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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2016 9:28:00 GMT
I have wondered about that a lot.
In my opinion, NH was a true Gashead and wanted only the best for the club. One of the problems with the business model for the building of the new stadium at UWE was that it was 100% contingent on the sale of the Mem for funding the build. The value of the build was geared to the sale value of the Mem (and actually there was even a shortfall then). If you add to that the fact that the value of the Mem had been artificially inflated because of the planning permission to build a supermarket - everything boiled down to the sale of the land to Sainsbury's. When Sainsbury's dropped out - there was nowhere to go as there was probably a differential of about £8 Million between the Sainsbury's price and the alternate value of the land.
In my opinion, the UWE stadium plans were kind of shoe string stuff and probably did limit the potential for future growth of the club simply because of the budgetary constraints. Again, in my opinion, the reason for the delay in announcements about the stadium from the new owners, is because they are re-addressing the existing plans from a completely different perspective, a different budget and a focussed business model that permits more ambition for progressing the club.
I don't think NH's business plan addressed the future progression of the club any further than the existing budgetary constraints permitted. If the Stadium build went over budget or if the completed stadium did not generate the income stream that was hoped for, I think we would have been f@@ked.
Again, in my opinion, I think we can now look forward to a much more robust plan for the future.
I was told at the time planning permission for Shitsburys was granted, by a director, that once the club were istalled in the new stadium, that it was Nick Higgs intention to sell the club. I have never mentioned this before because, even though confidentiality was never mentioned, I didn't think it was right to make that public knowledge. It seems to me, therefore, that NH's hand was forced in that he had to sell to the Jordanians, and perhaps not on his terms. This we can endlessly speculate on, but until such time as the facts are revealed we will never know. I will build them their stadium and then somebody else can have a go was the message he said directly to me.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on May 14, 2016 10:12:58 GMT
Yeah I know everyone's bored - the season is over because we have been unbelievably successful which caught everyone by surprise. Because of our rapid 'success' since the takeover - the Board haters have kept quiet but one always knew it was a simmering situation that would last only until something went wrong in their eyes i.e. We had lost in the play offs / didn't recruit any 'quality ' in the summer / lost key players in the transfer market / started next season as we have the last 2 / news of the carpark hadn't progressed to news of the stadium / dig up old issues just for the sake of an argument. Issues that in reality so many believe they know the absolute truth about but infact only know hearsay that they have rigidly held onto because it fits with their agenda Amazing what boredom can do to success Yeah, I think you've hit the nail on the head. I suppose I was kind of fishing to a degree but I was genuine in wondering if maybe NH is quite such a villain after all. The truth is 99% of us actually know f**k all and those that claim to know, only know what they've been told. Even from the horses mouth I'd doubt the reliability of what our old board told me. I don't think the scars or division will ever heal and for me that is the biggest criticism of the outgoing regime. My biggest wish is that if nothing else, the new owners play with a straight and honest bat.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2016 10:20:30 GMT
Yeah I know everyone's bored - the season is over because we have been unbelievably successful which caught everyone by surprise. Because of our rapid 'success' since the takeover - the Board haters have kept quiet but one always knew it was a simmering situation that would last only until something went wrong in their eyes i.e. We had lost in the play offs / didn't recruit any 'quality ' in the summer / lost key players in the transfer market / started next season as we have the last 2 / news of the carpark hadn't progressed to news of the stadium / dig up old issues just for the sake of an argument. Issues that in reality so many believe they know the absolute truth about but infact only know hearsay that they have rigidly held onto because it fits with their agenda Amazing what boredom can do to success Yeah, I think you've hit the nail on the head. I suppose I was kind of fishing to a degree but I was genuine in wondering if maybe NH is quite such a villain after all. The truth is 99% of us actually know f**k all and those that claim to know, only know what they've been told. Even from the horses mouth I'd doubt the reliability of what our old board told me. I don't think the scars or division will ever heal and for me that is the biggest criticism of the outgoing regime. My biggest wish is that if nothing else, the new owners play with a straight and honest bat. Very well said Hugo.
