Sobering..

[yogi bear up the cagire]

One list states that we are the seventh largest town which isn't a city after Reading, Northampton, Luton, Bolton, Bournemouth and Swindon.

.........and of course all those have reasonably successful League clubs.

 

[Barling Magna]

.........and of course all those have reasonably successful League clubs.

Northampton? They're cobblers.

 

[NZamba Legend]

How does RM selling up help SUFC, though ? Aren't the assets are all in his co. names ? The only assets I can see in SUFC are the players registrations and they are intangible (ie could drop like a stone when we go Non League).

Exactly. There is nothing to buy. The club costs money, it doesn't make it.

 

[RobQ]

It will not surprise me in the future to see RM sell the football club plus debts to whoever for a nominal fee. He will then retain ownership of the new ground and charge the new owners of the football club rent, which he will pocket as part of his pension.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Exactly. There is nothing to buy. The club costs money, it doesn't make it.

Who on earth would want to own a small football league club??? yet, there are many who seem prepared to take it on..................and not all of them altruistic

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

It will not surprise me in the future to see RM sell the football club plus debts to whoever for a nominal fee. He will then retain ownership of the new ground and charge the new owners of the football club rent, which he will pocket as part of his pension.

Wouldn't surprise me either. Who would want it, though ? Riddled with debt and an annual rent to use the stadium. He said himself, football clubs don't make money and that income needs to be generated in other ways.

 

[RobQ]

Wouldn't surprise me either. Who would want it, though ? Riddled with debt and an annual rent to use the stadium. He said himself, football clubs don't make money and that income needs to be generated in other ways.

Agreed, and we can only live in hope that whoever does take it on has enough dosh to keep us afloat. The future is certainly not looking the bed of roses we were hoping the new stadium.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

.........and of course all those have reasonably successful League clubs.

I think people would have said that about us before the last two years as well.
I can remember all of Reading, Northampton, Luton, Bolton, Bournemouth and Swindon playing in our current division - and several of them being in our position facing an exit. Bournemouth had a miraculous escape, Luton were relegated into non-league before bouncing back, I think Northampton finished 24th but stayed up as the team due to replace them didn't have a good enough ground or something.

 

[NZamba Legend]

Agreed, and we can only live in hope that whoever does take it on has enough dosh to keep us afloat. The future is certainly not looking the bed of roses we were hoping the new stadium.

If someone or an entity could buy the club and the stadium together then there might be a chance of making things work financially. Without the stadium/ land how could the football club even borrow money?

 

[Kris]

I think people would have said that about us before the last two years as well.
I can remember all of Reading, Northampton, Luton, Bolton, Bournemouth and Swindon playing in our current division - and several of them being in our position facing an exit. Bournemouth had a miraculous escape, Luton were relegated into non-league before bouncing back, I think Northampton finished 24th but stayed up as the team due to replace them didn't have a good enough ground or something.

Yep, Kidderminster. The irony being that their ground was better than Northampton's County Ground, which had a tiny 'main' stand on one side and nothing on the other.

 

[LBBlue]

Yep, Kidderminster. The irony being that their ground was better than Northampton's County Ground, which had a tiny 'main' stand on one side and nothing on the other.

A three sided ground rather like Bramall Lane used to be with the football pitch on the cricket outfield.

 

[RobQ]

If someone or an entity could buy the club and the stadium together then there might be a chance of making things work financially. Without the stadium/ land how could the football club even borrow money?

I guess part of the financial plan for the football club would be to continue producing and selling on are own young talent. The NL may hinder that I guess.

 

[edwardss2]

Riddled with debt and an annual rent to use the stadium

My recollection of other cases is that separating the ownership of the football club from the stadium tends not to end well. Are there (m)any rich locals who might want to take us over anyway? Maybe the Millers of Adventure Island fame could add us to their portfolio?

 

[RobM]

One list states that we are the seventh largest town which isn't a city after Reading, Northampton, Luton, Bolton, Bournemouth and Swindon.

What is needed to become a city? I thought it was a cathedral. Maybe not!

 

[RobM]

Yep, Kidderminster. The irony being that their ground was better than Northampton's County Ground, which had a tiny 'main' stand on one side and nothing on the other.

More, Chester (as I recall) were refused admission to the EFL because their stadium wasn't up to it - yet Macclesfield were in League 2 (as it is now) but played home games at...Chester!

 

[londonblue]

.........and of course all those have reasonably successful League clubs.

Don't forget Luton were non-league not all that long ago.

 

[Richard Hearn]

What is needed to become a city? I thought it was a cathedral. Maybe not!

A cathedral is not a requirement for city status to be conferred. Birmingham was the first town without a cathedral to become a city, in 1889.

 

[londonblue]

It will not surprise me in the future to see RM sell the football club plus debts to whoever for a nominal fee. He will then retain ownership of the new ground and charge the new owners of the football club rent, which he will pocket as part of his pension.

That would surprise the hell out of me. Don't forget the debt is mostly to him in the form of deferred rent. He's not likely to write that off. Should someone want to buy, I'm sure he'll charge them the full amount (or at least a fair proportion of it).

 

[londonblue]

If someone or an entity could buy the club and the stadium together then there might be a chance of making things work financially. Without the stadium/ land how could the football club even borrow money?

By doing what the old Rangers chairman did and borrowing against future season ticket sales.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

My recollection of other cases is that separating the ownership of the football club from the stadium tends not to end well. Are there (m)any rich locals who might want to take us over anyway? Maybe the Millers of Adventure Island fame could add us to their portfolio?

I very much doubt it, as it's loss making. The only part that is attractive is the potential for development, and that seems to be firmly in RM's portfolio.