Alleged takeover chat

[Supersonic Robin]

6 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...........

 

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

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.

That's the thing - our fan base is already comfortably big enough to make it to the Prem. And given the size of the City and lack of competition around us, we're probably one of the few clubs with genuine capacity to grow further. Depending on how positive/negative your outlook on life is, that's the promising/depressing (cross out as appropriate) thing about supporting City.

 

[sglosbcfc]

It is a non starter, because the truth of the matter is that the majority of 'real' (people who would put their hand in their pocket to watch a football club, in all weathers and display loyalty to them when results aren't great) football fans in Bristol support City (67%) or Rovers (33%). The vast majority of those fans would rather watch Bristol City v Rotherham in the championship or Bristol Rovers v Accrington in League One than they would watch Bristol United v Manchester City in the Premiership. City are playing Birmingham on Saturday and I can honestly say if Real Madrid were kicking off at 3pm v Barcelona on Hanham Common I'd still be at Ashton on Saturday.

[ExiledAjax]

10 hours 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.

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

Yeh Gould uses his network well. He speaks to Davidson, Scudamore, and others that have connections to City plus knowledge. I mean he'll speak to anyone with an idea and a desire to make it work.

Davidson has done good work with the former players association and has been instrumental in setting up the new heritage company and it's online repository. He's around, in the background and helping where he can.

[Clutton Caveman]

11 hours ago, Supersonic Robin said:

 

That's the thing - our fan base is already comfortably big enough to make it to the Prem. And given the size of the City and lack of competition around us, we're probably one of the few clubs with genuine capacity to grow further. Depending on how positive/negative your outlook on life is, that's the promising/depressing (cross out as appropriate) thing about supporting City.

 

If our fan base is big enough for the prem why are we in such a poor financial state and towards the bottom of the Championship.

[chinapig]

48 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

If our fan base is big enough for the prem why are we in such a poor financial state and towards the bottom of the Championship.

Because it's not the fans who messed up the finances?

[Der no.2]

19 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...........

miniscule on the quantum level

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 hours ago, chinapig said:

Because it's not the fans who messed up the finances?

Although if we listened to some of them on social media (some not all) and did it their way well I dread to think...12 point deduction, Business Plan and Hard embargo in the post probably??

[Northern Red]

3 hours ago, Clutton Caveman said:

If our fan base is big enough for the prem why are we in such a poor financial state and towards the bottom of the Championship.

U wot m8?

[Mr Popodopolous]

Okay this could be kind of relevant.

Sheffield United subject to approval and ratification, takeover sale price a reported £90m.

A) What would be part of the package here and B) What would SL be looking for?

Sheffield United like us own their ground, unsure what their training set-up is like but both will now be part of club ownership.

Otoh our ground is more recently redeveloped, has more off field revenue and the HPC is very new.

Like us, they have a Category 2 academy.

Plus PL x 2 and again in 2006-07, looking a decent bet to return this season- what would we go for once our books cleared somewhat ie what would SL be looking for?

Edited February 2, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[REDOXO]

On 12/01/2023 at 10:22, 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 be in favor of this provided the new club were 

1 named Bristol City

2Played at Ashton Gate

3 played in Red and White

4 Had Nigel Pearson as manager 

5 Had the rights to build a sainsbury at The memorial gates stadium and expunge any thing associated with Bristol Rovers. 
 

Then I could be persuaded!

[Bazooka Joe]

On 12/01/2023 at 16:22, 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 totally lost me.

Bristol City FC is the only club in Bristol.

Am I missing something?

Please explain.

[richwwtk]

1 hour ago, REDOXO said:

I would be in favor of this provided the new club were 

1 named Bristol City

2Played at Ashton Gate

3 played in Red and White

4 Had Nigel Pearson as manager 

5 Had the rights to build a sainsbury at The memorial gates stadium and expunge any thing associated with Bristol Rovers. 
 

Then I could be persuaded!

If there were to be a merger, then the only fair way to decide such things would be via a democratic vote. To ensure its not open to chicanery I would suggest that the only people allowed to vote should be the Season Ticket holders of each club, that way nobody would have anything to complain about.

[BCFC Rich]

I think there is a rule about this and you have to take the position of the lowest placed side. So even if we merged and followed @REDOXO's sensible and agreeable 5 point plan we'd be automatically relegated to League 1. 

