Just finished listening to it.
I still consider Ron to be a liar and am allowed to call him out as such after the much quoted statement he made at an SUFC AGM, when discussing the original Stadium at FF and the 35 retail units, saying that the then chairman of JJB sports and Wigan Athletic at the time, Dave Whelan, had signed up for one, therefore JJB sports would be there and if we didn't play Wigan Athletic in a pre season friendly prior to the next season, all present could call him a liar, so I take him at his word.
However on the interview, he couldn't bring himself to apologise, which I thought was poor at best and awful PR for him on an ongoing basis. However to counter that he said he was human and had made mistakes. - better.
On the embargo he said it didn't effect us, my initial reaction was unprintable, but listening more closely, I think his basis for that was on the position we were in with the players at the squad at the time and not being able to play Sim and Sam, rather than the bigger picture of would being in an embargo itself have not handicapped us as much, which I believe is obvious and we would have been able to act in the transfer market in a more effective way. I also think it was poor of the the interviewer not to have pressed that point more forcefully.
On the embargo itself he said it was due to outstanding payments not being met and needed £170,000 to be paid, which he could not get together in a quick enough time, bear that figure in mind for later....
On his care for the club, he seemed very genuine, although please correct me if I am wrong regarding being home and away for 23 years, for at least the first season he WAS a distant chairman/owner, putting John Main in the role as Chairman to run the club as he didn't want any involvement, he never attended matches in that period. It wasn't until, once again finances were spiralling, (Peter Storrie on a reported £120,000 p.a. player wagers such as Scott Houghton), that he got involved and started to attend matches and took a hands on role on the football side.
On dropping out of the league, he said we get a payment from the EFL for 18 months, but lose the £500,000 Premier League solidarity payment. Remember that £170k that he could not raise to prevent the embargo, I would like to know how he is going to make up a £500k shortfall for next season then, because that's an extra £330k he has to find now!
On relegation he is not certain we will be in the NL, but won't say why. I can understand if he has found a legal loophole, but really? Oh and how much more money is that little courtroom adventure possible going to cost?
On the squad, he obviously didn't rate Sim, as a main striker, not as a footballer, can't say I differ too much there, but again said we couldn't get John Akinde, but why just let a manager go for one target, no mention of other alternatives, because this squad need two or three strikers, not just one! Then onto squad size, with 47 being mentioned, making the lack of strikers even more ludicrous imo. On a positive he did have a squad number made up from retentions and signings. Better, but don't forget the strikers again!
Lastly on Stan and CEO, he said the conversations and interviews had gone well. I thought it was positive that he sees a role from Stan, but said he didn't know what Mark Bright did in his role at Palace. Someone tell him for God sake, but there did seem room for Stan to make a role for himself. CEO interview went well and another person to be interviewed hopefully with an appointment at the end of next week. Keep an eye on that then!
PB to remain would be his wish. No doubting the amount of funding he has put in, that does need acknowledgement, but then too would the financial mismanagement in that case to have us in court facing winding up orders every few months. He says the investment will be there to make a go of bouncing back first time, especially if we have the current management team on board. That sounds encouraging.
But he is going nowhere, that is plain and he did say beware for what you wish for, and we have been there before with Anton Johnson, so I am not against him staying and take on board what he said. BUT, he needs to get the help in sooner. He needs help on the football side. He needs to get the right funding in place at the right time.
Like Tilly in the zoom meeting, I think he has the funding, it's the management of it that has caused us the problems. If he sorts that side out, he will continue to back the manager and has done in the past and I believe him 100% on that and we have the football side managed by football people I believe there is a better place for us. But he will definitely be around, so we had better get used to that, just keep a tight monitor on what he says and when things should happen.
I am leaving any verdict open at the moment as there is a lot going on at this time obviously and I think it is better to break the whole down and deal with smaller components at this moment in time.