Wilder on the boardroom struggle

[Snowman]

Mccabe will have done his due diligence when ge took him on as an investor, otherwise why let him have 50% of the club for £1 ... unless McCabe was so desperate to get out that he has fucked up spectacularly...... guess we will find out

Mmmmm. Now desperation as a theory has a more likely ring to it.

 

[Snowman]

The strange thing is, whilst you could understand HRH not wanting to pump money in whilst we were festering in League 1, he must surely see the potential in investing at this point given the year on year improvement and how close we've come this season.

Given the Prem is worth well over £100M just for being there for one season, it's a decent gamble if, and it's a big IF, there is the money available. So I can only presume it's 'I'm in charge or you're getting nothing'.

Where's Mr Phipps when you need him

Where's E89 when you need him?

 

[Dkc]

The strange thing is, whilst you could understand HRH not wanting to pump money in whilst we were festering in League 1, he must surely see the potential in investing at this point given the year on year improvement and how close we've come this season.

Given the Prem is worth well over £100M just for being there for one season, it's a decent gamble if, and it's a big IF, there is the money available. So I can only presume it's 'I'm in charge or you're getting nothing'.

Where's Mr Phipps when you need him

Doesn't appear as though the Prince has the money

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

You fucking tell em Tufty.

He's our biggest asset, and losing him would be a disaster, IF of our own making.

Spot on Stretch, it's the Sheffield United way.

 

[Snowman]

Doesn't appear as though the Prince has the money

Weeeerz Muneh gone?

 

[Revolution]

One thing that I've noticed since the start of the ownership saga is that there's a lot of conjecture but nobody on this board seems to know (or, if they do know, won't say) what the agreement between the two parties says, what is supposed to happen after the process referred to in the press release was triggered, and what is happening now. Plus nobody knows how it is going to be resolved.

It may not matter what the agreement says. One side or the other may be pushing for a different deal in terms of cost or assets transferred. That is not unusual. But who knows?

I have only one theory: whoever prevails does not have the resources to significantly increase spending. If they had it, they would have spent it this season.

 

[Worksop II]

Plenty of misconceptions here

The Prince paid a £1 for 50% of Sheffield United, the Team

Bramall Lane, the Business Centre, the Academy and the Hotel are owned by the McCabe Family and are separate from the Team

For the £1 the Prince became Co Owner and liable for the running costs of the Team

To date, over the last four years the Prince (and Kevin McCabe) have equally bank rolled where necessary any losses incurred

Which I think have totalled to some £17 million each, roughly £4 miilion a year each, thats what the Prince got for his £1

 

[GuangzhouBlade]

It's possible to have a balanced view. McCabe has made some very poor managerial appointments, but he's also kept a loss-making venture afloat with his own money and genuinely seems to love the club. It's tempting to dream of a rich sugar daddy but we also have to be aware of the risks.

Wilder has done a wonderful job and deserves a shot at managing a Championship club with the resources to fight for promotion. But it's also his first season at this level and the club he loves has plucked him from lower league management. It's premature for him to be thinking about walking out on us.

On the later point, and just as a matter of opinion, I think he's nowhere near getting a job at one of the relegated Premier League teams.

Don't bring your balanced and measured view to this board it's not welcome. Like most things in life the truth is usually somewhere near the middle. The board saga isn't helpful for the club but no one was moaning in January when we up there competing. Wilder was backed in January and spent badly ( Evans aside). In the January transfer window we spent more than 18 of the other clubs in the division. Not the budget of a bottom 6 side as some claim to suit this love for always being underdogs. Wilder has done a great job up to now but equally you can't blame the board for the shocking form since January. What we can blame the board for is not sorting this dispute out before next season and then allowing Wilder to make 2 key signings to push us on.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

The worrying thing is that he may be of the opinion that neither of the current owners genuinely match his ambition.

"Things have got to change" says he's put his cards on the table publicly because he's not getting anything from either one of them.

I think your right Sean, I think whoever gets control be it KM or the Prince, the future squad investment would be of similar lines to what we witnessed in January. If so it would not be enough to push us on but maybe enough for us to keep our heads above the water next season. I think we are all familiar with our Kev, but the Prince I just cannot get a grip on, how much is he prepared to put into SUFC should he gain control ?

