Winding Up Order

[rushdenman]

We did consider seizing SB's car to offer to the creditors when he arrived yesterday but on reflection decided it was probably leased anyway ;)

I'm afraid that I see no way forward from our situation without very considerable external investment in the next few weeks, and I'm talking way into 6, or even 7, figures.
Sadly I can't see that happening.

SB has spoken privately to several supporters and given assurances that it will be o.k., and we will be in the BSB Prem. next season but I have yet to see 1 iota of evidence to support that.

Talk is very cheap. I could equally say that Histon will win the FA cup next season and man will land on Venus next week, but it ain't going to happen.

[Welsh]

I'm afraid that I see no way forward from our situation without very considerable external investment in the next few weeks, and I'm talking way into 6, or even 7, figures.
Sadly I can't see that happening.

SB has spoken privately to several supporters and given assurances that it will be o.k., and we will be in the BSB Prem. next season but I have yet to see 1 iota of evidence to support that.

I share your outlook, Martin. Sad isn't it?

I'm sure Steve and Liam will continue to talk up survival but from the outside the problems just seem insurmountable. Let's not forget, Nene Park and Rushden & Diamonds do appear to be integral to the business model of PBDevs. I don't doubt the Beasants are working tirelessly to save the club and, by association, their own business. I guess they are trying to keep whatever confidence they can in the business and fire-fight until PBDevs gets it's funding (if it ever happens in the requisite quantity.) Unfortunately the damage is done and season ticket sales could only mask the position for a very short period. Major investment is needed and there are 6 weeks to do it - the duration to the hearing of the Winding Up petition.

[StaceyH]

I totally agree RM and Welsh. PBDevs have financial issues already, before it is even up and running. It has concerned me right from the FF led by Gary Calder that the Club is totally dependant on the running of PBDevs.

Today's NLP doesn't actually say anything that we don't already know but the Southport manager is on the front page saying how he feels they're lucky to have finished top of the bottom 4 as they may get lucky if other (unnamed) clubs do go "pop". In an editorial article about us though, it finishes by saying that they hope our current problems can be reslolved and that "Non-League can hardly do without this famous name".

[rushdenman]

I share your outlook, Martin. Sad isn't it?

Yes, it's very sad Andy. It's such a shame that the Trust couldn't make it work in 2005/06, but as you and I both know from the due diligance exercise, it needed a critical mass of support that has never materialised (nor was ever likely to I'm afraid).

I feel extremely sorry for Max. It may have been folly on his part to invest so much into the project but he had a vision, one that many of us were happy to buy into and share, and it must be awful for him to look on and see what is happening now.

If the seemingly inevitable scenario does materialise at least we will have had 19 years of excitement and achievement to reflect upon - some great memories, and a few less great, but overall Rushden & Diamonds has packed a vast amount into it's short life.

I really think we are in "last chance saloon" - let's just hope that somebody, somewhere has a life support machine to save the club at the eleventh hour.

[Three of Diamonds]

Martin can I ask you if you know , did the Trust ever consider a CVA or Administration as an option whilst in charge of the club ?

[Olly]

Yeah, nothing particularly new in the NLP, just how we owe Cloverdale £50,000, HMRC £80,000 and Gill £110,000, how Queensway refused to deliver the Kiddy programmes and a quick thing from Steve Beasant saying how at the meeting on Wednesday something informal needs to be agreed and if not they'll have to make a decision on where it goes from there, they wouldn't put the club into administration, rather look for a CVA based on a 100% payout over time and an agreement with the creditors that will allow the club to stay in the BSBP.

I don't fully understand all of this, but I'm guessing if the meeting doesn't go to plan, then we're f*cked :?

And the editor's bit sums it up well, its horrible to compare the situation we were in 10 years ago compared to the situation we're in now.

[rushdenman]

Martin can I ask you if you know , did the Trust ever consider a CVA or Administration as an option whilst in charge of the club ?

I was no longer involved during the 12 months leading up to the KC take over so I don't know about that.
In the earlier months of the Trust ownership the finances were reletively healthy due to the £600k. donanted by Max plus the reasonably good attendances at that stage.