Clarification from Paul Barber on Dick Knight Selling his shares

[Hamilton]

That is never going to happen is it.

Exactly, and why DK is probably trying to make a point.

When the club was saved this should have been carved into the articles somehow. It couldn't have been because we wouldn't have got the investment. I believe TB would be happy to do this - be great if he stepped forward and said to DK, yep ok you're right. Let's be the model club.

 

[Giraffe]

And the question you didn't ask but should have...

Does the club support the idea of fans owning some shares so that no one individual owns the club?

Until a club does well in the premiership under this plan, I can't see any club chosing this as a path.

We wouldn't have a stadium right now if the club was owned by thousands of penniless fans.

 

[Springal]

Exactly, and why DK is probably trying to make a point.

When the club was saved this should have been carved into the articles somehow. It couldn't have been because we wouldn't have got the investment. I believe TB would be happy to do this - be great if he stepped forward and said to DK, yep ok you're right. Let's be the model club.

At the end of the day though, its cold hard cash isn't it. TB wants some protection on his investment, rather than sinking £150m or whatever it is now of his children's inheritance into something, he may not have control over.

Maybe Dick should have left us at Withdean, if ensuring no single person had a majority share of the club

 

[Westdene Seagull]

And the question you didn't ask but should have...

Does the club support the idea of fans owning some shares so that no one individual owns the club?

It would kinda shot down Giraffes campaign against DK if PB had answered yes though !

 

[Giraffe]

It would kinda shot down Giraffes campaign against DK if PB had answered yes though !

That is very harsh, I have no campaign against Dick Knight. He saved our club and for that he should be given all the credit in the world.

I just don't think everyone should swoon over the fact he is selling his shares in the club (all 1.54% of them) at the same time he is selling a book. If he had every intention of doing this wondrous act, why have the form in a a book he is selling for £12.99 or whatever it is.

 

[Creaky]

And the question you didn't ask but should have...

Does the club support the idea of fans owning some shares so that no one individual owns the club?

Precisely - and if they don't support the idea of fans owning shares in their club then WHY NOT?

Perhaps that is the qestion that should be put to PB

 

[Triggaaar]

Oh dear Dick.

Exactly.

 

[Giraffe]

Precisely - and if they don't support the idea of fans owning shares in their club then WHY NOT?

Perhaps that is the qestion that shold be put to PB

I suspect his reply would be, all current shareholders are fans of the club.

Someone posted earlier that we are not owned by various tyrants, we are owned by a loyal fan of the club, a man whose uncle has been a shareholder for a long time, and whose grandfather was a chairman and owner. That is a proper fan, not a tyrant.

Fans already own the club.

 

[Springal]

Precisely - and if they don't support the idea of fans owning shares in their club then WHY NOT?

Perhaps that is the qestion that should be put to PB

Perhaps it should be put to Dick Knight, as to why it never happened during his reign ?

 

[gripper stebson]

That is very harsh, I have no campaign against Dick Knight. He saved our club and for that he should be given all the credit in the world.

I just don't think everyone should swoon over the fact he is selling his shares in the club (all 1.54% of them) at the same time he is selling a book. If he had every intention of doing this wondrous act, why have the form in a a book he is selling for £12.99 or whatever it is.

Well exactly. If it had been done on a first come first served basis then OK - but the 'you can only apply if you buy the book' part looks very iffy.

 

[Creaky]

I suspect his reply would be, all current shareholders are fans of the club.

Someone posted earlier that we are not owned by various tyrants, we are owned by a loyal fan of the club, a man whose uncle has been a shareholder for a long time, and whose grandfather was a chairman and owner. That is a proper fan, not a tyrant.

Fans already own the club.

Not a valid argument - akin to all dogs have legs, cats have legs - all cats are dogs.

Maybe TB and the other shareholders do support the idea of fans having shares in the club they support - I guess we'll find out soon.

I hope they do and will be very disappointed if they block the sale by DK of his shares - they are his to do with whatever he likes in the same way that TB's are his to do with as he likes.

 

[GreersElbow]

Does this mean Dick's bar will be renamed? I'm not against him having his name there, but rather Knight's bar. This sounds like he's trying to have a dig at the management in the club, but not seeing how effective this is. £12.99 for the book then the potential chance of 'buying shares' off him, that's a marketing ploy which he'd know all about..

 

[jonny.rainbow]

I suspect his reply would be, all current shareholders are fans of the club.

Someone posted earlier that we are not owned by various tyrants, we are owned by a loyal fan of the club, a man whose uncle has been a shareholder for a long time, and whose grandfather was a chairman and owner. That is a proper fan, not a tyrant.

Fans already own the club.

Is that the Uncle who was on the board when we were sold down the river by Archer, Bellotti and Stanley?

 

[Triggaaar]

Another bloke saves our football club

For which he is highly regarded.

and then completely relinquishes his shares, first to get the stadium built and then to help the fans have a voice. He goes down in your estimations.

Firstly, he's not relinquishing them - the club would buy the shares, so he knows we can't buy them - secondly, if he sells them for £1 each, then that's a fair price, not really under-selling them.

Just seems like a really weird bit of posturing and PR, and I don't approve. Still love him for his part in saving our club.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

I hope they do and will be very disappointed if they block the sale by DK of his shares - they are his to do with whatever he likes in the same way that TB's are his to do with as he likes.

Yes, they are his - but to not communicate with the club is pretty poor, especially as 28 days notice needs to be given - as well as first option to other shareholders.

 

[timbha]

Is that the Uncle who was on the board when we were sold down the river by Archer, Bellotti and Stanley?

yes, the one who thought it better to stay and see what was going on from the inside rather that cut and run and have no say.

Look it's obvious what DK is doing. He's a marketeer who would give away his granny if it sold an extra book. All he's doing is saying: 1) I tried to ensure the average fan could have shares and the club refused, or 2) it was my idea and the club took it up.

Fans are different than owners. What next? a fan must be in the team!!

Seems like DK has become very bitter and won't let go. All it will do is attract adverse news coverage and split the fans of the club he (says he) loves.

Can't see the club being very impressed by the Argus. Freedom of speech ok, but the Argus needs the Albion more than the Albion needs the Argus.

 

[ewe2]

I feel a little sorry for Dick ,as he just could not fund our dream of Falmer,he had to share the moment.We the fans , got the stadium. For Dick i am sure he is disappointed at not completing such a difficult task,now if that manifests into a more negative emotion,then IMO he can only damage his own gilt edged legacy.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

yes, the one who thought it better to stay and see what was going on from the inside rather that cut and run and have no say.

I don't remember many, if any, statements from Ray Bloom condemning Archer and co ?

That said, TB shouldn't be held accountable for Ray Blooms actions, or lack of.

 

[gripper stebson]

A conspiracy theory.

Dick knows that he will not be able to sell his shares to fans but says it anyway = day of book launch gets 100 times the publicity it would have without this offer.

Withdraws offer later in the week and blames the club.

Job done.

(by the way I love Dick!)

 

[timbha]

I don't remember many, if any, statements from Ray Bloom condemning Archer and co ?

QUOTE]

I didn't say there were any such statements.

I think you'll find that RB (and his family) don't operate like that, hence the slience over Poyet, etc but work away in the background to get things resolved = archer out, funding for new stadium, no compensation for Poyet.