Does the Trust have the acumen to force Fenty out.

As i see it we the fans hold all the cards here, the trust should inform Fenty that if he does not leave the club and had control to the club we will be boycotting all games.
We will offer to buy the club for £1 and he can leave and write his loans off.
If not he can sit in his stadium on his own paying 3 million a season until he can find another buyer.

Has the trust got the bottle.!

F.F.S.  I've heard all now

The Trust doesn't have the power or the money. The only thing that will force Fenty out is Fenty himself.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

The Trust doesn't have the power or the MONEY. The only thing that will force Fenty out is Fenty himself.

What a pound ?

I will give them a benign loan.

Quoted from Yoda

As i see it we the fans hold all the cards here, the trust should inform Fenty that if he does not leave the club and had control to the club we will be boycotting all games.
We will offer to buy the club for £1 and he can leave and write his loans off.
If not he can sit in his stadium on his own paying 3 million a season until he can find another buyer.

Has the trust got the bottle.!

Well if you are a member of the Trust no doubt you will raise this at the next meeting and if you are not satisfied with their response you will try and get on the Committee on the platform of Fenty out and see if you are elected.

If successful you can then take your proposal forward but even if this was agreed and followed by all Trust members you would still have a stadium with at least 2000+ home fans attending. If of course JF is persuaded by this action to resign you then have the pleasure of leading this club on its rise up the leagues.

Sounds like a viable plan 😏

If we get relegated 2000 plus fans is never going to happen.
Something nearer 900- 1200 home fans plus 40 away fans is more realistic.
Fenty cannot put a decent team out on average gates of over 5300.

Quoted from Yoda

If we get relegated 2000 plus fans is never going to happen.
Something nearer 900- 1200 home fans plus 40 away fans is more realistic.
Fenty cannot put a decent team out on average gates of over 5300.

I totally agree. Season ticket sales will go through the floor. How many are going to watch Boreham Wood at home that haven't got a season ticket?

Quoted from Yoda

As i see it we the fans hold all the cards here, the trust should inform Fenty that if he does not leave the club and had control to the club we will be boycotting all games.
We will offer to buy the club for £1 and he can leave and write his loans off.
If not he can sit in his stadium on his own paying 3 million a season until he can find another buyer.

Has the trust got the bottle.!

I know Fenty overuses be careful what you wish for but in this case he has a point. Really not sure a GTFC fan group is a credible option and we should leave that theory alone

Quoted from VinnyGTFC

I know Fenty overuses be careful what you wish for but in this case he has a point. Really not sure a GTFC fan group is a credible option and we should leave that theory alone

What we have right now is not a credible option either. The club may die if fan run. It will definitely die if the current regime carry on as they are. Everyone has had enough.

Even with acuwomen it would still be a non-starter.

Fenty will leave when it suits him.

In answer to the original question , no

Since Fenty came to save us we have had the worst form in over hundred years watched some of the most heinous crimes against football and been out financed by the likes of Dover, FGR. Lets not mention the number of winless runs under his regime. He needs to go, and he needs to write off his benign loans and release his death grip control over the club.

To me Fenty's help has been out of self interest,had we  gone into administration he would have been the major loser,his investment was only to save his own interest and has given him a stranglehold over the club ever-since.

If jf calls it a day at the end of season one assumes that an egm would be called and then it would be up to shareholders to vote for a new board, apart from Fenty Parker and the trust who are the other shareholders ramsdens group ? The Carr family ?

Quoted from crusty ole pie

If jf calls it a day at the end of season one assumes that an egm would be called and then it would be up to shareholders to vote for a new board, apart from Fenty Parker and the trust who are the other shareholders ramsdens group ? The Carr family ?

Cannot remember the exact percentages but it is something like

Fenty 47
Parker 23
Trust 13
The remainder are small individual shareholders, some of which are dead but this is why 47 % or thereabouts gives overall control

If Parker ,Mullen and the trust go together they will have a slightly higher percentage.But with the trust rep sucking   up to Fenty we have no chance.

Quoted from Cloudy

Cannot remember the exact percentages but it is something like

Fenty 47
Parker 23
Trust 13
The remainder are small individual shareholders, some of which are dead but this is why 47 % or thereabouts gives overall control

Andrew Newman has £25,000 (1%) worth of shares. (dodgy ticket tout?)
The Mullens have £130,000 (6%) shares
The Trust has £320,550 (14%)
Mike Parker has £500,000 (22%)
John Elsom £75,500 (3%)

Fenty 43%

So it could be possible to remove Mr Fenty and co

Can we put on hold storming the Bastille until May?

Quoted from Tell the truth

So it could be possible to remove Mr Fenty and co

In theory it could be, but in practice Mike Parker will not involve himself in voting at all and I have no idea about Newman.

Fenty believes he is safe at 43% and he is probably right sadly

Regardless of shareholding Fenty controls the club by dint of his loans.

Quoted from GrimRob

Can we put on hold storming the Bastille until May?

Bit of preparation never hurt anyone.  

Quoted from Cloudy

In theory it could be, but in practice Mike Parker will not involve himself in voting at all and I have no idea about Newman.

Fenty believes he is safe at 43% and he is probably right sadly

The whole thing made Parker ill last time so I doubt he’ll be back , I’m all for the dodgy ticket tout buying us out how much worse could it possibly be  

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Regardless of shareholding Fenty controls the club by dint of his loans.

He does but he has also signed documents that his loans can only be repaid if and when the club can afford to do so.

In theory he could be voted off the board and not get his money back until such time as we had enormous football fortune!!!

Fenty does not want to lose money he’s to tight.
With very low gates he will either have to fund it himself or go into administration either way he loses his money.
The club could start again re AFC Wimbledon they are doing ok and moving back to plough lane.
The ground is worthless to any developers as the demolition costs would overshadow the land value which is only suitable for terraced housing.
The trust need to be more forceful and stop kissing Fentys backside.

The Trust have publicly stated they do not have the will to 'run' the club. The Trust board members mostly work full time. I think the way we remove JF is to pressure him to reveal how much he actually wants for his shares and the 'benign' loan. He has been very vague and will be looking to get as good a return as possible which is fair enough. I'm not sure but I think he owns around £1.1m in shares and has £1.8m in loans so around £3m. That is the noose around the clubs neck. Ideally we need him to name a price instead of vague soundbites about 'no barriers' etc.

