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Post by Saint on Apr 5, 2010 12:42:25 GMT
After reading all the recent posts on here about how the club is being run by Gibson, I'm suprised there have been no demonstrations at matches recently. I certainly am not blaming people on here for not doing anything just wondering if people feel like doing it?
Do we feel that even if we did, it really wouldn't do anything?
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Post by EFMTFTV on Apr 5, 2010 15:16:57 GMT
we've started several 'Gibson out' chants, people just look away
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Post by Daedalus on Apr 5, 2010 17:13:34 GMT
I'm not sure what it would achieve really.
I'd rather see people getting behind Steve Castle and his team.
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Post by Saint on Apr 5, 2010 17:15:29 GMT
Any demonstrations I feel D would only be against Gibson, not the team or Castle who we know try their best.
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Post by EFMTFTV on Apr 6, 2010 6:21:40 GMT
Because Gibson is so blinkered it would show him the strenth of feeling, he probably thinks everyone still loves him espeically with the free sandwich brigade probably still hanging on his every word....
When I started a Gibson out chant at WSM he came up and asked me if I'd been chanting it
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Post by Aries on Apr 6, 2010 7:27:27 GMT
Where are all those that looked in discust then the Gibson out chants first started?
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Post by EFMTFTV on Apr 6, 2010 7:49:50 GMT
Dunno, they shuffled along the terrace to disassociate themselves, the first really loud one was in that 5-0 home defeat to Thurrock (was it Hanlons season?)
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Post by Saint on Apr 7, 2010 17:46:34 GMT
I will hazard a guess that we all feel the same about the recent problems off the field (Not just recent but further back of course) So how could we get protests or demonstrations against how the club is being run and Gibson?
Surely he will pay attention to some of these at least?
What ways do you think we could show him that us the fans have pashion for this club, that we care for this football club and that we don't want things to carry on in this style and this same way at your football club and mine? We all share the love for this club.
Does Mr Gibson attend any matches at all? I know I don't see him that much?
Why can't this club have fan's fourms with the chairman and members of the board at a few other non-league clubs. Why can't we have evens like these? Surely communication and discussion between the fans and Chairman is one of the key things for a football club? Would Mr Gibson even attend something like this and meet the fans if they requested it?
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Post by Daedalus on Apr 7, 2010 18:03:25 GMT
A very good question Saint.
I would definitely like to be present if the Saints supporters did manage to have a fans' forum with John Gibson!
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Post by Hatboy on Apr 7, 2010 21:09:16 GMT
Would Mr Gibson even attend something like this and meet the fans if they requested it? No
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Post by COYS on Apr 8, 2010 10:38:44 GMT
I don't think protests are the way to get about it. Any attacks on him will be ignored - he is pretty thick skinned as shown by his ignorance towards us all. He clearly doesn't value us, or our opinions. Personally, I'm not sure how to go about it, but protesting against him on the stands I fear will do jack all.
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Post by barringtongobi on Apr 8, 2010 20:01:51 GMT
Allegedly, someone once heard a rumour which stated that the reason why Gibbo choses to own club, is related to finding opportunities for construction deals. Having seen William Verry go in to administration, he then rocks up as a consultant at a new bunch of builders. These guys then put £35k? in to the club & get a few adverts around the ground. Someone then heard another alleged rumour, which was that the new bunch were sniffing after the old Verry opportunities which may still be knocking about.
That said, if Gibbo is a die hard grass roots football fan & has fallen in love with St Albans & the saints, then we may be forcing away someone who has our best interests at heart. Otherwise, were the allegations to be right, then turning all of St Albans in to a greenfield site to prevent any new building initiatives could see him lose interest in the saints.
If you look at the company that is listed as owning the saints on the Companies House web site, it is registered to a private address in St Albans - in the St Stephen's area. The Leadbitter Group seem to be an Oxfordshire, not St Albans company....
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Post by Saint on Apr 8, 2010 20:09:06 GMT
"If you look at the company that is listed as owning the saints on the Companies House web site, it is registered to a private address in St Albans - in the St Stephen's area. The Leadbitter Group seem to be an Oxfordshire, not St Albans company...."
That is very interesting, it makes the mind wonder some times doesn't it? So who really owns the Saints as Leadbitter are based in Oxfordshire, so how can the owners be registered in St. Albans? Very strange, but then nothing suprises me these day at this club.
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Post by barringtongobi on Apr 8, 2010 20:30:11 GMT
Actually, the address appears to be different now, registered to an address in Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear. Not sure if anyone from the club is from the north east? Anyway, the accounts are showing as late...
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Post by albansaint on Apr 8, 2010 21:33:07 GMT
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Post by saintsfan on Apr 8, 2010 21:58:33 GMT
Where did you find the address???
