Brent, Pasoti and the super-fans

Damon.Lenszner wrote:

Hitch wrote:

Damon.Lenszner wrote:

GreenSam wrote:

Although costings would be higher in League One, revenue would also be undoubtedly higher. As SFD said, just look at the share sales of the directors after they took the club up two leagues.

I agree that Brent isn't actively ploughing his own money (as opposed to the club's funds) into this promotion push but at the same time I think the idea that he's actively trying to avoid it is so far off the mark it's unreal. Ask yourself, if an owner is looking to sell the club would he prefer to sell a League One club or a League Two club as a going concern? Which club would command a higher selling price? It's an absolute no brainer for me.

As a Championship Club with no debt and recognised as one of the best financially run clubs in all the Leagues, the value of the Club was £3 million. How can Mr B possibly believe that as a 4th Division Club with shitloads of debt the Club is worth £2.25 million?

I wouldn't disagree with that valuation of £3m whilst in the Championship. But just how did Stapleton manage to con the Japanese into paying almost that sum for just 20%? And then expect them to kick in more when the shit hit the fan financially?

I think it is widely appreciated that Kagami knew nothing about football. He looked at a Balance Sheet which had been boosted with the cash from the sale of a number of players and agreed a valuation based on that Balance Sheet. No due diligence, no idea. More money than sense, a bit like the person Mr B now seeks.

If ever there was an indictment of precisely where the priorities lay for the Stapleton era of custodians of the club there it is.

Rollo Tomasi wrote:

So, in your considered opinion Damon, did the Stapleton, Dennerley, Gill, etc Board of Directors set out to sell half the team with the intention of cashing in on the healthy bank balance?

As I recall, the club was solvent before the fire sale.

I think it was a very tidy coincidence of timing. Players like Norris and Hamolsi wanting to move on - and my and Nick's shares available.

As for not buying the freehold, it didn't actually cost us anything - the mortgage payments were less than the rent. I do believe it was a mistake in that it attracted the vultures Todd and Gardener but in saying it was a mistake it was ultimately the thing that kept the club alive.

So does a very tidy coincidence of timing mean yes or no?

The amounts received exceeded the amounts they paid out so yes, they cashed in.

You've answered yes to a question I've not asked. Did they deliberately set out to improve the bank balance (and therefore the share price) by selling the best players?

How am I supposed to answer that - I was not sat in the room with them.

Edited to add - but it sure looks that way.

Hitch wrote:

Damon.Lenszner wrote:

Hitch wrote:

Damon.Lenszner wrote:

GreenSam wrote:

Although costings would be higher in League One, revenue would also be undoubtedly higher. As SFD said, just look at the share sales of the directors after they took the club up two leagues.

I agree that Brent isn't actively ploughing his own money (as opposed to the club's funds) into this promotion push but at the same time I think the idea that he's actively trying to avoid it is so far off the mark it's unreal. Ask yourself, if an owner is looking to sell the club would he prefer to sell a League One club or a League Two club as a going concern? Which club would command a higher selling price? It's an absolute no brainer for me.

As a Championship Club with no debt and recognised as one of the best financially run clubs in all the Leagues, the value of the Club was £3 million. How can Mr B possibly believe that as a 4th Division Club with shitloads of debt the Club is worth £2.25 million?

I wouldn't disagree with that valuation of £3m whilst in the Championship. But just how did Stapleton manage to con the Japanese into paying almost that sum for just 20%? And then expect them to kick in more when the shit hit the fan financially?

I think it is widely appreciated that Kagami knew nothing about football. He looked at a Balance Sheet which had been boosted with the cash from the sale of a number of players and agreed a valuation based on that Balance Sheet. No due diligence, no idea. More money than sense, a bit like the person Mr B now seeks.

If ever there was an indictment of precisely where the priorities lay for the Stapleton era of custodians of the club there it is.

Run by fans, for fans. 'I'll never hear a bad word spoken about that man and his lovely family'.

Damon.Lenszner wrote:

How am I supposed to answer that - I was not sat in the room with them.

Edited to add - but it sure looks that way.

Thank you, no further questions m'lud!