rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 9, 2017 23:16:01 GMT
Contribute funds for a maybe over Christmas with everything up in the air was never was going to work and the conditions for a successful issue have been talked about many times on here.
The question is whether there is a realistic mutually beneficial arrangement out there that can be reached between GI and our club?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jan 9, 2017 23:21:49 GMT
Don't forget it was initially proposed to be open until 30/1, Jerry. Others might consider it militant to have answered that call early, but fair play to you and all that made up that 30k in two weeks.
Many more than 429 may well have to consider this again at some point in the future given who we are now owned by. Perhaps it might simply be the only option subsequently and without a backdrop of alternative interest listed by indebted board members or the local press, you never know. Stranger things have happened. Rumour has it GI's track record isn't all that good on promise delivery.
Impressive flip-flop of your own within the space of a few hours, alpine. How's that 5 year plan us stakeholders are all working on coming along?
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hector
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Post by hector on Jan 10, 2017 6:49:48 GMT
Despite the open embrace of TUST, I don't believe that GI really give a flying fcuk about TUST. We had a saying in the army 'Keep your mates close but your enemies closer' because any nice surprise from mates would be completely overshadowed by any nasty surprise from an enemy. Could this be GI's modus operandi, I wonder? The TUST minutes stating that ' The positive and open atmosphere of the meeting was encouraging and we agreed to meet formally on the 20th of January where Gaming International will outline their 5 year business plan and where we can identify areas where we can support their vision for the club.' begs the question as to what TUST will do if they identify areas they can't support. Unlike DT and the previous board, GI has the sort of money that TUST can only dream of raising so if they decide on a certain course they have the wherewithal to see it through. The big question, bearing in mind the tales of woe previously expressed on here concerning GI, is whether they will actually follow through. I'm with Alpine though; TUST needs to remove the sort of rhetoric directed at the previous board, if it wishes to form any sort of meaningful relationship with GI. I think you would have seen a very different response had there been any real prospect of TUST taking on the club. This was never going to happen and the constant briefing against TUST, probably by the likes of Masters and even fans of the club, would never help. I fail to understand anti-TUST sentiment. It is, and only ever will be, an organisation that wants to protect the long-term future of the football club we all support, yet it gets mocked for its membership levels (which aren't actually that bad), it's resources etc by fellow fans, who surely want the same thing. How anyone can trust GI, with their clear agenda, their failed promises of the past etc and assume that there is a chance of a rosy future under them, yet disparage a group of people who want to hold GI to account, to ensure they do not rape and pillage our football club seems rather perverse. In the end, those supporters towing the Peter Masters line, will get what they deserve. Sadly, the rest of us will have to suffer alongside them but at least those who contributed towards TUST have tried but if turkeys want to vote for Christmas then you can't stop them.
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simonb
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Post by simonb on Jan 10, 2017 8:10:50 GMT
Concur with your sentiments. Surely GI will be exposed at some stage in the future when they have to reveal their real agenda? Just cannot see them investing anything in TUFC other than that from which they (or individuals within GI) personally gain. They have had a long period of time to postulate over how to deal with the Club and fans and so far have done bugger all to demonstrate they want to see the club survive and prosper.
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hector
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Post by hector on Jan 10, 2017 8:21:54 GMT
Concur with your sentiments. Surely GI will be exposed at some stage in the future when they have to reveal their real agenda? Just cannot see them investing anything in TUFC other than that from which they (or individuals within GI) personally gain. They have had a long period of time to postulate over how to deal with the Club and fans and so far have done bugger all to demonstrate they want to see the club survive and prosper. Indeed, the likes of Alpine and many a Popsider, will be won over by an initial bit of flattery and perhaps some gestural signing or two, but then the likes of Alpine and many a Popsider, were won over by Chris Roberts, a decade ago. There is a brilliant series on Amazon called The Man in the High Castle. Somehow, I can't help but think of Alpine when I watch this. I'm sure he'd have a lot of admiration for Obergruppenführer John Smith and be all anti-resistance. I'm sure - with Clarke Osborne as Fuhrer - Obergruppenfuhrer Alpine would be looking forward to a long and prosperous GI Reich.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 10, 2017 9:57:04 GMT
The council is a key player in any land deal that GI will undertake. That cannot be done or sanctioned without the support of the fans and community alike so expect a charm offensive although as always, the devil will be in the detail. As for any owners of the club, we will have to listen to their proposals and decide accordingly whether that deserves to be supported. I will have my calculator ready!
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jan 10, 2017 15:22:36 GMT
Alpine and Flo banging on about what TUST should or shouldn't do on a new owners thread. It's not as if it wasn't the same when we had the last owners. Sort of let's you know you're looking at TFF while surfing.
I guess we've had our monthly press release from GI and should just be content that the shift in emphasis on "formulation with key stakeholders of a 5 year plan over the coming months remaining in the season", to presentation of it on 20th January is in their gift as owners and early promises count for nothing anyway.
