Back the Bees - the launch

[Mulitinovic]

At risk of sounding like a man who has had his thunder well and truly stolen, Thursday sees the launch of the Back the Bees campaign, aimed at raising the £1m necessary for Bees United to refinance Brentford FC and purchase the majority shareholding in the Club.

For full details visit the campaign website at http://www.backthebees.com.

The campaign is targeting individuals, groups and businesses and asking them to 'Back' the £1m target in whatever way they can. If you feel you have something to offer us, do email me: [email protected].

The campaign is being run by myself, Chris Scott, and Rod Gowers. If you have a fundraising idea, email Rod at [email protected]. If you have an idea relating to the marketing of the campaign, email me at [email protected].

We are trying to run a very inclusive campaign - i.e. if you want to be involved, you can be. I can't stress strongly enough how keen we are to take on opinions and ideas on the fundraising and marketing fronts. If you want to donate a few thousand pounds, you're more than welcome to do so. If you don't have that much disposable income knocking around but can pin up Back the Bees posters in strategic locations, then your contribution could be just as valuable.

This campaign has been put together very quickly to address the need to raise public awareness of the £1m target, and will evolve and develop over the coming weeks with new events, promotions, sponsorship opportunities and ways to promote Back the Bees added.

We will have text and online donation services available from Monday (probably from tomorrow, but we have officially delayed it slightly to be 100% certain of their security and operation).

While there can never be unanimous agreement on decisions on the strategy of Bees United and the management of the Club, I am approaching this campaign from the very simple viewpoint that I would rather hold the Brentford FC board to account at a BU general meeting than go back to chanting abuse at a closed window from the forecourt. Especially if it's nippy outside.

I will endeavour to answer all questions arising - you have my email address I believe - but do bear with us, as Rod and I do have jobs to hold down as well...

Thanks for your time,

Chris

 

[Rod Gowers]

I am looking forward to receiving everybodies ideas for fund-raising, specifically for the £1m target, but also to help the club move forward after September and into future generations. I am very keen to "enable" all fans and well-wishers of the club to become fund-raisers and help carry our club onto bigger and better things.

So if you have any ideas, or want to offer help or support please contact me.

 

[abee]

Congratulations to all involved with the web site which given the short time available is a very commendable effort.

The monies raised from various initiatives is as far as I am aware for the specific purpose only of trying to raise sufficient funds to re-finance the Club and to exercise the existing option........we need preferably £1million but I believe that Brian and Joe are prepared to negotiate with Altonwood with perhaps marginally less.

Can you state Rod for everyone's benefit one more time.........what happens to the monies raised if there is either insufficient in the pot to do a deal with Noades or if Bees United fails to exercise the option and the club returns to Altonwood. That is if someone ponies up say £1k from their piggy bank thinking that it is going towards finally making BFC a supporters owned club but through no ones fault it doesn't happen then will BU return the monies and are they not legally obliged to do so??

 

[Les Beeavinu]

48 words in London's favourite newspaper. Thanks guys.

 

[abee]

48 words in London's favourite newspaper. Thanks guys.

Dear Les,

That's 48 words more than the BFC official site has got so count yourself lucky.

Yours very truly

Editor, Evening Standard

 

[Bee H]

Dear Les,

That's 48 words more than the BFC official site has got so count yourself lucky.

Yours very truly

Editor, Evening Standard

lol

Still no word at 11.27hrs, must be waiting for a midday Press Conference perhaps ? :shrug:

 

[Beebop]

[
Can you state Rod for everyone's benefit one more time.........what happens to the monies raised if there is either insufficient in the pot to do a deal with Noades or if Bees United fails to exercise the option and the club returns to Altonwood. That is if someone ponies up say £1k from their piggy bank thinking that it is going towards finally making BFC a supporters owned club but through no ones fault it doesn't happen then will BU return the monies and are they not legally obliged to do so??[/QUOTE]

I suppose like Mr Wheatley you only have to pledge the money and not actually hand over the dosh,just in case etc.

 

[abee]

[
Can you state Rod for everyone's benefit one more time.........what happens to the monies raised if there is either insufficient in the pot to do a deal with Noades or if Bees United fails to exercise the option and the club returns to Altonwood. That is if someone ponies up say £1k from their piggy bank thinking that it is going towards finally making BFC a supporters owned club but through no ones fault it doesn't happen then will BU return the monies and are they not legally obliged to do so??

