Prince, thank you

[Andy67]

Some of you lot sound like remainiacs praising something that we thankfully got rid of some time ago. I always said I wouldn’t be happy until he cleared off and he’s cleared off. If these lot prove to deal with our club in the same way then I’ll bang on about these lot too.

 

[Andy67]

It is all you want to remember him for. That was due to cash flow!

Conveniently forget the fact that he personally supported our purchase of players to get us promoted and gambled his personal monies to keep hold of Berge and Ndiaye which enabled our latest promotion which possibly saved us from Administration.

But we all believe what we want to believe, I personally think it was worth taking the two point hit

Exit stage audience clapping, no encore please.

 

[Stretch]

I try to have a balanced view on the Prince.

When he came in we were in the doldrums in terms of our league position, but not the total carcrash overall that some might think they recall. Financially we were just about ticking over, the academy was doing well enough and we were still a more than attractive prospect to any half decent EFL manager.

But he did undoubtedly have a positive impact early doors, when he diluted McCabe's sell first and ask questions later policy. That in itself was a welcome step forward and although it took a while, with a few mis-steps along the way, he can legitimately claim his share of Clough's cup runs, the unmatched euphoria of the 2 promotions in Wilder era 1, and despite seemingly not making Hecky's job particularly easy, a 2nd promotion back to the PL.

However he also has to co- own the 2 relegations, one very embarrassing, the other utterly traumatising and to make it worse one that was absolutely set up in the preceding summer, with the horrible conclusion to the Ndiaye saga.

I think he cared, but probably also thought he would make a lot of money from us and couldn't quite appreciate why it became a struggle. As it turned out he saw that the realities of running a top end Championship/low end PL team are not easy unless you are either incredibly smart, or are able to access 10's of millions of pounds easily and regularly. He seemed to fall somewhere in between, for a while anyway.

Ultimately, we win together, we lose together and everything in between, right? And in the end it may have worked out alright for all concerned. I think that in the future and over time, the club historians will look at his tenure as the owner quite favourably.

 

[GymClassHero]

If we miss out on promotion by 2 points I don't really think it fair to lay the blame solely with the Prince. Yeah it's a fact that he missed a payment and as a direct result we have had 2 points deducted, but this hasn't happened due to self gain i.e. the Prince benefitting financially and there was no sinister motive behind the whole thing. He simply couldn't make the payment.

Had he made the payment, how do we know players won't miss out and get paid late? Allegedly it was owed to Liverpool and I'm confident they aren't going to suffer over what's probably chump change to them.

If anyone is to blame, I'd argue it's McCabe! His snakey maneuver to try and shift the Prince succeeded in backing him into a corner where he was forced to either walk away with fuck all after all he'd invested, or play the hand he did. He never wanted to own the club and that's probably because he knew he didn't have enough ready cash to do so... Evident once this 2 points deduction scenario manifested

 

[stringjunior]

I don't see many people blaming Bettis for his part in the non-payment of bills I've no idea if he was responsible or not but as CEO he must have been at least complicit.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I don't see many people blaming Bettis for his part in the non-payment of bills I've no idea if he was responsible or not but as CEO he must have been at least complicit.

He wasn’t to blame (if blame is the right word for a consciously taken strategic business decision). He couldn’t spend what wasn’t made available to him.

 

[Andy67]

It continues to amaze me that people believe that these sales might actually have happened. Think what you like of the Prince as a Club Owner, but all evidence suggests he has a shit hot legal team ( if you don't believe me, ask McCabe), and it's highly improbable that alarm bells weren't ringing for them from the outset in both cases (even our own "internet sleuths" were onto both, early doors...). The fact that they let due process appear to stop both deals doesn't mean that they weren't fully aware of the ultimate outcome from the outset. Let the authorities take any heat, and rumour has it that they also scooped a few bob on the way...

Do you really imagine that the Prince would be fully relaxed about the sale of an asset the size of our club without doing his homework, and would instead rely on the EFL to protect his personal fortune? Cloud cuckoo land.

Putting aside all the things that might or might not have happened, the facts of the matter are that the Prince actually decided finally to sell the club to somebody else - a group who from early indications appear better equipped to fund our ambitions than he ever was. He deserves credit for that.

He does have a shit hot legal team so everything that could be said won’t be said so the arguments, debates and disagreements are pointless. Myself and others could make comments on many events but I’m not stupid enough to do it. So again nowt happening here apart from Prince -2 the rest is forgotten

 

[Sean Thornton]

He does have a shit hot legal team so everything that could be said won’t be said so the arguments, debates and disagreements are pointless. Myself and others could make comments on many events but I’m not stupid enough to do it. So again nowt happening here apart from Prince -2 the rest is forgotten

The only remotely intriguing thing about your obsession is where your information comes from, seeing as you were never a club employee. Not that all the info you have commented on previously was accurate, suggesting it’s second or third hand gossip or comes from someone bitter who was actually fired. I doubt the shit hot legal team would be called into action because of a few currently unsubstantiated (and undetailed) rumours but l suppose it’s a necessary stance to take if you need to keep your self proclaimed ITKness in the public eye, without actually saying anything new or relevant.

