Alleged takeover chat

[fisherrich]

3 minutes ago, beaverface said:

The line in bold I find interesting. Unfortunately, from a pessimistic point of view, can we realistically see SL running the club for another 10 years - potentially yes, but realistically no - so at some point I'd expect SL to want to offload everything.

If Jon Lansdown isn't interested in taking over the ownership of any of the clubs owned by SL i.e. City, Rugby, Basketball, Motor racing, then what the hell happens when SL passes on? Somebody needs to action that situation, whether it's a pre-emptive lock stock sell by SL, or a reactive sell by JL (if something unfortunately suddenly happened to SL) - we're still left with a situation that all the clubs owned by the Lansdown will need running by someone.

Which is why the whole thing will be sold in the next few years one way or another.
Come on, John Lansdown running it -  ha, ha!!

[Mr Popodopolous]

11 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

In PE you'd very rarely see a fully leveraged buyout. Any bank providing a loan would absolutely expect the PE house to put in its own money yes.

Would it be a gamble with a swift promotion built in? Probably. What is "swift". The number one way that any buyer would increase the value of the club is by getting into the Premier League. So yes promotion would absolutely be part of the equation. 

You are right to be wary by the way. I am just trying to explain the way this business works. If you're still wary after that then fair enough and in part I agree with you.

Thanks for making a few things clearer. Aspects of it do get a bad name but aspects of it seem problematic for a Championship side losing money.

Quick? 2-3 years. Thereafter maybe PE company House begin to get concerned. Plus if they want a quick promotion maybe they would seek to play fast and loose with FFP which if it fails can bring further issues.

Agree the main way of a return is promotion to the PL.

I'd be interested to know what percentage Pace at Burnley and the Glazers at Man United put in. Still think these two clubs much better placed to absorb at time of takeover. A lot I guess depends on how the deal is structured, the mindset of prospective  new owners etc. I suppose they would look to hire the best that the club could afford in all areas in order to increase chances of success and their return.

[REDOXO]

13 minutes ago, beaverface said:

The line in bold I find interesting. Unfortunately, from a pessimistic point of view, can we realistically see SL running the club for another 10 years - potentially yes, but realistically no - so at some point I'd expect SL to want to offload everything.

If Jon Lansdown isn't interested in taking over the ownership of any of the clubs owned by SL i.e. City, Rugby, Basketball, Motor racing, then what the hell happens when SL passes on? Somebody needs to action that situation, whether it's a pre-emptive lock stock sell by SL, or a reactive sell by JL (if something unfortunately suddenly happened to SL) - we're still left with a situation that all the clubs owned by the Lansdown will need running by someone.

Exactly. At the moment there is no discernible head of anything. The obvious silence within the management of all groups leads me to believe there is something in the offing, but who knows what. However the only thing that makes sense from my perspective is a full sale, the structure is tricky, but really isn’t that complicated from an asset purchase perspective. 
 

The issue is returns and to whom they go. For example anyone thinks MBS gives a flyer regarding money generation at Newcastle is nuts. Saudi Arabia just wants an image wash. There are many reasons to buy sports clubs. 
 

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by REDOXO

[Hxj]

1 hour ago, Kid in the Riot said:

It's a potential joint venture between investment firm Conygar and Bristol Rovers.

Are Conygar still involved?  I know they had a period of exclusivity arranged with the owners of the site, but it has all gone quiet.

[BigTone]

Not City related but watched the Gillingham vs Leicester game the other day. Gillingham's new American owner was interviewed and extolled his notion that he had bought a "sleeping giant".  Since when do giant Lemons go to sleep ? 

Think he had his pants pulled down and bum well slapped.

Edited January 10, 2023 by BigTone

[GrahamC]

3 hours ago, cidered abroad said:

@GrahamC 

Please clarify / advise what does the Fruit Market have to do with SL or City

Absolutely nothing.

[Mr Popodopolous]

26 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Not City related but watched the Gillingham vs Leicester game the other day. Gillingham's new American owner was interviewed and extolled his notion that he had bought a "sleeping giant".  Since when do giant Lemons go to sleep ? 

Think he had his pants pulled down and bum well slapped.

Kent in part is a fairly rich area..in theory if Gillingham really got something going, one League club in the county could they grow significantly? In theory.

In practice absolutely not hut a team representing Kent. A lot of PL fans there but if they could turn it round quickly who knows. If they could get excitement, capitalise then a bit of luck. Sleeping giant is fanciful but Kent had a population of nearly 2m so you tap into that, but still a rather long shot yes.