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Post by Topper Gas on May 14, 2016 11:14:52 GMT
If NH invested £6m of his own money in Rovers and then apparently only got £1 for each share he owned I assumed he made a massive loss? Why would he suffer such a loss when the Mem itself was worth £10m/15m? That sounds nonsense to me?
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Post by Big Jock on May 14, 2016 12:02:16 GMT
One things fur sure, th' fans couldnae o' carried Higgs oan their shoulders doon th' glossy road!
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Post by lympstonegas on May 14, 2016 12:32:40 GMT
One things fur sure, th' fans couldnae o' carried Higgs oan their shoulders doon th' glossy road! Oh I don't know there's some big lads that get on the old blackthorn these days !!!!
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Post by BishopstonBRFC on May 14, 2016 12:45:04 GMT
Scoreboard and ladies bogs. Pathetic in the grand scheme of things but they needed looking at 10 years ago but sod all was done. wait until you come back next season.... New bog seats?
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Post by Strange Gas on May 14, 2016 13:21:54 GMT
If NH invested £6m of his own money in Rovers and then apparently only got £1 for each share he owned I assumed he made a massive loss? Why would he suffer such a loss when the Mem itself was worth £10m/15m? That sounds nonsense to me? I agree, but wouldn't be surprised if there was some sort of sell on deal for Higgs so he doesn't get his money back up front, but stopped him and club going deeper in to the doo doo
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Post by 2nd May 1990 on May 14, 2016 14:24:10 GMT
I agree that he deserves some credit. Just an observation, I might have missed something but I haven't heard anyone, players, manager, owner and chairman included, come out and mention him following promotion. This is quite telling, I feel. Certainly doesn't seem to have been very popular with anyone.
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Post by gashead1981 on May 14, 2016 18:40:20 GMT
Nick Higgs didn't take us out of the football league. It was John Ward with his dinosaur tactics and persistent rigid system together with a lack of quality signings, swapping decent players for old and crooked ones and also not stamping any form of discipline on the squad. That's what took us out of the league. I guess pumping in £6m and funding the planning stages for the UWE, righting the wrong of getting us back in the league and then selling his shares for £1 to a family with hundreds of millions deserves no praise at all then..? Could you do better? If Higgs hadn't been in charge we would have been in administration when we got relegated to L2. We. Have been losing a million a year since 2007 and it was about minimising the losses year on year. You mention taking us to the brink of financial disaster, there is no evidence of that, we had a high interest loan yes, but it was underwritten by the directors assets. One director had a charge on his house. Would you do that for BRFC? That's one hell of a risk. I'm not saying he's whiter than white but he deserves a modicum of respect and thanks for all his efforts. From every gas head. How do you know that he sold his shares for £1? Genuine question. I'm closely related to a director from the "old regime". There is lots I know which I haven't and never would post on this forum. There is also a lot I don't know too as I wasn't told everything.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on May 14, 2016 20:02:49 GMT
How do you know that he sold his shares for £1? Genuine question. I'm closely related to a director from the "old regime". There is lots I know which I haven't and never would post on this forum. There is also a lot I don't know too as I wasn't told everything. Ah, Mrs Higgs we've been expecting you.
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Post by gashead1981 on May 14, 2016 22:15:01 GMT
I'm closely related to a director from the "old regime". There is lots I know which I haven't and never would post on this forum. There is also a lot I don't know too as I wasn't told everything. Ah, Mrs Higgs we've been expecting you. I'm not related to Higgs.