Quoted from 75

The Trust have publicly stated they do not have the will to 'run' the club. The Trust board members mostly work full time. I think the way we remove JF is to pressure him to reveal how much he actually wants for his shares and the 'benign' loan. He has been very vague and will be looking to get as good a return as possible which is fair enough. I'm not sure but I think he owns around £1.1m in shares and has £1.8m in loans so around £3m. That is the noose around the clubs neck. Ideally we need him to name a price instead of vague soundbites about 'no barriers' etc.

In respect of the opening statement I can only guess that The Trust is actually the current board?

If there were a few skilled operators who were elected to the he board then that stance may change.

I am of the opinion that The Trust should always represent its members and if they want the Trust off the board then that must happen, no question no delay.

I reckon £1m cash would make him consider writing off the rest and walking away to enjoy his retirement. Anyone, or any group got that sort of cash?

I too think an offer of around £1 million would make him think very carefully.

This discussion is a bit pointless as the situation is in flux. So much depends on whether we go down. That is what will decide Fenty and even then he is stubborn enough to hang on for a while to see what actually happens to gate numbers. It looks very unlikely that a coalition of plotters could agree a plan to buy or force him out financially so I would repeat that Fenty will go when it suits him and not before, especially if we stay up. He is thick skinned and hard headed when it comes to the money business. He may be prepared to lose some but how much and over what time scale?

Having said that, this situation has reduced his personal credibility to zero and probably ruined any hope of a new ground, certainly in the short term. So it depends on him ..... does he cut his losses and skulk away or does he try and ride it out? History would suggest he will do the latter.

Quoted from 75

The Trust have publicly stated they do not have the will to 'run' the club. The Trust board members mostly work full time. I think the way we remove JF is to pressure him to reveal how much he actually wants for his shares and the 'benign' loan. He has been very vague and will be looking to get as good a return as possible which is fair enough. I'm not sure but I think he owns around £1.1m in shares and has £1.8m in loans so around £3m. That is the noose around the clubs neck. Ideally we need him to name a price instead of vague soundbites about 'no barriers' etc.

It's more like £975,000 in the 2017 accounts, but your point stands.

Quoted from Yoda

Fenty does not want to lose money he’s to tight.
With very low gates he will either have to fund it himself or go into administration either way he loses his money.
The club could start again re AFC Wimbledon they are doing ok and moving back to plough lane.
The ground is worthless to any developers as the demolition costs would overshadow the land value which is only suitable for terraced housing.
The trust need to be more forceful and stop kissing Fentys backside.

I don't think that's the case. The club's assets are held as security for the loans as stated in the accounts. In other words if the club folds he takes ownership of the ground (plus the bibs, cones, and balls of course).

All the business assets will be sold and the money split between the shareholders if there is any left after wages etc have been paid.
So Fenty would get 43% of next to nothing.

Why do us fans always have the excrement end of the stick ?

I mean for once cant we have a bit of happiness ? Like win a game or summatt , im so depressed as a town fan i actually feel worse right now than when we actually got relegated under neil woods.

Quoted from Yoda

All the business assets will be sold and the money split between the shareholders if there is any left after wages etc have been paid.
So Fenty would get 43% of next to nothing.

Not sure you grasp Administration tbh

Sadly if you want Fenty out the only way it will happen is a full boycott on all home games til he`s gone.Took me a long time to realise that but I have made up my mind and wont return now til he`s gone just the odd away game for a day out.

This club is dying

Quoted from jonnyboy82

This club is dying

yep and the Trust seems a lost cause?

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Sadly if you want Fenty out the only way it will happen is a full boycott on all home games til he`s gone.Took me a long time to realise that but I have made up my mind and wont return now til he`s gone just the odd away game for a day out.

That's what i'll do as well. My £350 season ticket money will go on train tickets and match tickets for away games. Either that or i'll chuck it into a pot if someone starts a fighting fund.

Quoted from ginnywings

That's what i'll do as well. My £350 season ticket money will go on train tickets and match tickets for away games. Either that or i'll chuck it into a pot if someone starts a fighting fund.

Watch this space come May I feel if the Trust can`t or wont act others will.A lot of very angry fans keeping a lid on things hoping we can somehow retain our league status should we go down that lids coming off and woe betide those who let it happen.

Quoted from ginnywings

That's what i'll do as well. My £350 season ticket money will go on train tickets and match tickets for away games. Either that or i'll chuck it into a pot if someone starts a fighting fund.

Seriously if we did do a full on boycott then huge followings away would be a good thing. JF said "the club doesn't benefit financially" or something similar from away followings.

Quoted from ginnywings

That's what i'll do as well. My £350 season ticket money will go on train tickets and match tickets for away games. Either that or i'll chuck it into a pot if someone starts a fighting fund.

I can understand that. I would just ask though - are you trying to punish Fenty for the past or secure the club a better future?

I completely agree that Fenty’s incredibly poor decisions are the main factor in getting us to the state we are in. We can blame managers but only one man has been there throughout the debacle. He deserves to go.

If Fenty was Fenty’s employee, Fenty would sack Fenty for incompetence.

But that is a different issue to securing the club’s future. It’s like the French Revolution, Chop off their heads, but then what? Wait around in chaos for a few years for a Napoleon? What do people see happening in a post-Fenty scenario?

Not only does someone or some someones have to buy out the club they also have to underwrite future spending. Who is on the horizon to do this? It isn’t just a matter of acumen, it is about hard cash and lots of it, guaranteed over a long period of time.

Quoted from Mariner_09

Seriously if we did do a full on boycott then huge followings away would be a good thing. JF said "the club doesn't benefit financially" or something similar from away followings.

In the event we stay up the Club/Trust need to sit down right away and have proper dialogue on a way forward.The drop in season ticket sales will hammer them if nothing changes and I mean hammer them.Now I could be talking complete bollox it wouldn't be the first time and those at the Club will tell you I am wrong BUT I expect to see whatever division we are in ST sales dropping by 50%. That figure is unbelievable in real terms but it will happen don`t say you were not warned GTFC you just go bury that head in the sand as always. Now of course with a massive sea change and decent PR they can very much avoid a drop of any significance they could even in fact get on a winner with a bit of thought.Let`s see what happens I am betting nothing at all same as the past 40 years the Osterich mentality will prevail only this time the Osterich is out of credit.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

I can understand that. I would just ask though - are you trying to punish Fenty for the past or secure the club a better future?

