Will put this is a new thread as I know people are interested in it.

Stockwood was on Humberside this morning talking about McAtee, possible incomings and the club's finances.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0cqkf3z

Summary:

• Deal was done reluctantly.
  
• Didn't want to stand in the way of McAtee's ambition.
  
• Offered him an improved deal but it was clear he wasn't going to sign it.
  
• Great outcome to get him back on loan.
  
• "Took external counsel" on value of deal.
  
• Fee is less than £500k but we are paid a portion up front. Add-ons are included as well as a "double digit percentage" sell-on.
  
• Might have got a better fee from elsewhere but the loan-back was what sold it for us.
  
• Working with Luton to manage McAtee's shoulder.
  
• Keen to develop a relationship with Luton to potentially take some of their players on loan in the future.
  
• "Historical debt will be cleared 18 months early" (so presumably, this year).
  
• 1878 have invested "about half a million" into the club this summer.
  
• Talking to clubs about bringing in more attacking players.
  

Wipe that skid mark from our history. All the links cut.  

Can’t fault them. Impeccable.

I hope they put out a statement once it is done. They're so professional in the way they do everything I can imagine a cheeky little statement professionally written basically saying "He's gone"  ;D

When’s this transparency ever got you an extra 3000 season tickets,  feel good factor and 3 points on a Saturday

I thought it was really interesting that they cleared the debt early from their personal funds.

There aren’t many reasons to clear an interest free debt early. Total conjecture but the only things I can think of are pressure from the creditor, creditor offering reduced terms to settle early, free up debt servicing for future repayments or new investors wanting to invest in to a debt free club. I’m sure there are a few others but all seem positive.

May be Fenty needed the money to pay HMRC the cash he owes them?

All good news, proper people doing things properly!!

I know this is said time and again, but we really are so lucky to have Jason, Andrew & Debbie involved in our club. Another great interview.

UTM

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Wipe that skid mark from our history.

That's a bit harsh. On skid marks.

Now the debt is cleared, it is over to Fenty to tell us all which ‘good causes’ he is giving the £200k to. I am pretty sure he said he was going to,

Quoted from aldi_01

May be Fenty needed the money to pay HMRC the cash he owes them?

some were hoping for jail

Quoted from aldi_01

May be Fenty needed the money to pay HMRC the cash he owes them?

If he did then maybe they negotiated a lower fee to give him a lump sum. ‘Of course we can pay you early John, we will just reduce the amount by the £200,000 you ripped off the club/trust while you were telling us all how much of fan you were and what a good guy you were’

If carlsberg did negotiations

Quoted from RonMariner

Now the debt is cleared, it is over to Fenty to tell us all which ‘good causes’ he is giving the £200k to. I am pretty sure he said he was going to,

I would imagine one of them would be HMRC 😂

Quoted from RonMariner

Now the debt is cleared, it is over to Fenty to tell us all which ‘good causes’ he is giving the £200k to. I am pretty sure he said he was going to,

HMRC? A few interesting chaps in Liverpool? The JSF support fund? The ‘help JSF buy his bird some new bazongas’ fund?

In truth, we’ll never see that money, ever. Nor will we ever see him again. He tried one game, some shook his hand, the vast majority ignored him and wanted nothing to do with him.

I’m sure HMRC would like to hear of any additional cash coming his way…

Like another poster put, I was hoping a spell of porridge…

Don't forget he will have to pay capital gains tax on the £200,000 as they cost him FA.  20% to HMRC at least.

Quoted from Grantham_Mariner

Don't forget he will have to pay capital gains tax on the £200,000 as they cost him FA.  20% to HMRC at least.

Therein lies the issue…he doesn’t pay HMRC what they’re owed, honest John doesn’t seem to think he has to…

We had a narrow escape.

usually when a debt is paid in full, early , then the recipient agrees to take a lower sum

I really, really, really, really ,really hope that was the case here

Quoted from forza ivano

usually when a debt is paid in full, early , then the recipient agrees to take a lower sum

I really, really, really, really ,really hope that was the case here

Or it could be that after the first scheduled payment of £500k last December, the incoming transfer receipts basically covered a huge chunk of the remaking balance and the new owners decided to clear the last bit to clear the decks and move on. The Dembele, Pollock and Grist fees must have been in the region £800k or so I would imagine.

Am I missing something here, I thought Jason said the debt would be paid 18 months early, not that it had been paid.  Anyone care to clarify please?

Quoted from FPVmariner

Am I missing something here, I thought Jason said the debt would be paid 18 months early, not that it had been paid.  Anyone care to clarify please?

Is it so important? Do we know exactly what the payment schedule is/was? Thanks to some player sales, some promotion cash, Jason winning Euromillions, whatever, we have finally got rid of the narcissist. No, not that one. 😎😎😉

Quoted from FPVmariner

Am I missing something here, I thought Jason said the debt would be paid 18 months early, not that it had been paid.  Anyone care to clarify please?

Good question. The debt was to be paid in three instalments in December of each year. December 2023 would have been the last payment. Dec 2023 - 18 months = June 2022.

So in theory it's all gone.

Quoted from FPVmariner

Am I missing something here, I thought Jason said the debt would be paid 18 months early, not that it had been paid.  Anyone care to clarify please?

It was a three year schedule initially, with the final payment due in December 2023.

They took over in May 2021, so that would be 31 months from then until the final payment, so given they have been here 14 months, I guess they have already paid up if it's 18 months early.

Edit: MarinerDevil beat me to it.

Jason said they might have got more but the loan back clinched the deal. It's nice to know that money is no longer the be-all at Town and the future of the team and club are. Building firm foundations I seem to recall Jason said some time ago.

We seem to have struck gold with Jason and Andrew as owners. They make some blunders along the way but their hearts are in the right place.

Blunders along the way 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Quoted from DB

Jason said they might have got more but the loan back clinched the deal. It's nice to know that money is no longer the be-all at Town and the future of the team and club are. Building firm foundations I seem to recall Jason said some time ago.

We seem to have struck gold with Jason and Andrew as owners. They make some blunders along the way but their hearts are in the right place.

Other than perhaps #BadgeFlagGate, like what? Obviously they're not perfect but they've been pretty good so far.

Quoted from DB

Jason said they might have got more but the loan back clinched the deal. It's nice to know that money is no longer the be-all at Town and the future of the team and club are. Building firm foundations I seem to recall Jason said some time ago.

We seem to have struck gold with Jason and Andrew as owners. They make some blunders along the way but their hearts are in the right place.

Blunders? Maybe the badge.

I thought the thread title might be a clue. They’ve wiped out the final part of Fenty’s legacy. Save for getting the 200,000 trust/Parker money back, which I’d think is long gone.

Quoted from DB

Jason said they might have got more but the loan back clinched the deal. It's nice to know that money is no longer the be-all at Town and the future of the team and club are. Building firm foundations I seem to recall Jason said some time ago.

We seem to have struck gold with Jason and Andrew as owners. They make some blunders along the way but their hearts are in the right place.

It’s a lot easier to take such a stance, and negotiate more effectively in general, when you’ve managed yourself into a position whereby cash flow is healthy and you are not desperate for money.

All of the marginal gains we were beginning to talk about a year ago are starting to come to fruition in a collectively very powerful way.

Yep! His tacky mansion on Humberstone Avenue hasn't had many (any) offers!

Quoted from aldi_01

May be Fenty needed the money to pay HMRC the cash he owes them?

I thought I heard Jason say "Paul has his eye on a permanent...." before being cut off inadvertently by Matt Dean. So perhaps the Dallas rumour does have some legs, although I suspect that one came almost entirely from the club posting the video of him assisting our winner at the London Stadium.

was there a subtle little dig at JSF in there from Jason? He was talking about the huge increase in wages McAtee will get by joining Luton. Said it was something they couldn't match and it wasn't like in the past when it was only a couple of hundred quid that would make the difference.....

Quoted from aldi_01

May be Fenty needed the money to pay HMRC the cash he owes them?

For information

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01940180/filing-history

Quoted from DB

Jason said they might have got more but the loan back clinched the deal. It's nice to know that money is no longer the be-all at Town and the future of the team and club are. Building firm foundations I seem to recall Jason said some time ago.

We seem to have struck gold with Jason and Andrew as owners. They make some blunders along the way but their hearts are in the right place.

Or it could be saving a couple of hundred thousand pounds on a replacement.

