Fans410 & NUSC

[peasepud 59]

Im now in a position to give people more info on this Graham Roberts "bid". Yesterday when he was on SNN I was as much in the dark as everyone else because (quite rightly) we have small numbers of people involved in things rather than a dozen committee members charging round.

 

Last week we were approached by a group asking to meet with us concerning a proposal that would involve some kind of fan ownership. We agreed to meet and two representatives went down to Scotch Corner where they had a conversation with representatives of an organisation calling themselves Fanbase. Very little, if any, detail was passed over concerning their plans although what little information we received was covered by a non disclosure agreement.

 

We listened and we walked away, stating that without knowing the detail we would find it extremely difficult if not impossible to endorse their idea.

 

The following day, Graham Roberts contacted us asking for an endorsement as he was going straight to the press; we declined (because still no detailed analysis had been conducted or instructed) and also suggested that until they had something substantive to show us we would recommended they hold back on press inclusion. We felt that Newcastle is awash with too many rumours and this type of press intrusion from certain quarters would not help.

 

At this time they had not even made contact with either Seymour Pierce, Mike Ashley or Derek Llambias and to date I am not certain that they have.

 

Since then we have had further contact with them but they still have not added a great amount of detail to that above.

 

Yesterdays little statement from us was merely put out to stop the wild speculation and rumour that always follows this kind of thing, we needed to make it clear that this wasnt some "Roberts & NUSC joint bid" as was being mooted by him.

 

The Trust has met and listenened to a number of ideas about how fans can become involved in the ownership of the club. At present we haven't endorsed any ideas but we are willing to talk to people who want to end the current farce at the club. If Fanbase mention the Trust then members should be in no doubt that we are not endorsing any idea at this stage and any decision would have to be ratified by our full membership.

 

I think people should also understand that we arent sitting here saying that "such and such bid is great because it has fans representation included" while slating another which doesnt. Any takeover from people with the best interests of the football club at heart would be embraced by the Trust, its early days, most trusts havent gained any kind of representation while those that have usually take years to achieve or ultimately come about due to financial necessity. We're not in that position and hopefully never will be.

[peasepud 59]

And so it may be which is why we wouldnt endorse anything or even for that matter bother putting stuff out ourselves until we'd seen a robust plan.

 

You know my views on those that seek publicity, Ive made it clear on here during the Profitable saga. At the same time though, we have to listen to what they have to say in at least the first instance. Maybe they have the most ground breaking and perfect plan, maybe not but until we've heard that plan and had experts in whatever field advise us then they would remain just another group of people who believe they can take over the football club and nothing to do with the Trust.

[maggiespaws 0]

This was the right decision by the commitee imo. It would be foolish to endorse something you/we have no understanding of and potentially damaging if it turns out to be another Profitable and the NUSC were seen as part of it.

[Acid 0]

Roberts? The man seemed clueless in the interview and merely could be a carbon copy of the Singapore consortium who used the fiasco to gain publicity.