I know I probably shouldn't bite, but seeing as I've been mentioned several times by name now...

I'm quite happy to take on board valid or constructive criticism but I'm not sure what hidden agendas either me, or any of the rest of the Board are supposed to have. Quite frankly, this kind of baseless insinuation and allegation is personally offensive, inaccurate and unhelpful.

It should be pointed out that, prior to me contacting Scott in January to offer my skills, I was just an ordinary fan. My life has been turned upside down by this project over the last four months.

As for Board members wanting to "cling on" - I don't think anyone actually *wants* to stay on, but we recognise the need for a period of stability and transition between the interim and the voted Board.

I'm not asking people to blindly back 1883 - I accept that this has not turned out how we'd have wanted at the outset of the project. However, I am asking that personal comments are kept to a minimum, and that people remember that we are all volunteers doing a pretty complicated and difficult job.

Laura there will always be 1 or 2 who criticise whatever you do. 99% of us appreciate what you and the gang are doing ...so carry on we're right behind you.

Not wanting to appear as a 'brown noser' but I hope you appreciate that this is the view of a very small minority and certainly not the majority, Laura.

I've seen first hand the amount of work you've put into trying to save this club, and for your role to be doubted, angers me quite frankly.

Last thing we want is to piss the people off who have effectively given us the chance of redemption. Like I've said previously, only in Darlo could this happen.... only in Darlo.

Thanks to everyone who has worked their socks off trying to rescue DFC, 1883 did their best in what looks now to be an impossible situation we were never going to win. I said earlier that we should look at a newly invigorated trust to run the club, but this would only work with the help of Laura and the long standing people behind 1883. I would say we need a change of organisation but keep (if they are willing) the main players like Laura. We are all fans and whilst we may not always agree (Im not happy about leaving Darlo) we must stick together and support each other.
Thanks for all your efforts Laura they are appreciated

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Foes List. none, I love everyone me.

Laura, so you are saying that Ian Peacock's comments are totally wrong re the lack of leadership and the agendas comment? Am I right that he offered to pay for the coaches? that to me seems a big sponsor to lose?

Also Shaun Campbell's comments?

If you volunteer and put your head above the parapit, you can expect personal comments, it happens in football, only the other day I was reading old threads, the abuse some individuals have taken is far worse.

Like I said I wasn't privvy to the meetings but I have spoken to people who were and in addition I have read the Supporters Trust website, stuff on here, I've even spoken to ex 1883 members in the Ron Greener as well as reading comments on FB some from well known fans, to be fair, I don't know what to think - but I know one thing in fighting kills clubs, i'm not on about squabbles on here but look at the comments today from Ian Peacock, he must have had his reasons for saying what he did, either way, it is damaging for 1883.

I apologise for any offence caused, that wasn't my intention, reading that article today - together with talking to those 2 creditors really pissed me off.

To be fair, I haven't got anything further to add to this thread. Time will tell, whether or not this club survives, I for one, hope it does

There's a subtle irony in a Trust-sympathiser accusing any organisation of lacking leadership...

Unbelievable that is the only words I can use to describe some of the comments and accusations in this thread.
1883 are made up Darlington Football club supporters folk that go to the games and sit with you week in and week out.
What these guys have achieved from a seemingly impossible situation is remarkable.
I`ve volunteered my time and helped out in any way I could and I know what an impact that made on my life and it was nowhere near what these guys have done.
Because of doing this I`ve met many of the interim board and found them to be passionate about the club, there sole reason for doing this. One of them went out of there way to pick me up for a match because I wasnt well and brought me home too for which I am thankful.
I have sensed no hidden agendas, power trips or ego trips from the folk I have met.
Scott has provided a detailed account of why the 1883 model was used and not the supporters trust model and I can also verify that it is the same information I have heard before from more than one source.
The likes of Craig and Tori were brought in because of the skills they have and Ive found both to be open and again with no hidden agendas, both have a heavy presence on twitter and can be contacted easily.
These guys have given everything for OUR club, and I`d also like to say that its the minority complaining not the majority. I`m proud to be a Darlo supporter even if I am a newbie.

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@Charliejovi on twitter

I am a Trust member and passionate about the principles of Supporters direct. However, sadly democracy takes time and idealists should realise that 1883 was the only option. I'm incredibly sad that local traders have lost money on this deal but you can only do what you can do. One member one vote is the purest form of community ownership. i had my reservations about the 15% option as it left the potential for some members to form a cartel. Not saying they would but the potential was there. Great news one member one vote, politically, although it is an infringement on economic share rights as has already been mentioned by one board member..

