I don’t want to start a massive argument just honest discussion. Something just doesn’t sit right with me following the news of the ESL. It has made me really think about the club I love. Have we sold our soul to the globalisation of football with this takeover?

I wish we were still owned by Garlick and Co, I don’t think for one second they would ever consider entering a competition like that. However with the new owners I think they would join if they were invited.

I was very disappointed the club hasn’t come out with a statement today.

Said at the time. Many were forgetting what the old guard did for us.

That said we definitely needed change and to look at the bigger picture and wider opportunities.

Time will tell. I still believe we will see some positive changes. Just hope we stay up to see if actions are backed up with words.

Even if they send us bankrupt I wouldnt change a thing after all the "exciting times" they have given us

Devils_Advocate wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:30 pm

Even if they send us bankrupt I wouldnt change a thing after all the "exciting times" they have given us

Very funny

"Does anyone regret the ALK takeover?" - probably Alan Pace and Co

It’s a bit early to make a judgement yet, after all they’ve been at the helm for less than 4 months, but the publicity surrounding the European super league, especially the involvement of other American owners doesn’t do Alan Pace and Co any favours.

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:28 pm

Said at the time. Many were forgetting what the old guard did for us.

That said we definitely needed change and to look at the bigger picture and wider opportunities.

Time will tell. I still believe we will see some positive changes. Just hope we stay up to see if actions are backed up with words.

Do you know what the old guard did for themselves?

Never wanted any external investment (by which I mean investment from anyone without strong ties with the club or community). ALK have made the right noises and will give them a chance but the way they financed the deal doesn't sit too well and I believe we'll be a rare exception to the general rule if we end up being better off for such a takeover (I'm not just talking about league positions either).

In my opinion we are part of the problem. Letting foreign owners come into our locally ran club is how these issues started.

joey13 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:36 pm

Do you know what the old guard did for themselves?

Yep. Rewarded themselves handsomely. And rightly so. Given the success they brought to us. On and off the field.

Along with the risk and financial input they put in of their own.

joey13 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:36 pm

Do you know what the old guard did for themselves?

Sold their shares?

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:37 pm

In my opinion we are part of the problem. Letting foreign owners come into our locally ran club is how these issues started.

‘Letting them come into our local club’? They were sold the club quite happily by our local owners.

I'll reserve judgement for now, but you do wonder how much they understand the history and make up of our club.

As long as we stay up then we'll see just how committed they are to making BFC a competitive PL outfit, because there's no doubt we need an injection of fresh talent on the playing side.

I wouldn't unduly fret over us getting an invite to this new ESL malarkey, we're not even in the likely 2nd tier contenders. if it should ever expand that far.

I hold the same view on the takeover I held in the build up to it and when it was a announced, nothing that has happened since has changed that view and I suspect nothing ever will

Alan is still a fan of Burnley Football Club.He watches past games on his betamax and DVD player.

Seriously though, I wonder if they had any idea this was imminent when they bought the club. That is one question I would like answered. I was against the take over, out of an over abundance of pessimism. But was willing to see what happens over the next few years. But this! This sh*t from the big 6 could really pull the rug out from a lot of clubs,not just Burnley. It threatens the entire pig trough of the premier league.
It would be nice to hear thoughts on this from our new owners sometime soon. It is certainly going to have a negative impact on his search for new investment and club sponsors.

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:42 pm

I hold the same view on the takeover I held in the build up to it and when it was a announced, nothing that has happened since has changed that view and I suspect nothing ever will

I believe Blackburn claret was banned for airing the said same views.

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:39 pm

Sold their shares?

Their shares , ok then

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:40 pm

‘Letting them come into our local club’? They were sold the club quite happily by our local owners.

The point I am making is we have accepted them with open arms. In hindsight I think this will be probably be a mistake long term.

Can’t blame the previous owners they have just accepted a good offer after seasons of online abuse.

We’ll find out in Summer.
Do we keep SD?
Is he given money to spend?
I am still not happy being taken over by an investment company but will give them the benefit of the doubt until proved correct.

I think we will need a very strong wind in our favour and while it’s far too early to be talking about regret I have to be honest and say the way the Americans gained control of our club left me with a bit of a sick feeling in my stomach . Don’t know whether it’s my life experiences or just good old instinct but it just doesn’t feel right.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:43 pm

The point I am making is we have accepted them with open arms. In hindsight I think this will be probably be a mistake long term.