[pongo88]

7 hours ago, CyderInACan said:

Who on earth would want to buy a championship football club!?

Why indeed? But, there are strange things that happen in the football world. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Canadian /  American actors, bought Wrexham. The cost is obviously a factor, but perhaps someone from the forum could send a begging letter to George Clooney or Scarlett Johansson

4 hours ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

although some say he is just in it to make money and will get all his money back when a few houses are built 

Some people do say he’s in it to make money, but if his objective was to make money from property, he could have done it without getting involved in Bristol City. I’m sure his intentions were good, it’s just the execution of his intentions that have been off key 

[exAtyeoMax]

36 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Absolutely nothing.

Sorry, can you expand on your comment about it being disgraceful? I don't know anything about what's going on. Thanks

[sh1t_ref_again]

4 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Personally I'd imagine Steve's valuation is closer to £100m than £50m. It's estimated he's invested about £200m over the years.

 

4 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Longmoor village. The site where the new stadium was to be built.

500 new homes 30% of which are affordable/social. 

Difficult to know what profit he'll make as I don't know how much he paid for the land, however given it was former landfill and green belt, probably not a massive amount.

In terms of its land value now. Let's subtract the social housing, so we're down to 350 homes. Let's say £100k a plot = £35m.

@Pedrowe will have a better idea! But suffice to say, he'll be walking off with a very nice profit; and the key detail here is that he would not have got this permission if it wasn't for Bristol City FC and trade offs with the sporting quarter.

Perhaps I am missing your point of where the nice little profit comes from? you previously posted he had invested over 200m and that the clubs valuation might be 100m, and then the land that SL has been stashing away will be worth 35m, by my math that is still a significant loss, thats if as been pointed out the land profits may be tied into making up the shortfall in development costs of the sporting quarter.

If SL wanted profit he could have just kept the 200m what it would be worth in general investment or left as shares in HL as he has sold off shares to invest in City. 

We can all try to guess XYZ, but have not got a clue in reality, but it does seem as ungrateful when we try to belittle SL's investment and support for the club, by making statements like he'll be walking off with a very nice profit with no basis. I think we are local to have a local businessman willing to invest his hard cash in BCFC, whatever his perceived short falls.

[Mr Popodopolous]

There are ways he could walk away wirh a profit, would debt to equity conversion be included in a sale price I wonder. That aside to turn a profit on our current position vs what he has sunk in it would be difficult IMO.

The £200m figure, is it net or is it gross? ie is this before or after interest on his loans or for a brief period, rent on Ashton Gate. There are for sure much easier ways that he could have turned a profit however.

[Major Isewater]

8 hours ago, CyderInACan said:

Who on earth would want to buy a championship football club!?

To become a Premier club. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

3 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

To become a Premier club. 

Of course, problem is if you are ambitious and aiming for the stars and don't get it with a few years...do you keep going or do you lose interest and the club withers. Let alone potential FFP penalties if you gamble, bet big- but lose.

Edited January 10, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[1960maaan]

7 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

There are ways he could walk away wirh a profit, would debt to equity conversion be included in a sale price I wonder. That aside to turn a profit on our current position vs what he has sunk in it would be difficult IMO.

The £200m figure, is it net or is it gross? ie is this before or after interest on his loans or for a brief period, rent on Ashton Gate. There are for sure much easier ways that he could have turned a profit however.

I was told very early on that the Stadium  (at the time there was no chatter of the extras ) was to be Steve's Legacy. I really don't think he went in looking for a profit, I mean how much money do you need ? 

[pongo88]

8 hours ago, CyderInACan said:

Who on earth would want to buy a championship football club!?

 

6 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

To become a Premier club. 

How do you make a small fortune getting Championship Bristol City into the Premier League? 
 

Start with a large fortune 

[chalkeyred]

4 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

To become a Premier club. 

Agreed, but a huge punt.

A CFO who has worked with Premier League and Championship sides once told me that 'unless you are happy to burn £15m per annum of your own money, stay away from Championship clubs'... 

Seems reasonable....

[fisherrich]

14 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

To become a Premier club. 

Premiership football at City is a pipe dream - for some years to come.
Div 1 is looking more likely than Prem football currently.

[Mr Popodopolous]

55 minutes ago, chalkeyred said:

Agreed, but a huge punt.

