Hertford Town reject mega bid

[Rhodes]

Oh I don't know cliff. We've entertained a few shady characters over the years

Jonno - Seriously though Roger wouldn't give someone called Kem Kemal the time of day would he, he can see people like that coming from a mile away

[Winslow Boy]

 

Jonno - Seriously though Roger wouldn't give someone called Kem Kemal the time of day would he, he can see people like that coming from a mile away

Hmmmm twice now a comment like this 'someone called Kem Kenal' 'people like that' very very suspect.

[Rhodes]

Winslow Boy - Well would you buy a used car off him, that's my point

[Karen Browne]

Winslow Boy - Well would you buy a used car off him, that's my point

 

So can you back up this bold statement that a) Kem kamal is a used car salesman and WB is in need of new motor transport Mr Rhodes or once again is it just idle speculation on your part

[Rhodes]

Karen - I didn't say that Kem Kamal was a used car salesman but if he was would you buy one from him

[Karen Browne]

Winslow Boy - Well would you buy a used car off him, that's my point

 

Well you certainly implied it

[RendonBodgers]

Sounds to me many people are pretty scared of change ... Clearly the guys a businessman that wants to earn money. At no point has he said he wants control of the club , but what he wants is to develop along side and around the club/ground to generate more money with bar, astro, offices obv for hes firm. And all he asked for was money to be paid back if they were voted out? Surely if HTFC bods had took talks further and got legal documents scripted up from both parties they could have worked something out to re-develop this once great club rather than being left behind and happy with 25 fans behind the goal sluring into there tins and the leaky changing rooms.

 

The same has recently happened up Sun Postal turning down a bid rather than taking things serious and talking further with the main man of this consortium. purely because the Sun Postal commitee of dinosaurs and people there are happy filling their own pockets rather than developing a club.

[Savagebee]

Yes some change is good but the Hertford Town committee care about the club and most of them im sure have been at the club a long time and must know whats best for Hertford Town FC.

 

Time will tell!

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

Sounds to me many people are pretty scared of change ... Clearly the guys a businessman that wants to earn money. At no point has he said he wants control of the club , but what he wants is to develop along side and around the club/ground to generate more money with bar, astro, offices obv for hes firm. And all he asked for was money to be paid back if they were voted out? Surely if HTFC bods had took talks further and got legal documents scripted up from both parties they could have worked something out to re-develop this once great club rather than being left behind and happy with 25 fans behind the goal sluring into there tins and the leaky changing rooms.

 

The same has recently happened up Sun Postal turning down a bid rather than taking things serious and talking further with the main man of this consortium. purely because the Sun Postal commitee of dinosaurs and people there are happy filling their own pockets rather than developing a club.

 

The problem is, Rendon (and great user name, by the way), that some of these bids can be a bit of a Trojan Horse if investors aren't clear about their motives.

 

Put yourself in a Chairman's position. One day, I come along to your club and ask to speak with you. I say that I have £50,000 and am looking to either invest in or take over your club.

 

Your club is a bit down at heel - poor attendances, bad results off the field, your players don't give a stuff, the committee men and women are all ageing fast and there is no new blood to take their place and the ground is beginning to look tatty and worn.

 

Now, this investment could do a LOT for your club. Do you shake my hand and take the money or do you say 'no thanks.'

 

If you shake my hand, is there a guarantee of money (i.e. is it in a bond/special bank account) and do I have proof of this (remember Spencer Tretheway and Stephen Beer...)

 

If I have proof of this, where do I plan on spending the money? Facilities? Better Players? Youth Development?

 

Will my investment mean the current committee/board being asked to step aside? After all, my money my say?

 

Where is my money from? How do you know I haven't made it from criminal activity (theft/fraud/drugs/illegal porn)?

 

A lot to consider.

 

However, if you say 'no thanks' and later find out I have invested the £50,000 elsewhere and that team is now flying high, would you not be kicking yourself at having missed a great opportunity?

 

There are pros and cons on both ends, and trust is in very short supply these days. However, most true investors with good intentions would only be too happy to honestly answer the difficult questions. Those who want to make a fast buck and don't really give a toss about the welfare and well being of the club (and maybe one eye on buying the club and land to sell on to housing for a profit) will tend to shirk these.

 

Trust your instincts and it never hurts to ask.

[Septimus]

Another factor here is that the club do already have their own business plan, which they were recently awarded for. Not sure if this was compatible with what the consortium were suggesting:

 

http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Business/Hertford-Town-Football-Club-wins-business-growth-plan-prize-20130222122551.htm

[No13]

Before your award has had a chance to take place in the Clubhouse and your efforts to try and raise £250k all of a sudden an interested party wants to invest £300k....coincidence or????

