Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

All things unofficial about AFC Rushden & Diamonds and general football talk.
Formic
Posts: 4156
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:48 pm
Has Liked: 11 times
Been Liked: 19 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by Formic »

bozzer wrote:No, admin means minus 10 points for next year, although I think as we have no assets it won't stay in admin long!
I think it needs someone to take over with some deep pockets, Clearly the debts incurred are way too much and anyone thinking about taking over wouldn't want them anyway.
It's been a great effort by the real fans, clearly the local community as a whole are not that fussed, what it does show is that a Phoenix club is very much a possibility and probably more manageable!
It's not as simple as that I'm afraid. If we have an "insolvency event" before the AGM on 11th June we will be relegated one division as a minimum (remember the rules changed at the last AGM - I've pasted them in a couple of earlier threads. but have pasted them again below.

The 10 point penatly "get-out" would only apply if we avoid any suspicion of seeking a CVA / Insolvency prior to the 11th June and the Conference Board get an underwritten guarantee from appropriate Directors that we could fulfil our fixtures next season. That would then still leave us with the winding up orders 2 days later .....


14 INSOLVENCY PROVISIONS

14.A SPORTING SANCTIONS
14.1.A If an Insolvency Event shall occur in relation to any Club that Club shall be deducted 10 points. The deduction shall be made forthwith on the happening of the first Insolvency Event.
14.A.2 Where a Club takes or suffers an Insolvency Event:
14.A.2.1 during the Normal Playing Season but prior to 5:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday in March, the point’s deduction shall apply immediately;
14.A.2.2 during the Normal Playing Season but after 5:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday In March then Rule 14.A.3 shall apply; and
14.A.2.3 outside the Normal Playing Season, the point’s deduction shall apply in respect of the following Season such that the Club starts that Season on minus 10 points (including a Club or Clubs Relegated from the Football League, where such Club shall be subject to Regulation 12.3 of the Football League Rules & Regulations).
14.A.3 Where the circumstances set out in Rule 14.A.2.2 apply and at the end of that Playing Season, having regard to the number of Competition points awarded (ignoring any potential deduction):
a. the Club would be relegated in accordance with The Football Conference
Rules & Regulations, the points deduction will apply in the next following
Season; or
b. the Club would not be relegated as aforesaid, the points deduction will apply in that Playing Season and Football Conference Rules & Regulations will then apply (if appropriate) following the imposition of the points deduction.
c. If any club relegated to the Competition from The Football League (in accordance with the regulations of The Football League) whilst it was a member of The Football League, took or suffered any such action as set out in Regulation 12.3.1 of the Regulations of The Football League whilst it was a member of The League and the circumstances set out in Regulations 12.3.2© or 12.3.3(a) apply, then that club, upon being accepted as a member of the Competition shall suffer a deduction of 10 points, such points deduction to apply in respect of the following Playing Season such that the Club starts that Season in the Competition on minus 10 points.
14.A.4 For the purposes of this Rule 14A.
a. where any Insolvency Event is taken or suffered other than on a Business Day (as defined by the Insolvency Rules 1986 as amended from time to time) then for the purposes of determining the timing of any points deduction only the action taken or suffered will be deemed to have been taken or suffered on the immediately preceding Business Day; and
b. if a Company Voluntary Arrangement is approved, then approval of that Company Voluntary Arrangement shall be deemed to have been given at the date of the first meeting of creditors called to consider that Company Voluntary Arrangement, and not the date of any adjourned meeting of the creditors or the meeting of shareholders.
14.A.5 For the avoidance of doubt, where a Club is subject to more than one Insolvency Event (for example Administration followed by a Company Voluntary Arrangement), the Club shall only be deducted one set of 10 points, such deduction to apply with effect from the first Insolvency Event.
14.A.6 The Competition shall serve the Club with written notice of the point’s deduction (the ‘Notice’).
14.A.7 A Club may only appeal against an automatic deduction of points on the ground that the insolvency proceedings arose solely as a result of a Force Majeure event (the ‘Appeal’). For the purposes of this Rule 14, a ‘Force Majeure’ event shall be an event that, having regard to all of the circumstances, is reasonably considered to have been unforeseeable and unavoidable.
14.A.8 Any Appeal must be in writing and be received by the Competition at its registered office no later than 7 days after the Competition serves the Notice. The Appeal must contain a statement setting out the grounds of appeal and provide copies of any documentation upon which the Club intends to rely in support of the Appeal.
14.A.9 The Club must also lodge with the Competition, at the same time as the Appeal, a deposit fee in respect of the costs of the Appeal.
14.A.10 Upon receipt of the Appeal the General Manager shall refer the matter to an SSAP by delivering to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (or such other body as the Board may from time to time determine) five copies of the appeal documents together with a request for the appointment of Arbitrators as set out in 14.9 hereof.
14.A.11 The SSAP shall consist of three Arbitrators, one of whom must be a barrister (or solicitor) of at least 5 years call who will act as Chairman of the SSAP, each to be appointed by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (or such other body as the Board may from time to time determine) as provided above.
14.A.12 The Competition shall, immediately upon receipt of the Appeal, instruct a firm of independent accountants to carry out a review of the Club’s activities for the purposes of preparing an independent report into the circumstances surrounding and leading up to the entering into insolvency proceedings. The Club shall meet the costs of preparation of that report in any event. The report shall be provided to the Club, the SSAP and the Competition. The SSAP shall take into account the contents of that report when determining whether the insolvency proceedings arose solely as a result of a Force Majeure event.
14.A.13 Both the Club and the Competition shall be entitled to make representations to the SSAP. The SSAP shall use all reasonable endeavours to hear any appeal within 21 days of the lodgement of the Appeal.
14.A.14 The SSAP shall have the power to:
14.A.14.1 Confirm the deduction of ten points; or
14.A.14.2 Set aside the deduction of ten points and substitute a deduction of such lower number of points as it shall deem appropriate; or
14.A.14.3 Order that there shall be no sanction at all.
14.A.15 The decision of the SSAP shall be final and binding. Any costs incurred by any party in appeal proceedings brought before the SSAP shall be met by the Club in any event and shall be considered as a sum due to the Company.
14.A.16 Any sanctions imposed pursuant to these provisions shall not be taken into account in respect of any other sanctions, penalties or fines that may be imposed by the Competition in respect of any breaches of its Rules, Regulations or Articles of Association by the Club.