 

[finlaytheblade]

Crikey, I hope not. Do you have any evidence for this opinion, or are you just guessing ?

It's a fear I've had for a while, the prince has no loyalty to the area or the Blades it's strictly business or a hobby.
McCabe must stay whether he is a minor partner in some other take over.I don't trust someone who's into franchises,no passion just a business or an expensive hobby that a rich man can toss away,Portsmouth are a good example.
Better the villain you know.
McCabe for me he's got the interests of the club at heart ( him and Wilder together )

 

[Muttley]

I want to hear from Abdullah. I want to know why he wants full control, I want to know what his plans and ideas are and I want to know what the situation with McCabe is from HIS side.

Because as it stands, we’re looking at 3 options:
1) McCabe takes back full control and we go back to a tight budget while Kev tries to drum up investment (but not actually selling up) from all corners of the world. So basically back to pre-Prince days, albeit at a higher level (for now).
2) Abdullah takes full control and we have absolutely no idea what he wants, intends and can afford.
3) This dual owner stand-off continues and the club is in limbo with both refusing to fund something they may not own in the near future.

We know option 1 because we’ve already been through it. Option 3 is a terrifying thought. So please Princey- please speak to us and make option 2 a positive prospect.

Precisely this.

 

[Chali 2na]

If we go to L1 I’m done couldn’t face another season in that league

You won't be missed

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

The debate on this thread is very one sided & unfair. We've only heard Wilder's ultimatum. Surely, we need an ultimatum from McCabe. And, an ultimatum from The Big Prinz, before we can judge who has the best ultimatum.

 

[bertieblade]

McCabe has made mistakes at sufc which have cost him money and he now wants that money back.
I cannot think of any other business or venture where you make mistakes and expect someone else to cover the cost of those mistakes.
If McCabe were to assume control he would be looking for another investor, that we do not know, to provide an investment which he controls. If he does find one, it will take forever during which time Mccabe will again be selling off the family silver to cover costs. Putting the club back to where it was before Wilder joined us.

The fault in my opinion lies with McCabe, his investments, his decisions that he now expects others to pay for, subsequently an unrealistic valuation.

Wilder is not only disappointed at the lack of investment but the fact that after two years at the club there is still no clear business plan, not only a plan which matches his ambition but any plan.
Last years success and this years consolidation of that success happened in spite of McCabe: the owners have been in dispute for over two years. Wilder can see no immediate resolution to their dispute, subsequently he will have to sell his best players, understandably something he will not want to do and he will subsequently leave.
If he goes the clubs best players will also leave and we go back to where we were.

The blame lies with McCabe and the sooner he leaves the happier I will be

 

[Maidenhead]

I wouldn't be too sure. As much as I rate CW, there are only a small handful* of clubs that he could go to and who would want him & it represent a step up. Unless he properly throws a strop & walks out without a job to go to, we'll need to wait until promotions & relegation's have been decided before we start to panic. I think that pool is Southampton, WBA, Stoke, Huddersfield, Boro, as an outside bet Villa and as a really outside bet Sunderland.

*Edit: Handful & a half.

Of those I think Sunderland is the only realistic one.

His biggest achievement is a league 1 title and his team have won 8 of there last 28 I beleive.

Southampton, WBA, Stoke and Boro will not be interested. Their fans would be underwhelmed with the appointment of Wilder and they wouldn't do it.

Huddersfield won't sack their manager even if they are relegated.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The Prince's lack of words are quite damning. He owns 50% of the club yet is saying nothing at all. What are his intentions? What does he want? If he wants to take over he need to get the Blades fans trust and show them what he can do. He is saying nothing. I think he needs calling out big time for that. The shareholders to me should be demanding some kind of statement from him or his people - at leeast McCabe has said something. If it is in the hands of laywers and he cannot say much - then say that. He needs to give us something, We have heard nothing from him for about a year now. He is treating us like fools. Say what you wannt about Chansiri and that mob but at least he is there, involved and trying things (not all coming off). The lack of action, words, presence is damning I am afraid from our international owner.

Which shareholders would that be?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

So you agree that the academy, set up by MacCabe has paid for itself and been of benefit to the team

Last time I looked we were playing for points in a league table not a position on a balance sheet and all these fuckers [Walker, Naughton, Lawton, Maguire] play for some other fuckers.

