Jim Parker Column in the Herald Express

gullpower · Post by **gullpower** » 30 Mar 2017, 17:27

I haven't seen any reference to the piece by Jim Parker in the print version Herald Express this week titled "Lifelong Gulls fans keep hope alive". It may be that the local press has decided to speak. If GI wanted to quietly sink the club their failure to bring in any players before the deadline might have been a shot in their own foot.

I have copied what is probably the most important and informed quotes from Adrian Sanders below. At least the sale of Plainmoor isn't a done deal.

I think if you click on the image it enlarges to make reading easier.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 30 Mar 2017, 17:45

Ah yes, but Adrian Sanders is somewhat guarded in his replies, using the phrase "As far as I am aware" as in "As far as I am aware, the club has not made an approach to purchase the ground". Yet we hear from Clarke Osborne that 'they are in discussions with the mayor". As would be said in 'X Files', the truth is out there somewhere ......

Earlier in the article, Jim Parker compares Clarke Osborne with "a knight in shining armour who rode in to save the club". He also calls on former mayor, Nick Bye, for his opinion on the situation. As if Nick Bye cares a fig about Torquay Utd or its demise.

SenorDingDong · Post by **SenorDingDong** » 30 Mar 2017, 18:49

tomogull wrote: 30 Mar 2017, 17:45 Ah yes, but Adrian Sanders is somewhat guarded in his replies, using the phrase "As far as I am aware" as in "As far as I am aware, the club has not made an approach to purchase the ground". Yet we hear from Clarke Osborne that 'they are in discussions with the mayor". As would be said in 'X Files', the truth is out there somewhere ......

Earlier in the article, Jim Parker compares Clarke Osborne with "a knight in shining armour who rode in to save the club". He also calls on former mayor, Nick Bye, for his opinion on the situation. As if Nick Bye cares a fig about Torquay Utd or its demise.

I didn't read it as being guarded, I read it as Adrian Sanders making a very clear allusion to the fact that things may have been going on in the background that people are being cut out of.

MellowYellow · Post by **MellowYellow** » 30 Mar 2017, 19:09

One has to be cautious - remember GI pulled out of initial takeover with chairman David Phillips declaring that '|"We encountered a major stumbling block over GI's instance on the purchase of the freehold of Plainmoor which was not a part of the memorandum of understanding we had with them,"

The key word 'Instance'! What's has changed since then - not a lot as far as I can see. There are reports that they have been holding 'discussions in private' with the Council.

If Mr Sanders believes that the club has not made an approach to purchase the ground why will the Mayor will be making a public decision about the disposal of the Plainmoor freehold at a (Policy, Development & Decision Group) meeting planned for April 26,"

Mr Sanders believes that any sale of Plainmoor will have strings attached (existing covenants for sport and leisure) to safeguard Plainmoor from developers. This then begs the question of why are GI so fixated on owning the freehold of a piece of land that seemingly has no commercial value?

Dazza · Post by **Dazza** » 30 Mar 2017, 19:21

Okay Nick Bye says he's anti GI. Adrian Sanders is anti GI. What's in for the Mayor to want be willing to sell to them then ?'.. and don't give me the ultra insulting brown envelope business- that's crap - the guy is straight as they come. There is nothing here in a GI deal I believe to save Torbay Council - or save the ratepayers- they get rent and the land is riddled with covenants which has to limit its value. The one thing that is missing is a statement from the fans that the majority of them don't want the council to sell- don't have faith in such a venture- don't have faith the outcome will be any better than Truro City. If ( when) that happens I honestly believe the Mayor ( the Council ) will not be prepared to sell.

MellowYellow · Post by **MellowYellow** » 30 Mar 2017, 19:31

I am sure that the new owners will lend the football club enough money to keep those fans who don't look beyond the end of their nose happy for a couple of years. My fear is that the day will come when they will want everything they lend back plus a return on investment. They are not fans and they are not a charity.

