[frearsghost]

[quote name='Brookie' timestamp='1511187509' post='1344874']
My concern would be the people from Bangkok who were involved with Crawley Town, Paul Hayward and Mickey Doherty
[/quote

or indeed that Italian clown who sent Leyton Orient into oblivion after promising investment in the millions.

[Spireite-Karl]

Blue5, on 20 November 2017 - 12:01 PM, said:

Do not get too excited as it will all be part of David's and Ashley's little game.


Yeah, we do not want any ordinary crooks!

The cynic in me unfortunately thinks the same. We've been served far too many lies over their tenure to start trusting them now!

Everything crossed this is genuine and ends for the good of CFC!

[Phil V 72]

60s 70s Spireite, on 20 November 2017 - 10:43 AM, said:

Depending on the new owners' integrity, quality of business acumen and the understanding of our club's 'brand'. First casuality may just be Jack - ousted for some unknown European/Russian/'Big Name' ..take your pick.

It’d be a Christmas present for me as it would break my ‘no attendance’ rule and means I could go and watch my team again. (But maybe that’s what they want me to think —pulls suspicious face)

[CFC91]

Phil V 72, on 20 November 2017 - 04:58 PM, said:

It’d be a Christmas present for me as it would break my ‘no attendance’ rule and means I could go and watch my team again. (But maybe that’s what they want me to think —pulls suspicious face)

Our greatest ever player returning to be manager should have done that really. Jacks bigger than any of those above him at the club

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

I think everyone but the most deluded would welcome a genuine takeover from genuine investors.

However I'm worried by the timing of all this.

January could be the most important month in the Club's history, a transfer window when the Manager MUST be backed in terms of both recruiting and retaining talent.

Therefore the last thing we need is a Dave Allen refusing to do so on the basis of being out in the near future, or a potential new owner refusing to do so on the basis of their bid failing at the eleventh hour.

Or perhaps even the nightmare scenario - Allen initiating a(nother) hurried 'fire sale' to grab whatever he can before departing.

The last few weeks have offered us a Lester inspired light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Let's hope it's not snuffed out by more Boardroom shenanigans.

This post has been edited by MDCCCLXVI: 20 November 2017 - 05:08 PM

[Benno Spire]

Mac, on 20 November 2017 - 01:00 PM, said:

I wouldn't count any chickens till the present incumbents have cleared off. This could just be more hot air or even smoke and mirrors to help justify selling off more assets in January, when (surprise, surprise) it all fails to materialise.

In the cold light of day, can anyone tell me what foreign investors would want with a club like ours? How would they ever see any meaningful return on their money? It could be argued that Allen's interest ended when he saw the levels of support fall short of his (misguided) expectations, so how would new owners provide a decent product whilst making a decent profit? At our level, I hear alarm bells rigning rather than champagne corks popping... especially with the existing incumbents' alarming inability to carry out anything resembling robust due diligence.

That could be said about Bournemouth but someone liked them enough to invest big, but maybe they just want the land the ground is on.

[boot]

Benno Spire, on 20 November 2017 - 05:07 PM, said:

That could be said about Bournemouth but someone liked them enough to invest big, but maybe they just want the land the ground is on.

Is the land worth £10 million ? Assuming eight to buy and two to clear, and also assuming the buyer could overcome all the obstacles surrounding that. I have no idea but my guess would be no.

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Mac, on 20 November 2017 - 01:00 PM, said:

I wouldn't count any chickens till the present incumbents have cleared off. This could just be more hot air or even smoke and mirrors to help justify selling off more assets in January, when (surprise, surprise) it all fails to materialise.

In the cold light of day, can anyone tell me what foreign investors would want with a club like ours? How would they ever see any meaningful return on their money? It could be argued that Allen's interest ended when he saw the levels of support fall short of his (misguided) expectations, so how would new owners provide a decent product whilst making a decent profit? At our level, I hear alarm bells rigning rather than champagne corks popping... especially with the existing incumbents' alarming inability to carry out anything resembling robust due diligence.

I just don't accept the 'not enough turned up' excuse for Allen's behaviour, my friend.

The stadium was sold out on several occasions when the team were doing well. Our attendances were on an upward curve that'd all but reached the seven thousand average he'd quoted. Footfall on non-match days was also providing a very healthy income.

Indeed the first few years of Allen's tenure proved that Chesterfield FC can be a competitive third tier outfit underpinned by some of the best facilities in the region.

Unfortunately the last few years have proved how easy it is to turn that golden egg bad by appointing a procession of questionable characters...

[azul]

MDCCCLXVI, on 20 November 2017 - 05:22 PM, said:

I just don't accept the 'not enough turned up' excuse for Allen's behaviour, my friend.

The stadium was sold out on several occasions when the team were doing well. Our attendances were on an upward curve that'd all but reached the seven thousand average he'd quoted. Footfall on non-match days was also providing a very healthy income.