A CFO who has worked with Premier League and Championship sides once told me that 'unless you are happy to burn £15m per annum of your own money, stay away from Championship clubs'... 

Seems reasonable....

That sounds about right. Some will be higher, some lower but I suspect we are somewhere around the average for cash losses/equity. £15-20m maybe a better range though maybe this drops a bit post Covid.

Edited January 10, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[BigTone]

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Kent in part is a fairly rich area..in theory if Gillingham really got something going, one League club in the county could they grow significantly? In theory.

In practice absolutely not hut a team representing Kent. A lot of PL fans there but if they could turn it round quickly who knows. If they could get excitement, capitalise then a bit of luck. Sleeping giant is fanciful but Kent had a population of nearly 2m so you tap into that, but still a rather long shot yes.

Long shot me thinks 

[Hxj]

46 minutes ago, chalkeyred said:

'unless you are happy to burn £15m per annum of your own money, stay away from Championship clubs'

That would be cheap-skating it.

£13 million - to qualify for £13 million FFP allowance

£3 million - Academy/Youth football

£1 million - Women's team

£1 million - Community work

That's £18 million.  Then you have to fund the transfer fees up front - another few million a year at least 

Then capital expenditure.  Depending where you are in the ground/training centre development process anywhere from another couple of million on capital expenditure a year to say £75 million on a new stadium and training centre.

[GrahamC]

2 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Sorry, can you expand on your comment about it being disgraceful? I don't know anything about what's going on. Thanks

Well put it this way, which football club in the city had a “stand” that was sponsored by Bristol Energy (here’s a very big clue, it wasn’t us).

Now there is the possibility of land in the city being found to enable them to build a new stadium.

Remember the help that we got when we were looking to do this? No, me neither.

Hence “disgraceful”, Council Tax payers money that was already propping up a failing energy company yet £200k of it was used to sponsor a stand, now this.

Great, isn’t it?

[exAtyeoMax]

21 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Well put it this way, which football club in the city had a “stand” that was sponsored by Bristol Energy (here’s a very big clue, it wasn’t us).

Now there is the possibility of land in the city being found to enable them to build a new stadium.

Remember the help that we got when we were looking to do this? No, me neither.

Hence “disgraceful”, Council Tax payers money that was already propping up a failing energy company yet £200k of it was used to sponsor a stand, now this.

Great, isn’t it?

oh, I see… yes it is a disgrace. Thanks 

Is the proposed uni campus for Bristol uni or UWE? 

[gamon]

Jon Lansdown couldn't run a sweet shop. This club is getting sold, eventually.

[Kid in the Riot]

16 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Well put it this way, which football club in the city had a “stand” that was sponsored by Bristol Energy (here’s a very big clue, it wasn’t us).

Now there is the possibility of land in the city being found to enable them to build a new stadium.

Remember the help that we got when we were looking to do this? No, me neither.

Hence “disgraceful”, Council Tax payers money that was already propping up a failing energy company yet £200k of it was used to sponsor a stand, now this.

Great, isn’t it?

To be fair Graham, neither BCC or North Somerset Council have hardly stood in Steve Lansdown's way regards:

The new stadium in the green belt

AG redevelopment

Sporting quarter

500 homes in the green belt

BCFC training ground in the green belt

Bears training ground in the green belt

BCC did not really "find" the fruit market land. It has been optioned by a private investment company who are proposing the possibility of a stadium, which the Council supports. 

Edited January 11, 2023 by Kid in the Riot

[Northern Red]

15 hours ago, gamon said:

Jon Lansdown couldn't run a sweet shop. This club is getting sold, eventually.

Yep, and I suspect Steve has grown to realise this over the last couple of years or so. I'm assuming Jon was meant to be his eyes and ears after he'd retired to Guernsey and Ashton was running the place day to day, and look how that turned out.

[phantom]

I thought Jon and his family lived in Botswana now?

[Kid in the Riot]

50 minutes ago, phantom said:

I thought Jon and his family lived in Botswana now?

Bermuda?

[phantom]

41 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Bermuda?

So essentially not local

The point I was going to make is that it seems absurd someone could hold such a position but be so far away

I wonder who is running day to day matters, is that the CEO?

[Johnny Musicworks]

People seem to forget that our previous Chairman (Keith Dawe) was rarely seen or heard of in the press. Because Jon is ‘family’ people seem to expect his role to be more out front which really is not necessary when we have a CEO. 