I suppose like Mr Wheatley you only have to pledge the money and not actually hand over the dosh,just in case etc. [/QUOTE]

Oh right.........I didn't think of that........slow day........

I'm gonna pledge a text without further delay.......

 

[beesbeesbarmyarmy]

lol

Still no word at 11.27hrs, must be waiting for a midday Press Conference perhaps ? :shrug:

Doesn't company law prohibit this sort of thing?

 

[Sweepy]

48 words in London's favourite newspaper. Thanks guys.

They've really put themselves out to report that one.

Hopefully with £1m of power behind us, we can get the albatross of RN away from us. Then we can lose a little less sleep over the various cock-ups at boardroom level.

 

[Jimbee]

48 words in London's favourite newspaper. Thanks guys.

As the final paragraph is unrelated bullshit, you can get than down to about 30 words.

 

[Mulitinovic]

Afternoon all,

Apologies all - tried to reply from my Blackberry and published the wrong text.

I would advise anyone wishing to donate a significant sum to the campaign to get in contact with Rod or myself to arrange the timing and details, I will publish more details soon.

As for the Club website, my understanding of company law is that a target company is prohibited from promoting attepts to raise cash for its purchase by another party. If any corporate lawyers on the GPG want to email or PM me their take I will always listen to wise counsel.

Finally, BBC London are doing a piece on the Back the Bees campaign at 7.20 this evening.

If you'd like to suggest that they themselves Back the Bees I'm sure they'd love to hear from you on [email protected].

Chris

 

[abee]

They've really put themselves out to report that one.

Hopefully with £1m of power behind us, we can get the albatross of RN away from us. Then we can lose a little less sleep over the various cock-ups at boardroom level.

Sweepy. How do I drum it into you and others that if (when) Bees United raises the million quid,exercises the option and becomes the new owner then the single largest individual creditor of Brentford Football Club (after the bank) will be Altonwood with a new bullet loan of £1,000,000 interest free but repayable in 2008 and secured by a charge on Griffin Park.

Altonwood and Noades ain't going away anytime soon and the quicker that that lesson is rammed home the better.

Noades will be exactly where he wants to be........a hugely significant creditor of BFC with a fixed term bullet loan due for repayment on a fixed future date and most importantly from his point of view HE WILL NOT BE THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS THAT OWES HIM THE MONEY .......THAT IS ALTONWOOD (THE PARENT) WON'T BE OWED THE MONIES BY AN ALTONWOOD GROUP COMPANY.........sorry to shout but I weep with frustration most days over the virtually total ignorance of most supporters of the situation and where we are headed with this........

And before anyone posts...... "What would you do then??"....... I can only say that I would answer that I feel like the Irishman who when stopped by an American tourist in a hired car and asked for the best way to get to Killarney scratched his head and said :-

"Hmmm.........if I were you I wouldn't start from here"

 

[abee]

All funds donated to BU via the Back the Bees campaign are being ringfenced and a register of donors is being kept. It is intended that in the unlikely event that the refinancing and exercise of the option cannot be achieved and the Club is sold elsewhere, we would be in a position to refund donations above the level of £500, possibly lower.

........and if it is not sold elsewhere and Altonwood just decides to retain and run BFC as an Altonwood company what happens then.

 

[beesbeesbarmyarmy]

"Hmmm.........if I were you I wouldn't start from here"

Where would you start from then?

 

[Boston Bee]

Think abee is saying he'd have never let us get into this circumstance (see abee passim)

Where would you start from then?

 

[abee]

Where would you start from then?

How did I know it would be you........ lol

March 2003 actually........

 

[beesbeesbarmyarmy]

March 2003 actually........

Well that was two years ago so .....................

 

[abee]

That said, it is only right that those making sizeable donations be happy with the conditions on which they do so. All funds donated to BU via the Back the Bees campaign are being ringfenced and a register of donors is being kept. It is intended that in the unlikely event that the refinancing and exercise of the option cannot be achieved and the Club is sold elsewhere, we would be in a position to refund donations above the level of £500, possibly lower.

Such a policy requires the approval of the Bees United board, which I sincerely hope will be forthcoming in the next week.

Well Chris, you have put yourself in the firing line so you may wish to suggest to the Bees United board when it meets next week that the "wealthy investors" are not gonna do their job for them and that it is up to the BU board to put proposals before the individuals that they are trying to woo and not for individual investors to be jumping up and down saying "I won't write out a cheque unless X is kicked off the BFC board".