[Bristol Oil Services]

If we merged with them, we gain one of the biggest most massive away supports in the country, overnight. Then none of us would have to bother with all the effort and inconvenience of going to bleedin away games. 

[archie andrews]

3 minutes ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

If we merged with them, we gain one of the biggest most massive away supports in the country, overnight. Then none of us would have to bother with all the effort and inconvenience of going to bleedin away games. 

if we ever merged with those belters thats me done.....

[sglosbcfc]

We'd never get a ticket for any Wembley finals, Rovers take 50,000 every time they go, don't you know!

[Sir Geoff]

5 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Okay this could be kind of relevant.

Sheffield United subject to approval and ratification, takeover sale price a reported £90m.

A) What would be part of the package here and B) What would SL be looking for?

Sheffield United like us own their ground, unsure what their training set-up is like but both will now be part of club ownership.

Otoh our ground is more recently redeveloped, has more off field revenue and the HPC is very new.

Like us, they have a Category 2 academy.

Plus PL x 2 and again in 2006-07, looking a decent bet to return this season- what would we go for once our books cleared somewhat ie what would SL be looking for?

That sounds like too much of a bargain to be true, especially as they just turned down £25 million for Ndiaye. The whole club, ground and playing staff, plus guaranteed Premier League money next year for £90 million, no way. Bournemouth cost over £100 million.

As a stand alone, as a Championship club  we would cost low £20 millions. With the stadium and HPC probably £60 million at a guess.

[Ska Junkie]

12 minutes ago, sglosbcfc said:

We'd never get a ticket for any Wembley finals, Rovers take 50,000 every time they go, don't you know!

We'd be okay, they clearly share seats so 50000 only use 25000 seats.

[exAtyeoMax]

24 minutes ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

If we merged with them, we gain one of the biggest most massive away supports in the country, overnight. Then none of us would have to bother with all the effort and inconvenience of going to bleedin away games. 

they'd be locked out though…

[Bristol Oil Services]

44 minutes ago, archie andrews said:

if we ever merged with those belters thats me done.....

It's ok mate, go to bed. It's not going to happen.

[archie andrews]

9 hours ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

It's ok mate, go to bed. It's not going to happen.

I repeat.... If we ever merged with those belters thats me done and ive been to bed..... 

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

On 12/01/2023 at 16:22, 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...........

Nein! Nein! Nein!

[Port Said Red]

12 hours ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

If we merged with them, we gain one of the biggest most massive away supports in the country, overnight. Then none of us would have to bother with all the effort and inconvenience of going to bleedin away games. 

But they would hate it because they calculate their away support as percentage of their home support, and that would plummet rapidly.

[BetterRedthanBlue]

17 hours ago, Bazooka Joe said:

You've totally lost me.

Bristol City FC is the only club in Bristol.

Am I missing something?

Please explain.

Only professional club. You're forgetting about Bristol Manor Farm

[Phileas Fogg]

On 12/01/2023 at 16:22, 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...........

Don't think this is true. A good barometer for latent support is Wembley attendance. 

We'd sell out a Wembley allocation and so would Rovers now they're back in L1. 

Both clubs have an enormous catchment area, inclusive of Bristol, South Glos, Somerset, Wiltshire, North Dorset and London (given the amount of people that have moved there). I know so many people that support one of the Bristol clubs as a second team for example. 

The flip side to this is our support is mainly present only within this catchment area. Clubs who have been historically successful but not always in the Prem (ie Leeds, Forest, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday) have wider spread of support around the country in addition to just their catchment area. This is shown in our away attendance, we travel really well to games as far north as Birmingham and as far east as London, but pretty badly north/further east of that. The clubs I've mentioned will tend to travel well everywhere, and that's helped by wider national spread of support.

I digress a bit, but I think we absolutely have the fan base to sustain the Prem. Until we get there though, lots of them will support without actually attending or see us as a second side.

I actually like this situation. I look at Brentford; regardless what they do - they will have a ceiling in terms of club size and support simply down to the sheer quantity of well supported London clubs. We're in a fairly unique situation in that our catchment area is massive without having experienced sustained Premier League football.

 

Edited February 3, 2023 by Phileas Fogg

[Barrs Court Red]

I’ve always thought that the chances of a merger were remote, bordering on realms of fantasy stuff.  And guess what, it still is. There is no plausible scenario where it would make sense.