I completely agree that Fenty’s incredibly poor decisions are the main factor in getting us to the state we are in. We can blame managers but only one man has been there throughout the debacle. He deserves to go.

If Fenty was Fenty’s employee, Fenty would sack Fenty for incompetence.

But that is a different issue to securing the club’s future. It’s like the French Revolution, Chop off their heads, but then what? Wait around in chaos for a few years for a Napoleon? What do people see happening in a post-Fenty scenario?

Not only does someone or some someones have to buy out the club they also have to underwrite future spending. Who is on the horizon to do this? It isn’t just a matter of acumen, it is about hard cash and lots of it, guaranteed over a long period of time.

TRRFC I fail to see where JF is putting money in anymore mate? In real terms the ST sales alone brought in around £1m and TV revenue etc will have brought in about the same? I don`t really blame him for wanting his money back BUT if he was this massive fan he would walk away.I will give him a quid for his shares and put my money where my mouth is. Then do you know what I would do cos I haven`t got a pot to urine in? Seek an investor my position would be untenable just like John`s.We cannot carry on like this we are slowly dying so we either accept were doomed and die or we get fit and come out fighting a Club with an average gate of 4k should be challenging for top spot in League 2 Accrington prove that.

If, and it's a big if, JF was to write off his loans and donate his shares to the Trust, what then ? Would some wealthy benefactor come in ( if indeed there is anyone interested )or would the Trust then run the club ?

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

I can understand that. I would just ask though - are you trying to punish Fenty for the past or secure the club a better future?

I completely agree that Fenty’s incredibly poor decisions are the main factor in getting us to the state we are in. We can blame managers but only one man has been there throughout the debacle. He deserves to go.

If Fenty was Fenty’s employee, Fenty would sack Fenty for incompetence.

But that is a different issue to securing the club’s future. It’s like the French Revolution, Chop off their heads, but then what? Wait around in chaos for a few years for a Napoleon? What do people see happening in a post-Fenty scenario?

Not only does someone or some someones have to buy out the club they also have to underwrite future spending. Who is on the horizon to do this? It isn’t just a matter of acumen, it is about hard cash and lots of it, guaranteed over a long period of time.

I don't think anybody would have to come in with huge amounts of cash Ron would they? Most of the cash from him is historical isn't it, or maybe hysterical as it has panned out.

Once there is a void I am sure it would be filled, but the sticking point is the benign loans, although somebody said it is underwritten that these would only be repaid if we get footballing fortune and able to afford it. There must be room for a conversation about that, as even Fenty must realise things have to change.

Quoted from rancido

If, and it's a big if, JF was to write off his loans and donate his shares to the Trust, what then ? Would some wealthy benefactor come in ( if indeed there is anyone interested )or would the Trust then run the club ?

That's the risk, but as things are at the moment I don't see how they could be worse? There is the argument that if someone wanted to take over the club and had the cash to do it, JF has said he wants out and has wanted out for some time. Nobody has come forward. That's why I'd like JF to be clear about his demands. We are in such a state that I would suggest he should fall on his financial sword, live up to the 'benign' loan tag and give his shares away for nothing, and cancel the loan. Then see who will come forward.

Quoted from rancido

If, and it's a big if, JF was to write off his loans and donate his shares to the Trust, what then ? Would some wealthy benefactor come in ( if indeed there is anyone interested )or would the Trust then run the club ?

Well it`s IFS and BUTS of course it is however this would give the Trust a blank sheet to work with albeit they have only a short window of opportunity to choose a path. JF could walk away and ask for some/all his money back at a rate of 100k a year or something? I have always felt he wants the legacy of a new ground on his CV and I would argue he probably deserved that prior to this Season but I have lost all faith in him personally.

Quoted from 75

That's the risk, but as things are at the moment I don't see how they could be worse? There is the argument that if someone wanted to take over the club and had the cash to do it, JF has said he wants out and has wanted out for some time. Nobody has come forward. That's why I'd like JF to be clear about his demands. We are in such a state that I would suggest he should fall on his financial sword, live up to the 'benign' loan tag and give his shares away for nothing, and cancel the loan. Then see who will come forward.

I can`t see why with proper dialogue John/Trust come to the conclusion he should give them back the Parker shares with a view to them selling them on and getting him a chunk of his money. Also why doesn`t JF convert his loans to shares and do exactly the same SELL THEM and recoup his money.That is open it`s honest and whilst it may take a while he would see some money come back.Example the Trust pay 30k from the bars why not use that money to buy his shares?

Quoted from rancido

If, and it's a big if, JF was to write off his loans and donate his shares to the Trust, what then ? Would some wealthy benefactor come in ( if indeed there is anyone interested )or would the Trust then run the club ?

There are plenty of business people out there who support the club,

They do not want anything to do with it while Fenty is there,

BUT

If he departed and took his benign loans with him,

I am sure a few would step up and take control.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

I can`t see why with proper dialogue John/Trust come to the conclusion he should give them back the Parker shares with a view to them selling them on and getting him a chunk of his money. Also why doesn`t JF convert his loans to shares and do exactly the same SELL THEM and recoup his money.That is open it`s honest and whilst it may take a while he would see some money come back.Example the Trust pay 30k from the bars why not use that money to buy his shares?

Bit in bold is a sticking point. Whilst they are loans, they are worth what it says, if converted to shares, they become worth what someone is prepared to pay for the shares.

I keep coming back to Newport - their supporters trust took over in October 2015 and, whilst they've been close to relegation, they are now thriving. They have a board of about 10 directors who all bring different skills to the boardroom and give their time for the benefit of the club, which, whilst there's 10 of them, doesn't impinge greatly on their own careers.

I don't really know what would happen without JF, but we managed without him for over a hundred years, so i've no doubt that this scenario has played out many times over time. What i do know is that in any other part of your life, if you keep investing time, energy and money into something, and getting no reward, you eventually walk away from it. Football clubs are a bit different in that regard, and unless you are a complete mercenary, you are stuck with your club for life, thick and thin. Too many clubs play on this fact, but when they get it wrong, somehow it's the fans fault for complaining about it.

I've got no axe to grind with anyone personally, and i'm not looking to hurt anyone specifically, or the club in general. It's just that sometimes in life you have to make a stand, and sometimes you have to go backwards to move forwards. We keep going year after year, propping up a regime that have clearly shown, time and again, that they are not capable of being custodians of this fine old club, so something has to give. It's moved beyond just poor football now, to off field stuff. They have just gobsmacked me with some of the stuff that has come out of the club this season, and they appear to me to be a very smug and dismissive bunch, when they have absolutely nothing whatsoever to be smug about.

