mickey
1st team regular
Posts: 135
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Post by mickey on Feb 2, 2023 16:57:27 GMT
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0YeG6VKfdCJQEER7JQvXnCGW6WfiygqJd2XrVELR9G6xGYbMzwdZw7pJRAEFmKM9hl&id=100063618669792Cut and paste… Farnborough Football Club is in a good place. Recent promotions, Hampshire Senior Cup winners and pushing towards a Play-Off challenge in The National League South, all whilst having totally restructured the club’s finances and being debt free. With a 6,500 capacity Stadium worthy of higher League’s, in a great location, now is the time to continue our growth sustainably and not waste what we’ve achieved. This club has been a National League club before and has the infrastructure to get into the Football League in the future. With a new long term lease having just been agreed, discussions with Rushmoor Council are still ongoing regarding a 3G pitch and further development. The opportunity for growth is there but we need more help in the form of new partners/shareholders if we are to move forward and have the best intentions for the club. We are therefore inviting genuine interested parties who would like to be involved as investors, part owners or even in a full takeover, if that’s what’s best for the club moving forward. Contact commercial@farnboroughfc.co.uk to express your interest.
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Post by borobob on Feb 2, 2023 17:59:14 GMT
The most interesting part of that is the new long term lease being established!! That is an excellent move.
As I understand it, there have always been plans/wishes for developments at the Moor Road end, Chairman's mound and compound area, to incorporate new dressing rooms/gyms/flats above etc, and away turnstiles/exits, so maybe this is being considered for incorporation?
The 3G pitch is a contentious idea for many but, in the light of recent weather cancellations, and financial losses, it becomes more appealing to more and more Clubs. The, not inconsiderable, cost of installation and maintenance is maybe another reason for the search for investors/partners to enable that to happen.
A step 4 Club in the West Midlands, close to my heart, has just been granted a development, including 3G pitch and covered terrace, costing just short of £1 million!!
As stated, the Club is currently in probably it's best condition for many a season, and now in need of extra assistance to push it forward.
Some would say, lets stabilise in NLS for a couple of years, but there has to be an intention to grow, so maybe this is it?
Should we be successful in achieving a promotion, ( not inconceivable) the step up to NL would be enormous, in terms of Club structure, professionalism and control, and would be a huge undertaking, that could possibly be outside the scope of relying on volunteer help, as good as our people are!!
Lets hope we find the 'right' people to join in the venture, and we don't end up with a situation like we did when a certain individual wanted to finance and move the Club etc!!
Please be careful for what you wish for!!!
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Post by betweenthesticks on Feb 2, 2023 21:40:48 GMT
Interesting times... I think it would take a Wrexham style Ryan and Rob job to bust us into the National League with any chance of sustaining that position. Can't blame Rob and Spencer for having a punt around for investors / buyers given the recent successes. But, can we please close the back door first and not throw away stupid goals at home on a Tuesday night!!!
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Post by borobob on Feb 2, 2023 22:36:53 GMT
Not so sure a Ryan Reynolds type would be good for the Club at this juncture. He has picked up on a Club steeped in history, with an enormous fan base, albeit dormant for many a year. He has provide the blue touch paper and ignited it with his backing.
That would not happen here I fear.
I also wonder what happens when Wrexham get to Div 2 or above, and meet the Clubs, with 'real' clout and traditions, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland etc!! or will they become another Salford??
We need 'sensible' backers who want to walk not run!!
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Post by antz27 on Feb 2, 2023 22:45:45 GMT
I’m in 2 minds about this, as said we are in a good position and the board are saying debt free but obviously that has a knock on affect of we are living within our means and as such there is only a certain type of player we can attract. A full takeover would be good if the finances can be improved and not put on the club as debt to be repaid we don’t want to be in a bury fc situation. Someone coming in and not taking over but chucking money in worries me hugely as when this has happened at companies I have been at they usually want the investment back plus extra ASAP and this puts a massive strain on things and usually isn’t good.
