A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Just got this from the L.E.T. makes good reading, yet more sense from Rob Heys :):) (last paragraph)


Accrington Stanley set for key decision over future (From Lancashire Telegraph)




:):):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

After what was said at the fighting fund meeting I wonder if O'Neill has used the £250,000 pledged as future earnings of the club to raise cash for his new takeover bid?

Am I just too suspicious?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Not too sure about it myself Baggy!!!! Lets see what transpires.... :)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I know where you are coming from Baggy, but I dont think Ilyas and the FF would allow that to happen somehow :)..................still optimistic here!

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

O’Neill returns from the Football League’s annual meeting in Portugal over the weekend but Heys said: “It will be up to the majority shareholder, which is Eric, as to how he deals with it. .................... from the L.E.T. thats the bit that worrys me, if track records are owt to go off.:eek:

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I was just putting myself into a lenders shoes, it's been well documented about what Ilyas and the supporters are trying to do and with figures of £500,000 being mentioned suddenly Stanley might look a good option if someone wanted some money to buy the club.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I see what you mean but I'm sure the FF know what they are doing or the Monday meeting would be postponed until after O'Neill has met Whalley on Wednesday.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Must admit I hadnt thought of that :)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

As far as I know the FF has not made any bid

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

i will give the ff 1,000 if we kick out ew and o n puls 2,000 when cav and rocky get the boot. thats 3,000 over 12 moons

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Nice offer Grimps,might be best for you to repost it in the fighting fund thread at top of page so your pledge can be logged.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Like it UK :):) Lets build that FF up..........

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

we haven't Jeff!

me and you would have known about it had it been done. Contact will officially have been made now through the solicitors but no offer can have been formally made as we haven't yet got a name for the company!

... so unless it's another 'anonymous bid recieved' ...:rolleyes:

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Well today is Monday the day of the meeting, anything to report?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

things have changed :)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

The ff now has a name....Accrington Stanley Supporters Fund Ltd and 3 directors were voted in last night.... one of whom Peter Shaw was also voted in as Chairman.

There is now a very strong committee with a wide spread of knowledge and experience, the main aim of the group is to secure the future of Accrington Stanley football club.

The dialogue between the club and the fund will now start in ernest and with both parties only wanting the best for the future we SHOULD be onto a winner.

Stephen Lowe

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

What committee, voted in by whom?

Maybe I am missing something?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Same here, seems if u couldnt skive work to attend the original meeting ya missed out on further ones.....................transparency:rolleyes:

Mind u pressing concerns are the supporters club, seems thats in jepordy too while the new venture grows its out with the old.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

sorry chaps we do not intend to hide anything but as speed was of the essence at the first meeting when we thought a winding up order was a few days away we have acted as quickly as possible.

It was not a case of voting people in or out we just needed people to act, a public meeting is on the agenda but no date has yet been confirmed.

Hope this helps if not you can PM me and I will send you my number

Stephen Lowe

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Mel, the supporters club is most definatley NOT in jepordy, far from it infact. It is just as Steve says above,honest!

Transparency is at the top of the page for the new company,however for now, all the legalities have to be taken care of as a matter of urgency.

Gimme a call if your worried :)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

does ASSF Ltd have a bank a/c to accept pledges yet ?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I think it probably is to be honest. Too few people to do anything whilst further down the road a new group (the FF) starts its life with a group of 14 COMMITTED fans striving to do everything in its power to improve the club. There is room for both but will that happen?

Lesley has stood down as Chair of the OSC and will not be at the next meeting, nobody has so far stood forward to replace her. Nobody is willing to sort the memberships out and badges/cards for this year (6 weeks since the AGM) have not been ordered (takes at least 4 weeks to come).

I was willing to try again this year with the OSC but imho the FF takes enormous priority and that is where all my energies will be going.

