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Post by royalstone on Jul 29, 2019 23:10:24 GMT
There are some very welcome and as usual for Oliver some very honest comments on his latest blog. However there is one sentence that concerns me slightly:-
" We are keen to secure the long-term future of the club at the highest level as soon as is reasonably possible and if that means bringing in new investors, even if it means we might ourselves be less involved, then so be it."
It is the "even if it means we might ourselves be less involved" bit that concerns me. Has last season taken more of a toll on the owners than supporters realise? I know they have for a while been looking for new investors and I have always thought that in the long term the club may require someone with deeper pockets than Terry and Oliver to reach its full potential but it sounds like they would be prepared to sell a controlling share now. If this happens how can we be sure any new investor would have the best interests of the club at heart and not just someone trying to make a fast buck or someone treating the club like a game of cards at the casino?
Whatever happens Terry and Oliver have been fantastic owners for this club, personally I hope they continue to sail the ship for a few more years.
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Post by Raymondo316 on Jul 29, 2019 23:58:34 GMT
To be honest I think the National League was a real culture shock & they realised financially they really can't support a team at that level. Heck even in that twitter post Oliver mentions we only have an above average budget in this league and this is with us charging some of the highest entry prices in the league & getting crowds of 1800-2000+.
Sad to say but for this club to progress like Oliver & Terry's original plans (getting us into the football league) we need money that they really don't have.
I just hope when Oliver & Terry do sell up that they sell to the right person and we don't end up with some nutter like Tamplin.
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Post by sword65 on Jul 30, 2019 0:53:26 GMT
To be honest I think the National League was a real culture shock & they realised financially they really can't support a team at that level. Heck even in that twitter post Oliver mentions we only have an above average budget in this league and this is with us charging some of the highest entry prices in the league & getting crowds of 1800-2000+. Sad to say but for this club to progress like Oliver & Terry's original plans (getting us into the football league) we need money that they really don't have. I just hope when Oliver & Terry do sell up that they sell to the right person and we don't end up with some nutter like Tamplin. Or David Folb cos if he takes over my love affair with Maidstone will end. I have gone on record on another thread saying that something is not right at the top at the moment and maybe they are looking for new investment partners ,or maybe they can finally see the huge black hole that their money is disappearing into and want to recoup their money before it is lost for good,if this is the case I can hardly blame them. Paul Bowden Brown took this club as far as he could before relinquishing control to OA&TC ond maybe they have now reached the same stage. I for one hope not because all I want is to turn up on a Saturday and watch maidstone play football and I do not give a shit what league it is in.
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Post by Bernie on Jul 30, 2019 3:05:06 GMT
People do jobs/hobbies/businesses for a while, then move on. Such is life. They've had a good run and I hope they are around for a long time. But if the fun factor is no longer there in a brutally cutthroat industry, who could blame them for taking a step back? Whatever happens, if they ever leave, it will be in the knowledge they've left Maidstone United immeasurably stronger than when they found it.
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Post by daveu on Jul 30, 2019 7:31:03 GMT
To be honest I think the National League was a real culture shock & they realised financially they really can't support a team at that level. Heck even in that twitter post Oliver mentions we only have an above average budget in this league and this is with us charging some of the highest entry prices in the league & getting crowds of 1800-2000+. Sad to say but for this club to progress like Oliver & Terry's original plans (getting us into the football league) we need money that they really don't have. I just hope when Oliver & Terry do sell up that they sell to the right person and we don't end up with some nutter like Tamplin. Or David Folb cos if he takes over my love affair with Maidstone will end. I have gone on record on another thread saying that something is not right at the top at the moment and maybe they are looking for new investment partners ,or maybe they can finally see the huge black hole that their money is disappearing into and want to recoup their money before it is lost for good,if this is the case I can hardly blame them. Paul Bowden Brown took this club as far as he could before relinquishing control to OA&TC ond maybe they have now reached the same stage. I for one hope not because all I want is to turn up on a Saturday and watch maidstone play football and I do not give a shit what league it is in. I wouldn't set too much store by what Raymondo says. He thinks he's some kind of financial expert, and even posts as if he knows all about the club's finances, but in reality it's all pure speculation. He knows no more than anyone else.
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Post by Nick on Jul 30, 2019 7:56:37 GMT
I think raymondo's assessment is as valid as any other, of course it is conjecture. I did hear on a fairly dodgy grapevine that overtures from a prospective investor was rejected a while back, but in truth have no idea if true or not. There can be no guarantees or absolute assurances if ownership was to change. We can only hope that any prospective new owner becomes an additional owner and shares the financial burden with Terry and Oliver. If any new investor has the same values, integrity and aspirations of our current owners, we will be fortunate indeed.
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Post by daveu on Jul 30, 2019 8:02:04 GMT
I think raymondo's assessment is as valid as any other, of course it is conjecture. There can be no guarantees or absolute assurances if ownership was to change. We can only hope that new owners become additional owners and share the financial burden with Terry and Oliver. If any new investor has the same values, integrity and aspirations of our current owners, we will be fortunate indeed. It's a valid OPINION. It's the way he makes it sound like he some financial wizard who knows eveything about not only the clubs finances, but the thought processes of the directors, that irritates me. He did the same on the Ebbsfleet forum towards the end of last season and believe me they were distinctly less than complementary about him, and deservedly so.
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Post by jakeyboi on Jul 30, 2019 8:19:37 GMT
As I said before I bumped into Terry Casey in the town last month and he admitted that the club cannot afford to play in the national league, he hinted that if the club were to be in that league they need a big investment of cash that him an Oliver do not have, personally I think this is the highest possible level them two can get us to. We are kidding ourselves if we think we are a big club. To progress we need investment but sadly that investment could cost us. Time will tell, but this season could become the most important season for the club in the way it,s future is developed.
