Smurthwaite Sold Up?

[Timothius]

The problem with the shop is that a lease was owned by the Community Trust for the premises. The property was built with grant aid from Advantage West Midlands and the grant conditions include a clause that the premises can't be used for commercial purposes which the shop obviously is. If the terms of the grant were broken then the grant could be recalled and the trustees would be personally liable to pay it back. From memory the grant was circa £375,000. So, Penny Black, the fact that Synectics would want to run a club shop meant they reduced their offer price as the legal situation hadn't been disclosed to them. It had nothing to do with them owning the stadium.

[pvfcrule]

So who has bought get it then?!!! Synetics? Norwegians? Hedge fund??

[Timothius]

Rumoured to be the Boston hedge fund

[Yukon]

The problem with the shop is that a lease was owned by the Community Trust for the premises. The property was built with grant aid from Advantage West Midlands and the grant conditions include a clause that the premises can't be used for commercial purposes which the shop obviously is. If the terms of the grant were broken then the grant could be recalled and the trustees would be personally liable to pay it back. From memory the grant was circa £375,000. So, Penny Black, the fact that Synectics would want to run a club shop meant they reduced their offer price as the legal situation hadn't been disclosed to them. It had nothing to do with them owning the stadium.

 

Playing devil's advocate, how do you know what the lease said? Also, why would anyone take a grant which limited them to one premises? Surely their interest was transferable to other properties of an equal or greater value.

[JOHNNYAITCH]

All this "I heard a rumour" stuff crops up just as Bananarama are reforming. Coincidence? Whatever happens it's going to be a cruel summer.

[Andyregs]

I have.

 

I have heard people desperate for him to go, I haven't heard anyone say 'anyone but smurf'. I'm happy to be proven wrong. Who said it?

[Regal Beagle]

I have heard people desperate for him to go, I haven't heard anyone say 'anyone but smurf'. I'm happy to be proven wrong. Who said it?

 

The 'no one but syenctics' gang are much bigger.

[Andyregs]

The 'no one but syenctics' gang are much bigger.

 

Again I haven't heard that either. I have heard people say that out of all the options we've heard about they are by far the most obvious choice (even the only sensible choice). But that's a different thing entirely.

It seems some poster are more concerned with other posters not being shown to be right than actually what is going on.

[Fosse69]

The 'no one but syenctics' gang are much bigger.

Bound to be, something is known about them, much preferable to a shot in the dark.

[blackdog]

I have no idea whats going on and I doubt if anyone really does, however what an irony if we get relegated on Sunday and the following day we are sold up the river by the ****** who got us relegated in the first place.

[Timothius]

Playing devil's advocate, how do you know what the lease said? Also, why would anyone take a grant which limited them to one premises? Surely their interest was transferable to other properties of an equal or greater value.

 

Playing Devils advocate or silly buggers?

 

We got copies of all the lease and grant details as part of Black and Golds info gathering and I'm also still in contact with one of the current trustees of the Community Trust. The grant was to build the gym building which is the same building the shop is now in.

[elav trop 1876]

I may be wrong on this or may have been previously mentioned but wouldnt any new owners have to go through and pass an FA fit & proper person test and if so would this make the bid more open knowledge.

 

Also did hear on talk sport a torquay fan discussing a petition that has so far accumalated 5k signatures so far and require more as a group are trying to buy the freehold to the land so they can sell and relocate them but info is sketchy other than the purchase group have done the same historically to other football clubs and sports venues (speedway was mentioned)hopefully any proposed purchaser isnt part of this group interested in vale.

[Jacko51]

I may be wrong on this or may have been previously mentioned but wouldnt any new owners have to go through and pass an FA fit & proper person test and if so would this make the bid more open knowledge.

 

Also did hear on talk sport a torquay fan discussing a petition that has so far accumalated 5k signatures so far and require more as a group are trying to buy the freehold to the land so they can sell and relocate them but info is sketchy other than the purchase group have done the same historically to other football clubs and sports venues (speedway was mentioned)hopefully any proposed purchaser isnt part of this group interested in vale.

 

The group trying to buy Torquay are called Gaming International run by a guy named Clarke Osborne. He kicked Bristol Rovers out of Eastville meaning they had to play in Bth for ages. He's done the same with a couple of Speedway clubs. Nowt to do with Vale though.

[elav trop 1876]

I have heard people desperate for him to go, I haven't heard anyone say 'anyone but smurf'. I'm happy to be proven wrong. Who said it?

 

Definitely has been said more than a few times- anyone but him who could do any worse , you will get the club you deserve if he stays, anyone but smurf.

[elav trop 1876]

to jacko51-Cheers didnt hear full interview but seemed it could be akin to potentially our situation especially as some have said norm was looking to buy torquay