Confimred new owners of Raeding Footbal Club

[winchester_royal]

^Yep ta for that Zac, exactly what I've been trying to say. Anton has always said it would be a continuation of what went on before, RFC would be run with business principles, but with perhaps a little more ambition. As far as I can tell, that is exactly what has gone on so far. Yes the summer window wasn't what we hoped it would be, but if you look at the deadwood we have in the squad on big money, it's hardly surprising that we weren't willing to hand out plenty more 30k a week contracts.

There may well be issues regarding the full takeover, but for now the club is running at a higher cost, and with more ambition, than it ever has done before. Quite what people find cause to worry/moan/strop about is lost on me.

[Uke]

Thinking of this thread driving past bearwood earlier I was reminded of an interview Anton gave in sports.ru (in Russian) before the take over was completed.


- Если сделка состоится, вы будете практически жить в Англии? - If the deal goes through, you'll practically live in England? Надо быть рядом с командой? It should be close to the team?

- Абсолютно не обязательно. - Absolutely not necessary. Атмосфера в клубе такая, что нет никакой надобности что-то резко менять, а тем более рушить. The atmosphere at the club so that there is no need for something to change dramatically, much less destroy. Клубом не надо управлять вручную, надо просто улучшить коммерцию. Club does not have to manage manually, you just have to improve commerce. Есть, конечно, и спортивная составляющая, но этому надо уделять внимание, а не руководить. There are, of course, and sports component, but it must be observed, but not supervise."

Think he just got a little too into it with promotion & rush and has had to concentrate on his other businesses and new family for a while tbh. I see no reason to panic until we have genuine evidence that there is no money to spend, i.e inexplicably pulling of the training ground or the academy going hugely down hill.

Perhaps that's why Daddy has told him to stay away (if that is even true), he has other responsibilities he's neglected. Just a thought.

Which MBA textbook were those phrases cut and pasted from?

He'll be suggesting hot-desking next

[Ian Royal]

^Yep ta for that Zac, exactly what I've been trying to say. Anton has always said it would be a continuation of what went on before, RFC would be run with business principles, but with perhaps a little more ambition. As far as I can tell, that is exactly what has gone on so far. Yes the summer window wasn't what we hoped it would be, but if you look at the deadwood we have in the squad on big money, it's hardly surprising that we weren't willing to hand out plenty more 30k a week contracts.

There may well be issues regarding the full takeover, but for now the club is running at a higher cost, and with more ambition, than it ever has done before. Quite what people find cause to worry/moan/strop about is lost on me.

The only thing that concerns me is the rumours that we've gone to the football equivalent of a payday loans company. Assuming its true. That's the sort of thing that raises an eyebrow for me. But it's one small thing in a sea of not a lot and plenty of good signs.

[Uke]

Well when we regularly lose £2m - £5m at this level what's a few hundred k difference? It's hardly difficult to deal with. Obviously we want to maximise revenue, but the tiny and easily balanced impact it'll have is hardly worth trying to score some "the club's badly run and we're doomed" points.

Losing quarter of a million is losing quarter of a million, end of

[winchester_royal]

^Yep ta for that Zac, exactly what I've been trying to say. Anton has always said it would be a continuation of what went on before, RFC would be run with business principles, but with perhaps a little more ambition. As far as I can tell, that is exactly what has gone on so far. Yes the summer window wasn't what we hoped it would be, but if you look at the deadwood we have in the squad on big money, it's hardly surprising that we weren't willing to hand out plenty more 30k a week contracts.

There may well be issues regarding the full takeover, but for now the club is running at a higher cost, and with more ambition, than it ever has done before. Quite what people find cause to worry/moan/strop about is lost on me.

The only thing that concerns me is the rumours that we've gone to the football equivalent of a payday loans company. Assuming its true. That's the sort of thing that raises an eyebrow for me. But it's one small thing in a sea of not a lot and plenty of good signs.

It's a perfectly common way for football clubs to overcome short term cash flow issues. Borrowing against future income isn't an issue, especially when that income (parachute payments) is guaranteed. Nothing scandalous about it.

[Lacoste]

Can we please stop talking about this ghey rugby shit and concentrate on the subject in hand?

LI pay 1m a year (obvs plus parking and extra revs etc) - not huge at all and if they leave it makes RFC 50% less plastic IMO

We wont know fcuk all until the window - if we strengthen we're ok, if we have a fire sale we know we're fcuked.

Simples

[NewCorkSeth]

The blase' attitude of some here towards the additional revenue streams (on top of our tens of millions £ turnover) is what I personally find a bit pathetic.

