Potential Investor

[Richard Ingham]

The major concern I have is that there is no way that any significant investor can make their money back (legally / ethically). Football clubs just don't make profits.

Me too. Even with his promise of running the club more like a business (which it needs), I fail to see how he will be able to increase turnover & profit margin to such an extent. Unless he ultimately is after growing the business to sell it on to someone else?

[Fartvs Antiqvvs]

The major concern I have is that there is no way that any significant investor can make their money back (legally / ethically). Football clubs just don't make profits.

Me too. Even with his promise of running the club more like a business (which it needs), I fail to see how he will be able to increase turnover & profit margin to such an extent. Unless he ultimately is after growing the business to sell it on to someone else?

With the utmost respect and as a Barrowvian, I believe that the geographical isolation leads to a parochial outlook on most things by the indigenous population there. So many things are regarded with suspicion. However, rightly or wrongly, by journeying away from the town and finally settling in the West Country, a bit of a curtain swishes open. Go for the investor without the wherefores if you want to keep on going.

We were in the hard-up position 3 years ago. Busted flush, down on our uppers, virtually kaput. National advert placed for a buyer for the club, together with the help of our ex-MP/member of the board, finally netted another local, Dale Vince, to do the rescue.

OK, so things were done with respect to food, badge, all things green. But to date, we have something of a smart make-over, lots of publicity and a new era of management, not to mention players. Yes, we are met with some sort of derisory reaction based on envy, but we have had a further 2 and a half seasons of football, irrespective of what Mr. Vince's long term investment plans are.

[John Very Little]

Go for the investor without the wherefores if you want to keep on going.

Until PC at least doubles his bid for the club, the FA won't allow it as it stands.

[Fartvs Antiqvvs]

Go for the investor without the wherefores if you want to keep on going.

Until PC at least doubles his bid for the club, the FA won't allow it as it stands.

Well, if the FA are interested in keeping as many clubs in the association going, then let them put up the necessary minimum. I don't think so.

Easy for them to pontificate and watch a member retire to oblivion.

[Jonty]

With the utmost respect and as a Barrowvian, I believe that the geographical isolation leads to a parochial outlook on most things by the indigenous population there. So many things are regarded with suspicion. However, rightly or wrongly, by journeying away from the town and finally settling in the West Country, a bit of a curtain swishes open. Go for the investor without the wherefores if you want to keep on going.

We were in the hard-up position 3 years ago. Busted flush, down on our uppers, virtually kaput. National advert placed for a buyer for the club, together with the help of our ex-MP/member of the board, finally netted another local, Dale Vince, to do the rescue.

OK, so things were done with respect to food, badge, all things green. But to date, we have something of a smart make-over, lots of publicity and a new era of management, not to mention players. Yes, we are met with some sort of derisory reaction based on envy, but we have had a further 2 and a half seasons of football, irrespective of what Mr. Vince's long term investment plans are.

You are reliant on the one hand that feeds you. Not for me thanks. Would love to know your wage bill for players. That is not how to run a football club. Football clubs are for the community and everyone in the community should have a say. Not for one man to come in and do what he wants when he wants like at FGR. The fact that Barrow has not done the membership very well should not push people into thinking that this fella is the answer. The alternative and proper way to run our club is out there. Just needs the effort and the drive to make it work for us.

[Renfrew Refugee]

I have now read 19 pages of people mostly pontificating why Mr Casson should not be allowed to take over BAFC and run it as its sole owner, the way things are going football at Holker Street will end. How much longer do you think the current board will continue to bail out BAFC with loans?
We are talking local businessmen / individuals not Roman Abramovich eventually they are going to say enoughs enough and I would not blame them with some of the comments that are written about them on this forum.
You and I know people attending matches at Holker Street are not covering costs despite reducing the playing budget and other cost cutting this season, so something needs to be done if you want BAFC to survive.
I am all ears to listen to suggestion of how a members club is going to successfully run BAFC but for one there isn't enough members.
It needs one of you to either win the lottery or find the odd couple of million pounds stuffed down your sofa, then you can politely tell Mr Casson his assistance is no longer required. Until them I suggest you listen to a successful local Barrovian (yes he no longer lives here) and give the man a fair chance.
If not well theres alway semi-professional football on Tuesday's and Saturday's at Rakesmoor Lane or you can always follow the Egg Chasers at Craven Park.

[John Very Little]

Until PC at least doubles his bid for the club, the FA won't allow it as it stands.

Well, if the FA are interested in keeping as many clubs in the association going, then let them put up the necessary minimum. I don't think so.
Easy for them to pontificate and watch a member retire to oblivion.

You have to look at the figures on the table so far - PC wants to pay 250K for a ground that was worth 600K at the last valuation 4 years ago. The 250K would pay off half the debts - what about the rest of the debts?
What you're saying then is that it's ok that he doesn't pay what the ground is worth and forgets about half the debts while throwing all the cash into the playing budget and expects the FA to allow this?

I know people are fed up of the present board but we cannot just sell out at the first opportunity without the offer being acceptable AND we must also have some safeguards/guarantees about our long term future.

[Ralph]

The present company limited by guarantee was formed in the dark days of 2000 with the clear intention to avoid a situation where any one person had control over the club. The Articles of Association were drawn up to ensure that the members ultimately owned the club. Authority to run the club was invested in the Board, who are elected by the members. If we are considering handing the club back to any individual (and I am not doubting Mr Casson's motives and honesty), we are in effect saying that the membership model is a failure.

Not sure I would class it as a failure, perhaps more along the lines that at the time it was what was needed, and now, as circumstances have changed, change might (under the right circumstances) be beneficial.

[Ralph]

one of the biggest gripes about the present board is the lack of transparency,when the invester first made an approach it was agreed to have a non-disclosure agreement why?

This is quite normal in take-overs, not just from a football perspective.

[Wintergreen]

Somebody wants to buy Barrow AFC and haggling over the price is starting to take place, that is quite normal in takeovers too. Mr Casson has started this process so lets see if a suitable fee can be arrived at.

Our house was for sale last year at a price the estate agent said was the market value, there were a few interested parties but nobody was prepared to meet the valuation and we are still there quite happily plodding along. That's the way it is (cue song:)

[barrowfan]

Our house was for sale last year at a price the estate agent said was the market value, there were a few interested parties but nobody was prepared to meet the valuation

Having watched far too many editions of Homes Under The Hammer it seems that an estate agent's valuation is very often pitched over the actual worth of the property eg £89,950 with the prospect of achieving £85,000.

Trouble is most sellers want to get the higher figure on the house they are selling but want a lower figure on the house they are moving to, so nobody actually moves!

[Van Der Nipper]

Meeting at the Forum Thursday 6th March 7.30PM.

[Uncle Peter]

Meeting at the Forum Thursday 6th March 7.30PM.

Source mate?

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[McMark]

Meeting at the Forum Thursday 6th March 7.30PM.

The Day before the AGM??? The plot thickens!!

[Van Der Nipper]

Meeting at the Forum Thursday 6th March 7.30PM.

Source mate?

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

Evening Mail tonight Pete.