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Post by johnanagram on May 14, 2016 23:27:40 GMT
I've expressed a very clear view that I disagree with that analysis (that praise is deserved). It wasn't me that mentioned KS, someone else did with an interpretation of events that are wide of the truth. So to be clear in my view there is no praise to be given to the former chairman who took Bristol Rovers out of the Football League and had it hovering on the edge of financial disaster until the point where he had no other option other than to sell. That wasn't a genius strategist at work....... Nick Higgs didn't take us out of the football league. It was John Ward with his dinosaur tactics and persistent rigid system together with a lack of quality signings, swapping decent players for old and crooked ones and also not stamping any form of discipline on the squad. That's what took us out of the league. I guess pumping in £6m and funding the planning stages for the UWE, righting the wrong of getting us back in the league and then selling his shares for £1 to a family with hundreds of millions deserves no praise at all then..? Could you do better? If Higgs hadn't been in charge we would have been in administration when we got relegated to L2. We. Have been losing a million a year since 2007 and it was about minimising the losses year on year. You mention taking us to the brink of financial disaster, there is no evidence of that, we had a high interest loan yes, but it was underwritten by the directors assets. One director had a charge on his house. Would you do that for BRFC? That's one hell of a risk. I'm not saying he's whiter than white but he deserves a modicum of respect and thanks for all his efforts. From every gas head. In 2007 Bristol Rovers looked to be on an upward curve having secured promotion to League One. Then Ron Craig stepped down as chairman (RIP, a lovely man). After that things went downhill and fairly sharply with relegation as the Trollope/Lawrence axis was split. Who made that decision? We then get a succession of disastrous managerial appointments. Now whilst some argue that the "fans were behind the managers" as they were appointed, how can it be that each one proved to be so poor that they all got their marching orders one by one? It is that sequence of events that led to the relegation out of the Football League. The buck must stop with those who appointed them? You can attempt to pin it on John Ward but ask yourself why Bristol Rovers performed so poorly over such a long period of time? Why was that? As to the finances the evidence is the accounts presented to the shareholders over a number of years saw things getting gradually worse with everything resting on delivery of UWE. The 'Wonga loan' was obtained to keep the club going, this was explained at the football club AGM as there was no alternative. As to the UWE it is apparent (and the courts have indicated as such) the "watertight contract" and public utterances that there was no reason why the project shouldn't progress proved to be far from accurate.
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Post by newmarketgas on May 15, 2016 6:28:12 GMT
Give it a few bad results, no movement on the UWE and this new lot will get the same sh**e as the last lot. It's the way of forum football.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2016 7:46:09 GMT
Ive always seen Higgs and co as mad, not bad.
More precisely, they're like well meaning bumbling buffoons from a sitcom who always end up screwing up. I would say a bit like the Chuckle Brothers but that would be an insult to ChuckleSolutions LLP as they're a safe pair of hands in comparison to previous management team we had.
In fact, Trotters Ijdependent Traders are like British Airwaysbij comparison.
Being truthful I agree with Higgs. Must have hurt seeing Wael being lauded after this is indeed, not seeded from any of Waels decisions. I just think Wael is more open with the fans and he's the great Jordanian hope as he just seems more competent, as well as a little more approachable.
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Post by Henbury Gas on May 15, 2016 17:17:27 GMT
Give it a few bad results, no movement on the UWE and this new lot will get the same sh**e as the last lot. It's the way of forum football. very true !
