In court

[Pinchy]

I see Brexit has been left out altogether

It’s going to be, as I predicted a considerable time ago, to the usual derision that follows my words of wisdom.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

All that means is stick to the relevant points and stop calling each other names.

Based on what's out there, any shafting seems to be just the one way. McCabe wanted £5m plus the ground etc at market value. If HRH had said okay, we wouldn't be here.

That is true. Although isn't it also true that all this was initiated by McCabe with his "low price" offer for the Saudi's shares expecting him " to serve a counternotice to buy Sheffield's shareholding at the same price. The low price for its own shares would be compensated, Mr McCabe believed, by the fact that UTB and Sheffield would thereupon become bound to cause FC to exercise the FC Options, thereby realising the full market value of the Properties (estimated to be about £20 million) for Sheffield."

 

[Bobby Boo]

At times such as these, I always like referring to Copernicus's Hierarchy of Blame, I simply work my way down the list until the blame seems appropriate:

1. Footballing Gods
2. McCabe
3. Lundstram
4. Johnson
5. Sharp's Legs
6. Washington
7. Beesley
8. South Yorkshire Police

Surely there should be the Washing Machine on that list somewhere.

 

[Addison]

Not fit for purpose, either of them.

They say no man is bigger than the club, but Wilder, Knill and the management team are the best we've had in decades, if ever given the budget they've worked to, the context they've worked within and the style of football and success they've delivered despite this - against others with vastly superior resources.

No man is bigger than the club, but this management team succeed despite the owners, not because of them. Wilder and Knill are more important to this club than the owners will ever be.

At a time when the Club needs to be United these two are ripping it apart. We are on the cusp of achieving the promised land yet they prefer to pursue their own self interests in preference to the good of Sheffield United. Despite all this we have an exceptional football management team who continue to excel whilst this civil war is going on in the background. Each side is prepared to throw as much shit at each other and bring it out into the public domain damaging the stability and reputation of a club of the stature of Sheffield United.

We may be faced with fighting a play off campaign whilst at the same time witnessing daily the very fabric of our Club being openly ripped apart. We may not get a judgement until late June early July at best meaning we go into the new season totally unprepared and financially unstable. That puts at risk the continued employment of our management team which is totally unacceptable. Even then the status quo could be ruled on as one possibility meaning the infighting will extend longer than Brexit.

We have probably the most important game of the season on Saturday and this shit is surfacing at the worst possible time. Shame on both owners. None of the above for me.

 

[Maidenhead]

I am on the Kev side of the argument, but whatever happens now we need the club with new owners.

I'm pretty sure that nearly everyone shares that sentiment, including KM.

 

[Deaneandagana]

At a time when the Club needs to be United these two are ripping it apart. We are on the cusp of achieving the promised land yet they prefer to pursue their own self interests in preference to the good of Sheffield United. Despite all this we have an exceptional football management team who continue to excel whilst this civil war is going on in the background. Each side is prepared to throw as much shit at each other and bring it out into the public domain damaging the stability and reputation of a club of the stature of Sheffield United.

We may be faced with fighting a play off campaign whilst at the same time witnessing daily the very fabric of our Club being openly ripped apart. We may not get a judgement until late June early July at best meaning we go into the new season totally unprepared and financially unstable. That puts at risk the continued employment of our management team which is totally unacceptable. Even then the status quo could be ruled on as one possibility meaning the infighting will extend longer than Brexit.

We have probably the most important game of the season on Saturday and this shit is surfacing at the worst possible time. Shame on both owners. None of the above for me.

Well said Sir, both co-owners are extremely fortunate that events on the field have overshadowed events in No.1 court.

Had this not been the case Messrs McCabe & HRH would have had a very different set of circumstances to deal with.

Shame on you both, suggest if per chance you read this thread then it would benefit all parties for you the bury the hatchet & focus on winning 4 games of football.