[fisherrich]

1 hour ago, phantom said:

So essentially not local

The point I was going to make is that it seems absurd someone could hold such a position but be so far away

I wonder who is running day to day matters, is that the CEO?

Noone, rudderless ship. 

[BigTone]

2 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Bermuda?

Close 

[NcnsBcfc]

I lost any respect for JL as chairman unfortunately, when he flew in Feb 2022, and asserted ( as his right as Chairman) that we should be doing better as a team. He was already on the naughty step for that Centenary strip at the Fulham game in March 2020, and lets not talk about the extensive 6 week search that he ran with MA, for LJ's replacement.

NP disagreed of course, but was very forthright in his views. What did JL do? He just said nothing, and scuttled off again to his Caribbean island, where he could play online with his digital crayons on his pet project (Fever Pitch). 

That's not leadership, that's running away from the real issues at the club. So from that moment on (nearly a year now), we haven't heard a peep out of the supposed Chairman, who must have felt that the manager has put him right in his box, and he was too afraid to come out again.

Fast forward to 2023, and where is the senior leadership at the club? We have no board, fingers crossed on the new CEO, but nothing from him yet really. An owner, who just seems to approach City now almost like a Spanish lottery scam (ie I've invested so much money now, that the only way to get any back is to keep on investing).

Where is the visibility, and accountability? What are the plans? Why does the club just keep pushing NP forward to justify everything, when its clear he just wants to focus on the football team, and not talk about finance.

It's a mess, and we come across as a billionaire's family vanity project at times.

[ExiledAjax]

1 hour ago, phantom said:

I wonder who is running day to day matters, is that the CEO?

Of course, because that's the job of a CEO.

[Davefevs]

20 minutes ago, NcnsBcfc said:

I lost any respect for JL as chairman unfortunately, when he flew in Feb 2022, and asserted ( as his right as Chairman) that we should be doing better as a team. He was already on the naughty step for that Centenary strip at the Fulham game in March 2020, and lets not talk about the extensive 6 week search that he ran with MA, for LJ's replacement.

NP disagreed of course, but was very forthright in his views. What did JL do? He just said nothing, and scuttled off again to his Caribbean island, where he could play online with his digital crayons on his pet project (Fever Pitch). 

That's not leadership, that's running away from the real issues at the club. So from that moment on (nearly a year now), we haven't heard a peep out of the supposed Chairman, who must have felt that the manager has put him right in his box, and he was too afraid to come out again.

Fast forward to 2023, and where is the senior leadership at the club? We have no board, fingers crossed on the new CEO, but nothing from him yet really. An owner, who just seems to approach City now almost like a Spanish lottery scam (ie I've invested so much money now, that the only way to get any back is to keep on investing).

Where is the visibility, and accountability? What are the plans? Why does the club just keep pushing NP forward to justify everything, when its clear he just wants to focus on the football team, and not talk about finance.

It's a mess, and we come across as a billionaire's family vanity project at times.

He appears not to have been involved in the process of recruiting the new CEO either…that was RG and Gavin Marshall’s responsibility.

I very much suspect Fever Pitch is the “thing” he really likes doing and would happily just do that.

[ExiledAjax]

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

He appears not to have been involved in the process of recruiting the new CEO either…that was RG and Gavin Marshall’s responsibility.

I very much suspect Fever Pitch is the “thing” he really likes doing and would happily just do that.

In which case he should be given a role like "Head of Media" or something (with respect to Dave Barton).

I've said before that it's the club's fault for not clarifying what the "Chairman" role is. That leaves people confused as some equate it with the modern CEO role - ie day-to-day management of the club/company. Others read Chairman and think of a chairman of the board of directors - basically a position in large normally listed companies where the person is a non-executive who oversees the board and has a casting vote to break deadlock. Jon isn't that as he is very clearly an executive director.

So what is his role? It's not clear and it's bad governance.

If the protest was clearly about that I'd be down the 3 Lions in a shot on Saturday.

Edited January 11, 2023 by ExiledAjax

[Kid in the Riot]

50 minutes ago, NcnsBcfc said:

It's a mess, and we come across as a billionaire's family vanity project at times.

No comment.

[CodeRed]

4 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Bermuda?

Botswana, Bermuda?

Makes no difference.......

's all forrin innit!   

