Scarborough FC go out of Business

[Rick]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6221674.stm

Sad to see a club fold, it was only a few years ago they played Chelsea in an FA Cup tie now they are no more.

Wonder how long it's going to be before a league club goes the same way. 128 years of history and now the club doesn't exist anymore. Never got a chance to see City at Scarborough but no doubt many on this board would have been there as some stage.

[Jamaica Love]

Very sad...who will they support now?

FC Scarborough to be formed??

[Devil's Advocate]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6221674.stm

Sad to see a club fold, it was only a few years ago they played Chelsea in an FA Cup tie now they are no more.

Wonder how long it's going to be before a league club goes the same way. 128 years of history and now the club doesn't exist anymore. Never got a chance to see City at Scarborough but no doubt many on this board would have been there as some stage.

http://www.clubsincrisis.com/Club_Detail.asp?Key=103

Rick, I saw two guys from the Seadogs Trust last week, Scarborough will not totally disappear, they have provisionally got a slot in the North Eastern Counties for next season and have arrangements to ground share with Brid Town. A lot more work for them yet no doubt but they are prepared for this.

I think they are registered as Scarborough Athletic, although the Chairman of the failed Scarborough had also submitted an application for an AFC Scarborough. I'm hoping the Seadogs can get theirs approved as they seem to have done all the legwork to make sure it happens and gives Scarborough fans a chance to carry on watching their team.

[Northern]

I've always had a soft spot for Scarborough, it's very sad news. The game shouldn't be like this, I really feel for the supporters.

[Jantje]

Just shows the disproportionate wealth within the game, one friendly visit from a Prem Club might have helped them keep going

[Devil's Advocate]

Just shows the disproportionate wealth within the game, one friendly visit from a Prem Club might have helped them keep going

Nah mate, better run business, sustainable and suited to balance expenditure against income might have helped. Not a pay-out from a wealthy Prem club, the monies would merely have been frittered away like Scobie has done with everything else at Boro.

It is more about proper governance of football clubs rather than disproportionate share of the wealth. You shouldn't spend like a league club if you have 3 men and a dog coming to watch you. just like with us at the moment, let us not please speculate to accumulate cos it will knack us if we don't get that promotion. Big Geoff did just that and whilst we enjoyed the ride we are still suffering for it. Some gambles are too much to take in football nowadays, and clubs should be focused on survival of the business and sustainability first and foremost and then look at progression within the leagues.

[Jantje]

Nah mate, better run business, sustainable and suited to balance expenditure against income might have helped. Not a pay-out from a wealthy Prem club, the monies would merely have been frittered away like Scobie has done with everything else at Boro.

It is more about proper governance of football clubs rather than disproportionate share of the wealth. You shouldn't spend like a league club if you have 3 men and a dog coming to watch you. just like with us at the moment, let us not please speculate to accumulate cos it will knack us if we don't get that promotion. Big Geoff did just that and whilst we enjoyed the ride we are still suffering for it. Some gambles are too much to take in football nowadays, and clubs should be focused on survival of the business and sustainability first and foremost and then look at progression within the leagues.


Fair comment, just think the big clubs lose sight of the grass roots and could help more

[Devil's Advocate]

Fair comment, just think the big clubs lose sight of the grass roots and could help more

But even the big clubs are run poorly. They are bankrolled by millionaires. if one of them lost their sugar-daddy they would be right up the creek without a boat let alone a paddle. Chelsea reported something like £80 million trading losses - only way they can sustain that is via Abramovich. Were he to bugger off they would be stuffed until the next billionaire walked through the turnstile! Man Utd are a debt-ridden club because of the way the Glazers managed the take-over. Same will happen at Liverpool.

Problem is the mentality filters down and therfeore the temptation to spend your way to the top is jumped at by some (weaker) chairman who don't have the means to bail out the Club when the dream fails.

I want to hear Mark Lawn saying that the first aim is the future security of the Club, get the ground back somehow and let's make this Club ours again. then we can worry about promotion etc, but the real aim has to be that the Club will survive financially whether it stays where it is, is promoted or worst case is relegated. i fear that City would not be in a position to survive a relegation to the conference although with 6 squad members at the moment that is a very real possibility (but unlikely once Stuart starts getting players in). Arguably we have a lot of our eggs in one basket - the promotion one and that is risky.

Ah the beauty of the old football corporate governance debate!