 

[Maidenhead]

We also have greater income. I will agree our wage bill is probably higher than theirs due to higher attendances / hotel revenue etc. But without being pedantic surly you see my point?.

What's "pedantic" about analysing the numbers.

I would say that accuracy in that respect is pretty important.

You can't just pick the numbers you like in order to get a full picture.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

When you think about it why would he want the academy ? The players it produces don't stay around long enough for SUFC to get any benefit they are sold off cheap after a few first team games, any profit goes back into the academy running costs.
More likely McCabe wants to sell the whole lot but the price tag is way too high because he wants back every penny he put in even the monies wasted on overseas adventures in China, Belgium, Australia, Hungary to name a few. McCabe has wasted millions even the hotel is a flop and adds nothing to SUFC he is dreaming if he thinks someone else is going to pay for his failures. Very few owners of football clubs make money out of owning them, until McCabe accepts this he will hang on to what he has and keep dragging us down.

Thank you.

 

[Clarkey87]

It’s all been smoke and mirrors from this Abdullah and his minions since day one and I don’t trust him as far as he can be thrown to be fair.

For all his faults, at least McCabe has always tried to engage with fans and has the clubs best interests at heart.
He has made his mistakes and has openly admitted in this, but that’s life.

Abdullah - when has he actually ever come out to meet/speak with the fans? At least McCabe has always been approachable.
I mean in all these years that Abdullah has been associated with the club, he hasn’t once given an insight into his vision for our future. He hasn’t made any proper attempt actually get to know what this club and it’s culture is all about has he?
Sure, he once had a PR mouth piece in Phipps and that all ended in tears but that didn’t give us any insight into his plans for us if he ever took full control.
To me, he has demonstrated nothing whatsoever to indicate he is the best man to take this club forward in any capacity.

I can understand why McCabe brought him on board as he’d have wanted some financial assistance in getting us back up to the championship with arguably one of the bigger budgeted league one teams (remembering that TV money doesn’t account for much income and ticket sales are also just a drop in the ocean in modern day football)

Continued whispered promises from the Abdullah camp of further proper investment have never actually materialised. (Including the one where “investment” was being put off until we reached the Championship.....which, surprisingly, has never actually materialised, with the only visible change being some unknown foreign “technical director” who he wanted to put in as a DoF over Wilder).

Paying off a few shit managers and their back room team and wasting money on Brayford is about as far as it got.
It all appears to me these false promises have actually resulted in the shared financing of the football club between Abdullah and McCabe rather than full financing of the footballing side by Abdullah alone for his £1 “buy in”.

Until it is proven otherwise (not holding my breath) and Abdullah breaks his silence to inform everyone of a) his intentions and b) his vision for the future direction of this club, I personally hope that McCabe can get rid of him from this club.
We are a much better/attractive asset now we are in the Championship and I believe that McCabe can find better elsewhere.

 

[Maidenhead]

The strange thing is, whilst you could understand HRH not wanting to pump money in whilst we were festering in League 1, he must surely see the potential in investing at this point given the year on year improvement and how close we've come this season.

Given the Prem is worth well over £100M just for being there for one season, it's a decent gamble if, and it's a big IF, there is the money available. So I can only presume it's 'I'm in charge or you're getting nothing'.

Where's Mr Phipps when you need him

It may be worth £100m in extra revenue but by the time you've taken off the extra expenses there's not likely to be much left.

I don't get all this talk of the Premiership being a cash cow for the owners unless they're going to keep the same team on the same money, stay there for one season, and then walk away with all the extra cash in their pockets.

Not many Premier league teams make substantial profits because they spend all the extra revenue trying to stay there.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Where's E89 when you need him?

Busy in Hull?

 

[Bill puntin]

I wonder what CW would say if the board said to him , here is 20m now it's promotion or your sacked .
That would be the same pressure on him as he is putting on the board.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

It may be worth £100m in extra revenue but by the time you've taken off the extra expenses there's not likely to be much left.

I don't get all this talk of the Premiership being a cash cow for the owners unless they're going to keep the same team on the same money, stay there for one season, and then walk away with all the extra cash in their pockets.

Not many Premier league teams make substantial profits because they spend all the extra revenue trying to stay there.