There is no investment in the club financially, so some have stated, so that shows that it can be run as it is on the income streams we have coming into the club. The only stumbling block is the grip that JF has because he wants his ball back. He has backed a horse, the horse has fell at every fence, and now he wants his stake money reimbursing. Some say he shouldn't get it back and i have no argument with that sentiment, but if that is the price to pay, and if some other parties are confident that they can do a better job than him and turn a profit, then give him what he wants, and pay him back as and when the club can afford it. shouldn't be too much of a task if the team can be successful and get more bums on seats.

I have always just turned up and watched the team; took anything that's come our way, good or bad, and not really complained much, apart from some hot air and waffle on here, but the worm has turned now and enough is enough. Our return to the league has been a complete disaster and we are already on our 4th manager and about 60th player, in less than 2 seasons. It can't carry on, so for me, it either changes radically, or many will walk away. How that can be achieved, i have no idea, but someone somewhere will.

I mentioned the club we were going to become a few months back and got shot down a bit, but in a few short weeks we are going to be a mirror image of Blackpool FC.. or much worse than that if we get relegated..

Some excerpts from a newspaper article in 2015.. there's some stark similarities, the details are not the same and not as severe in some cases, but the scenarios bear striking resemblance ..


Blackpool have won seven times in 70 games.

The club have earned 39 points from a possible 210.

In that time the Seasiders averaged 0.55 points a game.

They have conceded more goals (80) than any other Football League team.

51 different players have been used this season.

The man charged with running them, chairman Karl Oyston, is charmless personified, awaiting his fate for labelling one paying customer a 'imbecile' before Christmas. It would be hilariously inept if not so obnoxious and ignorant.

He has little regard for his employees or customers, is stubborn to the extreme and has seen fit to sue supporters for allegedly defamatory comments made on internet messageboards read by a couple of hundred people.

Fans have stopped turning up because of that, and their deep mistrust in Karl (and his father, Owen, who owns the shipwreck).

And so to those texts, the ghastly exchange which could see Oyston banned from football activities for the foreseeable future. Oyston was provoked by fan Stephen Smith, but his responses offer irrefutable evidence of the sort of chairman who runs this club.

Oyston labelled said supporter a 'imbecile'. Told him to 'enjoy your special needs day out'. Banned him from Bloomfield Road because he was a 'p****'. Nobody comes out of that exchange looking particularly clever but serious questions must be asked as to why a chairman who sits on the Football League's board of directors would become embroiled in such a trivial row.

The atmosphere on the Fylde Coast is toxic, even the staunchest Oyston sympathisers have turned against their ownership - most notably, perhaps, is the former chairman of the official supporters' association, who washed his hands of the club last year.

Then there are the antics of Karl Oyston and his children, who have openly mocked their paying customers.

The contempt between the two camps is mutual. It's the only thing they agree on. Incredibly, the Oystons have turned a placid fanbase into a hate mob. Thousands turn up each week to chant, scream and vent. The people who suffer are those who just want to go and watch football with their family and friends.

Blackpool are the Football League's joke, but it is their owners who are laughing loudest.

I can replace every one of the Blackpool scenarios with a similar one of our own at GTFC and add a fair few more too.. We are so close to replacing Blackpool as the Football League's joke club.I know we don't want to think of our club in this way, but we are heading that way fast. Fans at GTFC are hanging on their last shreds of patience, Stay up or not, it's going to be very messy once the season closes in a few weeks time..

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Bit in bold is a sticking point. Whilst they are loans, they are worth what it says, if converted to shares, they become worth what someone is prepared to pay for the shares.

I keep coming back to Newport - their supporters trust took over in October 2015 and, whilst they've been close to relegation, they are now thriving. They have a board of about 10 directors who all bring different skills to the boardroom and give their time for the benefit of the club, which, whilst there's 10 of them, doesn't impinge greatly on their own careers.

Just so we are clear cos at some point JF will read this thread.I appreciate he initially put the money in and I understand why at that time it was put in as a loan rather than shares.Now years later with nothing happening in terms of him getting his money back and with a lot of people fed up with him personally he could convert the loan to shares and sell them at whatever price he likes.I might not want to pay £2 a share but at least I would know exactly what I was getting for my money.

The same Oystons that JF defended on this very forum in a thread? Think he also defended the Allam's and didn't see anything wrong with Shaun Harvey when i discussed the Chicken Tray Trophy with him.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Just so we are clear cos at some point JF will read this thread.I appreciate he initially put the money in and I understand why at that time it was put in as a loan rather than shares.Now years later with nothing happening in terms of him getting his money back and with a lot of people fed up with him personally he could convert the loan to shares and sell them at whatever price he likes.I might not want to pay £2 a share but at least I would know exactly what I was getting for my money.

I don’t think he can do this without getting into the same pickle that Mike Parker was ‘accidentally’ forced into ie having such a large stake of shares that he would have to make an offer on all of the other club shares, Article 50 I think??

And, as someone pointed out earlier, if the club goes under the shares are pretty much worthless but the loans will still have ‘value’

Quoted from grimsby pete

There are plenty of business people out there who support the club,

They do not want anything to do with it while Fenty is there,

BUT

If he departed and took his benign loans with him,

I am sure a few would step up and take control.

Not wanting to disagree with you but I have yet to hear of any hard evidence of this.

Quoted from ginnywings

I don't really know what would happen without JF, but we managed without him for over a hundred years, so i've no doubt that this scenario has played out many times over time. What i do know is that in any other part of your life, if you keep investing time, energy and money into something, and getting no reward, you eventually walk away from it. Football clubs are a bit different in that regard, and unless you are a complete mercenary, you are stuck with your club for life, thick and thin. Too many clubs play on this fact, but when they get it wrong, somehow it's the fans fault for complaining about it.

I've got no axe to grind with anyone personally, and i'm not looking to hurt anyone specifically, or the club in general. It's just that sometimes in life you have to make a stand, and sometimes you have to go backwards to move forwards. We keep going year after year, propping up a regime that have clearly shown, time and again, that they are not capable of being custodians of this fine old club, so something has to give. It's moved beyond just poor football now, to off field stuff. They have just gobsmacked me with some of the stuff that has come out of the club this season, and they appear to me to be a very smug and dismissive bunch, when they have absolutely nothing whatsoever to be smug about.

