Ron Noades- The Terminator

[abee]

Well yesterday did it for me.After watching Brentford since 1947 through times thick and thin but mostly thin Noades and his merry board of directors have finally finished me off.I tore up my season ticket and told my wife that I was free for Saturday afternoon shopping effective next week. I am sick to death of supporting a club run by amateurs and I know now that even if Ron Noades and Co walked into a brand spanking new Feltham Stadium tomorrow they would screw it up.
So well done Ron; you have achieved the almost impossible in driving me away. I am sick of dropping points to clubs whom we have outplayed on the park because we have no one who has any idea where the back of the net is and then when we do by some luck find an in-form striker with eighteen months left on his contract flog him off for peanuts to a team bound for the 3rd division. I have news for the board. The difference in annual salary between a non-league "not much hoper" and a proven goalscorer at this level is maybe £150,000 max and that sort of monies could and should have been found by a board that was content to rack up an overdraft in excess of £3million.
Until 5.15p.m. yesterday I was a member of the Millenium Club which costs £880 per season;I sponsor players for £200; bought Martin Rowlands shirt in the auction for £500 to help club funds and together with the little add-ons, lottery ticket, guess the gate, etc the fifteen or so games that I am able to attend per season costs around £100 per time.The Millennium Club yesterday was stuffed to overflowing as I guess that a lot (too many??)tickets had been sold to Reading fans. The television didn,t work ; aerial problem I think (no reason to suppose that Ron cut the electricity to save money)and I left in disgust.
I had no idea until a few months ago when I got the accounts that Noades was taking some £200,000 a year from the Club for his services and I am not contributing one more penny until Noades has gone. He was not of course at Griffin Park yesterday and neither he nor anyone else at the Club will give one jot that I have given up as it brings them nearer to Target 00000.
Good luck to the rest of you and if anyone from the Club reads this and bothers to identify me from my e-mail they can save monies by deleting me from the data base and stop sending me leaflets about Golf open days when I have told them a dozen times that I am not in London during the week.That will please Ron; he will save on stamps.
I will be back when Brentford FC is again owned by and run by directors who are Brentford fans not the present bunch of Crystal Palace supporters who couldn't tell you who John O'Mara or Ken Coote was.

 

[Jimbee]

?

 

[bobwin out of town bee]

Abee iv not got to the point of tearing up my season ticket yet but like you i am sick of droppong points againest teames that we out play take the last three games oldham wycombe reading nine points for the taking but walked away with just one point after out playing them for most of the match
how can Ron be so short sighted as to sell our top goalscorer and not replace him
Ron you say you want 10.000 gate but even you should know that selling your top goalscorer is not the way to attract more support
all you are doing is sending out negative vibs.
its about time that you actually came out and said what you are going to do no if's no but's just the truth then perphaps we the supporters will understand what you are trying to achieve but untill you do that you will get little support from the fans

 

[Steve G]

Hear, hear,hear and a thousand times hear ... I've only supported the Bees since 1970 ... the BFC board has always been renowned for its timidity and incompetence but at least they were always interested in the club ... Noades is another Webb like predator who has no interest in or passion for BFC but is only interested in his own personal vanity and power ... BFC is now too weak to withstand these kind of vampires ... the only reason we lose to 'big teams' like Reading is that they have a sense of direction and purpose and are prepared to invest in the club for the future

 

[Guildford Bee]

I know how u feel, but at the end of the day we just have to support the lads that are there. No matter how many chances we missed yesterday, the lads played their hearts out and I was proud to be a Bees fan.

 

[King Bee]

I couldn't agree more with you Abee, although I'm in a slightly different postition vis-a-vis the club. You have my support even though I know it won't amount to much in the long-run.
Now I know I'm the first to criticise the recent rumour mongering, and even recently tried to out one such purveyor, but last night I learnt that Joe Kinnear could have bid for Rowlands, Gibbs, Mahon, in fact, the whole bloody squad if he had so wanted for a cut down price. Apparently Noades was alleged to have said to Kinnear after the Scott/Quinn sell off, that 'if we you want any of MY other players just come and ask'.
I'm afraid I'd sooner have Webb back than the current arsehole we have in charge.

 

[Lord Mad]

Don't do it Abee - DON'T DO IT. There have been sh*t times at GP in the past and no doubt will be in the future, but to chuck the towel in after all these years... Don't do it mate!