[Galley is our king]

2 minutes ago, Barrs Court Red said:

I’ve always thought that the chances of a merger were remote, bordering on realms of fantasy stuff.  And guess what, it still is. There is no plausible scenario where it would make sense.

And neither set of supporters would welcome it.

Would take many generations to recover, if ever.

[Major Isewater]

1 hour ago, Barrs Court Red said:

I’ve always thought that the chances of a merger were remote, bordering on realms of fantasy stuff.  And guess what, it still is. There is no plausible scenario where it would make sense.

I’ve done this before and it’s not original but…

If we were to merge the Gas can keep the ‘ Bristol ‘ part of their name and we keep ‘ City ‘, the new club would be known as ‘ Bristol City ‘ .

[handsofclay]

15 hours ago, BCFC Rich said:

I think there is a rule about this and you have to take the position of the lowest placed side. So even if we merged and followed @REDOXO's sensible and agreeable 5 point plan we'd be automatically relegated to League 1. 

You are correct about that rule.

[Steve Watts]

On 12/01/2023 at 16:22, 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...........

Fans don't win promotion, players and managers do. Even if both sets of supporters accepted it 100% (they won't) we can only add 4k to our average attendance.  That simply wouldn't change a bloody thing!

[Red-Robbo]

Forest, both Sheffield teams, both Liverpool teams prove that you can be a PL club from a two-team mid-size city. 

[BCFCinNW6]

1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

Forest, both Sheffield teams, both Liverpool teams prove that you can be a PL club from a two-team mid-size city. 

Yeah but both are football loving cities. Bristol is most definitely not unfortunately.  

[Red-Robbo]

16 minutes ago, BCFCinNW6 said:

Yeah but both are football loving cities. Bristol is most definitely not unfortunately.  

 

I'm not sure you can say that. Bristol, as it's thriving, probably has a higher percentage of incomers from elsewhere in the UK, whereas Liverpool for example is declining. However even non-Bristolians can and have been, attracted to watch our club.

Nottingham is quite similar: same sort of size, big student population. Yet they have one very well attracted club: despite another (older) club in the same city and other league clubs nearby. Why Forest gets better crowds than City is down to historical success, not some unique make up in the Nottingham population. 

[Porto Red]

On 12/01/2023 at 16:58, ExiledAjax said:

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.

Not to mention basic hygiene, and that incest is taboo 

[sh1t_ref_again]

A merger would have to be combining the best bits of each club to make something stronger or better, I cannot think of 1 single thing the gas could offer us as the clubs have moved miles apart over recent years

Players - no

ground - no

owner - no

or perhaps I am missing something that could make it worth our while

 

 

[beaverface]

2 hours ago, Major Isewater said:

I’ve done this before and it’s not original but…

If we were to merge the Gas can keep the ‘ Bristol ‘ part of their name and we keep ‘ City ‘, the new club would be known as ‘ Bristol City ‘ .

Nooooooooooooooooo!!! :laugh:

You just need to state, take the Red from our kit, the White from their kit....and also rename the South Stand after Mickey Bell, and you've got a Full House!

Agggggggghhhhhh

[SDBS36]

7 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

A merger would have to be combining the best bits of each club to make something stronger or better, I cannot think of 1 single thing the gas could offer us as the clubs have moved miles apart over recent years

Players - no

ground - no

owner - no

or perhaps I am missing something that could make it worth our while

 

 

Manage - no

[GrahamC]

7 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

A merger would have to be combining the best bits of each club to make something stronger or better, I cannot think of 1 single thing the gas could offer us as the clubs have moved miles apart over recent years

Players - no

ground - no

owner - no

or perhaps I am missing something that could make it worth our while

 

 

Expert legal advice?

High end timepieces?

It will never happen (thank ****) but the only thing we would presumably gain would be uncritical coverage from the local media, (ironically with the sole exception of Geoff Twentyman) because they certainly get that.

[cider hoss rules]

19 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

A merger would have to be combining the best bits of each club to make something stronger or better, I cannot think of 1 single thing the gas could offer us as the clubs have moved miles apart over recent years

Players - no

ground - no

owner - no

or perhaps I am missing something that could make it worth our while

 

 

don't forget they have a nice watch

[Steve Watts]

50 minutes ago, Porto Red said:

Not to mention basic hygiene, and that incest is taboo 

You raise a good point.  It'd never work....my sister is a munter.

[Rudolf Hucker]

4 hours ago, Galley is our king said:

And neither set of supporters would welcome it.