As for the committee, Ilyas did say at the first meeting that the committee would be formed by all those who volunteered themselves there and then. 14 people did so. As Loweiy said, speed was the order of the day and will continue to be so, you can't hang around forever whilst people decide whether they can or can't put themselves forward. The first meeting was called when it seemed as though there was a possibilty that ASFC may cease to exist, if someone couldn't arrange to finish work earlier than normal (with over a weeks notice) for that meeting then how could they possibly commit themselves to the next 12 months worth of hard work? Valairian managed to finsh work early and get to two meetings at short notice and he comes from Crewe. Its not a knock of anybody but thats how it is. :)

There will be opportunity to get involved shortly but in order to get the ball rolling we had to start somewhere.

keep the faith.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

The query re: the supporters club.

Yes I did stand down and that decision was made well before the publicizing of the tax problems with stanley in fact I had stated at the AGM that I didn't want to re-stand for the position of Chairman.

Can I clarify that I can't attend the next meeting of the supporters club due to being away on holiday and not because I don't want to. As for the cards and badges they were ready to be ordered, artwork decided but it was decided not to re-order as any extra cash people have we felt would prob be directed towards the fighting fund.

I think it is out of order macca for you to presume people didn't try and finish early to attend the first meeting (myself included) of the fighting fund, in fact many people don't have the choice of finishing early!!!!!!

Finally what the future is for the supporters club I cannot answer, it maybe that it lies dormant for a while until the current urgent issues have been addressed but it would've been nice if some of these "committed" fans had maybe been involved in the current supporters club but that opens a whole new debate.

Lesley

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I wasn't having a go for people not being able to finish work early, I was making the point that if they couldn't get out of work for that first meeting then they wouldn't be able to commit themselves to the work ahead.

is that out of order?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Sorry Macca

I also take exception to your post as well, I was as you know present at the first meeting and susequently contacted Mr. Khan direct to volunteer my sevices, but alas was not informed of any other meetings taking place.

I also noticed there seemed to be those in the loop and those out of the loop in the last week or so? I may be wrong?

For this to work it has to involve everyone!!

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Yes because I do believe it is still a massive presumption that people wouldn't be able to commit because of maybe one meeting... who knows what the individuals reason for not being able to attend the first meeting... maybe some were on hol, ill, or on shifts as a fireman, police etc but may still be able to commit fully at other times.

i personally was attending a sudden death of one of my tenants who had no family, now that doesn't happen very often... but I will hold my hand up to say that I would be unlikely be able to commit fully hence me standing down as chair, amongst other personal reasons

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Ilyas was responsible for collating the initial details for people and then they were sent emails regarding the next meeting. I don't know what has happened if some details haven't been collated correctly.

if anybody feels that they would still like to be involved and their details were missed off then I can forward your details on.

Those 'in the loop' were the ones who were on the email list and were kept aware on a day to day basis of what was going on.

I will re-iterate though that at the second meeting it was agreed that no more would be allowed on to the initial committee because you have to draw the line somewhere at how many people could do the set up. As stated though, there will be a public meeting in the next few weeks at which point ALL ideas of progress and direction can be discussed.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

just to bring this back up (from the day after the first meeting). Opportunity was given but things had to move quickly. If you found my earlier post offensive then I apologise, but I don't think it was out of order.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

So through no fault of my own, I have now been excluded:confused:

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

as I said, I'll forward your details on Neil.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

no not at all please PM me and i will send you my number

stephen Lowe

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I don’t like this uncertainty creeping in so early; if there a mechanism for receiving regular updates has to what happening with the ASSF please stick me down for them: [email protected]

I respect of obvious concerns maybe a detailed update could be produced and be released via a members e-mail list. The sooner the ASSF’s website is up and running the better, then people can log on and see what happening first hand, taking account that communication and time management can keep up with events.

In respect of the OSC, Are the ASSC and the ASSF not one branch on the same tree, the OSC role surely can’t just disappear, I would have thought it would naturally just be absorbed by the ASSF and that card carrying membership (with a ASSF Pin Badge) would be another funding option for those that wanted it.

In respect of misunderstandings occurring, that life, lets kiss and make up and move on.

On Stanley On.

Up the ASSF….