 

[REDOXO]

2 hours ago, NcnsBcfc said:

I lost any respect for JL as chairman unfortunately, when he flew in Feb 2022, and asserted ( as his right as Chairman) that we should be doing better as a team. He was already on the naughty step for that Centenary strip at the Fulham game in March 2020, and lets not talk about the extensive 6 week search that he ran with MA, for LJ's replacement.

NP disagreed of course, but was very forthright in his views. What did JL do? He just said nothing, and scuttled off again to his Caribbean island, where he could play online with his digital crayons on his pet project (Fever Pitch). 

That's not leadership, that's running away from the real issues at the club. So from that moment on (nearly a year now), we haven't heard a peep out of the supposed Chairman, who must have felt that the manager has put him right in his box, and he was too afraid to come out again.

Fast forward to 2023, and where is the senior leadership at the club? We have no board, fingers crossed on the new CEO, but nothing from him yet really. An owner, who just seems to approach City now almost like a Spanish lottery scam (ie I've invested so much money now, that the only way to get any back is to keep on investing).

Where is the visibility, and accountability? What are the plans? Why does the club just keep pushing NP forward to justify everything, when its clear he just wants to focus on the football team, and not talk about finance.

It's a mess, and we come across as a billionaire's family vanity project at times.

I’m not sure I would ever concur with the family vanity project. SL has been brilliant for the club, infrastructure and  for South Bristol in general. The bloke probably deserves a knighthood for the effort he’s put in. 
 

However he’s in his 70s and we never seem to get anything right on the field sustainably, which hurts us all. 
 

I guess we will see if there is a take over in the offing. 

[phantom]

4 hours ago, Johnny Musicworks said:

People seem to forget that our previous Chairman (Keith Dawe) was rarely seen or heard of in the press. Because Jon is ‘family’ people seem to expect his role to be more out front which really is not necessary when we have a CEO. 

At least he was in the same country 

[NcnsBcfc]

1 hour ago, REDOXO said:

I’m not sure I would ever concur with the family vanity project. SL has been brilliant for the club, infrastructure and  for South Bristol in general. The bloke probably deserves a knighthood for the effort he’s put in. 
 

However he’s in his 70s and we never seem to get anything right on the field sustainably, which hurts us all. 
 

I guess we will see if there is a take over in the offing. 

Up until the point where he made his son Chairman i would have agreed with you. A son who is not involved in any senior position in any of his other companies.

I'm not quite sure what other conclusion can be given to make JL chairman, other than a keep it in the family vanity project.

I don't see SL using nepotism to appointment family members in any other of his businesses?

[REDOXO]

2 minutes ago, NcnsBcfc said:

Up until the point where he made his son Chairman i would have agreed with you. A son who is not involved in any senior position in any of his other companies.

I'm not quite sure what other conclusion can be given to make JL chairman, other than a keep it in the family vanity project.

I don't see SL using nepotism to appointment family members in any other of his businesses?

Jon Lansdown was originally present and interested. He has become uninterested in the last few years. I guess failure and constant attacks (some founded) can make you yearn for the playboy lifestyle that you could have. 
 

As far as for Jons involvement with other Lansdown ventures who knows, but it’s pretty clear SL had to let something go. It’s unfortunate that we are where we are. As one of our Sag posters implied the other day. There are about 80 clubs that would be celebrating for a month to have SL safeguarding the future, and let’s face it, he is the second most successful principle after HD. 

[Calculus]

6 minutes ago, REDOXO said:

Jon Lansdown was originally present and interested. He has become uninterested in the last few years. I guess failure and constant attacks (some founded) can make you yearn for the playboy lifestyle that you could have. 
 

As far as for Jons involvement with other Lansdown ventures who knows, but it’s pretty clear SL had to let something go. It’s unfortunate that we are where we are. As one of our Sag posters implied the other day. There are about 80 clubs that would be celebrating for a month to have SL safeguarding the future, and let’s face it, he is the second most successful principle after HD. 

Steve has turned 70 and is, I believe, starting to think about what he is leaving behind him. At the moment City are a club that requires regular large injections of capital and a lot of financial expertise in managing his large and complicated portfolio. Maybe he's reached the conclusion that he can't just expect Jon to take sole control or handle a sale and is looking or someone to come in.  Perhaps his best route in attracting an investor will be to split the Bristol Sport empire up into saleable chunks. Wouldn't surprise me in the least, and if that happens there could be very nervy times ahead for the football club.

[CyderInACan]

13 hours ago, Calculus said:

Perhaps his best route in attracting an investor will be to split the Bristol Sport empire up into saleable chunks. Wouldn't surprise me in the least, and if that happens there could be very nervy times ahead for the football club.