14.B. GENERAL INSOLVENCY
14.B.1 In the event of a Club entering an Insolvency Event between the end of the AGM and start of the AGM immediately following thereafter (‘the next AGM’) then it shall automatically be relegated by one Step at the next AGM, unless one of the following requirements has been met, namely
(i) Prior to the next AGM it has Paid in Full all its creditors (including but not limited to Football Creditors); or
(ii) Prior to the next AGM it has Paid in Full its Football Creditors and entered a CVA to have Paid in Full its other creditors over an agreed period not extending more than three years following the date of the approval of the CVA.
This sanction shall apply in addition to any Club being relegated pursuant to its playing record in the same period namely that in the event of the Club having already been relegated by one Step it shall be relegated two Steps.
This provision is subject to Rule 2.7 in respect of Clubs which have transferred their membership pursuant to an Insolvency Event and in that case where there is any conflict between any provision of Clause 14 and 2.7 then this Clause 14 shall prevail.
14.B.2 The sanctions contained herein shall be in addition to and not in substitution for any other sanctions contained within the Rules and, in particular, the sanctions set out in rule 14.A.
Clubs Relegated from the Football League
14.B.3 In the event of any Club entering the Competition from the Football League whilst subject to any Insolvency Event, then that Club shall be eligible for membership of the Competition and the provisions of Clause 14.B.1 will not apply to it until the date of the second AGM following its entry into the Competition.

Compliance With/Extension of CVA’s
14.B.4 Any Club must inform the Competition in writing within seven(7) days of it becoming aware of it failing to comply with the terms of any CVA entered into by it or making an application to extend the terms of the CVA entered into by it.
In the event of any Club
-failing to comply with the terms of any CVA entered into by it (whether securing Payment in Full of all of its creditors or not); and/or
-making a successful application to extend the period of any CVA for a period extending more than three years following the date of the approval of the CVA; and/or
-failing to inform the Competition of one or both of the above events in writing within seven (7) days as required under this Rule 14.B.4
then the Board shall have the power to impose such sanction as it deems appropriate, including, but without limitation, the expulsion of that Club, the relegation of that Club, the deduction of points and the embargo of player registrations.
Last edited by Formic on Fri May 20, 2011 1:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Formic
Posts: 4156
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:48 pm
Has Liked: 11 times
Been Liked: 19 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by Formic »

arealdiamondgeezer wrote:one thing i have noticed and i could be totally wrong here but with all this press from the ET there hasnt been a interview or comments from max , would like to know how he feels about it all and wondering if he can possible could help us out with a loan and pay it back over 5-10 years?
Don't forget that everything that Max put in place at Nene Park no longer remains the property of the club.
Formic
Posts: 4156
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:48 pm
Has Liked: 11 times
Been Liked: 19 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by Formic »

From the ET - "But former owner Keith Cousins, who chaired a fans forum last week, says the response to the appeal had been disappointing."