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Post by Better things to do in life on Jul 30, 2019 9:12:53 GMT
I think raymondo's assessment is as valid as any other, of course it is conjecture. There can be no guarantees or absolute assurances if ownership was to change. We can only hope that new owners become additional owners and share the financial burden with Terry and Oliver. If any new investor has the same values, integrity and aspirations of our current owners, we will be fortunate indeed. It's a valid OPINION. It's the way he makes it sound like he some financial wizard who knows eveything about not only the clubs finances, but the thought processes of the directors, that irritates me. He did the same on the Ebbsfleet forum towards the end of last season and believe me they were distinctly less than complementary about him, and deservedly so. Chill pill needed!
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Post by Better things to do in life on Jul 30, 2019 9:16:26 GMT
I think raymondo's assessment is as valid as any other, of course it is conjecture. I did hear on a fairly dodgy grapevine that overtures from a prospective investor was rejected a while back, but in truth have no idea if true or not. There can be no guarantees or absolute assurances if ownership was to change. We can only hope that any prospective new owner becomes an additional owner and shares the financial burden with Terry and Oliver. If any new investor has the same values, integrity and aspirations of our current owners, we will be fortunate indeed. Amen to that Nick. Yes it may be conjecture but there is common sense reasoning there. My only question is doesn’t OA also run a large French Rugby club at a high level? Wouldn’t that have prepared him for the demands of NL? Like Nick if we need new investment so be it but let’s pray they are Stones at heart and gentlemen in nature and in business.
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Post by hammerstone on Jul 30, 2019 10:21:28 GMT
Oa and TC have done a great job stabilising and cementing the club, and the fans will always owe them their gratitude for bringing football back to the town, and a team to really get behind.
I think learning curve is an understatement and the higher we’ve gone we’ve looked like a fish out of water trying to compete against most if not all teams in the VNL when it comes to a good but well funded squad. Even at this level we are borderline for how we can compete against the top 6 when it comes to signing.
At least they are fully aware we need more money, and for the progression of the club are willing to do the right thing. At the end of the day as fans, we come each week wanting to see the team achieve the highest of results, IE promotion and general success. When we start settling for less, as maybe we have this season, it lays a dangerous foundation for the future in terms of attracting the next generation of supporter for the years ahead. If we have w good season, it will generate a much needed buzz. Have a mediocre/poor season, and the 50/50 fans and kids will loose interest in favour of more exciting prospects. That drop off over time on the gate, turns a 2000 average crowd to a 1500 very quickly, and that will only hurt the club further in gate money, which over a season has a knock on effect for the signings they can be made, and so forth.
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Post by daveu on Jul 30, 2019 11:11:02 GMT
I wonder if some of you have even read the blog. Oliver stated quite clearly:
a. "we can therefore target the play-offs this season as a realistic ambition" b. "I confirm we would be absolutely delighted if the club could secure promotion back to the NL"
So much for all the doom mongers among you wittering on about how we can't afford/don't want promotion.
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Post by Raymondo316 on Jul 30, 2019 11:41:43 GMT
I think raymondo's assessment is as valid as any other, of course it is conjecture. There can be no guarantees or absolute assurances if ownership was to change. We can only hope that new owners become additional owners and share the financial burden with Terry and Oliver. If any new investor has the same values, integrity and aspirations of our current owners, we will be fortunate indeed. It's a valid OPINION. It's the way he makes it sound like he some financial wizard who knows eveything about not only the clubs finances, but the thought processes of the directors, that irritates me. He did the same on the Ebbsfleet forum towards the end of last season and believe me they were distinctly less than complementary about him, and deservedly so. What the heck are you on about?? I've never once claimed to be some kind of financial expert or even posted loads on the Ebbsfleet forum claiming to be that, heck I dont even post of their forum. At least if your gonna take a dig at me get the RIGHT PERSON. On this thread I've simply pointed out facts. Never once have I tried to claim I'm a financial expert. Has Oliver said it was hard for us to compete in the National League?? YES Did Oliver say we will only have an above average budget this season?? YES At £15 to stand and £18 to sit down do we have one of the highest entry prices in this league?? YES Are we expected to be one of the best supported teams in this league?? YES Has Oliver & Terry said in the past that their goal is to get us into the football league? YES Has Oliver & Terry said in the past they don't have the money to get the ground up to Football League standard?? YES
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Post by russc on Jul 30, 2019 11:58:17 GMT
The continual use of the word "investment" always raises a wry smile with me. The need for investment is often mentioned in association with football clubs, not just the Stones, and what is meant is nothing like investment. What we all mean is someone to chuck their money away. Anyway, I'm off to invest my money in the 2.30 at Kempton. I reckon I've got more chance of seeing a return than if I put money into a football club
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Post by jakeyboi on Jul 30, 2019 11:59:37 GMT
I wonder if some of you have even read the blog. Oliver stated quite clearly: a. "we can therefore target the play-offs this season as a realistic ambition" b. "I confirm we would be absolutely delighted if the club could secure promotion back to the NL" So much for all the doom mongers among you wittering on about how we can't afford/don't want promotion. Dave it causes concerns when the two owners often make contrasting statements. TC. has stated in the past that we would have a big budget for this coming season an extra money would be available for special quality players. Yet this has been not quite true. TC stated to me that the club cannot afford to play in the NL his actual words were it would be better for the club to stay in the NLS for 3-4 seasons an rebuild the bank account, then go for promotion. Personally I thought his comment was wrong an told him so, as far as I,m concerned every club has fans that dream that each season will be the special season when there club does well wins a promotion or goes on an incredible cup run. If fans cannot dream then what is the point of going along week in week out?
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