Quoted from arryarryarry

Or it could be saving a couple of hundred thousand pounds on a replacement.

so it's not  a good bit of business then?

not good that McAtee has got his future sorted out in an amicable manner , and is happy to continue to play for us for the next 9 months?

not good that we've got a good proportion of the fee up front, which will help our cashflow and will have been a factor in being able to pay Fenty off early?

not good that we seem to have got a good start to a relationship with Luton?

not good that we have got a good deal for a player who otherwise would have left for naff all in the summer?


and how do you know when we won't be signing anyone else? what it does mean, with Mcatee staying, is that we won't be held to ransom by a selling club who knows we've got money and are desperate for a replacement. We can take our time , maybe even to the extent of starting conversations with players for next summer.

or perhaps you'd like us to spend £200,000 on a modern day Murray Jones or Jimmy Gilligan, just to fill a number 9 shirt

Quoted from aldi_01

Therein lies the issue…he doesn’t pay HMRC what they’re owed, honest John doesn’t seem to think he has to…

Paying tax is for poor people, rich people have ways around it. Probably why he gave his personal accountant a position on the board for free to rant at fans for daring to question how things are run in what will always go down as the weirdest fans forum ever.

Quoted from forza ivano

so it's not  a good bit of business then?

not good that McAtee has got his future sorted out in an amicable manner , and is happy to continue to play for us for the next 9 months?

not good that we've got a good proportion of the fee up front, which will help our cashflow and will have been a factor in being able to pay Fenty off early?

not good that we seem to have got a good start to a relationship with Luton?

not good that we have got a good deal for a player who otherwise would have left for naff all in the summer?


and how do you know when we won't be signing anyone else? what it does mean, with Mcatee staying, is that we won't be held to ransom by a selling club who knows we've got money and are desperate for a replacement. We can take our time , maybe even to the extent of starting conversations with players for next summer.

or perhaps you'd like us to spend £200,000 on a modern day Murray Jones or Jimmy Gilligan, just to fill a number 9 shirt

Erm.................where did I say "not good" quite the opposite, I would have said it was very good business to sell him but keep him for the year.

As per my point, if he had just left we would have had to spend a significant amount on a replacement. Yes I know we are probably looking for another striker but letting him go would have meant we would likely have had to buy two more goal scorers.

Quoted from arryarryarry

Erm.................where did I say "not good" quite the opposite, I would have said it was very good business to sell him but keep him for the year.

As per my point, if he had just left we would have had to spend a significant amount on a replacement. Yes I know we are probably looking for another striker but letting him go would have meant we would likely have had to buy two more goal scorers.

Not often I agree with you arry but I do on this.

DB said it's nice to know that money isn't the be all, but as you pointed out, it's always about the money and the fact we haven't got to go out and spend it on a replacement in fees and wages is a good thing.

Quoted from arryarryarry

Erm.................where did I say "not good" quite the opposite, I would have said it was very good business to sell him but keep him for the year.

As per my point, if he had just left we would have had to spend a significant amount on a replacement. Yes I know we are probably looking for another striker but letting him go would have meant we would likely have had to buy two more goal scorers.

dunno if it's just me , but your post certainly didn't read like that. More like a dig that we haven't gone out and spent money on a striker

Quoted from forza ivano

was there a subtle little dig at JSF in there from Jason? He was talking about the huge increase in wages McAtee will get by joining Luton. Said it was something they couldn't match and it wasn't like in the past when it was only a couple of hundred quid that would make the difference.....

I also took that comment as a cheeky dig, and raised a glass to Jason, very good 👍

Quoted from Kris2

Paying tax is for poor people, rich people have ways around it. Probably why he gave his personal accountant a position on the board for free to rant at fans for daring to question how things are run in what will always go down as the weirdest fans forum ever.

I was always a critic of Fenty, right from the beginning but I was always understanding enough to know running a football club isn’t easy but that night changed everything. How he was allowed to continue and still had folk believing he was doing a good job after that night is beyond me.

He publicly bullied a man for doing his job. We had Day lying to our faces about deals that never existed and stadium projects that were never happening and then we had Marley, Fenty’s mate and accountant, not a very good one at that by all accounts literally shouting at fans and telling them to shut up, why? Because they didn’t know who he was, like it was important for us to know who a no mark local accountant was.

That night a part of the club died. The saddest thing was the people in charge didn’t and couldn’t see it. I remember the face of Paul Savage, then trust chairman, a look of fear, panic and just a stark realisation that the people running the club were incompetent but arrogant sharp objects.

I spoke to Fenty that night whilst taking a urine, I asked him is he thought it went well…he did, I just looked and said we’ve got huge problems on the horizon John…he didn’t understand.

Listening to Stockwood speak is a breath of fresh air, even if you don’t agree, it’s always elegantly and clearly put. It’s progressive and it’s clear there’s a plan and an eye on the next phase. Almost like we now support a different club.

Quoted from aldi_01

I was always a critic of Fenty, right from the beginning but I was always understanding enough to know running a football club isn’t easy but that night changed everything. How he was allowed to continue and still had folk believing he was doing a good job after that night is beyond me.

He publicly bullied a man for doing his job. We had Day lying to our faces about deals that never existed and stadium projects that were never happening and then we had Marley, Fenty’s mate and accountant, not a very good one at that by all accounts literally shouting at fans and telling them to shut up, why? Because they didn’t know who he was, like it was important for us to know who a no mark local accountant was.

That night a part of the club died. The saddest thing was the people in charge didn’t and couldn’t see it. I remember the face of Paul Savage, then trust chairman, a look of fear, panic and just a stark realisation that the people running the club were incompetent but arrogant sharp objects.

I spoke to Fenty that night whilst taking a urine, I asked him is he thought it went well…he did, I just looked and said we’ve got huge problems on the horizon John…he didn’t understand.

Listening to Stockwood speak is a breath of fresh air, even if you don’t agree, it’s always elegantly and clearly put. It’s progressive and it’s clear there’s a plan and an eye on the next phase. Almost like we now support a different club.

They , including Slade , behaved like a bunch of School Bullies on that night . How they all looked at themselves in the mirror after that night is beyond me . It takes a special kind of Adult to behave like that and unfortunately History is littered with Losers like that

Quoted from It Bites

They , including Slade , behaved like a bunch of School Bullies on that night . How they all looked at themselves in the mirror after that night is beyond me . It takes a special kind of Adult to behave like that and unfortunately History is littered with Losers like that

I’ve no issue of people admit mistakes, can recognise they were wrong etc but they all genuinely believed they did nothing wrong. The lack of self awareness probably gives you an indication of their arrogance and ignorance to anything…

Quoted from aldi_01

I was always a critic of Fenty, right from the beginning but I was always understanding enough to know running a football club isn’t easy but that night changed everything. How he was allowed to continue and still had folk believing he was doing a good job after that night is beyond me.

He publicly bullied a man for doing his job. We had Day lying to our faces about deals that never existed and stadium projects that were never happening and then we had Marley, Fenty’s mate and accountant, not a very good one at that by all accounts literally shouting at fans and telling them to shut up, why? Because they didn’t know who he was, like it was important for us to know who a no mark local accountant was.

That night a part of the club died. The saddest thing was the people in charge didn’t and couldn’t see it. I remember the face of Paul Savage, then trust chairman, a look of fear, panic and just a stark realisation that the people running the club were incompetent but arrogant sharp objects.

I spoke to Fenty that night whilst taking a urine, I asked him is he thought it went well…he did, I just looked and said we’ve got huge problems on the horizon John…he didn’t understand.

Listening to Stockwood speak is a breath of fresh air, even if you don’t agree, it’s always elegantly and clearly put. It’s progressive and it’s clear there’s a plan and an eye on the next phase. Almost like we now support a different club.

I'll never forget that night. It was embarrassing and I felt so sorry for Matt Dean who is an excellent journalist and didn't deserve what he got. I actually resigned as Trust chairman straight after that meeting because I didn't feel the Trust should align itself with the club. It was the polar opposite of what the Trust should have been. I got talked into staying on but ended up quitting not long after when it became clear too many Trust board members (in my very clear opinion) were closer to the club's beliefs at that time than mine and I didn't want any part of what was going on.

As I was sat next to JF I remember him writing stuff on his notebook (if I recollect he'd got a text or a message during the meeting saying Chris Clements was going out on loan and he'd written that down) and he also scribbled something related to Matt Dean and underlined it. I don't remember what it said, only that it was clear what happened was pre-meditated.

I got hauled into the boardroom a week or so after that fans' forum as I'd said JF had bullied Matt Dean which he took offence to. He tried (and failed) to make me watch the whole fans forum back to prove he hadn't done it - it was here he told me Operation Promotion was the worst thing that could have happened to the club because of the pressure it put on everyone. When I became Trust chair I was told by previous chairs that I wouldn't do it very long because no-one could work with JF. They weren't wrong.

Incidentally, I met Jason Stockwood just after the Play Off Final. He didn't know me from Adam but what a breath of fresh air, chatted to me and my partner for about 20 minutes and was the polar opposite to anyone I had encountered at the club previously. We truly are in safe hands now.

