The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

This is my first post and felt compelled to do so because the situation seems so obvious to me and also the outcome. This is how I see it and is not backed up by any hard facts only reports I have heard.

OK RDFC get expelled from league This gives KC a big problem he cant be left with the ground on his hands so needs to consider options. IL needs a new ground so conversations start. For a while it seems that RDFC will be no more so a tentative deal is struck. IL has to be carefull not to anger the poppies fans too much so doesnt make clear on his intentions. A few times he seems to say he is confident that a deal will be struck but no official anouncement is made.

Then the RDFC appeal gains some strength rumours have it that it just could work and the decision overturned. No one is sure who made the appeal but its at two levels - conference and FA presumably because RDFC not happy that Southport chairman is on the panel.

Now this leaves KC with a dilema
If RDFC win appeal and stay in league then he would of course want us to stay at NP BUT hes also aware that the support we get may just bring us back to where we are now/ I think if this option works then he would offer a groundshare with KTFC take it or leave it basis. IL would be tempted because the two clubs would be guaranteed suvival but he know poppies really wont like that. However his word "if we go to NP we wont change our name" would remain intact.
If RDFC lost the appeal then a phoenix club would start but a season late In this instance IL can have the ground at the agreed terms. Now IL thinks to himself if RDFC cant survive at NP how will we as a lot of poppies are saying they wont come, so he then says "I wont change the name but if not enougth support is there I may have to look at things. The looking at things I think then would be to unite both teams as K*ttering Diamonds. This would then do away with the phoenix club in the hope they come aboard as K*ttering Diamonds. I think KC and IL both love their clubs and want to do the right thing but they know how hostile the fans are to each other. Then today the conference announce they are withholding the new fixtures until the appeal. Why do that now and not imediately afer their decision. I think a ground share in some way as stated above is the only answer for RDFC as we just simply dont have enough support for NP Oh yes and why hasnt Justin found a new club then? I think he has been asked to wait til Tuesday for the outcome and although not a betting man I wouldnt be suprised to see the appeal sucessful. Lets hope so

Sorry, remind me... what colour is the sky on your planet?

What the f***?! Stop clutching at straws for f***'s sake, oh and KC does NOT love us!

Blimey so much aggression to someone that maybe hasnt given up yet

Heres the questions for you to answer then.

Why hasnt IL announced the "done deal"
Why has IL said the name may have to change if not enough support
Why has the league not released the fixtures
Why hasnt JE announced a new club
Why has KTFC asked to use both grounds for a while
Why would anyone pay a substantial amount of money for an appeal if their lawyers havent said theres a good chance of wining.

Er its waiting for Tuesdays result and it may not even come then. The league have said that the fixtures would be released no sooner than 10am on Wednesday

Add to this the Stortforn complaint and you never know.

Dont forget the FA are independant to the Conference. If there is a backer with money then a team can be put together very quickly indeed

Im not saying it will be sucessful just that I think theres a good chance.

Well, I'll go on record now and say IF we survive and new money comes in to help rebuild the side, I won't set a foot inside Nene Park to support it unless the creditors are all paid up to a level that satisfys them. Turning up on a Saturday to enjoy football knowing it was on the back of other people's misery isn't my cup of tea I'm afraid.

Crawley did this didn't they, went into administration (or CVA can't be bothered to research which) and their creditors got a few pennies in the £, then money comes in and pow - in the Football League leaving the people they owed money to still out of pocket. Some people's morals may feel that is acceptable, they'll say "thats business", well for me it is moral corruption - I pay my debts in life, so should any business.

If we can't/don't pay the money we owe then we don't deserve to ply our trade - simple. Ladick and KC can plot all they like, but this Diamond won't accept a merger of any type, if thats what they've got planned for the longer term them I'm out ! I'd rather watch a side in the "dog and duck" league than that !

I still think that this appeal is a charade, the FA and the Conference will come to an agreement behind closed doors and we'll be out someway or another.

The whole "R&DFC thing" has been tainted for me by the actions of certain people and unless they face up to their responsibilities and see the creditors are paid up then we may as well pack up now ! Just because something is legal (i.e. not paying your creditors in full) doesn't make it morally right. Any new investor/owner MUST (to get this Diamond back through the turnstile) clear its debts. In the unlikely event of us getting a decision at the appeal, how many of you are confident that the creditors will get what they deserve? Not many I'd guess.

If the appeal is successful then I would expect the club to be taken over by new owners, probably the Japanese consortium, almost immediately. Why else would KC bother with the appeal? He certaintly wouldn't do it for the Beasants benefit and has repeatedly stated that he has no interest in returning as owner himself, so there must still be others in the background.

If we do find ourselves under new ownership, all existing debts will be remain with the club and thus passed onto the new owners. They would then be faced with the winding up order next Monday and would have to pay off the creditors (or at least negotiate terms which the creditors all agreed to), otherwise the club would fold and the new owners would presumably be personally liable for outstanding debts. The reason Creepy managed to get away with only paying x pence in the pound was because they entered administration. I don't think we would be allowed to go into admin with a winding up order just around the corner, so it literally would be pay off everything or go bust.

Don't quote me on this, but I think the only question is whether or not the appeal will be successful. If it's not, we die; if it is, I'm confident that we will be starting next season debt free (or at least with agreements in place to pay off the creditors which THEY have agreed to).

If the conference do reverse the decision they will need to find a way out of the mess that this has created. I think the Southern league were suggesting having an extra club for year, maybe the conference could do the same.

Irrelevant now eh? Appeal withdrawn !