Hartlepool Utd

[AndyPark]

I've got a feeling they're gunna stay up by the skin of their teeth.

[dickdarlington]

It's good for North East football as a whole, and us if they stay up. If they stay pro (they can of course do this in the Conf though) it means that the pool of semi pro players in this region isn't diminished.

In the near future it looks likely we're going to have Darlo, Whitby (to an extent), Blyth, Spenny and Gateshead all vying for the local talent. Adding the chimps to that won't help our ambitions.

So from our long term ambitions, I would prefer them to stay up. Although I think they will go down this season, and even though I've been controversial in this post, I would laugh my t1ts off if it happens.

After everything that's happened, it's feasible we'd only be two divisions apart again come August.

[Darlo_Pete]

Looks like they're heading out of the League and into administration. Sounds like IOR have had enough and you can't blame them. With the oil industry in crisis, I'd imagine poolie are a luxury too far for them.

[Spyman]

Looks a bit like the "new owners" were all piss and wind. Which is tragic.

Even if IOR write off the debt as promised, it may take a while before any prospective owner comes in, meaning more time with lack of investment and a greater chance of relegation. Which would be a shame.

If they go down, and IOR really are prepared to write off the debt, and if some high wage earners contacts have expired, why don't the fans group together and buy it for £1?

They have a council owned, appropriate stadium with little spending needed on it, a fan takeover would see an initial spike in crowds, goodwill and income, and if they absolutely need to they can re-structure as a part time club. They'd still be in a much better position than we were in, higher league, no debt, bigger better stadium capable of holding bigger crowds, at home in town.

Luckily for us the monkey hanging fuckwits will be too gormless to realise this and will hang on and on and on for a saviour, the longer it takes the better.

They still struggle with the concept that if you want a football club for your town, you need to pay for it (as we did a few years ago).

Unfortunately, it seems to be the case with football fans that until you get to that point when the club is effectively on its death bed (I mean properly, not just admin), that we don't realise this. If they realised much sooner, like the point they're at now, they could salvage things and probably retain a place at least in the Conference.

[davidcorks 40yard OG]

I've got a feeling they're gunna stay up by the skin of their teeth.

Nah gotta disagree with that one

Hangers are going down , i doubt they will get more than 35 points this season.

Couple of decent results of late but we had a couple of decent results in a row when we were relegated 2010 and we still got relegated very early ...too little too late for the hangers now

[davidcorks 40yard OG]

im looking forward to seeing how gutted Jeff Stelling will be when their relegation is inevitable sealed

+1

[Henley]

They still struggle with the concept that if you want a football club for your town, you need to pay for it (as we did a few years ago).

Unfortunately, it seems to be the case with football fans that until you get to that point when the club is effectively on its death bed (I mean properly, not just admin), that we don't realise this. If they realised much sooner, like the point they're at now, they could salvage things and probably retain a place at least in the Conference.

That certainly wasn't the case with me.

I knew George Reynolds was a complete idiot but I was also aware that it was this idiocy that saved the club at the time.

The money and effort to keep any type of sporting club going is immense and that investment of funds and time needs to be at least doubled for a semi-professional outfit.

I am of the opinion that if someone does underpin losses, they rightly call the shots.

[comeondarlo]

What's happened, all their message boreds are locked!

Edit.

Cancel that I've found an article now, shame!

[DarloOnTheUp]

What's happened, all their message boreds are locked!

Edit.

Cancel that I've found an article now, shame!

[Henley]

What's happened, all their message boreds are locked!

Edit.

Cancel that I've found an article now, shame!

What's happened?

[notgnilrad]

why do you need to log-in or register on the bunker to have a look at the forum.

[Comfortably_numb]

Unfortunately, it seems to be the case with football fans that until you get to that point when the club is effectively on its death bed (I mean properly, not just admin), that we don't realise this. If they realised much sooner, like the point they're at now, they could salvage things and probably retain a place at least in the Conference.

Have to agree Spyman. I live in Edinburgh and follow Hearts. They were on their arse thanks to mad Vlad pulling out, admin ensued and the club were on the brink of closure. Anne Budge came in and has ensured they're now run properly. They're top of the championship and spending £0 on bringing new players in. Compared to 'new' rangers spunking millions a month on 'named' players but trailing hearts in the league. Hibs by comparison are still funded by a millionaire owner. They're doing 'ok' but by virtue of having a sugar daddy still haven't had that shock to the system to sort themselves out.

[Spyman]

They still struggle with the concept that if you want a football club for your town, you need to pay for it (as we did a few years ago).

Unfortunately, it seems to be the case with football fans that until you get to that point when the club is effectively on its death bed (I mean properly, not just admin), that we don't realise this. If they realised much sooner, like the point they're at now, they could salvage things and probably retain a place at least in the Conference.

That certainly wasn't the case with me.

I knew George Reynolds was a complete idiot but I was also aware that it was this idiocy that saved the club at the time.

The money and effort to keep any type of sporting club going is immense and that investment of funds and time needs to be at least doubled for a semi-professional outfit.

I am of the opinion that if someone does underpin losses, they rightly call the shots.

That's what I mean - without Reynolds at the time the club may have folded, and until that point 'we' wouldn't have stepped in as fans to run the club in a sustainable manner at whatever level it could be sustained at.

