I offered to take Silpa shares after Bruce had passed and she would have had the opportunity to the back ALL the money Bruce had invested into the club (A couple of hundred thousand from memory less than the Carter’s had invested).
Silpa refused. Later on I made Silpa another offer because I was concerned financially the club would be a burden and against the advice of the club and the Carter’s she rejected the second offer and decided to stay in and accept cash calls as the football clubs lose money.
Silpa believed the club could be sold for millions if we reached the championship and felt by selling her shares to me at that point she would lose out on the chance to make money. Which is fair enough. That was a business decision she took.
Later on the football club was put up for sale (While in League One) and at that point I wanted to move my shares on and Silpa wasn’t able to continue with the cash calls so passed her shares back to me after there was no buyers.
It was I who was then burdened with the extra monies needed that was supposed to come from Silpa side.
This isn’t the first time you have said these sort of things and You should check the facts with me first before you spout off this type of nonsense.
Whilst many supporters enjoyed the ride (well the one upwards, not the journey back to the real world) I always think an inside history of Crawley Town over the last 30 years would make fascinating reading.
For example when you say you "wanted to move your shares on" and Silpa "passed her shares back to me" - I wasn't aware from the company records that you ever owned any shares in Crawley Town Football & Social Club Limited? Or perhaps you are just confirming what many of us thought at the time.....that Pottinger was just making a complete fool of himself when he stood up at a fans forum and stated unambiguously that it was "my money, my shares". So good old Dave was Crawley through and through? Really?? At least Matt Turner did actually come from Crawley.
As a supporter since 1988 I can say that one sad thing about CTFC is that over the years real transparency has never quite been there. The Majeeds, Prospect Estates Holdings, your era and now the current owners. Wouldn't it all have been much easier for you to stand up on day 1 and make yourself known to the supporters of the club? Rather than leave us to find out your identity from Drummond's blog, and eventually for to Pottinger to read out a letter at the same forum in the last days of your tenure?
All a great shame I think, because despite everything that was achieved in that era it always seemed there was something a little odd behind the scenes.
Which brings us to the present day....despite the new owners increasing the playing budget by 83% on your final season, and receiving ÂŁ3.25m of donations from the owner, and having a top 10 budget, we are actually 2 places lower in the league than when you left and we haven't won a FAC/FLC game for almost 5 years. Yesterday was the owner's first game in ages (although he didn't have time to meet the CTSA as promised ) and the CTSA has again had to ask the consultant who appears to be running the club to take the O&D test (curiously the result hasn't appeared despite the test being taken 3 months ago yesterday). It doesn't seem very transparent to me, but how do you think they are doing?
I offered to take Silpa shares after Bruce had passed and she would have had the opportunity to the back ALL the money Bruce had invested into the club (A couple of hundred thousand from memory less than the Carter’s had invested).
Silpa refused. Later on I made Silpa another offer because I was concerned financially the club would be a burden and against the advice of the club and the Carter’s she rejected the second offer and decided to stay in and accept cash calls as the football clubs lose money.
Silpa believed the club could be sold for millions if we reached the championship and felt by selling her shares to me at that point she would lose out on the chance to make money. Which is fair enough. That was a business decision she took.
Later on the football club was put up for sale (While in League One) and at that point I wanted to move my shares on and Silpa wasn’t able to continue with the cash calls so passed her shares back to me after there was no buyers.
It was I who was then burdened with the extra monies needed that was supposed to come from Silpa side.
This isn’t the first time you have said these sort of things and You should check the facts with me first before you spout off this type of nonsense.
Whilst many supporters enjoyed the ride (well the one upwards, not the journey back to the real world) I always think an inside history of Crawley Town over the last 30 years would make fascinating reading.
For example when you say you "wanted to move your shares on" and Silpa "passed her shares back to me" - I wasn't aware from the company records that you ever owned any shares in Crawley Town Football & Social Club Limited? Or perhaps you are just confirming what many of us thought at the time.....that Pottinger was just making a complete fool of himself when he stood up at a fans forum and stated unambiguously that it was "my money, my shares". So good old Dave was Crawley through and through? Really?? At least Matt Turner did actually come from Crawley.