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Post by gashead1981 on May 16, 2016 12:43:58 GMT
Nick Higgs didn't take us out of the football league. It was John Ward with his dinosaur tactics and persistent rigid system together with a lack of quality signings, swapping decent players for old and crooked ones and also not stamping any form of discipline on the squad. That's what took us out of the league. I guess pumping in £6m and funding the planning stages for the UWE, righting the wrong of getting us back in the league and then selling his shares for £1 to a family with hundreds of millions deserves no praise at all then..? Could you do better? If Higgs hadn't been in charge we would have been in administration when we got relegated to L2. We. Have been losing a million a year since 2007 and it was about minimising the losses year on year. You mention taking us to the brink of financial disaster, there is no evidence of that, we had a high interest loan yes, but it was underwritten by the directors assets. One director had a charge on his house. Would you do that for BRFC? That's one hell of a risk. I'm not saying he's whiter than white but he deserves a modicum of respect and thanks for all his efforts. From every gas head. In 2007 Bristol Rovers looked to be on an upward curve having secured promotion to League One. Then Ron Craig stepped down as chairman (RIP, a lovely man). After that things went downhill and fairly sharply with relegation as the Trollope/Lawrence axis was split. Who made that decision? We then get a succession of disastrous managerial appointments. Now whilst some argue that the "fans were behind the managers" as they were appointed, how can it be that each one proved to be so poor that they all got their marching orders one by one? It is that sequence of events that led to the relegation out of the Football League. The buck must stop with those who appointed them? You can attempt to pin it on John Ward but ask yourself why Bristol Rovers performed so poorly over such a long period of time? Why was that? As to the finances the evidence is the accounts presented to the shareholders over a number of years saw things getting gradually worse with everything resting on delivery of UWE. The 'Wonga loan' was obtained to keep the club going, this was explained at the football club AGM as there was no alternative. As to the UWE it is apparent (and the courts have indicated as such) the "watertight contract" and public utterances that there was no reason why the project shouldn't progress proved to be far from accurate. Ron did well, but spent a HELL of a lot of money doing it, more than we could afford at times and that was thanks to LL, who himself was on a pretty penny. If your memory serves you correctly, you will recall that the back end of the 09 season was spent in awful form. We kept Lambo that summer (who was on circa 10k per week on his "new" contract) before selling him to So'ton. We couldnt reinvest it as we had a massive playing budget but a small squad. So LL left in 2010 once he had spent all of our budget and Trolls had the reigns. But Trolls kept faith with the old guard that hasd struggled for form the previous year and we were found out. Campbell should have gone that summer, his legs had gone or at least signed a new first choice CM to partner Lines. Wright, Regan, Coles, Anthoney were all a disruptive influence on good money. Penny, was a good appointment made slightly too late IMO. Reason for that was that the board wanted Mick Harford and Geraint Williams in a dual role but they both wanted 100k a year and no deal could be done. Sadly for Penny the dressing room ruled, we couldnt sign anyone and nothing Penny could do would influence the change, Higgs had no choice but to sack Penny and give it to Cams, even though the football was equally as poor. Verdict: Top to bottom it was a mess and everyone was equally culpable. As I said, Buckle should have been a nailed on appointment, he was given a good budget and signed some good players, Smudge, Brown, Muzzy but it just wasnt clicking on the pitch for some reason and then he lost the fans with his comments, there wasnt much more the board could do. Verdict: Good appointment, didnt work out. MM talked a good game, had a good pedigree and Higgs fell for the silver tongue, instead perhaps we should have gone for Richard Money who I sat next to 2 games in a row and was dead keen on the job. The promise was there after he dragged us up the league. He suffered a bit from having to put up with Buckles squad on long contracts, but again his own recruitment let him down. He was backed by the board (what more could they do) and then lost the plot. Verdict: Questionable appointment that went horribly wrong - Board must carry 50% of the blame. Ward only wanted a 6 month deal then a DOF role, Higgs persauded him otherwise, which was a mistake as his heart wasnt in it. Poor recruitment, poor tactics, poor football. Verdict: Terrible appointment. Board must share 40% of the blame for relegation but also it was Wards fault for the terrible football we played. We were also unlucky to go down on our points total and GD. The only silver lining was appointing DC. However, in all of the appointments, what other candidates were realistically available and did they want to come if offered the role? Other ones we were linked to in that period were Paul Ince, Sean O'Driscoll, Danny Wilson, Richard Money just to name a few and have they faired any better? The one that got away IMO was Gary Johnson. Regarding the Stadium, well the watertight contract was well and truly fecked up by our lawyers and nothing to do with the club. We acted in accordance with everything we were told to do from stage 1. Simply put, if Higgs and the board allowed Sainsburys to walk away in 2013 for £2m then we wouldnt still have the chance of the stadium, and we wouldnt have the Al'Quadi's to build it. They wouldnt have even been interested in us. The club couldnt say anything because of the legal implications. The rest is history. The Wonga loan, well there was no alternative as in bank lending, when you lose £1m a year from the off and your income doesnt cover it, not many banks will lend you finance, Higgs had propped us up enough and wanted out and had the Jordanians and a few others on the table. Why would he another million in and only get a £1 back? If the debts will be cleared then take the high interest loan and let the new backers swallow it. Perfectly good business sense to me. As a fan who doesnt know the ins and outs of everything but the reality is that Higgs could still underpin it. You see its easy to run a business from the outside in when it isnt your money. Different story when it is you in the hot seat. I agree, Higgs could have probably done, and if he had the chance to do things a lot differently and also been a bit more PR savvy with the fans, that said, he pumped in an awful lot of money, more than any fan could do in a lifetime and for that its only right he should be thanked and respected.