To start you off I suggest that Bees United formulates :-

1) Their proposed composition of the new BFC board with reasons, cv's and responsibility allocations together with the new proposed organisational chart effective October 1 2005

2) An explanation of how that board will be put in place without a vote of the individual BU members

3) Exhibition of the terms and conditions of the new Altonwood loan

4) A business plan that stands-up for the satisfying of the terms and conditions of the new Altonwood loan

5) A business plan for the repayment of the interest free monies provided by the wealthy investors.

Just trying to be helpful like and of course I have no doubt at all that this is all in the pipeline.

 

[abee]

Well that was two years ago so .....................

Oh. I hadn't realised that. I've gotta go out now.........no time to play your silly games today.

 

[Beebop]

Thursday sees the launch of the Back the Bees campaign, aimed at raising the £2m necessary for Bees United to refinance Brentford FC and purchase the majority shareholding in the Club.

Perhaps in the light of abee's remarks we should aim a bit higher.

 

[beesbeesbarmyarmy]

Oh. I hadn't realised that. I've gotta go out now.........no time to play your silly games today.

You ask yourself what you would do, answer with what you would have done differently, then accuse me of playing games?

Congratulations.

 

[JoeBourke]

Where would you start from then?

beesbeesbarmyarmy,

I believe abee is referring to earlier posts as in the following exchange of views:

If you trawled back through my posts you will find that I agree with you and there is nothing to be done with regards to confronting Altonwood now. There never was one single "magic bullet" with which to shoot Noades. I believed however that Bees United would not wrap things up during the two years that they requested and were granted and that come 2005 we would be wrangling with Altonwood again. That being my judgement then I believed it better to tackle Altonwood in March 2003 over what I perceived as its mismanagement of the company (BFC) and there is a fairly considerable dossier on his various statements, promises, prevarictions during the period in which he took BFC from solvency to threatened administration in just over four years. I thought at the time that he would not particularly wish to have the details of his management and that of his co-directors splashed about plus there was the possibility that he may then have wished to do a quick deal on Brentford as there was regular talk of him becoming interested in Crystal Palace again. I thought that it was a chance worth taking but as I have written before wiser heads than mine prevailed. I have posted repeatedly that Noades now has two years of clear blue water between the mess that he left in 2003 and where BU will be when they sit round the table with Altonwood. When talking with Noades I would rather be holding the 2003 hand than the 2005 one but that is a personal opinion and not one shared by the people who matter.

Apologies if I've forced you to repeat yourself, just trying to get the situation as clear as possible for myself and for the rest of this board. It's important I feel to get everything as straight as possible, so if that means repeating things until they sink in properly in various quarters then I think that's worth doing..

It's a moot point whether a dossier containing various comments and promises from Noades would have been enough to force his hand. Noades in his time with us often revised or re-interpreted statements he'd made before on record and unashamedly so. The most famous one of course being his interpretation of "funding". He's had an awful lot of bad publicity over the years but he's just shrugged it off and carried on regardless. He doesn't strike me as someone who would let a bit of negative press get to him. Crystal Palace fans never succeeded in nailing him and I'd imagine they have a fair dossier on him too...

But as you say, that's all history now and not worth revisiting...

I hope by now it is pretty well established that Ron Noades is not going to be persuaded to put large sums of money into BFC by virtue of a little negative publicity, anymore than the likes of Malcolm Glazer is going to backed off by fans protests and demonstrations. Cash on the table is what is required.

In 2003, £4.5m was required to effectively exercise the option and no bank would touch it with a bargepole. The only possibility then open to the trust, was a refinancing in conjunction with a new stadium development. The improved financial results of the last two years have made a commercial bank refinancing (not tied to a new stadium) in the region of £2.5m a realistic possibility. There is still a further £2m gap to plug and Bees United hope to be able to negotiate a £1m interest free loan from Altonwood on terms to be agreed, concurrent with the paydown of the overdraft with £1m of supporter loans.

 

[abee]

You ask yourself what you would do, answer with what you would have done differently, then accuse me of playing games?

Congratulations.

Well as soon as I posted earlier, I could have bet the farm that beesbeesbarmyarmy would be on saying "What would you do then??" and you are certainly consistent........you never disappoint.
I was trying to head you off at the pass by saying that I wouldn't have been in this situation to start with.

That's all.