As a supporter since 1988 I can say that one sad thing about CTFC is that over the years real transparency has never quite been there. The Majeeds, Prospect Estates Holdings, your era and now the current owners. Wouldn't it all have been much easier for you to stand up on day 1 and make yourself known to the supporters of the club? Rather than leave us to find out your identity from Drummond's blog, and eventually for to Pottinger to read out a letter at the same forum in the last days of your tenure?
All a great shame I think, because despite everything that was achieved in that era it always seemed there was something a little odd behind the scenes.
Which brings us to the present day....despite the new owners increasing the playing budget by 83% on your final season, and receiving ÂŁ3.25m of donations from the owner, and having a top 10 budget, we are actually 2 places lower in the league than when you left and we haven't won a FAC/FLC game for almost 5 years. Yesterday was the owner's first game in ages (although he didn't have time to meet the CTSA as promised ) and the CTSA has again had to ask the consultant who appears to be running the club to take the O&D test (curiously the result hasn't appeared despite the test being taken 3 months ago yesterday). It doesn't seem very transparent to me, but how do you think they are doing?
Funny old game, really.
[br
Simon, Thanks for the good questions you put a lot of thought into them and I appreciate you being direct.
I prefer Twitter to communicate and I’m happy to answer all your questions on that platform.
Post by Red, Red & Red on Feb 24, 2019 11:47:07 GMT
HKP Isnt Simon's point about transparency upheld by taking the dialogue 'off air' (twitting).
Can anyone though answer why its so important we know who what where when why a brown, pink, orange or sky blue envelope provided a million and whether mr invisble, mr tall, mr small, mr happy or mr mischief emptied the piggy bank? Or am I still nursing a hangover?
As a fan for 40 years I echo what eltel said, it's a shame we didn't know who you were so we couldn't thank you personally (or give a bit of advice and ideas). It's such a shame your investment didn't lead to bigger or better things, I don't think that was down to you but more so to the MD's in charge who didn't really listen, I know that as a fact as I gave them plenty of ideas on how to build up the fan base and I offered both time and money to help achieve this but I had no come back.. I still think this club has plenty of potential if it's done right, but unfortunately things have been on the downward slope for the past 4 seasons(to stiil get 2000 home fans putting up with what we have to at the moment is pretty amazing in my opinion).. Hopefully we will see you at a game sometime and we the silent majority can thank you..
Thanks Paul ...from me...RedsVortigen on twitter Always speak a lot on sense it seems to me.....I too am unsure of small Scottish terriers and much prefer Old English Sheepdogs
...I don't think that was down to you but more so to the MD's in charge who didn't really listen, I know that as a fact as I gave them plenty of ideas on how to build up the fan base and I offered both time and money to help achieve this but I had no come back...
So true, they were risk-averse to an extreme degree, bordering on inhibition & did not seem to trust outside initiatives or ideas.
Crawley Town are playing league football, for the vast stretch of its history that would have seemed an impossible and ludicrous dream.
This is not a return to earth but a golden era for the club. If you are not enjoying it, then you may need to reset your perspective. Plenty of bigger clubs historically are in the Conference or lower. Such are the ups and downs of football we may be back there one day ourselves - so appreciate our current adventure!
Thanks to Paul and everyone else who invested in the club over the past decade who made that impossible dream come true, we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude
A genuinely wonderful man with the best intentions of the club at heart who was badly let down by the people who carried out the due diligence on his behalf with regard to overseas investment.
That same overseas investment (aided and abetted by the Carters and Pottinger) that royally shafted his widow in to handing over her shares in the club.
Matt not for the first time you and others like to brandish these ridiculous claims and throw around false statements.
We shafted Silpa ?
I offered to take Silpa shares after Bruce had passed and she would have had the opportunity to the back ALL the money Bruce had invested into the club (A couple of hundred thousand from memory less than the Carter’s had invested).