I doubt that suits his ego and the opportunity to leave some kind of legacy though. The Sporting Quarter, with all teams part of Bristol Sport,  very much fits the bill?

[Calculus]

1 hour ago, CyderInACan said:

I doubt that suits his ego and the opportunity to leave some kind of legacy though. The Sporting Quarter, with all teams part of Bristol Sport,  very much fits the bill?

I'm sure that's true as well but, and I'm sorry to be brutal here, Steve's ego will die with him when the time comes. Not sure that Jon has the ability or even inclination to take on what Steve has built and would think that Steve knows this and won't want to leave his remaining family with problems. I think it's what native Bristolians call a dilemmal. I hope Steve manages to work all this out and lives many years yet - he's done many great things for the club and the city and his legacy is already secure IMO.

Edited January 12, 2023 by Calculus

[frenchred]

9 minutes ago, Calculus said:

I'm sure that's true as well but, and I'm sorry to be brutal here, Steve's ego will die with him when the time comes. Not sure that Jon has the ability or even inclination to take on what Steve has built and would think that Steve knows this and won't want to leave his remaining family with problems. I think it's what native Bristolians call a dilemmal. I hope Steve manages to work all this out and lives many years yet - he's done many great things for the club and the City and his legacy is already secure IMO.

I am probably one of Lansdowns biggest critics, but I do agree with the last bit of your comments, his legacy should be secured for what he has done for the city (especially BS3) of Bristol. It's the bcfc bit I struggle with!

[marmite]

I think the lack of takeover/investment news is proof of SLs commitment to making sure the club is in good hands going forward. He won't want all his hard work undone by some hit and run organisation. The building blocks are in place for the club to progress but I think Steve probably thinks he's gone as far as he can but I'm sure he wants to see the club in the Prem.

One things for sure, he doesn't think Jon has the ability or the inclination to take it on. Jon was just his ears at the club when he was appointed chairman.  Jons absence and silence is proof of his lack of interest.

As an aside, I would like to see Scott Davidson back on the board if he was interested , but I've no idea if he is, although he is involved around the club with the ex players initiative. 

[Alessandro]

17 hours ago, REDOXO said:

I’m not sure I would ever concur with the family vanity project. SL has been brilliant for the club, infrastructure and  for South Bristol in general. The bloke probably deserves a knighthood for the effort he’s put in. 
 

However he’s in his 70s and we never seem to get anything right on the field sustainably, which hurts us all. 
 

I guess we will see if there is a take over in the offing. 

I agree with this. SL's plan has generally seemed to be the same as long as I can remember - "Throw money at it - then tighten our belts when its doesn't work".

What that's meant is we're in this constant cycle of (relative) feast or famine. No, or very little sustainability, as you say. 

When he realised he couldn't fast track it on the pitch and banged his head against a wall (covered large losses) for a decade, he finally invested in the infrastructure, great but it was at least 5 years late coming.

And he as constantly let himself down with his appointments. Many wrong choices and often the good choices have been at the wrong time - he only brings in the experienced head when we need to tighten our belt - then he gambles all on red when we do have some cash to spend. 

I've always said SL's heart is in the right place and over the whole picture he's been great for the club, but by god, in the depths of night i'm sure he'd think for hours about how he'd like to start over and do it all differently. 

Certainly a huge legacy though IMO. 

[sh1t_ref_again]

Love these threads where posts state what SL or JL are thinking or planning all by people who i suspect don't know them, have no involvement with BCFC other than watching and probably never even met them, all total speculation 

[phantom]

5 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Love these threads where posts state what SL or JL are thinking or planning all by people who i suspect don't know them, have no involvement with BCFC other than watching and probably never even met them, all total speculation 

or are they? . . . .

[Davefevs]

7 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Love these threads where posts state what SL or JL are thinking or planning all by people who i suspect don't know them, have no involvement with BCFC other than watching and probably never even met them, all total speculation 

In fairness SL (and JL to a much lesser extent) have communicated to us fabs much of what is “speculated in this thread.

[marmite]

20 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Love these threads where posts state what SL or JL are thinking or planning all by people who i suspect don't know them, have no involvement with BCFC other than watching and probably never even met them, all total speculation 

I've met and spoken to Steve and Jon on several occasions.  Not pretending to be ITK but I'm not just a Saturday afternoon fan. 

