Dick Knight knows NOTHING...

[Easy 10]

and which bit do actually disagree with ??

Uhhh...pretty much every bit where you say the directors are spending beyond our means, implying that the club could go tits up imminently.

If thats not in fact what you are saying, then what exactly is your f***ing POINT ?

 

[BigGully]

Uhhh...pretty much every bit where you say the directors are spending beyond our means, implying that the club could go tits up imminently.

If thats not in fact what you are saying, then what exactly is your f***ing POINT ?

I am guessing you think we generate the funds to run a stand alone club as it is now .......... hmmmmm dont think so.

The directors are not spending beyond the clubs means, its their own wealth that they are spending, probably primarily part of Tony Blooms fortune to keep the club from going the same way as all the others.

The club is running at a £2,000,000 loss, that itself might give it away that yes, the club is spending beyond their means.

But thankfully there are people close to the club bankrolling it.

I am pleased of course and long may it continue, but although I am not expecting it, yes, if these individuals did walk away the club could not stand alone and might go tits up.

That is my F***ing point !

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

The term solvent was to highlite that there has not been any profits in recent history, it was never to say that the club was in some way acting illegally.

So you actually don't know what the word 'solvent' means in a business context - glad that's all cleared up then.
Just hope your clients/customers are aware of this - no smoke without fire and all that!

 

[Easy 10]

And in the immortal words of Liam Brady, BigGully, if my granny had bollocks, she'd be my grandad.

The directors have seen it through this far, we're on the home straight. Why would they suddenly, without warning, walk away now ?? Why start spouting all this shite about "oh well we could just as easily be another Luton if our directors wern't financing things for us" and "hey we can't really afford ANY of this stuff except that the board are paying for it thank f***"

JESUS ! Can't you just APPRECIATE how the board are running this club within their own budget and keeping it afloat pending this stadium and give some credit where its due ? Or would you rather it did all go tits up in the next six months so you can nod sagely,draw on your pipe and say "mmmm...see. I told you so...."

:

 

[Lord Bracknell]

if these individuals did walk away the club could not stand alone and might go tits up.

That is my F***ing point !

The Bloom family have been involved with the club for the best part of forty years.

I reckon they might not be thinking about walking away just now.

 

[Easy 10]

The club is running at a £2,000,000 loss, that itself might give it away that yes, the club is spending beyond their means.

But thankfully there are people close to the club bankrolling it.

Err. Which would suggest that in fact, the club is NOT spending beyond its means BECAUSE people are bankrolling it. They may not be getting a profit on their return, but the costs ARE BEING COVERED.

Unlike Luton / Bornmuff / Rotherham, who you seem to be trying to lump us in with.

 

[BigGully]

The Bloom family have been involved with the club for the best part of forty years.

I reckon they might not be thinking about walking away just now.

I agree that the Bloom family are engrained within the club and are not likely to walk away, but some on here seem to think that we are so frigging superior than some of the other Clubs that have hit trouble and that we have shown great financial constraint, we havent, thankfully.

I do NOT think we are at risk, to be honest I dont really know, however without the backing of these men we would either be a totally uncompetitive club or vulnerable to go the way of the pear.

 

[Yorkie]

to be honest I dont really know,

At last.

 

[Icy Gull]

So we're agreed that DK has done nothing clever financially as he has taken us to the edge of bankruptcy whilst conning or relying on rich fans to pay the bills to stop us going over the edge

Yeah right

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

without the backing of these men we would either be a totally uncompetitive club or vulnerable to go the way of the pear.

And DK would have taken the club in a different direction.

Your implication is that if we didn't have the backing and (relatively small) financial support of the Directors, DK would have gone ahead and bought players and splashed out cash on potacabins and coach travel (!!!) anyway. Isn't it clear from the prudence that the man has shown over the last few years that if the circumstances had been different, he would have behaved differently.

Your making a bit of a non-point which is what has irked some people I guess.

 

[Row Z Creased Shirt]

The point is Big Gully unlike the other crisis clubs mentioned we actually pay our bills to the taxman, wages, st johns ambulance etc. Obviously we do not generate all the revenue required to pay these from gate reciepts etc which is why the members of board dip into their own pockets to finance us.

The other thing that separates from other crisis clubs is that our board members are long standing fans and have been so for a long time. The recent transfer outgoings have more than been recouped from the sales that we have made, so I would say we have been prudent. It's patently obvious from our transfer dealings over that the past few years that we have not been splashing the cash gambling on players who may or may not get us success. Most of our spare cash has gone into financing the falmer application, which makes our our on the pitch success in the last decade even more remarkable.

Whilst technically you are correct in saying that if the people financing the club pull the plug and want all their money back tomorrow we would be in a sticky spot, it is not a likely scenario. The board members work out what they can afford/want to spend and work out the budgets accordingly.

It's obvious from your postings that you are not anti the board, just sceptical, but I feel your worries about our financial position are unfounded. In effect the major creditors of the Albion are the board themselves and not outside agencies. It's when the taxman etc come knocking on the door that you should be worried, as long as we pay our way we'll be fine.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Dont agree. the 'wont be held to ransome' is an emotive term that nearly always rallies support.