 

[Sean Thornton]

That is true. Although isn't it also true that all this was initiated by McCabe with his "low price" offer for the Saudi's shares expecting him " to serve a counternotice to buy Sheffield's shareholding at the same price. The low price for its own shares would be compensated, Mr McCabe believed, by the fact that UTB and Sheffield would thereupon become bound to cause FC to exercise the FC Options, thereby realising the full market value of the Properties (estimated to be about £20 million) for Sheffield."

Yes. The original agreement it would seem. McCabe gets £25m, writes off around £40m and rides off into the sunset. HRH didn't, for whatever reason, want to buy the ground. Which for me, is a worry.

 

[Maidenhead]

Trouble is, HRH wins, we have new owners, KM wins, do you really think he's going to rush into another deal (unless he has someone else lined up) ?

and. of course, the next few weeks on the pitch will have a massive impact.

I'm pretty sure that the answer to that is yes.

He's 71 this year and wants to retire from SUFC as soon as possible. If the Prince hadn't tried (and maybe succeeded) to pull a fast one, he would be long gone by now.

 

[sheffielder]

Yes. The original agreement it would seem. McCabe gets £25m, writes of around £40m and rides off into the sunset. HRH didn't, for whatever reason, want to buy the ground. Which for me, is a worry.

What would happen if the ground was transferred out of Scarborough? (not literally )

 

[Sean Thornton]

At a time when the Club needs to be United these two are ripping it apart. We are on the cusp of achieving the promised land yet they prefer to pursue their own self interests in preference to the good of Sheffield United. Despite all this we have an exceptional football management team who continue to excel whilst this civil war is going on in the background. Each side is prepared to throw as much shit at each other and bring it out into the public domain damaging the stability and reputation of a club of the stature of Sheffield United.

We may be faced with fighting a play off campaign whilst at the same time witnessing daily the very fabric of our Club being openly ripped apart. We may not get a judgement until late June early July at best meaning we go into the new season totally unprepared and financially unstable. That puts at risk the continued employment of our management team which is totally unacceptable. Even then the status quo could be ruled on as one possibility meaning the infighting will extend longer than Brexit.

We have probably the most important game of the season on Saturday and this shit is surfacing at the worst possible time. Shame on both owners. None of the above for me.

I seriously doubt it's on the players minds at all. They'll be thinking about playing in the PL, wage increases and promotion bonuses. It's been going on all season and look where we are. It's hardly likely to rock the boat for the next four games. Some say Wilder and the players have bottled it. I personally don't believe that to be the case but if they have, it's not going to be over relatively minor legal decisions that affect nothing on the playing side.

 

[Sean Thornton]

What would happen if the ground was transferred out of Scarborough? (not literally )

It's actually in SUL but transferred where?

 

[sheffielder]

It's actually in SUL but transferred where?

To another McCabe company. Would they be able to make changes to the lease then? Someone told me a while ago that this happened but not seen anything to verify it

 

[Rusty view]

Yes. The original agreement it would seem. McCabe gets £25m, writes off around £40m and rides off into the sunset. HRH didn't, for whatever reason, want to buy the ground. Which for me, is a worry.

Which If I read it write is the reason he transferred his other shares into a different company and therefore wouldn't own the 75% and therefore avoiding the requirement to buy the lot. (I may have got this wrong, but think that's the gist)

 

[Maidenhead]

This part of the judgement stood out for me. Looks to me that they both tried to shaft each other. The irony is the club name "United". It's a wonder the Playing staff have managed to achieve anything above relegation with the chasm in the club.

1. This dispute has generated thousands of pages of inter-solicitor correspondence, and a dispiriting volume of mistrust. As I said repeatedly in the course of argument, the parties will need to keep proportionality in the forefront of their minds as matters proceed. The Business and Property Courts are indeed willing and able to resolve the most complex of commercial disputes. But the parties must focus on the issues that require resolution, and not allow themselves to take every point, however small, nor to permit their mistrust of their opponents to become the driving force behind the litigation. There is, I am afraid, a danger of that here. The court expects the parties to cooperate to allow it to achieve a just, expeditious and proportionate resolution of the real commercial issues that separate them. Court proceedings are not a stage for a grudge match.

