Money, Money, Money

[Darren]

OOhhh bigger blade, excellent. Tell you what, I'll throw my company into a whole load of crap and then rescue it several years later. Oh hang on they would have fired me before I did the first bit.

How exactly would you fire McCabe? I don't see queues of people lining up to pump £30 million into the bottomless pit that is SUFC.

 

[metalblade]

Presumably, the Prince is doing it for mixed reasons of prestige and money. He is someone else with more money than he knows what to do with and quite fancies having a football club as a toy. However, given that he has not got enough money to buy a PL club, he has settled on SUFC, a currently lowly club, but quite "big" nevertheless and with a reasonable chance of moving up the divisions and becoming more prestigious. If that happens, ythe Prince can probably sell out for a profit to someone else who wants prestige.

If he sells for £2 He will be in profit but if his further investment gets us in the premiership then he will get a huge ROI if that happens why would the Prince want to sell ? To me we are a club that is a good investment everything is PL standard apart from the team fix that and you are on to a winner.

 

[Darren]

If he sells for £2 He will be in profit but if his further investment gets us in the premiership then he will get a huge ROI if that happens why would the Prince want to sell ? To me we are a club that is a good investment everything is PL standard apart from the team fix that and you are on to a winner.

"Good investment"? If you think that, why don't you invest your life savings/pension in United?

Obviously, no sensible person with limited resorurces would touch a football club with a bargepole when it comes to investments. That's why they are and will remain the toys of the super rich who can afford to lose millions.

 

[metalblade]

"Good investment"? If you think that, why don't you invest your life savings/pension in United?

Obviously, no sensible person with limited resorurces would touch a football club with a bargepole when it comes to investments. That's why they are and will remain the toys of the super rich who can afford to lose millions.

As you probably guessed I'm not super rich but if I were then I could think of lots of clubs that or not such a good bet to put my money into quite a few teams who have been in the PL still don't attract as many fans as we do

 

[Kenilworth]

As you probably guessed I'm not super rich but if I were then I could think of lots of clubs that or not such a good bet to put my money into quite a few teams who have been in the PL still don't attract as many fans as we do

Not about fans at that level though, Mets, it's about TV deals and global image rights etc. Fans? Drop in the ocean if you're up there by comparison.

 

[Balham]

If he sells for £2 He will be in profit but if his further investment gets us in the premiership then he will get a huge ROI if that happens why would the Prince want to sell ? To me we are a club that is a good investment everything is PL standard apart from the team fix that and you are on to a winner.

Completely wrong. Where do you think the £4.2m to cover the loss last year came from? IIRC the Prince is funding the day-to-day running of the club which would be around £3m of that (assuming £1m to pay off Weir & co, which I think McCabe paid). By now he'd need to sell for about £8m to make a profit.

 

[judge]

can we put this in the agree-ers section where a select band of nodding dogs all come on and agree with each other like some monty pythin sketch because thats what it reads like

 

[metalblade]

Completely wrong. Where do you think the £4.2m to cover the loss last year came from? IIRC the Prince is funding the day-to-day running of the club which would be around £3m of that (assuming £1m to pay off Weir & co, which I think McCabe paid). By now he'd need to sell for about £8m to make a profit.

That would be his further investment that I referred to look before you leap

 

[boo radley]

Are Preston not struggling? I don't know by the way, just presume they must be in a similar situation.

I'd guess that we have bigger overheads, particularly for match days and running shirecliffe etc

but how do you know Preston aren't struggling?

This IS the very nature of clubs who get into trouble - problem is, fans and the like don't get to know until it is published, and by then it is too late.

The issue with Leeds was kept, to a degree under wraps by the owners and Preston might be gambling on getting out - they might have consolidated for a few years just as Utd did in the early years of the Warnock/Mccabe era. We let the purse strings free and gambled on getting out of the Championship - it worked but it cost us a lot of money. QPR did the same.

Football just thinks it is ok to spend other peoples money, run up a debt and then go into administration. FFP was supposed to help which it is in a way, but it still doesn't stop clubs like Bournemouth. Apparently they "lost" £6.5m getting out of this division a while back and their wealthy owner converted the loss to equity - perhaps Preston will do the same.

One thing is for certain, we HAVE to get out of this league and quickly as we are undoubtedly losing bucket loads and even a wealthy Prince won't stand it forever.

UTB

comma required after the 'why' so it should have read why, are they not struggling.
It seems as most fans look at their own club (understandably) but then don't look beyond to find out if other clubs are struggling.

 

[Bladesway]

How exactly would you fire McCabe? I don't see queues of people lining up to pump £30 million into the bottomless pit that is SUFC.

You missed my point, I and most like me would be fired for making the mistakes he made, so I would never have the money nor the opportunity to put right what I royally fucked up in the first place. I know some want to forget the utter clusterfuck of the past but if we keep it in mind it means we will never make that mistake the next time we get to a position to be successful (and we will).

