demeanour have suggested to me that GTFC was a project in which he always wanted to 'feel the love'...  He would become the heroic figure who would receive the gratitude and adoration of his public...

Some bad decisions (Neil Woods should never have got the job and then I lost any shred of confidence when in the FA cup when it was clear that he didn't know we could name additional subs - basic stuff), some bad luck, some bizarre stuff (deconstructed flags) and years in the wilderness, but the odd high-point too.

If he wants the adoration of saviour / benefactor - the Jack Walker type figure, then they put their money in for the love without ties / strings to have it all returned.  If he wants to play hard and protect his 'investment' then fine, but take the flak fair and square for all the problems that has created.  You can't have it both ways.

Does he love the club, yes, I think so, but clearly not enough when it comes down to it, to relax his grip and write off the loans.  This might allow new solutions, new investment,  in which he could still remain a central part, to emerge.

Ultimately, whose glory is this all for, Towns?  or his?

If JF's dream is to land the new stadium then it would be great if he focussed just on that and left the day to day running of the club to others without any interference

The question which cannot be answered is; would there be a Grimsby Town as we know it, without John Fenty?

So, just a load more of the same on this thread then....

As Louth said....as if its all so simple!

Meanwhile - big game today lads! 3 points up for grabs.