We were 'lucky' enough to be passed around from idiot to idiot who thought by keeping the club going,they could benefit (ego in Reynolds case, moneymaking schemes for Houghton & Singh). Maybe if the fans had taken control back in 98 we'd still be at Feethams, a couple of divisions above where we are now. Who knows.

[joejaques]

I've got a feeling they're gunna stay up by the skin of their teeth.

Nah gotta disagree with that one

Hangers are going down , i doubt they will get more than 35 points this season.

Couple of decent results of late but we had a couple of decent results in a row when we were relegated 2010 and we still got relegated very early ...too little too late for the hangers now

They could still escape relegation...............but only if their new owner is called Houdini.

[Mr_Tibbs]

why do you need to log-in or register on the bunker to have a look at the forum.

"The Bunker will be making no further comment at this time."

Maybe reflecting what the club just said:

HARTLEPOOL United has confirmed the sale of the club from IOR to TMH 2014 has collapsed.

Ken Hodcroft, of owners IOR, will remain as the club’s chairman and Russ Green will remain in his position as chief executive.

“The club will not be making any further comments.”

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/lo ... -1-7091319

[Fatty eats roadkill]

They are wondering if Quaker pete can rescue them

[notgnilrad]

Thanks Mr Tibbs, had to sign up which I didn't really wanna do.

Think they will be ok, IOR wont leave them in the shite like our owners did.

[Mr_Tibbs]

Thanks Mr Tibbs, had to sign up which I didn't really wanna do.

Me either - anyone got a login who can relay all the doom and gloom for us?

[Fatty eats roadkill]

Yeah, basically Uncle Ken still owns them with IOR. They are on about taking over as fan owned and want Quaker Pete to show them how it's done.

[Henley]

Maybe if the fans had taken control back in 98 we'd still be at Feethams, a couple of divisions above where we are now. Who knows.

I understand your point. The club, at the very least, would have still had a stadium in the town, assuming the Feethams [sic] Trustees wouldn't have looked for a way to bar any phoenix club.

The club was in a lot of debt in 1999, though, and we'd have been relying on an immense amount of goodwill from the creditors to agree to a CVA.

[Quakerz]

Your mate ElvisC on the bunker, and I quote...

"IOR want to SELL HUFC. They thought they HAD sold HUFC. As far as we know, they STILL want to sell HUFC. IORs terse, curt, arrogant "statement" today tells you all you need to know about what they think of us."

Tee hee.

Maybe IOR think they are cvnts, like we do.

[Henley]

You really couldn't make up this takeover collapse - it's not too far removed from Greecey Ted's Darlo takeover (if you believe it wasn't all staged by IOU).

What I find laughable is how much the Bunker members care and their aggressive attitude/threats towards IOU and the perceived killing of their club.

It's just a football club, you nob heads, and it's completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Health and wealth being far, far more important for starters.

I view their militancy as a socialist-lefty trait. The way Darlo have done things is fantastic. A commendable attitude of "s*** happens - let's start again". No drama. No threats.

[Spyman]

You really couldn't make up this takeover collapse - it's not too far removed from Greecey Ted's Darlo takeover (if you believe it wasn't all staged by IOU).

What I find laughable is how much the Bunker members care and their aggressive attitude/threats towards IOU and the perceived killing of their club.

It's just a football club, you nob heads, and it's completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Health and wealth being far, far more important for starters.

I view their militancy as a socialist-lefty trait. The way Darlo have done things is fantastic. A commendable attitude of "s*** happens - let's start again". No drama. No threats.

But rewind 10 years and we were probably saying similar things. What we've dealt with since has been an eye opener.

The Poolies can moan and threaten IOR and call them all sorts of names, but without their money they'd have been a Conference club long long ago, and the way IOR have gradually reduced their bankrolling has actually been pretty decent of them - they could've just walked when the wage bill was at League 1 level like Houghton did to us.

[Henley]

Nah, trust me, quite a bit of the stuff said on the Bunker is far beyond what Darlo fans said about Reynolds, Houghton and Singh.

[Spyman]

Nah, trust me, quite a bit of the stuff said on the Bunker is far beyond what Darlo fans said about Reynolds, Houghton and Singh.

So anyway, how are you these days? Still living in the same part of the country? If so we need a reunion!

[Henley]

Yup, still living in Beckenham despite the boxes of dog s***, s***-stained johnnies and death threats I got through the letter box.

Just working a little less and having a bit more fun.

I'm up for a visit to London - any events coming up?

[shawry]

I read that IOR would write off £14m debt, so they did only loan the club the money then?

If thats the case, then if I was a Poolie I'd keep my mouth shut if I was thinking of slagging IOR off, as I'd hate for them to turn round and say "you know what? fuck em, we want our £14m"

[Neil Johnson]

£14m debt must have been a tax dodge.

IOR are particulary badly hit by the oil price slump and false accountancy losses are now real deep losses.

Poorly could end in our present league if they are wiped out by unsympathetic International Investment bankers.

With 10 points deducted for an adiministration after reaching the Conference we may be playing them in 18 months time in the Conference.

They may be playing at a rugby club like us.

[Sussex07]

"We'll never play Darlo again,well not in my lifetime "they laughed.

[joejaques]

"We'll never play Darlo again,well not in my lifetime "they laughed.

If they get dumped as far as we did, they may well be correct.