The more recent emphasis was always more likely than that of the earlier soundbite in any event and any favourable reaction to aspects of the outline can always provide sufficient backfill to give the air of consultation.
Flo questions whether they will follow through with anything, but wonders if anyone could ever do anything about it as they're the ones with the business muscle and Alpine showers with guff that not only what they want before it's announced is a thing of beauty, but they will follow through on it. Chuck in the obligatory moan about the trust and TFF's bromance is retained under new ownership. For better or for worse.
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kfc
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Post by kfc on Jan 10, 2017 22:14:13 GMT
It is done - linkOf course talk about a five year plan and fan base pulling together. We shall see.
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kfc
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Post by kfc on Jan 10, 2017 22:38:59 GMT
I've just watched Devon under 18's 1 Somerset 18's 1
Talking to a professional club coach they talked about our situation at Torquay.
1. They heard about G.I. and Knew it would be a mistake to talk to them as they've no interest in football.
2.They are not developers so they won't spend any money on a new ground.
3.Why would they want a new ground when they have a ground which if the council agree can put a greyhound track (Speedway) around the existing ground.
4.This would mean moving the pitch toward the swimming pool and altering the clubhouse and stand. This would leave space at the away end for a track.
5.The pitch could be made narrower at the start of a new season.
6.It was said G.I. would let the football wind down and close due to money as they've no interest in football whatsoever. They will show what interest they have in football as soon as next seasons budget is revealed.
I came away thinking there is not enough land but there may be as these people are in the business of making money and do not waste it. It means they do not have to spend money on a new ground. They need the council to pass plans to alter the stadiums use to speedway and greyhound racing. The land is for sport.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jan 10, 2017 23:03:54 GMT
Welcome to the forum kfc. Their record in greyhound and speedway stadia development isn't too good either. I doubt speedway would ever come to Plainmoor, myself, as newer stadia tend to be away from built up housing for obvious noise reasons. That said, you are right that they have indeed been involved with stadium management in speedway and greyhound racing.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 10, 2017 23:56:54 GMT
if the council agree can put a greyhound track (Speedway) around the existing ground. WMN 26/10/27
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 11, 2017 17:37:05 GMT
link - comment from Richard Haddock that no proposal been put before them and there is a lot of speculation out there. However, the few utterances from GI have mainly been about the ground so not surprising really - talk now of meeting on 18th January?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jan 12, 2017 4:28:04 GMT
It is an interesting piece. Interesting that Councillor Haddock says it is a full Council matter as opposed to Mayoral decision. The Council's own literature suggests not as do other persons involved in the meeting of what the Council themselves chose to call a decision on "the disposal of Plainmoor".
It doesn't sound like the Mayor's "Executive Lead for Business" (Flo is TFF's, I reckon) would ever be likely to appreciate any attachment some of his TUFC supporting constituents might have to 'a bit of old Council property'. Let's hope we don't hear too much more from him, even if he is the first elected figure to publically refer to talk of a deal being already done.
I am ever so slightly concerned that Dave Thomas now sees part of his role as pouring cold water on legitimate concerns with this latest piece. I hope that isn't the case. It won't pan out well, that. Did he ever report that there were such concerns that are listed in the article before this article? Perhaps he did and I missed it. It's the lease, not freehold, was my last recalled instalment on anything related to the ground from an HE reporter. Probably a line or two somewhere. I have long been an admirer of DT. Frustrated of recent with the suppression of an obvious story or two of public interest, but an admirer nonetheless. I used to get a hard copy of Monday's edition of the HE sent up years after the internet age started just for his match reports.
Nobody wants to hear from me whether this sort of confusing reporting with council mouthpieces popping up ever happened in Reading, so they won't for now. Nor whether they were a patch on GI's sound bites. I'll let alpine pour his own cold water on that in this early period of a bright new tomorrow as we might get Kieffer in the morning. Plagiarism here, but maybe there is something fishy about haddock. If nothing else, there are always puns to be had.
Flo - Regarding rjdgulls post, Torquay United may be owned by who they are currently. That may not be in dispute. However, when someone talks, say, of preservation of the club, they are not necessarily talking about preservation of the recent investment by Riviera Stadium Ltd, a subsidiary of Gaming International, who recently acquired a majority shareholding in....etc. They may be slightly less Wall Street, or less literal if that helps, in their description of something they love. It happens. I've seen your irony takes as well. Give yourself a break back in Blighty for a bit. Take in a game.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 12, 2017 7:43:19 GMT
Yes, Flo, as Rob said, RSL is a firewalled division of GI and they want to move the football ground to get into a sustainable situation. As you know, any business is a vehicle to make a profit or it is shut down. I cannot see how we can get into that situation, have my suspicion which way it will go but waiting to see what will be put on the table....
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simonb
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Post by simonb on Jan 12, 2017 7:50:07 GMT
GI - Smoke, mirrors and Bullshit!
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