I got to agree with this. The argument that "we make more money than LI so we don't need to take a % of their match day turnover" is ridiculous. It should be a clubs duty to make money where it can, no matter how small in comparison to their match day income. Every little helps.

[Royal Lady]

Not true. London Irish have a contract to stay at Madejski until the 2025-26 season regardless of which division they are in.

Is there an echo in here, in here, in here?? See post above for a better response.

You get it wrong and he's the one who deserves the rolleyes!

If they're not clueless Uke should be right about clauses for early contract release with 'x' notice. But they may be clueless. Or we may have just outright refused that and said if you don't like it go elsewhere.

I was rolling my eyes because he was repeating what at least two others had already said about having a contract until 2025-2026 season. ACTUALLY.

[Elm Park Pasty]

The blase' attitude of some here towards the additional revenue streams (on top of our tens of millions £ turnover) is what I personally find a bit pathetic.

I got to agree with this. The argument that "we make more money than LI so we don't need to take a % of their match day turnover" is ridiculous. It should be a clubs duty to make money where it can, no matter how small in comparison to their match day income. Every little helps.

If the attitude of some has been blase' , then the attitude of others has been that it is a hugely significant income stream, fair's fair. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if we only see the £250k a year or maybe a little more to cover costs. If they are renting the facilities from the club, then it's not beyond the realms of imagination to believe they would have their own arrangements with the contractors providing support services (as the catering etc is done by outside companies). I know that LI have mumbled on before about being a 'London' team, and wanting to go back there. I always thought 9k was a pretty good crowd for egg chasing, as they only seem to get traditionally large crowds for internationals or finals. It's a bit hard to see what LI want to achieve, if they feel the MS is too big then move somewhere smaller, but that could have serious matchday revenue impications. Not many London clubs (that would be prepared to share!!) have the space we have around the ground that can be used for promotional opportunities such as the Guinness Village 9or beer tent as we tend to call it!!!).

As far as the takeover goes, certainly, someone from the club should have come out and said something by now just to allay fears, but do we ACTUALLY know anything is amiss? No. The second part of the deal has not been completed, but there could be all sorts of reasons for that. To be honest, it seems to me, all the speculation is doing is creating more speculation. I know someone who says this, my source at the club (who I cannot name as he would be taken out and shot) says it is that, it's a whole lot worse than you all think but I can't say anything more at the moment, I've heard at least 5 rumours but I don't know which one to believe but they all relate to the coming of Beelzebub. The simple fact is, either something is going on and no one is talking about it (I can't wholly believe this, as very few people these days keep their traps shut about anything of significance, and sports journos would be all over this like a rash at THE HINT of something), or there is nothing for them to keep their traps shut about. It seems almost a 'damned if you do/damned if you don't scenario'. If there is a problem which you keep quiet about to prevent uncertainty in terms of squad/ financiers/ FA etc then you are accused of misleading people, however, if you come out and say there's a problem you could destabilise the club. I wouldn't like to say 'no news is good news' but until there is some actual proof in the public domain about their being issues with the takeover then I am not going to fret, I have more than enough to worry about without creating additional ones.

[under the tin]

Can we please stop talking about this ghey rugby shit and concentrate on the subject in hand?

LI pay 1m a year (obvs plus parking and extra revs etc) - not huge at all and if they leave it makes RFC 50% less plastic IMO

We wont know fcuk all until the window - if we strengthen we're ok, if we have a fire sale we know we're fcuked.

Simples

I don't get how having rugby matches there makes rfc "plastic".
Having a 20 odd thousand seat arena, with built-in extra revenue generating facilities, and having it standing empty for 300+ days a year is poor business pragtice.
The stadium only justifies its existence, and pays its way when there are people in it.

The term "fire sale" is a subjective term. Players moving on can have less to do with club ownership, and more to do with team selection. That's why I would not be in the least surprised to see LeFondre, McAnuff and Federici go in January, after angling for a move themselves. I reckon the club will also pay up Roberts' contract.

[Royal Lady]

AZ and his cronies appear to have committed the club to the Academy improvements and the new training ground (assuming they get planning permission) - this isn't AZ et al putting THEIR money into it, it's utilising the money at the club. If AZ had the money, he'd buy up the remaining 49% and have total control and honour his agreement with SJM. Whether he intends to run the club from Russia or not, the fact is that he HASN'T honoured at agreement and has delayed it "for two years" so we are informed.

If he is not forthcoming with any dosh and he doesn't come back to UK and is, effectively, looking for someone to buy HIM out, can you all not see that they have also committed the club to expenditure which will impact on our ability to buy better players, pay higher wages, in the future? I clearly said, that I realise the money from LI is a drop in the ocean, but losing £250k or however much it is, could be crucial in coming years.