I’d also be interested to know what it would mean for Spencer? Now we have all had bad things to say in the past, heck I stopped coming for almost 8 years because I got fed up but no matter what he seemed untouchable. I give him his due he seems to of got it right last year and has so far had a good start to this season but under a new owner would he be safe or would he finally come under scrutiny more. Also would he even want to stay if we got fully taken over let’s face it he’s been here a while now and May fancy a new challenge and see it as a way of getting out.
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Post by borobob on Feb 3, 2023 0:06:29 GMT
It really is a catch 22 situation.
Firstly, I can't envisage the possibility of a 'Bury type Situation' here as the ground is owned by Rushmoor Borough Council, and the Club has no tangible assets other than the value of equipment and contracted players which, with all due respect, is hardly a fortune in todays market, plus the price of taking on the new lease!!
People who invest in Clubs at this level also are not likely to be the type to be wanting a return on the money long, or short, term, well I could name one, but he seems to have gone to ground recently, thankfully!
So you are left with the Rich backer, who loves football, and not afraid to lose a few million, who wants total control of the Club, but is liable to disappear at short notice, leaving a financial hole in his/her wake, or a consortium of backers each contributing on a fairly regular basis, as Directors in a Limited Company.
Not an easy choice to make and, if the wrong choice is made, we would be very soon back into the boom and bust scenario of years past, which is not a nice place to be as we all know!!
Secondly, and I haven't checked Companies house for a long time, but I understand, and correct me if I am wrong or things have changed, and if I remember correctly, there are two companies here, Farnborough Football Club Ltd, and Farnborough Football and Social Club Ltd!!
Which would the new 'investors' be committing to?, and assuming that a new share offer is going to become available, would individual or group shares be available to purchase?
The efforts of Rob, Spencer, Garbo, Phil and Kevin, and the volunteers, have worked wonders to get us where we are, and I strongly favour the steady as we go approach, for the next few seasons. Lets make this Club, not just viable, but solid, at the level we are, with whatever investments we can get, without stretching ourselves too far.
If the 'right' deal comes along then fine, but I hope those that make those decisions make them diligently which, knowing those I mentioned previously, will do!
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Admin
Administrator
Posts: 906
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Post by Admin on Feb 3, 2023 1:14:59 GMT
I'm absolutely okay with the Club seeking investment. The big question is, is this being done from a position of weakness or strength?
If it's weakness, then don the hard hats everyone. If it's strength, then there's a whole range of possible outcomes, but they come with a massive "but".
1. Given we've been run as a one/two man company for many years, where's the sweet spot between taking the additional funding and ceding control?
2. Non-League football is notorious for attracting ne'er do wells seeking to launder their cash.*
*I remember a previous, and short-lived, ownership (of Farnborough Town FC) that fell apart as the new owner had been compelled to "enjoy" a spell on remand at the then Queen's (now King's) Hotel in Winchester. A £M "discovery" of cocaine on a yacht off the south coast was the problem. The individual concerned eventually walked free after some pretty serious characters had been sent down following trials at one of the top secure courts in London, with blanket reporting restrictions imposed. He later popped up as a benefactor of a now Championship-level team as well as a senior rugby union club.
3. Non-League is also notorious for attracting property developers masquerading as football fans, but, given Rushmoor Council's (entirely correct) response to previous attempts to separate the football team from the ground on which it plays, this would be a long shot.
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Post by northlondonboro on Feb 3, 2023 10:07:47 GMT
Yes, agree with what's been said on this thread. That "full takeover" mooted at the end of the statement is fairly unlikely in the present climate, but if the right people DID come along and wanted the club, they would be very unlikely to just accept the current management team in perpetuity I would have thought.
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Post by borobob on Feb 3, 2023 11:56:58 GMT
From the other side of the Borough forum:
Re: Farnborough
Post by Rba » Thu Feb 02, 2023 9:34 pm
Who knows maybe Farnborough will move and have developers ( builders ) hot on their heels. Move to a purpose built stadium and rise just like Wrexham.....who knows other local clubs may be in on it.....