 

[Andy67]

-2 forgotten

 

[Sean Thornton]

-2 forgotten

Hardly. Still a current issue for many. If only someone had the cojones to inform rather than gossip.

 

[Andy67]

Hardly. Still a current issue for many. If only someone had the cojones to inform rather than gossip.

If buying people through gagging clauses were illegal then you probably would’ve been informed along with everyone else. You need to understand that cajones don’t come in to it. I know information and some on here have been told but I can’t be arsed telling you. You are still banging on about the past look forward to what appears to a more promising future.

 

[Nick Jansky]

If buying people through gagging clauses were illegal then you probably would’ve been informed along with everyone else. You need to understand that cajones don’t come in to it. I know information and some on here have been told but I can’t be arsed telling you. You are still banging on about the past look forward to what appears to a more promising future.

I have no idea what it is you claim to know and I’m not interested. What I do know is that a few people on this forum have genuine knowledge of club matters from the most impeccable sources, and not one of them even hints at what they know on a public forum.

 

[Sean Thornton]

If buying people through gagging clauses were illegal then you probably would’ve been informed along with everyone else. You need to understand that cajones don’t come in to it. I know information and some on here have been told but I can’t be arsed telling you. You are still banging on about the past look forward to what appears to a more promising future.

Banging on about the past? Err, isn’t that exactly what you’ve done here?

Now you’ve thrown gagging orders into the mix but you’d tell me info if you could be arsed. How does that work? Be a bit less excitable and less prone to exaggeration when replying and you may look less like an embittered troll.

It’s highly unlikely that his legal team would chase up internet gossips when a simple cease and desist letter would frighten most to death. If they believe it’s worth it. I doubt it’s a secret to them who feeds you all this.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I have no idea what it is you claim to know and I’m not interested. What I do know is that a few people on this forum have genuine knowledge of club matters from the most impeccable sources, and not one of them even hints at what they know on a public forum.

On more than one occasion he’s suggested l work for the club in some capacity but can’t expand on that for some reason despite his apparent knowledge of, well, everything.

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Some of you lot sound like remainiacs praising something that we thankfully got rid of some time ago. I always said I wouldn’t be happy until he cleared off and he’s cleared off. If these lot prove to deal with our club in the same way then I’ll bang on about these lot too.

Not sure your analogy re ‘Brexit’ is especially insightful, or indeed informed.
Getting “rid” of PA has ultimately proved beneficial, whereas……….. ?!?!?

 

[Andy67]

If you check my posts you would notice I am not still banging on about it since he left. Like I said it’s the past and all I care for is what comes next and that is why -2 still means something until this season is done. I don’t wish to reveal my sources to you because they mean more to me than you lot. Firstly you disbelieve anything I say and secondly you believe anything negative said about the former owner was bound to be lies. The last owner fucked me off and anyone with any sense would have been fucked off too by how the club was being run but we’ve gone through these arguments before and differ on our views. I know I don’t need to debate him anymore because he’s gone. His legacy is -2 which the man who he sacked and gagged and brought back when the owner had already fucked the season reminds us of every interview. If only he had the cojones.

 

[Sean Thornton]

If you check my posts you would notice I am not still banging on about it since he left. Like I said it’s the past and all I care for is what comes next and that is why -2 still means something until this season is done. I don’t wish to reveal my sources to you because they mean more to me than you lot. Firstly you disbelieve anything I say and secondly you believe anything negative said about the former owner was bound to be lies. The last owner fucked me off and anyone with any sense would have been fucked off too by how the club was being run but we’ve gone through these arguments before and differ on our views. I know I don’t need to debate him anymore because he’s gone. His legacy is -2 which the man who he sacked and gagged and brought back when the owner had already fucked the season reminds us of every interview. If only he had the cojones.

Well that’s the gagging order explained Nothing new at all. But of course employment settlements for senior employees often include an NDA.

All that is the past. The past you aren’t banging on about.

 

[Andy67]

Let’s both agree that we end 2 points above 3rd place and as I said the rest will be history

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Yeah cheers for putting us in a position to sell Bogle to Leeds. Nice one. Thanks for that points deduction. Really sensible club ownership that

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Yeah cheers for putting us in a position to sell Bogle to Leeds. Nice one. Thanks for that points deduction. Really sensible club ownership that

Aye
Because there was, and is, universal condemnation of ‘losing’ Bogle for more than we paid , approaching the last year of a contract that he declined to renew

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Aye
Because there was, and is, universal condemnation of ‘losing’ Bogle for more than we paid , approaching the last year of a contract that he declined to renew

So we sold him to a side likely to be at the top of the league we want to be at the top of...