Would take many generations to recover, if ever.

I am confident in stating that the vast majority of our supporters would be against any merger. Both of theirs would likely be well pissed off too. 

[marmite]

For a relatively sized comparison, Morrisons recently took over our local McColls shop....................and closed it down.

[marmite]

3 hours ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

A merger would have to be combining the best bits of each club to make something stronger or better, I cannot think of 1 single thing the gas could offer us as the clubs have moved miles apart over recent years

Players - no

ground - no

owner - no

or perhaps I am missing something that could make it worth our while

 

 

Tents - yes

[sh1t_ref_again]

2 minutes ago, marmite said:

Tents - yes

Sorry this is football not Glastonbury, we don't need tents

[pongo88]

6 hours ago, Major Isewater said:

I’ve done this before and it’s not original but…

If we were to merge the Gas can keep the ‘ Bristol ‘ part of their name and we keep ‘ City ‘, the new club would be known as ‘ Bristol City ‘ .

Plus, we keep City’s red shirts and Rovers can keep their white shorts. The problem would be the mascot as it would be something sad like this. 

[Lanterne Rouge]

17 hours ago, marmite said:

Tents - yes

Massive imaginary away support - yes

[Mr Popodopolous]

Seen it suggested today that in the event of a sale (including the rugby etc), asking price would be about £100m.

Surely we would need to reach or be on the cusp of PL football to reach that asking price? Even with the other sports involved.

Edited March 7, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Barrs Court Red]

6 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Seen it suggested today that in the event of a sale (including the rugby etc), asking price would be about £100m.

Surely we would need to reach or be on the cusp of PL football to reach that asking price? Even with the other sports involved.

Ha. Club rugby is like a giant noose around the neck at the moment. I wouldn’t touch investing in it as there is huge uncertainty in how viable it is in the medium term - Shame as pre covid it looked in really good shape. 
 

Im guessing the/any price is based on future revenue projections 
 

 

 

[ExiledAjax]

11 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Seen it suggested today that in the event of a sale (including the rugby etc), asking price would be about £100m.

Surely we would need to reach or be on the cusp of PL football to reach that asking price? Even with the other sports involved.

Stadium, 2x training grounds, 2x playing squads, presumably Bristol Sport Ltd and associated IP is part of it as well if its Rugby + City.

All of that together and I don't see £100m as a crazy price. A high price yes, but not mindboggling.

[Mr Popodopolous]

36 minutes ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Ha. Club rugby is like a giant noose around the neck at the moment. I wouldn’t touch investing in it as there is huge uncertainty in how viable it is in the medium term - Shame as pre covid it looked in really good shape. 
 

Im guessing the/any price is based on future revenue projections 
 

 

 

Possibly yes, although the Rugby even pre Covid was making moderate losses in the main but seemed on an upward curve. Still are making moderate losses.

Yes projections on future revenue would make sense- pretty expensive lottery ticket, especially with the Championship currently weighted as it is towards Parachute clubs!

34 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Stadium, 2x training grounds, 2x playing squads, presumably Bristol Sport Ltd and associated IP is part of it as well if its Rugby + City.

All of that together and I don't see £100m as a crazy price. A high price yes, but not mindboggling.

Agreed to some extent, when you put it that way- just trying to think of comparables really. If we ever do get up then we could take off but what sort of ROI would a new owner be looking at- cash  investment, timeframes etc.

In a Championship with FFP and Parachute Payments aligned with £39m Upper Loss Limit...hmm.

Would it be a 3 year plan? What if we falter.

What if 3 year loss headroom was all but blown in one year and it's firefighting thereafter. ie We go big but finish midtable then have to cut expenditure by 8 figures or yield a transfer profit of this in Year 2 just to comply.

This and more could all happen under the current system.

Otoh in a multi sports model it may not matter so much. Plus the Hotel etc planned.

Edited March 7, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Cityboy1954]

On 12/01/2023 at 16:58, ExiledAjax said:

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.

They dont offer anything what would we possibly want from them ?  

[Mr Popodopolous]

Firstly I've no news or even speculation.

Seeing Birmingham in their first year of Knighthead so far though did get me thinking..

*We need fresh impetus.

*We need someone or some organisation who will reinvest a greater ratio of the cash we have raised of late, while not going mad.

*We need fresh energy.

However it isn't a careful what we wish for post, better to try and fail etc.