[ExiledAjax]

1 hour ago, marmite said:

As an aside, I would like to see Scott Davidson back on the board if he was interested , but I've no idea if he is, although he is involved around the club with the ex players initiative. 

My understanding, having spoken to him on one call in relation to the Heritage project - is that he's very unlikely to return to the BCFC board. He's happy to be involved as he is with projects that support the club, but full board membership isn't happening.

[marmite]

3 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

My understanding, having spoken to him on one call in relation to the Heritage project - is that he's very unlikely to return to the BCFC board. He's happy to be involved as he is with projects that support the club, but full board membership isn't happening.

That's a shame imo.

[Clutton Caveman]

On 10/01/2023 at 11:22, ExiledAjax said:

I agree. If I'm an investor or buyer I want the stadium and everything. I don't want to buy a football club and then rent from the old owner. I'd be happy to be a landlord to the old owner's rugby club, but I want control of the main bricks and mortar asset.

I know that I am in a tiny minority but I wish that somebody would buy both Bristol clubs and put them together.

Only then would we really have the fan base to make it to the prem. Helmuts on...........

[Grey Fox]

19 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I know that I am in a tiny minority but I wish that somebody would buy both Bristol clubs and put them together.

Only then would we really have the fan base to make it to the prem. Helmuts on...........

Personally, I would rather keep my soul . Go wash your mouth out

[cityal]

31 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I know that I am in a tiny minority but I wish that somebody would buy both Bristol clubs and put them together.

Only then would we really have the fan base to make it to the prem. Helmuts on...........

Anyone know of a way to report potentially harmful and dangerous electronic communications ?

[ExiledAjax]

27 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I know that I am in a tiny minority but I wish that somebody would buy both Bristol clubs and put them together.

Only then would we really have the fan base to make it to the prem. Helmuts on...........

You've quoted me so I'll respond.

I'm not entirely against it.

But, it would have to be a complete buyout by us of them. Essentially an eradication of them, and a final full-stop on their history. I'm also not really sure I would be happy at us setting a precedent like that. Football should be an industry where you can't just buy your rivals/competitors. I don't want Sheff Utd to buy Wednesday, I don't want Forest to buy County, I don't want Stoke to buy Port Vale. Note as well that I'm sure FIFA, UEFA, the FA (plus any future regulator) would have something to say about it - you're straying near to multi-club ownership territory.

Even if it could be done it would take a generation or two to get the entirety of Bristol supporting one club. Partly due to past loyalties, and partly due to the time taken to educate the few about maps, roofs, fixed seating, sell by dates, 7-figure transfer fees, and general human etiquette.

If it had happened 100 years ago then who knows where Bristol might be in footballing terms, but right now I can't see it.

The only realistic ways that Bristol will ever (again) have just one football league team is when the gas get either relegated out of League 2 or are finally wound up for good.

[BrizzleRed]

32 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I know that I am in a tiny minority but I wish that somebody would buy both Bristol clubs and put them together.

Only then would we really have the fan base to make it to the prem. Helmuts on...........

Wow!  

It’s been discussed before, but what exactly would actually be gained from a merger with that lot?  Huge fanbase?  Money?  Great stadium? Better league standing?  Great history?

Nope, they’d add absolutely bugger all to what we’ve already got and would contaminate our club in the process.

Only people who would gain from a merger are the sags!

[TonyTonyTony]

5 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

But, it would have to be a complete buyout by us of them. Essentially an eradication of them, and a final full-stop on their history.

You dont see many kids in tesco bags nowadays anyway. I think they will eradicate themselves at some point. A successful city would only speed that up, which is even more of a motivation to get our club firing properly.

As you say, a merger is all gain on their side offering nothing for us except for a few fans with gills and webbed hands

[pongo88]

2 hours ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I know that I am in a tiny minority but I wish that somebody would buy both Bristol clubs and put them together.

Only then would we really have the fan base to make it to the prem. Helmuts on...........

This suggestion did crop up from time to time in the 60s. Although it never came close to happening it wouldn’t have caused as many problems as today as there wasn’t the same level of hatred between some supporters. The teams were fairly equal so a combined team would have been good, but there wasn’t much in it for City as Rovers didn’t own there own ground. 

Edited January 12, 2023 by pongo88

[Northern Red]

If we did ever join forces, the best thing to do would be to take the 'Bristol' from their name and the 'City' from ours to get your new club.

