ISLE OF THANET GAZETTE - letter about Mr Piper

[JeremyJacobs]

For MFC exiles, here's my letter (in part) which appeared in the Gazette today.

 

Dear Sirs,

 

I'm shocked and appalled by the comments made by Margate FC director, Mr Keith Piper in last Friday's Gazette.

As a shareholder in the Club, I received the notice of an EGM, which calls for the adoption of two new directors, and is scheduled for April 28th. The Notice was signed by Mr Piper with "By Order of the Board" printed underneath. How can this be true when Mr Piper himself admitted that a split exists in the Board? At the very least this is misleading and could be in contravention of the Companies Act.

 

Mr Piper also claimed that he was advised by Langley & Partners of London N2, the clubs former Administrators, that the club should not trade as Margate FC but as the Hartsdown Development Company when it was forced into administration. This is completely untrue. Anybody in business will know that the granting of a CVA ensures a company or firm can and should continue to trade under its existing name. Langley

[Guernsey Tom]

All sounds very serious stuff JJ I just hope that common sence can prevail because there has been so much damage caused to this club in the last few years its quite amazing that we are still in existence. Got to say that it all seems very worrying.

[JeremyJacobs]

I'm afraid common sense isn't very common!

[michael]

JJ-as Mr Piper is only one of 5 board members-it seems a bit of a quantum leap to imply that the items you highlight are his sole responsibility ?

 

Do you know for certian that the GG lotery was closed for 'no good reason'. What is a good reason ?Maybe it was losijng money-that seems a good reason to me.

 

I do not know enough to take a view on what side of the board is correct-'i still believe everyone will kiss and make up' but your letter laying the demise of the club at the door of KP seems rather unwarranted to me.

[Number6]

I know next to nothing about Gary Lever but what we all know of Keith Piper is cause for some concern.

You really have to wonder how much longer the club can continue if he is not forced to step down as quickly as possible.

It looks as though he just used Malcolm for his own ends.

Malcolm and indeed all the fans deserve better than this.

[margateshot]

The GG lottery folded because there were not enough members due to the popularity of the national lottery. CK was fired by the entire board not KP. Not entirely his fault about falling attendances this season. Whatever you say about him the he was not entirely responsible for all of the above.

[michael]

I still think everyone is getting a bit carried away here.

 

Boardrooms are often divided-thats why you have a Board.

They don't have to agree on everything every time.

 

Accepting this is a big issue-it can still be resolved for all parties i am sure.

 

Lets not forget there are other MFC issues to deal with-and just 10 days ago,whilst this was going on,the Board still managed to find unaminity and not renew Trotts contact-accepting that was not exactly a difficult unaminous decision for them to make.

[michael]

I have no idea as to whether the critcism of KP is justified or not ?

 

I do wonder whether those expressing condemnation would be quite so vehement if MFC had reached the play-offs this season or last.

 

Although they appointed him -Trott- (with most supporters encouragement-and imo-asked him to go one month too late )his failures can hardly be laid at the feet of KP.

[JeremyJacobs]

michaelmichael - so your siding with Mr Piper now are you?

[JeremyJacobs]

"The GG lottery folded because there were not enough members due to the popularity of the national lottery".

 

With the right drive a Margate Lottery of some description could have continued.

[MargateFan]

Do you know what? I do not know which faction I find more distasteful.

 

We have a board of directors shafting each other because they all want to be the big banana and will willingly fry anyone who gets in their way.

Plus we have the stirrers to whom this unelegant show of boyish petulance is bread and butter to their own self-agrandissment.

 

Where does that leave the football club and the fans? Truly shafted. And I think we love the club most and deserve the hassle least.

 

I wish everyone would grow up and try to focus on what is really important to the majority of us to whom boardroom squabbles are an irrelevance. Someone should bang their heads together or sent them to bed without any pudding.

 

Our football club is going to the dogs, ably aided by both of the types listed above, and there is not a blind thing we can do about it. Jeez, am I p$ssed off.

[TonyM]

WELL PUT JUNE,I just wish that the NUMNUTS who run this so called club of ours give a little thought about us,thats all?

[Number6]

Originally Posted By: margateshot

The GG lottery folded because there were not enough members due to the popularity of the national lottery. CK was fired by the entire board not KP. Not entirely his fault about falling attendances this season. Whatever you say about him the he was not entirely responsible for all of the above.

I think it is other things that are of most concern about Keith Piper.
Being personally bankrupt, making the Football club bankrupt. The relegations and the groundshares.

[Number6]

Originally Posted By: MargateFan

I wish everyone would grow up and try to focus on what is really important to the majority of us to whom boardroom squabbles are an irrelevance. Someone should bang their heads together or sent them to bed without any pudding.

Our football club is going to the dogs, ably aided by both of the types listed above, and there is not a blind thing we can do about it. Jeez, am I p$ssed off.

Boardroom squabbles an irrelevance? I think that this one may become very relevant to anybody who lives in the town or cares about our football club.
The club has stagnated along with most of the town and there are reasons for that. And there are people who have made decisions that should be held accountable for those decisions.

[Margate Don]

I always thought Parmenter was to blame - how little I knew!

[michael]

JJ-i am not siding with anyone;although i do not agree with most of the content in your letter-i thought you were capable of better and more constructive arguement than that.

 

Does it matter if i was though?

 

As i have hardly any knowledge of the facts,i would not endeavour to make a judgement

 

As i am not a shareholder-i have absolutely no influence anyway,and as i posted previously, i think the whole issue has got exaggerated;and fully expect puffs of white smoke to be emanating from the boardroom about 9pm next tuesday evening as everybody kisses and makes up.

 

Chairmanship has a responsibility-and in this instance MR has to provide good chairmanship to keep the Board together- and find a resolution suitable to all parties-not allow directors go rattling off stories to the papers.

 

One minute we've got Trott pathetically trying to use the media to promote himself ,a week later we have directors and supporters doing the same nonsense.

 

Too many small fish watching to much television i reckon.

 

Whats next-lets call Max Clifford in

 

 

[JeremyJacobs]

What's there to be be constructive about? I don't think you fully appreciate what's happening.

 

Messrs Rowlett, Bown and Painter, from what I can gather may throw the towel in. Do you honestly think TDC want to deal with Piper?

 

Wake up, smell the coffee

[Boney Crisp]

Do we honestly want a group of directors who are trying to push eachother out of the club. When i read the 2 articles last night i was peed off and embarrased, anyone would think we have bunch of children on the board.

 

I can understand both arguments, but something has to be sorted out. I am now split on the decision of whether or not i want piper to go, because the way Rowlett, Painter and Bown are acting about it is pathetic, but what Piper and Page are trying to do is also pathetic.

 

 

 

MESSAGE TO BOARDROOM:

 

Sort yourselves out you are embarrasing yourselves, supporters and the club

[JeremyJacobs]

" I am now split on the decision of whether or not i want piper to go"

 

At least everybody is now talking about it.

 

I can't wait for the meeting on Monday.

[Cookie]

Yes JJ. Fair do's. At least having it out in the open beforehand might help matters a bit. We shall see!