Quoted from bax

I'll never forget that night. It was embarrassing and I felt so sorry for Matt Dean who is an excellent journalist and didn't deserve what he got. I actually resigned as Trust chairman straight after that meeting because I didn't feel the Trust should align itself with the club. It was the polar opposite of what the Trust should have been. I got talked into staying on but ended up quitting not long after when it became clear too many Trust board members (in my very clear opinion) were closer to the club's beliefs at that time than mine and I didn't want any part of what was going on.

As I was sat next to JF I remember him writing stuff on his notebook (if I recollect he'd got a text or a message during the meeting saying Chris Clements was going out on loan and he'd written that down) and he also scribbled something related to Matt Dean and underlined it. I don't remember what it said, only that it was clear what happened was pre-meditated.

I got hauled into the boardroom a week or so after that fans' forum as I'd said JF had bullied Matt Dean which he took offence to. He tried (and failed) to make me watch the whole fans forum back to prove he hadn't done it - it was here he told me Operation Promotion was the worst thing that could have happened to the club because of the pressure it put on everyone. When I became Trust chair I was told by previous chairs that I wouldn't do it very long because no-one could work with JF. They weren't wrong.

Incidentally, I met Jason Stockwood just after the Play Off Final. He didn't know me from Adam but what a breath of fresh air, chatted to me and my partner for about 20 minutes and was the polar opposite to anyone I had encountered at the club previously. We truly are in safe hands now.

Exactly, nobody wanted to or could work with Fenty and that’s how much apparent with the folk wanting and willing to work with the club.

He’s a bully, always has been and now we can add tax evader and liar to the list.

That night felt like a violation, it felt like the club died a little and we’d never recover until he was gone…and I don’t think we did…

Quoted from forza ivano

so it's not  a good bit of business then?

not good that McAtee has got his future sorted out in an amicable manner , and is happy to continue to play for us for the next 9 months?

not good that we've got a good proportion of the fee up front, which will help our cashflow and will have been a factor in being able to pay Fenty off early?

not good that we seem to have got a good start to a relationship with Luton?

not good that we have got a good deal for a player who otherwise would have left for naff all in the summer?

Yes, but apart from that what have the Romans, I mean New Owners, ever done for us?

Quoted from forza ivano

dunno if it's just me , but your post certainly didn't read like that. More like a dig that we haven't gone out and spent money on a striker

Yep wrong again.

Quoted from aldi_01

Exactly, nobody wanted to or could work with Fenty and that’s how much apparent with the folk wanting and willing to work with the club.

He’s a bully, always has been and now we can add tax evader and liar to the list.

That night felt like a violation, it felt like the club died a little and we’d never recover until he was gone…and I don’t think we did…

That night was a classic demonstration of siege mentality,it should be used in management studies of how an organisation act when it is entering terminal entropy ,very similar to all the sycophants who came out to defend Boris Johnson and then had to contradict themselves hours later.Old Chinese proverb '' he who rides on the back of the tiger is frightened to dismount'.

Quoted from RonMariner

Yes, but apart from that what have the Romans, I mean New Owners, ever done for us?

Obviously not irrigation/sanitation judging by the bogs at times

Pardon my ignorance Bax but are you still a part of the trust in any way shape or form? You seem like you have the exact views and love for GTFC as the large majority of it. If you're not would you ever consider doing it again now the club has changed dramatically?

Quoted from lukeo

Pardon my ignorance Bax but are you still a part of the trust in any way shape or form? You seem like you have the exact views and love for GTFC as the large majority of it. If you're not would you ever consider doing it again now the club has changed dramatically?

No, not a Trust member and have zero intentions of joining again or being part of it. Unfortunately still have a few scars from that time and I much prefer watching games as a fan rather than being involved - Operation Promotion is something I always look back on fondly but what happened after that, not so much! Plus I don't think Jason and Andrew need a supporter's Trust in the same way we needed one up to the takeover.

Quoted from bax

No, not a Trust member and have zero intentions of joining again or being part of it. Unfortunately still have a few scars from that time and I much prefer watching games as a fan rather than being involved - Operation Promotion is something I always look back on fondly but what happened after that, not so much! Plus I don't think Jason and Andrew need a supporter's Trust in the same way we needed one up to the takeover.

Interesting observation, especially given the increased Trust involvement under the new owners.

Quoted from bax

I'll never forget that night. It was embarrassing and I felt so sorry for Matt Dean who is an excellent journalist and didn't deserve what he got. I actually resigned as Trust chairman straight after that meeting because I didn't feel the Trust should align itself with the club. It was the polar opposite of what the Trust should have been. I got talked into staying on but ended up quitting not long after when it became clear too many Trust board members (in my very clear opinion) were closer to the club's beliefs at that time than mine and I didn't want any part of what was going on.

As I was sat next to JF I remember him writing stuff on his notebook (if I recollect he'd got a text or a message during the meeting saying Chris Clements was going out on loan and he'd written that down) and he also scribbled something related to Matt Dean and underlined it. I don't remember what it said, only that it was clear what happened was pre-meditated.

I got hauled into the boardroom a week or so after that fans' forum as I'd said JF had bullied Matt Dean which he took offence to. He tried (and failed) to make me watch the whole fans forum back to prove he hadn't done it - it was here he told me Operation Promotion was the worst thing that could have happened to the club because of the pressure it put on everyone. When I became Trust chair I was told by previous chairs that I wouldn't do it very long because no-one could work with JF. They weren't wrong.

Incidentally, I met Jason Stockwood just after the Play Off Final. He didn't know me from Adam but what a breath of fresh air, chatted to me and my partner for about 20 minutes and was the polar opposite to anyone I had encountered at the club previously. We truly are in safe hands now.

Your comment about too many Trust members being aligned to Fenty's way of thinking rather than your own is the very reason why I have been vehemently against the Trust on these pages and elsewhere for a very long time.

Their job was to represent the fans and you only had to be in Fenty's company for 10 minutes to know he was wholly unsuited to be the head honcho of Grimsby Town. I could see it, a lot of us could see it, business people who ever came across him could see it, yet the Trust failed in their duty to spill the beans about a man who was dragging the club's name through the mud, which culminated in that grotesque fans forum and the subsequent May debacle.

It seemed to me they were more concerned about their position (God knows why as Fenty just ignored them anyway) instead of telling the wider public we needed change and we needed it quickly.

It all ended happily but no thanks to the Trust.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Your comment about too many Trust members being aligned to Fenty's way of thinking rather than your own is the very reason why I have been vehemently against the Trust on these pages and elsewhere for a very long time.

Their job was to represent the fans and you only had to be in Fenty's company for 10 minutes to know he was wholly unsuited to be the head honcho of Grimsby Town. I could see it, a lot of us could see it, business people who ever came across him could see it, yet the Trust failed in their duty to spill the beans about a man who was dragging the club's name through the mud, which culminated in that grotesque fans forum and the subsequent May debacle.

It seemed to me they were more concerned about their position (God knows why as Fenty just ignored them anyway) instead of telling the wider public we needed change and we needed it quickly.

It all ended happily but no thanks to the Trust.

Not quite true is it? Would you like to apologise to the more recently elected board members for your slur?

I seem to recollect that 1878 had multiple meetings with the Trust in the final days of Fenty. Do we have to rehearse all the threads about the Trust's functions, it's benefits, or otherwise, as a GTFC board member ? Do you not think there might have been some back channel communications going on or do you think Fenty's downfall was all brought about during a Lloyd Griffith/ Tondeur/ Telewag journo love in at Dock's Beers?

I have no axe to grind for any Trust Board member but the dealings I have had with Barralad , Kristine, Dave Roberts, Big Chris et al have been prompt and professional.

Which of these have offended you?

https://www.marinerstrust.co.uk/board/

It's sad to see this apathy towards the Trust. The good times are when the membership needs building so it's strong if bad times ever come again and due to a lack of people wanting to work with Fenty, sympathisers continued to get elected on the basis of having no opposition.

The Trust board seems much better now and they have more of a licence to get on with things. Without them, £24k and a donation from Vanarama would not have been raised in response to the ridiculous pricing and location of the play-off final.

If we let it die and try revive it again if we fall on troublesome times, it's never going to be strong is it?

Quoted from Croxton

Not quite true is it? Would you like to apologise to the more recently elected board members for your slur?

I seem to recollect that 1878 had multiple meetings with the Trust in the final days of Fenty. Do we have to rehearse all the threads about the Trust's functions, it's benefits, or otherwise, as a GTFC board member ? Do you not think there might have been some back channel communications going on or do you think Fenty's downfall was all brought about during a Lloyd Griffith/ Tondeur/ Telewag journo love in at Dock's Beers?

I have no axe to grind for any Trust Board member but the dealings I have had with Barralad , Kristine, Dave Roberts, Big Chris et al have been prompt and professional.