There is no investment in the club financially, so some have stated, so that shows that it can be run as it is on the income streams we have coming into the club. The only stumbling block is the grip that JF has because he wants his ball back. He has backed a horse, the horse has fell at every fence, and now he wants his stake money reimbursing. Some say he shouldn't get it back and i have no argument with that sentiment, but if that is the price to pay, and if some other parties are confident that they can do a better job than him and turn a profit, then give him what he wants, and pay him back as and when the club can afford it. shouldn't be too much of a task if the team can be successful and get more bums on seats.

I have always just turned up and watched the team; took anything that's come our way, good or bad, and not really complained much, apart from some hot air and waffle on here, but the worm has turned now and enough is enough. Our return to the league has been a complete disaster and we are already on our 4th manager and about 60th player, in less than 2 seasons. It can't carry on, so for me, it either changes radically, or many will walk away. How that can be achieved, i have no idea, but someone somewhere will.

Probably the best summary of our current situation.

Quoted from ginnywings

There is no investment in the club financially, so some have stated, so that shows that it can be run as it is on the income streams we have coming into the club. The only stumbling block is the grip that JF has because he wants his ball back. He has backed a horse, the horse has fell at every fence, and now he wants his stake money reimbursing. Some say he shouldn't get it back and i have no argument with that sentiment, but if that is the price to pay, and if some other parties are confident that they can do a better job than him and turn a profit, then give him what he wants, and pay him back as and when the club can afford it. shouldn't be too much of a task if the team can be successful and get more bums on seats.

Very good post but disagree on the bit in bold.  If Mr X comes in and reforms the clubs makes it into a well-oiled machine and manages to turn a profit.  Would you want that profit going out of the club to pay for Fenty's mistakes over the past 15 years or putting back into the infrastructure and team?

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

Very good post but disagree on the bit in bold.  If Mr X comes in and reforms the clubs makes it into a well-oiled machine and manages to turn a profit.  Would you want that profit going out of the club to pay for Fenty's mistakes over the past 15 years or putting back into the infrastructure and team?

Ruin the past fifteen years and mortgage the future fifteen years doesn't sit well with me either.. hostage to fortune comes to mind..

The club is worth around £1/2m on paper if the loans were quashed. I think a £1m offer for his 925k shareholding is about as fair as it gets if the loans are written off. Only if we stay up mind, if we go down it will be worth less than sod all, so he can go whistle if that happens and sink with it down to the National League North and beyond while waiting for his loans back.

If he doesn't sort something out that's equitable in the very near future, deserved or not, he will be running the risk of going down as one of the most vilified men in the town's history, never mind the football club's.. It's up to him to make something happen to avoid that stigma..

Quoted from Bigdog

Ruin the past fifteen years and mortgage the future fifteen years doesn't sit well with me either.. hostage to fortune comes to mind..

The club is worth around £1/2m on paper if the loans were quashed. I think a £1m offer for his 925k shareholding is about as fair as it gets if the loans are written off. Only if we stay up mind, if we go down it will be worth less than sod all, so he can go whistle if that happens and sink with it down to the National League North and beyond.

If he doesn't sort something out that's equitable in the very near future, deserved or not, he will be running the risk of going down as one of the most vilified men in the town's history, never mind the football club's.. It's up to him to make something happen to avoid that stigma..

Your last paragraph is so true. This is a proud town, a town that deserves a club in the Football League and holding its own; a lot of blood sweat and tears have gone into the 140 years of GTFC  to make it an integral part of the Football league. Great characters, great fans, great players and great times have all been sacrificed on the alter of a non chairman who has almost single handedley destroyed the club. For an amount of money put in 15 years ago he has been allowed free reign to rip up decades of work in making the club part and parcel of the football world and a huge part of peoples lives.

Penny pinching and trying to run it on the least amount of investment possible, together with an over inflated opinion of his abilities has brought GTFC to its knees.

Quoted from Yoda

All the business assets will be sold and the money split between the shareholders if there is any left after wages etc have been paid.
So Fenty would get 43% of next to nothing.

You've misunderstood the situation. John Fenty has a debenture on the assets of the club. It's a bit like he's the bank and the club have a mortgage. The bank (in this case John Fenty) get to own the property in the event of a default on the mortgage / administration of the club. Given that the assets of the club are worth less than the money owed to JF, then the shareholders get nothing.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Watch this space come May I feel if the Trust can`t or wont act others will.A lot of very angry fans keeping a lid on things hoping we can somehow retain our league status should we go down that lids coming off and woe betide those who let it happen.

The sensible thing would be for those angry people to make sure they are Trust members and make a push for power. The Trust is already an established not for profit company, with rules that ensure democratic governance 9assuming members can be arsed) and therefore has the legal framework in place in order to acquire a controlling interest in the club. If you're looking to start something new, it'll involve more time and money than is necessary.

Use the Trust. Change the Trust. But don't replicate it.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Your last paragraph is so true. This is a proud town, a town that deserves a club in the Football League and holding its own; a lot of blood sweat and tears have gone into the 140 years of GTFC  to make it an integral part of the Football league. Great characters, great fans, great players and great times have all been sacrificed on the alter of a non chairman who has almost single handedley destroyed the club. For an amount of money put in 15 years ago he has been allowed free reign to rip up decades of work in making the club part and parcel of the football world and a huge part of peoples lives.

Penny pinching and trying to run it on the least amount of investment possible, together with an over inflated opinion of his abilities has brought GTFC to its knees.

It's the 140th anniversary this year. Let's hope this is the year of re-birth! Or at leat let's hope we make 150.

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

Very good post but disagree on the bit in bold.  If Mr X comes in and reforms the clubs makes it into a well-oiled machine and manages to turn a profit.  Would you want that profit going out of the club to pay for Fenty's mistakes over the past 15 years or putting back into the infrastructure and team?

I said that i had no argument with the sentiment that he shouldn't get it back, but i was just trying to look at it from another angle that would maybe suit all parties. He wants out, that much is clear; so what would it take to facilitate it? As Bigdog says, if we drop out of the league, it will be worth nowt anyway.