It might turn out that AZ honours the deal eventually and pays the remaining 49%, but, as yet, I have seen no input of money from TSI themselves. It's not liked they've pumped in a few million of their own money and allowed Nigel to spend it, is it?? They LOANED the club the money for Roberts. So we're paying that back PLUS his wages and not even getting any use out of him, before someone mentions him.

Just my take on it - can shoot me down all you like - but until something more positive occurs, that's the stance I'll be taking I'm afraid.

[Terminal Boardom]

The blase' attitude of some here towards the additional revenue streams (on top of our tens of millions £ turnover) is what I personally find a bit pathetic.

I got to agree with this. The argument that "we make more money than LI so we don't need to take a % of their match day turnover" is ridiculous. It should be a clubs duty to make money where it can, no matter how small in comparison to their match day income. Every little helps.

If the attitude of some has been blase' , then the attitude of others has been that it is a hugely significant income stream, fair's fair. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if we only see the £250k a year or maybe a little more to cover costs. If they are renting the facilities from the club, then it's not beyond the realms of imagination to believe they would have their own arrangements with the contractors providing support services (as the catering etc is done by outside companies). I know that LI have mumbled on before about being a 'London' team, and wanting to go back there. I always thought 9k was a pretty good crowd for egg chasing, as they only seem to get traditionally large crowds for internationals or finals. It's a bit hard to see what LI want to achieve, if they feel the MS is too big then move somewhere smaller, but that could have serious matchday revenue impications. Not many London clubs (that would be prepared to share!!) have the space we have around the ground that can be used for promotional opportunities such as the Guinness Village 9or beer tent as we tend to call it!!!).

As far as the takeover goes, certainly, someone from the club should have come out and said something by now just to allay fears, but do we ACTUALLY know anything is amiss? No. The second part of the deal has not been completed, but there could be all sorts of reasons for that. To be honest, it seems to me, all the speculation is doing is creating more speculation. I know someone who says this, my source at the club (who I cannot name as he would be taken out and shot) says it is that, it's a whole lot worse than you all think but I can't say anything more at the moment, I've heard at least 5 rumours but I don't know which one to believe but they all relate to the coming of Beelzebub. The simple fact is, either something is going on and no one is talking about it (I can't wholly believe this, as very few people these days keep their traps shut about anything of significance, and sports journos would be all over this like a rash at THE HINT of something), or there is nothing for them to keep their traps shut about. It seems almost a 'damned if you do/damned if you don't scenario'. If there is a problem which you keep quiet about to prevent uncertainty in terms of squad/ financiers/ FA etc then you are accused of misleading people, however, if you come out and say there's a problem you could destabilise the club. I wouldn't like to say 'no news is good news' but until there is some actual proof in the public domain about their being issues with the takeover then I am not going to fret, I have more than enough to worry about without creating additional ones.

Shades of "Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions". I have kept problems quiet at work until either a solution is found or that the shit really is about to hit the fan. Not sure if speculation is the word; more like spaculation.

[maffff]

Beelzebub says chill Winston.

[SPARTA]

The new year will bring lots of positives I'm sure.

[Elm Park Pasty]

Beelzebub says chill Winston.

I am so glad I spelt that right!!!!

[Elm Park Pasty]

Shades of "Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions". I have kept problems quiet at work until either a solution is found or that the shit really is about to hit the fan. Not sure if speculation is the word; more like spaculation.

Definitely not that, been with management who thought that was an everyday management style . I would say I'm a glass half full man, as we don't know there are problems so why panic? We are driving down a road, and there are those on this site that would have you believe there is a life threatening danger round every bend, I just don't seen the point of worrying until I KNOW there is a danger and the scale of it.

[SPARTA]

Anton was always relying on backing from a third party, that backing appears to have gone. I doubt very much that Anton is going anywhere. He's always had the right intentions for the club and hasn't gone and spent ludicrous amounts of money, so you can be sure he is looking for that backing from another party now. The question is will he get it, and I'm sure he will. Anton wont be going anywhere, and if that means we continue to invest in youth and the infrastructure here, then that can only be a good thing.

If AZ had the money, he'd buy up the remaining 49% and have total control and honour his agreement with SJM.

FWIW - SJM's share is 43%. STAR hold X amount of shares as well, and one or two other parties own the rest.

[NewCorkSeth]

Beelzebub says chill Winston.

I am so glad I spelt that right!!!!

This is irony right?

[Extended-Phenotype]

Beelzebub says chill Winston.

I am so glad I spelt that right!!!!

This is irony right?

irony

[NewCorkSeth]

irony

Link?