Which of these have offended you?

https://www.marinerstrust.co.uk/board/

It was very true in my opinion, an opinion I have aired many times and I am not going to change my mind. The Trust as a collective should have publically expressed no confidence in the owner instead of giving Fenty a fig leaf of respectability.  He took them and the wider fan base for fools.

How anybody could be daft enough to dance for years to Fenty's tune is a mystery. They weren't paid employees who had to tow the line.

I applaud them in their voluntary efforts to at least try to help the club, but faced with Fenty and his sidekicks they should have put the fans in the picture well before May came on the scene. I guess Bax was the only one to resign even after the most embarrassing and comically Partridge esq.fans forum with board members shouting at our own paying fans and trying to sully the reputation of a well respected radio journalist who was there to bring the event to our fans.

No one on the Trust board has offended me; they dont know me and I dont know them. I am talking as I have said before about the Trust as an organisation and a collective not individuals.

Quoted from aldi_01

That night a part of the club died. The saddest thing was the people in charge didn’t and couldn’t see it.

Maybe you should have ended it there!

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Maybe you should have ended it there!

Probably…

Touching on the trust, I think you have to look differently and realise that the trust then and the trust now are very different. 1878 believe in the trust and there’s a value to them. Their seat on the board isn’t tokenism anymore and I do believe they’re influential, hence my renewed membership.

However, under the old regime the trust was seemingly futile to some extent. Big Chris and Sav to name a couple tried, they really did but they could see that working with Fenty for the better of the club was impossible. I dare say the reason they weren’t so vocal about his inability to run the club after their exit was more out of fear of retribution from a man who has made threats to sue folk in the past. It’s simply not worth the hassle.

For me, there was a period where being on the trust board seemed to be enough for some, some kudos, whatever and deep down they knew their role was lacking any influence but they still felt like they were doing their bit.

I don’t believe a vote of no confidence wouldn’t achieved anything sadly, Fenty was a bully with a board made up of sycophants and no marks. I believe that the entire boardroom should’ve gone when 1878 took over, trust members included, but I do believe fresh faces were rightly elected and reassigned. After all, you need to be at the table to even get an idea of what is going on.

Operation promotion is one of the greatest successes of this club but once the owner/tyrant/despot/tax evader/majority shareholder/chairman/non chairman/ de facto chairman tells you quite publicly that it wasn’t then it must be flipping soul destroying, especially when you know folk put in their actual money in to the campaign, didn’t borrow it from elsewhere…

Perhaps the trust could look to rebranding to entice new members, to finally rid themselves of the image left behind? I dunno, but I do know they do some great stuff and they do work hard for the fans in particular.

When Fenty had them over a barrel and they seemingly caved without even a fight it left a bitter taste, one that lingers for some and that’s their right to still feel aggrieved.

Our supporters trust is valuable and their place on the board is clearly valued and important. I guess we’re in a different position as a club, our trust aren’t designed to take on the ownership, to save the club, but work collaboratively to ensure the way for everyone.

For what it’s worth, I don’t believe the trust wild ever have been able to obtain the club from Fenty’s grasp or could they have taken that role.

One suggestion to shift the view of the trust could be for them to run an away members club perhaps?

For a man that "left the building" some time ago JF is still haunting some on this forum.
They're the ones who had such foresight that they knew JF would mess it up before he even joined.
And the ones who are self-flagellating with cat o nine tails and they should have done this or that whilst they could,
Just stop it, you're making my pixels run on my screen.

Now this will start a pile on with oodles of Red X's (Must find out what they actually mean. I'll pretend that they are signes of affection for now  :)
It could be much much worse, but it wasn't.  Not that long ago people were sighing and pointing to Scunthorpe as a model we should follow. Then there's Macclesfield, Oldham, Bury, Rushden & D, Chester, Aldershot remember them ???
So yes JF ran the management side bizarrely, with more U-turns than the government,  but the financial side was good. Yes, I know you just choked on your coffee, but the fact that the club is paying off its debt earlier means it was a low-debt club. You can't have it both ways.
And there are the media (Poor old Matt Dean and Radio Humberside). They are all over Grimsby now but wait untill we have a few bad runs, and just when you need them most, the knives will be out. Let's not forget RH's  roll in one of our manager's demise. Trust the media? As much as I trust some on this site giving PH a bad time Feb/Mar/April. Short memories eh?

We have a club, a ground, a manager, a squad, a few points wouldn't go amiss, and you are argueing about ancient history.
ATAW  UTM  PHBAWA  SWWF   etc

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

It was very true in my opinion, an opinion I have aired many times and I am not going to change my mind. The Trust as a collective should have publically expressed no confidence in the owner instead of giving Fenty a fig leaf of respectability.  He took them and the wider fan base for fools.

How anybody could be daft enough to dance for years to Fenty's tune is a mystery. They weren't paid employees who had to tow the line.

I applaud them in their voluntary efforts to at least try to help the club, but faced with Fenty and his sidekicks they should have put the fans in the picture well before May came on the scene. I guess Bax was the only one to resign even after the most embarrassing and comically Partridge esq.fans forum with board members shouting at our own paying fans and trying to sully the reputation of a well respected radio journalist who was there to bring the event to our fans.

No one on the Trust board has offended me; they dont know me and I dont know them. I am talking as I have said before about the Trust as an organisation and a collective not individuals.

Feel free to 'other' the Trust Board when Bax resigned but references to 'them' and collective infers that you cling to past prejudices rather easily. How about living in the present a little more whilst being informed about the past rather than the other way round? Aldi's post expresses that balance very well.

"Now this will start a pile on with oodles of Red X's  (Must find out what they actually mean...."

If we reach 30 you have to delete your account.

Quoted from Croxton

Feel free to 'other' the Trust Board when Bax resigned but references to 'them' and collective infers that you cling to past prejudices rather easily. How about living in the present a little more whilst being informed about the past rather than the other way round? Aldi's post expresses that balance very well.

I'm not sure why you are getting hot under the collar. I commented on Bax's post reiterating my long held opinion that the Trust, although well meaning, was not working in the wider fans interest by failing to disclose how poisonous Fenty was. No prejudice just an opinion of the situation at the time.

If someone posts something about the work the current Trust do I may or may not express an opinion on that.

The reason that Operation Promotion was a terrible thing for Fenty and co is because they couldn't claim the plaudits for it after it worked.

Think the Trust is now going the right way I was one of the biggest critic of the Trust under Fenty. I think he regarded them as useful idiots,and they should have stood up to him,as Bax did.

I tried driving yesterday while constantly looking backwards……hit a bloomin’ tree.  Still, I’ve got a neck brace on now and can only look forwards.  Alls well that ends well eh?

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I'm not sure why you are getting hot under the collar. I commented on Bax's post reiterating my long held opinion that the Trust, although well meaning, was not working in the wider fans interest by failing to disclose how poisonous Fenty was. No prejudice just an opinion of the situation at the time.

If someone posts something about the work the current Trust do I may or may not express an opinion on that.

I think most fans already knew how poisonous Fenty was. Perhaps the Trust felt that further resignations would achieve very little . Outside or inside tent discussions would have been prevalent.

My collar remains cool. I was a tad patronising though for which I apologise!

I'd never join the Trust after the 200k debacle because what would they do next when the pressure on!!!

Quoted from Deckhand

I'd never join the Trust after the 200k debacle because what would they do next when the pressure on!!!

If there is a next time then I’m sure they would react differently. Clearly the new regime value what the current Trust offer as they work closely with them. If you remain stuck in the past you never move forward that, ironically, was one of major faults of the JF era.

Quoted from Croxton

I think most fans already knew how poisonous Fenty was. Perhaps the Trust felt that further resignations would achieve very little . Outside or inside tent discussions would have been prevalent.

My collar remains cool. I was a tad patronising though for which I apologise!

No worries- it would not be a forum without disparate views.

I think you might be surprised at how many fans thought JF was doing a reasonable job in the circumstances.  They saw him loaning the club money, climbing the floodlights to change a bulb and installing all the mod cons like a sink for the ladies. They thought benign meant something different than wanting every single penny back despite having all the control, the kudos and all the perks of owning a professional club for all those years.

I might have thought that myself had I not seen him in business circles, and through my business contacts who told me he was impossible to work with and not in any way collegiate. They told me stories that would make you laugh and cry at the same time.

In any event you have to go through these trials and tribulations to get to a better place but I didn't expect it to take the best part of two decades which is why I have always been irritated that the Trust willingly or unwillingly gave him a cloak of respectability.

Quoted from GrimPol

For a man that "left the building" some time ago JF is still haunting some on this forum.
They're the ones who had such foresight that they knew JF would mess it up before he even joined.
And the ones who are self-flagellating with cat o nine tails and they should have done this or that whilst they could,
Just stop it, you're making my pixels run on my screen.

