The suspension

[AFF]

The Ryman League suspended the club as they are concerned that the company will not be able to fulfil the fixtures for the season. In that event, all previous games will be void and the League table amended as if we had not played at all. <p>If they are aware of a problem, and if they do not have a level of reassurance, and if they permit any games to be be played which subsequently turn out to be 'meaningless', the League could be criticised by other member clubs, particularly if those clubs suffer financial loss playing against us. For 'criticised, try 'sued'.<p>The League's concern is based generally upon the financial state of the company, and specifically, I imagine, that the company did not respond to a Certificate of Non-compliance, issued by the Supervisor of the [2nd] CVA in November, that it did not attend the Directions Hearing in the High Court on January 8th, and that the Supervisor has applied for a winding up order which is set for a Hearing in the High Court on February 20th.<p>Not unreasonable grounds for concern that the company will not get through the season.<p>What is required for the suspension to be lifted, I ask myself. A plan? A plan that might work? A plan that might pursuade the High Court not to issue a winding up order on February 20th? Might in the reasonable opinion of the League? Or a plan that will work? Preferably the latter if the League are concerned at the prospect of being sued.<p>We wont play on Saturday. It's a month until the High Court hearing.<p>What a mess.

[Guest]

AFF<p>If the Club is wound up on Feb 20, will the Club be expelled from the Ryman League?

[AFF]

Hi G.Q.<p>Put simply [for my sake, you understand], at the High Court hearing, it would seem that the judge will grant an Order for the winding up of the company. The Order is passed to a Receiver, probably the Official Receiver, who will take the necessary steps to wind up the company. <p>[in view of the criiicisms of Mr Berman of Berley & Co, the Supervisor of the 2 failed CVAs, made in a parliamentary question raised by our M.P., it would presumably be inappropriate for him to be appointed.]<p>The Receiver takes control of the company at this point from the Directors. His duty is to the creditors, not the shareholders.<p>As far as the League is concerned, I do not believe that they will expel the club 'immediately' the judge signs the Order. Rather, I imagine that they will keep the matter under constant review, and see what action the Receiver takes in the first few days of his appointment. I have no doubt that the Officials at the F.A. and the Ryman League will do everything they can to help find a solution.<p>The wise man plans ahead as my old grandmother used to say.<p>Always pleased to assist.

[Guest]

According to the local council, we shouldnt give up hope just yet. It seems that there is something happening in their pipeline. Can anybody shed any light? <p>Its a shame that they didnt want to help and support the club in previous years. I mean the club does rent the land off them!! <p> <img src="graemlins/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0" alt="[rolleyes]" />

[AFF]

Hi Choco.<p>I have absolutely no doubt that the Council are most concerned at the current position and are following developments closely.<p>I am certain that they will do everything they can to assist to ensure that SACFC continue to play football at Clarence Park.<p>Always pleased to assist.

[Hendonboy]

AFF and G.Q, Re: the possibility of the club being expelled if wound up:<p>Rule 5.4 of the "Articles of Association of the Isthmian Football League" says that if a club either:

"a) has a reciever, or administrative reciever etc. appointed in repect of it or any part of its undertaking or assets;

has a petition presented or an administrative order...

c) has a winding up order made in respect of it

d) passe a resolution for its winding up;

e) enters into any agrement with its creditors... in respect of payment of its debts...<p>the directors (of the league) may expell the member from the League... or may give notice that he shall be expelled from a certain date..."<p>Basically, I can't see the league doing anything to expell the club unless it actually ceases to exist in any form, or fails to prove before the summer AGM that it is likely to get through the 2002/2003 season. If they were desperate to get rid of St. Albans, they'd surely have done so by now since the rule above gives them the right to do so anyway.

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply AFF but it hasnt actually answered my question at all! I know the consortium that was rejected on Wednesday has suport from the Council but I'm not really sure that's what they were getting at when I last spoke to a representative. <p>In my opinion much more should be done by the council to support the club. Please tell me that there is someone with another offer to present to Lee. The offers should be flying in in a city like this! I reckon that if the club had been promoted better in the past, many more people would have been aware of the potental at the club and therefore be much more interested in helping save the club from extinction.

Some of us need a job you know!<p>Does anyone agree that it would be good in a couple of weeks time, to have a meeting with the supporters and maybe even the management (team), to find out exactly what is going to happen to our club if we do get reinstated to the league? Players are leaving already and there is nothing we can do.

Lastly, can you reiterate what you said about the league taking away our points, AFF. It seems a little confused and unfair. We worked very hard for he results. Great fun it was too!<p> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="" />

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply AFF but it hasnt actually answered my question at all! I know the consortium that was rejected on Wednesday has suport from the Council but I'm not really sure that's what they were getting at when I last spoke to a representative. <p>In my opinion much more should be done by the council to support the club. Please tell me that there is someone with another offer to present to Lee. The offers should be flying in in a city like this! I reckon that if the club had been promoted better in the past, many more people would have been aware of the potental at the club and therefore be much more interested in helping save the club from extinction.

Some of us need a job you know!<p>Does anyone agree that it would be good in a couple of weeks time, to have a meeting with the supporters and maybe even the management (team), to find out exactly what is going to happen to our club if we do get reinstated to the league? Players are leaving already and there is nothing we can do.

