Potential new owners?

I understand from a good source that Msr Smurf is involved, not sure how that can be with his ownership of Port Vale?

There certainly has been a great deal of misinformation floating around over the past few months not much of which has been particularly constructive. If this latest deal does go through there needs to be a line drawn in the sand and a redoubling of efforts to get the club on the right path for the future. I am sure people will get on board if the deal is seen to be genuine (in terms of a desire to take the club forward) and not simply a weasely way of stripping out elements for financial gain!

simonb  

I'm less sure they will Simon. Let's not forget that we have a significant number of posters who finance an organisation which has the eventual aim of getting power for a different set of owners. Finding fault with the incumbents sometimes appears to have become second nature to them to such an extent that I think they'll really struggle to change their ways.

That said, there will thankfully be others who will be willing to give the new owners a fair hearing. If we were in possession of plenty of elements that could be stripped out for financial gain, then the queue to buy us would stretch round the block twice over. Twenty years ago Leyton Orient were only days away from folding when Barry Hearn came to their rescue (I went along to Brisbane Road for the first game when he took them over) yet still that old favourite question got asked:


"The first question I was asked when I took over was, 'Are you an asset stripper?'

"I just said: 'Well, if you can show me one asset I'll think about stripping it.'




Financial gain can work as a powerful incentive to create an efficient and profitable business, whether that business is a Football club or anything else. Floridagull will confirm that America has thrived on that particular incentive. Of course that doesn't mean we hand things over to just anyone, particularly if we sense a fast buck, rather than a more sustained approach to enriching themselves and building the club, is the plan. But I think we can expect the Board to be mindful of that, and that they'll act with the club's best interests at heart.

The Smurf is in town.......seen at Cotton Eyed Jo's today!

Smurthwaite is looking to move to the area and has an interest in an Exeter hotel. Quite likely that his visit is more related to that, although who knows...

Me Smurthwaite is 100% owner of Port Vale. His estimated wealth is estimated to be in excess of 30 million quid. He has regularly dipped into his own pocket to finance the Division One side who are currently comfortably mid table. Not a bad CV in my opinion. ...we could do a lot worse!