A question for all Slough Town FC supporters

[Matt]

Originally Posted By: Anonymous

If you do decide to give money to the club make it a loan, it's what any businessman would do in that situation. There may not be enough assets for you to get your money back but in that way you become a creditor of the club and gives you bargaining power in the event of a) the owners wanting to pull out the club going into administration.

This would be the wisest thing to do, but there'd be next to no chance (IMO) of the Trust getting that money back.

To answer the other point, I reckon it would be no more than a last-ditch attempt to keep the club going until the ground plans are approved, at which point Jayne Bradbury may (I think and hope) put some funding into the playing side to keep it going in the interim.

But I see it as very much 'all or nothing'. If the plans aren't approved and we can't go 'home', the Trust's reserves would be bled dry, Ms Bradbury would cut her losses just like any other businessman and we'd be back to having this conversation about raising money.

[Guest Anonymous]

Why would it be a bizarre situation when Thames Valley Sports have not filed any accounts (6 mths late) and you are saying that they have no money?

This is why people are nervous and perhaps why someone would back the Trust.

Perhaps someone could confirm the position on this point.

[Roger Rebel]

Are you saying Ian, that Roy & Bernard would let the club go bust rather than hand over to the Trust if we dont give them the money.

[Ian]

I've absolutely no idea, Roger, you'll have to ask Roy and Bernard.

[Roger Rebel]

What annoys me Ian is the only people being asked to take any sort of risk is the trust neither Roy Bernard or Jane are putting money in until they can see some reward.

[Ian]

Not sure that's strictly true, Roger, as I know Jayne Bradbury has already invested a lot of time and money which, if the project doesn't go ahead, she stands to lose. I've no idea how much Roy and Bernard have contributed financially through TVSL.

 

The way I look at it is the risk to Trust members is there either way. At present they are being asked to contribute but if they take over members will be asked to contribute even more. It doesn't matter who's in charge, the need still exists for the club to be financially supported. At present there is a more positive position on a ground than there has ever been and it seems foolish to throw that away, IMHO.

[Guest Anonymous]

The trust still does not know the financial postion of Thames Valley Sport. Who knows it may be bust! It follows then that STFC is what we are trying to save and maintain (particularly as negotiations are going on with the council). Ownership should pass to an organisation that has a good financial footing is transparent and is run by its members made up from the community for the community.

 

Once this happens third party finance would follow more easily. Why would you consider investing in a business that has not filed any trading accounts since incorporation?

 

This should not affect any negotiations with the Council. If anything it would enhance the postion for STFC and football in the community.IE The position would be clearer and the Trust is solvent and widely represented.

 

[Matt]

I understand that Bernard is drawing up the (overdue) accounts at the moment, and that it is not being wound up. I'm sure we'd all be very interested to know if the company is trading, and if so, what the nature of that trade is!

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

I'll say it before and ill say it again, there is no way the turst could fund the current wage bill for a reasnoble amount of time (Ie i dont think the coffers would go to the end of the season!)

 

Ok short term (VERY SHORT TERM!) the trust may have to stump up some but long term money MUST come from elsewhere, and all the goodwill/charity events in the world will not raise enough to run the clubs current financial outgoings..

[Ian]

Absolutely right. Which is why working to achieve the Arbor Vale proposal should be in everyone's interests and at the stage it's at with the Council, handing the ownership or running of the Club to someone else isn't going to help.

[Guest chris-sliski]

Ian has put the whole issue in a nut shell ! and explained it very very well....

 

take my word ..TVSL are not bust nor do they have vast amounts of money either , but the 2 people running the company have in my opion really helped, is to take us away from FRUS ltd ..cleared with the FA to allow us to continue and are now pursueing a future for the club (a real future) not some pie in the sky super stadium , but a real stadium we will be able to call home...if it fails ..then I am sure TVSL will pass the club onto the Trust ..becuase they will have exhausted their avenue to secure the club...then the trust will have its opportunity to do as it wants ...

 

OK some dont trust TVSL ..but who else has done so much since the martyn deaner element has been taken from the plot...we have moved on 10 fold...and now people are questioning the motives for the next move...the stark realtiy is sink or swim with the offer on the table ...I don't think we will have a better opportunity than is around now !

 

But thats the choice the members of the trust will be asked within the next few weeks i guess ...

