From PLYMOUTH MB
ShaunySandello
Location: Plymouth
Thoroughly interesting chat, so thanks to those responsible for setting it up.
Interesting points:
1. Since Wednesday another 2 potential backers have come to the table.
2. One to buy home park but long-term lease to Argyle. Not favoured option of Ridsdale (or the Football League) but may be necessary if only concrete solution offered to current board.
3. His 'hope' is that we 'could' have new owners within the next six weeks.
4. Confirmation that "some" of next seasons ST sales have been borrowed against. He said this is common practice amongst football clubs, but not 2 years in advance as in Argyle case. Money was borrowed against these sales approx 12 months ago.
5. He has suggested to the board that "in his opinion" wholesale regime change is necessary.
6. None of the potential backers involve ex directors.
7. Finally, someone who was also there can correct me if I heard wrong, but one of the potential backers may wish for Argyle to go into administration before investing so that the debt is cleared. Ridsdale, effectively operating as an administrator at present isn't too keen for this too happen, but in worst case scenario may be the only option.
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ShaunySandello
Joined: 27 Oct 2003
Posts: 3813
Location: Plymouth
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:59 pm Post subject:
PL2 3DQ wrote:
Did anyone ask Ridsdale which consortium or group of investors he's involved in or leading?
I believe it's the US based ones. Those were the original ones he was associated with, and they are still interested.
However, my gut feeling is that he will be involved in some capacity with whoever potentially takes over as he stated some of the investors are not currently associated with football investment and will be looking to bring in people with some football acumen. The latter is purely my opinion however.
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Argyle Nutter
Joined: 16 Jan 2006
Posts: 307
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:09 pm Post subject:
fieldmouse wrote:
Argyle Nutter - the wage bill should be very much lower next season as Argyle will almost certainly be in Div 2
Dont shoot the messenger,
I can only quote what is said. Ridders not looking at administration as this would certainly lead to relegation and although debt free would make us a less viable proposition to potential investors.
He said better to be in current league with a manageable debt & everyone is trying to achieve this.
Did say that administration would be a last resort & least favoured option but we would still need investors in place ready to take over the club 1st or we would fold.
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Ar9yle till I die
watch out! Watch out!
There's an Argyle Nutter about
& its looking to embarrass
a Director or Six
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Balham_Green
Joined: 06 Sep 2006
Posts: 355
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:18 pm Post subject:
The Doctor wrote:
Hang on a minute:
1) £5m running costs for the next, say, 5 months (to make the maths easy) is £1m a month or £250k per week. How does that work?
2) 75% reduction in wage bill - that implies it's 4 times too big at the moment. I'm sure it's too big, but 4 times too big?
I heard somewhere Oldham's wage bill was 25% of Argyle's. May or not be true but those figures above seem plausible. Lets face it we'll be playing with loanees, kids and free transfers next season.
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Frank_Butcher
Joined: 09 Oct 2003
Posts: 1697
Location: Saltash (or Feltham)
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:32 pm Post subject:
Balham_Green wrote:
The Doctor wrote:
Hang on a minute:
1) £5m running costs for the next, say, 5 months (to make the maths easy) is £1m a month or £250k per week. How does that work?
2) 75% reduction in wage bill - that implies it's 4 times too big at the moment. I'm sure it's too big, but 4 times too big?
I heard somewhere Oldham's wage bill was 25% of Argyle's. May or not be true but those figures above seem plausible. Lets face it we'll be playing with loanees, kids and free transfers next season.
And why not ? I look forward to it. Currently we have half a Championship team who ain't delivering.
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ShaunySandello
Joined: 27 Oct 2003
Posts: 3813
Location: Plymouth
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:39 pm Post subject:
Also to add there are currently 4 mortgages on Home Park, which is ridiculous.
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hamzie
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 226
Location: Plymstock
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:43 pm Post subject:
I am not being an old Jonah, but, would any prospective investors want to invest in a League 2 club?
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ShaunySandello
Joined: 27 Oct 2003
Posts: 3813
Location: Plymouth
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:45 pm Post subject:
hamzie wrote:
I am not being an old Jonah, but, would any prospective investors want to invest in a League 2 club?
Don't forget our catchment area and 'imminent' development....
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tonycholwell
Joined: 09 Jun 2006
Posts: 5135
Location: Somerset
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:57 pm Post subject:
PL2 3DQ wrote:
Did anyone ask Ridsdale which consortium or group of investors he's involved in or leading?
I asked that Ian, he said he would have no long term involvement with Argyle, whilst also saying no past directors were in any of the consortia as far as he knew.
I think the figure of £5 million is perhaps not quite what he said Stew said he had a £1 in his pocket, how many more would be needed to buy the club? Sttew suggested 6 million and PR said close but not quite that many.
No figure was given what we needed to survive this season. I asked that considering we had a tax bill due 22nd Feb how long have we got to get a sale? He thought the tax would involve another winding up order if it came to it, that wasnt a problem. The problem was trading solvently and that was judged daily. On thtat basis and his hope to secure a new owner he thought we had 6 weeks otherwise liquidation was the alternative.
If I missed anything out, please ask.
Asked what was in it for him as he wasnt being paid, he said he had good friends amongstt the "Plymouth" based Directors and he felt the chance to save another club (as he put it) would do his personal stock wonders.
he said he was amazed that on Wednesday we had 3 biudders and by Friday we had 5, thought this was a strong point.
He said ALL directors were to blame as all had made mistakes, although stressing nothing bad was intended. He felt it was counter productive to be aggressive in demostrations and it keep it lawful.
Mark Clemmitt and film crew were there at the start but left halfway through. PR didnt seem to make any discernable change of stance when the cameras had departed.
Good turn out from those attending and good to put a few faces to names, although good to the ever dependables also, particularly Trev 501 who took photos for GoS. PR was amenable to photos and reports as long as they were responsible, so hope this is acceptable.
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monkeywrench
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 1318
Location: Cornwall
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:07 pm Post subject:
Many thanks to those who went and reported back.
Cheers MW
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djg145
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 3722
Location: Paignton
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:26 pm Post subject:
hamzie wrote:
I am not being an old Jonah, but, would any prospective investors want to invest in a League 2 club?
There must be 24 teams in League 2 - are you saying no one is investing in them?? How do they survive, then??
Anyway there ARE 4 teams worse then Argyle in League 1
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February 12th - hopefully Argyle will still be here, if you can be at Home Park - be there - Argyle NEED you!!
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plymade
Joined: 04 Jul 2008
Posts: 275
Location: newton abbot
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:15 pm Post subject:
Have heard that a London based business man is being courted by Ridsdale at the mo. Someone who has been trying to buy a football club for sometime but has not found a viable one yet! He was in Plymouth yesterday!
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IJN
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Posts: 4186
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:18 pm Post subject:
I was less impressed than I wanted to be today.
I left half way through, same old same old. The way he tried to tell us that we shouldn't protest was the final straw.
God, I'm turning into penzancepirate.
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WANTED, for crimes against PAFC..
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Ottawa Green
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
Posts: 10515
Location: Ottawa, Canada