Correct although Burnley and WBA are the exception although WBA's yoyo years are I few years ago but I'm sure they will revert to their old plan now they look like dropping.
I'd also guess Huddersfield haven't done too badly out of being promoted?

 

[Worksop II]

It’s all been smoke and mirrors from this Abdullah

£17 million to date, it's in the accounts, that a fuckin huge mirror

McCabe as you admit, needed financial help to get out of League 1, if he gets rid of Princey, how does he pay for the Championship .....

Never mind going forward ....

In 20 Seasons

1 int PL

6 int League 1

Epic

 

[Maidenhead]

Correct although Burnley and WBA are the exception although WBA's yoyo years are I few years ago but I'm sure they will revert to their old plan now they look like dropping.
I'd also guess Huddersfield haven't done too badly out of being promoted?

If you're happy to budget to be a yoyo club for a few years then it can bring longer term benefits but how many people can you see on here saying "yep, we'll accept one season up so we can build for the future"?

It will be "well if we're going to sign anyone and accept relegation then I'll not be going"

I have to say that I've no idea what the accounts of the teams you mention actually look like, I'm just surmising based on the actions of your average football chairman and demands of fans.

 

[coolhandluke]

When you think about it why would he want the academy ? The players it produces don't stay around long enough for SUFC to get any benefit they are sold off cheap after a few first team games, any profit goes back into the academy running costs.
More likely McCabe wants to sell the whole lot but the price tag is way too high because he wants back every penny he put in even the monies wasted on overseas adventures in China, Belgium, Australia, Hungary to name a few. McCabe has wasted millions even the hotel is a flop and adds nothing to SUFC he is dreaming if he thinks someone else is going to pay for his failures. Very few owners of football clubs make money out of owning them, until McCabe accepts this he will hang on to what he has and keep dragging us down.

Fuck me Metal have a word with yourself pal . The Prince doesn't want the Academy because we sell every bit of talent that comes out of there ? If he owned it the Academy what do whatever the fuck he wanted it to do .

As for McCabe wanting back every penny he's put in over the years, well what if he does ?

None of us know what KM is asking for but let's assume that he is asking for every penny back . Is he wrong to do that ? He's used his money to buy tangible assets for the club in the form of the Academy etc , why shouldn't he ask for his money back if he's selling them ? Furthermore is he wrong to ask anyone who wants to buy the Club that they buy all of it ? What is the point in breaking the club apart and selling it off piece by piece ? If McCabe was the money grabbing cunt that you and others make him out to be surely he'd be more fully recompensed by selling various parts of the club off to different prospective buyers ?

McCabe is right to sell the Club as a single entity and he's right to slap a hefty price tag on the lot . Yes he'll get some ( though not all ) of his total losses back . Whilst secondly he'll sort the bullshitting phoney prospective investors out by ensuring that they not only ( a ) have the necessary capital to buy the whole club and ( b ) they have enough to buy us out AND invest in our future .

HRH not wanting to buy the whole of the Club tells me one thing and one thing only ...... he can't afford to .

 

[Maidenhead]

£17 million to date, it's in the accounts, that a fuckin huge mirror

McCabe as you admit, needed financial help to get out of League 1, if he gets rid of Princey, how does he pay for the Championship .....

Never mind going forward ....

In 20 Seasons

1 int PL

6 int League 1

Epic

And if the Prince gets rid of McCabe how do you know that he is in any better position to invest more?

For the record I'm ambivalent about who wins that war, I just hope that it's the best one to move us forward but like every one else on this board I have no idea which one that is.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

We are a much better/attractive asset now we are in the Championship and I believe that McCabe can find better elsewhere.

Whilst McC has the club in his heart and he has sunk £M's in he has not been too successful overall.
Shame for the guy, it must break his heart. We have had some good times and for that we must thank McC but this horse seems to have run its race.

The real problem we have is in the last sentence, going forwards McC needs to sell, either to HRH or someone else.
What future that would give us who knows?

I'm sure that sticking with Kev though will only see us go backwards because he hasn't got the £M's to do it again.

It was a good effort Kev but time to move on lad.

 

[Maidenhead]

HRH not wanting to buy the whole of the Club tells me one thing and one thing only ...... he can't afford to .

That's exactly how I see it too, although I have no hard evidence to support that point of view, just a long career of reading between the lines.