Lastly, can you reiterate what you said about the league taking away our points, AFF. It seems a little confused and unfair. We worked very hard for he results. Great fun it was too!<p> <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="" />

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

What players have left????

[SteveP]

I heard a certain ex-Chesham/St Albans manager say to me something was happening tomorrow. But then as a Chesham fan I have trouble believing Mr Kendall!! A hint of a second bid by the consortium or a false promise?<p>I hope it's true for your sakes, I still think that if your are reinstated you will not be able to complete the league proramme, I think barring miracles expulsion seems inevitable and that is a great shame. <p>I remember the 92/93 season and I can't imagine this league without St Albans, all the best lads.

[Rob_the_Saint]

There's always something happening tomorrow Steve, its just that tomorrow never comes!<p>Now as regards the postponed fixtures, I've checked the league table and were 2 behind Hendon-on-sea and 3 behind a few others so if no more are suspended (ha! ha!) we should be able to catch up by the end of the season. If not, I suppose it's like last year when some teams couldn't finish their fixtures. Just hope it doesn't affect promotion/relegation or their could be a few writs flying about. <img src="graemlins/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0" alt="[rolleyes]" />

[AFF]

Hi Choco.<p>Questions, questions, questions. Why me? I don't know anything about football.<p>Up above, I referred to the possibility of expulsion from the League in the context of the reason behind the suspension. If that were to happen mid-season, our playing record would be expunged. [Not my favourite word, that. A bit like rhomboid.] Anyway. That means that all of our results to date would be void, and all points won by us or won by our opponents, removed from the record. The League table would be recalculated as if the games to date had not been played. Quite simply, that is to be 'fair' to teams that have not played us yet.<p>It hasn't happened yet.<p>As far as a meeting is concerned, I guess that getalonggang chap is waiting for some news from the late bid made last week, or elsewhere, before arranging a meeting. Quite right too, if you ask me.<p>Always pleased to assist.

[R Zimmerman]

You just wait, we'll sneak up on leaders with all these games in hand, they'll never see us coming.

[Nos]

I agree Rob. We would definitely be able to catch up by the end of the season. I recall that at the end of the 98/99 season we played 13 games in the last 34 days with 8 of those in the last 13. I well remember us travelling down to Carshalton and Bromley on consecutive midweek nights and still coming away with four points.

[Guest]

Helen, I think part of the reason that previous consortium bids have failed could be answered by reading between the lines in Mr Hardings press release that appears on the "Same sh*t" thread. He starts by mention how much of the current club debt is attributable to loans he has made and that he "may" be prepared to write off. Then a couple of paras of self justifying waffle, followed by "looking forward to a new role with the club". The cynic in me reads that as "okay, you can buy my shareholding and call yourself chairman, but give me a major admin role or I'm calling my loans in."<p>I would imagine his continued involvement could present a major hurdle to any future owner.

[HelenC]

<img src="graemlins/images/icons/confused.gif" border="0" alt="" /> <p>I was reading the Observer this morning and the first paragraph I came across says that although a bid was rejected by Lee Harding last week, another consortium has come forward and expressed thier interest in the club.

So, how come as supporters, with the technology we have nowadays, know so little about this offer. This is our club remember and we have a right to know what is going on. <p>Most of the things we hear about are by word of mouth and small efforts to construct messages on here. Even half of those are lies or seem to be. Even if this supporters meeting that I hear about goes ahead, how can we be sure that the whole truth is being expressed? <p>Hour by hour we seem to be losing more and more of our grip on the club. Players talking to other clubs and offers being rejected are not want we want to hear. I fully understand why the players must do this though but I cannot understand why the bid was rejected. Come to think of it, what exactly was the bid that made? None of us really know!

There doesnt seem to be any hope at the moment and there certainly doesnt seem to be any effort to reassure us mere supporters. Let's just hope that someone with half and brain takes over soon and does what is best for the club and not what is best for them.<p> <img src="graemlins/help.gif" border="0" alt="" />

[Rob_the_Saint]

Well said Helen, my sentiments entirely. Not too sure what a 'social investment' is though, are they thinking of turning us into a sports & social club for some conglomerate a la Farnborough?<p> <img src="graemlins/chat.gif" border="0" alt="" />

[HelenC]

I suppose Anna Wrack but I have my own ideas as to why Lee rejected the proposal. <p>According to the news section on this site, Derek Brown has now moved on to Bedford. Bedford Town? I ask you!! Can't deny thats about money can you?! He is the one we really didnt want to lose. Lets just hope that the other news about there being another bid shortly, is true and not messed up like the last one. If this is the case then maybe the players left can hold off for another week and be with us when we play against Billericay! <p>Anybody got any insight as to who this consortium is? Suspisions run high at a time like this but some concrete thoughts would be nice.<p>Everybody pray! <img src="graemlins/diabolo.gif" border="0" alt="" />

[R Zimmerman]

Is that pray to God or to Satan (i.e. the little cartoon at the end of your message)?

[GHA EFM]

And HelenC, with regards to Derek Brown. Is that 'the one we really didn't want to lose' as in 'Richard Evans is one we really want to keep' or 'we all love Lee 'The Fuhrer' Harding' ???