[Rick]

Just been on their website and it has a big message up about the situation.

http://scarboroughfc.com/

It also says that kits were selling quite well.

http://scarboroughfc.com/news/index.php?news=2522

[meelin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6221674.stm

Sad to see a club fold, it was only a few years ago they played Chelsea in an FA Cup tie now they are no more.

Wonder how long it's going to be before a league club goes the same way. 128 years of history and now the club doesn't exist anymore. Never got a chance to see City at Scarborough but no doubt many on this board would have been there as some stage.

Saw City play there once in a League Cup game, they absolutley paggered us, and then did the dame in the second leg at Valley Parade.

[Garlic Breath]

A friend of mine was Chairman there in the early 2000's(when they reached the promotion play offs)
My second ex-wife(crossing myself) and I used to drive up and go in The Presidents Lounge and watch the games from the Directors box thanks to JR..all for free of course.
He did of course get his porn from me and he once told me that it was to show on the players couch on away trips and to give out at the hotel when they stayed overnight.
I have often wondered if in some small way I have been responsable for there downturn as it all started going Pete Tonge around this time.
JR is not well liked in Scarbourgh and neither is he well liked in Exeter where he nearly took them to the brink of closure as well.

[king billy]

Saw City play there once in a League Cup game, they absolutley paggered us, and then did the dame in the second leg at Valley Parade.

About 15/16 years ago?....

I remember going to a league cup tie at Scarboro' on the back of my mates Dads motorbike, was supposed to be going on the official coach but they'd overbooked and being the last to arrive i missed out - my mates Dad was passing and saw me f'ing and blinding at the coach steward and offered to take me - having only a kagool on and no leathers i was fookin freezing, me Mam would have killed me had she known how i got there....lol

We took a few if i remember rightly!!.....

[Devil's Advocate]

A friend of mine was Chairman there in the early 2000's(when they reached the promotion play offs)
My second ex-wife(crossing myself) and I used to drive up and go in The Presidents Lounge and watch the games from the Directors box thanks to JR..all for free of course.
He did of course get his porn from me and he once told me that it was to show on the players couch on away trips and to give out at the hotel when they stayed overnight.
I have often wondered if in some small way I have been responsable for there downturn as it all started going Pete Tonge around this time.
JR is not well liked in Scarbourgh and neither is he well liked in Exeter where he nearly took them to the brink of closure as well.

Those mags will come in handy now he's doing porridge!

[Garlic Breath]

Indeed.........I fear even my front will preclude me from sending my wares to the clink were he to ask.;)

[meelin]

About 15/16 years ago?....

I remember going to a league cup tie at Scarboro' on the back of my mates Dads motorbike, was supposed to be going on the official coach but they'd overbooked and being the last to arrive i missed out - my mates Dad was passing and saw me f'ing and blinding at the coach steward and offered to take me - having only a kagool on and no leathers i was fookin freezing, me Mam would have killed me had she known how i got there....lol

We took a few if i remember rightly!!.....

Aye, that'll be the one, we did take a few there, we were all stood on a grass bank behind one of the goals, god, we were so bad that night it was embarassing.

[king billy]

Aye, that'll be the one, we did take a few there, we were all stood on a grass bank behind one of the goals, god, we were so bad that night it was embarassing.

Aye, thats def the one - they had a large terrace to the right of us which went all the way round to behind their goal - i remember their fans (like we used to) walking round at half time!! Ah memorys!! Wonder if we'll ever not be shite in cup competitions.....:D

[Elleb]

A sad sad day!!!!
This is what has become of our game!!!
My heart goes out to the Scarborough fans.
:(:(

[Parrot]

RIP Scarborough FC :(

I was there that night too in the LC...I think they beat us 3-0 then 5-3 at VP in the 2nd leg :o

Im sure they was something in the T & A about the locals complaining about the noise and abuse they had to endure from the City away fans tup:

I bet thats when JR realised we were a "sleeping giant" of the lower divisions as he took over about 10 months later! tup:

[thacklybantam]

Its a real crying shame when any club goes under a real shame

[ChuckleBantam]

It's all Geoffrey Richmonds Fault!:rolleyes:

[Devil's Advocate]

SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC FC IS BORN

The board of Seadog Trust has received confirmation this morning that
its official application to the Northern Counties East League has been
the only one received by the NCEL secretary before the midnight
deadline. As such a Trust run club with the name Scarborough Athletic
FC, will take its place in that league starting in the 2007-08 season.
A meeting with NCEL officials is due to take place later this afternoon
at Bridlington Town's Queensgate ground to finalise the application.