I think the response has been far better than might have been expected given the circumstances - the huge debt, the numbers of creditors, the huge costs of using the facilities, the lack of directors who might guarantee fulfilling fixtures, the fact there is only one player left etc etc.

Perhaps the ET would be better off asking him to explain his quote at the initial Press Conference where he told us he was leaving the club in "extremely good hands" .....
Last edited by Formic on Fri May 20, 2011 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Biggles
Posts: 837
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:31 pm
Been Liked: 30 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by Biggles »

That would then still leave us with the winding up orders 2 days later .....

My Understanding is that if the Club apply for Administration and it is granted then we are proteced from the Winding up Order on the 13th June.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds - Member No. 32
Biggles
Posts: 837
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:31 pm
Been Liked: 30 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by Biggles »

Formic wrote:From the ET - "But former owner Keith Cousins, who chaired a fans forum last week, says the response to the appeal had been disappointing."

I think the response has been far better than might have been expected given the circumstances - the huge debt, the numbers of creditors, the huge costs of using the facilities, the lack of directors who might guarantee fulfilling fixtures, the fact there is only one player left etc etc.

Perhaps the ET would be better off asking him to explain his quote at the initial Press Conference where he told us he was leaving the club in "extremely good hands" .....
I agree, i think the fans have done a brilliant job raisng funds, maybe the season ticket sales bit is less than required but given the circumstances mentioned above i can understand.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds - Member No. 32
Formic
Posts: 4156
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:48 pm
Has Liked: 11 times
Been Liked: 19 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by Formic »

Indeed.

As Basil Fawlty might have said "so it's our fault then ?!"
smiggy123
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat May 07, 2011 3:36 pm

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by smiggy123 »

I may be way off here and correct me if i'm wrong but if there are any potential investors/buyers would they wait for the administration route as then the creditors will only get so much in the pound but would the club eventually be debt free and start from scratch albeit 2 divisions below like afc wimbledon did.but then surely the creditors will not get back all their money even if it went bust they wouldn't get much as, the main creditor kc owns the ground and their are no assets to sell so bizarely it would benefit the creditors to support for a cva. if this makes any sense. :roll:
bozzer
Posts: 2141
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:51 pm
Has Liked: 34 times
Been Liked: 51 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by bozzer »

i have to say i'm a bit annoyed at the article.

KC hands over to someone without doing full due diligence and they don"t have the money they say they do, then we accrue 750k of debt in the meantime.

We then get asked by KC to save the club then after 10 days of trying to dave the club we get told the response has been crap, i think we've been shit on a little!

The trust is in no way capable of running the club, as it is purely a fundraising committee which is what Kc wanted it to be when it took over, then they are asked to step in and mend the mess.
AFC R&D Member No. 67
Trek
Posts: 6546
Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:48 am
Location: Cottingham
Has Liked: 11 times
Been Liked: 14 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by Trek »

bozzer wrote:
KC hands over to someone without doing full due diligence and they don"t have the money they say they do, then we accrue 750k of debt in the meantime.
We still have not been advised how accurate this figure is. :shock: Seems to have been another guesstismate by KC. Maybe it suits the Beasants to have mystery surrounding the true extent of the debt and perhaps that is why they entrusted an ex carpet fitter/cab driver to do the accounts. :evil:
BartonRaz
Posts: 5825
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:56 pm
Location: Irthlingborough
Has Liked: 5 times
Been Liked: 178 times

Re: Final Appeal for Fans to support Diamonds - ET article

Post by BartonRaz »

bozzer wrote: KC hands over to someone without doing full due diligence and they don"t have the money they say they do, then we accrue 750k of debt in the meantime.
KC said himself at the Fans Forum that he may have been misled. Perhaps he should have done more thorough checks, but i think we were all in agreement at the time of the takeover that the business plan sounded like a good one, or perhaps it was just the (false) promises we were all sold on?

I agree with you on moreorless all fronts though.
They say we've lost our money we're not famous anymore.....

AFC Rushden & Diamonds - Member No: 291
Post Reply