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Post by tenacres on Apr 30, 2018 21:27:40 GMT
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Post by nobadspitfire on May 1, 2018 7:55:06 GMT
Essential listening and will answer many questions that have been posed hereon. Think we can have confidence the club will be on safe hands moving forward.
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Post by westendspitfire on May 1, 2018 8:15:34 GMT
I'm not sure it really answers any questions and nor can it. It is Stewart's thoughts on the club and how he would like it run going forward, but the truth of the matter is that Stewart can have no say on how the club is run going forward as he is going to be running another football club, he can try and put stipulations into any sale and he can sell it to someone he trusts, but the stipulations cannot be binding and the new owner will rightly say that the world has moved on and things have to change.
We should be very grateful for the time, money, effort and passion SD has spent at the club and it is clear from the interview that those feelings still run high, but once it is sold it will be down to the new owner to answer the great majority of questions the staff/players and fans currently have as they will be the ones making the decisions and spending the money.
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Post by taylov on May 1, 2018 9:03:00 GMT
The figure SD quoted for the present annual club income at 2.5 to 2.7 million is certainly encouraging and suggests that the immediate future for the club should be rosy. However we have seen from what happened to league clubs not a million miles away, that if you get a wrong 'un running a football club things can go belly-up very quickly.
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Post by nobadspitfire on May 1, 2018 9:10:33 GMT
Yep, Tony, I guess a big chunk of that income is from sponsorship and whilst they will be tied in for a specific time, the new owner will still need to work to keep them with the club, and, of course, attract new sponsors.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2018 9:39:51 GMT
And if those sponsors get a feel that the new owner/s are not going to push for The Football League you can bet your life they won't sign new deals. They were attracted by the sell SD gave and also had the wealth to back his plans to move forward. I can't imagine we'll get an owner/s with that kind of financial clout but SD will try his best in giving it to someone he feels is right for the club. He has already said there is a lot of interest so it doesn't sound as if the new owner/s will be long coming in. It is vital the new owner/s convince our sponsors to stay, otherwise as Tony points out, the 2.5 to 2.7 million annual revenue will slip away by a considerable amount.
This is what worries me most, promotion to the football league will certainly need further ground improvements, including completing the blue stand. If we get an owner/s who aren't willing to do that kind of investment, then we'll stay in this division until relegation comes along, we won't be attracting the right players, and whose to say the club playing side won't revert back to being part time?
I fully understand the stipulations he wishes to lay down to a new owner/s but as westendspitfire says, they can't be legally binding can they? We just have to wait and see what comes next I guess.
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Post by huricaneharry on May 1, 2018 9:41:56 GMT
He will be under extreme pressure to off load Eastleigh when the takeover of Sunderland has been ratified by the EFL. The accounts for 2016/17 are worth looking at and don’t make good reading imo. Any new owner will need the money and enthusiasm that SD had when he first took over and my concern is that there is no person out there that will have that. Only time will tell.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2018 10:20:17 GMT
And if those sponsors get a feel that the new owner/s are not going to push for The Football League you can bet your life they won't sign new deals. They were attracted by the sell SD gave and also had the wealth to back his plans to move forward. I can't imagine we'll get an owner/s with that kind of financial clout but SD will try his best in giving it to someone he feels is right for the club. He has already said there is a lot of interest so it doesn't sound as if the new owner/s will be long coming in. It is vital the new owner/s convince our sponsors to stay, otherwise as Tony points out, the 2.5 to 2.7 million annual revenue will slip away by a considerable amount. This is what worries me most, promotion to the football league will certainly need further ground improvements, including completing the blue stand. If we get an owner/s who aren't willing to do that kind of investment, then we'll stay in this division until relegation comes along, we won't be attracting the right players, and whose to say the club playing side won't revert back to being part time? I fully understand the stipulations he wishes to lay down to a new owner/s but as westendspitfire says, they can't be legally binding can they? We just have to wait and see what comes next I guess. Of course there is a lot of interest as he selling it for £1. But those £1 buyers are very likely to have several millions in the bank to be considered the new owner/s, its not like ANYBODY can buy it is it. |
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Post by huricaneharry on May 1, 2018 13:24:06 GMT
But those £1 buyers are very likely to have several millions in the bank to be considered the new owner/s, its not like ANYBODY can buy it is it. Of course anyone can buy it, that's the point. Its just Stewarts choice who he sells it to. The new owner does not have to have any money at all. Players contracts are covered by Stewart with couple of million left in bank. New owner could have 100m but that does not mean they are willing to invest 1 penny of it. They just need to run it more sensibly than already has been and live within the clubs means based on its revenue stream. This is why Stewart has said will likely sell to someone he knows as you cannot control what the incoming person does once takes ownership. Its all just good wishes and promises from the buyer which in reality mean nothing. They could do what they like, regardless. Short is a billionaire and look where that got Sunderland. Being rich is not the solution. Operating within your means is. Chucking money at football generally does not end well. he may well be selling the club for £1, but what about the stadium? That’s where the real value lies. Many clubs have been sold for £1 and there is a reason for this, the clubs are not worth anymore as the running costs are more than the income. |
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Post by stew5018 on May 1, 2018 13:33:47 GMT
I listened to the interview and was encouraged by what I heard. This is like any business in that you never know whats round the corner. However he has addressed a great many issues such as players contracts manager etc. I feel there is too much negativity. To support the Club you have to be positive--not with rose tinted eyes but with an open mind. WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY--if we have to pay more then so be it--its still good value and will probably match other similar Clubs.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2018 14:04:02 GMT
huricaneharry said:
"Short is a billionaire and look where that got Sunderland. Being rich is not the solution. Operating within your means is".