Where does it say there that either of them has tried to shaft the other, let alone that they both have?

Simply says that there is a total breakdown of trust on both sides.

Talk about 2 + 2 =5

 

[Sean Thornton]

To another McCabe company. Would they be able to make changes to the lease then? Someone told me a while ago that this happened but not seen anything to verify it

I'd have thought any agreement would have to be for the purchase of the property assets rather than a company which controlled them. As Scarborough control SUL l'd think it makes no difference.

 

[Maidenhead]

That is true. Although isn't it also true that all this was initiated by McCabe with his "low price" offer for the Saudi's shares expecting him " to serve a counternotice to buy Sheffield's shareholding at the same price. The low price for its own shares would be compensated, Mr McCabe believed, by the fact that UTB and Sheffield would thereupon become bound to cause FC to exercise the FC Options, thereby realising the full market value of the Properties (estimated to be about £20 million) for Sheffield."

So what's wrong with that?

McCabe set the price and the Prince could have made an honest choice.

Anyone that thinks the offer of £5m to the Prince is derisory should remember that it committed KM to sell his shares at the same price.

£25m (based on the speculated property values) seems a good deal for the whole shooting match including a debt free club to me.

The Prince would appear to think differently.

 

[Grappler]

Yes. The original agreement it would seem. McCabe gets £25m, writes of around £40m and rides off into the sunset. HRH didn't, for whatever reason, want to buy the ground. Which for me, is a worry.

This is the bit that I find confusing as well. We know (or at least, we think/assume) the Prince is not a Billionaire, he is worth millions. He is (or has been) actively putting money into the club to cover losses, so we know he has some decent disposable income. We also know that, for some unknown reason, he bought into a club in Belgium and from that point, has hardly been seen at BDTBL (wasn't that part of the falling out as well?).

The Prince may have done nothing legally wrong, but from where most of us are sitting, he has pulled a dubious fast-one on Kev McCabe, by moving shares into another company, to try and buy SUFC for 5 million quid and rent the ground for peanuts from KMc.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

At a time when the Club needs to be United these two are ripping it apart. We are on the cusp of achieving the promised land yet they prefer to pursue their own self interests in preference to the good of Sheffield United. Despite all this we have an exceptional football management team who continue to excel whilst this civil war is going on in the background. Each side is prepared to throw as much shit at each other and bring it out into the public domain damaging the stability and reputation of a club of the stature of Sheffield United.

We may be faced with fighting a play off campaign whilst at the same time witnessing daily the very fabric of our Club being openly ripped apart. We may not get a judgement until late June early July at best meaning we go into the new season totally unprepared and financially unstable. That puts at risk the continued employment of our management team which is totally unacceptable. Even then the status quo could be ruled on as one possibility meaning the infighting will extend longer than Brexit.

We have probably the most important game of the season on Saturday and this shit is surfacing at the worst possible time. Shame on both owners. None of the above for me.

Thoroughly well said. They are both letting the club down immeasurably.

If we were ever faced with a position where management we're considering walking (let's hope not) I would think we as fans should lead the strongest protest in our history. We'd all rather see shut of the incompetent, self-centred two at the top.

 

[Sean Thornton]

This is the bit that I find confusing as well. We know (or at least, we think/assume) the Prince is not a Billionaire, he is worth millions. He is (or has been) actively putting money into the club to cover losses, so we know he has some decent disposable income. We also know that, for some unknown reason, he bought into a club in Belgium and from that point, has hardly been seen at BDTBL (wasn't that part of the falling out as well?).

The Prince may have done nothing legally wrong, but from where most of us are sitting, he has pulled a dubious fast-one on Kev McCabe, by moving shares into another company, to try and buy SUFC for 5 million quid and rent the ground for peanuts from KMc.

Another property issue. The renting the ground bit doesn't seem to make sense. The market value rent wise is, I'm told be someone in that field 3 or 4 times more than is being currently paid. Probably meaning the Running costs increase and another court battle over rents.