Trust chairman Simon Cope has said "This is the start of the next
chapter in the history of football in Scarborough. It is time now to put
the past behind us. All of us at Seadog Trust would like to express
their thanks to Ian Scobbie for his efforts to save Scarborough FC and
his continuing commitment to football in Scarborough but we feel that a
new club owned by fans is the best, if not only way forward. Now more
than ever we would urge football supporters in Scarborough to join the
Trust and have their say in the development of Scarborough Athletic. The
Trust is a democratic, inclusive organisation, and any Trust member can
stand in the upcoming board elections. We, the football fans of
Scarborough, are in a position to create a football club which stands at
the heart of the town's community."

Seadog Trust has decided, in conjunction with the Supporters Club, there
will be an open forum for fans to have queries about the Trust answered.
This is to be held at the St Nicholas Hotel on Thursday 28 June, 8pm.
Please accept our apologies for the short notice of this meeting. Issues
have changed rapidly in recent weeks and we understand that supporters
need to be informed and their views heard as soon as possible. We would
urge those who are interested in the future of the football club to
attend this meeting which we hope will be a free and frank discussion
about the future of football in Scarborough.

With the future of Scarborough Athletic now resolved, the Trust board is
turning to the creation of a side for the 2007-08 season. A shortlist of
managerial candidates has been prepared and those on this shortlist will
be contacted over the coming days. Once a manager is appointed we will
be able to press on with the formation of a team for the season.
Although nothing concrete has yet been confirmed we hope to be holding
trials at some stage to give the football players of the community every
chance to be part of a true community club.


Well done, Seadogs.

[Jamaica Love]

Well done, Seadogs.
Well done indeed, they will be climbing the leagues in no time....these newly formed clubs always manage to pull a few heart strings and get a few old pros in who can fire them up the crapola leagues!

[baldbantam]

This could well be the format for the future of lower league football - how many clubs are run by Trusts now SFB?

[Skyebantam]

i heard about scarboro last week and was truly saddened by the news. it's the fans i feel most sorry for, imagine losing city, i try not to. it's something that will become more regular though i fear and like has been said, how long before it's a 'lge' club? good luck to those trying to reform the club etc.

[Jantje]

At least football hasn't died completely in Scarborough.

It'll be a struggle though if they are playing in Brid, The crowds were never huge at Seamer Rd so they'll have to try and encourage potential fans to travel to Brid. Good Luck to them though

[Devil's Advocate]

This could well be the format for the future of lower league football - how many clubs are run by Trusts now SFB?

Owned by or controlled by supporters:

AFC Telford
AFC Wimbledon
Enfield Town
Exeter City
FC United of Manchester
Cambridge City
Brentford
Newport
Notts County
Runcorn Linnets FC
Scarborough Athletic
Stockport County
Clydebank (Scotland).

Not as many as you might think - there are more that have Trust involvement in the running of the club but not control or full ownership (Lincoln and Chesterfield for example). I imagine smaller clubs further down the pyramid will start to adopt this supporter ownership model as it mirrors a community approach. Think of your local sports/athletic/cricket/social club - it is member owned and were it to start progressing through the local and then national echelons of non-league football it would benefit from greater membership, and would maintain a member-driven approach.

Abroad the biggest is Barcelona.

Still, I'm no expert on this matter. :cool:

[Jamaica Love]

Think of your local sports/athletic/cricket/social club - it is member owned and were it to start progressing through the local and then national echelons of non-league football it would benefit from greater membership, and would maintain a member-driven approach.. :cool:

Lets hope that never happends to City....we'd never get anywhere with all the bickering that gose on, trust wise and that!

[baldbantam]

Which one has the highest league position out of that lot SFB?

[BaselBantam]

Lets hope that never happends to City....we'd never get anywhere with all the bickering that gose on, trust wise and that!Chuckle for Chairman! jump:

[Devil's Advocate]

Lets hope that never happends to City....we'd never get anywhere with all the bickering that gose on, trust wise and that!

Perhaps why it doesn't necessarily make as big an impact at the higher level, cos people for some reason feel more comfortable with one man making the decisions.