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Post by barringtongobi on Apr 8, 2010 22:13:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2010 22:31:02 GMT
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Post by drdi1144 on Apr 9, 2010 23:13:20 GMT
So we have, allegedly, the following situation at Saints: Unpaid tax bill. Other debts. Unclear ownership structure. Company late filing accounts with Companies House. Ulterior motive of the owner(s) & board. Cavalier treatment of shareholders / creditors / fans. Adverse attention from regulator or governing body (ie the Conference's transfer embargo). Refusal of company owner to comment on or to clarify the situation. Dwindling attendances, volunteer support and enthusiasm for the club.
This type of scenario is familiar to readers of 'Private Eye' magazine, or of David Conn's columns in 'The Guardian', and rarely has a happy ending for the company or club concerned... at least, not for the shareholders / creditors / fans.
Given that a rich benefactor is unlikely to appear, and would come with the risk of such a person becoming another Harding / Gibson, what can be done to resolve this cancerous situation?
Anyone have any ideas, or are there any useful precedents from other clubs faced with a similar situation?
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Post by nobbythesheep on Apr 10, 2010 8:46:32 GMT
Maybe we should do an Enfield and form a new club AFC Saints anyone?
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Post by marmalade on Apr 10, 2010 9:04:41 GMT
We're all concerned about the future of the club and I think it's such a shame when people feel that it's not worth the candle anymore. It will be a real loss not to have Tony on the tannoy anymore and Gaz's work has been invaluable this season as well past ones.
It's completely understandable that people feel burned out/unappreciated or simply that it's just not worth it, but the other way of looking at it, is that if the volunteers give up, it's the fans just as much (if not more) than the club who suffer. This season has been really tough for everyone but if we all give up what will we have left and what will we do on Saturdays...?
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Post by saintsfan on Apr 10, 2010 10:13:14 GMT
How does gibbo get away with it thats what I dont understand??
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Post by Hatboy on Apr 10, 2010 11:11:35 GMT
We'll be here long after Gibbo has gone and others will return, it's just a case of when rather than if.
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Post by saintsfan on Apr 10, 2010 11:51:33 GMT
Hatboy - it should be "gibbo" .... he doesnt deserve to have a capital letter!!!! ;D
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Post by Hatboy on Apr 10, 2010 13:50:51 GMT
I was just going with a capital as it should be his surname
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Post by EFMTFTV on Apr 11, 2010 6:29:05 GMT
Gibson brought the club off Verrys administrators in the summer for £5K (wiping out the £600k debt), he brough an 'off the shelf' company to do this. He is from Newcastle so that would tie in with the Whitley Bay connection
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Post by drdi1144 on Apr 11, 2010 9:02:18 GMT
It's a huge pity that Gibson was able to do this, and that the Administrator didn't make a bit more effort in selling the club.
For 5k the Trust could've bought the club, and we'd at least be in control of our destiny... and likely a happier club, albeit still fairly broke.
Presumably the current asking price is more than 5k?
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Post by EFMTFTV on Apr 11, 2010 9:34:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2010 20:55:16 GMT
Allegedly, someone once heard a rumour which stated that the reason why Gibbo choses to own club, is related to finding opportunities for construction deals. Having seen William Verry go in to administration, he then rocks up as a consultant at a new bunch of builders. These guys then put £35k? in to the club & get a few adverts around the ground. Someone then heard another alleged rumour, which was that the new bunch were sniffing after the old Verry opportunities which may still be knocking about. Allegedly Oaklands are looking at funding their development in alternative ways after the LSC failure. www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=12483I'm no good at maths so can someone add 2 + 2 for me ?
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Post by Daedalus on Apr 17, 2010 9:57:56 GMT
MicktheMike appears to be conducting a one man crusade at the moment and, as we expected, Gibson has set out his stall and refuses to budge.
After the events of the last week, I doubt that there can be many left who feel that Gibson should stay. In his response, he has shown his contempt for the fans, and, in my opinion, it appears that he has no kind of business plan or even an idea how to run the club successfully. Some really worrying contradictions came out of it, while he avoided most of the big questions. If that isn't enough, he was also rude about volunteers and fans.
Today, election-style cards will be handed out at the ground, to be signed and sent to Mr Gibson as part of MtM's campaign.
My question is, what next? Many Saints fans must be feeling pretty overwhelmed by this and unsure about what they can do.
What other demonstrations and protests could be organised to let Gibson know that he can't just brush these things under the carpet? That the programme seller and the 'DJ in his little box', along with all of the fans, deserve better.
I would hate to think it would have to go as far as boycotting games or something of the sort. It seems to me that something has to be done to send a clear message though. To show that MtM's work isn't just a one-off that will go away as quickly as it started.
Any thoughts?
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