But its a little selective when at the same time he gets held to ransome by Murrays previous club and agent as he parts with £300,000 of Tony Blooms money.

He was getting held to 'ransom' by Savage for maybe an extra £200 per week or by Hammond by a £1000 per week. DK wouldnt budge on that financial committment, but was happy to be held to 'ransome' by Murray and his advisers for £300,000 transfer fee and sizeable weekly wage per week.

So take your pick which one held DK to ransome and which one was part of his 'strict policy' or 'not so strict policy' !!!

My understanding is that money for Murray was earmarked for bringing someone in rather keeping certain players at the club.

As for Hammond et al, you have a cost model and you stick to it, which is what they have done. What more can you ask of a chairman in the present situation.

It would seem that majority of us on here seem to grasp that, you don't.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

I agree that the Bloom family are engrained within the club and are not likely to walk away, but some on here seem to think that we are so frigging superior than some of the other Clubs that have hit trouble and that we have shown great financial constraint, we havent, thankfully.

I do NOT think we are at risk, to be honest I dont really know, however without the backing of these men we would either be a totally uncompetitive club or vulnerable to go the way of the pear.

Talk about blindingly obvious.

I would hazard a guess that some 80 odd of the 92 league clubs fall into this catorgory. If Orange left Palace tomorrow they'd be screwed as it is unlikley that anyone taking over could afford the wage structure as he personally bank roles the club. The same could also be said of middlesboro, Chelsea, Fulham etc. The difference between these clubs and the Albion is that we have a number of investors rather than just one. Vast majority of clubs run at a loss and are kept going by a wealthy benefactor.

The point of the Albion is that in the great scheme of things our backers aren't super wealthy and so they have to be prudent with the money that they have which is what they are. Money will always be tight, and to a certain extent the club is run on a shoe string ... something we will have to live with.

 

[portlock seagull]

The thought that the Albion could have ended up in the (again) same mire as other clubs over ever-so average players such as O'Callaghan, Hammond and Savage is frankly laughable for anyone who lived and fought during the mid-nineties 'war' to save our club. Those who accused Knight and co of penny-pinching and mis-management of players a few months ago really ought to be taken outside and given a wake-up slap with a large wet salmon.

 

[Man of Harveys]

So, to summarise: if the people at the club WITH the money went away and took their money with them, we'd actually have less money? Who'da thunk it?

 

[The Large One]

So, to summarise: if the people at the club WITH the money went away and took their money with them, we'd actually have less money? Who'da thunk it?

Or, as Derek Chapman once told me: "I could ask for my money back, but one, the club hasn't got it, and two I'd be the most unpopular man in Brighton for making the Albion go bust..."

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Or, as Derek Chapman once told me: "I could ask for my money back, but one, the club hasn't got it, and two I'd be the most unpopular man in Brighton for making the Albion go bust..."

... although he'd probably be welcomed on to his local parish council as a hero.

 

[Scoffers]

One thing that would be interesting to know is just how much are our benefactors bank-rolling the club (We know that we are running at a loss, we've been doing that for donkey's years) but one would assume that at some point, the Bloom's and Co of this world will have reached a limit as to how much cash they can lose on us, and new money will need to be found. I don't have any idea how long it would take for that to happen, but we can be sure the all the while they can afford it, they will continue to bankroll us, and we're very lucky to have them on board.

But if QPR can get backed by a Steel Billionaire, anything is possible for us, post Falmer!

 

[BigGully]

The thought that the Albion could have ended up in the (again) same mire as other clubs over ever-so average players such as O'Callaghan, Hammond and Savage is frankly laughable for anyone who lived and fought during the mid-nineties 'war' to save our club. Those who accused Knight and co of penny-pinching and mis-management of players a few months ago really ought to be taken outside and given a wake-up slap with a large wet salmon.

But thats just it, the O'Callaghan, Hammond and Savage player negotiations were never goin to be a catalyst for the club to go in the mire.

Its a Red Herring, because that money and more was spent anyway, and we are NOT in the mire.

The accusation of 'penny pinching' is being used in this threads context as some kind of badge of honour.

But DK generally doesnt seem to me to be a 'penny pincher' quite generous actually.

He spends quite freely, especially when you look around and see the adversity recent history has thrown us.

Ok it might be mainly other peoples money, but to congratulate DK on his penny pinching, I think is way off the mark.

Congratulate him stewardship, lambast him on his interference in some playing issues and thank god for Tony Bloom and friends.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

I've said it before - its easy to take for granted the fact this club hasn't wound up in administration, and considering the UNIQUE problems its had to cope with, I think its a bloody miracle. DK and the board deserve ENORMOUS credit for keeping the club above water over the last ten years. No other club in the League has had to play its home games 50-odd miles away for two years, then pay millions to have an athletics track developed into a "football ground", then fund an eight year battle to get permission granted for a stadium. In the great scheme of things, any misguided criticism of the board for not securing the signings of the likes of Savage, Hammond and O'Callaghan during this time can be taken with the contempt it deserves.

We're not out of the woods yet, but this board has done an outstanding job getting us this far, and I have every faith in them to deliver the goods now. They've not let us down yet.

Easy speaks the truth

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