Now this will start a pile on with oodles of Red X's (Must find out what they actually mean. I'll pretend that they are signes of affection for now  :)
It could be much much worse, but it wasn't.  Not that long ago people were sighing and pointing to Scunthorpe as a model we should follow. Then there's Macclesfield, Oldham, Bury, Rushden & D, Chester, Aldershot remember them ???
So yes JF ran the management side bizarrely, with more U-turns than the government,  but the financial side was good. Yes, I know you just choked on your coffee, but the fact that the club is paying off its debt earlier means it was a low-debt club. You can't have it both ways.
And there are the media (Poor old Matt Dean and Radio Humberside). They are all over Grimsby now but wait untill we have a few bad runs, and just when you need them most, the knives will be out. Let's not forget RH's  roll in one of our manager's demise. Trust the media? As much as I trust some on this site giving PH a bad time Feb/Mar/April. Short memories eh?

We have a club, a ground, a manager, a squad, a few points wouldn't go amiss, and you are argueing about ancient history.
ATAW  UTM  PHBAWA  SWWF   etc

It's easy to save money when you let the stadium and training ground fall into a terrible state because you won't pay for any upkeep. Even easier if you oversee the worst period on the pitch in the club's history.

1878 have already spent a lot of money from their own pockets improving the training ground and the stadium to finally bring them up to the required standard. The only reason Fenty didn't create financial issues was because the tight git allowed stuff to become run down instead.

Quoted from GrimPol

For a man that "left the building" some time ago JF is still haunting some on this forum.
They're the ones who had such foresight that they knew JF would mess it up before he even joined.
And the ones who are self-flagellating with cat o nine tails and they should have done this or that whilst they could,
Just stop it, you're making my pixels run on my screen.

Now this will start a pile on with oodles of Red X's (Must find out what they actually mean. I'll pretend that they are signes of affection for now  :)
It could be much much worse, but it wasn't.  Not that long ago people were sighing and pointing to Scunthorpe as a model we should follow. Then there's Macclesfield, Oldham, Bury, Rushden & D, Chester, Aldershot remember them ???
So yes JF ran the management side bizarrely, with more U-turns than the government,  but the financial side was good. Yes, I know you just choked on your coffee, but the fact that the club is paying off its debt earlier means it was a low-debt club. You can't have it both ways.
And there are the media (Poor old Matt Dean and Radio Humberside). They are all over Grimsby now but wait untill we have a few bad runs, and just when you need them most, the knives will be out. Let's not forget RH's  roll in one of our manager's demise. Trust the media? As much as I trust some on this site giving PH a bad time Feb/Mar/April. Short memories eh?

We have a club, a ground, a manager, a squad, a few points wouldn't go amiss, and you are argueing about ancient history.
ATAW  UTM  PHBAWA  SWWF   etc

Hi John…

Quoted from sam gy

The reason that Operation Promotion was a terrible thing for Fenty and co is because they couldn't claim the plaudits for it after it worked.

I always thought part of it was it made it very difficult for him to take any money back out of the club to repay himself. Hard to take a £100k donation from fans towards the playing budget  then pay yourself £200k back.

Fenty's legacy in half a sentence, can't we just leave it at that and move on.

Quoted from mariner91

the worst period on the pitch in the club's history.

Quoted from Deckhand

I'd never join the Trust after the 200k debacle because what would they do next when the pressure on!!!

The Trust didn't make that decision, the Trust members did in a democratic vote, with a bit of arm twisting from he should not be named.

Quoted from HatTrickHero

"Now this will start a pile on with oodles of Red X's  (Must find out what they actually mean...."

If we reach 30 you have to delete your account.

I await with anticipation 8)

Quoted from aldi_01

Hi John…

Hi Lidl.

Quoted from mariner91

It's easy to save money when you let the stadium and training ground fall into a terrible state because you won't pay for any upkeep. Even easier if you oversee the worst period on the pitch in the club's history.

1878 have already spent a lot of money from their own pockets improving the training ground and the stadium to finally bring them up to the required standard. The only reason Fenty didn't create financial issues was because the tight git allowed stuff to become run down instead.

Quite right.
But we still have a Ground, and Training facilities to bring up to scratch, others, that this forum drooled over, don't. You have a well rehearsed blind spot, I don't.
So when you moan about someone, ie. live in the past, have at least some honesty and gonads to say bits that were ok, if few and far between, but meaningful nevertheless. If your good metric is a guy spends a lot of money, then let's hope a Sheikh buys out 1878 (lets not worry about human rights).
Like someone has said previously, you can't drive a car by just looking in your rearview mirror.
Having said all that all we need is some points on Saturday.
Nobody ever got 3 points moaning about the past!
AMAW UTM

Quoted from ginnywings

The Trust didn't make that decision, the Trust members did in a democratic vote, with a bit of arm twisting from he should not be named.

The Trust allowed the Fenty commentary to become the truth. They were manipulated.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

The Trust allowed the Fenty commentary to become the truth. They were manipulated.

Well said 👏 so why did the Trust members vote to hand over £200k to Fenty

Quoted from Deckhand

Well said 👏 so why did the Trust members vote to hand over £200k to Fenty

They were drugged and brainwashed, then replaced with replicants.

I think the Chair of the Trust at the time was in awe of Fenty, you could see the puppy dog eyes when he presented fans forums that I attended. He was a rabbit in the headlights when Fenty got caught out with May. Once board election came round there were multiple people keen to get involved meaning the Chair had to stand for election and was booted out.

The Trust get blamed about the £200k all the time but it was the membership who voted for it when Fenty said failure to do it meant we needed to sell Hearn. The fools aren't the Trust board for following through with a democratic vote...

Our 2 elected directors messed up the badge situation by misjudging the reaction but they held their hands up and I feel confident that they have learned from that experience. It's easy to sit here behind a keyboard and say everything bad they've been associated with but what about all the good?

Quoted from Deckhand

Well said 👏 so why did the Trust members vote to hand over £200k to Fenty

Because they believed the rhetoric. Which was bullshit. Fenty couldn’t afford to bankrupt the club.

Quoted from GrimPol

Quite right.
But we still have a Ground, and Training facilities to bring up to scratch, others, that this forum drooled over, don't. You have a well rehearsed blind spot, I don't.
So when you moan about someone, ie. live in the past, have at least some honesty and gonads to say bits that were ok, if few and far between, but meaningful nevertheless. If your good metric is a guy spends a lot of money, then let's hope a Sheikh buys out 1878 (lets not worry about human rights).
Like someone has said previously, you can't drive a car by just looking in your rearview mirror.
Having said all that all we need is some points on Saturday.
Nobody ever got 3 points moaning about the past!
AMAW UTM

If the only positive you can find is ‘it could’ve been worse, look at bury, Darlington et al’ then it very clear Fenty had no single positive impact on the club. He tried to bring a known fraudster in to the club having called genuine buyers ‘tyre kickers’, through the back door. He expected that with empty stadiums he could bring him in under the cover of darkness and it’d be too late for the fans by the time they found out…it went wrong though. He’s still never apologised, he’s still only smarting because he was caught, much like a common thief. He couldn’t care less and believe you me, had that deal gone through, we would’ve gone the same way as those clubs often used as examples of ‘it could’ve been worse’.

There are two positives under his tenure, promotion (which he then single handedly copulated sending us hurtling towards the trap door again’ and leaving the club.

He’s a disgrace and whilst one has to look forward, change only occurs when you’re aware of the past.

We did indeed have a training ground, it even had a dart board…only one ball mind…

Quoted from GrimPol

Quite right.
But we still have a Ground, and Training facilities to bring up to scratch, others, that this forum drooled over, don't. You have a well rehearsed blind spot, I don't.
So when you moan about someone, ie. live in the past, have at least some honesty and gonads to say bits that were ok, if few and far between, but meaningful nevertheless. If your good metric is a guy spends a lot of money, then let's hope a Sheikh buys out 1878 (lets not worry about human rights).
Like someone has said previously, you can't drive a car by just looking in your rearview mirror.
Having said all that all we need is some points on Saturday.
Nobody ever got 3 points moaning about the past!
AMAW UTM

Any pretence that Fenty did it all for the love the club and kept us afloat out of the goodness of his heart went out the window when he cashed in the shares he blackmailed from the trust and when he tried to get a convicted conman into the board room on the sly. He was only ever in it because he thought he could make some money from delivering a new stadium.

Which bits of it were okay? Being relegated to non league twice? Languishing in non league and never challenging for six years? Having one top half finish in any of the FL divisions over 18 years?