Can’t blame the previous owners they have just accepted a good offer after seasons of online abuse.

Yes I’m sure they sold the club they support to the first people who came along due to seasons of ‘online abuse’!

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:38 pm

Yep. Rewarded themselves handsomely. And rightly so. Given the success they brought to us. On and off the field.

Along with the risk and financial input they put in of their own.

You think it’s ok to put the club into massive debt , brilliant, then again you think women will be playing in the same league sometime soon

joey13 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:43 pm

Their shares , ok then

Well, they weren't your shares, were they?

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:43 pm

The point I am making is we have accepted them with open arms. In hindsight I think this will be probably be a mistake long term.

Can’t blame the previous owners they have just accepted a good offer after seasons of online abuse.

I think you are being naive and are a long way of the reality of the situation

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:47 pm

Well, they weren't your shares, were they?

I don't regret it as I wasn't really an advocate. The gripe that I think many had with the old board (myself included to some mark) was the lack of investment in the playing side. In hindsight when the figures came out this time there was probably more than people had guessed. There was the talk of 40-50m at bank which people didn't want to use as it was "a rainy day fund". Its then reaveled there was closer to 80m. (How much is left it seems no one knows).
Had we of put 20-30m into the playing side I don't think there would have been too many gripes with the old board and less people asking for some form of investment/takeover.

It's weird because the last lot of figures show just how well Garlick was running it, to some extent. If only he'd used some of the money to reinvest over the past few seasons he'd have a very different status on here.
An intersting question, if Garlick was still chairman, would we have invested this summer or continued to put money into the bank? That answers the question of if new owners were needed or not and for me Garlicks lack of spending has taken us closer than I've liked to the drop this time round and without investment again would say we'd be nailed on next year.

The double edge of the sword is that the new owners might not have any money having already used ours to buy itself (apparently).

We will know after summer if it's been worth it or not.

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:45 pm

I think we will need a very strong wind in our favour and while it’s far too early to be talking about regret I have to be honest and say the way the Americans gained control of our club left me with a bit of a sick feeling in my stomach . Don’t know whether it’s my life experiences or just good old instinct but it just doesn’t feel right.

If I am honest Elizabeth, that is the exact same feeling I got. They are coming across as scam artists. Buy the club with next to no money involved, all the risk is taken on board by the club. When they earn there money they will leave and it will be the fans that have to pick it up.

Let’s hope we are wrong but this ESL news has made me feel genuinely ill about our situation.

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:42 pm

I hold the same view on the takeover I held in the build up to it and when it was a announced, nothing that has happened since has changed that view and I suspect nothing ever will

And what is that view?

The concern about BFC being in massive debt did not seem to be present prior to the takeover and the anti Garlic campaign. With Garlic in charge, we were not going to move forwards fast enough. With new owners, we are saddled with huge debt, but we will move forwards much faster,apparently.
Pick your poison.

Garlick knew he had taken us to the end of the road, he couldn't take us any further as chairman, which is fair enough.
We'll have to see on what ALK & Pace bring. His success in The US was financially or sporting with the 'soccer team' they turned around?

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:43 pm

The point I am making is we have accepted them with open arms. In hindsight I think this will be probably be a mistake long term.

Can’t blame the previous owners they have just accepted a good offer after seasons of online abuse.

some may have (possibly a majority)
some have taken a wait and see approach
others have said they are against it, don't want it, but have to hope it is successful for the sake of the town and fans( this is actually a very small group)

grapidianclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:52 pm

The concern about BFC being in massive debt did not seem to be present prior to the takeover and the anti Garlic campaign. With Garlic in charge, we were not going to move forwards fast enough. With new owners, we are saddled with huge debt, but we will move forwards much faster,apparently.
Pick your poison.

and still people refuse to get his name right

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:50 pm

And what is that view?

There are plenty of people on here who will be happy to tell you, but it was pretty obvious from what I have posted all the way through

I won’t say regret at this stage - they deserve a chance.

That being said, I’m not expecting much and what I am expecting, I don’t think I will like.

Their take on all of this will be interesting, if we ever hear anything. I’d hope to hear from them tomorrow over and above a joint statement from the 14.

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:55 pm

and still people refuse to get his name right

My humble apologies. My misspelling his name is the worst thing I have ever said about him,however.