Still at least he's showing how to run a club over in Belgium...oh hang on they are dead last and essentially down

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

So we sold him to a side likely to be at the top of the league we want to be at the top of...

Still at least he's showing how to run a club over in Belgium...oh hang on they are dead last and essentially down

Aye
Perhaps Beerschot’s demise was a consequence of refusing to sell players who flattered to deceive & in the last year of their contract (to a ‘rival’) for a good price and then ended losing em for nowt a season later with no funds to replace / enhance the squad ?

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Aye
Perhaps Beerschot’s demise was a consequence of refusing to sell players who flattered to deceive & in the last year of their contract (to a ‘rival’) for a good price and then ended losing em for nowt a season later with no funds to replace / enhance the squad ?

I think it's more down to having a owner without the funds required to invest...

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

I think it's more down to having a owner without the funds required to invest...

Absolutely.
So,
In essence,
What I said.

 

[Balham]

I'm not entirely sure what the problem is? It was abundantly clear from his last two-and-a-half years in charge that Prince Abdullah was either unable or unwilling to fund the club. As a result of that the management team - from first team to CEO - had to negotiate a horrendous situation, essentially deciding which suppliers to not pay and who to favour in order to ensure that the vast majority of our footballing obligations were met. Obviously, the sheer size of the Brewster instalments meant that we had to prioritise other payments and that is why we ended up defaulting and with a subsequent points deduction.

We got through last year cash neutral. That is not conducive to being a successful promoted team with any chance of staying up but then as Burnley showed, you can spend a net £120m and still be shit. At least our transfer dealings last season haven't had an impact on this season.

The other positive is that, even if it was forced by the legal situation, the Club owns its real estate. You only have to look 3 miles up the A61 to see the danger a club faces when its ground is owned by a separate entity.

The final thing to note is that PA is now history. He spoke about being a Blade for life but I can't imagine we'll mean that much to him any more. I don't know what the future under COH holds but I am looking forward to it more than I was under PA.

 

[GymClassHero]

So we sold him to a side likely to be at the top of the league we want to be at the top of...

Still at least he's showing how to run a club over in Belgium...oh hang on they are dead last and essentially down

So when all is said and done, if we missed out on promotion by 3 points rather than 2, meaning the -2 wouldn't have made a difference, selling Bogle will be the reason we missed out on promotion?

He wanted to leave, the only suitable offer came from Leeds, and we sold for a profit on what we paid. Don't see the problem myself? Moving him on contributed funds to the huge rebuild over the Summer.

With regards to the owner not having the finances required to run the club, he acknowledged this and subsequently sold the club. What more can you ask? It's not his fault that McCabe tried to pull a fast one and take back full ownership, essentially leaving the Prince millions (however much it was he invested) out of pocket. He got forced into a position where his only two options were to sit back and allow this to happen, as I said losing everything he'd invested, or do what he did and take full ownership. Doing so meant he had to fork out tens of millions, which is IMO the reason he was unable to afford to run the club anymore.

He never had the intention of owning the club, probably because he's not stupid and knows he couldn't afford to run a club of our size... Hence he bought in as a partner/investor.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

. You need to understand that cajones don’t come in to it.

Many a true word spoken in jest. ‘Cajones’ is Spanish for ‘boxes’ or ‘crates’

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

Many a true word spoken in jest. ‘Cajones’ is Spanish for ‘boxes’ or ‘crates’

That's very true, but it's also a frequently used Spanish slang term for testicles.
I mention this only to defend the reputation of Andy 65 (-2).
Nobody on here should ever accuse him of not talking bollocks.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

That's very true, but it's also a frequently used Spanish slang term for testicles.
I mention this only to defend the reputation of Andy 65 (-2).
Nobody on here should ever accuse him of not talking bollocks.

The word you are thinking of is ‘cojones’. Be careful what you say if you go to Spain Perhaps I have missed a double irony

 

[Blade58]

I’d like to thank PA for finally selling the club to who hopefully will steward the club to new heights

It’s too early to say whether the above will eventually come to fruition, but early signs are encouraging and the names being linked to the consortium are at least a far cry from Dozy and Mauriss.

I’m even more encouraged by the linked yet unnamed guys that may well be involved. Successful business men and entrepreneurs that carry some clout financially.

The consortium raised the £105m to purchase the club, sanctioned a decent Jan window and it looks encouraging regarding tenders to construct the buildings at the proposed Dore training facility.

It’s a good start from these guys, but we all know one swallow doesn’t make a summer.