Or were you more attached to the drunken midnight ramblings? The unprofessional club statements? The various other ways he was a complete embarrassment almost constantly? Yes we still have a club to support but it was on its knees. It was only the good work of the Telegraph and Lloyd Griffiths that stopped the club going the way of all those clubs you mentioned so let’s not pretend it was Fenty who we have to thank. He’d have sold the club down the river on the hope that Alex May could have delivered something. Arrogant, greedy and foolish. He will forever be responsible for the worst period in the club’s long history and will be remembered with nothing but loathing by the vast majority of the fanbase.

Quoted from mariner91

Any pretence that Fenty did it all for the love the club and kept us afloat out of the goodness of his heart went out the window when he cashed in the shares he blackmailed from the trust and when he tried to get a convicted conman into the board room on the sly. He was only ever in it because he thought he could make some money from delivering a new stadium.

Which bits of it were okay? Being relegated to non league twice? Languishing in non league and never challenging for six years? Having one top half finish in any of the FL divisions over 18 years?

Or were you more attached to the drunken midnight ramblings? The unprofessional club statements? The various other ways he was a complete embarrassment almost constantly? Yes we still have a club to support but it was on its knees. It was only the good work of the Telegraph and Lloyd Griffiths that stopped the club going the way of all those clubs you mentioned so let’s not pretend it was Fenty who we have to thank. He’d have sold the club down the river on the hope that Alex May could have delivered something. Arrogant, greedy and foolish. He will forever be responsible for the worst period in the club’s long history and will be remembered with nothing but loathing by the vast majority of the fanbase.

Big town fan is John, been an ever present since he sold the club (a club he never used a penny of his own money to buy)…

Quoted from bax

No, not a Trust member and have zero intentions of joining again or being part of it. Unfortunately still have a few scars from that time and I much prefer watching games as a fan rather than being involved - Operation Promotion is something I always look back on fondly but what happened after that, not so much! Plus I don't think Jason and Andrew need a supporter's Trust in the same way we needed one up to the takeover.

Appreciate the reply Back. I totally understand. OP for me was brilliant, brought us all together and what a day at Wembley that year. UTM

Quoted from mariner91

Any pretence that Fenty did it all for the love the club and kept us afloat out of the goodness of his heart went out the window when he cashed in the shares he blackmailed from the trust and when he tried to get a convicted conman into the board room on the sly. He was only ever in it because he thought he could make some money from delivering a new stadium.

Which bits of it were okay? Being relegated to non league twice? Languishing in non league and never challenging for six years? Having one top half finish in any of the FL divisions over 18 years?

Or were you more attached to the drunken midnight ramblings? The unprofessional club statements? The various other ways he was a complete embarrassment almost constantly? Yes we still have a club to support but it was on its knees. It was only the good work of the Telegraph and Lloyd Griffiths that stopped the club going the way of all those clubs you mentioned so let’s not pretend it was Fenty who we have to thank. He’d have sold the club down the river on the hope that Alex May could have delivered something. Arrogant, greedy and foolish. He will forever be responsible for the worst period in the club’s long history and will be remembered with nothing but loathing by the vast majority of the fanbase.

Mariner91 Aldi_01 the bile coming through is horrendous. (You'll have to enlighten me on how the Telegraph (Grimsby?) and Lloyd Griffiths saved Our Town. Always wanting to learn)

You remind me of some Charlton Athletic fans years ago, the same toxic bile put upon Curbishley whose crime was keeping CA in the Premier League , but just in never top 4.
So the pile on. Arguments to the contrary as "you know Charlton fans you are punching above your weight just being in the PL" never made any dents in their "we have been so wronged!" cries. Curbishley left year earlier thean he should have. Just remind me where Charlton is right now?
To follow the herd and never see any upsides is your thing, I think individually. You see things Black or White (no pun intended) I see the shades in between. You accuse me of, what exactly? Saying the truth that we have a Ground and Small debt when other clubs are going to the wall.
What I say is that you are wallowing in a historic cesspit whilst turning on yourselves, whilst I'm smelling newly mown grass of BP which we own and watch the lads go through their paces at Cheapy even with one dartboard.
I think I know where I'd rather be.

Quoted from GrimPol

Mariner91 Aldi_01 the bile coming through is horrendous.
You remind me of some Charlton Athletic fans years ago, the same toxic bile put upon Curbishley whose crime was keeping CA in the Premier League , but just in never top 4.
So the pile on. Arguments to the contrary as "you know Charlton fans you are punching above your weight just being in the PL" never made any dents in their "we have been so wronged!" cries. Curbishley left year earlier thean he should have. Just remind me where Charlton is right now?
To follow the herd and never see any upsides is your thing, I think individually. You see things Black or White (no pun intended) I see the shades in between. You accuse me of, what exactly? Saying the truth that we have a Ground and Small debt when other clubs are going to the wall.
What I say is that you are wallowing in a historic cesspit whilst turning on yourselves, whilst I'm smelling newly mown grass of BP which we own and watch the lads go through their paces at Cheapy even with one dartboard.
I think I know where I'd rather be.

How did you say you and John are related again?

Quoted from GrimPol

Mariner91 Aldi_01 the bile coming through is horrendous.
You remind me of some Charlton Athletic fans years ago, the same toxic bile put upon Curbishley whose crime was keeping CA in the Premier League , but just in never top 4.
So the pile on. Arguments to the contrary as "you know Charlton fans you are punching above your weight just being in the PL" never made any dents in their "we have been so wronged!" cries. Curbishley left year earlier thean he should have. Just remind me where Charlton is right now?
To follow the herd and never see any upsides is your thing, I think individually. You see things Black or White (no pun intended) I see the shades in between. You accuse me of, what exactly? Saying the truth that we have a Ground and Small debt when other clubs are going to the wall.
What I say is that you are wallowing in a historic cesspit whilst turning on yourselves, whilst I'm smelling newly mown grass of BP which we own and watch the lads go through their paces at Cheapy even with one dartboard.
I think I know where I'd rather be.

Ahaaaaaa . Alan Partridge is back . Missed you Alan 💖💖

Quoted from GrimPol

Mariner91 Aldi_01 the bile coming through is horrendous.
You remind me of some Charlton Athletic fans years ago, the same toxic bile put upon Curbishley whose crime was keeping CA in the Premier League , but just in never top 4.
So the pile on. Arguments to the contrary as "you know Charlton fans you are punching above your weight just being in the PL" never made any dents in their "we have been so wronged!" cries. Curbishley left year earlier thean he should have. Just remind me where Charlton is right now?
To follow the herd and never see any upsides is your thing, I think individually. You see things Black or White (no pun intended) I see the shades in between. You accuse me of, what exactly? Saying the truth that we have a Ground and Small debt when other clubs are going to the wall.
What I say is that you are wallowing in a historic cesspit whilst turning on yourselves, whilst I'm smelling newly mown grass of BP which we own and watch the lads go through their paces at Cheapy even with one dartboard.
I think I know where I'd rather be.

Which brother are you?

Quoted from gtfc98

How did you say you and John are related again?

Now you're hearing things, time to see a specialist.

Quoted from HatTrickHero

"Now this will start a pile on with oodles of Red X's  (Must find out what they actually mean...."

If we reach 30 you have to delete your account.

12 to go 😇

Quoted from HatTrickHero

12 to go 😇

Ooo ooo I am salivating. St. HTH.
But wait a minute, are you "following" me? Bit weird. Something happened to you when you were young?

Quoted from GrimPol

Mariner91 Aldi_01 the bile coming through is horrendous. (You'll have to enlighten me on how the Telegraph (Grimsby?) and Lloyd Griffiths saved Our Town. Always wanting to learn)

You remind me of some Charlton Athletic fans years ago, the same toxic bile put upon Curbishley whose crime was keeping CA in the Premier League , but just in never top 4.
So the pile on. Arguments to the contrary as "you know Charlton fans you are punching above your weight just being in the PL" never made any dents in their "we have been so wronged!" cries. Curbishley left year earlier thean he should have. Just remind me where Charlton is right now?
To follow the herd and never see any upsides is your thing, I think individually. You see things Black or White (no pun intended) I see the shades in between. You accuse me of, what exactly? Saying the truth that we have a Ground and Small debt when other clubs are going to the wall.
What I say is that you are wallowing in a historic cesspit whilst turning on yourselves, whilst I'm smelling newly mown grass of BP which we own and watch the lads go through their paces at Cheapy even with one dartboard.
I think I know where I'd rather be.

Because the reporter, who's name escapes me, and Lloyd Griffiths reported and raised awareness of Fenty's shady dealings trying to get a convicted conman involved in the club. Subsequently uproar from a previously largely complicit and apathetic fanbase led to Fenty's downfall. The club needed it too. Without that I doubt 1878 would have been moved to come in because Fenty would never have relinquished control. You think we'd have got promoted with him still in charge last season? You reckon we'd have got average attendances of 5600? Not a chance. It would have been worse than the first relegation because people wouldn't have forgiven him this time around.

