Clarification from Paul Barber on Dick Knight Selling his shares

[Miami Seagull]

IMHO...I think DK is scoring a bit of an own goal on a couple of fronts. Firstly, the shares..I like the idea but he should have gone about it the right way and discussed it with the existing shareholders. If they refused to let it happen, it would have reflected very badly on them. Now I think they have some defence for not letting it happen. Secondly the bitterness over not overseeing the whole building project. Unfortunately (and as I predicted beforehand to much condemnation on here) Dick did not deliver the stadium. He delivered permission or the stadium. Therefore at the point where Tony stepped in with the finances, he was perfectly entitled to take over the reins of the club.

I do hope the club take the moral high ground and allow the shares offer to happen (I think uptake will be small) and also make some sort of positive statement about everything Dick has done and that he will always be welcome at the club. It really wouldn't hurt.

I also don't like what DK said about the Poyet situation. Although I feel that the club could have said more to us than they did during the summer, once Poyet stopped carrying out the normal managerial functions (ie retained list), the club had no choice.

Having said all that, I do think that we need to continue to closely monitor how the club is being run - our history determines that almost more than any other club.

 

[attila]

Just as a matter of interest, how many of the people who are slagging off Dick Knight now actually got off their arses themselves and got stuck in when the club needed them most? And please don't say 'that's not relevant' - it is! One of the (many) disadvantages of an anonymous message board is that there are all kinds of people with all kinds of strange agendas who like the idea of being anonymous....
I find it difficult to believe that anyone who was seriously involved during all the years of campaigning would come out with some of the comments about him I've seen on here. And I'm glad that I'm on tour and not able to read this thing for hours at the moment 'cos I'm already taking blood pressure tablets

 

[Beach Hut]

Just as a matter of interest, how many of the people who are slagging off Dick Knight now actually got off their arses themselves and got stuck in when the club needed them most? And please don't say 'that's not relevant' - it is! One of the (many) disadvantages of an anonymous message board is that there are all kinds of people with all kinds of strange agendas who like the idea of being anonymous....

There is zero relevance to it as most did and for the love of the club, nothing more nothing less

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

There is zero relevance to it as most did and for the love of the club, nothing more nothing less

I disagree. It is very relevant. Actions speak louder than words.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

There is zero relevance to it as most did and for the love of the club, nothing more nothing less

This.

 

[Beach Hut]

I disagree. It is very relevant. Actions speak louder than words.

Well I must be an action then or is this all now a debate about who did what for the club ?

 

[Tooting Gull]

Just as a matter of interest, how many of the people who are slagging off Dick Knight now actually got off their arses themselves and got stuck in when the club needed them most? And please don't say 'that's not relevant' - it is!

It isn't in the least bit relevant to what he has chosen to do here and now, and how he has chosen to do it. It isn't the fans who have made this an issue, he's written/published/publicised the book!

I suspect that in the eyes of most ordinary Albion fans who admired DK but were not in any 'inner circle' he has let himself down a bit with some of these comments and a cheap PR stunt. That is my view, others will disagree.

The Brutus jibe at Perry is just pathetic and very ill-judged, that man did more than anyone to get the planning permission through.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

It isn't in the least bit relevant to what he has chosen to do here and now, and how he has chosen to do it. It isn't the fans who have made this an issue, he's written/published/publicised the book!

I suspect that in the eyes of most ordinary Albion fans who admired DK but were not in any 'inner circle' he has let himself down a bit with some of these comments and a cheap PR stunt. That is my view, others will disagree.

The Brutus jibe at Perry is just pathetic and very ill-judged, that man did more than anyone to get the planning permission through.

Bingo

 

[symyjym]

There is zero relevance to it as most did and for the love of the club, nothing more nothing less

Rubbish without DK as a platform there wouldn't have been a coherent voice or direction. He proactively led by example and did a fantastic job.

 

[Creaky]

IMHO...I think DK is scoring a bit of an own goal on a couple of fronts. Firstly, the shares..I like the idea but he should have gone about it the right way and discussed it with the existing shareholders. If they refused to let it happen, it would have reflected very badly on them. Now I think they have some defence for not letting it happen. Secondly the bitterness over not overseeing the whole building project. Unfortunately (and as I predicted beforehand to much condemnation on here) Dick did not deliver the stadium. He delivered permission or the stadium. Therefore at the point where Tony stepped in with the finances, he was perfectly entitled to take over the reins of the club.