The irony as I have posted before is that having rather anticipated exactly where we would be......it didn't take rocket science....you only had to look at the "players" to guess where it would all end........and now I have to help dig them out so I hope that you may agree that I am entitled to be irritated.

The way I see it you never engage in any debate. It's a bit like the Larry.....".......how do you know these are the true facts have you phoned Bees United......." stuff.........it just gets wearing.

You use so many "confused" smilies that your brow must be permanently creased.

Look I am perfectly happy to engage in debate with anyone who points to my posts and says " That is rubbish/I don't agree with that and I'll tell you why". You seem unable to do that and it is rather tiresome. But whatever makes you happy I suppose.

 

[abee]

beesbeesbarmyarmy,

I believe abee is referring to earlier posts as in the following exchange of views:

Thanks Joe.............you must have as big a dossier on my posts as I do on yours......... rofl

For my interest have you or anyone else in BU or the club tried to run down this Doug Turner guy in China who was waving dosh (probably between £150k-£200k) as an incentive for the players in the coming season. You must have seen the thread and I wondered if Turner had actually been in touch.

Ever helpful I did suggest that a better use of his monies (if it is actually available) might be to put it into the "Raise a million" campaign. The whole thing is very strange and I couldn't see the point unless it was just a complete wind-up..........but one phone call would be able to kill that I guess.

 

[Ace Face]

Joe

I remember speaking to Brian Burgess about an EGM after the Soton fiasco and we agreed that the BU Board calling an EGM would be far more beneficial than BU members forcing one. BU could even have turned a negetive into a positive and strengthened their reputation.

Continiuing on a similar theme. I think it would be beneficial to the campaign and BU if JM, GH and SC publicly stated that they would be prepared to resign if they felt it was the best for the club or would encourage funds to be contributed to the Back The Bees campaign.

I would also suggest that fans are given a clear idea of how the BFC Board structure would look, if all goes well and in particular the role Altonwood Eddie will play. If as I fear ER is given a prominent role, then my cash stays with me. abee asks some sensible questions in this thread and I think it would be advantageous to incorporate into future literature.

Being an awkward bugger, BU still needs to address the issue of identifying skills and potential in volunteers and assigning them posts without the fiasco of democracy.

 

[beesbeesbarmyarmy]

Well as soon as I posted earlier, I could have bet the farm that beesbeesbarmyarmy would be on saying "What would you do then??" and you are certainly consistent........you never disappoint.
I was trying to head you off at the pass by saying that I wouldn't have been in this situation to start with.

That's all.

The irony as I have posted before is that having rather anticipated exactly where we would be......it didn't take rocket science....you only had to look at the "players" to guess where it would all end........and now I have to help dig them out so I hope that you may agree that I am entitled to be irritated.

The way I see it you never engage in any debate. It's a bit like the Larry.....".......how do you know these are the true facts have you phoned Bees United......." stuff.........it just gets wearing.

You use so many "confused" smilies that your brow must be permanently creased.

Look I am perfectly happy to engage in debate with anyone who points to my posts and says " That is rubbish/I don't agree with that and I'll tell you why". You seem unable to do that and it is rather tiresome. But whatever makes you happy I suppose.

Well sorry if it takes me a tad longer than most bees fans for the penny to drop before I understand the situation. However you have mentioned your frustration at most bees fans not knowing the real situation so...........

I don't feel that I can effectively debate with you abee, because you are so much more informed than me. This is probably why reps from BIAS won't take the bait when you ask them to post their own personal views rather than the organisation for which they represent.

Sorry if you find me tiresome, however I find going over what should have been done tiresome. I just want to understand all the implications of whats happening to us. But whatever makes you happy I suppose.

 

[abee]

Continiuing on a similar theme. I think it would be beneficial to the campaign and BU if JM, GH and SC publicly stated that they would be prepared to resign if they felt it was the best for the club or would encourage funds to be contributed to the Back The Bees campaign.

I would also suggest that fans are given a clear idea of how the BFC Board structure would look, if all goes well and in particular the role Altonwood Eddie will play. If as I fear ER is given a prominent role, then my cash stays with me. abee asks some sensible questions in this thread and I think it would be advantageous to incorporate into future literature.

Being an awkward bugger, BU still needs to address the issue of identifying skills and potential in volunteers and assigning them posts without the fiasco of democracy.