It's absolutely nothing like Charlton. Curbishley got them in the Premier league and punching above their weight for many years. Fenty oversaw the worst period in the club's history. £1.5million is not a small debt for a club our size, particularly when the club's infrastructure and reputation had been ruined through years of mismanagement. Nobody is turning on anybody. I'm over the moon that we've got great new owners and a professional club again, as are most on here. But I'll always respond when people try to whitewash what a shitshow Fenty's management was and what a turd of a bloke he is.

Quoted from It Bites

Ahaaaaaa . Alan Partridge is back . Missed you Alan 💖💖

One accuses me of being John, the other of Alan Partridge. Make your minds up.
But then that's all you have, derogatory remarks, no substance.

Big overlap on the Fenty/Partridge venn diagram to be fair.

Quoted from mariner91

Because the reporter, who's name escapes me, and Lloyd Griffiths reported and raised awareness of Fenty's shady dealings trying to get a convicted conman involved in the club. Subsequently uproar from a previously largely complicit and apathetic fanbase led to Fenty's downfall. The club needed it too. Without that I doubt 1878 would have been moved to come in because Fenty would never have relinquished control. You think we'd have got promoted with him still in charge last season? You reckon we'd have got average attendances of 5600? Not a chance. It would have been worse than the first relegation because people wouldn't have forgiven him this time around.

It's absolutely nothing like Charlton. Curbishley got them in the Premier league and punching above their weight for many years. Fenty oversaw the worst period in the club's history. £1.5million is not a small debt for a club our size, particularly when the club's infrastructure and reputation had been ruined through years of mismanagement. Nobody is turning on anybody. I'm over the moon that we've got great new owners and a professional club again, as are most on here. But I'll always respond when people try to whitewash what a shitshow Fenty's management was and what a turd of a bloke he is.

Not whitewash at all. But you quote LG's tweets as the absolute truth.
In business when you columnize Pros and Cons the hardest is to give them weighting.
Is low debt (1.5 mill is low in this industry) V perceived reputation? Owning one's ground V position in the league. My weighting is not your weighting, that is for sure.
Not knowing on which rung of the ladder 1878 found GTFC because your interpretation would be GTFC was on the bottom rung, other clubs (Scunny) haven't got a ladder, they are in a hole. You don't want to see any positives, I acknowledge any positives.
I'm glad 1878 bought GTFC, but I'm sticking to my opinion which I think is more balanced, and I'm not wallowing in historical cesspits.
You lash out at anyone that doesn't have groupthink or follows the herd, well that's fine.

Claims not to be a Fenty bit uses the phrase 'columnize pros and cons'.....

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Big overlap on the Fenty/Partridge venn diagram to be fair.

You do have a point there, I have to admit.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Claims not to be a Fenty bit uses the phrase 'columnize pros and cons'.....

I tried to keep the 12-year-olds happy.
You happy?

There seems to be a very polarised attitude that the old regime got everything wrong and the new one gets everything right. To a certain extent, I think in similar terms. Then I think of other businesses I’ve known or been involved with.

What tends to happen is that the owners make a bad decision, realise (generally too late) their error and then make several further erroneous decisions (generally on the cheap) trying to put things right. This then pisses off the important people (customers), the product/service is devalued and a downward spiral (fingers crossed/hoping for good luck) ensues.

The new owners haven’t needed to make any major decisions yet as the manager & players are ahead of their plan. It’s clear that there’s a long term strategy which I’m pretty sure the previous regime never had. In general business, it’s how you respond to a downturn (for whatever reason) that defines you. Running a business is easy when you’ve a. got a plan and b.things are going to that plan.

It’s an old adage but seems very relevant. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Don't feed the trolls, guys.

Quoted from GrimPol

One accuses me of being John, the other of Alan Partridge. Make your minds up.
But then that's all you have, derogatory remarks, no substance.

No  just of being  such a sad wind up merchant, who life is so sad  that this is the only way to get your kicks.Those who followed the crowd are those Fenty sycophants and hanger ons who did not or would not see where he was leading us and red crossed every anti-Fenty post.There is loyalty and then there is  blind self interest; learn to tell the difference.

Quoted from GrimPol

Not whitewash at all. But you quote LG's tweets as the absolute truth.
In business when you columnize Pros and Cons the hardest is to give them weighting.
Is low debt (1.5 mill is low in this industry) V perceived reputation? Owning one's ground V position in the league. My weighting is not your weighting, that is for sure.
Not knowing on which rung of the ladder 1878 found GTFC because your interpretation would be GTFC was on the bottom rung, other clubs (Scunny) haven't got a ladder, they are in a hole. You don't want to see any positives, I acknowledge any positives.
I'm glad 1878 bought GTFC, but I'm sticking to my opinion which I think is more balanced, and I'm not wallowing in historical cesspits.
You lash out at anyone that doesn't have groupthink or follows the herd, well that's fine.

I've no personal exe to grind but attempting to see any positives that came from Fentys realm is bordering on delusional.
Let's start with the ground "we own", the one where, due to years of neglect needed circa £80-90k spending on it and then the pitch, another £25k+.
Training facilities, balls that were so old they'd gone oval, playing surface is ruins needed major investment, gym, canteen, staff, masseurs.
Talking of staff, looking at how a "professional" club should be run is seeing the club now, not having a few of your "pals and yes men" bowing down to you and driving a lawn mower.
Fenty was caught with his pants down "chasing his football fortune" hand in hand with a convicted fraudster who'd probably sell your grandmother's ashes to the local garden centre!.
As for Lloyd Griffith's tweets as "the truth", they were!.
Day admitted AM was going to be involved and invest £1m of dirty cash into the club, but it's okay, it wasn't you're grandmother that got robbed just before her ashes were sold!.

Quoted from GrimPol

I tried to keep the 12-year-olds happy.
You happy?

Goodness me this has taken a sinister turn.

yeah, I'm out.

Quoted from GrimPol

I tried to keep the 12-year-olds happy.
You happy?

So you’re not John or family member after all, you’re Tim Westwood…

Quoted from GrimPol

Not whitewash at all. But you quote LG's tweets as the absolute truth.
In business when you columnize Pros and Cons the hardest is to give them weighting.
Is low debt (1.5 mill is low in this industry) V perceived reputation? Owning one's ground V position in the league. My weighting is not your weighting, that is for sure.
Not knowing on which rung of the ladder 1878 found GTFC because your interpretation would be GTFC was on the bottom rung, other clubs (Scunny) haven't got a ladder, they are in a hole. You don't want to see any positives, I acknowledge any positives.
I'm glad 1878 bought GTFC, but I'm sticking to my opinion which I think is more balanced, and I'm not wallowing in historical cesspits.
You lash out at anyone that doesn't have groupthink or follows the herd, well that's fine.

There are no pros to trying to get a convicted conman involved with the club. The only reason we didn't go the way of a Scunny etc is not through Fenty's kind heart that's for sure. We're just fortunate that the story was leaked and that the opportunity to involve a fraudster hadn't been there before for Fenty.

I despair at those that urge us to forget the Fenty years. We should always remember them.

Certain people on this thread are attempting to re-write the past by talking about small debt and owning our own ground etc. The past should always be held up for inspection and review. As Orwell quite correctly stated in the novel 1984

"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."

Fenty no longer controls the present and as such we can delve into the past and see the things he didn't want us to see.

The ground was always owned by the club, why would that be some sort of benefit derived from his time. Fenty realised that he had no chance of selling the club without the ground, so he couldn't sell it, in the same way he would be hard pushed to sell a club burdened with huge debt, but lets not kid ourselves that debt was massive for a club of our size and in our position, that debt was almost the straw that broke the camels back when it came to negotiating the sale of the club and paying Fenty off.

I'll not forget his tenure, just so I can look at what we have now and rejoice.

When it comes to JF I must hold my hands up and say that for a large portion of time I bought (got caught) into his communication that no-one was willing to buy the Club and that he was holding the Club up.

Despite never been a 'fan' of JF, I spent many a year being what I considered 'pragmatic' about the difficulties that exist in running a football club, the main one being that it is not an industry associated with profit and therefore being 'understanding' of a local man with just enough wealth to keep it going without risk to the Club and being thankful for that.

I must confess to being a bit simple really, not idiotic, not completely stupid but I don't really look under rocks and search for conspiracies, I just plod along enjoying the view on the way. Even with this being the case, as age kept creeping up and taking slightly more interest in the finer aspects of the Club and it's running certain things started to become apparent, even without being on forums to hear wider views. Some people hear something once and can see through the message, others (me!) need it to be repeated a few times over a time period, but eventually everyone but the blind will see it.

I think most of the fanbase had seen enough to understand that JF was clearly holding the Club hostage from fans for either local status or riches to be gained through developments around a new stadium - or both - a considerable amount of time before the Alex May news.

