Who is lying? (1 Viewer)

rob9872 said:

I'm pretty fed up of this. We support the club unconditionally. We know there are finance issues, there always have been, but why is it always so protracted and full of claims and counter claims with the truth being so hard to find?

Is the Hoff going to be much different to what we have? His loyalty may be to the club and I would rather have someone in charge who have the clubs best interest at heart, but tbh all I have so far heard is no better then a Joe Dinsah type bid.

So is anyone telling the truth?

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Bit of bullshit from both sides me thinks Rob lad!!!!

It wouldn't surprise me if both parties are slightly fabricating the truth. Whatever keeps their side strong.

I think both will be playing up to the fans but SISU have a track record of "being mistaken"

Both. And I personally don't think we'll be any better off if Hoffman were to take us over.

Whilst I believe that Hoff isn't telling everything, 3 years of being mislead by SISU has firmly warped my opinion that SISU are probably the only ones out and out lying.

I think the events and non events of the last few weeks have shown beyond doubt that Sisu can not be believed or trusted.. While Hoff may prove to have his own interests at heart, I think he at least deserves a chance and it seems maybe a little unfair of us to judge him at this stage on pure speculation... If Hoff takes over we couldn't be any worse off than we are now surely...

Hoffman has been clever here, talking of money and promises, getting the fans to put a lot of pressure on Sisu.

Whether he stays true to his word, hypothetically, or if this money mysteriously doesn't materialise, is another thing.

Both! They are each jostling for the sympathy vote of the loyal fans and the media. They are both politically motivated, just like the saying " how do you know when a politician's lying? When he's talking!"

Not sure that either camp has the SkyBlues interests at heart. Both trying to make as much money as they can from an already bled club.

Si80 said:

Both. And I personally don't think we'll be any better off if Hoffman were to take us over.

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why is that Mr Negative? Is giving AT Transfer funds and owning 50% of the Arena not on your agenda then?

From what I've read about the pending takeover bids today; both Paul Clouting and The Hoff-meister have very similar stories and seem to be on the same level, just not willing to talk about it in full detail.

Think both sides believe the truth they see and let out only what suits them. Clearly at the moment it is a struggle to keep CCFC afloat under the current owners, they seem error prone and clearly not popular with many supporters. On the other hand we have a group of unknowns fronted by GH, there has been plenty of talk, but no substance as yet and we do not know if we would be better off with them as new owners.

Somewhere in the middle of all this testosterone fuelled brinksmanship is the truth but I for one can not see what it is !:thinking about:

To be honest I am already getting bored of it......... if it is going to happen, if a deal is there then get it done........ dont thrash it around in the press it will only lead to ill will and misunderstandings then make any deal making harder. A good deal is one where both parties walk away feeling they have won something, trying to score petty points is not going to achieve that. Get round a table do it professionally and calmly shake hands or walk away. I dont need to know all the details I just want my club secure. But get on with it!

I cant wait for the season to begin ..... so we can talk about the football!

Hear hear. Well said that chap. Could not agree more. :claping hands:

Platt_The_Donkey said:

why is that Mr Negative? Is giving AT Transfer funds and owning 50% of the Arena not on your agenda then?

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If that happens......

Since when has the City Council indicated they would be willing to sell a half-share in the Arena for £10m?

dutchman said:

Since when has the City Council indicated they would be willing to sell a half-share in the Arena for £10m?

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I thought that the Alan Higgs centre/charity had a 50% stake in the Ricoh and the club had an agreed buy back clause for something between £8-£10mill, I may be wrong though

Platt_The_Donkey said:

why is that Mr Negative? Is giving AT Transfer funds and owning 50% of the Arena not on your agenda then?

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Lolz at Mr Negative

I just think that Hoffman's bid smacks of "play the supporters heartstrings + promise the world but not really deliver anything".

So SISU get their debts cleared by Hoff. CCFC are back to £0 owed to "anyone" and we have a 50% share in the Ricoh. That sounds great right? Yeah it does. But in reality we will just start the process all over again. Hoff and the new investors are owed £30M, we continue to have an average gate of 15k which we all know doesn't cover our current operating losses and the only bit of money we will make will be from what happens at the Ricoh.

The million dollar question is "Is that enough to support the Club"? And that's an unknown at the moment.

So whilst it may seem that I'm being negative, I'm just being realistic as to what the actual situation is. We don't need someone just ousting SISU to clear their debts (which is what Hoffman plans to do IMO). We need someone to come in with £100M behind them and do it properly.

Couldnt agree more about the season starting. The only proplem is that we have a board of people with no so called business acumen representing a faceless owner with no experience or understanding of what it takes to be succesfull in sport. How dare Clouting say that they need to know who Hoffmans proposed investors are when after 3 and a half dreadfull years under SISU we still dont know who they are! Double standards all the way once again, my dads shares meant the world to him which he gave back to help give our beloved club a new future. SISU need to cut their losses now and go, at least with a 50% share Hoffmans business plan recognises that the club needs to own part or some of the stadium to generate income. This seems to be beyond SISU's finances now and in the future. You have had your chance and FAILED so let someone else try to take the club where you have not had the bottle to go! God bless Andy Thorn if he can keep the playing side of the club going we may have a chance of staying up, the down side will mean if he does he will be on the radar for any aspiring club that needs a manager. PUSB:guitar2:

Having Listened to Both interviews on BBC website twice I think Hoffman may be playing a few games here.