The point is Bish that Chris Scott elsewhere posted something to the effect that the "larger investors" need to be satisfied with what Bees United are going to do with the club and how BFC will be run under BU ownership. I am paraphrasing but that was the gist of it as I read it and I agree totally. I was just gently pointing out that we have little over three months, summer holidays are nearly upon us and in my opinion it is incumbent upon Bees United to provide a sort of "prospectus" if you like to the "larger investors" and say here is our vision.

There is absolutely no reason for the "investors" to have any initial input into the structure of the BFC board under the ownership of Bees United. That is a matter for the BU board alone. They will I imagine say to the larger investors........this is how we see the future and this is the team that we believe is the best available to us and which should be given the responsibility to run BFC and we will tell you why..........now will you back us.

I have to say that I have not yet figured out how BU are gonna put this bit of the jigsaw in place. To do this will effectively mean that the ordinary members will be disenfranchised..........and as I have posted before..........who chooses the choosers???

I doubt whether any of the "wealthy investors" has any serious interest in being involved in any way, shape or form with helping to run the club. I would hazard a guess that they just wish to agree the plan, agree the team that is gonna carry out the plan provide their funds and then go back to watching the footy.

 

[abee]

Well sorry if it takes me a tad longer than most bees fans for the penny to drop before I understand the situation. However you have mentioned your frustration at most bees fans not knowing the real situation so...........

I don't feel that I can effectively debate with you abee, because you are so much more informed than me. This is probably why reps from BIAS won't take the bait when you ask them to post their own personal views rather than the organisation for which they represent.

Sorry if you find me tiresome, however I find going over what should have been done tiresome. I just want to understand all the implications of whats happening to us. But whatever makes you happy I suppose.

When I say that I am frustrated we have just completed the second Bees United option and it is being extended for a further six months which can I suppose then be called the third option. I doubt whether Bees United anticipated having to be scrambling around trying to raise £1million in four months to avoid the Club perhaps being sold to unfriendly property developers and asset strippers. That is the situation however and you will know that not from the GPG but from reading the BU and backthebees web sites.

It is not lost I am sure on anyone who reads the Bees United statements carefully that it has fallen onto the shoulders of Brian Burgess and Joe Bourke to salvage something and they have picked up a hand that I would not have touched in a month of Sundays. They are working their nuts off for Brentford Football Club and I doubt whether either of them are thrilled to death at what they have to work with. They seem to be the only consistent public voices of Bees United and they both enjoy my full support (for what that is worth).........until they tell me that they prefer not to have it as their street cred has taken a tumble at BU meetings........

I repeat that I have the utmost respect for both Brian and Joe both in the way that they conduct themselves and in their personal integrity. If they pull it off then they deserve the highest praise. Joe knows that most of my posts are trying to debate the problems that they are facing........I declare right now that I have no idea how to solve them and wouldn't have a clue how to go about delivering what they hope to.

Is that fair enough...........

(I'm changing my user name to humblebee by the way........ )

 

[JoeBourke]

Thanks Joe.............you must have as big a dossier on my posts as I do on yours......... rofl

For my interest have you or anyone else in BU or the club tried to run down this Doug Turner guy in China who was waving dosh (probably between £150k-£200k) as an incentive for the players in the coming season. You must have seen the thread and I wondered if Turner had actually been in touch.

Ever helpful I did suggest that a better use of his monies (if it is actually available) might be to put it into the "Raise a million" campaign. The whole thing is very strange and I couldn't see the point unless it was just a complete wind-up..........but one phone call would be able to kill that I guess.

I am awaiting a reply to a private message to GOLDLAKE before making any assessment. On a similiar note, I have been unsuccessfuly endeavouring to make contact with Jon Peck, the author of the following post in January 2001 and would appreciate any information that anyone has on his whereabouts.

I have been seriously thinking in recent weeks about putting in a bid for the club, although at present it is no more than an idea. I have not approached the club, and do not intend to until the finances are in place. I had approached three other businessmen with an enthusiasm for Brentford, in order that we could make a long-term investment in the club. Having had successful meetings with two, the third is still deliberating and I am not confident. It is vitally important that we have enough money not only to buy the club, but to consilidate current debts and losses, whilst there must also be finance available to improve the team. I will not be another Mark Goldberg. This has lead me to raise another idea. BFC is reknowned for its community work, and being a big "fans" club. Why not let the fans take control? Of course, this would need specific outlines and proper organisation. However, I am sure it can work. There would be a central fund and fans could contribute for their stake in the club - its the same idea as employee share ownership if you like. No one fan would own more than the other, and the board would be elected. I am willing to make a significant contribution as are two other people I know. If there are others I'd like to know. I would also like to hear of your thoughts and ideas on this subject, but I am confident that it could work. I am confident that we can all work together to pull the Bees out of this purely off-the-field rut. Please reply, or mail me at [email protected]. Please head the e-mail "BEES IDEAS" and I will reply ASAP. I am devoting a few hours a day (after work of course!) to drawing up a plan that I would be willing to submit to those interested. Thanks to those who think along the same lines as me. UP THE BEES!

 

[Bee H]

I have been unsuccessfuly endeavouring to make contact with Jon Peck, the author of the following post in January 2001

B1oody hell Joe, it must be serious this time round ! :shrug:

By the way, is John Mac still being b1oody good at doing his Invisible Man act ? Why isn't he helping you and Brian out ? For him to say that he's spending 24/7 on Gillette's and Lionel is just pure pi$$-take !

 

[beesbeesbarmyarmy]

When I say that I am frustrated we have just completed the second Bees United option and it is being extended for a further six months which can I suppose then be called the third option. I doubt whether Bees United anticipated having to be scrambling around trying to raise £1million in four months to avoid the Club perhaps being sold to unfriendly property developers and asset strippers. That is the situation however and you will know that not from the GPG but from reading the BU and backthebees web sites.

It is not lost I am sure on anyone who reads the Bees United statements carefully that it has fallen onto the shoulders of Brian Burgess and Joe Bourke to salvage something and they have picked up a hand that I would not have touched in a month of Sundays. They are working their nuts off for Brentford Football Club and I doubt whether either of them are thrilled to death at what they have to work with. They seem to be the only consistent public voices of Bees United and they both enjoy my full support (for what that is worth).........until they tell me that they prefer not to have it as their street cred has taken a tumble at BU meetings........

I repeat that I have the utmost respect for both Brian and Joe both in the way that they conduct themselves and in their personal integrity. If they pull it off then they deserve the highest praise. Joe knows that most of my posts are trying to debate the problems that they are facing........I declare right now that I have no idea how to solve them and wouldn't have a clue how to go about delivering what they hope to.

Is that fair enough...........

(I'm changing my user name to humblebee by the way........ )

And another reason why I am shy to debate the issues, is that I am still mentally scarred from the Graham Hall thread. The one where i asked you and Bee H to give him a chance, lets see what he can do etc.....

As you predicted, **** all is the answer!

 

[abee]

B1oody hell Joe, it must be serious this time round ! :shrug:

By the way, is John Mac still being b1oody good at doing his Invisible Man act ? Why isn't he helping you and Brian out ? For him to say that he's spending 24/7 on Gillette's and Lionel is just pure pi$$-take !

We are also trying to locate a Mr Doug Turner who used to watch the Bees in 1947. He may be living in China and anybody knowing of his whereabouts is kindly requested to............

 

[abee]

And another reason why I am shy to debate the issues, is that I am still mentally scarred from the Graham Hall thread. The one where i asked you and Bee H to give him a chance, lets see what he can do etc.....

As you predicted, **** all is the answer!

We did as you asked and gave him ten minutes.......... rofl

I will also tell you that when Graham Hall was appointed to the board last October and Bee H and I kicked off for the fun of it........I took a telephone call from a well known GPG poster who said that I was being grossly unfair, I should give GH a chance, first class chappy, knows him in "D" block and why did I hate everyone.........was I dropped on my head as a baby and so on for about twenty minutes.

After three months the same guy was telling me that "......was I ever right......what a **** GH was and furthermore......." rofl

Surely you've got the hang of it by now. If you say someone is wonderful then we go after him...........tell us that so and so should be boiled in oil, skinning alive is too good for him etc and we'll start a thread demanding that you leave him alone, doing his best, slaving under impossible conditions to make BFC great again...............

 

[Bee H]

I am still mentally scarred from the Graham Hall thread. The one where i asked you and Bee H to give him a chance, lets see what he can do etc.....

The hustings said all that needed to be said about Mr Hall I'm afraid and we've yet to be proved wrong ! :shrug:

 

[Gee Bee]

Michael Knighton & that kid who tried to buy Aldershot may still be interested in investing in a football club.

 

[abee]

Michael Knighton & that kid who tried to buy Aldershot may still be interested in investing in a football club.

The kid went to jail I believe for subsequent activities.........Spencer Trelawny or something like that......

By the way Joe.......there is a Jon Peck from Brentford who won £14million on the lottery at the end of 2001 and according to Google he is supposed to have said to the press :-

"**** Brentford Football Club........I'm off to Tahiti......."

Dunno if this is the same one.........just trying to be helpful as always......

 

[JoeBourke]

Well Chris, you have put yourself in the firing line so you may wish to suggest to the Bees United board when it meets next week that the "wealthy investors" are not gonna do their job for them and that it is up to the BU board to put proposals before the individuals that they are trying to woo and not for individual investors to be jumping up and down saying "I won't write out a cheque unless X is kicked off the BFC board".

To start you off I suggest that Bees United formulates :-

1) Their proposed composition of the new BFC board with reasons, cv's and responsibility allocations together with the new proposed organisational chart effective October 1 2005

2) An explanation of how that board will be put in place without a vote of the individual BU members

3) Exhibition of the terms and conditions of the new Altonwood loan

4) A business plan that stands-up for the satisfying of the terms and conditions of the new Altonwood loan

5) A business plan for the repayment of the interest free monies provided by the wealthy investors.

Just trying to be helpful like and of course I have no doubt at all that this is all in the pipeline.

abee/Ace Face,

1. The proposed composition of the BFC board as outlined in the governance review is as follows:

BU appointed - up to 4 Directors including Chairman and two others appointed by BU board, and a supporter director elected by BU members.

BFC board appointed - up to three directors (executive or non-executive)

Investor directors - directors with loans of £250k or more to club or BU.

2. Bees United currently has an agreement with the club for nomination of four directors. As majority shareholder it will be able to ratify all appointments, together with other shareholders, made by the BU board (including investor directors), BU members in general meetings and/or the BFC board.

3. The terms and conditions of any new Altonwood Loan that may be forthcoming are yet to be agreed.

4. A powerpoint presentation of the outline business plan was presented at the recent BU forum. The repayment of any loan from Altonwood will be subject to the availability of commercial finance in conjunction with a new stadium or alternative refinancing such as the raising of new equity through a share issue/bond issue.

5. The repayment of large loans to investors will be the subject to similiar conditions that apply in four above.

 

[Gee Bee]

I asssume that the time is now right for DW to be adding some funds to the £1m appeal.

Also his mates from C&M have some spare cash floating from the sale of their company. They have had some connection with BFC, so maybe they may be interested in assisting towards the sum required.

 

[Boston Bee]

Well, this is very much right. DW told us he'd pay his share when the time was right - well, show the way and pitch in now if you expect others to do similarly. It's about integrity.

I asssume that the time is now right for DW to be adding some funds to the £1m appeal.

 

[West Wilts Bee]

I would just like to thank Peter Wheatley and his company for their very generous pledge to help save our club. I can remember the dark days of 67, and Peter's father came in, to save the day, at that time.
Thanks Peter, your kind donation is also a great tribute to your Fathers memory.

 

[smiffy superbee]

I would just like to thank Peter Wheatley and his company for their very generous pledge to help save our club. I can remember the dark days of 67, and Peter's father came in, to save the day, at that time.
Thanks Peter, your kind donation is also a great tribute to your Fathers memory.

Good post WWB,
Seems like only yesterday, thanks so much Peter and family!

 

[abee]

As a very wise man (me actually...... ) once said :-

"You can rely on Brentford. There'll always let you down".

So we have the week of the launch. Bees United with Chris Scott and Rod Gowers busting their collective and individual balls,a decent puff in the Chronny with Tim Street reviving the "Spirit of '67" and a statement from Brian Burgess under the Bees United banner.

We are as I understand it trying to raise a million quid by the end of September failing which as Brian writes......."If we don't it (BFC) could be sold to anyone"

So far so good.

So what is your beef this time abee I hear you cry.

Well I'll tell you. I've just picked up my copy of this weeks Chronny.

On page 39 Tim Street says his farewells for three weeks as he is off to New Zealand following the British Lions.

And Tim Street tells us that "There were some positive noises coming out of Bees United this week whilst two separate sources close to the club have told me : a) "I wouldn't worry too much about deadlines like the end of September" and b) Even if the option is not taken up, the club is now a very attractive prospect to potential buyers"

I kid you not. This is what according to Tim two sources close to the club have been telling the Chronny this week. What is it about these people (close to the club)???
Can they not keep their mouths shut for one week and what sort of message is this sending out to the individuals and corporations who are concerned about the situation and wondering how they can help. Jesus wept. I thought that the whole point was that 1) there is a deadline and 2) we didn't want to be an attractive prospect to potential buyers.

So Bees United........you are running the club and frankly there is usually too little communication but this week there is one article too much. I believe that Tim Street will be doing each and everyone of us a service by ignoring his conscience and naming these two separate sources.

But then again that's just me.........I don't suppose too many people care anyway.......

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I too was bemused by that. The message therefore should be revised to

"We'd like £1m but if you're too busy don't worry we'll be OK"

I think the reporting could've been a bit better perhaps.

 

[Banana]

b) Even if the option is not taken up, the club is now a very attractive prospect to potential buyers

I'd love to hear the rationale behind this statement.

 

[JoeBourke]

Would one of these sources close to the club be a Mr. Douglas Turner of Hangzhou Province, Peoples Republic of China?

I'll hazard a guess at the message that it is being attempted to convey in the following quotes:

a) "I wouldn't worry too much about deadlines like the end of September"

The September deadline is tied to the renewal of the bank overdraft facilities as against any impending recovery action contemplated/threatened by Altonwood. If the option is not exercised it may not lead to administration on October 1st, but there will certainly be a big hole blown in the budget for next season and a call from the bank for a reduction of the overdraft that will leave the club scrambling around for an immediate £250k cash injection from somewhere, while at the same time looking to make cuts to cover the higher than anticipated ongoing interest costs for the rest of the season. Altonwod will be left looking for another buyer to take over their position.

b) Even if the option is not taken up, the club is now a very attractive prospect to potential buyers"

The lack of a buyer for the club to take over Altonwood's obligations appears to have been the principal driver behind Ron's past plans for selling Griffin Park without a new stadium secured. The recent improvement in the financial performance of the club and the foundations being laid for future sporting and commercial success make the prospect of attracting a buyer to take over Ron's guarantees more likely, than has been the case for the past few years. Indeed this was a criticism by many of Ron in that he failed to secure a new owner to take over the clubs debts.

However, one aim of a supporter's trust is to mitigate any excessive influence over the affairs of a club by an individual or small group of individuals.

I think it was Eric-Radley Smith that said in 1967 the club should never again be allowed to fall into the hands of one man - maybe we should be listening this time around.

 

[abee]

I think it was Eric-Radley Smith that said in 1967 the club should never again be allowed to fall into the hands of one man - maybe we should be listening this time around.

Yes it was.

Was he by any chance related to the Eric Radley-Smith who subsequently and contentedly sat on the BFC board of directors whilst the club was owned by at least two "one man bands" Martin Lange and Ron Noades.

I think that we have already found Joe that principles fly out of the window once individuals get a taste of the benefits of being a football club director.......... rofl

 

[abee]

I'll hazard a guess at the message that it is being attempted to convey in the following quotes:

a) "I wouldn't worry too much about deadlines like the end of September"


b) Even if the option is not taken up, the club is now a very attractive prospect to potential buyers"

Oh righto Joe. Thank you for that.

The "two sources close to the club" making statements that seemingly contradict everything that Bees United was trying to do this week clearly doesn't ruffle you personally or indeed Bees United generally.

For me I would "hook 'em and cook 'em" for making statements like that at any time and particularly during launch week to the local press and I would have expected that by now BFC and Bees United would have had a hammerlock on the communication process which shows how out of touch I am.

If you were at all bothered I would have posted on the GPG who made these statements but hey what the heck......... :shrug:

To jocularly pass off the statements made (by one source not two by the way) and to the Chief Sports Writer of a leading local newspaper as being on the same level as Douglas Turner in China is not worthy of you in my opinion and belittles Tim Street's reporting.

Bees United and I are absolutely poles apart.

 

[abee]

However, one aim of a supporter's trust is to mitigate any excessive influence over the affairs of a club by an individual or small group of individuals.

Yes but if your reaction and post in response to the Chronny article is typical of the way that Bees United is gonna run the club from October 1 2005 then I suggest that you wave goodbye to the small group of "wealthy investors"........

Can you not just say for once :-

"Yes. I saw those comments in the Chronny and I was bloody furious.Things have got to change."

 

[Beebop]

Joe
there are generally only two people who speak regularly on behalf of BU,yourself and Brian Burgess.Now you have come on here with a possible explanation of the Chronicle's quotes,which raises,at least my suspicions.Please confirm that you are not the mystery source or at least say you have been quoted out of context.