Maybe both had far more trust in Wilder getting promotion than some of our fans and why at this moment in time, and certainly a couple of weeks ago, the rewards look far higher.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

At a time when the Club needs to be United these two are ripping it apart. We are on the cusp of achieving the promised land yet they prefer to pursue their own self interests in preference to the good of Sheffield United. Despite all this we have an exceptional football management team who continue to excel whilst this civil war is going on in the background. Each side is prepared to throw as much shit at each other and bring it out into the public domain damaging the stability and reputation of a club of the stature of Sheffield United.

We may be faced with fighting a play off campaign whilst at the same time witnessing daily the very fabric of our Club being openly ripped apart. We may not get a judgement until late June early July at best meaning we go into the new season totally unprepared and financially unstable. That puts at risk the continued employment of our management team which is totally unacceptable. Even then the status quo could be ruled on as one possibility meaning the infighting will extend longer than Brexit.

We have probably the most important game of the season on Saturday and this shit is surfacing at the worst possible time. Shame on both owners. None of the above for me.

Most important game on Saturday.
Those football Gods have certainly got it in for us making us play 2 games in 24 hours.

 

[Barney]

Don't understand it. If Prince is in court to gain ownership of the club, why would he dispute the fact that '£7m is needed'?

 

[Harry's Game]

Ah well, I miss League one anyway...

 

[Large Mendonca]

It’s going to be, as I predicted a considerable time ago, to the usual derision that follows my words of wisdom.

You are correct, due to the incompetance on both sides on the house. It was never given a chance to succeed.

 

[Davalon]

Memries........................


View attachment 52075

I know over the years it's felt like the blind leading the blind with this club, but wtf did Stevie Wonder have to do with the deal?

 

[Booker4]

Didn't get past the title to be honest, when I saw how long the article was! Its all very long winded and ultimately I'm not going to think much about this until after the season. I hope McCabe wins because I can see the Prince running us more like what Chansiri does Wednesday but if he does, as long as Wilder stays we'll be fine.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Thoroughly well said. They are both letting the club down immeasurably.

If we were ever faced with a position where management we're considering walking (let's hope not) I would think we as fans should lead the strongest protest in our history. We'd all rather see shut of the incompetent, self-centred two at the top.

A possible solution? Kelvin Thomas

Wilder's Chairman at Northampton and previously at Oxford.

How rich is he? As rich as McCabe? As rich as The Prince? I've no idea

Either way, we know that he and Wilder have a mutual respect and admiration for each other.
As long as he has enough money and the right credentials to keep Wilder in place and thriving, that's the main thing for me right now:-

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/...rofile-of-the-new-cobblers-chairman-1-7096070

 

[finlaytheblade]

Yes. The original agreement it would seem. McCabe gets £25m, writes off around £40m and rides off into the sunset. HRH didn't, for whatever reason, want to buy the ground. Which for me, is a worry.

Think that is the key to all this
The Prince not interested in all things sheffield United just the football club.
He needs to show the motive behind this as it makes him look like an opportunist trying to grab our place in theEFL.
COULD EASILY BE A MILTON KEYNES DONS situation, don't like the possibilities around this and there will be other scenarios which happen.
McCabe to win ! feel sure he will sell to another buyer ,this time hopefully to someone who can take it forward.

 

[BushBlade]

Think that is the key to all this
The Prince not interested in all things sheffield United just the football club.
He needs to show the motive behind this as it makes him look like an opportunist trying to grab our place in theEFL.
COULD EASILY BE A MILTON KEYNES DONS situation, don't like the possibilities around this and there will be other scenarios which happen.
McCabe to win ! feel sure he will sell to another buyer ,this time hopefully to someone who can take it forward.

No it couldn’t for a number of reasons.

 

[finlaytheblade]

No it couldn’t for a number of reasons.

Explain I'm interested ?

 

[Paulus]

Rules don't allow teams to move that sort of distance any more - it's something like 6 miles max these days.