Do we really want to get into a situation where we're relying on FPP to swoop in like knights in shining armour though mate? I get the arguments here I really do, but when we look back, so much has changed. Them, us, the world, football... nothing is the same. @Bob Cheval says above that he knows they were interested before November, Smug knows they were interested before November, we can all see that to some degree, no matter what the interpretation, they clearly had an interest in us and likely still do to some extent. But we really don't know that if the club was facing administration and/or financial implosion, they would actually take up the option to get us out of it because that would -whichever way you look at it - cost them money and (I suspect) was a way of preventing Donald pre-packing the club for administration and then buying all the assets up for a nominal fee to avoid paying them back. I don't doubt that if everything were working out as intended, they'd be thinking about how they get more involved with us, because that was clearly their ideal scenario. The issue is that we are talking about very busy and wealth-orientated people who will be firefighting in their main businesses and who have separated professionally from each other to some degree. They can no longer even travel over here right now to get a proper 'lie of the land'. We are, despite our own protestations, very much 'small fry' in their world and I have some pretty severe doubts about how willing they are to dive in and spend their own money, run the club and absorb the current situation on top of all the normal issues SAFC has as a business. They wouldn't have any option to do due diligence, and any due diligence done before this month would be a complete irrelevance to some degree. I'm not suggesting they aren't interested at all, but I am saying that it's a big decision for them if we end up in a real financial mess, where Donald is paying out more than he can afford. Forgetting about the £20m+ owed by Donald to the club for a second (which we'd assume at this point wouldn't be recovered in a nuclear scenario), if you take on a business that is on the hook for money, you have to find new money to keep it going. That means even if they only pay $12m for the club (already paid) then their obligation from the day they come on board is to pay the wages and keep the club afloat. That's millions they have to account for with (right now) no actual prospect of football being played anytime soon and no idea what that league looks like. So I have my doubts that we want ourselves to be in a really bad situation mate. I'd feel better if we're ok and not reliant on FPP now being 'all in' on us, because there is a chance that they're not, which we all are at least partly aware of by this point.
There were 3 in FPP I believe, now 2? Perhaps the one that left, was the one keen on us, or the one blocking a final move, who knows. I also suspect Donald has been a further fly in the ointment.as it were.. The point others and I have made before is that it is likely Donald does not have the wherewithal to fund the club... So..wtf
Just my opinion but I don't think the numbers or make up of the 'group' is important. Any one of the three people are capable of buying the club if they wish. There's also the UK 'group' and the US 'group'. Two things matter for me. A) No other potential buyer has been identified. B) The Americans are the biggest current investor in the club and, if it's just a non/low interest loan, they're basically wasting their time.
If you make the distinction between wanting FPP to takeover and wanting the club to be a in a position where the only option for its survival is for FPP to takeover, who in their right mind would want the latter situation?
Well today's the day. Bob is saying something is happening today and we'll know whether it's good news or bad ... ... all very interesting. He's said Donald repaid the loan, some time ago, and that seems to be an integral part of it all. I don't go on RTG much now but today will be an exception, over to you Bob.
Nothing in the Echo, or anywhere else, total load of bollocks. I will get back to home schooling grandkids at least that is useful, rather than reading some posts by a moron spouting rubbish
Companies house disagrees with our Robert, the charge is still in place, and whilst I know this is extraordinary times you would think, given that bobby told everybody it was paid off several weeks ago, that it would have been expunged by now.
Yeah no chance it's this late on companies house. I'm also struggling to think who or what could really be in the works right now. The best thing for any and everyone to do at a point like this is to stand fast and avoid making big decisions while there are big unknowns. Donald paying back the loan, or someone buying us in the middle of a global existential crisis would seem to be odd decisions.
I hope he is full of shyte mate tbh. The only thing that can give this club the jolt it needs, imo, is for the 'Americans' to take over. Another Donald, with inadequate resources, or a hotch potch consortium wouldn't inspire anyone. We're a big club with a modern stadium and huge potential gates but we've allowed ourselves to view the club as a basket case. It isn't, and a decent structure, steady investment and a promotion would put a totally different complexion on things.
Any news on what's supposedly happening at Sunderland or is it more bull from Bob, I already know the answer