Mystery Consortium

[Tuffley Rebel]

If you haven't already, read todays Slough Express. Has anyone heard any rumours about this, or know who is involved.

The article about the clubs recent history is fairly interested but absolutely critical against Mr Deaner. Is it an attempt to discredit him and cause trouble.

The article also says the consortium wants to remain secret at this stage. Why? Is it all a big setup, a ploy by the councillors to cause trouble and try and get us back to WP.

If we end up back at WP under the clubs control, without the Thornes around, will it be good?

Personally I can see anything happening.

What do you all think

[Tom]

The Friends of Slough Town FC if i can remember correctly. One of there main objectives is for the club to be under the control of the council with Martin Deaner out of the way.

 

If this isnt correct to what was on the back page please correct me, I only had a brief look in the newsagents.

[BFR]

I've just read the article and at this stage I think it is hogwash. The 'Friends of Slough Town' have a radical idea for Martyn Deaner to hand back control of Slough Town to the council (which they have refused to take) and then for the council to regain control of Wexham Park, which could cost millions and we know that is unlikely to happen.

I am of the opinion that this is some sort of trick to discredit Martyn Deaner, which the accompanying article most certainly does by pouring scorn on his 6 years at the club whilst failing to mention that without him there would be no club. Given that the Observer has taken a frosty approach to the Council over their dealings with the football club, this is quite a handy little story to put out anonymously, one that shows that Cllr Stokes' offer has some credence, lets give the old man a pat on the back.

This is the first time I have heard about the Friends of Slough Town. I am not aware of any other Trust board members having heard of them or spoken with them. I'm pretty certain that Martyn Deaner will not have heard of them either, which means the two groups involved here, the Club and the Supporters are being kept out of the loop by some unknown people who suddenly think they know what it best for the club and think they can achieve it.

Obviously I would be interested to hear what 'Friends of Slough Town' have to say, but from what I've read, to my mind it smells of political spin rather than a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sure most supporters would agree that a return to Wexham Park would be welcome, but it has to be under the right terms and not how it was for those five years after the Thornes pulled out.

 

It is nice to know that Slough Town has got 'Friends'. It is a shame really that these friends are the sort who hide behind a dark panel.

[Tuffley Rebel]

Who are the 'Friends', it all seems a bit cloak and dagger...

Why do they want anonimity?

[Guest]

I've read it, sounds like utter rubbish to me.

 

It's like when the tabloids want to make a comment on someone but no-one will have their name on record. So a reporter writes any old crap and conveniently quotes it from 'a source close to x'...

 

 

[Ted]

Given its not a bid to take over the club, the anonimity bit is rather dubious.

 

The whole thing has the whiff of politics about it.

 

I might be wrong but the "Local professional people" sounds like a front for BLLD, none of whom give a damn about Slough Town, and none of whom have seen Slouh Town play in recent years.

 

Given that Cllr Stokes can call himself a Slough Town supporter, its not hard to see him awarding himself the title of "Friend of Slough Town"

 

 

[Tom]

Will be interesting to see what slant the Observer takes towards this?

[BFR]

It is also very cunning that these 'Friends' choose to make themselves known in the press on the morning before supporters meet with Martyn Deaner. Until the 'Friends' actually talk to the club and talk to the supporters, rather than hide behind anonymity I would advise anybody who reads it to be highly sceptical.

[BFR]

The OBserver won't go with it because BILLD and in particular Stokes now has an axe to grind with them because of the way the Observer has stood up for itself in the last couple of days and said that at not time did they apologise to Stokes, as he said at two different meetings last week. The Express also generally doesn't say too much about the club other than report its matches, unless it is spoonfed a story by the club. I can't believe Roy or Martyn Deaner had anything to do with this and as such somebody else will have been pointing them in this direction, in particular the bit about Slough Town under Deaner.

 

[Tuffley Rebel]

The description about Deanbers time at the club is not wholly innaccurate but does only pick out the negative points while omitting anything negative from previous management era.

IMO it is clearly an attempt to undermine Mr Deaner and cause division amongst fans, to sow the seeds of doubt about Kennedy Park and bring WP back in to the equation.

Personally I am ignoring the article as a load of rubbish, until someone puts a name to the 'Friends', and then it might be worth listening to.

[Tuffley Rebel]

BTW, its heartbreaking to see a picture of Wexham Park becoming rundown.

[Barry Scott]

If this consortium is serious then the only way to get us back to WP is to buy the freehold or to convince Mayfair to let us take all the money that would come into the site through Car Boots, bar takings, etc. The first is out of the questio as we're looking at at least 8 figures to buy the freehold, and the second is gone as Mayfair will want the same conditions as before. It's therefore just one big sh*t-stirring exercise by the council

[PJ-STFC]

While recent events have been painful for us all, at least one good thing has come out of it.

 

The majority of the supporters (who post on here) now seem to view Martyn Deaner as an ally rather than an enemy. This must be a good thing, as it means that we can rally against a common foe (or foes), rather than fighting internally.

 

It is now recognised by us that Martyn has indeed done an awful lot of good for the club. It is unfortunate that his rather aloof style of communication (the infamous 'two weeks') has perhaps given the impression of him not caring what happens, and has led to a fair amount of probably unjustified criticism in the past.

 

I have not read the article in question, but I would be very skeptical of ANY consortium which threw its hat into the ring if they could not offer a genuinely potential site for a stadium. We know the situation at Wexham Park, so unless this consortium is being driven by the Thorne's (highly unlikely) I would guess this story is a load of hot air to stir up trouble.

 

PJ <img src="/images/graemlins/chat.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Didn't these 'friends of slough' materialise last time we had troubles and thought they could basically run the club for very little money which would probably mean the majority of the squad leaving.

[Guest]

PJ i hope your not having a go at Gary ha ha ha .

[Guest]

I wonder if the Express reporter met up with these people in a carpark at night,and knows who they are. Or did he just get a phone call with the story. To me he should be trying to expose who they are, because if he was any good that would be the real story.

[PJ-STFC]

Roger, I wouldn't dream of such a thing <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

My comments were not targetted at anyone specific (I have long since forgotten any disagreements that may have existed between the various parties in the past, even if they haven't).

 

It would seem to me that at present we have the option of 'STFC + Martyn Deaner' or 'No STFC' (as SBC are hardly interested at present, are they), so it makes sense to cooperate to ensure the club survives...

...as I am sure that most fans would agree.

 

PJ <img src="/images/graemlins/chat.gif" alt="" />

[Russ_Rebel]

i think is just a game of chinese whispers if anything was going to happen surely it would have happened by now, concidering the new season is set to start soon i think it is highly unlikely we would be taken over by any consortium. If we can get back to wexham park brilliant as long as we can keep the club going.

[Ted]

Russ, this is not about us being taken over by a consortium.

 

It is about a group, calling itself "Friends of Slough Town" who want" The name of Slough Town returned to the council" and " The council regaining control of Wexham Park from the Thorne's"

 

Given the emphasis on the council, it seems extremely likely that some councillors are behind it. Odds on its another piece of mischief from Janik.

 

Beware Trojans bearing gifts.

[PJ-STFC]

Ummmm, Ted, I hate to be pedantic...

 

[shouts of "Oh no you don't!" from Gary and Chris!]

 

...but that should be 'Greeks', not 'Trojans' <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

 

However, I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment.

 

PJ <img src="/images/graemlins/chat.gif" alt="" />