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Valairian?


we voted for Stanley Supporters Fund by the way :p

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Macca, just read through all the posts and after the second one, well you read my mind.....:rolleyes::D but onward and upward... :):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Am I missing something but it's all gone quiet over there, any updates?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

It’s a little disconcerting isn’t it? I’ve been chomping on the bit since Thursday, hoping for news of some description. I hope that the ASSF isn’t going to be an organisation that sparks into life only when Mr. Khan rides into town. I hope this particular Dragon has got some balls of its own and that a steady unrelenting progress can be made without the presences of the most powerful personalities being here on the ground.

Communication is the true path towards the light; don’t keep us in the dark, even if there’s ****** all to report; bloody tell us there’s ****** all to report……

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Do the committee members have specific designated roles? Chairman? Secretary? Treasurer? Publicity?

Will the names of the committee members be announced publicly?

The FF is starting to worry me almost as much as ASFC worries me.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

there’s ****** all to report :rolleyes:


we currently meet once a fortnight, for the time being there are still legalities to formalise - which are being done.

Hopefully by the time of the next meeting (1st week of july) we will have the bank account opened and can start on accepting donations/pledges. We will also then have a clearer picture of how to make a start on fundraisers.

There was a foggying of the picture with the takeover by The Don as it changed our immediate aims, but not the overall raison d'etre.

Talks have taken place with the club, and will continue to take place with the club, until such time as a practicable solution can be found as to exactly how we (the fans - not the committee) can invest money on the terms that we dictate.

(and this bit is my opinion and not necessarily that of the committee) When we held our 2nd and 3rd meeting the attitude was probably a little more hostile as EW was still the chairman. Many people have thought that EW was holding the club in many ways and that he hadn't shown willing to talk to people who wished to help. Therefore my reason for getting involved probably had more to do with encouraging EW to step aside so that others could drive the club forward. Things have changed now in that we have a new chairman in The Don, and much of his mantra is dedicated to taking the club forwards off the field. He has stated his ambitions to build bridges between the club, and its fans, and the community. He has talked previously of his desire to professionalise the club in various key departments. Therefore I think that we should all embrace the immediate future and give The Don space and time with which to prove himself.

Back to the FF, the whole point of the FF is that we, the fans, do as much as we can to establish funds, and directives to ensure that we never again find ourselves in such a ****state as we were in last month. With a new chairman there is no immediate need to create a stampede to some position of power, and there is no need to start exerting pressure on the current regime. However, the FF has an amount of money that the club needs, and we expect to increase that amount of money by significant amounts over the coming months. Exactly how the club obtains access to these funds is the key question. We cannot and will not hand over cheques for no return. There has to be a relinquishment of power for that to happen. Shares or a position on the board for our directors are the requirement. This will ensure that 'the fans' have access to the financial state of the club at all times. It will ensure that we have some input as to the major decisions taken by the club and we will know that our voices will be heard. Once that point of view has been heard it will be down to the powers that be to make the decisions.

The balance of atmosphere has changed between each meeting. At the first meeting we had no idea what had happened that very day with EW and RH meeting the inland revenue in London, there was a possibility that they would aggresively pursue the debt. By the second meeting we had found out that an agreement had been reached and the immediate threat to the club had passed. And by the third meeting there had been the change in Chairman. So these things have slowed down the impetus, but as I said the legalities are still being sorted during this time.

Ilyas is the catalyst behind the movement and it is his money and plan that has formed the basis behind what has happened so far. However, once things are moving along fully then more of us will be able to keep you in the loop as to what is happening behind the scenes. By this time though you will all be involved anyway and hopefully you will all be driving the campaign forwards.

On a final note, I do think that the FF has to be more 'in your face' but until there is actually something to be in your face about then I think we'd just be talking for talkings sake! As proved last week, (my post about the OSC) that sometimes leads to things be said or taken wrongly and folk get upset or argue needlessly.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

oh nearly forgot, I will make a note of the various questions asked and take them to the next meet to get an official answer.

The email updates should be a formality I would have thought, and is certainly something that we should be doing. Again though, until the website is ready to go online there is nothing to direct people to. Hopefully will be done soon.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

That's all well and good Rob but surely it shouldn't have taken a question from me for you to come back with some info, bloody hell Jase used to complain about the OSC being too formal but at least we could find out what was happening. As witnessed by a friend last week Eric still seems very active at the club so my question is what is Erics role at the moment?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

We don't even know the basics, who are ya?:(

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

One for the club, I think.
To my knowledge it's not been announced anywhere that takeover has been completed.

