Monday Nights Meeting with Paul Casson

[Big E]

We will be worse off as won't own the ground and will be at the mercy of whoever buys it (presumably renting it off them), however nobody has mentioned this yet.

If all goes tits up and he wants out, what's to stop a members trust being formed and rebuying the ground themselves? Considering our debts now probably at least total the value of the ground we'd be in no worse state with a new members company owning the ground under a mortgage?*

To be honest, we have three options to chose:

1) We stay as we are
2) We take Casson up on his proposal
3) Someone finds/comes up with another alternative going forward

In the absence of #3, that leaves us with 1 and 2. I truly believe that with the debt we have, and the model of the club preventing any meaningful investment, #1 will kill us. The BOD have done a fantastic job over the years, but I feel we're now at a level where the debt has us fighting fires and treading water rather than moving forward. Staying still in football terms is the equivalent of going backwards. That brings us onto #2. Yes it has risks in itself, nobodys pretending it's all sunshine and rainbows. But so does the other option. At least this one in theory has the potential to lift the club beyond the possibilities of the current set up long term, and financial stability in the short term. I believe his intentions are genuine and his goals realistic. Of course in a few years time we may be buggered and those against will no doubt love to say "I told you so" but sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and truly do what is best for the club. And I believe that whatever happens in the long term, this option will leave the club in a better state at the end of it all then it is now, and that's good enough for me.

*Of course, that assumes the possiblity of a newly formed members company being able to obtain a mortgage, no idea of the possiblity of that.

In a nutshell Ste, well put.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

I haven't Shaun but I know of a number who will await the formal proposal and the board's recommendation (and perhaps take note of who the proposed directors are to be) before making their mind up.

I really hope you are joking!

It 'beggers belief' that such Negativity actually exists within our own fan base!
..."Who the proposed directors are to be"...
Well; it can be safely assumed that it' ll be none of the present bunch! :flag:

[Kendal_bluebird]

How can I join to make sure I get a yea vote for casson

[Richard Ingham]

http://www.barrowafc.com/downloads/BAFC ... 012-13.pdf

[Dalton Bluebird]

How can I join to make sure I get a yea vote for casson

We could do with more new members joining to get behind the 'yes' vote and make sure that the 'no' brigade (if there is such a thing) don't throw the club into an ever declining spiral.

[ron bacardi]

I've tried to renew my membership through the official site a few times in the past year but it doesn't work. I moved away a few years ago so the address the club have for me is different, and membership lapsed I think. Any suggestions?

[Jim]

I've tried to renew my membership through the official site a few times in the past year but it doesn't work. I moved away a few years ago so the address the club have for me is different, and membership lapsed I think. Any suggestions?

How about downloading the membership form from the link Richard has given, and sending it in?

[Leo]

How can I join to make sure I get a yea vote for casson

We could do with more new members joining to get behind the 'yes' vote and make sure that the 'no' brigade (if there is such a thing) don't throw the club into an ever declining spiral.

Or do we need more members joining to get behind the 'no' vote and make sure the 'yes' brigade dont sell us down the river to Vaughan II?

[Richard Ingham]

I've tried to renew my membership through the official site a few times in the past year but it doesn't work. I moved away a few years ago so the address the club have for me is different, and membership lapsed I think. Any suggestions?

Ron, send Uncle Peter an email with the details and he can sort if out for you.

[Roadrunner]

We could do with more new members joining to get behind the 'yes' vote and make sure that the 'no' brigade (if there is such a thing) don't throw the club into an ever declining spiral.

Or do we need more members joining to get behind the 'no' vote and make sure the 'yes' brigade dont sell us down the river to Vaughan II?

Look on the bright side, if there is an influx of new members and the 'no" vote win.

With all the extra £20 memberships the club will go into a slower decline and exist a few more weeks next season.

Let's get real, as we stand we are not making enough money to improve the team OR improve the ground, apart from the "miracle" that DE has performed we are already in the financial decline, you can grab the lifebelt or drown, it's your choice

[Chris Benoit]

We could do with more new members joining to get behind the 'yes' vote and make sure that the 'no' brigade (if there is such a thing) don't throw the club into an ever declining spiral.

Or do we need more members joining to get behind the 'no' vote and make sure the 'yes' brigade dont sell us down the river to Vaughan II?

Genuine question here... Are you actually against the takeover proposals or are you just trying to stimulate a bit of debate from the other side of the fence?

[Leo]

Or do we need more members joining to get behind the 'no' vote and make sure the 'yes' brigade dont sell us down the river to Vaughan II?

Genuine question here... Are you actually against the takeover proposals or are you just trying to stimulate a bit of debate from the other side of the fence?

You are correct I am actually just trying to play devils advocate against the overwhelming 'yes' movement from the fans on here. I'm not a member, but if I was I would quite probably say yes also

[Gordon]

Evening, long time reader, first time posting.

At the moment i'm in the no camp. couldn't make the meeting as an exile but from what i've read he has no concrete plans, other than to throw his money at the playing budget and some ground improvements. Putting a roof on the Holker End would be a fair way down the list in my eyes!

I'd need to know the following before voting on any issue -

Does he indeed have the money? He's talked the talk, some proof that he has the means to do it and sustain it (this point is most important) would go a long way.

He seems to be discounting the current board? Why doesn't he keep the wheat and discard the chaff, so to speak. Russ Dodd for me would be an excellent recruit to his board as he seems to have a good grasp of all the ins and outs.

He states that a few board members would be based in the town. Whom? does he have people lined up or is he just going to try and find people if hes successful? What experience do they have?

Why not include a supporter trust from day one, giving the fans representation? He can talk all he wants about fans etc, but he may never actually do it and doing it from the start would be a good show of intent.

I'm sure i could think of more things, but i don't want to be overly negative - he might have a cracking plan as might the current board and i'm hoping more questions will be answered very soon - he's been at this since last year, he must surely have some plan of action should he be a success. Why can't he share it.

Whatever happens it should be an interesting end to the season.

[Chris Benoit]

I'm pretty sure a good few of your questions have already been answered. I read somewhere that PC has had to show his proof of finances and has done so (I'm sure someone can confirm that). He did also say that whilst it was unlikely that many (if any) of the current BoD would be retained - he did not completely rule this out. I believe that it he thinks that any of the BoD could bring anything to the new regime then he will retain them (personally I'd like to see Pete stay on in a supporters rep role as he has done a fantastic job since joining the board).

His plans sound decent to me and as he himself stated - whichever way we look at it there are risks. We have to decide which is the bigger risk. I think we are treading water as a club right now, the potential takeover may just breathe new life into the club.

[Chris Benoit]

Genuine question here... Are you actually against the takeover proposals or are you just trying to stimulate a bit of debate from the other side of the fence?

You are correct I am actually just trying to play devils advocate against the overwhelming 'yes' movement from the fans on here. I'm not a member, but if I was I would quite probably say yes also

I thought so. There's always 2 ways to look at things. Me personally, I think the positives outweigh the negatives and think we should go for it.