'Albion reject Archer £60,000'

[sams dad]

I will hate Archer to my dying day for what he did to our club.
Well done to DK and the Board for refusing to have anything to do with that f*****g b*****d

 

[Wardy]

I just been telling a friend of mine about this and he said we should forgive and forget. So I ask him this.....

If his wife sold his house from under him and run off leaving him homeless, and he was then given a bill for maintance etc, whould he then a few years later when he was starting to get back on his feet, all be it a bit shaky still take anything from her to help?

No of course he wouldn't, he would tell her to feck off.

 

[Thimble Keegan]

I think the Albion commercial dept should actively court the attention of Wickes nearest competitor (whoever they may be) and offer them the chance of a combative advertising opportunity (i.e. ad board, corporate tix). The offer should be pitched as the chance to sponsor the only league club not to have Wickes advertising (and of course extol the reasons why far and wide to anyone else who will listen).

This is a top idea and an opportunity the club should exploit.

Albion & England forever.

Thimble Keegan
Shrewsbury BHA

 

[balloonboy]

Here's my letter to Mawhinney:

Dear Sir,

I am writing to register my profound disquiet at the decision of the Football League to enter into a substantial sponsorship deal with Focus Wickes Limited. Although I do not have the details of the arrangement to hand, I have no doubt that the deal is one which will have been negotiated over several months. During this time I am sure that your advisors will have spent some time researching the background of your new sponsorship partner. It is inconceivable (to me) that this research would not have alighted upon the following basic facts:

1. Focus was established in 1987 by Bill Archer
2. Bill Archer is the Chairman and Chief Executive of Focus Wickes limited, and a substantial shareholder of the company
3. In 1993 Bill Archer acquired a 56.25% stake in Brighton & Hove Albion FC (for £56.25)
4. At the same time as this acquisition, an attempt was made to change the club’s articles of association, to permit the shareholders to financially gain from the sale of the club’s ground
5. In 1995 the club’s ground, the Goldstone, was sold to property developers. No alternative site was sought, and the club became homeless.

In essence, Brighton & Hove Albion still has no permanent home, and you will no doubt be familiar with the new owners’ protracted battle to secure a permanent home at Falmer, on the outskirts of Brighton.

In 1997 a book was published (Build a Bonfire) which told the story of the club’s struggle to rid itself of the ownership of Bill Archer. The forward to that book was written by Paul Hayward, chief sports writer on the Daily Telegraph (you probably know Paul). It would be appropriate, I think, to quote a few extracts from Paul’s forward:

“…the club was now controlled by Archer, David Bellotti, and Greg Stanley, who had loaned the club £800,000 at no doubt good rates of interest, but left the running of the club to Archer, his partner in the DIY chain, Focus. What followed was the most acrimonious, life-threatening, turbulent and distressing chapter in the history of English football."

“…for the supporters, it seemed they were stuck in Groundhog Day, repeating the same demonic cycle of uncertainty and disappointment, with Archer and Bellotti turning the wheel”

“the resistance struggle reached a glorious climax on 8 February [1996] with the Fans United day in Brighton and Hove. Supporters from across Britain, Europe and even beyond converged on the Goldstone wearing their teams’ shirts to express their own disgust at the way the club was being run”.

The Football League has, it seems, decided to ignore these issues. On the face of it, the league is quite content to enter a sponsorship deal with the man responsible for the “most acrimonious, life-threatening, turbulent and distressing chapter in the history of English football”. It is apparently also quite happy to ignore the solidarity of thousands of football fans – not just at Fans United, but ever since then.

If, after reading this letter, you still have no doubts about the wisdom of your proposed sponsorship deal, can I ask you to read a copy of “Build a Bonfire” (by Stephen North). Alternatively, if you cannot get hold a copy (I will gladly lend you mine!), could I urge you to have a chat with David Davies, the Executive Director of the Football Association. Mr Davies was closely involved in the protracted mediation which resulted in Bill Archer leaving B&HA – he will no doubt tell you all you need to know about Mr Archer.

Finally, Mr Mawhinney, can I urge you to restore my faith in the administration of our wonderful national game, and prove that ethics and morals DO still count for something in football – and it’s not just about money.

 

[Lush]

I think the Albion commercial dept should actively court the attention of Wickes nearest competitor (whoever they may be) and offer them the chance of a combative advertising opportunity (i.e. ad board, corporate tix). The offer should be pitched as the chance to sponsor the only league club not to have Wickes advertising (and of course extol the reasons why far and wide to anyone else who will listen).