Thanks, Rob, btw.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

So the Dragon has got balls……….Molten Fiery Steel I hope. I meant not to challenge or cast insult, but merely to get a response.

Rob, Thank you for replying, I understand the position and I appreciate the legalities that need addressing and formation of roles.

That aside I’m sure one of the broad could do what you just done; highlight the situation so as to keep the masses informed.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Eric's role at the moment, as far as we know, is Chairman

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Not according to macca :

"And by the third meeting there had been the change in Chairman."

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Thanks for the long reply, Rob.

But the questions remain unanswered:
1. Do the committee members have specific designated roles? (Or will they have, in due course?)
2. Will the names of the committee be announced publicly?

If the FF is representing the fans, it's only right that the fans know who is looking after their interests.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

oops - there I go with misrepresentation again!

yes, technically The Don is not yet chairman (or his he?) but what I had meant was that at the third meeting we were told that by the following day there would be a press announcment that Eric had stepped down.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

yes and no. At this point we have elected a chairman, treasurer, secretary and three directors. At the moment nobody else has a 'position' but no doubt we will make people responsible for different things. This will happen as we go along. At the moment I seem to be chief firefighter :rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revived Red (Post 723951) :2. Will the names of the committee be announced publicly?

yes, there is no great conspiracy. I sent an email to everybody concerned last night imploring that we should put this information out as soon as possible. I have had some responses but not all. Nobody has yet given a reason why not to do but it is only right that I/we should wait on all responses. To my mind once you agree to stand up in office you automatically agree to publication of basic detail. But the last comment made at the last meeting was that for the moment there would be no announcements made - I personally felt that related to our aims and directions as they were not cast iron. It's not for me to go against the wishes of the majority. The other thing is that I think that the elected people should announce themselves. Again though this is all something that would be on the website as soon as it is launched.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revived Red (Post 723951) :If the FF is representing the fans, it's only right that the fans know who is looking after their interests.

correct

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I do hope that people don’t think were cribbing about these issues Rob, we know that things will get and get done properly. But it’s not easy when you’re out of the loop and miles away from the social networks around the club and the town. Its **** awful when you don’t know what’s going on, more so when we’re worrying about the activities of the club as well.

I hope that the website is up and running soon.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Know what you mean Doug. Living far over yonder hill from Accy and thus deprived of social interwotsit with the 'in-crowd' is particularly frustrating at times such as now. Thank goodness we have Accy based pals posting on this forum or we would really be stuffed with the absence of a professional club website. Currently living surrounded by boxes waiting for the folks buying my house to sign on the dotted line - just as we're all waiting for dotted lines to be signed at Stanley ! - so I'm experiencing double stress. Cheers Macca for your updates. Has Phil Edwards & Jimmy Ryan signed yet ?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Keep your eye's on Accyweb, sure stuff will be around soon..;):):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

It's no difference if you live in Accrington you still don't know what's going on.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

As Macca has said already Baggy, there is not much to report... The FF as was is now the A.S.S.F. There is a chair,treasurer,secretary plus directors. The chair plus one met up with The DON, basic meeting - no takeover/buy out, just explained what A.S.S.F. Was about and that is about it... Not much else to say but will fill in more gaps - hopefully - after next weeks meeting... :):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Is the ASSF a bit like The Freemasons?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I wouldn't go that far but I would have liked things to move a bit more quickly, from an outsiders view it seems the momentum we had is going but what do I know.:confused:

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Not at all TM, as posted previously, there is not a great deal to tell and that is the truth, plus it is open and honest.... :):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

On that point Baggy, I think Macca has posted already that a few weeks ago the club had a pretty short deadline - hence the FF - that deadline was met and the taxman is happy at the moment. The momentum has slowed as the priorities as such have changed. Hopefully after the next A.S.S.F. meeting there will be more meat on the bones...:):):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Yes I can understand that but I'm a revolutionary and the new season is creeping up on us, time is money, talk is cheap and all that.:rolleyes::)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Know what you are saying Baggy, but we have got a few to sign up - old and new - and I believe the club are working hard to work deals for others.. :):) You need to concentrate on matters closer to home and ensure that your lot still have a midfield capable of going one step further next season :D:):):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Less than two months ago, when the ASSF was first suggested by the likes of Ilyas,Rob etc,most of the people who regularly frequent this board were all for the idea.