 

[Bladesway]

That's why they are and will remain the toys of the super rich who can afford to lose millions.

And this should make them beyond criticism?

 

[Darren]

And this should make them beyond criticism?

Of course not. One can (and should) criticise McCabe for the mistakes he has made, What does my head in is that certain people can't seem to get their head round the concept of honest mistakes and to have to believe that McCabe has some sort of evil plan to destroy SUFC and/or piss off their fans.

 

[Bladesway]

Of course not. One can (and should) criticise McCabe for the mistakes he has made, What does my head in is that certain people can't seem to get their head round the concept of honest mistakes and to have to believe that McCabe has some sort of evil plan to destroy SUFC and/or piss off their fans.

That's a point I can accept. I think talking personally the frustration is that had he been a bumbling fool all along you could accept it, but his stewardship of the club right up to 2006/7 was brilliant. To go from this to making some of the obvious gibbering decisions makes you scratch your head and wonder if it really is the same bloke.

 

[Bladesway]

It puts him way ahead of a lot though doesn't it?

So being less shit than some is your criteria for what good looks like?

 

[Darren]

That's a point I can accept. I think talking personally the frustration is that had he been a bumbling fool all along you could accept it, but his stewardship of the club right up to 2006/7 was brilliant. To go from this to making some of the obvious gibbering decisions makes you scratch your head and wonder if it really is the same bloke.

I think the root of it is the appointment of Robson. McCabe was seduced by the glamour of Captain Marvel and threw money at an obvious incompetent. Essentially, the club has been playing catch up from the financial consequences of that error ever since*

* A close second to that decision was the whole Ched farrago. Further proof that whatever talents self made millionaires have, having a finger on the pulse of the contemporary social and political zeitgeist is not one of them.

 

[Balham]

That would be his further investment that I referred to look before you leap

You can't separate the two, in the same way that you can't separate the £1 consideration which bought McCabe the hotel from the £20m debt which came with it.

 

[Bladesway]

I think the root of it is the appointment of Robson. McCabe was seduced by the glamour of Captain Marvel and threw money at an obvious incompetent. Essentially, the club has been playing catch up from the financial consequences of that error ever since*

* A close second to that decision was the whole Ched farrago. Further proof that whatever talents self made millionaires have, having a finger on the pulse of the contemporary social and political zeitgeist is not one of them.

I'd put his sacking of Blackwell (and not doing it sooner) as second, his sacking of Wilson third and Ched probably fourth. You could argue giving Warnock a season in the Premiership was a mistake but I can only really give that one with hindsight which is easy to do.

 

[Darren]

I'd put his sacking of Blackwell (and not doing it sooner) as second, his sacking of Wilson third and Ched probably fourth. You could argue giving Warnock a season in the Premiership was a mistake but I can only really give that one with hindsight which is easy to do.

Agreed Wilson was another daft decision. What was the point of sacking an experienced manager 5 games before the end of the season when we still had a chance of automatic and were more or less gauranated the play offs ad replacing him with a totally inexperienced manager. Any idiot would have waited the outcome of the season and sacked him if we failed to go up.

Bizzarely, that decision was probably done as a short term "appease the fans" gesture after the Crawley loss. Ditto Blackwell after the QPR loss.

 

[Bladepicker]

I think the root of it is the appointment of Robson. McCabe was seduced by the glamour of Captain Marvel and threw money at an obvious incompetent. Essentially, the club has been playing catch up from the financial consequences of that error ever since*

* A close second to that decision was the whole Ched farrago. Further proof that whatever talents self made millionaires have, having a finger on the pulse of the contemporary social and political zeitgeist is not one of them.

I think everyone agrees that Robson was his worst mistake and it spiralled out of control from there really. Out of interest do you Darren (or anyone) remember the other mangers that were in the running after we sacked Warnock? Who was in the betting and who were our alternatives? Genuinely interested on who we potentially missed out on

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Of course not. One can (and should) criticise McCabe for the mistakes he has made, What does my head in is that certain people can't seem to get their head round the concept of honest mistakes and to have to believe that McCabe has some sort of evil plan to destroy SUFC and/or piss off their fans.

Without Mr McCabe we would have been heading for the abyss and he has personally written off over £35m to assist SUFC. He has not only kept his own business and the blades afloat since the financial crash of 2007, but as developed the ground ,academy, training facilities and invested in playing staff.

The stakes are always high when balancing the books in all things football , especially when advice and due diligence are provided by others. When it comes to fans having a go or continually wanting to see the back of Mr McCabe , all I can say ,is be careful what you wish for.

Mr McCabe has made mistakes , which he fully realises and takes on board with lessons learnt. He is not getting any younger and him and his family could certainly do without the hassle . Moving forward he has put in the sound foundations for the club, whoever finishes up at the helm.