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Post by Antonio Fargas on May 16, 2016 12:57:34 GMT
Simply put, if Higgs and the board allowed Sainsburys to walk away in 2013 for £2m then we wouldnt still have the chance of the stadium... Not sure how you work that out. Things would have gone differently, and without the Al Qadis, but it's not like they would have just shelved the UWE plans and never talked of them again.
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Post by peterparker on May 16, 2016 13:03:09 GMT
In 2007 Bristol Rovers looked to be on an upward curve having secured promotion to League One. Then Ron Craig stepped down as chairman (RIP, a lovely man). After that things went downhill and fairly sharply with relegation as the Trollope/Lawrence axis was split. Who made that decision? We then get a succession of disastrous managerial appointments. Now whilst some argue that the "fans were behind the managers" as they were appointed, how can it be that each one proved to be so poor that they all got their marching orders one by one? It is that sequence of events that led to the relegation out of the Football League. The buck must stop with those who appointed them? You can attempt to pin it on John Ward but ask yourself why Bristol Rovers performed so poorly over such a long period of time? Why was that? As to the finances the evidence is the accounts presented to the shareholders over a number of years saw things getting gradually worse with everything resting on delivery of UWE. The 'Wonga loan' was obtained to keep the club going, this was explained at the football club AGM as there was no alternative. As to the UWE it is apparent (and the courts have indicated as such) the "watertight contract" and public utterances that there was no reason why the project shouldn't progress proved to be far from accurate. Ron did well, but spent a HELL of a lot of money doing it, more than we could afford at times and that was thanks to LL, who himself was on a pretty penny. If your memory serves you correctly, you will recall that the back end of the 09 season was spent in awful form. We kept Lambo that summer (who was on circa 10k per week on his "new" contract) before selling him to So'ton. We couldnt reinvest it as we had a massive playing budget but a small squad. So LL left in 2010 once he had spent all of our budget and Trolls had the reigns. But Trolls kept faith with the old guard that hasd struggled for form the previous year and we were found out. Campbell should have gone that summer, his legs had gone or at least signed a new first choice CM to partner Lines. Wright, Regan, Coles, Anthoney were all a disruptive influence on good money. Penny, was a good appointment made slightly too late IMO. Reason for that was that the board wanted Mick Harford and Geraint Williams in a dual role but they both wanted 100k a year and no deal could be done. Sadly for Penny the dressing room ruled, we couldnt sign anyone and nothing Penny could do would influence the change, Higgs had no choice but to sack Penny and give it to Cams, even though the football was equally as poor. Verdict: Top to bottom it was a mess and everyone was equally culpable. As I said, Buckle should have been a nailed on appointment, he was given a good budget and signed some good players, Smudge, Brown, Muzzy but it just wasnt clicking on the pitch for some reason and then he lost the fans with his comments, there wasnt much more the board could do. Verdict: Good appointment, didnt work out. MM talked a good game, had a good pedigree and Higgs fell for the silver tongue, instead perhaps we should have gone for Richard Money who I sat next to 2 games in a row and was dead keen on the job. The promise was there after he dragged us up the league. He suffered a bit from having to put up with Buckles squad on long contracts, but again his own recruitment let him down. He was backed by the board (what more could they do) and then lost the plot. Verdict: Questionable appointment that went horribly wrong - Board must carry 50% of the blame. Ward only wanted a 6 month deal then a DOF role, Higgs persauded him otherwise, which was a mistake as his heart wasnt in it. Poor recruitment, poor tactics, poor football. Verdict: Terrible appointment. Board must share 40% of the blame for