But they did know this when agreeing to take us over did they not?
They did. Who's denying that? I even in this very thread criticised them for spending money on a player or two hoping for a promotion and big returns, as opposed to building the infrastructure of the club.
Doesn't this say that I agree wholeheartedly with this? Doesn't it, in fact, suggest that I'm particularly critical of a business model that hopes for short term hit and run rewards, rather than looks at themselves as custodians of the club?
Doesn't it in fact read as... anti SISU?
But back to my point please... the short term loss IS avoidable, which is fundemantally the point I seek clarification on.
The short term loss is not avoidable.
Notwithstanding the fact that offers were wilfully made with conditions that meant they were unable to be accepted, they were never made to the club either.
Therefore, the short term loss is unavoidable.
Couple that with the fact the club as is is probably IMHO utterly unsustainable even with a zero rent offer, and we have a serious problem. The club has *nothing* to its name apart from a training ground that McGinnity tried to sell, and was only stopped from doing so by refusal of planning permission for housing.
Even saying that, to some mentalists around here, will automatically paint that (and me by association!) as pro SISU. It doesn't stop the fact that SISU could indeed have made more of an effort to speak to people also, it doesn't in any way absolve them of their responsibility as custodians of the club. the thing is, though, being custodians of the club requires a different approach to looking out for the balance sheet above all else. Couple that with a brave new world where councils aren't allowed to support heritage and culture for the quality of life they give, but instead have to justify them on financial grounds, and we reach impasse.
Are ACL even wrong in their approach? I don't think so when it comes to rent figures and commercial deals; these are the times we live in, where council funding has to be justified. Look at some of the other things that are either closed down, or put in charitable trusts to keep going.
Does it mean owners as custodians rather than financial insitutions would undoubtedly be more appropriate for finding an answer that at least allows the catastrophe to be averted? I would say undoubtedly.
Does it mean the club, frankly, should not exist as is? I would say to that... undoubtedly.
So, choices moving forward? Either:
1) An acceptance wage bills need to be slashed radically, the club must be allowed to go into freefall for however long it takes to get to a stage where it can stabilise... the club must be allowed to go into freefall for however long it takes to get to a stage where benefactors would be willing to put their cash in with the expectation of no return, and cash lost;
2) Sell to other sharks who see the opposrtunity for a shit or bust, quick buck;
3) Hope and pray said benefactors as mentioned above actually have more cash than we ever dare to hope, and can take us over now;
4) Get the club saleable in some way, shape or form;
5) Let it fall until it dies;
6) Accept the status quo and see us continue to clin on in ever decreasing circles, getting slowly smaller and smaller until nobody cares when the plug is finally pulled.
Personally I'd say 2) and 6) are the ones to be avoided at all costs. I'd also say they're the ones most likely if it's a deal, ANY deal that's pushed upon the club. A deal that may avert a crisis short to medium term, but long term leaves us deep, deep in trouble.
One thing the current situation does wake people up to is whether the football club is important or not. Leave that any longer and leave the circles to continue to decrease... and it might just not be.