Bickering happens cos people disagree, but member-driven means voting and majority rules with that. And contrary to the opinions of the likes of Mike Porky Parry (Talksport) it would not be a massive issue in terms of voting on which player to buy etc, it would still work the same as it does now, in that a Manager is employed to operate to a budget he has set and choice of players would'nt be up to the fans (even if they owned the club), unless the Manager wanted an increase in budget, in which case a Director of Finance would deal with that and if necessary put it to an elected Board for a decision. The Board would be elected by the members and the members' interests would be safeguarded by a constitiution and clear roles and responsibilities for the Board members.

Still it's a bit too much people power for some! ;)

[Devil's Advocate]

Which one has the highest league position out of that lot SFB?

As it stands, Brentford. Although Notts County and Stockport will probably want to change that!

[baldbantam]

So 3 out of the 24 teams in League 2 are supporter controlled.

That number is only going to increase, unless those teams get relegated. I doubt that any supporters trusts will sell the clubs once they have control, and I'm sure that more lower league football clubs will hit difficulties.

5 years from now I reckon more than half the clubs in League 2, or whatever it's called at that point, will be under supporter control. And probably a couple in League 1 as well.

[Jamaica Love]

Still it's a bit too much people power for some! ;)
Yer damn straight....the missus put me in charge of retruning the dvds the other week....I couldn't deal with the reponsibility....Fine for us im afriad....tdwn: tdwn:

[Jantje]

Yer damn straight....the missus put me in charge of retruning the dvds the other week....I couldn't deal with the reponsibility....Fine for us im afriad....tdwn: tdwn:

You'd make a fine politician Boy racingtup: tup:

[Devil's Advocate]

So 3 out of the 24 teams in League 2 are supporter controlled.

That number is only going to increase, unless those teams get relegated. I doubt that any supporters trusts will sell the clubs once they have control, and I'm sure that more lower league football clubs will hit difficulties.

5 years from now I reckon more than half the clubs in League 2, or whatever it's called at that point, will be under supporter control. And probably a couple in League 1 as well.

And there is currently a UEFA led project to look at supporter involvement in Europe. The supporter movement is growing, unfortunately it is in direct conflict with the current trend in the Premier League which is now a millionaire's playground.

[baldbantam]

I don't see any prospect of supporter controlled clubs in the Premiership, and probably not in the Championship either unless it's achieved by promotion.

Seeing as Trust ownership normally happens after financial trouble caused by relegation, and quite often the reformed club having to start again at the bottom of the football pyramid, it's always going to be predominantly a lower league phenomenon.

[Devil's Advocate]

I don't see any prospect of supporter controlled clubs in the Premiership, and probably not in the Championship either unless it's achieved by promotion.

Seeing as Trust ownership normally happens after financial trouble caused by relegation, and quite often the reformed club having to start again at the bottom of the football pyramid, it's always going to be predominantly a lower league phenomenon.

I agree to a certain extent but there's no reason if done properly it can't happen in the Premiership. Barcelona are owned by their fans and elect a President and Directors of their Board. They didn't do that off the back of a financial crisis. Problem is it will take a very brave owner to relinquish control to a supporter organisation, or a very rich supporter organisation, or a very robust system of ownership transfer with a retention of shares for the previous sole owner being built into a Board level agreement.

[baldbantam]

How did Barcelona actually get into a supporter owned situation?

[king billy]

The model at Barca could never occur here - they have a membership going into hundreds of thousands - they represent the Basque people, its area and its traditions.....
Nothing like that exists in the premier league and ever will - because they draw their support from so many people, there's bound to be many, many rich benefactors which is why fan ownership over there works!!...
The pro-trusters really have their heads in the clouds when they mention Barca as a model which they honestly think could/would work over here!!

[Jantje]

The model at Barca could never occur here - they have a membership going into hundreds of thousands - they represent the Basque people, its area and its traditions.....


Catalan actually !!!!!:sorry:

[king billy]

Catalan actually !!!!!:sorry:

lol - well spotted!!.....jump:

I was testing you and you passed JS......;) :D

[Jantje]

lol - well spotted!!.....jump:

I was testing you and you passed JS......;) :D


Top notch moderation lol, don't miss a trick
tup: tup: :D

[Devil's Advocate]

Why not KB? I'm not saying it would be easy, but theoretically it could happen.