relegation but also it was Wards fault for the terrible football we played. We were also unlucky to go down on our points total and GD. The only silver lining was appointing DC. However, in all of the appointments, what other candidates were realistically available and did they want to come if offered the role? Other ones we were linked to in that period were Paul Ince, Sean O'Driscoll, Danny Wilson, Richard Money just to name a few and have they faired any better? The one that got away IMO was Gary Johnson. Regarding the Stadium, well the watertight contract was well and truly fecked up by our lawyers and nothing to do with the club. We acted in accordance with everything we were told to do from stage 1. Simply put, if Higgs and the board allowed Sainsburys to walk away in 2013 for £2m then we wouldnt still have the chance of the stadium, and we wouldnt have the Al'Quadi's to build it. They wouldnt have even been interested in us. The club couldnt say anything because of the legal implications. The rest is history. The Wonga loan, well there was no alternative as in bank lending, when you lose £1m a year from the off and your income doesnt cover it, not many banks will lend you finance, Higgs had propped us up enough and wanted out and had the Jordanians and a few others on the table. Why would he another million in and only get a £1 back? If the debts will be cleared then take the high interest loan and let the new backers swallow it. Perfectly good business sense to me. As a fan who doesnt know the ins and outs of everything but the reality is that Higgs could still underpin it. You see its easy to run a business from the outside in when it isnt your money. Different story when it is you in the hot seat. I agree, Higgs could have probably done, and if he had the chance to do things a lot differently and also been a bit more PR savvy with the fans, that said, he pumped in an awful lot of money, more than any fan could do in a lifetime and for that its only right he should be thanked and respected. Yeah he put his money in. He could have saved himself a lot though
Of course we have no idea what he has lost/got back from the sale to the Al-Qadi's so I won't be crying for him.
Yes he faced a lot of criticism did NH, but all most of us ever said was he needed help from proper people. He was either to blind or stubborn to see it and by all accounts he probably was til the end as Geoff had to convince him to stand aside
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Post by Topper Gas on May 16, 2016 13:16:20 GMT
In 2007 Bristol Rovers looked to be on an upward curve having secured promotion to League One. Then Ron Craig stepped down as chairman (RIP, a lovely man). After that things went downhill and fairly sharply with relegation as the Trollope/Lawrence axis was split. Who made that decision? We then get a succession of disastrous managerial appointments. Now whilst some argue that the "fans were behind the managers" as they were appointed, how can it be that each one proved to be so poor that they all got their marching orders one by one? It is that sequence of events that led to the relegation out of the Football League. The buck must stop with those who appointed them? You can attempt to pin it on John Ward but ask yourself why Bristol Rovers performed so poorly over such a long period of time? Why was that? As to the finances the evidence is the accounts presented to the shareholders over a number of years saw things getting gradually worse with everything resting on delivery of UWE. The 'Wonga loan' was obtained to keep the club going, this was explained at the football club AGM as there was no alternative. As to the UWE it is apparent (and the courts have indicated as such) the "watertight contract" and public utterances that there was no reason why the project shouldn't progress proved to be far from accurate. Ron did well, but spent a HELL of a lot of money doing it, more than we could afford at times and that was thanks to LL, who himself was on a pretty penny. If your memory serves you correctly, you will recall that the back end of the 09 season was spent in awful form. We kept Lambo that summer (who was on circa 10k per week on his "new" contract) before selling him to So'ton. We couldnt reinvest it as we had a massive playing budget but