 

[Mr Tree]

abee, i totally sympathise.... but as for the others, i'm afraid it's gonna get worse before it gets better... maybe it is time for noades to leave (i'm shocked at myself for saying that, the first time i've actually thought it right....)

can someone possibly ENSURE PG or RN get to read this, these are the points he needs to address in his PR Statements, not stupid f***ing comments about f***ing roofs

 

[moribee]

I was proud of our players yesterday,but my anger at Noades wether he was there or not(was he?) is all consuming.I wish he would just f*** off now...Abee try and keep the faith,we have had worst times.....but like you I know how many points we could have had in all these away games,if our finishing had matched our football,pressure and committment

 

[California Bee]

Like Abee I have been a Brentford fan since the forties )we were in the top Division for my first game) and I have been waiting patiently for our turn to come around again just like it did for Palace, QPR, Charlton, Watford, Bradford City, Derby County and the rest of them. That time will come round but it doesn't look as though it's imminent for now and Ron Noades does not have that as his objective. Congratulations to Abee for his generous support over the years and I hope he will be back again before long.
Supporting Brentford is not an activity for those expeting quick gratification. It's kinda like joining a regiment in the old days. You win some battles and you lose some and the war seems to go on for ever but you always hope and know that your blokes will win in the end.
We're in the trenches for now and we may not advance on this campaign but there's always next year. Andy Scott has gone and he served us well this year but there will be new men, new footsoldiers and maybe a couple of good marksmen.
Keep believing. One day our turn will come again and maybe soon.

 

[Bigbee]

sorry,but I thought my ' silly old me ' would have a reaction

 

[Streetboy]

Strepsils, if you read this thread, remember at the barnet game you accused me of making a tit of myself on the gpg after getting a bit emotional following the unbelievable sale of scott and quinn. looks like a few others are pissed off too mate. the point i was making was that before the sales we might even have made the play offs, but where would the goals now come from. 2 goals and woeful finishing in about seven league games since proves my point i think.
anyway, how about perfecting saturday's creation ("we're the bees" sung to spandau ballets "gold") for forthcoming airing?

 

[South Acton Bee]

I just wish i knew what to say but i don't but something got to change and quick?

 

[TAZ]

Sob,Sob,SOB, After watching against Reading I thought I would never ever agree with someone like 'abee' but I am getting close to it.My dad(god rest his soul)first took me to the Bee's in 1969 when I was 7 and I was hooked on them ever since,even with older brothers trying to tempt me to their White Hart Lane and Highbury I kept the faith through thick&thin,but now I am so saddened by the obvious lack of promotional hunger missing from the club(not the players)Somethings gotta change and now!!!!!!!though I am not interested in a Noades out campaign ,he must be in some way reminded that true supporters week in week out do really want to progress to a higher league at all times and not just be content with a mid table position in a division we are quite able to get at least a play off place..even to be promoted and sent straight back down is an amazing stunt which surely I am not the only fan to think this??????

oh well,up the Bees (for the moment)

 

[Baffled]

Abee, I know exactly how you feel. I've been supporting the Bees at the same level as you and go back about the same number of years.
There is little doubt in my mind that Noades is an idiot and lout of the first order. An idiot and lout both in business and in personality.
But I disagree with you about packing it in. If you do that, you are almost unwittingly assisting a moron to win the day.
You stand and fight against minutae such as Noades. How? Given the slovenly, cheap, penny pinching and tardy way he goes about business, you can almost bet that Altonwood will be riddled with faults. Tax and other ways. Let's find them. Make life as awkward for him as he has done for Bees fans everywhere.
I was one of the front runners in the battle against QPR in 1967. I went looking for dirt on Dunnett - and found it. Let's do that again now. In fact, I'm rather looking forward to tangling with Noades, someone I regard as a menace to sport everywhere.
You don't run from clowns like this. You stand and take them on. I hope you'll be with this us as the battle hots up.

 

[saffrey]

Did you REALLY tear up your ticket? How about doing a noble thing and giving it to someone who DOESN'T go to games, so at least BFC can get another supporter who might buy shirts, hod dogs etc. You think you are big - you are not. You are just a coward. If you had put your money where your mouth is, why didn't you ask BFC to give your season ticket to charity or something. What a waste. Well at least it ain;t my money - not that I've got any anyway. you make me sick.

 

[abee]

Thanks for your erudite response Saffrey and yes I did tear up my ticket as it is non-transferable being for the Millenium Club and the Directors guest box.
However if you wish to arrange for the Club in exceptional circumstances to allow you to sell seat F3 in the directors guest box for the remaining home games for this season then be my guest. I would suggest however that the monies be handled by you and go not to Altonwood but perhaps to Oli to help him pay for his goalkeeping coach.
As you can read I do not mind your remarks about me as I have gobe through being upset and am just indifferent now.
Anyway you handle the vacant seat if you wish,I have given you the details.

 

[Luton Bee]

Abee

You have my sympathy mate, it is hard at the moment to see a way forward for the club under it's present ownership. Ron appears to have missed yet another oppertunity to ally fears by turning a Q & A session for Beesotted into a "private chat" with certain representative groups. Thereby almost gagging those groups. Leaving us in the dark and creating a divided fan base as witnessed by some of the comments on this board recently. I hope you can find your way back to GP sooner rather than later.