Again the board will be judged , on be all ,and end all , with what happens in the JTW. That's football.

UTB

 

[Bladepicker]

So being less shit than some is your criteria for what good looks like?

In modern football, unless you have a sugar daddy prepared to invest millions from a bottomless pit, I am not sure what good looks like if it isn't Kevin McCabe and his intentions (even if his decision making has been shocking).

Yes he has got things wrong and deserves lots of criticism for them, but essentially he always has the clubs interests at heart and continues to do so. Personally I would rather him than someone like Mandaric who will sell to any tom dick or thai Harry like he did with Portsmouth.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I think everyone agrees that Robson was his worst mistake and it spiralled out of control from there really. Out of interest do you Darren (or anyone) remember the other mangers that were in the running after we sacked Warnock? Who was in the betting and who were our alternatives? Genuinely interested on who we potentially missed out on

No one else was in the running, Turry offered job over dinner in Vegas, the rest is history that 99% of Blades fans could have predicted with their eyes shut by the one who had to ratify it fell in the 1%.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I think everyone agrees that Robson was his worst mistake and it spiralled out of control from there really. Out of interest do you Darren (or anyone) remember the other mangers that were in the running after we sacked Warnock? Who was in the betting and who were our alternatives? Genuinely interested on who we potentially missed out on

That's an interesting question. So I used this site's search facility and found this:-

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/win-stats-date-of-last-game.6774/#post-74419

The names being mentioned were Newell, Davies, Simpson, Coleman, Reid, Souness, Dalglish and Burley.
I seem to remember being firmly in the "Try for Dalglish first, you never know" camp...

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

That's an interesting question. So I used this site's search facility and found this:-

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/win-stats-date-of-last-game.6774/#post-74419

The names being mentioned were Newell, Davies, Simpson, Coleman, Reid, Souness, Dalglish and Burley.
I seem to remember being firmly in the "Try for Dalglish first, you never know" camp...

Where would we be with one of those mangers . In deeper financial and league trouble , if you ask me. Makes you think how fortunate to have Mr Clough , at this moment in time.

UTB

 

[Bladepicker]

That's an interesting question. So I used this site's search facility and found this:-

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/win-stats-date-of-last-game.6774/#post-74419

The names being mentioned were Newell, Davies, Simpson, Coleman, Reid, Souness, Dalglish and Burley.
I seem to remember being firmly in the "Try for Dalglish first, you never know" camp...

Thanks for that, interesting. Seems with some names we had a lucky escape with Robson :-D

Though I now remember really wanting Burley. He would have been the one.

 

[Woodwardfan]

That's an interesting question. So I used this site's search facility and found this:-

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/win-stats-date-of-last-game.6774/#post-74419

The names being mentioned were Newell, Davies, Simpson, Coleman, Reid, Souness, Dalglish and Burley.
I seem to remember being firmly in the "Try for Dalglish first, you never know" camp...

At that point in time we were cash rich and had a half decent squad but no more than that; Jags had contracted his route away from us unfortunately.

Our wage bill that season under Robson and Blackwell was £23.5million and they mucked it up. Beattie alone was on £40k p.w (£2m a year) Our wage bill under Weir was heading towards £3m and below. Under the prince our wage bill is probably over £4.5m maybe.

How times have changed. That's the extent of the job at hand that Clough has to build it all up again bit by bit, but the investment from the prince is the key as we go along.

 

[Woodwardfan]

So good to see balanced comments on this thread from fans who have all shared the disappointments over the years but can recognise that a Blade has tried his best and put his money on the line to give it a go. Not quite "Je suis Kevin" but sympathetic nevertheless.

 

[Pinchy]

As I understand it, HRH and Jim believe (rightly or wrongly) that a well-managed club that survives for more than a season or two in the PL can be run at a profit.

Certainly there seems no limit to the amount of cash that is thrown at PL clubs. Of course that is only one side of the balance sheet...

Anyway, let's get there,eh!

 

[judge]

I think everyone agrees that Robson was his worst mistake and it spiralled out of control from there really. Out of interest do you Darren (or anyone) remember the other mangers that were in the running after we sacked Warnock? Who was in the betting and who were our alternatives? Genuinely interested on who we potentially missed out on

we had a shortlist of one ,was some great managers available at the time

 

[Bladesway]

In modern football, unless you have a sugar daddy prepared to invest millions from a bottomless pit, I am not sure what good looks like if it isn't Kevin McCabe and his intentions (even if his decision making has been shocking).

Yes he has got things wrong and deserves lots of criticism for them, but essentially he always has the clubs interests at heart and continues to do so. Personally I would rather him than someone like Mandaric who will sell to any tom dick or thai Harry like he did with Portsmouth.

The phrase the road to hell is paved with good intentions springs to mind. I don't care if we are run by IS so long as the club is successful. As for being run by Mandy wouldn't you rather be in the championship than league one?