[LoucasX]

The committee took the offer very seriously.

 

But there were risks that would have taken time and resource, including legal fees, to address. So we decided that it was better for us to focus this energy on obtaining a 40 year lease from the council and applying for funding from the likes of the Football Foundation and Sports England.

 

When these have been progressed we will be in a better position to do a deal with investors.

 

The offer was possibly a fast track to success. We want to achieve sustainable success without jeopardising the future of the club. Without the injection of cash we will have to put in a lot more hard work and creativity as well as business discipline. We would rather do that.........at this stage.

[syd_lexic]

In fairness to Hertford, sometimes it's a case of Better the Devil you know. Had Mr Kemal been known to them for a while & had been a regular visitor to The club then fair enough, how many clubs especially in League football have taken the bait & ended up worse off ? At the end of the day it's Step 5 football, even with a couple of quick promotions, any investor is going to have to wait a very long time to get their money back. Admittedly there is potential for a club & town like Hertford, but let's be realistic I don't expect to see a rise like Wigan of AFC Wimbledon.

[Savagebee]

My fave away game this season so far has been Hertford Town FC they are a good club with good people running it and they have some good vocal fans that most clubs would love to have supporting them and its a great old skool ground. Looking forward to going back to the place next season.

 

Hope they stay up!

[Neutral]

Sounds to me many people are pretty scared of change ... Clearly the guys a businessman that wants to earn money. At no point has he said he wants control of the club , but what he wants is to develop along side and around the club/ground to generate more money with bar, astro, offices obv for hes firm. And all he asked for was money to be paid back if they were voted out? Surely if HTFC bods had took talks further and got legal documents scripted up from both parties they could have worked something out to re-develop this once great club rather than being left behind and happy with 25 fans behind the goal sluring into there tins and the leaky changing rooms.

 

The same has recently happened up Sun Postal turning down a bid rather than taking things serious and talking further with the main man of this consortium. purely because the Sun Postal commitee of dinosaurs and people there are happy filling their own pockets rather than developing a club.

 

I have to agree. If the Investor was serious about investing that much, he would have no problem in spending a few grand on drawing up proper documents and plans. However, I beleive Hertford have a credible plan in place, and their sustainable growth plan is well, a lot more...sustainable!!!

 

Your comment about Sun Postal is unfair- a fantastic comittee.

[RendonBodgers]

 

 

Trust your instincts and it never hurts to ask.

 

 

You're bottom line mr mayor here was absolutely spot on - now im not meaning to dig anyone out at hertford and im sure they trusted there insticts - but i hope they asked all the questions and had plenty of thought - Because i know Sun Postal did not grab the oppotunity to atleast even talk with a serious investor purely because like i said the committee are dinosaurs and to many people making a buck there whilst the clubs running at a massive loss! Doesnt seem to be a happy medium in this league with money unfortunatly.

 

Anyway rumour has it the Hertford consortium were all a front for the real man with the money - Mr Bj christie , trying to invest hes weekly wages from Dunestable Town since joining from AFC!

[RendonBodgers]

 

 

Your comment about Sun Postal is unfair- a fantastic comittee.

 

^^^ Fantastic people - yes agreed.

Fantastic committee for a club - no.

 

1 of them Mr Andrew Toon is the only single person that has done right by that club. And to unfortunate family issues has had to step back leaving the old school to carry on digging the hole deeper.

 

 

 

[Neutral]

They reguarly put their hands in the pocket for the club. I don't believe the people at Sun Postal are making any money for themselves.

[RendonBodgers]

They reguarly put their hands in the pocket for the club. I don't believe the people at Sun Postal are making any money for themselves.

 

 

Well unfortunately i've seen it first hand ... next time you're there check the commitee member to the end of the bar with the book in hes top pocket and tell me if he puts a penny behind that bar for a drink. And hes been there 30 odd years, youth section and constantly booked hall keeps the club running. The committee members claiming 2 days work a week for doing nothing dont. Again as nice people they are , be lovely to see the club taken over and move forward.

[Rhodes]

i know Sun Postal did not grab the oppotunity to at least even talk with a serious investor purely because like i said the committee are dinosaurs

That applies to many SSML Club’s though doesn’t it, most of our Club Secretaries and Committee members make dinosaurs look modern and are so set in their ways that they wouldn’t give Abramovitch the time of day if he turned up at a home game