Silpa refused. Later on I made Silpa another offer because I was concerned financially the club would be a burden and against the advice of the club and the Carter’s she rejected the second offer and decided to stay in and accept cash calls as the football clubs lose money.
Silpa believed the club could be sold for millions if we reached the championship and felt by selling her shares to me at that point she would lose out on the chance to make money. Which is fair enough. That was a business decision she took.
Later on the football club was put up for sale (While in League One) and at that point I wanted to move my shares on and Silpa wasn’t able to continue with the cash calls so passed her shares back to me after there was no buyers.
It was I who was then burdened with the extra monies needed that was supposed to come from Silpa side.
This isn’t the first time you have said these sort of things and You should check the facts with me first before you spout off this type of nonsense.
As for your claims about people doing letting Bruce down on the due diligence. He used one of the largest accounting firms in the World and our organization passed with flying colors.
Micky also voluntarily took the Fit and proper persons test while we was in the conference and the FA knew I was one of the Backers because Bruce told them and didn’t require an additional check because I wasn’t a director of the beneficiary company.
I later took a fit and proper persons test which I passed. NOT at the request of the Football powers that be (which I spoke to more than once) but at the Request of the CTSA.
I personally spoke to the You about all this as we spoke on the phone about it in length.
I’m not gonna get into a tennis match with you over this because We both have got better things to do.
The one common ground we all have is we love the club so let’s focus on that eh.
Ok, whilst keen not to get into a long tennis match, I would just point out that your version of events regarding Silpa's shares varies wildly from her version. With due respect to you, I have sat down and looked Silpa in the eye whilst having these conversations, but although we have spoken on the phone a number of times, I've never had that opportunity with you.
There is just one point I would love to have clarity on though: You talk about being the director of the beneficiary company. Would you be kind enough to provide the name of the company and the jurisdiction in which you were formally registered as a director please? I only ask because if it's the Eclipse Group you're referring to (where money was transferred to the club from, you were never listed as a director there).
Taking this thread back to original track of Steve Evans. With out doubt he was not everyone’s cup of tea you only have to read ex players books or social media comments “chubby checker” YouTube videos etc. I disagree that he did noting without cash he gradually improved the team season after season before Bruce pulled together investment. Style of football was generally good to watch. I will say something for his and Raynor character they traveled a very long way to pay their respects to my Uncle Dave Hainning funeral in a period they were no longer employed by the club or welcome to atttend the wake at the Reds. During the Evans era Dave was no longer involved in day to day activities at the club in the way he had been for 30plus years prior. So the gesture to take the time out to attend the service did show a level of class that I will not forget.
Taking this thread back to original track of Steve Evans. With out doubt he was not everyone’s cup of tea you only have to read ex players books or social media comments “chubby checker” YouTube videos etc. I disagree that he did noting without cash he gradually improved the team season after season before Bruce pulled together investment. Style of football was generally good to watch. I will say something for his and Raynor character they traveled a very long way to pay their respects to my Uncle Dave Hainning funeral in a period they were no longer employed by the club or welcome to atttend the wake at the Reds. During the Evans era Dave was no longer involved in day to day activities at the club in the way he had been for 30plus years prior. So the gesture to take the time out to attend the service did show a level of class that I will not forget.
I agree....I was never a great fan of SE due to the baggage he brought, however I did warm to him and there is no way he would have stood on the touchline and put up with some of the dross that we have seen over the last couple of seasons.
He did indeed steadily improve us with a limited budget. In any case as this season has shown, it is not just having a budget that matters. You still have to get the results.
I will say something for his and Raynor character they traveled a very long way to pay their respects to my Uncle Dave Hainning funeral in a period they were no longer employed by the club or welcome to atttend the wake at the Reds. During the Evans era Dave was no longer involved in day to day activities at the club in the way he had been for 30plus years prior. So the gesture to take the time out to attend the service did show a level of class that I will not forget.
That's very interesting to note and I applaud them both for doing so. Interestingly SE was the only manager missing from the funeral of Ernie Cooksey including some who had travelled an equally long way (and some had come back from their hols to pay their respects