Are US PE owners such good custodians though? It seems a mixed bag..

*FSG clearly are.

*Birmingham to date, not so much.

*Jury very much out at Burnley. Their cash position has surely worsened.

Chelsea regressing.

Mowbray in a good step towards rectifying the Rooney mistake but they have sharply regressed post Eustace. While Mowbray being off unwell means they are perhaps a bit rudderless.

Edited March 9 by Mr Popodopolous

[joe jordans teeth]

1 minute ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Firstly I've no news or even speculation.

Seeing Birmingham in their first year of Knighthead so far though did get me thinking..

*We need fresh impetus.

*We need someone or some organisation who will reinvest a greater ratio of the cash we have raised of late, while not going mad.

*We need fresh energy.

However it isn't a careful what we wish for post, better to try and fail etc.

Are US PE owners such good custodians though? It seems a mixed bag..

*FSG clearly are.

*Birmingham to date, not so much.

*Jury very much out at Burnley. Their cash position has surely worsened.

Chelsea regressing.

Mowbray in a good step towards rectifying the Mowbray mistake but they have sharply regressed post Eustace and Mowbray being off unwell means they are perhaps a bit rudderless.

Got me excited when this popped up but nothing new,I have had a few beers and thought I was seeing double at first with the amount of times you mentioned Mowbray in one sentence 

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 minutes ago, joe jordans teeth said:

Got me excited when this popped up but nothing new,I have had a few beers and thought I was seeing double at first with the amount of times you mentioned Mowbray in one sentence 

Ah yes I see..at least once too many. Duly amended.

Certainly wouldn't mind him as manager either though.

Edited March 9 by Mr Popodopolous

[ZiderEyed]

1 minute ago, joe jordans teeth said:

Got me excited when this popped up but nothing new,I have had a few beers and thought I was seeing double at first with the amount of times you mentioned Mowbray in one sentence 

Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray

Edited March 9 by ZiderEyed
Mowbray

[Shelton’s Love Gravy]

If they don’t sell soon I will FIST THEM

[joe jordans teeth]

2 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Ah yes I see..at least once too many.

Certainly wouldn't mind him as manager either though.

Who

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, ZiderEyed said:

Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray Mowbray

Could've been on about his cousin, Melton. 

Just now, joe jordans teeth said:

Who

Melton? 

[joe jordans teeth]

6 minutes ago, Shelton’s Love Gravy said:

If they don’t sell soon I will FIST THEM

You dirty sod 

Edited March 9 by joe jordans teeth

[Sir Geoff]

8 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Firstly I've no news or even speculation.

Seeing Birmingham in their first year of Knighthead so far though did get me thinking..

*We need fresh impetus.

*We need someone or some organisation who will reinvest a greater ratio of the cash we have raised of late, while not going mad.

*We need fresh energy.

However it isn't a careful what we wish for post, better to try and fail etc.

Are US PE owners such good custodians though? It seems a mixed bag..

*FSG clearly are.

*Birmingham to date, not so much.

*Jury very much out at Burnley. Their cash position has surely worsened.

Chelsea regressing.

Mowbray in a good step towards rectifying the Rooney mistake but they have sharply regressed post Eustace. While Mowbray being off unwell means they are perhaps a bit rudderless.

Bournemouth doing pretty well with an American owner.

[Mr Popodopolous]

28 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

Bournemouth doing pretty well with an American owner.

Inherited a position of relative strength.

Their initial *cheating when it was much easier to do was the platform on which some of their current position was built.

*For balance, some of their fans call the 2014-15 financial arrangements levelling the playing field.

We do need fresh impetus, drive and a greater % reinvested. Perhaps a new manager too.

Edited March 10 by Mr Popodopolous

[Sir Geoff]

9 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Inherited a position of relative strength.

Their initial *cheating when it was much easier to do was the platform on which some of their current position was built.

*For balance, some of their fans call the 2014-15 financial arrangements levelling the playing field.

We do need fresh impetus, drive and a greater % reinvested. Perhaps a new manager too.

Their American owner gained control last season after their poor start under Parker. They were 3 points off relegation and were eventually saved by Gary O N 

Perhaps I've missed the poi t you were trying to make regarding American owners.

[Mr Popodopolous]

15 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

Their American owner gained control last season after their poor start under Parker. They were 3 points off relegation and were eventually saved by Gary O N 

Perhaps I've missed the poi t you were trying to make regarding American owners.