 

['Ayes B]

Abee, please reconsider.

I dis-owned the Bees in the W£bb era and to be honest it was the most lonely year of my life. You can't get the Bees out of your blood, sitting in your living room watching the teletext sports box, staring at the clock, wondering how much time is being added on, thinking it must be over now.

Chairman come and go, the Scott deal which was unfortunate, was viewed by me at the time as good business... Its just a pitty that the strikers that we have at the club haven't converted the chances that the team have created into goals.

The palyers were all dispondent after the Reading game, but the supporters in the paddock almost in unison called to every player 'Get your head up'.

The annoything is we are a striker short of a top 6 side.

I'm sure your anger and financial support would eb welcomed by any supporters trust, you can make a difference

 

[Edmundo]

Luton Bee - it is a moot point whether the meeting with Noades was ever intended as a Q&A session for Beesotted. But that doesn't really matter. No-one who was present has been gagged - can you imagine me shutting up?

Yes, there were one or two things told to us in confidence, but I don't regard any of them as super secrets that everyone is dying to know. BIAS's newsletter is being prepared and should go out to all members later this week.

As for abee's reaction to Saturday, I am upset that he feels this way, although I understand why he does. Seeing your team play well enough to win three games on the spin, yet emerge with just one point is hard to take. I just hope that things turn round, as they did for 'Ayes Bee and that the exile is not permanent.

Come on you reds!!!!

 

[shaggy]

Am I the only one who thinks this is a little of an over-reaction.

I can fully understand the desire not to put money in Noades' pocket, especially for a Millenium Club which doesn't provide what was promised, but if you have that amount of money then you must have the business sense to realise the logic of selling players when you can (not simply for the cash payment but also to reduce the wageroll). Mailing lists are always annoying but its a fact of life, and I don't think we can criticise the club for trying to generate interest. As for the Reading game, after a very dissapointing first half I thought we really fought for it - it was a pleasure to watch.

Rather than cutting off all contact with Brentford, surely it would be better to work to improve things? Whether thats putting time and money into BIAS or a supporters trust or something else - I don't know. Really depends on the individual. But whatever, its got to be better than just opting out.

 

[Debut1949]

Everyone will agree that Brentford failed to take their chances on Saturday and that with a proven goal scorer like John O'Mara, Andy McCulloch, John Docherty, Dean Holdsworth, Steve Phillips etc. the outcome would have been different.

I cannot agree that the result had anything to do with Andy Scott being sold. In the four games that he has played for Oxford since he left he has failed to score. Such a record is more in line with his overall record than the "purple patch" of goal-scoring form that he experienced during the three months or so before he was sold.

In my view the worst piece of transfer business transacted by Brentford over the last 20 years and which has obviously had a severe impact on the level of success over the last few years was the sale in the relegation season of Marcus Bent for "peanuts". He was skillful, two footed, big, strong, fast and, for a very young man, experienced. In fact, although I am also a great admirer of Nicky Forster's ability, I was amazed when after the F A Cup tie against Manchester City in January 1997 Birmingham City came in for Nicky Forster rather than Marcus Bent for Bent's performance that day was of a quality rarely seen at Griffin Park during the last 50 years.

It is, of course, to be noted that the people at Crystal Palace who recognised Bent's qualities are quite close to Brentford today! The sad thing is that the Marcus Bent's of this world are quite rare and therefore it is not going to be easy for them to find a comparable replacement for Brentford. In this context some think that is what many of the "fans" deserve since they failed to encourage and nurture Marcus Bent in the way that was appropriate if they wanted long-term success. I can't think that too many of them will ever be appearing on the Antiques Roadshow! They're much more wedded to the chuck away society - "this toy's no good - I want another".

It is to be hoped that Lloyd Owusu, Scott Partridge or Mark McCammon hit their "purple patch" in the near future. As I see it the overall play of the team has improved very considerably over the last three months and if this is continued into the future with a fair run of luck Brentford will either make the play-offs or be very close. The main role of supporters is to get behind the players playing and try to give those playing in forward positions the confidence to succeed. Owusu and Partridge have already proved that they can score 20 goals in a season and they can do it again. I don't buy that "it was only the Third Division" story. If that were true every purchase from a Third Division team would be a reckless gamble.

There are 17 games to play and it is up to the team and supporters to "go for it" at least until it is mathematically certain that the play-offs cannot be achieved - with proper application from all concerned that event will not arise. The point is that the teams currently above Brentford will drop many points between now and the end of the season. It is an effort far less daunting than the seven wins out of seven that was necessary to win the Championship in 1992.

Reverting to the match on Saturday I doubt that on his performance on that day that many fans thought that Brentford missed very much by not paying the money for, and the wages of, Butler. Equally, I would be surprised if many believe in their hearts that Cureton would be a long term solution to the current lack of goals.

Finally I should say that I consider that many of the comments on this board about Ron Noades are puerile and unhelpful to the aim of building a successful club at Brentford.

 

[Edmundo]

I agree almost 100% with you, Premier Bee! Butler was very unimpressive, but Cureton is, to my mind, exactly what we need.

I'm afraid that it's not going to make you popular defending Ron Noades. Whether you like the man or not, even suggesting that there might be another side to the story can make you enemy number one - as I discovered on Saturday when a well known supporter of Brentford had a go at me for not being able to see what Ron Noades is trying to do to the club. When I asked him to explain what Noades is trying to do, he said "it's obvious," but couldn't actually tell me what was so obvious.

To a large extent, whether or not Noades is a nice man or not is irrelevant to the whole debate. Brentford FC is losing approximately £30,000 every week. We don't have a benefactor who is prepared to write off such sums of money, so a large overdraft is building up at the bank. There are only two ways of reducing the losses. You either increase the income or you cut the costs. To make a serious impact on income, we need the facilities that a new stadium can provide. The club thought that the council would facilitate a move to Feltham in the near future, but when it found out that the move might be three to five years away, it understandably decided that cost-cutting was essential. Every week that we stay at GP we build up the sum that has to be found from the proceeds of GP before there is any money to build a new stadium.

Some of the medicine may taste unpleasant, but I think we must understand that it is vital that the club starts trying to live within its means.

 

[abee]

Premier Bee. I am in Paris at the moment and do not have access to my football books but did not Crystal Palace sell Marcus Bent for relative peanuts to I believe Port Vale. It is only with his last two moves that he has become a million pound player.As I have said I cannot immediately verify this comment but I do not believe that Crystal Palace turned him into the million pound player that he is today in fact I am not certain that he was even a first team regular.If there were riots in the streets around Selhurst Park when he was sold on then I missed it.

 

[Edmundo]

Marcus Bent went to Port Vale for quite a lot more than we got from Palace, but it was less than a million. He was popular with Palace fans and many of them were not happy that he was sold. But then a lot of players were sold by Palace at the time, including Hermann Hreidarsson, and most of them were sold for less than their true value (especially Hermann).

Ron tried to bring Marcus Bent back to Brentford, but he refused as he remembered the abuse he used to receive from the fans. Funny old world, isn't it? We hurl abuse at Marcus Bent, who goes on to prove he is a quality player and praise Kevin Rapley to the rafters, who goes on to prove that he hasn't got what it takes.

 

[abee]

Edmundo your response regarding the losses is accurate and well worded and I for one am delighted that the penny has dropped at last possibly as a result of the BIAS meeting with RN.
My point for probably more than two years now is that Noades was not as he liked you all to think bankrolling the Club from his pocket but was creating an unsustainable overdraft allied with monstrous operating losses against the security of Griffin Park Stadium.These losses he was able to use to obtain tax relief for any profitable parts of his empire.(Look at the accounts).Edmundo, you know me personally and you know that my tune has never changed on this.I have been telling you all of this for a long time. I have bored everyone witless both in person and on this board by saying that as far as I am aware Noades has not put in one penny of his own monies (other than to take out the Swaisland loan at a discount and that secured also by the Stadium)although he would certainly like you to think so.Now you seem to understand that the equity in Griffin Park has been eroded by the irresponsible financial decisions of the board based so you tell us on the belief that we were going to be able to stroll into Feltham in short order and the whizkids who run the Club were going to turn Feltham into a cash machine that cleared the old debts. Christ, I can't even believe that I am having to write this stuff.
Edmundo, get real. The only way that the losses which you put at £30,000 per week and which have to be added to the existing debt can be cleared is by destroying the Club by getting rid of the better players not particularly for the transfer fee but to get them off the payroll.Either that or sell GP as soon as possible and don't tell me that Noades wouldn't like to do that.
You are looking at part-time players within two years.
The last time that we had a non-Brentford man running the club was Jack Dunnett and he wanted his money back by flogging us to QPR.Everyone loved Dunnett for a few seasons when he was buying players and talking the talk.No non-Brentford supporter is ever going to come in as Chairman and lose his own monies because he doesn't care about the Club or its history or the supporters.This is why I fear for the future and if I make Saffrey sick and upset the Noades apologists on this board then it is too bad.
Probably wrong thread but I am responding to your "what else can Ron do" note.

 

[Mr Tree]

nothing to do with the debate, just to summarize the Bent point, the people who brought him to palace (noades, lew) weren't the people who sold him, hence the small sell-on fee....

 

[roddy]

I am afraid that too many people suffer from the Rose Colored Glasses syndrome. Ron Noades when he came to Brentford said he was prepared to fund the club for a period. He has been paying himself £200000 as manager and employed 3 coaches for something in the region of £100000/£150000 a year each .That is £1m for two years. I just cannot see that he has put any of his own money at risk.After flattering to deceive in his first season he has proved an inept manager who was not prepared to totally commit himself as either a Manager or Chairman. The crisis we face now is almost totally due to Ron Noades arrogance and ineptitude. I am convinced that what we see now is not only an attempt by Noades to extricate himself financially but a determination to ensure that no one else will succeed where he failed.I like many others have been watching the Bees for 30 years plus and have seen the ups and downs (mainly downs ) over the years. But I have never before felt that those in charge of the club not only don't care but are actively seeking their personal financial agenda rather than thinking of the club.

No one seriously expects Brentford to be a Premiership Club but I believe that we should and could hold own in Div One.

 

[Leicester Bee]

Abee, you have my complete sympathy. I agree with your views so long as they are fact.
However, despite what you say about Ron and his penny-pinching, I cannot bring myself to stop going to matches to support the team. So long as we have players who are willing to fight all the way, I have to support what they do. These players are the light at the end of my tunnel, and I fear that if I stop going to games, then I am turning my back on the club as a whole.
I have absolutely no confidence in Ron, but have every confidence in the rest of the club. Although Ron pulls the strings, without our support, these people will be gone faster than if we keep going. I cannot believe that fans with any influence would let the club die on its arse, and having read about 1967, i fully believe that it is these fans and BIAS who will eventually rid us of Ron, and hopefully we'll see much of the same personnel at that time.
I grant you that Ron is the bane of your life, as he is to all of us, but (spot the cliche) should all of us who agree with you stop supporting and believing, then we will be blamed for the demise of the club.
What you do is your decision, and your opinions are completely valid. If you stay away from GP, then it is your decision. I hope that you find a way to help the club through an alternative means, and that you are the only fan who has decided to turn their back (albeit temporarily).
Brentford is your team, you'll always live for the dream.
Hope that you decide to return very soon.

All the best mate.

 

[Baffled]

Poor old Edmundo. I watch his writings with growing amusement. If anyone hasm't got what it takes, it's you, old son.
He has five minutes with Noades and then comes on the board to lecture us all on what we should be thinking. Have you ever thought you might be a bit green around the gills, Edmundo?
Those of us who have been around a bit - not only at Brentford - know a con artist when we see one. We can all see what he's up to: the "obvious" that you failed to see in your earlier post is a quick profit at all our expenses and to hell with our football club. If it wasn't Brentford, it would be someone else.
Five minutes in Noades' house seems to answer all your queries.
You always sound to me as though you have come down from the mountain carrying the Ten Commandments inscribed on Noades' manufactured tablets.
In your case, keep taking the tablets - but don't tell us there's a plus side to Noades. Ask ABee!

 

[AB]

This board is all about opinions and expressing them in an open way. We can and do all disagree. I don't think it is particularly helpful to slag off those who work hard on our behalf for airing theirs. I've not met Edmundo, but he has always struck me as being far from naive and pretty realistic about the Bees. Just because he and some of the other less vocal supporters on this board don't view everything with suspicion doesn't make them wrong. As long as there is no-one in a position to replace RN there is not a great deal to be gained by blind criticism (or indeed blind support- but I don't see too much of that!). Other than the man himself I don't think anyone really knows what his plans are for BFC. This, as noted elsewhere and often, is one of RN's great failings- a lack of PR and ability or wish to communicate. However, if we choose to shoot the messenger when someone gives up their spare time to speak to him, if you were RN would you bother or care to communicate at all?

As I have said before- the main problem is that we felt that there was a new dawn because of the massively increased spending for a couple of years and now as normal service is resumed we are bitter (perhaps we should start a version of the Sunderland fanzine "Its the hope I can't stand"). Beyond that, who knows? One thing that has been made clear is that RN is NOT looking to sell the club (who would buy it anyway?).

 

[Edmundo]

Well, I'm afraid I can't let that pass, Baffled.

Five minutes with Noades? Were you there? Did you have a stopwatch? It was a lot longer than that, but the length of time hardly matters. I could spend 1 second or 10 days in his company - it wouldn't change the fact that the club is losing money at an alarming rate. Clearly it was felt that we could do this if we could move to a new stadium and Ron has never hidden the fact that we could only run at this kind of loss for two years (which was extended to three by the Hermann profits). You or I might have taken a different position at the outset and said that the costs should never have been allowed to get so high, but (with the honourable exceptions of abee and Shaggy) I don't recall too many people objecting at the time.

The point about what is so obvious is that the person who said it was obvious was unable to spell out what he thought was obvious. Obviously (

) you can. But I'm afraid I don't think what you think is obvious is obvious at all. How is Noades making a fast buck on this?

Since I'm the subject of attack for defending Noades, I'm going to say what I really think now.

If Noades wanted to, he could put us into administration tomorrow. Then the future of the club really would be at stake - is there anyone else who has the money and desire to take over? Would they know what they were doing? Mark Goldberg was the supposed saviour of Palace from the evil Ron Noades. They only just survived.

I'm not saying that Noades is Mr Perfect and does no wrong. I find the news that he wouldn't let the club pay for the goalkeeping coach disgraceful - although I haven't heard the full story, I believe there is a bit more to it than was reported in the paper. What I do believe is that someone needs to sort out the financial mess we are in. Yes, it's easy to say that Ron got us into this situation - but that doesn't mean that he isn't the best person to get us out of it. And at this very moment in time there isn't anyone else to do so. I'm not saying that everything Ron has done is 100% justified, but I am saying that pretending that we can carry on losing £30,000 a week is crazy. If Ron doesn't carry out the cuts, someone else will - whether or not they love BFC - and there might be something to be said for having it done by someone who has a track record.

Most of the more virulent attacks on Noades seemed to be driven by anger and an irrational belief that a man with bad PR must be up to something dodgy.

[This message has been edited by Edmundo (edited 12 February 2001).]

 

[abee]

Edmundo, clearing up corporate messes created by incompetents is my day job and as I posted on here a few weeks back the one golden rule that I have learned is that "the guys that got you in the sh*t are not the ones who are going to get you out of it".
You seem to believe that Ron Noades sunning himself for a good chunk of the year in Spain and barking out orders from his mobile phone to Gary Hargraves is going to get this sorted.
He cannot without spilling blood and the man is out of his depth. As I posted a month ago if surgical work has to be done then let him and his board sod off back to Crystal Palace and let Brentford fans take the hard decisions which will almost certainly not be the ones that Noades would take.
I also believe that if the fans thought that they had a board that cared then more practical help would be available both by way of financial contribution and time contribution.
Let Noades put us into administration so that everyone including yourself can see his priorities.

 

[Chrisbee]

If I owned a company that was losing £30,000 a week;a company that has no chance of relocation in the short term;therefore a company that cannot up its income;a company whose customers/clients are leaving on a regular basis;a company that has been badly managed for many,many years by various incompetents;a company with a piss-poor public relations history....I WOULD GET THE f*** OUT(somehow)!I think it was Abee who talked of part-time football within 2 years.Well what is wrong with that?
Seems common sense to me that many clubs will choose this road rather than lose the kind of monies Brentford,Bury et al are losing.One question.If we go part-time,will that be reflected in the admission prices etc etc???

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL:- Cheaper,friendlier and nearer!!

[This message has been edited by Chrisbee (edited 12 February 2001).]

 

[saffrey]

abee, I'm sorry about the vitriol of my first response, but I really don't think it is helpful to do what you have done. Brentford needs every support it gets, and although you may not like Noades, it is far worse to sit at home criticising the club when you no longer turn up to matches. This is why I have remained on the whole quiet about the recent goings on at BFC, as I've only been to a handful of games this season. You have invested a large sum of money in watching BFC, and I don't blame you for considering it to be no longer worth £800pa for your trouble - that is what the econmony is about. But you have already "purchased" your seat for the season, so whether or not you turn up, Noades is still getting his hands on your money. If you feel Noades is not investing your ticekt money properly, then as someone who occupies the Directors box, you arre in a unique lobbying position - unlike the majority of supporters and indeed myself. You are, in fact, party to a lot of hob-nob talk which may go on "inside" the corridors of power - well at least on a matchday - so I feel you have commited a woeful lack of judgement, and a complete waste of your hard-earned cash.

 

[saffrey]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by shaggy:
Am I the only one who thinks this is a little of an over-reaction.</font>

No!! I do too! and so does 'Ayes Bee

 

[Baffled]

Thank you, Abee. Re your last message, I couldn't have put it better. I have been droning on about Noades using GP as a cash cow for ages now. He offsets all the losses against Altonwood. And even if he doesn't, he can carry it over for a few years.
Net expense to him? Very little.
That's the obvious that is apparently not obvious to Edmundo.
Keep going Abee. Youi talk more sense than anyone I've ever read on this board. The trouble is - when you expound such facts to many Bees fans, you can see their eyes glazing over.
Whether Edmundo was five minutes or 55 minutes in Noades' house matters not, I doubt if he would catch on.
That is very obvious.

 

[JonnieGee]

I don't think Noades would only put us into administration as a last resort, as taking this route would expose the full extent of the financial mismanagement. This would hit his credability both in the financial and football world.

He has built a created the persona of a knowledgable, sound, football chairman. Look at the way he as critisised other chairmen (not least Goldberg). Putting the club in administration would mean eating a large slice of humple pie in public. Can you really see him doing that?

His only solution is take dramatic action. What can he do? Sell assets. He can't sell the ground so it has to be the players, and the only ones other clubs want are the good ones!

Methinks that the club will be knocked down before it can be built up.

 

[Park Royal Ben]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Baffled:
Poor old Edmundo. I watch his writings with growing amusement. If anyone hasm't got what it takes, it's you, old son.
He has five minutes with Noades and then comes on the board to lecture us all on what we should be thinking. Have you ever thought you might be a bit green around the gills, Edmundo?
Those of us who have been around a bit - not only at Brentford - know a con artist when we see one. We can all see what he's up to: the "obvious" that you failed to see in your earlier post is a quick profit at all our expenses and to hell with our football club. If it wasn't Brentford, it would be someone else.
Five minutes in Noades' house seems to answer all your queries.
You always sound to me as though you have come down from the mountain carrying the Ten Commandments inscribed on Noades' manufactured tablets.
In your case, keep taking the tablets - but don't tell us there's a plus side to Noades. Ask ABee!</font>

Can this post be put into the nastiest piece of sanctimonious bollox ever written on this board thread.

Pray also tell me how the character assasination of fellow supporters for nothing other than putting forward an opinion or relaying contact with a club official assists our Football club to move forward.

 

[Luton Bee]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Park Royal Ben:
Pray also tell me how the character assasination of fellow supporters for nothing other than putting forward an opinion or relaying contact with a club official assists our Football club to move forward.</font>

Quite simply it doesn't! Ed gives up a large chunk of his spare time in the running of BIAS as does John Mac and the others. The simple truth of this thread is that due to the mis-management and poor planning of the board at BFC, we are up that well known creek without a paddle. Please all, take note. It is down to the Chairman and Board of directors at BFC that we are losing 30k per week, not the people who run BIAS. If you disagree with the running of Bias I suggest you stand for election and give up some of your own time to the cause. Of course that will take up more time than just throwing bland criticism, but that's life!

 

[roddy]

Edmundo if you know something we don't please let us know.The club was in a bad state before Ron Noades took over and it in a worse state now. This is due entirely to financial mismanagement by him and his assocciates.has no one other than ABEE and myself not picked up on the fact that despite what he promised he has not put a penny of his own money in the club. If he had done what he promised he would walk away and we would be in the same financial positions as we were pre Noades. It is obvious that unpalatable decisions must be made but we could swallow it more easily if supporters were convinced that those in charge had the interests of Brentford at heart. What we see now is the equivelant of saying that we can't put out the fire because we can't afford the water.

 

[Debut1949]

If I had not thought that Brentford could with proper management and application be a Premiership Club I would not have chosen the pretentious User Name for this board of "Premier Bee".

For the last 50 years I have longed for Brentford to achieve the sort of status that the Club had in the 1930's that my late father who had watched the team from the early 1920's told me so much about.

As far as I was concerned the arrival of Ron Noades in 1998 resurrected that dream that had all but died in the relegation season.
He had a proven track record of involvement in taking a team into the top flight on several occasions.

The Championship was achieved in some style in the first season and after a year of indifferent or poor performances while it adjusted to the massive loss of Herman Hreidarsson and coped with a string of serious injuries the team has over the last three months gradually increased the guile and quality that it is bringing to its play.

For me therefore the dream of the Premiership still lives. Charlton, Wimbledon, Bradford City, and Watford (and Fulham this season) have all shown what can be achieved. The thing though that I see as most likely to set that dream back for several years is the negative attitude of some "fans" towards Ron Noades. Instead of encouraging him also to live the dream and help bring about its fulfilment they indulge themselves in comments, many grossly unfair, that are most likely to have the opposite effect. In many ways they remind me of those on the left of the Labour Party in the 1980s that kept the Party out of government for a generation.

In making the above-mentioned comments I should say that I have never met, corresponded with or spoken to Ron Noades or anyone associated with him and do not agree with everything that he has done.

The darkest part of the night is often before the dawn. Let's hope that the dawn brings the LDV trophy and promotion. If it doesn't, one thing we can agree on is that it won't be for any lack of longing on the part of Bees fans and that there is another chance next season.

 

[Isleworth Bee]

Premier Bee, I think we need to maintain a healthy and objective balance between optimism and pessimism as far as Noadsy and the future of the club are concerned.

In my opinion, talk of promotion this year and future Premiership status is way off beam and is vastly overoptimistic.

By the same token, some of the other comments on here lean too far the opposite way.