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This empty sanitised shell of a stadium, a cathedral to the vanity and narcissism of one man. It’s very difficult to fall in love with football amongst the rows of empty seats. The notion that a stadium has worth beyond its potential commerical value or it’s proximity to transport links – as a spiritual repository of the hopes,fears and agonies of generations of supporters, or as a physical manifestation of the football club in the community, is a dying one in football (Sam Volkman)

Just going back to the original topic for this thread, has anyone who is unhappy with the one vote proposal, who may want to invest more than the 'standard' £100 contacted 1883 to find out if there is another way of doing so.

Or, are we all hysterically reading the words and not looking into the detail ?

I wonder if the community CLICK idea may not be the only way of investing ?! Just a thought ......

Will I be getting a chance to respond to the news that you don't trust me?
On what basis?

I have never once said I would be looking to stay on the board once the purchase and transition period were completed. I have a day job which is being somewhat neglected as well as family wouldn't mind getting some of my time and those factors along with the fact that I have no desire to run a football club mean I won't even be standing for a seat on the board, even though I have had a number of emails from supportive fans asking me to do so.

I have never once pretended that I got involved initially in this project for any other reason than I saw a commercial opportunity. That is what I do and I brought Crowdcube to the table because at that stage it was an excellent route forward.

To date, I haven't earned a penny out of this project, and I have been unable to get involved in work worth over 20k to me due to the commitment I made to this project. I can't afford to turn away that kind of work but I have done so because I made the decision to get involved and help and just because it got harder than I had envisaged I wasn't going to jump ship. The people at 1883 are a great bunch of people who are sweating blood to take this club forward, the accusation of hidden agendas is just laughable.
I won't be defending myself again, nor am I above criticism but at least try and base your comments on something you can support.

The only people that have failed the club through this whole sorry affair is Raj and the Trust which from the tone of your unwarranted sniping against 1883 I'd say you are quite possibly connected to the Trust in some way (other than being a member).

Also if you are blaming 1883 for companies not getting money back then you clearly know nothing again - they had a CVA to offer that was blocked, not by them but by Raj.

Please explain exactly how the Trust or supporters Direct model would have given anybody any money back? even if it had got off the ground in time I doubt we would have raised as much money and even then it would still have been blocked and still not been very much.

You're clearly bitter for some reason but don't come on here spouting your bile when you're clearly a know-nowt or letting your bitterness get in the way of your common sense.

Pipe down.

I would say the trust haven't failed the club, because in all honesty, we would of ended up at exactly this point regardless due to RS.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Are you nuts? How would we have ended up at this point? We are 5 months down the line from the point we would have been extinct were it not for the rescue group and 1883 and the Trust STILL have not got their act together.

Yes I know they put some money in that day but that is it. Everything else they have done has been negative, counter productive sniping.

i know i said i wouldnt add to this thread, but I have to respond

firstly, apart from been a member of the trust, and a firm believer in the ethos of a Community based club, I have nothing to do with them, as I havent got the time.

Secondly, I have seen many people come and go GH/Raj were God like on here when they first appeared on the scene as was George Reynolds. My Doubts regarding Craig stem from various comments he has made in the press especially when Crowd cube were desperate for the cash, he turned on the Trust in the press, I commented on it on here at the time, also, Ian Peacock's and Shaun Campbell's comments worry me, The Crowd Cube plan wasn't a Community Club in the real sense, the fact that Craig 'saw a commercial opportunity' suggests that he was initially here for the money, like I have said, people like Scott, Karen, Tony, and Peter Ashmore and many others deserve credit, because they have done it for the love of the club, Craig has openly admitted that he saw 'a commercial opportunity' therefore his first thought mustve been getting his percentage out of Darlo's plight. I voiced doubts about Raj and the land issues in the press, etc and was shouted down, I had a go at GR (George Reynolds) at Carlisle and again was shouted down if I turn out to be wron wrong about Craig then I apologise, I listened to BBC Tees Sport - Craig stated that he'd like to stay on the board, I checked i player, so whats changed?

People on here want the club to be saved at any cost, and will follow anyone they think can achieve this, like I said yesterday, unfortunately Uncovered isn't the real world, the members on here chanted 'In Raj we trust' Raj said the club was 'debt free' when he left, we have since learned this not to be the case. GH lead the fans to believe he was spending wads of his own cash when in reality he was using a loan, which wasn't repaid and he club ended up losing the Arena to S & S. again GH couldn't be wronged on here. Raj/GH both said they had the club at heart, and were putting lots of time in (and money in their case) or words to that effect. I see the scenerio repeating itself again, I'm worried for the club I have supported for over thirty years, after the last couple of people I think I have every right to be sceptical. I'm not spreading bile, I'm simply stating my opinion based on past experiences and what I have read, maybe not trusting Craig was the wrong way of putting it, but I certainly have my doubts.

You've backed yourself into a corner and are waffling mate.

Admit you've been shown up as a silly bollocks and move on.

Fine I take it all back - I can't be arsed any more

I don't think anybody here is hero worshipping it's simply credit where it is due - which even with your misgivings you should be able to manage. 1883 have done their best which so far I am very happy with. They may go on to be a bunch of corrupt wasters but so far there is absolutely no evidence of anything other than a committed bunch doing a good job.