How do you get to become owner of a football club in the first place? It's not like it's advertised on rightmove with an asking price is it? And apart from the ground what do you actually own? It only exists as an entity if fans turn up to the ground to watch the team, so basically, you are buying loyalty to something and an amount of good will. If there is no good will left, what have you got? I own a workshop, but if the stuff i produce is no good and no one wants it, then the workshop is useless and pointless. Some may carry on buying stuff out of loyalty and because i once produced good items, but eventually, it withers and dies.

A naive view perhaps, but how does it get to the stage where one man can "own" 140 years of history and memories to do with as he pleases?

Quoted from 1mickylyons

I can`t see why with proper dialogue John/Trust come to the conclusion he should give them back the Parker shares with a view to them selling them on and getting him a chunk of his money. Also why doesn`t JF convert his loans to shares and do exactly the same SELL THEM and recoup his money.That is open it`s honest and whilst it may take a while he would see some money come back.Example the Trust pay 30k from the bars why not use that money to buy his shares?

The money from the bars is the clubs money anyway isn’t it

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

The money from the bars is the clubs money anyway isn’t it

Not sure how it works to be honest mate? I just know since the trust have run the bars the takings have shot up if the Club themselves run the bars I suspect many people if the service went back to how it was would go elsewhere? It seems in the best interest of both parties to have this arrangement.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Not sure how it works to be honest mate? I just know since the trust have run the bars the takings have shot up if the Club themselves run the bars I suspect many people if the service went back to how it was would go elsewhere? It seems in the best interest of both parties to have this arrangement.

Definitely the bars are run better than before

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Definitely the bars are run better than before

I agree and the match day catering is another area where the Trust could shine.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Not sure how it works to be honest mate? I just know since the trust have run the bars the takings have shot up if the Club themselves run the bars I suspect many people if the service went back to how it was would go elsewhere? It seems in the best interest of both parties to have this arrangement.

We've been over this before but it's well due a revisit.
I (and most of my colleagues on the Trust Board) would love to claim a share of the credit for the success of the bars but aside from some quite imaginative work early on and some hands-on decorating we all know that the credit belongs to Shaz and her team. It is inconceivable to me that if the Trust didn't manage the bars and they reverted to the club that GTFC wouldn't ask Shaz and therefore her team to continue in their roles.

Quoted from barralad

We've been over this before but it's well due a revisit.
I (and most of my colleagues on the Trust Board) would love to claim a share of the credit for the success of the bars but aside from some quite imaginative work early on and some hands-on decorating we all know that the credit belongs to Shaz and her team. It is inconceivable to me that if the Trust didn't manage the bars and they reverted to the club that GTFC wouldn't ask Shaz and therefore her team to continue in their roles.

It would have been inconceivable to think Kristine wouldn't be the fan's SLO a few months back though Barra. I've gone way past the point in assuming anything rational from this board of directors anymore..

Quoted from Bigdog

It would have been inconceivable to think Kristine wouldn't be the fan's SLO a few months back though Barra. I've gone way past the point in assuming anything rational from this board of directors anymore..

good point bigdog. What was incontestably best for the club (to have Kristine in post, award winnng SLO, popular wth fans) was not the option chosen by Fenty, in his quest for absolute control over everything to do with the club. This board are such total member-up merchants there isn't anything they couldn't turn to excrement.

Quoted from barralad

We've been over this before but it's well due a revisit.
I (and most of my colleagues on the Trust Board) would love to claim a share of the credit for the success of the bars but aside from some quite imaginative work early on and some hands-on decorating we all know that the credit belongs to Shaz and her team. It is inconceivable to me that if the Trust didn't manage the bars and they reverted to the club that GTFC wouldn't ask Shaz and therefore her team to continue in their roles.

You have a naive faith in the club Barra. Look at every other pigging decision they've made with regard to staff in the last couple of yers.

Quoted from barralad

We've been over this before but it's well due a revisit.
I (and most of my colleagues on the Trust Board) would love to claim a share of the credit for the success of the bars but aside from some quite imaginative work early on and some hands-on decorating we all know that the credit belongs to Shaz and her team. It is inconceivable to me that if the Trust didn't manage the bars and they reverted to the club that GTFC wouldn't ask Shaz and therefore her team to continue in their roles.

You miss one very valid point though Barra.
Shaz and her team (as good as they are) won’t be able to sell beer to people that aren’t there !!!!  

Quoted from Civvy at last

You miss one very valid point though Barra.
Shaz and her team (as good as they are) won’t be able to sell beer to people that aren’t there !!!!  

It's a totally different argument though to the view that should the club re-take control of the bars Sharon wouldn't continue to run them. As the person who has to balance the Trust's books I'm well aware of outside influences that can affect bar takings. This season has seen a steady decline helped by the misapprehension that people are directly hitting the club by boycotting the bars..
When people talk about the funds the Trust can raise it should never be forgotten that the club were instrumental in providing a means by which the 30K for a seat on the board could be achieved. It is entirely true that at the time the arrangement suited both camps (the bars were losing money because of a lack of expertise in the running of them) but the point Abdul made is entirely correct...it was the club's money in the first place. The Trust have through Shaz and co just made a much better job of maximising it. There are several scenarios around what would happen if the Trust relinquished the place on the Board of GTFC but to assume that we would simply be allowed to carry on and use the bars money for our own purposes may be very wide of the mark.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

You have a naive faith in the club Barra. Look at every other pigging decision they've made with regard to staff in the last couple of yers.

Not naive. In the case of the bars a view based on my working knowledge of the set up....sorry to disappoint   :

Quoted from barralad

It's a totally different argument though to the view that should the club re-take control of the bars Sharon wouldn't continue to run them. As the person who has to balance the Trust's books I'm well aware of outside influences that can affect bar takings. This season has seen a steady decline helped by the misapprehension that people are directly hitting the club by boycotting the bars..
When people talk about the funds the Trust can raise it should never be forgotten that the club were instrumental in providing a means by which the 30K for a seat on the board could be achieved. It is entirely true that at the time the arrangement suited both camps (the bars were losing money because of a lack of expertise in the running of them) but the point Abdul made is entirely correct...it was the club's money in the first place. The Trust have through Shaz and co just made a much better job of maximising it. There are several scenarios around what would happen if the Trust relinquished the place on the Board of GTFC but to assume that we would simply be allowed to carry on and use the bars money for our own purposes may be very wide of the mark.