[ooRya]

7 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

If we did ever join forces, the best thing to do would be to take the 'Bristol' from their name and the 'City' from ours to get your new club.

Yes, and for a kit we could take the red from our kit and the white from theirs. 

[spudski]

Life is an ever changing meander, and what we are passionate about changes over time. 

Whether it be family, business, interests, passions...it's a constantly changing situation.

In SL's case, I should imagine he's the same as everyone else on the planet.

He may have money which brings power and influence, but he still has the same emotions as we do.

Family and business...then the footy...expending that to eventually being a big knob in the Bristol area. When you have that much money and influence you can start thinking about leaving a legacy...which he's spoken of doing numerous times.

To be remembered in the same way as say Brunel...

Personally I don't or would never have that thought. What's the point...once your dead, your dead. It means jack shit in the bigger picture.

In his older years, reading between the lines, his passion and his wife's, is conservation and animal welfare in Africa... Botswana. As well as the Guernsey life and businesses associated with both places. It's far removed from the former life in Bristol.

It's almost like he had a passion, moved on, and now it's become a chore. But still sees the need to see it out.

That's my guess.

 

[Superjack]

7 hours ago, Alessandro said:

I agree with this. SL's plan has generally seemed to be the same as long as I can remember - "Throw money at it - then tighten our belts when its doesn't work".

What that's meant is we're in this constant cycle of (relative) feast or famine. No, or very little sustainability, as you say. 

When he realised he couldn't fast track it on the pitch and banged his head against a wall (covered large losses) for a decade, he finally invested in the infrastructure, great but it was at least 5 years late coming.

And he as constantly let himself down with his appointments. Many wrong choices and often the good choices have been at the wrong time - he only brings in the experienced head when we need to tighten our belt - then he gambles all on red when we do have some cash to spend. 

I've always said SL's heart is in the right place and over the whole picture he's been great for the club, but by god, in the depths of night i'm sure he'd think for hours about how he'd like to start over and do it all differently. 

Certainly a huge legacy though IMO. 

Bang on. Not always the wrong managers, but usually at the wrong time.

[City Rocker]

6 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

My understanding, having spoken to him on one call in relation to the Heritage project - is that he's very unlikely to return to the BCFC board. He's happy to be involved as he is with projects that support the club, but full board membership isn't happening.

Shortly after Richard Gould's return to the club, I spotted Gould and Scott Davidson in a Clifton restaurant having dinner and a cosy chat. I thought then that maybe we might see SD getting involved again at some level in cub affairs, but it seems not.

Though as mentioned above, he played a part in the formation of the Former Players Association.

[Ska Junkie]

4 hours ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I know that I am in a tiny minority but I wish that somebody would buy both Bristol clubs and put them together.

Only then would we really have the fan base to make it to the prem. Helmuts on...........

I would rather gouge my eyes out with a filthy pick axe than have anything to do with r**ers, **** that! 

[Winterstoke toad]

4 minutes ago, Ska Junkie said:

I would rather gouge my eyes out with a filthy pick axe than have anything to do with r**ers, **** that! 

If that ever happens can you gouge mine out first 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Would be a terrible idea to merge. Terrible.

Nottingham is no bigger and perhaps smaller than Bristol, Liverpool similar. No need whatever, why on earth should we merge- they would only drag us down aside from anything else.

[Merrick's Marvels]

1 hour ago, City Rocker said:

Shortly after Richard Gould's return to the club, I spotted Gould and Scott Davidson in a Clifton restaurant having dinner and a cosy chat. I thought then that maybe we might see SD getting involved again at some level in cub affairs, but it seems not.

He is involved - along with Gould, Stu Rogers and City Supporters Society Ltd, they're all directors of something called BCFC Heritage & Archive Ltd a company formed in Sept 22.

Others on here will be better placed to explain what BCFC Heritage is all about, I'm none the wiser, although I hope it's connected to the plans for a museum in the netball quarter. 

I expect this is what they were talking about when you saw them. 

Edited January 12, 2023 by Merrick's Marvels

[cidered abroad]

3 hours ago, Northern Red said:

If we did ever join forces, the best thing to do would be to take the 'Bristol' from their name and the 'City' from ours to get your new club.

 

3 hours ago, ooRya said:

Yes, and for a kit we could take the red from our kit and the white from theirs. 

 

3 hours ago, ooRya said:

 

Those are at least 50 or 60 years old. We'd play at Ashton Gate as it's larger than the rugby Mem! 

Will never happen