Chelsea, Manchester City, PSG are not operating within their means...having rich owners is their solution!!!! All probably in breach of FFP rules but the governing bodies are scared witless to take on their highly paid skilful lawyers who'd make mincemeat out of them.
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Post by durkiboy on May 1, 2018 14:30:52 GMT
But those £1 buyers are very likely to have several millions in the bank to be considered the new owner/s, its not like ANYBODY can buy it is it. Of course anyone can buy it, that's the point. Its just Stewarts choice who he sells it to. The new owner does not have to have any money at all. Players contracts are covered by Stewart with couple of million left in bank. New owner could have 100m but that does not mean they are willing to invest 1 penny of it. They just need to run it more sensibly than already has been and live within the clubs means based on its revenue stream. This is why Stewart has said will likely sell to someone he knows as you cannot control what the incoming person does once takes ownership. Its all just good wishes and promises from the buyer which in reality mean nothing. They could do what they like, regardless. Short is a billionaire and look where that got Sunderland. Being rich is not the solution. Operating within your means is. "Chucking money at football generally does not end well."As has been proven at Eastleigh and Stewart has recognised this |
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Post by michaelefc on May 1, 2018 17:16:01 GMT
SD is still the owner of EFC and will remain so for longer than the posts above might suggest. I suspect he will try to sell to one of a few close friends of his. I would guess, they will broadly agree to follow a similar path to Stewart, although once they are running the club, who knows what they will do. All sorts of stipulations could be put into place, but as we'll probably never see the contracts its all pure guesswork.
As a sponsor of the club, I will continue to sponsor it, I support Eastleigh not Stewart Donald. What needs to happen and quickly is someone at the club needs to take over a holding/leadership role and communicate. I can't stress this one enough. We (and by we, I mean specifically the sponsors), need COMMUNICATION. Nothing will put off people parting with their cash like silence.
All that said, EFC needs its supporters right now, in slightly uncertain times. It needs us to buy season tickets, merchandise, and it needs us to encourage anyone who works for this great club, that we will be there no matter what. Our support of the club, must not depend on an owners plans. Many of us were here long before SD got involved and we'll be involved long after he has gone. Ditto the new owners. Ultimately its our club. And, at least in my case, it always will be.
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Post by cure4type1 on May 1, 2018 21:10:50 GMT
Owners will come and go, some like Stewart will leave a positive mark and a legacy behind, others can ruin a club, hopefully Stewart chooses well and the new owner acts in the best interests of the club and it's faithful.
Personally I would not take on the responsibility, even if given the club for a quid, debt free, with a pot full of cash. Football clubs are the toys of rich men with big ego's and money to burn and regardless of what Stewart says, like all clubs, this one will continue to be a money pit.
Many supporters got sucked in by Stewart's dreams (very optimistic in my opinion) of taking the club to the Championship. There is always the danger when living someone else's dreams that they might not be as committed to them as you are and that is a recipe for disappointment.
Personally, I've never wanted that, sure league two might be nice but no higher thanks. When I started supporting the club 12 years ago, I was quite happy with the level we were playing at (that's what attracted me to the club) sure I hoped we would one day make it to the national league. Well here we are, at the very best non-league level a team can play.
If we continue to knock around at this level or a league up or down, I will be quite happy to buy my season ticket and enjoy Saturdays. Lets hope the new owner is a realist with deep pockets who knows how to manage a football club and his expectations.
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Post by thelake on May 1, 2018 21:23:28 GMT
great interview and i don't think any of us doubt stewarts intentions, he has proved to be a good owner and honourable man in the last few years. but the new owner and future owners could well be a different kettle of fish, ultimately when stewart has sold the club it is not his business and new owners can do what they want/sell the club/pay wages etc. so if there are any agreements re eastleigh fc its important they are down on paper and binding
be good for eastleigh fc to have a written agreement to play at the silverlake for many years to come, that would be ideal
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