I realise that.  But sorry Barra I will be boycotting the bars. If I give money to the trust. The trust passes it on to JF.
I realise this is a totally simplistic view. But that’s my basic logic.
I was pretty much decided before and recent revelations have confirmed that I personally do not agree with having a trust member in the board. If the bars don’t make £30,000 then the board can’t collect.  
I fully realise that if the trust step down, the bar profit won’t be theirs to allocate as they wish. If it was I’d drink in them. Because at least then there would be a modicum of control rather than just propping up an inept board.
As always, respect to the likes of yourself and all the hard workers. But at the moment I wonder if the Trust has changed its Motto to ‘four legs good, two legs better’. ( I don’t know how to do the thingy were you write a word and cross it out. But that word would be ‘bad’. ).

Quoted from Civvy at last

I realise that.  But sorry Barra I will be boycotting the bars. If I give money to the trust. The trust passes it on to JF.
I realise this is a totally simplistic view. But that’s my basic logic.
I was pretty much decided before and recent revelations have confirmed that I personally do not agree with having a trust member in the board. If the bars don’t make £30,000 then the board can’t collect.  
I fully realise that if the trust step down, the bar profit won’t be theirs to allocate as they wish. If it was I’d drink in them. Because at least then there would be a modicum of control rather than just propping up an inept board.
As always, respect to the likes of yourself and all the hard workers. But at the moment I wonder if the Trust has changed its Motto to ‘four legs good, two legs better’. ( I don’t know how to do the thingy were you write a word and cross it out. But that word would be ‘bad’. ).

That makes sense to me.

Virtually everything the Trust does in respect of raising money sees it all, in one way or another, pass to the Football Club. The ethos of the Trust, I believe, is to improve things for the supporters and represent the fans voice to the club. Any money raised will be used to improve the fans lot, i.e.the bars, or specific things in the club. Unfortunately, I get the impression that the money raised goes into the club pot.

Moving forward then maybe any money raised should be to used to buy further shares, that ways the club benefits but the Trust increase their holding. The current issue is that JF will still have control but every share purchased dilutes JF's percentage very slightly.

Is my thought correct or have I misunderstood?

Quoted from barralad

It's a totally different argument though to the view that should the club re-take control of the bars Sharon wouldn't continue to run them. As the person who has to balance the Trust's books I'm well aware of outside influences that can affect bar takings. This season has seen a steady decline helped by the misapprehension that people are directly hitting the club by boycotting the bars..
When people talk about the funds the Trust can raise it should never be forgotten that the club were instrumental in providing a means by which the 30K for a seat on the board could be achieved. It is entirely true that at the time the arrangement suited both camps (the bars were losing money because of a lack of expertise in the running of them) but the point Abdul made is entirely correct...it was the club's money in the first place. The Trust have through Shaz and co just made a much better job of maximising it. There are several scenarios around what would happen if the Trust relinquished the place on the Board of GTFC but to assume that we would simply be allowed to carry on and use the bars money for our own purposes may be very wide of the mark.

Doesn't that just show, that along with the catering, GTFC were missing out on much needed income by not maximising all possible income streams and it took the Trust to come along and show them how to properly manage them? All the while, the bar and catering (not to mention the toilet facilities) where all the bigwigs dine and drink, are of a much higher standard and seems to be well run. Funny that isn't it?

As much as I dislike Fenty running the club, he must have something about him if he has convinced a fans organisation to give him money. He is probably very good at getting the best business deals but terrible transferring those skills to a customer based entity like a football club.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

As much as I dislike Fenty running the club, he must have something about him if he has convinced a fans organisation to give him money. He is probably very good at getting the best business deals but terrible transferring those skills to a customer based entity like a football club.

Cutting your costs to the bone in order to increase margins and be competitive is great for a fish factory but not transferable ideology for a football club IMO

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

As much as I dislike Fenty running the club, he must have something about him if he has convinced a fans organisation to give him money. He is probably very good at getting the best business deals but terrible transferring those skills to a customer based entity like a football club.

Only to a point though.. easier when he holds all the cards, uses them and adds a little sweet talk into getting what he wants by preying on the goodwill of others. It only lasts so long and eventually falls apart due to the inequity of the initial deal and the control he craves.

It's happened so often over the years with so many good people having to walk away even though they love the club..

The real skill is in negotiating equitable deals that are long lasting, not driving one side eventually into the ground..

Quoted from barralad

It's a totally different argument though to the view that should the club re-take control of the bars Sharon wouldn't continue to run them. As the person who has to balance the Trust's books I'm well aware of outside influences that can affect bar takings. This season has seen a steady decline helped by the misapprehension that people are directly hitting the club by boycotting the bars..
When people talk about the funds the Trust can raise it should never be forgotten that the club were instrumental in providing a means by which the 30K for a seat on the board could be achieved. It is entirely true that at the time the arrangement suited both camps (the bars were losing money because of a lack of expertise in the running of them) but the point Abdul made is entirely correct...it was the club's money in the first place. The Trust have through Shaz and co just made a much better job of maximising it. There are several scenarios around what would happen if the Trust relinquished the place on the Board of GTFC but to assume that we would simply be allowed to carry on and use the bars money for our own purposes may be very wide of the mark.

To my mind it’s a pretty poor deal.

The club get to hand over the hassle of running the bars etc, making more money than if they were running them, all in exchange for a completely ineffectual seat on the board.

The recent survey clearly shows that the fans no longer feel the Trust should be handing any money over for a seat on the board - when is this issue going to be addressed or are you just hoping that given time people will forget about this?

I’d also like to suggest that any funds that the Trust generate and pay to the club should be as share purchases rather than a simple donation - that way the club still gets the money but the Trust get something back too ie increased shareholding in the club.

I totally agree that instead giving the board 30k they should use that to buy shares.

Quoted from Davec

I totally agree that instead giving the board 30k they should use that to buy shares.

It's ok Barra, I'll explain this one (again).  The 30K is not actually the trusts money.  It is the clubs money. The current agreement (as I see it) is that the trust gets the money from the Bars as long as £30k of it is passed to the club in exchange for a seat on the board. The revenue from the bars is always the clubs money, whoever runs them.  By letting the trust run the bars, GTFC (ie JF) gives them the means to earn enough to pay for that seat. It is in the interest of both the club and the trust for the bars to be a success.  So I actually can understand JF wanting that money, it was always Towns money anyway, the trust just helped to maximise it.

