Page 7 of 10

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 6:05 pm
by dfc4me
What concerns me about staying as we are is the lack of suitable volunteers to run the club. Our two remaining board members simply cannot be expected to run a club at this level in their spare time. They need help otherwise the amount of time they need to commit to DFC wil start to impact on their home lives, maybe even their health and that is not good.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 6:28 pm
by MCFCDarlo3
Spyman wrote:
MinistryOfSillyWalks wrote:It's definitely 2 of the names mentioned on this thread who have put the money forward and are in discussions with progressing further. Both have been involved with us before.
Only three of the names mentioned have been involved with us before. Singh, Hodgson and Pallister.

Gray said one of the names was a 'top football man' and that he'd benefit from his coaching experience.

So based on what Gray said, and this mysterious new poster who happens to know something for definite, there must be one other involved who hasn't been mentioned.
I mentioned Jesper

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 6:34 pm
by SwansQuaker83
Mr_Tibbs wrote:Maybe there's more than one investor/group to consider.
God I hope so...

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 7:15 pm
by QUAKERMAN2
Martin Jesper is the one person to bring in to oversee the complexities of outside investment and the DFCSG shareholding in order to satisfy both parties .Not sure if he could free up some time from his role at Hearts but he retains massive respect from us fans and he would get our trust and confidence.Probably wishful thinking but really hope we can get things moving urgently, we can get the investor/DFCSG model in place for the benefit of the club and more importantly we do not lose any of the players and management staff due to all this uncertainty.Fingers crossed we continue to move forward and keep progressing.....would be gut wrenching if the likes of Spenny start taking any of our players.Up the Quakers.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 7:50 pm
by Comfortably_numb
QUAKERMAN2 wrote:Martin Jesper is the one person to bring in to oversee the complexities of outside investment and the DFCSG shareholding in order to satisfy both parties .Not sure if he could free up some time from his role at Hearts but he retains massive respect from us fans and he would get our trust and confidence.Probably wishful thinking but really hope we can get things moving urgently, we can get the investor/DFCSG model in place for the benefit of the club and more importantly we do not lose any of the players and management staff due to all this uncertainty.Fingers crossed we continue to move forward and keep progressing.....would be gut wrenching if the likes of Spenny start taking any of our players.Up the Quakers.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk
Be v surprised if Martin Jesper came back. He's got a bit of a challenge on his hands up here in Edinburgh as Hearts have faltered lately and MJ will be busting a gut to keep the pennies rolling in at Tynecastle.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:03 pm
by trevstanley
As a Newcastle Fan as well as an investor , i really hope to god McLaren isn't involved. The guy's a Jonah !!!

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:04 pm
by bga
H1987 wrote:
GAQuaker wrote:I doubt throughout its history Darlington Football Club has ever had a sustained period of profit or breakeven. The club has always had to be bankrolled by its owners whoever they have been. Darlo does not have any real assets to give it any value. Should an owner ever want to sell the club it will only be for a minimal (contractual) fee e.g. £1 and they will have no hope of ever recouping the money they have put into keeping the club going. This is the situation Darlo has found itself in under the recent administrations. Investors and fans alike need to learn from this and understand that the club is not a business like other businesses and is actually a something to occupy fans once a week (read the banner).
Therefore the question is why do the potential investors need a majority shareholding of the football club? There is no valid reason for this other than they are in control of the destiny of the club and could kill it if and whenever it suits them. They should realise at the outset they won’t get their money back. Since 2012 fans have invested significant sums knowing this, so why would an investor think differently. By all means invite them to be significant members of the board and let them run things if they want but at the end of the day DFCSG must maintain control as a safeguard to ensure that when investors walk away the club is not going to be left in the situation it was in 2012. Measures must be put in place to ensure that the club is financially protected (i.e. is not spending way too much for its obligations) should investors choose to leave. Ideally, to mitigate the risks, there would be numerous investors each willing to support the club and not just one or two.
When any announcement is made, the potential investors need to explain what they want for the football club. If they mention developing anything other than the football club (e.g. land, hotels, houses, etc.) then alarms bells should start ringing as we’ve all been there before.
None of the latter would be possible, it isn't the football clubs land. They'd have to buy the Rugby club to do that too, and they don't need an investor. Especially now they'll be doing quite nicely from their new landlords.

There's basically no assets to strip.
The Rugby club may "need" an Investor if their Tenant cannot continue to afford the agreed payments!

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:14 pm
by bga
GaryChapman=God wrote:I have also spoken again with the guys in the accounting. Its Singh and McClaren currently
You need to think very carefully about making these statements given that The Club have signed a "Non Disclosure Agreement" which presumably applies to your alleged contacts in accounting, who are obviously going about their work in a very professional manner by providing you with such information!

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:21 pm
by theoriginalfatcat
bga wrote:
GaryChapman=God wrote:I have also spoken again with the guys in the accounting. Its Singh and McClaren currently
You need to think very carefully about making these statements given that The Club have signed a "Non Disclosure Agreement" which presumably applies to your alleged contacts in accounting, who are obviously going about their work in a very professional manner by providing you with such information!

GaryChapman=God and Ministryofsillywalks are the two on here who reckon they are in the know. However, both of them have only just surfaced on this forum, with about 8 posts between them.

Coincidence?

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:22 pm
by biccynana
theoriginalfatcat wrote:
bga wrote:
GaryChapman=God wrote:I have also spoken again with the guys in the accounting. Its Singh and McClaren currently
You need to think very carefully about making these statements given that The Club have signed a "Non Disclosure Agreement" which presumably applies to your alleged contacts in accounting, who are obviously going about their work in a very professional manner by providing you with such information!

GaryChapman=God and Ministryofsillywalks are the two on here who reckon they are in the know. However, both of them have only just surfaced on this forum, with about 8 posts between them.

Coincidence?
Dog walkers, I reckon.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:28 pm
by bga
biccynana wrote:
theoriginalfatcat wrote:
bga wrote:
GaryChapman=God wrote:I have also spoken again with the guys in the accounting. Its Singh and McClaren currently
You need to think very carefully about making these statements given that The Club have signed a "Non Disclosure Agreement" which presumably applies to your alleged contacts in accounting, who are obviously going about their work in a very professional manner by providing you with such information!

GaryChapman=God and Ministryofsillywalks are the two on here who reckon they are in the know. However, both of them have only just surfaced on this forum, with about 8 posts between them.

Coincidence?
Dog walkers, I reckon.
Possibly Poolie Fans preparing for non-league football?

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:29 pm
by biccynana
bga wrote:
biccynana wrote:
theoriginalfatcat wrote:
bga wrote:
GaryChapman=God wrote:I have also spoken again with the guys in the accounting. Its Singh and McClaren currently
You need to think very carefully about making these statements given that The Club have signed a "Non Disclosure Agreement" which presumably applies to your alleged contacts in accounting, who are obviously going about their work in a very professional manner by providing you with such information!

GaryChapman=God and Ministryofsillywalks are the two on here who reckon they are in the know. However, both of them have only just surfaced on this forum, with about 8 posts between them.

Coincidence?
Dog walkers, I reckon.
Possibly Poolie Fans preparing for non-league football?
:lol:

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:45 pm
by Hawkeye
theoriginalfatcat wrote:
bga wrote:
GaryChapman=God wrote:I have also spoken again with the guys in the accounting. Its Singh and McClaren currently
You need to think very carefully about making these statements given that The Club have signed a "Non Disclosure Agreement" which presumably applies to your alleged contacts in accounting, who are obviously going about their work in a very professional manner by providing you with such information!

GaryChapman=God and Ministryofsillywalks are the two on here who reckon they are in the know. However, both of them have only just surfaced on this forum, with about 8 posts between them.

Coincidence?
Reading this whole thread through for the first time, I was thinking the same thing... My first thought was Ted, but the grammar is too coherent.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:48 pm
by darlo reborn
Any one else received e-mail from DFCSG ?

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:50 pm
by super_les_mcjannet
darlo reborn wrote:Any one else received e-mail from DFCSG ?
Yep, came through about 10 minutes ago.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:51 pm
by Hawkeye
super_les_mcjannet wrote:
darlo reborn wrote:Any one else received e-mail from DFCSG ?
Yep, came through about 10 minutes ago.
The tension is killing me...