a small squad. So LL left in 2010 once he had spent all of our budget and Trolls had the reigns. But Trolls kept faith with the old guard that hasd struggled for form the previous year and we were found out. Campbell should have gone that summer, his legs had gone or at least signed a new first choice CM to partner Lines. Wright, Regan, Coles, Anthoney were all a disruptive influence on good money. Penny, was a good appointment made slightly too late IMO. Reason for that was that the board wanted Mick Harford and Geraint Williams in a dual role but they both wanted 100k a year and no deal could be done. Sadly for Penny the dressing room ruled, we couldnt sign anyone and nothing Penny could do would influence the change, Higgs had no choice but to sack Penny and give it to Cams, even though the football was equally as poor. Verdict: Top to bottom it was a mess and everyone was equally culpable. As I said, Buckle should have been a nailed on appointment, he was given a good budget and signed some good players, Smudge, Brown, Muzzy but it just wasnt clicking on the pitch for some reason and then he lost the fans with his comments, there wasnt much more the board could do. Verdict: Good appointment, didnt work out. MM talked a good game, had a good pedigree and Higgs fell for the silver tongue, instead perhaps we should have gone for Richard Money who I sat next to 2 games in a row and was dead keen on the job. The promise was there after he dragged us up the league. He suffered a bit from having to put up with Buckles squad on long contracts, but again his own recruitment let him down. He was backed by the board (what more could they do) and then lost the plot. Verdict: Questionable appointment that went horribly wrong - Board must carry 50% of the blame. Ward only wanted a 6 month deal then a DOF role, Higgs persauded him otherwise, which was a mistake as his heart wasnt in it. Poor recruitment, poor tactics, poor football. Verdict: Terrible appointment. Board must share 40% of the blame for relegation but also it was Wards fault for the terrible football we played. We were also unlucky to go down on our points total and GD. The only silver lining was appointing DC. However, in all of the appointments, what other candidates were realistically available and did they want to come if offered the role? Other ones we were linked to in that period were Paul Ince, Sean O'Driscoll, Danny Wilson, Richard Money just to name a few and have they faired any better? The one that got away IMO was Gary Johnson. Regarding the Stadium, well the watertight contract was well and truly fecked up by our lawyers and nothing to do with the club. We acted in accordance with everything we were told to do from stage 1. Simply put, if Higgs and the board allowed Sainsburys to walk away in 2013 for £2m then we wouldnt still have the chance of the stadium, and we wouldnt have the Al'Quadi's to build it. They wouldnt have even been interested in us. The club couldnt say anything because of the legal implications. The rest is history. The Wonga loan, well there was no alternative as in bank lending, when you lose £1m a year from the off and your income doesnt cover it, not many banks will lend you finance, Higgs had propped us up enough and wanted out and had the Jordanians and a few others on the table. Why would he another million in and only get a £1 back? If the debts will be cleared then take the high interest loan and let the new backers swallow it. Perfectly good business sense to me. As a fan who doesnt know the ins and outs of everything but the reality is that Higgs could still underpin it. You see its easy to run a business from the outside in when it isnt your money. Different story when it is you in the hot seat. I agree, Higgs could have probably done, and if he had the chance to do things a lot differently and also been a bit more PR savvy with the fans, that said, he pumped in an awful lot of money, more than any fan could do in a lifetime and for that its only right he should be thanked and respected. Nobody asked NH to pump any money into the club and TBH we'd probably be in a far better position if he hadn't. He became Chairman when we were just about breaking even in Div 1 but left us in Div 2 with circa £10m debts.
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