At the point 1878 bought the Club, everyone will have had a view on how good/bad they felt JF did for the Club, and it's very apparent how some people here rated him! Although my final opinion of JF at the point of sale was a very negative one and I was delighted to have new owners, it still felt very nervy as to what would be in store. As mentioned, like most I have no idea the complexities of running a football club and given the previous 20 years, what could these guys do that would categorically be better?

The answer is simple: everything! Simple though I may be, I have a personal belief that when trying to organise or run a Club, event or task, no detail should be considered too small. It's in the fine detail that you find the best quality, the touches that impress, that add additional value and can be what separates the fine line between success and failure. It was the big issues that ultimately made JFs role untenable, but it was the small details that when you look back at it all that provided the consistent period of below par performance across most area's of the Club.

The new owners have had to spend a lot of money bringing up to scratch the range of small details JF neglected but we're seeing how much they've played a part in galvanising the fanbase, aiding the playing and coaching staff in fulfilling their job to the best of their abilities and changing the entire outlook of a football club.

I don't agree with GrimPols assessment of the previous regime but I'm not going to try and convince him/her to abandon his thoughts, they're his/her views and I don't believe it's anyones place to try and force them to change.

What I would say, however, is that regardless of your view at the time of his tenure, I would measure his success by comparison of the feeling around the Club today. Record ST sales by over 2000 is not 'luck'. Selling out of home shirts on day 1 is not 'coincidence'. It's people recognising that the current incumbents of the Club are not neglecting the present, not neglecting the fans in pursuit of a personal legacy. As a fanbase we - in the past - have been over-expectant, impatient and overly-critical, but this has been in response to failures at boardroom level with no desire to learn or change. Those attributes are not prevalent right now because the owners DO have a desire to learn and WILL change  when they make their learnings. If you didn't see things as board room failures before, then 1878 are conclusively proving that they were.

I'm in agreement with everyone who has said we must remember the past. For those who aren't naturally distrusting of people, there needs to be frame of reference and evidence to judge the present. Hopefully in 10 years time we can still be sat here, comfortably playing in L1 and celebrating prolonged good times and that provides the evidence for the next 10 years and the standards we should expect from whatever owners we have at the time.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

There seems to be a very polarised attitude that the old regime got everything wrong and the new one gets everything right. To a certain extent, I think in similar terms. Then I think of other businesses I’ve known or been involved with.

What tends to happen is that the owners make a bad decision, realise (generally too late) their error and then make several further erroneous decisions (generally on the cheap) trying to put things right. This then pisses off the important people (customers), the product/service is devalued and a downward spiral (fingers crossed/hoping for good luck) ensues.

The new owners haven’t needed to make any major decisions yet as the manager & players are ahead of their plan. It’s clear that there’s a long term strategy which I’m pretty sure the previous regime never had. In general business, it’s how you respond to a downturn (for whatever reason) that defines you. Running a business is easy when you’ve a. got a plan and b.things are going to that plan.

It’s an old adage but seems very relevant. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Gold star for you Codger, you posted a lot of common sense, especially the old adage which has come true many times.

Quoted from gtfc_chris

When it comes to JF I must hold my hands up and say that for a large portion of time I bought (got caught) into his communication that no-one was willing to buy the Club and that he was holding the Club up.

Despite never been a 'fan' of JF, I spent many a year being what I considered 'pragmatic' about the difficulties that exist in running a football club, the main one being that it is not an industry associated with profit and therefore being 'understanding' of a local man with just enough wealth to keep it going without risk to the Club and being thankful for that.

I must confess to being a bit simple really, not idiotic, not completely stupid but I don't really look under rocks and search for conspiracies, I just plod along enjoying the view on the way. Even with this being the case, as age kept creeping up and taking slightly more interest in the finer aspects of the Club and it's running certain things started to become apparent, even without being on forums to hear wider views. Some people hear something once and can see through the message, others (me!) need it to be repeated a few times over a time period, but eventually everyone but the blind will see it.

I think most of the fanbase had seen enough to understand that JF was clearly holding the Club hostage from fans for either local status or riches to be gained through developments around a new stadium - or both - a considerable amount of time before the Alex May news.

At the point 1878 bought the Club, everyone will have had a view on how good/bad they felt JF did for the Club, and it's very apparent how some people here rated him! Although my final opinion of JF at the point of sale was a very negative one and I was delighted to have new owners, it still felt very nervy as to what would be in store. As mentioned, like most I have no idea the complexities of running a football club and given the previous 20 years, what could these guys do that would categorically be better?

The answer is simple: everything! Simple though I may be, I have a personal belief that when trying to organise or run a Club, event or task, no detail should be considered too small. It's in the fine detail that you find the best quality, the touches that impress, that add additional value and can be what separates the fine line between success and failure. It was the big issues that ultimately made JFs role untenable, but it was the small details that when you look back at it all that provided the consistent period of below par performance across most area's of the Club.

The new owners have had to spend a lot of money bringing up to scratch the range of small details JF neglected but we're seeing how much they've played a part in galvanising the fanbase, aiding the playing and coaching staff in fulfilling their job to the best of their abilities and changing the entire outlook of a football club.

I don't agree with GrimPols assessment of the previous regime but I'm not going to try and convince him/her to abandon his thoughts, they're his/her views and I don't believe it's anyones place to try and force them to change.

What I would say, however, is that regardless of your view at the time of his tenure, I would measure his success by comparison of the feeling around the Club today. Record ST sales by over 2000 is not 'luck'. Selling out of home shirts on day 1 is not 'coincidence'. It's people recognising that the current incumbents of the Club are not neglecting the present, not neglecting the fans in pursuit of a personal legacy. As a fanbase we - in the past - have been over-expectant, impatient and overly-critical, but this has been in response to failures at boardroom level with no desire to learn or change. Those attributes are not prevalent right now because the owners DO have a desire to learn and WILL change  when they make their learnings. If you didn't see things as board room failures before, then 1878 are conclusively proving that they were.

I'm in agreement with everyone who has said we must remember the past. For those who aren't naturally distrusting of people, there needs to be frame of reference and evidence to judge the present. Hopefully in 10 years time we can still be sat here, comfortably playing in L1 and celebrating prolonged good times and that provides the evidence for the next 10 years and the standards we should expect from whatever owners we have at the time.

I think this is an excellent post summarising the past and hopes for the future; albeit I would prefer the Championship rather than L1.

I do feel that it is now time to forget the 'F' word. Leave the past where it is. I like many on here have criticised JSF and whatever he did changed on 5th May 2021. I am not in any way suggesting we should forget him, his ways or his actions but there is a time for it to be left where it is. To me that time is now, you cannot keep raking up the past forever because you cannot change it, but learn from it.

We have new owners and new trust management. I think we should channel our thoughts and actions in a more positive way to help the club move forward to the next level. 'F' man has/soon to be paid off so let's leave the 'F' word now and in the future alone.

The future is Black and White with an upward projection in the leagues and in the community  

Quoted from friskneymariner

No  just of being  such a sad wind up merchant, who life is so sad  that this is the only way to get your kicks.Those who followed the crowd are those Fenty sycophants and hanger ons who did not or would not see where he was leading us and red crossed every anti-Fenty post.There is loyalty and then there is  blind self interest; learn to tell the difference.

You see I'm prepared to think through and say what I believe is right. You interpret that as sycophancy, blind following, and disloyalty. You have no evidence, you just shout and attack. It's making you ill.
The build-up bile in your head is making you blind. Doleo tibi.

Quoted from aldi_01

So you’re not John or family member after all, you’re Tim Westwood…

No discussion, no substance, just attack. Doleo tibi

Quoted from HatTrickHero

Goodness me this has taken a sinister turn.

yeah, I'm out.

Good. 1 down a few to go.

Quoted from GrimPol

You see I'm prepared to think through and say what I believe is right. You interpret that as sycophancy, blind following, and disloyalty. You have no evidence, you just shout and attack. It's making you ill.
The build-up bile in your head is making you blind. Doleo tibi.

Go on then i'll bite,name all the positives he did for the club,that weren't born out of self interest.

Quoted from GrimPol

One accuses me of being John, the other of Alan Partridge. Make your minds up.
But then that's all you have, derogatory remarks, no substance.

Erm - one and the same.....

Quoted from friskneymariner

Go on then i'll bite,name all the positives he did for the club,that weren't born out of self interest.

Here's my list:
1
2
3
4
5

Quoted from GrimPol

Good. 1 down a few to go.

According to the latest numbers, there are 6,213 on here so there is quite a few to go. Still, you made a start.

Quoted from GrimPol

No discussion, no substance, just attack. Doleo tibi

flipping hell, go see a doctor about your sense of humour…