" keep em peeled "
Sorry to say it if the local area wants football at a Professional level this is what needs to happen.
Is that a veiled reference to thoughts of a merger?
Makes practical and economic sense from RBC's point of view!, one Club to serve, two areas of land to develop!!, but might kick up a windstorm from the supporters at both ends of town!!
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Post by hawleybootboy on Feb 3, 2023 12:52:26 GMT
Why would the club ever move away from the San Cheerio? The ground is not even owned by the club and the only reason would be if the council sold the ground from underneath it which a long term lease highlights will not be happening. The only pleas for a Rushmoor community stadium these days (and potential merger) are from the slowly dying club down the road that are being deliberately run into the ground so their owners can develop the Wrec into flats. If anything the ground situation leaves us less at the mercy of those unscrupulous potential owners out there who are just property developers looking for an easy asset strip.
After 15 years of turmoil we are on the up and progressing in a sustainable manner. Rob & Spencer have invested in a sensible manner into the club since they have been running it and their efforts are now bearing fruit so you can understand why they would like to see some return on their effort in further outside investment/ partial ownership sale. It also shows their ambition is still to grow the club (hopefully as a community asset) and leave the club in a far better state than they found it, whenever their stewardship ends.
Great to be looking to the future, however we really need to be concentrating on the now with looking at consolidating our position in the CS and becoming an established competitor each year for the playoffs before we entertain pushing on - which let’s face it is only possible by extreme financial doping!
If investment/ stake sale etc. does come in, then I would have thought Spencer would be under far greater scrutiny as a manager with there being another voice to answer to - perhaps any change would come with a move into a ‘Director of Football’ position as a consequence where he can keep pulling rabbits out of hats?
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Post by borobob on Feb 3, 2023 13:43:57 GMT
HBB wrote : Great to be looking to the future, however we really need to be concentrating on the now with looking at consolidating our position in the CS and becoming an established competitor each year for the playoffs before we entertain pushing on - which let’s face it is only possible by extreme financial doping!
Absolutely agree sir. We walk before we run!
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mickey
1st team regular
Posts: 135
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Post by mickey on Feb 3, 2023 14:34:38 GMT
any change would come with a move into a ‘Director of Football’ position as a consequence where he can keep pulling rabbits out of hats? Because this would be a demotion for the Emperor of Football! 😅
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Post by borobob on Feb 3, 2023 15:08:44 GMT
That would seem to be an overriding theme throughout Spencer's time here. One man, one show! Incredible progress now though, after some very doubtful beginnings.
It always seemed logical that a move upstairs, whilst bringing in a ground level Team Manager, would be the obvious move, even if expensive, but, as in the situation at Old Trafford and Sir Alex, and the succession of Managers there since he retired proves, turkeys don't vote for Christmas do they? I always thought that any Manager there was always looking over their shoulder, and afraid to move!
Not implying that Spencer is a Turkey, far from it, but just making the point!
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Post by archbishopchunder on Feb 3, 2023 15:22:22 GMT
This kind of scatter gun approach of putting something on social media to see if anyone will invest concerns me a little. A bit crude unless they are also using the proper channels to find new investors (there must be special websites for this I think).
I did say last season that once Spencer is committed to spending at this level then he would be committed to continuing this way unless he stops and we plummet back down the leagues again.
I'd like to see much more action in the way of building our crowds - school of the week, company of the week etc as although crowds have improved non league football is booming and teams at lower levels are getting better crowds.
We had a much trumpeted arrival of a new community director a few months back and then..... nothing. This is one way we could build for the future so it would be nice to know what they are planning.
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mickey
1st team regular
Posts: 135
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Post by mickey on Feb 4, 2023 16:08:37 GMT
I'd like to see much more action in the way of building our crowds - school of the week, company of the week etc as although crowds have improved non league football is booming and teams at lower levels are getting better crowds. We had a much trumpeted arrival of a new community director a few months back and then..... nothing. This is one way we could build for the future so it would be nice to know what they are planning. Oh for another Vince Williams…
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