GI settled for a leasehold on the Reading Speedway Stadium. The parallels with Reading and what could happen to us are stark. Basically, they wanted to move the Greyhound/Speedway to another site. It seems Gaming International negotiated a reduced-term lease on the stadium so they could pay yearly... then they shut the club down. The thing the company was interested in was developing a super casino as part of the stadium but, once that was turned down, they just feigned interest for several years and, to this day, the Racers have been in exile from Reading.

kevgull · Post by **kevgull** » 30 Mar 2017, 19:31

Perhaps we should Poll the forum if someone is able.

Question:

Are you in favour of the Mayor authorising the selling of Plainmoor to Osborne?

If possible, please give your reasons.

westyorkshiregull · Post by **westyorkshiregull** » 30 Mar 2017, 19:32

Don't forget gi have been lumbered with us have they not. They lent us 100 grand odd..if they regretted that they had no option really of taking us on. So now they want there return ,they are business not football fans. Not defending them but it's the beast we are dealing with. Wonder if they thought it would easy to get freehold...make x amount on sale and build a stadium they own and use for multi purpose

Net result our club is compromised...not as secure home as we have now and osborne pickets lined.

I don't want this...i want plainmoor it's our home and always will be.

kevgull · Post by **kevgull** » 30 Mar 2017, 19:39

westyorkshiregull wrote: 30 Mar 2017, 19:32 Don't forget gi have been lumbered with us have they not. They lent us 100 grand odd..if they regretted that they had no option really of taking us on. So now they want there return ,they are business not football fans. Not defending them but it's the beast we are dealing with. Wonder if they thought it would easy to get freehold...make x amount on sale and build a stadium they own and use for multi purpose

Net result our club is compromised...not as secure home as we have now and osborne pickets lined.

I don't want this...i want plainmoor it's our home and always will be.

In recent years we have had:

A business man in Bateson
Lottery winners in Paul and Thea
Local business fans Take over
Followed by a Property delevoper AKA - Loan Shark

Dazza · Post by **Dazza** » 30 Mar 2017, 19:56

If anybody is doing a poll it needs to be a straight and fair question

Maybe something like:-

Are you in favour of the Mayor declining to authorise the sale of Plainmoor and Torbay Council therefore continuing to own the land at this time.

There shouldn't be a reference to individuals.

And there should not be a requirement on anybody to explain why they voted one way or the other. No one should ever be asked to explain how they voted. That's a fundamental rule of democracy!

I think we have to avoid what might be considered by a neutral to be a leading question.

Glostergull · Post by **Glostergull** » 30 Mar 2017, 19:57

kevgull wrote: 30 Mar 2017, 19:31 Perhaps we should Poll the forum if someone is able.

Question:

Are you in favour of the Mayor authorising the selling of Plainmoor to Osborne?

If possible, please give your reasons.

you might just as well add the question. am I willing to sandpaper my balls with emery cloth. its hobsons choice isn't it.

Dazza · Post by **Dazza** » 30 Mar 2017, 20:02

I have been in Gloucester today. Is that what happens there then. God I thought there were a few people walking strangely.

kevgull · Post by **kevgull** » 30 Mar 2017, 20:16

Dazza wrote: 30 Mar 2017, 19:56 If anybody is doing a poll it needs to be a straight and fair question

Maybe something like:-

Are you in favour of the Mayor declining to authorise the sale of Plainmoor and Torbay Council therefore continuing to own the land at this time.

There shouldn't be a reference to individuals.

And there should not be a requirement on anybody to explain why they voted one way or the other. No one should ever be asked to explain how they voted. That's a fundamental rule of democracy!

I think we have to avoid what might be considered by a neutral to be a leading question.

Dazza

I would vote NO to any question that might refer or infer to Osbornes potential acquisition of Plainmoor.

My reasons would be that I don't trust him or his company based on what I have read and witnessed.
His experience and track record of producing a sustainable business involving a football club is nonexistent.

However I very much welcome him building a new stadium as promised, that does not involve Plainmoor as one of his Gaming International bargaining Chips.

MellowYellow · Post by **MellowYellow** » 30 Mar 2017, 21:45

kevgull wrote: 30 Mar 2017, 20:16
His experience and track record of producing a sustainable business involving a football club is nonexistent.

And his track record of producing a sustainable business involving a greyhound and speedway clubs. Just ask Swindon and Reading folk.

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