At the end of the day 'Who are the mystery investors' who are they .... we have had this before with the American Consortium and load of other bull.
If the 'mystery investors' were not so 'mysterious' then they might have got somewhere with a proper approach.

So that leads me to believe that they potentilly do not exist. Hoffman says they will never go away , but if they do not exist in the first place then he is right they are never go away as they were never there in the first place

I hope I am totally wrong but somthing is bugging me about the whole thing.

I'm a bit surprised by the negativity towards the Hoff here.

This man has supported City all his life and already been on the board for a considerable amount of time. Add to this he is extremely successful in the financial world.

What's to doubt?

His motives? Well he loves the club like we do!

His understanding of what it'll take to make us successful? Er - well he's been our Vice Chairman!

His backers? Well if anyone can find wealthy backers it’s this guy with his connections!


Come on – give the guy a break! imp:

I dont think its negativity as such Rich87, I think many here would welcome his investors taking over - i do think however there is a lot of disappointment in how its all gone to press and what would appear to simple errors on both sides. Above all I think a lot of people expected him to march in make SISU an offer they cant refuse and take over but looking at the details so far the offers have been cheeky at best and even the least financially skilled of us would say to themselves "I cant see SISU going for that" from what has been disclosed.

Think there has been a big build up and ultimately nothing of substance. Early days I suppose but it is going to take more than has been reported to dislodge SISU which is disappointment not negativity

so playing devils advocate for a minute...
motives- do we know his motives? yes he is a big fan but do we know what makes this tick for him
Success - yes he was on the Board before that doesnt mean he knows how to make us successful
Backers - yes he has them but how far will they go to get the club, so far you would have to say nowhere near far enough and they have hit a point where they have withdrawn the offer - so is that their limit ?

It could be great if he succeeds but it isnt for certain it will be or he will. Personally am not being negative but i am keeping an open minded realism. Nothing has really happened yet

oldskyblue58 said:

I dont think its negativity as such Rich87, I think many here would welcome his investors taking over - i do think however there is a lot of disappointment in how its all gone to press and what would appear to simple errors on both sides. Above all I think a lot of people expected him to march in make SISU an offer they cant refuse and take over but looking at the details so far the offers have been cheeky at best and even the least financially skilled of us would say to themselves "I cant see SISU going for that" from what has been disclosed.

Think there has been a big build up and ultimately nothing of substance. Early days I suppose but it is going to take more than has been reported to dislodge SISU which is disappointment not negativity

so playing devils advocate for a minute...
motives- do we know his motives? yes he is a big fan but do we know what makes this tick for him
Success - yes he was on the Board before that doesnt mean he knows how to make us successful
Backers - yes he has them but how far will they go to get the club, so far you would have to say nowhere near far enough and they have hit a point where they have withdrawn the offer - so is that their limit ?

It could be great if he succeeds but it isnt for certain it will be or he will. Personally am not being negative but i am keeping an open minded realism. Nothing has really happened yet

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Ok, maybe i'm looking at it from a different point of view to the rest.

The way I see it, if they're businessmen of any calibre they won't march in making an offer SISU can't refuse. It's like saying if you bought a house you'd 'make an offer the owner couldn't refuse'. You wouldn't. You'd name a low price and meet somewhere in the middle.

I think that the reason this is being played out in the media is to accelerate things.

I think Hoffman wants SISU to agree to the terms without divulging who the backers are. Whereas SISU are determined to know who they are before they'll consider the offer, hence the 'we want headed notepaper childish crap'.

I believe what makes him tick is the same thing that makes everyone on this board tick - we love the Sky Blues. I've got no reason to think otherwise.

Good post @rich87 well said

I'm amazed at the anti-Hoffman sentiments, I really am. I know we've been lied to so much we're bound to be cynical, but I'm surprised at such a response.

Firstly, I really don't think he's in this for the money at all. He makes money doing other things. This is a labour of love. He's doing what we'd do if we were him-trying to save his football club from oblivion under the stewardship of people who bought the club to try and make money.

Why does everyone assume that the consortium are only in it to make cash? They would know that would only be possible by promotion-the original SISU/RR vision, which it transpires SISU never really comitted to all along.

What about the owners at Man City? Did they buy the club to make money? Was it an "investment opportunity"? No, it was about being a rich-mans plaything. There as many of those in the top flight as there are unscrupulous Glaziers or the gangsters who wrecked Pompey.

What about Gibson at Midboro, Lerner at Villa, Madjeski at Reading, Whelan at Wigan? All self-made men and astute business minds who've bought the club they supported. They've all lost millions doing so. That is what premiership football is all about.

Obviously Hoffman and Elliott are a bit different in that the bulk of the money wouldn't be theirs: he has to find people who will ultimately want to be making money. But that will be the long-term vision, part of a 5 year plan, and involving the full capitalisation of the Arena revenue potential. I really don't forsee a situation where new owners keep a "tab" like SISU are-it'll just be written off as investment. And I think that's exactly how it was seen by RR, remember? "We are entirely debt free, we don't even have an overdraft facility". Turns out SISU classed that as a debt. It's not. It's MONEY THEY SPENT. GAME OVER.

would give hoff a chance as the alternative cant be thought about and admin is not a good move :claping hands::claping hands: