fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
So the last few days have seen the SZ rollercoaster back and forth with the usual suspects calling for Ron's head and the other lot of usual suspects failing to engage, prompting outrage, pitting fan v fan and by and large the focus has mainly stayed on the team as they limped to a 1-0 home win v 10 man Yeovil.
I think we can all agree on the following -
a) We want SUFC to be playing in the highest possible league
b) We don't want any more embargos
c) We want the players and staff paid on time
d) We want a different Chairman/owner
e) None of us can universally agree on how the above actually can happen
Now, as much as many people don't want to hear it, or think about it, there are only 2 ways Ron is leaving this club -
1) Once FF is built, and
2) If he dies.
That's it. No-one is going to buy the club, because he's not selling. I know we all think that applying pressure on him with lures of millions from outside investment would tip the balance, but is simply isn't going to. He has come too far and we are in too deep. It doesn't matter how many investors are found or how many millions they have. The amount Ron would walk away with for a complete sell out would be a financially ridiculous sum of money to pay for a club that owns a few NL players. Because that's all we own. The real value is in the properties that will be built and he ain't giving that up after waiting 23 years and pumping so much money in. That isn't owned by the club, it's owned by a myriad of other companies. It's not like selling a car; these transactions are incredibly complex AND THE SHAREHOLDER NEEDS TO WANT TO SELL.
He doesn't.
If he were to somehow walk away, we would fold, without a doubt. Without his monthly cash injections we are stuffed and would go into administration. But guess what? He is the major creditor so would hoover up all that's left anyway! All roads lead to Ron.
We are frankly screwed, unless we are happy with the current situation just to play out until either option 1) or 2) occurs.
But even then I would imagine Ron would keep a majority shareholding but would just step down as Chairman.
So, there doesn't appear to be an option that is viable as a club for him to walk away.
However... I know we've said it before, but this type of discussion always ends up in an anti Ron "we-must-get-him-out-at-all-costs" type argument which no-one except Ron can win. This is because HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING! He just waits. I don't even think he goes to the games anymore so pre, during or post match protests will be pointless.
So, how about the emphasis being about Ron not getting out of the club, but instead, just getting outside investment.
This requires a bit of negotiation on both sides; he has to give up a bit of the pie; not all of it, just enough so we can survive properly, but he will stay as a majority shareholder, and we have to stop calling for change at this stage of the process and get behind the team. To be honest, a good owner will probably be seen and not heard. That's the way I'd like it (as I'm sure we all would).
I don't know how we can package this up, but that's what I'd like to see. Tolerance of his position, but massive pressure for new investment. I know that "Martin Out" is a lot more snappy than "Martin sell some of your shares please", and the chant "What do we want?" "Martin to sell some of his shares" "When do we want it?" "Now" doesn't scan easily either. But it's just an idea really, something which maybe we can all get behind.
I certainly would, and I'm also sure there are some ultra creative minds on here that can come up with a punchy way of presenting it.
I think we can all agree on the following -
a) We want SUFC to be playing in the highest possible league
b) We don't want any more embargos
c) We want the players and staff paid on time
d) We want a different Chairman/owner
e) None of us can universally agree on how the above actually can happen
Now, as much as many people don't want to hear it, or think about it, there are only 2 ways Ron is leaving this club -
1) Once FF is built, and
2) If he dies.
That's it. No-one is going to buy the club, because he's not selling. I know we all think that applying pressure on him with lures of millions from outside investment would tip the balance, but is simply isn't going to. He has come too far and we are in too deep. It doesn't matter how many investors are found or how many millions they have. The amount Ron would walk away with for a complete sell out would be a financially ridiculous sum of money to pay for a club that owns a few NL players. Because that's all we own. The real value is in the properties that will be built and he ain't giving that up after waiting 23 years and pumping so much money in. That isn't owned by the club, it's owned by a myriad of other companies. It's not like selling a car; these transactions are incredibly complex AND THE SHAREHOLDER NEEDS TO WANT TO SELL.
He doesn't.
If he were to somehow walk away, we would fold, without a doubt. Without his monthly cash injections we are stuffed and would go into administration. But guess what? He is the major creditor so would hoover up all that's left anyway! All roads lead to Ron.
We are frankly screwed, unless we are happy with the current situation just to play out until either option 1) or 2) occurs.
But even then I would imagine Ron would keep a majority shareholding but would just step down as Chairman.
So, there doesn't appear to be an option that is viable as a club for him to walk away.
However... I know we've said it before, but this type of discussion always ends up in an anti Ron "we-must-get-him-out-at-all-costs" type argument which no-one except Ron can win. This is because HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING! He just waits. I don't even think he goes to the games anymore so pre, during or post match protests will be pointless.
So, how about the emphasis being about Ron not getting out of the club, but instead, just getting outside investment.
This requires a bit of negotiation on both sides; he has to give up a bit of the pie; not all of it, just enough so we can survive properly, but he will stay as a majority shareholder, and we have to stop calling for change at this stage of the process and get behind the team. To be honest, a good owner will probably be seen and not heard. That's the way I'd like it (as I'm sure we all would).
I don't know how we can package this up, but that's what I'd like to see. Tolerance of his position, but massive pressure for new investment. I know that "Martin Out" is a lot more snappy than "Martin sell some of your shares please", and the chant "What do we want?" "Martin to sell some of his shares" "When do we want it?" "Now" doesn't scan easily either. But it's just an idea really, something which maybe we can all get behind.
I certainly would, and I'm also sure there are some ultra creative minds on here that can come up with a punchy way of presenting it.