 

Another question : to fund a football team , run match days and to ensure we make a team we can all surport takes even at this level around 1500 pounds per week , where do you think and how does the club raise this figure ? People have quoted that the trusts money should be in equal parts by Bernard and Roy ...howabout each and every supporter do the same ? thats what you are asking ? can you do that ? I doubt it ...TVSL will be a different organisation (that has been promised and will be done over my dead body if nessassary) they will have a trustees place in the new organisation ...a impeccable offer ..to secure our plight for ever more... what more does the trust want...

 

chris sliski personally

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

If money is required how much are we talking about and for how long?

 

How much a game is the current shortfall against what is raised at the gate etc?

 

How long will it be until the new ground is approved and will that then allow all the costs to be covered by the income then available?

 

Time to get some real numbers together to see what the problem is and then be able to put a clear fundraising plan together.

 

Chris, Ian, Gary or anyone in the know what are the answers?

 

 

P.S.

William made a surggestion for fund raising - that we should have a swear box - some of us may go bankrupt with that idear!!!!

[Ted]

Much discussion, and many good points. What is certainly clear is that money is, at the moment, extremely tight for the club.

 

I will, whatever happens, give £50 to the club today, can any others pledge money too? Any amount will help. If the total pledged reaches £500, I'll give another £50.

 

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

To the club, trust or balmy army?

[Guest chris-sliski]

NB ***

 

I personally would like to see us try to and raise money from outside of the trust....but it needs do,ers and some real efforts...and we need some now !

 

cheers chris -sliski

 

[Guest Anonymous]

hi all thanks for the replies...

 

the office door will be open today ..if anyone wants to know anything.... 20th oct

 

cheers chris

[Guest Anonymous]

Horsham Rebel re your idea for season ticket holders to pay at the gate i.e. donate a second entry fee to the club. Each time the turnstyle clicks the V.A.T collector takes 17 1/2%. I donate enough to our tax system. Lets make the donation to the club via Teds collection see posting on page 4 (Ted has offered to put up £50 + another £50 if £500 can be collected).Could you or Ted collect at the entrance when the gates open.I will chip in with £20.

[Guest Anonymous]

All very good points - and it would appear that everybody wants only whats best fo STFC.

With the accounts 6 months overdue I assume they will be completed before the Trust parts with any of its money? (why hasn't/doesn't Bernard get help in finishing them, perhaps the Trust could help with paying for an accountant to do?).

 

I agree with a previous post - Is there a business/cash plan for the next 6 months. Or is it a question of we hope to get council approval before the cash runs out and then TVSL are hoping to negotiate a loan against the plan? (all fingers crossed no guarantees). If a budget were done we would know how much money is needed in total?

 

Coming back to external funds - Investors in a business would not be prepared to 'put money in' to TVSL as there are no accounts. This is a big negative and I fail to understand how the powers that be have ignored it for so long.

 

I still think the safest route for STFC and to protect STFC in the current climate is ownership of club to Trust for all the reasons listed above by other parties. The history of STFC needs protecting. I fail to see how this would be detrimental to anyone or am I missing something?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Why is it taking so long for the accounts of TVSL to be put together - Bernard is an accountant!

 

Are the funds being asked for going into TVSL to prop up last years trading deficit - but then again TVSL was showing as not trading last year and is now showing as active according to Companies House - so therefore the accounts will be straight forward as very little has happened.

 

Deaner only steped away in Aug/Sept and TVSL accounts run to July so where TVSL are now "owners" of the club they will have only been trading for a couple of months of the 07/08 year and the accounts for this trading will need to be presented next July.

 

Presentation of late accounts can incure penalties (not the football ones) of fines and with cash allegedly so short why add extra costs to the club.

 

What is being hiden?

 

Until the club presents transparent accounts then none of my money will be parted with.

 

If however the ownership of the club is transfered to the Trust where there is accountability and transparancy my wallet would open.

[Ted]

Originally Posted By: Anonymous

Horsham Rebel re your idea for season ticket holders to pay at the gate i.e. donate a second entry fee to the club. Each time the turnstyle clicks the V.A.T collector takes 17 1/2%. I donate enough to our tax system. Lets make the donation to the club via Teds collection see posting on page 4 (Ted has offered to put up £50 + another £50 if £500 can be collected).Could you or Ted collect at the entrance when the gates open.I will chip in with £20.

If it's Ok with Chris and Roy, I can turn up at about 2.00pm with a bucket to make a collectionat the gate.

Chris/Roy what do you think? Even if no one else contributes, you get £70.