Their old owner was ougoing and didn't spend much in summer 2022. O'Neil was backed in January, did well, was harshly sacked arguably and they've improved from there.

Not so much US owners as US PE owners. All I'm saying is we were linked a while ago or linked on here and they're a mixed bag. Not sure of Foley and his background.

How much the new owner can be credited still a matter of debate.

My overall point? Trying to work out what ownership model would be best for us.

Edited March 10 by Mr Popodopolous

[Eddie Hitler]

9 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Trying to work out what ownership model would be best for us.

 

I like our current ownership but they need a wise old head directing football matters as the owners are no better at this than I would be.

Neil Warnock or Roy Hodgson maybe.

Not some bullshitting suit like last time but we need somebody.

[Lrrr]

If we do get new owners at some point I just hope real due diligence is done on them, the news today that Reading's owner is looking to sell their training ground which was only opened in 19/20 season to fund the running of the club until a takeover can be completed, they don't even have chefs anymore because of how much has been stripped. 777 Linked to Everton have a poor record across the clubs they're involved with. You seem to find a lot more poor to bad owners taking over then good ones. This isn't a pitch of the Lansdowns staying in the long term etc just the worry of how it could go. 

[Crackers Corner]

23 hours ago, Shelton’s Love Gravy said:

If they don’t sell soon I will FIST THEM

I don't think that's what is meant by wanting them to bugger off.

[Fjmcity]

16 hours ago, Eddie Hitler said:

 

I like our current ownership but they need a wise old head directing football matters as the owners are no better at this than I would be.

Neil Warnock or Roy Hodgson maybe.

Not some bullshitting suit like last time but we need somebody.

Exactly the point. Ownership is stable, as local as you could reasonably expect a billionaire to be and ultimately does have the interests of the club in its heart and not in it to make a quick buck, there shouldn’t be a lot to not love about that but..

thinking we didn’t need to employ after Gould is the real crime and would be a relatively easy fix to bring the fans back on side and to support manning  (which he needs, all coaches in this mould do) warnock/hodgeson is abit too bennie L for my liking but a sensible sporting head would go a long way to repairing the fractures. pisses me off that they won’t do this though, can’t fathom it

[Eddie Hitler]

17 minutes ago, Fjmcity said:

pisses me off that they won’t do this though, can’t fathom it

 

My opinion is that it's Steve Lansdown stubborn streak which has served him so well in business which keeps raising its head.

Lee Johnson should have gone far before he did but Steve wouldn't do this primarily IMHO because there was a load of fans demanding he be given the push and SL thought it showed strength of charcater to refuse to bow to that pressure, when in actual fact it showed that he was reacting adversely to that pressure by not sacking LJ despite his turning in a terrible overall record with massive resources at his disposal, resources that NP and SC would have turned into promotion if given the chance.

Acting illogically - either by bowing to pressure or refusing to bow to pressue - is not a good trait.

Nor is sayng "it's my club".

I still like the ownership but they need to up their game.  And by that I don't mean just spend more money.

[Mr Popodopolous]

Trust me I have no news or even speculation.

We have been drifting and especially post NP. A takeover can be good..Hull looks fun. A fun club to follow right now.

https://www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/acun-ilicali-first-two-years

He also has the right idea- cheaper tickets, Home fans behind both goals with Away fans more at the side and I dunno the two kinda feed off each other.

Our ownership has just lost it I'm afraid.

Financially it could go South but it looks like a club going places. Excitement, some big ticket signings and quite fan-centred.

Edited March 23 by Mr Popodopolous

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

On 11/03/2024 at 10:43, Eddie Hitler said:

 

My opinion is that it's Steve Lansdown stubborn streak which has served him so well in business which keeps raising its head.

Lee Johnson should have gone far before he did but Steve wouldn't do this primarily IMHO because there was a load of fans demanding he be given the push and SL thought it showed strength of charcater to refuse to bow to that pressure, when in actual fact it showed that he was reacting adversely to that pressure by not sacking LJ despite his turning in a terrible overall record with massive resources at his disposal, resources that NP and SC would have turned into promotion if given the chance.

Acting illogically - either by bowing to pressure or refusing to bow to pressue - is not a good trait.

Nor is sayng "it's my club".

I still like the ownership but they need to up their game.  And by that I don't mean just spend more money.

SL binning the snake, R2D2, and his dullard son would be a good start.