Whatever the case we all need to keep our heads, stick together and present a dignified front ... ... I'm sure we will but we can't allow these people to manipulate and divide us. Just my opinion.
It's an easy story to write. Football club owner who's recently had plenty of exposure but who divides opinion amongst his clubs fan base. Let's dig up some financial story that can be spun to look bad (but in reality could mean anything) and attempt to push that fan base one way or the other. No matter what side of the debate you're on, you're bound to want to read the story now, meaning they'll sell more papers or get more hits.
IIRC the Mail ran a similar story some months ago, why has this come to the fore now? How did Hope get a copy of the preliminary accounts? Who gave them to him and for what purpose? There may be more to this, then again I may just be a conspiracy theorist
It's in The Times from their national sports reporter (not just a local hack) and The Athletic have confirmed they have several journalists working on a big Sunderland story and have been gathering information for a while. The preliminary accounts have been sent to prospective buyers who have all been put off by the black hole, presumably it's one of them that has leaked them to the papers. People can refuse to believe and/or have their doubts, in which case wait until the official ones are published. But, if they say the same and these articles are correct, what are your views then? There's no longer a hiding place for the owners then.
People genuinely think the times have just copied the DM? It appeared online simultaneously. Its clearly been leaked man.
Even if it is true, the Mail article says that the club have stated that the money will be paid back in full. So, what's the problem?
It says it was sent to prospective buyers. So probably somebody who wants to buy it and has seen the fact they want 40m when theres a 20m black hole as ludicrous.
Alarm bells should be ringing that it's in the accounts as a write off, now suddenly they're willing to pay it back. Doesnt add up.
The owners presumably. If they've pledged to pay it back, what's the problem? It only becomes a problem if they don't pay it back. What they've spent so far is neither here no there.
If we're speculating it's probably not been leaked by FPP as they would have been aware of this following due diligence. It may therefore be reasonable to assume that there's another interested party.
They pledged to pay it back when they took over the club. Well actually, they said it was just secured against Pp money. Not true, Pp money was used. They also said in a RAWA meeting that it would be paid back, then said it probsbly wouldnt be. We shouldn't believe anything they say.
It doesn't matter what they say though really. It only matters if they pay the money back or not. The article is just sensationalism at this point. If they don't pay the money back, then it becomes a story.