As for Craig, he seems to be a very capable project manager, he's been on here answering questions regularly and so what if he gets paid - he's doing a job, they should all be getting paid in an ideal world. We have a guy here doing a good job who should be lauded for being good enough to defer his payment until we can afford it, he is taking a risk and the fact that he is doing it not as a massive Darlo fan is even more to his credit.

You can stay silent now if you like - I hope it is because you realise you are out of line. An opinion is fine, having misgivings is fine but all those connected with 1883 have so far given nobody any reason to mistrust them or bad mouth them. Criticism is fine - in my view undeserved but you're entitled. Just don't get personal - they don't deserve it - in fact they deserve much better.

all i can say is unbelieveable if only people had gone with the trust model in the first place
and its a good job the trust didnt give the money away as it would have gone in to a black hole such as the 70k has
people should have listened to very good advice
i know i will be slated for saying this

How many more times does this need to be said...

THERE. WASN'T. ENOUGH. TIME.

Here I'll say it one more time for you so that you can understand...

THERE. WASN'T. ENOUGH. TIME

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

Dear me, are you being thick deliberately? Read through the thread. You'll find the reasons why some people's beloved DSU/ Trust model wasn't viable.

Once more: THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIME

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If ever you're bored or miserable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlZohZoadGY

Pillock.

The 70K has not gone into a black hole. It bought the assets of darlington football club last week so that we have a team for next season. Are you really that slow ?

You will be slated for a very good reason.

There wasn't enough time

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Boycott greedy clubs!!

I think we have to realise that their are hidden agendas in some of these posts.

We are all one thing, fans of Darlington football club. I have categorically told everybody that there was not enough time for the dsu to try and save the club. I was in the actual meeting, if any other posters on this thread were in that meeting then please be honest enough and tell is who you are. My name is Scott Thornberry and I was in the dsu meeting at the Blackwell garbage and also the rescue group meeting at Blackwell grange. I hope that is clear.

I backed the dsu model, but it was too late.

Now we can move forward as one and channel all of our energies into one project, or we can stupidly and childishly continue this trust versus 1883 argument which has been quite frankly an embarrassment and caused great harm to our efforts.

It is pathetic that some users on here treat our situation like a petty playground argument. Let's crack on and pull together, if anybody thinks members of 1883 shouldn't be there then fine, there will be elections soon and we can vote for who we want, it's democracy at it's best.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

well said Scott.

Well said Scott ... she knows she will be slated ..... so she got something right at least!

all the comments just show what you didnt know and how narrow minded people are on here and how quick people change their minds
again people need to listen to advice instead of slating the trust and yes the part of 70k has gone to pay bills HM bill for one

and yes there was plenty of time and the trust had funding etc organised already

Sorry but you're talking out of your arse.

They couldn't put the money in place in time. HM was prepared to close the club on the Friday - he needed money and fast.

The Trust had too much red tape to fight to have the money in time.

I have lost count of the times I read press reports stating "...the Trust could not be contacted..." or "...the Trust were unavailable...".

Time has been as big a problem as finances over these recent months.
Companies in Administration have very short timescales to either be rescued/bought out or liquidated.
A small number of hard working people gave up their own time and money to save the club back in January and since then a larger number of people have been helping out both financially or with sheer hard graft.

This proves that the recent succession of egotistical chairmen have not broken the spirit of the genuine fans who want the club to survive.
I say this to all fans who are genuine about wanting the club to stay in existence:
Get behind Darlo 1883, if you are concerned about their plans or agendas, ask them those tough questions - either on line or at Friday's meeting.
Anyone with anything to offer them, either practically or with good ideas should get involved ASAP.

It cannot be stressed enough how much time pressure we are under.
In about a month the FA will make their decision and we need to have as good a plan in place as possible to avoid being relegated even further down the pyramid.

To the "Let's just start again lot", I say this: How exactly do you think it would be easier to start a new club from nothing? What plans do you have for such an eventuality?

The 70k never went into a black hole, the 70k went into "fund the club so it can complete it's fixtures" and THEN we raised money to go forward, without your damn money - and we ARE going to TAKE IT from you next month.

What you are saying effectively is that the trust wouldn't have dared put their money into the club in February to keep it going and allowed the club to fold, and not been able to raise the money that 1883 would have done afterwards? Is that what you are saying?

I thought the trust were dead against folding.

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http://twitter.com/Quakerz72

I tell you what, it's just as well that I'm not a trust member and eligible for election on May 14th.

Because I tell you what, if I was, I'd be elected on the 14th, emptying the bank accounts on the 15th, and dissolving the fucker on the 16th.

Had enough of this 1883 v trust nitpicking now! The trust BLEW IT!

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http://twitter.com/Quakerz72