I do hope the club take the moral high ground and allow the shares offer to happen (I think uptake will be small) and also make some sort of positive statement about everything Dick has done and that he will always be welcome at the club. It really wouldn't hurt.

I also don't like what DK said about the Poyet situation. Although I feel that the club could have said more to us than they did during the summer, once Poyet stopped carrying out the normal managerial functions (ie retained list), the club had no choice.

Having said all that, I do think that we need to continue to closely monitor how the club is being run - our history determines that almost more than any other club.

I'm not totally convinced by that argument as the stadium was financed, built and owned by a different company to BHAFC Ltd.

So why couldn't DK have remained chairman of the football club seeing as the club doesn't own the stadium?

If Brighton Council had financed the build of the stadium, as other councils have for other clubs, would you say they had every right to appoint the chairman of the football club?

 

[AZ Gull]

Just as a matter of interest, how many of the people who are slagging off Dick Knight now actually got off their arses themselves and got stuck in when the club needed them most? And please don't say 'that's not relevant' - it is! One of the (many) disadvantages of an anonymous message board is that there are all kinds of people with all kinds of strange agendas who like the idea of being anonymous....

Why must everything be so black and white? Dick Knight's role in wresting control of the Albion from Archer, the battle to get the club back playing in Brighton, the success on the field (despite the horrendous limitations imposed by the "stadium"), and the relentless campaign to find a suitable site and then get planning permission for a permanent new home, mean that the man is, and always will be, a true legend in the history of the club.

However, that doesn't mean that the way he has gone about publicising his book (and offering his shares for sale) is above comment or criticism. And anyone offering criticism isn't necessarily attempting to denigrate DK's achievements over 12 very difficult years at the helm.

 

[British Bulldog]

Dick always was an egomaniac, one of the more unpleasant people connected with the club I've met over the years. We can now add bitter to that. He achieved great things for us, there's no denying that, which makes it more the pity that he's chosen to throw the muck now. But alas, those blinded by their cozy relationship to the 'great man' during the Withdean Years will always deny his faults and try and have him as some kind of Saint.

Never met him myself but it's true he does seem to be getting a lot of support from the fans who got close to him, Fair play to them but it is time to move on just as the club has done. The club DK run went the same time as The Withdean did but the club we've got now needs TB in charge.

 

[Stat Brother]

Just as a matter of interest, how many of the people who are slagging off Dick Knight now actually got off their arses themselves and got stuck in when the club needed them most? And please don't say 'that's not relevant' - it is! One of the (many) disadvantages of an anonymous message board is that there are all kinds of people with all kinds of strange agendas who like the idea of being anonymous....
I find it difficult to believe that anyone who was seriously involved during all the years of campaigning would come out with some of the comments about him I've seen on here. And I'm glad that I'm on tour and not able to read this thing for hours at the moment 'cos I'm already taking blood pressure tablets

Being a club legend doesn't automatically give DK (or anybody else) a free pass on all other actions.

I have issues with this share scheme/stunt and the publicity that has surrounded it.

Does that cloud everything DK has done?
Of course it doesn't.

 

[British Bulldog]

Just as a matter of interest, how many of the people who are slagging off Dick Knight now actually got off their arses themselves and got stuck in when the club needed them most? And please don't say 'that's not relevant' - it is! One of the (many) disadvantages of an anonymous message board is that there are all kinds of people with all kinds of strange agendas who like the idea of being anonymous....
I find it difficult to believe that anyone who was seriously involved during all the years of campaigning would come out with some of the comments about him I've seen on here. And I'm glad that I'm on tour and not able to read this thing for hours at the moment 'cos I'm already taking blood pressure tablets

Loads of us supported the club when they needed us but it doesn't mean everybody has to agree with everything DK is doing now, Everybody is entitled to their opinion and just because some of yours were heard more a few years ago it doesn't make them more valid now

 

[attila]