Baldy, see links:

http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_tickets/fc_barcelona_football_tickets/history_of_fc_barcelona


The FC Barcelona is currently a sports entity which includes basketball, handball, hockey, athletism, ice-hockey, figure skating, indoor football, rugby, baseball, volleyball and women's football sections. The football team are the only side to have qualified for European competition every year since its inauguration in 1955. There are now a total of 105,706 members and 1,508 supporters clubs.

http://www.bhopal.net/opinions/archives/2006/05/barcelonas_mode.html


Tonight the players Laporta signed may bring more glory but, whatever happens, next spring he must stand for re-election. That democracy maintains Barça's status as a sporting beacon, a people's club: if supporters do not approve of the people running it, they can vote them out. Imagine that at Old Trafford.

The Camp Nou way

142,000 Barcelona members or socios

4 Major shareholders in Arsenal

£69 Cheapest adult season ticket at the Camp Nou (Barcelona)

£885 Cheapest at the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal)

£579 Most expensive adult season ticket at the Camp Nou

£1,825 Most expensive at the Emirates Stadium

£84m Barça's income in 2002-03, before Joan Laporta took over

£163m Barça's income in 2005-6

2 Maximum number of four-year terms a Barça president may serve




I believe the membership dates back a long time and therefore it doesn't follow quite so easily that an English Club could adopt the same model, but there are ways to do it. After all you become a member of Bradford City when you buy a season ticket and you can become a member without buying a season ticket. What does that membership offer you at the moment? What could the Club do if it unified those members and used the membership to develop the Club in a democratic and business-focused way.

I beg to differ that there are peoiple coining it in at Barca, KB, the sugar-daddy model isn't in effect there. No one person or a select elite handful for that matter have any significant control. The supporters have the power as a collective group.

[king billy]

Like i say tho, substitute the Catalans for Basques :D and its the reason why Barca fan representation works - Catalonia is an immensley rich area, the people (as are the Basques) are extremely proud of the area and a club like Barca who they see as representing them will get immense backing both financially and in terms of fan numbers!!

[king billy]

Why not KB? I'm not saying it would be easy, but theoretically it could happen.

Baldy, see links:

http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_tickets/fc_barcelona_football_tickets/history_of_fc_barcelona



http://www.bhopal.net/opinions/archives/2006/05/barcelonas_mode.html



I believe the membership dates back a long time and therefore it doesn't follow quite so easily that an English Club could adopt the same model, but there are ways to do it. After all you become a member of Bradford City when you buy a season ticket and you can become a member without buying a season ticket. What does that membership offer you at the moment? What could the Club do if it unified those members and used the membership to develop the Club in a democratic and business-focused way.

I beg to differ that there are peoiple coining it in at Barca, KB, the sugar-daddy model isn't in effect there. No one person or a select elite handful for that matter have any significant control. The supporters have the power as a collective group.

Mark - see above, Catalonia is a "lost" country - the Basques who are similar, still to this day try to fight for their independance from Spain - heard of Eta?
If you read up briefly on some of the history of the region, you'll see why it was guaranteed to be successfull, Barca represent and are so much more than just a footy club - we just don't have that scenario over here - the nearest we have is Rangers and C*ltic, and even that doesn't compare......

It'll never, ever happen in the Premier league mate - and neither will a supporters run club ever get to the premier league - i'll bet you a thousand pounds thats the case - i can see your side of the argument, but you know i'll never agree - if i had millions to invest in a club i wouldn't touch a supporters run club with a barge pole - and neither would anyone else - supporters run clubs are ideal for clubs used to swimming round the shitpool with no prospect of ever getting out - but not for clubs who have ambition....

Like i've said above, you can't compare Barcelona and how its run at all to anything we have over here!!

[Jantje]

Mark - see above, Catalonia is a "lost" country - the Basques who are similar, still to this day try to fight for their independance from Spain - heard of Eta?
If you read up briefly on some of the history of the region, you'll see why it was guaranteed to be successfull, Barca represent and are so much more than just a footy club - we just don't have that scenario over here - the nearest we have is Rangers and C*ltic, and even that doesn't compare......

It'll never, ever happen in the Premier league mate - and neither will a supporters run club ever get to the premier league - i'll bet you a thousand pounds thats the case - i can see your side of the argument, but you know i'll never agree - if i had millions to invest in a club i wouldn't touch a supporters run club with a barge pole - and neither would anyone else - supporters run clubs are ideal for clubs used to swimming round the shitpool with no prospect of ever getting out - but not for clubs who have ambition....

Like i've said above, you can't compare Barcelona and how its run at all to anything we have over here!!