The main problem we have is that Noades has lost interest. He is out of pocket by a couple of million and somehow or other will eventually want it back. I dont think it is true to say as Roddy and ABee have done that none of it is his own money. Agreed he is offsetting Brentfords losses against more profitable Altonwood concerns for tax reasons but it is still lost money and Altonwood=Ron Noades.

He is trying to stem the losses and recoup some of the capital by offloading players when he can and to some extent that is understandable. Ultimately however he will only get the bulk of his investment back from the sale of Griffin Park and whether he is prepared to wait for that and still run the football side in the meantime without cutting it to the bone and relegation fodder next year is doubtful. We have to rely on Martin Lange to ensure that the worst case scenario isnt allowed to happen with the ground and who knows whether Lange will come up trumps or not.

I would say to those like Premier Bee that many of us would still be a lot happier with a new owner who cared about the club and even if it is a forlorn hope that is what I hope for more than anything.

We may also find that Hounslow Council are a bit more forthcoming if they are dealing with somebody else.

 

[TAZ]

Perhaps Mr Noades ears are burning that much that he may post a reply and give us Bees some idea of whats gonna happen in near future or indeed the the far!!!

C'MON RON ,GIS A CLUE????????????????????

 

[Simon T]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Isleworth Bee:
The main problem we have is that Noades has lost interest. He is out of pocket by a couple of million and somehow or other will eventually want it back. I dont think it is true to say as Roddy and ABee have done that none of it is his own money. Agreed he is offsetting Brentfords losses against more profitable Altonwood concerns for tax reasons but it is still lost money and Altonwood=Ron Noades.
</font>

There is a big difference between guaranteeing an overdraft and paying it off. Unless somebody has information to the contrary, I am sure that the overdraft is Brentford's, probably guaranteed by Altonwood with maybe a call on the assets of Griffin Park. As such, the cost of running the debt would be passed back to Brentford. It would only be if the clubs bankers called in the debt that Ron Noades would be out of pocket. Back in the days when I had over 100 posts and Ron had just resigned as manager, I pointed out that the main criticism we could have of Ron Noades was not his management of the team but his management of the clubs finances, and that still holds true today.

 

[roddy]

I too for many years cherished the dream that we may once again get back to the upper echelons of Football . Sadly short of of A Jack Hayward Mohammed Al Fayed this is not going to happen at least not in the foreseeable future. We can and should however be a force in Division 1.

As regards Ron Noades I again was delighted when he took over and hoped a new era had arrived but for whatever reason that dream soured during our first season back in Division 2. By his own admission Ron Noades gave little thought to the team during the summer and hence I believe that we started out this season ill prepared. At the start of his regime he employed three coaches and awarded himself an astronomical salary and thus we were inevitably financially doomed unless he were going to as he said fund the club for two years. Well he hasn't which is why we are in the financial mess we are in now. Whatever people might say about off setting losses against tax etc Ron has not as yet anyway done what he said ie fund the club himself.

 

[abee]

For Saffrey.
No hard feelings and you are quite right in that Noades already has my money for this season.I have told you that my ticket is non-transferable otherwise I would have given it to a kid but my offer to you is still valid. There is a bought and paid for ticket to the Millenium Club with seat F3 in the directors guest box.You have my promise that my bum will not be on the seat for as long as Noades is at the Club.If you can persuade the Club to let you sell it or give it away then you have my blessing and I am sure that you will appreciate that I would prefer that any revenue does not go to Noades which is why I suggested to you that anything that you get could go to say Oli for the goalkeeping coach.
I am just one of many who have given up and do not understand why my decision has attracted so much vitriol.
I said at the time that selling the Club to Noades was David Webb's last joke on BFC supporters and I stand by that.

 

[Luton Bee]

Well I never thought i'd find myself saying this but having read and re-read this thread I have come to the opinion that abee is right. Noades should go as soon as possible and unless things change between now and the summer I will not be renewing my season ticket.

 

[Bigbee]

I will be brief.I have said all along Noades has not used any of his own money to ' fund ' the club ,leaving us in debt.The club cost £850 k I believe and was solvent.The ground is worth £5m ,it was hardly a gamble for him was it ?

 

[SQUELCH]

I'd give my right arm 2have a season ticket and watch the bees week in week out weather they lose,win or draw i still get alot of satisfaction from going 2matches and meeting mates etc. the sad fact is i live in notts +can't get to many matches so 2hear 'so called fans'saying they r not going 2matches not renewing season ticket etc cos of Noadesey is absolutely scandalous. What happened 2 'brentford til i die' sadly its bin said b4 some Bees fans r very fickle and have very short memories, i am undecided about Noades as many r, but that aint gonna stop me from seeing my team....... but hey Bees will be Bees.