A PUBLIC meeting was held at Ilyas's home and from that the ASSF was 'born',again much hailed by most on here.

I,amongst others, were able to attend that meeting,a lot of people were unable to attend due to work and/or family commitments.However from that first meeting a group of us volunteered to form the ASSF committee and try to push forward for the good of ASFC.

From that first meeting the people who volunteered thier time and commitment to the cause had to act swiftly and form a company, with Directors (chosen from the people who had volunteered),Chair,Treasurer,Secretary etc.

Meetings were also held with Solicitors so that everything could and would be done legally......................All of this was done with the sole intention of making sure our Club would not go to the wall.

Once again,most people on here were supportive and excited by the whole idea.

These things take time and effort to ensure that everything is above board and legal,just as Macca has said in His earlier post.

Now, IMHO, to be likened to the 'Freemasons' is a huge insult to those people who are trying to ensure Stanley's future as a Football Club,we are NOT being 'secretive', and nor are we 'witholding information' from anyone, it is exactly as Macca has pointed out, there is NOTHING CONCERETE to report.

Whilst I understand everyones concern, please,please refrain from using such nonsensical remarks as the one quoted above, as it neither helpful nor a realistic appraisal of the situation. Lets stick together on this one,it was never going to be easy,but progress is possible if we all PULL in the same direction.

I am not spokes person for the ASSF, however I am a member of the committee (and proud to be involved), and Im sorry but I took exception to TM's post, hence this reply.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Nice post UK. Some very valid points :):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Bloody hell that's telling me, I thought I was one of the we, looks like I was wrong so I will ****** off to my own message board Liverpool FC with my tail between my legs.:D:rolleyes:;):D

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Nice one Baggy....:D:):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Nice to see some "us and them" intimations emerging already. The freemasons comment was tongue-in-cheek, but as I've said before, I lost interest a long time ago.

But hey! Let's face it. It just wouldn't be Stanley if it wasn't tinpot!

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I am a member of the committee and hope we can all help the future of Stanley.

In matters this important I think we all need to take stock and think before posting

Stephen Lowe (loweiy)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Dont go Baggy, I will miss your wifes photo!

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

If that's his wife then the sooner he buggers off the better.......

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

What things would you have liked to move a bit more quickly?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I have read macca's post over and over again. The implications of the paragraph quoted above seem enormous.

First of all, I note that some of the committee have now identified themselves elsewhere in this thread. This is a very welcome move. I think that the entire committee should be named. If they did not want to be named, they should never have put themselves forward to be representing the fans in the handling of huge sums of money.

Macca is absolutely correct in saying that the key question is how the club gains access to the new funds.

But then macca's words become more worrying.

"We cannot and will not hand over cheques for no return." Who decides on the return expected/demanded?

"Shares or a position on the board for our directors are the requirement". I was under the impression that the FF did not intend to buy shares - but maybe I am wrong there. Is it expected that ALL the directors will join the board of ASFC?

"It will ensure that we have some input as to the major decisions taken by the club and we will know that our voices will be heard." Who exactly is "we"? The committee/directors of the FF? The whole FF - whatever that may be? Those who have contributed financially to the FF? The fans? It should, of course, be the latter - but how will those empowered to look after the FF know that they have the fans behind their proposals and decisions?

Please note that I am not trying to be difficult or awkward in any way. I am trying to get straight in my own mind (a) how the FF will be structured and organised; and (b) how it will link to ASFC.

I realise that many decisions still have to be made and that these things take time - but time is not really on our side. We seem to be struggling to keep/attract players through funding problems. The funding appears to be available. I suppose that I am saying that the establishment of the FF with the consequent need to sort out all legal niceties and then get on with organising it is in danger of distracting attention from the key issue of getting funding into ASFC.

Apologies if I have gone on too long. I'm just worried that we may be in danger of creating another talking shop and, ironically, alienating fans. The evidence is starting to appear.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I don't think that anywhere has it been said that the committee did not want to be named.

Eric Whalley and David O'Neil have said that they do not need any outside funding.

The funding is available but not just to be 'given' to Stanley. There must be a share issue in order that the Company ASSF can buy shares and so be in a position to have a place on the board (one place).

It is Eric Whalley and David O'Niell who are delaying things so if you want to blame somebody then blame them not ASSF. As far as I understand it ASSF will be a Company set up to raise money to invest in Stanley if and when Whalley and O'Neill admit Stanley need help and cash investment. Nobody can invest in Stanley unless they are invited to do so or until the current Chariman and Board of Directors admit that they need help, but Whalley and O'Neill say that everything is in order and all arrangements have been made, so, at the moment there is nothing anybody or ASSF can do.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I agree. Sorry - I was just trying to reinforce macca's point when he wrote: "I sent an email to everybody concerned last night imploring that we should put this information out as soon as possible. I have had some responses but not all. Nobody has yet given a reason why not to do but it is only right that I/we should wait on all responses."

"Blame" does not really come into it. As I said, I simply trying to sort out the situation in my own mind. If I plan to donate to the FF, I need to know the mechanism(s) by which that donation will be used.

Thanks, Jeff, for the rest of the post which really summarises the position. (1) The past chairman and present chairman (or present chairman and future chairman:confused:) of ASFC say they do not need any funds - despite the obvious fact that players are not signing because of lack of funding. (2) There is no way that FF can supply the funding.

We can all draw our own conclusions from that. People have been commenting on lack of momentum etc - I think it will be very difficult to establish momentum in these circumstances. But that's just my opinion.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

'we' at all times when discussing the ASSF mean 'the fans'.

'We' for the time being is actually the committee until such time as we can fully canvas opinion on things. not everybody will like every decision that is made, but the whole point is that more people than the previous ONE, are going to be involved in making the decisions that possibly affect the existence of the club.

One example that can be drawn was brought up by you Revived Red. You refer to the fact that we can't afford to keep hold of players, most notably I assume you mean Kenny Arthur, and that it would appear that funding is there to do that. Well for what its worth my opinion is that money should not be poured into the team itself. Once that money is gone there is no real mechanism in place for gaining more large sums other than the genorosity of benefactors. Money should be poured into finding ways of generating our own money. As I said thats my opinion and people may vote me down on it. If so then ASSF blows all its money on signing Kenny, Mullers, Jimmy etc to large contracts and next year we find ourselves back in the same boat.

As for momentum, the best thing The Don could do would be to carry on the EW route of see no evil, hear no evil - as that would help to bring the momentum back to us :D

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Just a quickie while I try to read this thread again, what is David Lloyds role now Eric has said he will step aside?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Ilyas, had the idea of using DL as a face,front man of the FF/ASSF, he is well known and from Accy. The initial idea - and I think this is where your question comes from Baggy - was to use DL as a go between, as he is a friend of EW and IK :):):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Correct, that's what was mentioned at the 1st meeting but will he still be needed?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I would have thought that a person like DL will attract plenty of interest and that cannot be a bad thing - free publicity and all that :):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Just a quick question.

The Fighting Fund (later becoming the ASSF) was organised in light of the winding-up order presented to the club, and through the fear of the club being liquidated without serious cash being pumped into it.
Working on the assumption that a takeover has been completed (even though it hasn't yet) and after a payment plan for the tax bill has been agreed, what is the point in the organisation?
It now seems more like a Supporters Trust venture in its quest to secure a seat on the board in return for solid investment.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

And what's wrong with that?:)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

My understanding of this is that you are about right Shaker, but I think - Macca looked into the legal bits - that the Supporters Trust thing was much more legally binding and had much more legal eagle stuff involved....:):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

In all seriousness, the more I read on this thread, the more it seems like an aggressive attempt to secure a piece of the club. This organisation appears to have a confrontational element to it as well, which kind of goes against some of the early, more passive messages from people involved with it.

As Loweiy intimates above, maybe it would be better to just keep quiet for the time being?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

My spider sense told me you'd say that ;) I didn't say anything knocking a Supporters Trust. It isn't what the Fighting Fund was set up for though, is it?

I was just wondering if recent events had altered/halted the actions of the organisation. I presumed that they would given the original aims and circumstance at the Fighting Fund's conception. At the risk of being shot down with a cyber shotgun, the aims do seem decidedly less altruistic as they were at the beginning.

Sorry TM, didn't mean to step on your point. It wasn't there when I started typing. I'm being distracted by poor international football on BBC3!

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I can see both points of view, macca. At the back of my mind (and sometimes near the front), I have the oft-repeated thoughts of Kipax that a successful team will bring the fans in. So there are certainly at least two ways of looking at this.
(1). ASSF funds used for players = successful team = more fans through the turnstiles = increased income.
(2). ASSF funds used to generate more income = increased funds for players = successful team = more fans through the turnstiles = increased income.

I worry that (2) will take longer than (1), and as I commented before, time is not really on our side.

Maybe there are other ways also. (3), (4), etc etc.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

just to move this away from ASSF for a moment and to return it to ASFC, it could be argued that we (ASFC) have done point and it never really worked. For years EW diverted funds away from infrastructure and into the team. This ended with us being in League 2 which was a success, but without the funds or means to succesfully compete at the right end of the table.

From the Unibond through to the Conference the difference between a rich club and a poor club wasn't that great, financially, but there is a huge difference in League 2. You can't possibly keep going upwards without a period of consolidation with which to take stock and make the most of what you have.

My romantic vision of a football club is one where the Club is the centre piece of the community, and where people come from all parts of the community to join in. This doesn't necessarily have to mean football on a saturday afternoon as not all members of the community are football fans. But a modern football club has ways of taking the money off it's constituents regardless of football.

Why do our own fans not really use the bar pre and post match? If we address this problem and work on making outsiders use it sunday to friday that could put up to an extra £1/2 million in the bank. My personal opinion would be that it is worth spending x thousand on sorting this out, so that next season, and the season after, and the season after we have that money in the budget. And then you start to look at other aspects of the business ...

Until we get the infrastructure right we are always going to be the poor relations. If you view the club from the point of view that as a business we are as low as we can go (but still competing) then it starts to look a better business prospect.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Macca, as always spot on!!

If you read what the DON is saying, you're not far away IMHO:rolleyes:
He wants the club to prosper on self generated funds, not to rely on "handouts" ( Handouts should improve not help existance)

Next Thursday should reveal some real information??:)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

By Thursday, do you man the Q&A Forum??? :):)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I accept your general point, macca. I too would like the football club to be a centre piece of the community. And we must also get the infrastructure right. I happen to think that will come more from a change of outlook within ASFC rather than external funding. We can all quote events over the last 3 years where the club should have been present but wasn't.

But I cannot agree with your specific example of the bar. No amount of funding would persuade me to use the bar before or after games - and there are many reasons for that. Hundreds of others will have their own reasons, all beyond the reach of funding input. And at a time when pubs are closing by the dozen every day, I'm not sure how funding would persuade outsiders to use the bar during the week.

All good discussion points!

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Early days, but hopefully YES!!:)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Cheers for that, just making sure that there wasn't some other event happening next Thursday :rolleyes::)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

I tend to agree that something has to be generated from the outside to bring it to the inside and I mean from a non footballing point of view (if that makes sense). I also agree a lounge is probably not the way to go unless it can be multi use

The problem too much of the time is the constant firefighting that goes on in and around the Club, it's one thing going from day to day but there has to be a business plan, a long term plan it all amounts to the same thing.

The Community Team are doing their bit with the kids getting out and about into the schools, academy and soccer schools these will prove invaluable in years to come in building up the supporter base with future generations.

The Academy has started to prove itself in terms of scholars coming through to be pro's.

The reality is here and now, I want to see the Club thrive become the hub of Accrington as a Town and become the focal point for Hynburn.

My own view is that something would need to be done in terms of the building some kind of leisure facility that could perhaps be funded by grants, for use by the whole community if nothing else it could possibly generate an income seven days a week and bring people into contact with the club who would normally not go anywhere it or if not that maybe some kind of learning facility again that could generate it's own grants and income. I am no expert on these matters by a long way and could be barking up the wrong tree but I do know there are many avenues that can be explored.:)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

well the bar was just an off the top of my head example, but is a good example nonetheless.

I try to have a pint or six in there at every opportunity but the atmosphere is poor and the surroundings are poor. It doesn't shout out that it is a football orientated establishment, Some of the primary reasons people have been to the bar in the past, post game, are the Man of the Match awards and to watch the full time scores come in. You can't see the full times even though they put the massive screen up, the scores are at the bottom of the screen and as people are stood up you have no chance. The MOM award has been farcical at best since Big Frank stopped doing it. The decision to go corporate only seemed to have a final nail in the coffin as far as people drinking there was concerned.

But regardless of that the place can be brought back to full use. Beyond matchday there are a million and one things that can be done to make use of it and bring in revenue. It just needs some forward thinking done.

We made a song and dance about the place being one of the best places around for conferences, I would beg to differ. For a start have we got all the right electrickery and hardware for Conference calling, video calling, Wi-fi, plasma screens for presentations?

As one of the largest venues in town, and also with the backing of the largest turnover of the licensed premises suitable for functions (probably?)
it could or should be the first name thought of for all functions held through the town. 52 friday nights (£2k minimum bar takings), a minimun of 29 saturday nights (£2k), 52 sunday lunchtimes (£750), all add up to over £200k. You can build into these functions by offering an all in one service - do you need balloons, bunting, catering, DJ, cake, flowers. Via generated business contacts around town we can establish preferred supplier rates for all these products and then charge market rate for them. None of them would be massive earners on their own but all add to the pot.

Get in contact with any group that has lots of members and may need somewhere to meet, band practise or jam sessions, once a week comedy night, once a month mega functions, regular Sportsmans Dinners. etc etc

We have the space for it but the place has to look right. It has to have the damp patches removed from the walls, it has to have the leaks in the toilet fixed, it has to have the right variety of drinks behind the bar to suit the function being held, it has to be clean and tidy. The bar still makes something now but it is the same as the rest of the club in that it is on its arse and the only real way is up. Can the club afford to pay someone £25k pa to sort the place out? At the moment I would say no, or else they would have done. But until they do it is losing thousands.

Pendle Red also has it right that we could do with some sort of community hall that can be utilised for whatever. If nothing else it means that for every kid that pays £3 for the soccer schools (during term time evenings), the club gets the £3 rather than New Era or Rhyddings getting a slice.

The list is endless for what can be done with the right money and the right people invested into it. The trick would be to ascertain which would be the quickest to implement and which would have the greatest financial impact. Balance the two and that is the first thing that any external money should be used for.

all good discussion points!

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

did the exhibition ever get put up in the bar?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

not as of last month

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Gayle as of yet no.

However in fairness there is a good reason

The main worker/ doer at the ground Lord William of Harwood has been rather busy concreting and assiting the Ultras in fixing seats.

No doubt the next project will be to finish off the terracing on the Coppice, before finally doing the panels.

Long over due, but as always certain things take priority

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Just thought it would make it a bit more 'footbally' in the bar, like you suggested Macca.

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

All the measurements were taken regarding the panels and the decisions on how they would go up but alas seats had to take priority but as Mr T stated it has been promised it will be completed but can't be the main priority until the ground has been finished

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Was nobody else involved then?

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Sorry!!:eek:

There were lots of loyal supporters who worked damned hard to fix the seats, most of whom were against their very existance on the Clayton end!!

I was just trying to point out that with limited resources, tasks have to be put into a priority.


That's another pint I'll be standing on Thursday I suspect:)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

Looks like things are starting to happen...

Stanley fans go all formal (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Re: A.S.F.C. FF Bid.....
 

No Loweiy, no UK Cowboy and most surprising to me no Macca???