Indeed the first few years of Allen's tenure proved that Chesterfield FC can be a competitive third tier outfit underpinned by some of the best facilities in the region.

Unfortunately the last few years have proved how easy it is to turn that golden egg bad by appointing a procession of questionable characters...

By the time we reached 7000 he wanted 8000. Bit like his valuation of his shares.

People didn’t turn up to I’ll thought out concerts that’s for sure and I believe that is when he seriously retrenched

[Blue5]

azul, on 20 November 2017 - 05:37 PM, said:

By the time we reached 7000 he wanted 8000. Bit like his valuation of his shares.

People didn’t turn up to I’ll thought out concerts that’s for sure and I believe that is when he seriously retrenched

It is irrelevant.

Had David cut his cloth accordingly, there would have been no requirement for him to have put his cash into the club beyond his original purchase of shares.

[Benno Spire]

If Carlsberg did takeovers then we would sell to a genuine investor before 1st January and Dave Allen would use his money to take over mansfield

[Paul Fisher]

Any coincidence to boost half-season ticket sales? or is that me being uber-cynical.

[Westbars Spireite]

I welcome this news, though temper it with concerns over any claims made by certain people at 'our' end.

[Mac's Back]

MDCCCLXVI, on 20 November 2017 - 05:22 PM, said:

I just don't accept the 'not enough turned up' excuse for Allen's behaviour, my friend.

The stadium was sold out on several occasions when the team were doing well. Our attendances were on an upward curve that'd all but reached the seven thousand average he'd quoted. Footfall on non-match days was also providing a very healthy income.

Indeed the first few years of Allen's tenure proved that Chesterfield FC can be a competitive third tier outfit underpinned by some of the best facilities in the region.

Unfortunately the last few years have proved how easy it is to turn that golden egg bad by appointing a procession of questionable characters...

Me neither pal. I was simply musing as to what could possibly attract foreign investors. I deal with investors day in, day out and regardless of their individual objectives, they all have one thing in common: they want to see their money grow. I just don't see the attraction of CFC from an investment perspective. No doubt a long-term sustainable business is definitely achievable at our level - just try the polar opposite of what's been done in recent history and you won't go far wrong - but exactly what will that add to someone's overseas investment portfolio?

Sceptical? You bet.

[Snowflake McBedwetter]

Mac, on 20 November 2017 - 06:31 PM, said:

Me neither pal. I was simply musing as to what could possibly attract foreign investors. I deal with investors day in, day out and regardless of their individual objectives, they all have one thing in common: they want to see their money grow. I just don't see the attraction of CFC from an investment perspective. No doubt a long-term sustainable business is definitely achievable at our level - just try the polar opposite of what's been done in recent history and you won't go far wrong - but exactly what will that add to someone's overseas investment portfolio?

Sceptical? You bet.

Isn'ta lot of Daves investment getting a return of 4%?

Presumably that loan could be repackaged and passed on to the new owners...

A guaranteed 4% ain't to be sniffed at.

[dim view]

Mac, on 20 November 2017 - 06:31 PM, said:

I just don't see the attraction of CFC from an investment perspective.
Sceptical? You bet.

We could ask Dennis Bingham. The thought of deriving a benefit must have occurred to him.

I'm intrigued if this happens about whether the identity of the real owner will be apparent.

[Mac's Back]

KevinArnottsGoldenBoot, on 20 November 2017 - 06:47 PM, said:

Isn'ta lot of Daves investment getting a return of 4%?

Presumably that loan could be repackaged and passed on to the new owners...

A guaranteed 4% ain't to be sniffed at.

Attractive enough to tempt overseas investors? Nah, no chance!

[CFC91]

Westbars Spireite, on 20 November 2017 - 06:20 PM, said:

I welcome this news, though temper it with concerns over any claims made by certain people at 'our' end.

What claims are those?

[Snowflake McBedwetter]

Mac, on 20 November 2017 - 06:50 PM, said:

Attractive enough to tempt overseas investors? Nah, no chance!

If you say so.

Government debt gets investors doesn't it? What's that pay on a ten year Gilt... 1%?

The very best Hedge Fund return is about 7%. And that's not guaranteed.

[Mac's Back]

KevinArnottsGoldenBoot, on 20 November 2017 - 06:55 PM, said:

If you say so.

Government debt gets investors doesn't it? What's that pay on a ten year Gilt... 1%?

The very best Hedge Fund return is about 7%. And that's not guaranteed.

True enough, though Gilts are used more to de-risk. Returns way in excess of 7% are widely available out there, though obviously not guaranteed. I can see why foreign investors would want to invest in football clubs much higher up the pyramid, so-called sleeping giants, but a club such as ours? Exactly what boxes does it tick from a legitimate investment perspective?