What exactly is happening?

[fulwoodshrimp]

I am perplexed at what is happening with our beloved club. Why for instance did we release Tom B. before the replay against Coventry? Surely this decision weakening the side has lost us potential revenue if we had defeated Coventry and moved into round 2? Have we received money for him? Why were staff not paid at the end on October when we had supposedly been taken over by a millionaire? This has obviously damaged morale among all the staff especially playing staff. Both on and off the pitch we don't seem to have the organisation and nous required of a football league club and yet nothing seems to change. I have a horrible feeling we are going to slide out of the league and into oblivion without any decisive action being taken. We clearly need some new players but I am afraid I have no confidence that the money will be found to bring some new faces into the club. Clearly some of the present team are not league standard but will continue to be selected. We need a big shake up and we need it now before it is all too late.

[parkyboy]

ffor heavens sake give the new owner chance to get properly into club ,he hasnt been in a month , we cant spend money on transfers till January and i have no doubt that Jim will have discussed his urgent needs with the owner

[Christies Child]

...and do you really trust that if given money things will improve. It's the system that's wrong not necessarily the players.

Personally I'm not convinced that there is money. I suspect that Diego heads a consortium that have decided not to back us financially and Diego is left high and dry as the front man with nowhere to go. Hope I'm wrong but I fear for our future as an Fl club.

[Dickhead]

I totally agree. It's not looking good for us I've got a bad feeling about this season.

[KenH]

Both on and off the pitch we don't seem to have the organisation and nous required of a football league club and yet nothing seems to change.

Unfortunately, it's been the same poor management for several years which has caused ever-increasing losses which have crippled the club, made worse because the sale of Christie Park should have been a golden legacy but the money has been pissed away.

We need a big shake up and we need it now before it is all too late.

Indeed we do. Time has run out. We really can't afford to sit back and hope that Diego can come up with the goods. ALL the directors need to work together to make things happen. For far too long, too many directors seem to have sat back and let, first PMG, and now Diego, run the show.

[Keith]

I think we need to give things until January. That will be time to see if cash is forthcoming.

[Gone_Shrimping]

I think we need to give things until January. That will be time to see if cash is forthcoming.

Provided there are no further hiccups paying the wages on time I would agree with you on that one.

[KenH]

The thing that gets me is that it's been a constant answer for the past few years to just "wait and see" but things get worse rather than better.

Remember 3 years ago, PMG made a statement that the Board had a 3 year plan to turn the club's finances around and to break even. That made everyone go quiet again. But now 3 years later, there's no evidence that their "plan" worked, in fact losses got bigger so history proves the plan didn't work. In fact, there's no evidence there was a plan at all - after all, what changed? Can anyone actually think of any changes in the past 3 years that could have turned the finances around? So what exactly was the "plan"? Did it exist or was it nothing more than wishful thinking and hoping things would get better?

[Phil Anderer]

I suspect there are still things going on in the background regarding the change of ownership that we know nothing about, and until they're resolved our new owner isn't in a position to do or announce anything drastic. Whether we get the investment and turnaround remains to be seen, and I suspect depends on resolving issues thrown up in the due diligence. Please note this is pure supposition on my part, based on zero insider knowledge, but it still comes down to 'wait and see'. I also think it's unhelpful at this stage to start throwing accusations around, especially at the new owner, when we are not party to the facts.

[John L]

I suspect there are still things going on in the background regarding the change of ownership that we know nothing about, and until they're resolved our new owner isn't in a position to do or announce anything drastic. Whether we get the investment and turnaround remains to be seen, and I suspect depends on resolving issues thrown up in the due diligence. Please note this is pure supposition on my part, based on zero insider knowledge, but it still comes down to 'wait and see'. I also think it's unhelpful at this stage to start throwing accusations around, especially at the new owner, when we are not party to the facts.

+1

[John L]

The silence from the inner corridors of The Globe is both deafening and worrying and doesn't argue well for the clubs future when it was hoped that communication from the Board would have been much more forthcoming. We all understand that certain info has to remain confidential but a clear statement of future intent and a logical explanation of Tom's sudden departure would have been welcome but judging by past events it was always on the cards that the sound of silence would prevail.

I don't recall the public relations prior to the club's sale being much different, if any, to be honest.

[Christies Child]

Communication was supposed to have been improved with the formation of the Fans/Board meeting group.

And to some extent it was with postings on the OWS of what was discussed. But recent meetings have been postponed. Hopefully they will continue....but I for one will be asking a number of questions about the clubs current and future positions....given the chance.

[John L]

Yes, so it wasn't that brilliant before! I wouldn't worry about things too much if I were you.

[Trevor]

I also think it's unhelpful at this stage to start throwing accusations around..... when we are not party to the facts.

Your dead right of course but that's never stopped people having their say on stuff - on and off the pitch.

[JPH]

In a nutshell... I don't think anybody truly knows. Several staff members at the club seem just as perplexed as us lot on here.