Excellent idea.

If someone hasn't asked Insider about this, I will.

 

[T.J.]

Good decision by Dick Knight and the board.

 

[South Stand Zealot]

Balloon Boy - Brilliant letter.

You must let us all see the reply - if you get one !

 

[perth seagull]

I noticed that the news article about Albion turning down 60k has now been removed from the official site. What's going on?

 

[balloonboy]

Balloon Boy - Brilliant letter.

You must let us all see the reply - if you get one !

Will do - but I'm not holding my breath!

 

[Titanic]

I noticed that the news article about Albion turning down 60k has now been removed from the official site. What's going on?

It made it on to Meridian news last night, with quotes from DK - basically they read out the press release.

It does seem odd that it's gone from the official site ??

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

There's a picture of Dick Knight and the quote 'It wasnt a difficult decision' on the inside back page of the Daily Mirror today.

 

[Marc]

Dunno whether this has been mentioned but is anyone (are we gonna campaign) goona get in touch with the FA or FL and explain the reasons why we turned it down and why every other club should turn it down whilst pointing ut the facts about Archer(scum)?

I think this would be worth doing as the FA seem to have new directives on Chairmen these days yet they let this tosser give cash out willy nilly ater the shite he put us through.

 

[On the Left Wing]

Dunno whether this has been mentioned but is anyone (are we gonna campaign) goona get in touch with the FA or FL and explain the reasons why we turned it down and why every other club should turn it down whilst pointing ut the facts about Archer(scum)?

I think this would be worth doing as the FA seem to have new directives on Chairmen these days yet they let this tosser give cash out willy nilly ater the shite he put us through.

I have spoken to mates at Watford and Sunderland who both reckon their clubs should ban Wickes/Focus advertising ...

 

[Marc]

I have spoken to mates at Watford and Sunderland who both reckon their clubs should ban Wickes/Focus advertising ...

Good thinking, we should also target clubs, get address of Chairman/board members or whatever and write to them urging them NOT to take this money or have their advertising...this {I}NEEDS[/I] as people ned to be told what the scum Archer did to the state of Football in this area.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I noticed that the news article about Albion turning down 60k has now been removed from the official site. What's going on?

I heard from someone I know with connections at the club that the Football League weren't very happy that the story had been put on the website.

The website is, of course, run by in partnership with FL Interactive Ltd.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I heard that Albion Rob from NSC is responsible for getting the story in the papers.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I wonder if this will be discussed at the meeting of Football League Club Chairmen that is taking place in Oxford today.

 

[The History Man]

I have just been speaking to Dick Knight and Martin Perry on the Wickes matter, expressing my support for their action in turning down the money from the Football League. I am certain that the vast majority of Albion fans would agree with their action.

However, they have asked me to appeal to supporters NOT to write to the Football League, Sir Brian Mawhinney or any other chairmen of Championship clubs. It really would be most unhelpful to the Albion.

The deal was negotiated by the recently-appointed marketing manager of the Football League Championship who, presumably, was not aware of the connection between Wickes, Bill Archer and the Albion seven to nine years ago. He certainly is now!

This is the first of a series of deals that the Football League hopes to pull off which will benefit all clubs. The Albion have rejected their share of it and we know that this has gone right back to Archer as MD of Focus Wickes.

But trying to scupper the deal in some way makes the Albion appear subversive and undermines our influence in the wider picture. The Football League have already granted us favours, eg our non-compliant seating arrangements at Withdean (where we do not have the required number of covered seats), and Dick and Martin do not want our relationship with the League, with Mawhinney (the chairman) and with the marketing man to be adversely affected - which a campaign outside of what the club has done
already would do.

They fully understand Albion fans' reactions but feel that the snub to Archer by our club is enough. We know that the injustice of what happened over the sale of the Goldstone was a national disgrace for the game, but let's just keep this particular Wickes issue local, otherwise we risk damaging the reputation of the Albion and its future prospects.

Dick and Martin are on their way to a meeting and are extremely busy at present, but the club hopes to put out a statement to this effect later today.

So please, refrain from sending these letters and emails as it may do more harm than good in this case.

Tim Carder
Chairman
BHA Supporters' Club

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

I heard from someone I know with connections at the club that the Football League weren't very happy that the story had been put on the website.

The website is, of course, run by in partnership with FL Interactive Ltd.

 

[Marc]

fair enough...not happy with that but if its what Dick & Martin want then so be it. Campaign over before its begun!