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:52 pm
by LoidLucan
"It is our intention to announce a proposal in the coming week which will allow members of DFCSG to indicate whether they believe the proposals of external investment should be advanced whilst also hopefully ensuring that the Club does not stagnate until such a time that a detailed proposal can be submitted which is likely to take a number of months."

But fundraising vital going forward.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:55 pm
by Allan Quatermain
Darlington FC Supporters Group
OUR CLUB - OUR FUTURE - OUR CHOICE





Update on Potential Investment
Dear Member,

We'd like to take this opportunity to update all members of the current progress made in relation to the potential investor who we met with last week. Initial high level aspirations were discussed as well as outline requirements of both parties, we must stress that these discussions are at a very early stage.

We are acutely aware of the time frames which have been discussed in the media by our manager Martin Gray and are fully committed to moving as quickly as possible as drawing the process out will be of benefit to no-one, however we must do so whilst following the rules and processes designed to safeguard the future of the football club.

It is our intention to announce a proposal in the coming week which will allow members of DFCSG to indicate whether they believe the proposals of external investment should be advanced whilst also hopefully ensuring that the Club does not stagnate until such a time that a detailed proposal can be submitted which is likely to take a number of months.

It is crucial that we try and operate the business as usual and continue the excellent work in raising funds which to date has been outstanding. In order for the fans to retain a say in how the Club is run in the future we will need to continue to raise money in some way shape or form. Supporting the "Boost The Budget" fundraiser will allow Martin the best opportunity to shape his squad for the coming season and if you can make your pledge in the next 2 weeks it will give a clear indication of the calibre of squad that can be built. Don't forget this one is a weekly or monthly direct debit so it can be spread across the entire season.

Also we are getting very close to reaching our Community Share target that we need to get the upgrade of the pitch at Blackwell Meadows underway. Pledges currently stand at £41,228 and it would be really good to achieve our target of £43,000 as soon as possible. If you wish to make a pledge, please go to our fundraising platform by following this link https://fundraising.darlingtonfcsupportersgroup.org/

Alternatively, if you would prefer to apply for Community Shares face to face, you could pop into Quaker Retail in the Dolphin Centre.

Wayne Raper
Chair
Darlington FC Supporters Group






'Darlington FC Supporters Group' is the trading name of Darlington 1883 Supporters’ Society Limited
registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefits Societies Act 2014. Registration No. 7077.

Registered office:
Darlington Football Club Supporters Group
Blackwell Meadows
Grange Road
Darlington, DL1 5NR
United Kingdom

Add us to your address book


unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 8:58 pm
by super_les_mcjannet
Hawkeye wrote:
super_les_mcjannet wrote:
darlo reborn wrote:Any one else received e-mail from DFCSG ?
Yep, came through about 10 minutes ago.
The tension is killing me...
Haha, I knew someone would paste it on the thread.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:01 pm
by al_quaker
This is the interesting part for me:

"In order for the fans to retain a say in how the Club is run in the future we will need to continue to raise money in some way shape or form."

Good that we will hear something within a week

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:04 pm
by darlo reborn
I could not don`t know how to not computer literate

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:12 pm
by LoidLucan
It is our intention to announce a proposal in the coming week which will allow members of DFCSG to indicate whether they believe the proposals of external investment should be advanced

I'm assuming that the vote won't be just on the general principle of external investment without knowing the who, what, why, where, when answers.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:16 pm
by super_les_mcjannet
Sounds like they are going to look for opinions on the proposal and if it looks like a backed idea move to a vote.

No point going through the whole rigmarole of setting up a vote if the majority are against it from the start.

Or maybe I am reading too much into the statement.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:20 pm
by shawry
super_les_mcjannet wrote:Sounds like they are going to look for opinions on the proposal and if it looks like a backed idea move to a vote.

No point going through the whole rigmarole of setting up a vote if the majority are against it from the start.

Or maybe I am reading too much into the statement.
The thing is most people aren't adverse to external investment, it's the who that will block it.

It would be easier to say. This is who it is, should we bother trying to do a deal.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:23 pm
by Beano
theoriginalfatcat wrote:
bga wrote:
GaryChapman=God wrote:I have also spoken again with the guys in the accounting. Its Singh and McClaren currently
You need to think very carefully about making these statements given that The Club have signed a "Non Disclosure Agreement" which presumably applies to your alleged contacts in accounting, who are obviously going about their work in a very professional manner by providing you with such information!

GaryChapman=God and Ministryofsillywalks are the two on here who reckon they are in the know. However, both of them have only just surfaced on this forum, with about 8 posts between them.

Coincidence?
Paul Connor and Michael Bridges, I heard.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:25 pm
by grimsbyquaker
I totally share people's nerves about any involvement of RS. That said we have to listen and think carefully. We have potentially finished this season in a false position based on a big overspend on players. Living within our means sounds lovely but effectively means bucket collections and plying our trade between the northern league and npl div 1, maybe even getting to the point when we decline promotion because of the high travel costs. We have been screwed over both over the arena but also at Feethams. That said it is normal for a club to receive investment, sometimes from some characters that people are wary of. The only way to make money from this venture is to acquire land and develop other activities on it, as is the case at Fylde who rake in playing budget money from the retail outlets who pay to operate on that site. The only other way is to have DFC as a little project like Salford...unlikely. This is why I feel that the Arena has to be part of this...it's ready made. BM is surely only a goer if it can be purchased and then developed..interesting to see the devil in the detail this week

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:26 pm
by LoidLucan
Unless I know who is behind it, what is involved, what the intentions are, what the fans' involvement would be, what safeguards there may be and a whole host of other things, I'm not sure I could answer the question of whether I favour outside investment.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:27 pm
by m62exile
dfc4me wrote:What concerns me about staying as we are is the lack of suitable volunteers to run the club. Our two remaining board members simply cannot be expected to run a club at this level in their spare time. They need help otherwise the amount of time they need to commit to DFC wil start to impact on their home lives, maybe even their health and that is not good.
This is the main reason I'm open to hearing what the investor has to say. The volunteers we have right across the club can keep us ticking over and maybe we can find our level and break even - but it's clear that moving us forwards requires resources and people that we just don't have. Reading the commercial column in the programme at the last home game reckoned we should/ could be making about x5 our commercial revenue for a club our size.

That makes a heck of a difference to our prospects but it requires time, experience, and the right skills in individuals and I can't see how we can afford to make the most of it when every penny is going on just keeping the club breathing.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:28 pm
by super_les_mcjannet
Taking a controlling share but still expecting the fans to raise money at the same levels is something I would be nervous of. Mainly because it won't happen, if an investor wants to be in control they will have to assume the main responsibility of financial responsibility.

Obviously who it is will have to come out and then we can deal with that situation, I presume this will be at the same time.

Re: Potential new investors

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 9:31 pm
by super_les_mcjannet
grimsbyquaker wrote:I totally share people's nerves about any involvement of RS. That said we have to listen and think carefully. We have potentially finished this season in a false position based on a big overspend on players. Living within our means sounds lovely but effectively means bucket collections and plying our trade between the northern league and npl div 1, maybe even getting to the point when we decline promotion because of the high travel costs. We have been screwed over both over the arena but also at Feethams. That said it is normal for a club to receive investment, sometimes from some characters that people are wary of. The only way to make money from this venture is to acquire land and develop other activities on it, as is the case at Fylde who rake in playing budget money from the retail outlets who pay to operate on that site. The only other way is to have DFC as a little project like Salford...unlikely. This is why I feel that the Arena has to be part of this...it's ready made. BM is surely only a goer if it can be purchased and then developed..interesting to see the devil in the detail this week
I wouldn't say a false position, we over spent due to 65k revenue not hitting/costs higher (and 15k of past debt). If we didn't have 500 club this would cover about 65k.

So in theory our budget was about what we can afford (if no debt/500 club), so we can probably compete at the top end of National North on our own. Getting to the top of the National League is a different question.