Stuwell2

I’m in the POD and agree that it’s past it’s best but there’s no way we can afford to replace it without ending up with a bog standard shitty breeze block box. The Hunter stand is in as much need of work and a purpose built training is, to me, more of a priority. I hope that after the wild sheep debacle is over - and hopefully rejected - I’d like the club and WS to work together and put together a plan to show us how they intend to do this and who should have responsibility for raising the money for each project without being detrimental to the squad budget (the WS could take on the training facility while the club looks after the stadium).

Strangely enough I heard he was heading to Germany and heading to a championship team today - a load of different rumours doing the round, any or none of which could be true.

Agree with you about the defence and the youngsters but thought Halliday looked fitter and sharper than last season and tried to get things moving. Definitely needed a creative player though.

Defence had not a lot to do although the 3 central defenders looked comfortable but going to go for Ewan Wilson, looks solid, had a lovely touch to set up SOD’s goal, would have liked to see him put in more crosses though.

They can take the other arse cheek with them.

Stop posting positively about the squad - I might start getting excited about the season ahead

Add another one to the reject list folk’s

No.

You starting one? Or as other’s might say, tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies

Oxborough seems to have had a decent game looking at the highlights.

True enough, I stand corrected.

Started well with the first two but went right off the cliff with the second two.

I’d see your point if the guy that posted the conversation’s is an official of the club or society and the leaks were official corespondents but since I don’t know who the guy is then at the moment I’m not concerned.

If it’s two Mexican’s some on here will explode

Ok how about this, at the moment under the current proposal as I understand it - and my figures are rough calculations due to being on holiday and no time to dig deeper - after 6 years EB has 49% paying £1.8M Private shareholders will have 29% paying £1.16M (if my quick guess of what they’re valued at taking the £4M valuation is correct and anyone feel free to admen if any of my figures are wrong) WS will have 22% paying £2M Why not have the WS buy out the private shareholders for £1.16M then look at new investment, giving up a maximum of 49% for £1.9M (using £800K of that to repay some of the £1.16M) Over the 6 years saving the WS £840K and keeping the WS as majority shareholder in the club. If done correctly, I’d think that some non WS folk would sign up, existing members will continue to pay in/start paying again/up payments if possible. I know this would be a bit unfair on the private shareholders but I can’t see any other way to resolve this and keep the society as the majority shareholding. Sorry it’s a bit rough and ready but just an idea.

Agree. Regarding Bair there’s a good chance that like UEFA, the Americas federation will make payments to the players club for him being there.

Did the society not sell a % of shares to private individuals around that time? Was this possibly part of the reason for the sale? I’m sure it was said at the time that it was to raise funds/some people were willing to put money into the club but not through the society so this was a way of getting money in without seriously diluting the WS shareholding’s. Re club valuation could we not work out the valuation of the club at that time if we know the % sold and the amount raised? This could help inform us if the valuation’s are drastically different or similar.

I’m going with…. If I had the wings of a sparrow….

And what are the wishes of all the WS members? I think there are some who believe in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow here - not enough to pass this I hope - so are they not maybe representing those folk? Im not saying that I agree with them but they were voted onto the WS board by some of the members who liked the blurb they put out when standing.

Firstly I know no one on either of the boards so these are my own thoughts and not an agenda either way. To a certain extent I may have some sympathy with WS board members on the MCF board, who may or may not have been left holding the shitty end of the stick. IF at the start of this their WS colleagues said something along the lines of “we’re not getting involved until after the negotiations and the MFC board make their recommendations” meaning they couldn’t get a vote/guidance from them, along side the members vote saying we will listen to an offer that potentially means we give up control, then did they have a right to stop the WS members who they represent from voting on the offer? Or did they act in good faith allowing the offer to go to the society membership? Is what they have done an underhanded attempt to sell off the club on the cheap as some have said or do they believe they have given the members what they asked for? Personally if I’d been in their shoes and believed that I was carrying out the members wishes then in that case I’d have insisted on a note added to the club statement clarifying why I’d voted that way - but hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it?

On the subject of offering extensions or new contracts to existing players here’s my thoughts There’s a lot worse players than many of them and yes they have shortcomings but whoever we sign will be the same. Kettlewell knows them and I’m sure one of the reasons why he’s ok with giving them new deals is that throughout the season these guys stuck by him, didn’t down tools and managed to scrape through. Personally I believe that if the team hadn’t stuck together and believed in the manager then we would have been relegated. Next season’s going to be rough if our targets keep choosing our rivals over us leaving us with no one if we let these guys go. So in short the manager knows that - even if they’re only squad players - these guys will have confidence in him, help integrate the new signings without being pissed off if they’re not first pick, back him up if needed, bring some calmness and help keep the dressing room together if things get tough. If I was a manager I’d be looking for that from them.

Agree he’s not one I’d be looking at but disagree that midfield doesn’t need added to. With Spittal away we need to replace him. Halliday, I think could do us a turn but we need to strengthen around him with players who can cover his shortcomings.

One way of doing this - although I’d be shocked if it happened - would be as part of the agreement the WS gets a small % of any transfer money up to a certain value (say £1.5m which would take a long time granted) that is then invested long term and ring fenced in such a way that it is there to ensure the clubs future. Never going to happen though.

Loaned out to Dundee Utd from Ross County last season but only made 27 appearances.

On the “investment/return” discussion I read something which was along the lines of a lot of well off Americans are purchasing/investing in foreign businesses including sports due to when Trump was in power he changed their tax laws to allow money invested abroad to be deductible and simply put this means that if someone pays out $1m then it’s $1m less they pay in tax so it’s basically free money for them to gamble/play with and they get something to add too their portfolio. Now - being cynical here as I don’t believe he is but - for someone like Barmack being seen to be helping out a wee fan owned Scottish team could, if things go well, potentially get him and his company more publicity and kudos than spending the cash in advertising ever could.