"More than a Club" is the Barca club Motto, they play on the Catalonian craving for the autonomy of the Madrid based Castillian government.

Just because they aren't as militant as the Basques doesn't mean they don't have any less fervour. Catalonian players have been known to refuse to acknowledge the Spanish anthem in international matches and recently applied to appear in the Olympics as Catalonia

[baldbantam]

Are you from there or something Jantje? You certainly seem to be up on it.

[Jantje]

Are you from there or something Jantje? You certainly seem to be up on it.

No, i read a great book by Jimmy Burns "Barca" which tied in the whole existence of the football club with the Catalonian people and the repression they felt under both Franco and Primo Rivera before him.


Franco actually had the Barca president kidnapped and murdered to try and quell any resistance during the Spanish Civil War. Its a good football read and a good political insight into life over there

[Devil's Advocate]

Mark - see above, Catalonia is a "lost" country - the Basques who are similar, still to this day try to fight for their independance from Spain - heard of Eta?
If you read up briefly on some of the history of the region, you'll see why it was guaranteed to be successfull, Barca represent and are so much more than just a footy club - we just don't have that scenario over here - the nearest we have is Rangers and C*ltic, and even that doesn't compare......

It'll never, ever happen in the Premier league mate - and neither will a supporters run club ever get to the premier league - i'll bet you a thousand pounds thats the case - i can see your side of the argument, but you know i'll never agree - if i had millions to invest in a club i wouldn't touch a supporters run club with a barge pole - and neither would anyone else - supporters run clubs are ideal for clubs used to swimming round the shitpool with no prospect of ever getting out - but not for clubs who have ambition....

Like i've said above, you can't compare Barcelona and how its run at all to anything we have over here!!

I know we disagree to a certain extent on this but there is a lot of overlap. i agree that the way the leagues are set up it won't attract a supporter run club in the prem at the moment, I disagree that a supporter run club won't get there but i am not wagering a grand, I simply don't have the money!

Barca hardly need the investment from their local "rich-boys" when they are turning over in excess of £100 million, and with 100,000+ members they will coin it in from tiocket sales easily enough to cover costs and outlay on players.

Still the reasoning behind supporter involvement from my perspective is not necessarily to ensure success it's more to ensure survival and sustainability, hence you didn't see York fly through the leagues and Brentford/Notts Co/Stockport et al aren't exactly knocking on the door of the Championship. They are however in a much better position and are no doubt setting the foundations to ensure the Clubs never face extinction.

We are still at risk that if JR and ML decide to just jack it or have a nice little spat and GG isn't prepared to do anything from a ground perspective our Club would be at the mercy of the gods, and we would be hoping that we get a decent owner. We have no control whatsoever on any decision-making. The Club could realistically be shifted without us being able to do anything save shout from the rooftops. That is the sleeping danger with private ownership of what some people would call a community asset. It's not as simple to say that we are merely customers of a business, it's more than that, it's tribal, inherent, it's not about the purchase it's about the identity.

End of the day, mate, me and you want the same thing, a successful, entertaining, fair-to-its-fans football club. Just our methods might differ! ;)

[baldbantam]

Trusts exist primarily to provide the plan B, at least in my opinion. Is there any precedent for a Trust taking over a healthy club?

That's the main difficulty that the Trust has in relation to Bradford - whilst we appear relatively healthy a lot of people just don't see the point, and the issue is providing a focus that can rouse the imagination.

[1911]

Now where can i bring FC United in to this...................:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :flame:

[Devil's Advocate]

Now where can i bring FC United in to this...................:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :flame:

I already did, mate! Earlier! :rolleyes:

[TRB101]

Trusts exist primarily to provide the plan B, at least in my opinion. Is there any precedent for a Trust taking over a healthy club?

Stockport County. As I understand it, the owner felt he'd taken the club as far as he could, was getting lacklustre backing from supporters, and thought they'd be more enthusiatic if they actually owned the club. An alternative explanation is that the ground is going to need a good deal of redevelopment in the not too distant future, so he was just getting out while the going was good.

Anyway, I think last season was the Trusts first full one in ownership and they got off to a dodgy start but came up fast towards the end. Off pitch and on, they're very pleased with the way things are going.

BTW most on the Bundesliga is supporter owned and I think Lyons in France too. From memory, for years Lyons were a shabby setup living in the shadow of near neighbours St Etienne, but they managed to turn things around and have been runaway French champs for years now.