All these comments about Knight, Perry and contributions to the club seem to boil down to a simple question: Do you trust Knight, Perry and the Board to have the best interests of the club at heart and to manage the money they get from us in the best way? Assuming they have the funds available, a decision to donate money appears to be based on the answer.
The people in the 'No' camp obviously dont think that they do - and would like them to be completely open about everything that goes on behind the scenes. Most are so certain that something is badly wrong that they won't accept any explanation unless it matches their beliefs. What's more they refuse to contribute because they feel cheated or played for fools by DK & MP. This attitude is quite common when confronted by beggars on the street - how do you know that this person is really destitute and won't go straight back to the pub having collected lots of money from you and other suckers?
Those in the 'Yes' camp either believe they do, or are prepared to allow the benefit of the doubt. The issue is more one of 'how can I help, in whatever small way, to repay the enjoyment and pride that I take from supporting this team?' They look back at the last 7 or 8 years and remember where we were then, and where we could have been. They have strong suspicions (maybe they know) that the club is in deep trouble and can't survive in limbo for too long. They doubt if any reasonable investor will get involved all the time that a decision on the stadium is in the balance. They fear for the survival of this great club, but they fear as much for their peace of mind if they just stand by and watch it sink - knowing that they could have done something more.
I do trust DK and MP to both keep us afloat and bring us Falmer. I also trust MM to keep us in this division. Does that make me just another sucker? Perhaps, but I can't and won't stand idly by and watch all the work of the last 7 years go down the plughole. In answering this call for help I know that my contribution alone won't be anywhere near enough to make up the losses - but I know that I won't be alone. At the end of this I'll have done something to help secure the future of the club I love and that my kids (and, hopefully, theirs) will get a great deal of pleasure out of supporting long into the future. I honestly believe that Dick Knight, Martin Perry and the entire Board share this vision - that's why I'm delighted to be able to help them achieve it.
The people in the 'No' camp obviously dont think that they do - and would like them to be completely open about everything that goes on behind the scenes. Most are so certain that something is badly wrong that they won't accept any explanation unless it matches their beliefs. What's more they refuse to contribute because they feel cheated or played for fools by DK & MP. This attitude is quite common when confronted by beggars on the street - how do you know that this person is really destitute and won't go straight back to the pub having collected lots of money from you and other suckers?
Those in the 'Yes' camp either believe they do, or are prepared to allow the benefit of the doubt. The issue is more one of 'how can I help, in whatever small way, to repay the enjoyment and pride that I take from supporting this team?' They look back at the last 7 or 8 years and remember where we were then, and where we could have been. They have strong suspicions (maybe they know) that the club is in deep trouble and can't survive in limbo for too long. They doubt if any reasonable investor will get involved all the time that a decision on the stadium is in the balance. They fear for the survival of this great club, but they fear as much for their peace of mind if they just stand by and watch it sink - knowing that they could have done something more.
I do trust DK and MP to both keep us afloat and bring us Falmer. I also trust MM to keep us in this division. Does that make me just another sucker? Perhaps, but I can't and won't stand idly by and watch all the work of the last 7 years go down the plughole. In answering this call for help I know that my contribution alone won't be anywhere near enough to make up the losses - but I know that I won't be alone. At the end of this I'll have done something to help secure the future of the club I love and that my kids (and, hopefully, theirs) will get a great deal of pleasure out of supporting long into the future. I honestly believe that Dick Knight, Martin Perry and the entire Board share this vision - that's why I'm delighted to be able to help them achieve it.