On the one hand, it's incredibly dodgy. Sudden lack of cash flow, severe lack of communication regarding the change of structure (Cov programme had jim down as our chairman...), I know it's only been a month but lack of movement worrying (personally).

However, Diego and co have been attending now I think all home games since the takeover, very enthusiastic during the 90 mins, and he was allegedly at Coventry last night too. And from that I take a glimmer of hope there are good things to come...Let's see/hope payment goes smoothly end of this month and see what the situation is come opening of the window..

Until then who knows - but we have a team to support!

[Lloydie]

At the end of the day, the town doesn't deserve a football league team with home crowds heading towards sub 1000 home fans. We should just enjoy league football whilst we can and hope when we fall back into non-league we don't fall too far as the Conference North looks very strong and I think we would struggle to get promoted out of that currently...

[Gone_Shrimping]

At the end of the day, the town doesn't deserve a football league team with home crowds heading towards sub 1000 home fans. We should just enjoy league football whilst we can and hope when we fall back into non-league we don't fall too far as the Conference North looks very strong and I think we would struggle to get promoted out of that currently...

I disagree with you about the town not deserving a Football League team.

When you consider the performances and results over the last few years the attendances have actually held up pretty well.

Fleetwood with a population about half of Morecambe and probably about a quarter of Lancaster and Morecambe have crowds of 2,500 + This is partly due to the Blackpool boycott by the Lasher fans and if Blackpool changes hands then a lot of Fleetwood's "fans" will return to Bloomfield Road.

If we can put a decent team out playing winning attacking football our gates would go up but that will mean team investment first.

Its a chicken and egg situation.

[Zippy]

Re-libel (defamation) it's an interesting little topic that I had a close encounter with a few years back when taking on a multinational before the updated act, good thing is it has some nice meaty defences , bad thing is unlike criminal law , you are assumed culpable until you have gone to the outrageous expense of demonstrating your defence stands in a civil court . Worth while having a read of the below if sailing close to the wind in any public forum.

https://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/legal-hel ... defamation

[Keith]

Re-libel (defamation) it's an interesting little topic that I had a close encounter with a few years back when taking on a multinational before the updated act, good thing is it has some nice meaty defences , bad thing is unlike criminal law , you are assumed culpable until you have gone to the outrageous expense of demonstrating your defence stands in a civil court . Worth while having a read of the below if sailing close to the wind in any public forum.

https://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/legal-hel ... defamation

Interesting article.

There are multiple instances of fans being sued by club officials for posts made on forums or Facebook. Some fans ended up with lawyer's bills of £100,000+.

[Keith]

So Morecambe geek &I are still exposed? better edit quick.

No, I cleaned up your mess as well as Geek's & CC Good job I'm a nurse with all the crap that needs wiping up!

[mrpotatohead]

[Posh]

I think we need to give things until January. That will be time to see if cash is forthcoming.

We don't have that long. Eight days until next pay day and then another 30 or so after that. Unless there's other money we don't know about then the money for Tom will cover last month's wages and possibly November's. After that who knows.

From everything I know, I still believe we're f***ed. I had a long conversation today with someone with professional experience of financial matters, who is aware of the situation and their view was actually worse than mine. Unless we're told different then what other view is there to counter that?

It seems fairly clear that our Qatari friends and their Geordie hangers-on bid earlier this year for St Mirren http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/145 ... St_Mirren/. I think the St Mirren owners sussed them fairly quickly and sent them packing and they turned their attentions to us http://www.blackandwhitearmy.com/forums ... nt-1373861. The fans then worked with an interested buyer to takeover the football club through a Supporters Trust backed by over 1,000 fans.

One thing that really concerns me is that, as a fans, we're sleepwalking into potential disaster just on a hope that everything will turn out OK. Communication is absolutely nil, our most valuable asset has gone and still we've nothing but asking a few questions.

The only saving grace is that the land the Globe Arena is built on is in trust and can't be sold, and that some other land is owned by friendly parties. That stops the worst case scenario of us being wiped out completely, e.g. Scarborough and Ru$hden and Diamonds, out of the picture.

As Hodgie would say, start praying to the football gods, or find another answer. I'm an atheist so the first one is out.

[marky No.1]

The only saving grace is that the land the Globe Arena is built on is in trust and can't be sold,

Said this all along... anyone think this has not been taken in/understood by the new owners at the point of 'sale'

[fulwoodshrimp]

I posted this topic because like most fans I am worried about the deafening silence. I understand fellow fans who say wait until January but I think the crunch is approaching at the end of the month. Will staff get paid on time or .....! I am puzzled if we couldn't pay wages at the end of October and cancelled Tom B's contract so speedily where is the money to strengthen the playing squad coming from in January? Are the new owners putting money into the club for this purpose? Time will tell.

[cragbankshrimp]

Thanks Posh, Marky.
I didn't realise the land was held by a trust ( not that I understand how it works) and my fear was the club went tits up and Diego sold the land for the builders to extend the new estate being built at present