The Trust could use other ways to raise money to buy shares if it so wanted. The problem is of course that JF will always want complete control so effectively it would just be a donation to the club.
Any sign of a power shift would result in similar turmoil to the Mike Parker fiasco.  I will quite happily support the trust in raising any funds that they had some kind of control over.  ie improving toilet facilities, or sound proofing the Ponny etc. Hopefully JF wouldn't see that as a disaster !!!!

Quoted from Civvy at last

It's ok Barra, I'll explain this one (again).  The 30K is not actually the trusts money.  It is the clubs money. The current agreement (as I see it) is that the trust gets the money from the Bars as long as £30k of it is passed to the club in exchange for a seat on the board. The revenue from the bars is always the clubs money, whoever runs them.  By letting the trust run the bars, GTFC (ie JF) gives them the means to earn enough to pay for that seat. It is in the interest of both the club and the trust for the bars to be a success.  So I actually can understand JF wanting that money, it was always Towns money anyway, the trust just helped to maximise it.

The Trust could use other ways to raise money to buy shares if it so wanted. The problem is of course that JF will always want complete control so effectively it would just be a donation to the club.
Any sign of a power shift would result in similar turmoil to the Mike Parker fiasco.  I will quite happily support the trust in raising any funds that they had some kind of control over.  ie improving toilet facilities, or sound proofing the Ponny etc. Hopefully JF wouldn't see that as a disaster !!!!

Yes I do understand so no need for the patronising

I understand it is the club's money, my point is I would rather the trust use 30k buying shares rather than give it to the club in return for another Fenty yes man.

I know that the club would in a sense be using their own money to buy the trust shares and Fenty wouldn't be willing, but Fenty and the board always insist they listen to fans (in which they don't) so why don't they back that up by effectively gifting the trust shares, very unlikely i know and maybe I'm being unrealistic but it's better than what we have now.

Quoted from Bigdog

Only to a point though.. easier when he holds all the cards, uses them and adds a little sweet talk into getting what he wants by preying on the goodwill of others. It only lasts so long and eventually falls apart due to the inequity of the initial deal and the control he craves.

It's happened so often over the years with so many good people having to walk away even though they love the club..

The real skill is in negotiating equitable deals that are long lasting, not driving one side eventually into the ground..

Oh I take your point entirely. That was what I was getting at - great if your trying to drive your competition into the ground; great for cutting costs to a bare minimum and great for short term gain from the companies point of view, but absolutely not the way to run a football club that is part of the community.

It is his mindset that is causing a lot of the problems.  

I don't see the point in buying shares (using whatever the Trust can access cash-wise) when it gave away a huge slice of (free) shares that it can never hope to replace.

Quoted from ginnywings

Doesn't that just show, that along with the catering, GTFC were missing out on much needed income by not maximising all possible income streams and it took the Trust to come along and show them how to properly manage them? All the while, the bar and catering (not to mention the toilet facilities) where all the bigwigs dine and drink, are of a much higher standard and seems to be well run. Funny that isn't it?

It's like when JF was asked about the catering facilities at the Fans Forum. He basically said that it was an outside contract so the club had no say on the standard of the food. So, no checks and balances about the food quality before handing out the contracts. It is the club's responsibility to the paying customer when they're handing out contracts to ensure that part of the matchday experience is a great one. Fish finger sandwiches, Lincolnshire sausages and properly brewed tea and coffee anyone? But no, sod the fans, take the money and pass the buck..

The toilet facilities a little different. It could be claimed by JF that there's no need to spend any more money on BP as the new stadium's round the corner. Well, what new stadium for a start. And on top of that, add the toilet facilities to the poor catering at half time and Town losing yet again, a fan might well be pointing percy and looking around and thinking, "this is disgusting". The toilet facilities won't be a prime reason for fans to decide not to attend but may form part of a larger grim view of the matchday experience. JF could then add that if money is spent on BP there would be less money for the playing budget and it could be countered with the fact that he's not attracted outside investment for years and if he had there would be the cash to do both.

Catering and toilets are two very simple problems to sort out, they've been ignored and all filter back to whose ultimate responsibility it is to deliver. It may seem petty of me to have a go about these two subjects when greater problems abound, but these two examples are symptomatic of how the football club is run..

Quoted from Bigdog

It's like when JF was asked about the catering facilities at the Fans Forum. He basically said that it was an outside contract so the club had no say on the standard of the food. So, no checks and balances about the food quality before handing out the contracts. It is the club's responsibility to the paying customer when they're handing out contracts to ensure that part of the matchday experience is a great one. Fish finger sandwiches, Lincolnshire sausages and properly brewed tea and coffee anyone? But no, sod the fans, take the money and pass the buck..

The toilet facilities a little different. It could be claimed by JF that there's no need to spend any more money on BP as the new stadium's round the corner. Well, what new stadium for a start. And on top of that, add the toilet facilities to the poor catering at half time and Town losing yet again, a fan might well be pointing percy and looking around and thinking, "this is disgusting". The toilet facilities won't be a prime reason for fans to decide not to attend but may form part of a larger grim view of the matchday experience. JF could then add that if money is spent on BP there would be less money for the playing budget and it could be countered with the fact that he's not attracted outside investment for years and if he had there would be the cash to do both.

Catering and toilets are two very simple problems to sort out, they've been ignored and all filter back to whose ultimate responsibility it is to deliver. It may seem petty of me to have a go about these two subjects when greater problems abound, but these two examples are symptomatic of how the football club is run..

Customer satisfaction appears to be irrelevant at GTFC, both onfield entertainment and off-field services fall way below an acceptable standard.

Quoted from Ipswin

I don't see the point in buying shares (using whatever the Trust can access cash-wise) when it gave away a huge slice of (free) shares that it can never hope to replace.

Swin they made a mistake albeit a big one it happens.We will get nowhere using it as a stick to continuously beat them with especially when the decision was made by those who voted for it the shares  were given away democratically. (wrongly)

So that’s 10 pages on here, 20-odd pages in the “Freefall” thread, another 6 or 7 pages in the “Thoughts and Opinions” thread and not one offer from this oh-so-concerned fanbase to actually help in any tangible way. Says it all.

Plenty of people happy to suggest others do this or do that, resign from their voluntary positions or force Fenty out the door and then run the club (presumably whilst keeping their day jobs?), but nobody really offering to get stuck in themselves. How many of these suggestions have been put to the board members themselves? Attended many meetings? The open events held a few months ago?

Can only respect anyone who has taken on any of the roles or has tried to help in the past or the present versions of the Trust. Must be a nightmare with so many backseat drivers.