I am out of the loop at the moment. I'm in Germany and haven't read the book. All I'm saying is that there are some pretty nasty comments about DK on here, and I'm surprised at them. I'm not actually taking sides either. Given the state of modern football TB's role was, is and will be utterly vital. The new adminstration are as keen to listen and act on initiatives and ideas as the old one was from my experience - the problems raised by many fans are to do with the way the game is going as a whole, not the way the Albion is being run. I think that within the constraints of that the current board are doing all they can do listen to us. It's up to each individual fan who feels uneasy with the way the game is going to decide whether their love for the Albion is greater than their dislike of the way the game is going. I have made that choice: I'm Brighton till I die. I think DK is doing his best, for good reasons, to try and ensure that we continue to have a say (we still do, absolutely) and TB and Paul Barber are doing their best to take the club forward within the constraints of the modern game while listening to and taking account of the views of us supporters. Now soundcheck, beer, gig

 

[Hungry Joe]

Just as a matter of interest, how many of the people who are slagging off Dick Knight now actually got off their arses themselves and got stuck in when the club needed them most? And please don't say 'that's not relevant' - it is! One of the (many) disadvantages of an anonymous message board is that there are all kinds of people with all kinds of strange agendas who like the idea of being anonymous....
I find it difficult to believe that anyone who was seriously involved during all the years of campaigning would come out with some of the comments about him I've seen on here. And I'm glad that I'm on tour and not able to read this thing for hours at the moment 'cos I'm already taking blood pressure tablets

Come on now John, you know many of us got stuck in. Amongst other support and campaigning I gave £250 when I could ill afford to. I speak as I find, and on the two occasions I met Dick in person at games (ie; not in his spare time) and tried to engage him in conversation he looked at me like I was something he'd stepped in and didn't give me the time of day. That will always colour my opinion of him as a man, as it would you I'm sure. The comments I've read from his book so far have done nothing to change that opinion and endear him to me.

 

[Mancgull]

IMHO...I think DK is scoring a bit of an own goal on a couple of fronts. Firstly, the shares..I like the idea but he should have gone about it the right way and discussed it with the existing shareholders. If they refused to let it happen, it would have reflected very badly on them. Now I think they have some defence for not letting it happen. Secondly the bitterness over not overseeing the whole building project. Unfortunately (and as I predicted beforehand to much condemnation on here) Dick did not deliver the stadium. He delivered permission or the stadium. Therefore at the point where Tony stepped in with the finances, he was perfectly entitled to take over the reins of the club.

I do hope the club take the moral high ground and allow the shares offer to happen (I think uptake will be small) and also make some sort of positive statement about everything Dick has done and that he will always be welcome at the club. It really wouldn't hurt.

I also don't like what DK said about the Poyet situation. Although I feel that the club could have said more to us than they did during the summer, once Poyet stopped carrying out the normal managerial functions (ie retained list), the club had no choice.

Having said all that, I do think that we need to continue to closely monitor how the club is being run - our history determines that almost more than any other club.

This pretty much encapsulates all that I think about the matter. Best the club takes the moral high ground, moves on and lets any petty niggles fade away.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

I'm not totally convinced by that argument as the stadium was financed, built and owned by a different company to BHAFC Ltd.

So why couldn't DK have remained chairman of the football club seeing as the club doesn't own the stadium?

If Brighton Council had financed the build of the stadium, as other councils have for other clubs, would you say they had every right to appoint the chairman of the football club?

I think that TB had every right to want to be Chairman, he had been bailing out DK for years. A man who has put +£100 Million of his own money into building the stadium who has been largely involved with running the club for a long time, when It would not have been built without - that is a fact, as the financial crisis meant the banks were never going to lend us the necessary money. At the time of a new era for the club it was the right movement for him to come out of the shadows as it were.

 

[symyjym]

It's only a book, and if you are interested in business it is very interesting.

There wouldn't be any point in writing an autobiography if you avoided your point of view. Maybe Perry deserved to be referred to as Brutus

If you are writing a book like this you are only going to write it once, so I don't see the benefit of glossing anything over.

 

[London Irish]

I agree with everything you say. However I am very much a left-wing sort, so that bit confuses me.

I'm even more confused because Steve Earle the musician is a very much a left-wing sort, so why name yourself after him if such politics gets up your nose so much