We have no option but to wait and see

joey13 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:47 pm

You think it’s ok to put the club into massive debt , brilliant, then again you think women will be playing in the same league sometime soon

Debt isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

But ultimately they had taken the club as far as they felt possible. Things weren’t healthy behind the scenes. Progress was needed on and off the field.

There’s nothing like a knee jerk reaction. How can anyone say right now whether it’s the right thing or wrong thing.

There’s a lot of factors that will come into play for it to be either. And that’s not just on field performances and it also includes luck and timing as well as strategy, transfer policy.

What was the alternative? Give the club away?

grapidianclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:52 pm

The concern about BFC being in massive debt did not seem to be present prior to the takeover and the anti Garlic campaign. With Garlic in charge, we were not going to move forwards fast enough. With new owners, we are saddled with huge debt, but we will move forwards much faster,apparently.
Pick your poison.

In a nutshell.

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:59 pm

Debt isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

But ultimately they had taken the club as far as they felt possible. Things weren’t healthy behind the scenes. Progress was needed on and off the field.

There’s nothing like a knee jerk reaction. How can anyone say right now whether it’s the right thing or wrong thing.

There’s a lot of factors that will come into play for it to be either. And that’s not just on field performances and it also includes luck and timing as well as strategy, transfer policy.

What was the alternative? Give the club away?

You have to have some genuine sympathy for the new owners, if they did not see this super league thing coming.
The belief of the big 6, that their presence in the premier league increases the value of the other premier league members, is fairly accurate,sadly. If they do leave , then the premier league will lose quite a lot of value.
Time will tell how much value, the league and its members lose. And how much revenue will be lost due to reduced TV deals.
Interesting times.

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:56 pm

There are plenty of people on here who will be happy to tell you, but it was pretty obvious from what I have posted all the way through

I don’t go on the other thread ( MMT?) because it’s not for the normal fan although I’m sure it’s brilliant for those that understand it. I would guess by other comments you’ve made on other threads that you are not a big fan of this takeover . Or , put another way , have more reservations than excitement

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:04 pm

I don’t go on the other thread ( MMT?) because it’s not for the normal fan although I’m sure it’s brilliant for those that understand it. I would guess by other comments you’ve made on other threads that you are not a big fan of this takeover . Or , put another way , have more reservations than excitement

He holds it in the same regard as 6g internet.

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:04 pm

I don’t go on the other thread ( MMT?) because it’s not for the normal fan although I’m sure it’s brilliant for those that understand it. I would guess by other comments you’ve made on other threads that you are not a big fan of this takeover . Or , put another way , have more reservations than excitement

It was all on the takeover thread

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=49975

During one of the many discussions on the ESL breakaway on SSN today, one of the contributors remarked that American ownership and their way of operating sports franchises is not ideally suited to the running of English/European football clubs.

grapidianclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:03 pm

You have to have some genuine sympathy for the new owners, if they did not see this super league thing coming.
The belief of the big 6, that their presence in the premier league increases the value of the other premier league members, is fairly accurate,sadly. If they do leave , then the premier league will lose quite a lot of value.
Time will tell how much value, the league and its members lose. And how much revenue will be lost due to reduced TV deals.
Interesting times.

if they did not see this coming then they have not done their due diligence and are not the smart people they claim to be

I do not believe either of those scenarios are true

kentonclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:07 pm

During one of the many discussions on the ESL breakaway on SSN today, one of the contributors remarked that American ownership and their way of operating sports franchises is not ideally suited to the running of English/European football clubs.

Can’t say that’s true. Man Utd have won almost 20 major trophies under the glazers. Liverpool won their only premier league as well as champions leagues.

Chester Perry wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:07 pm

It was all on the takeover thread

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=49975

Are you a politician.

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:10 pm

Can’t say that’s true. Man Utd have won almost 20 major trophies under the glazers. Liverpool won their only premier league as well as champions leagues.

You have missed the point really nobody at the moment is discussing huge amounts of money buying success on the pitch but the way in which sports franchises are run in the US as opposed to the UK/Europe.

The point being made was the running of football clubs and leagues like the NFL where there is no promotion or relegation and the founder members have a permanent place in the league.

cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:10 pm

Are you a politician.

more complex than political - I get tired of repeating myself, particularly when I have written in great detail on the subject - and the detail is necessary to fully understand my position

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:47 pm

Well, they weren't your shares, were they?

Ahhh.....but some fans who have shares have no voice and "their" Shares are worthless.

How can you regret something over which you had no control?