Quakers latest: Plans drawn up for community ownership (From The Northern Echo)
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Quakers latest: Plans drawn up for community ownership
6:07pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Darlington FC News
Shaun Campbell and Doug Embleton of Darlington Rescue Group made the announcement at 6pm at Blackwell Grange Hotel in Darlington
PLANS has been unveiled tonight for a community takeover of Darlington Football Club.
In an announcement made at 6pm at the town's Blackwell Grange Hotel, members of the football club rescue group said a strategy was being developed to create a community-based club.
The administrator, Harvey Madden, has reportedly told the group that they will be given time the raise the necessary funds.
Rescue group member Doug Embleton said: "I am very pleased to report that a strategy is now being developed to create a community based football club that we are sure will have the support of fans and the community and local stakeholders."
He said it would mean that no one individual would have control of the club.
Fellow rescue group member Shaun Campbell said it was "good news" and that fans could sleep easy in their beds tonight.
Mr Embleton added: "I would like to thank Raj Singh for his support in this particular proposal."
Earlier, venture capitalist Paul Wildes pulled out of negotiations with former chairman Mr Singh.
Read the full story in tomorrow's The Northern Echo
Comments(15)
rudge1
says...
6:33pm Wed 1 Feb 12
gramps427
says...
6:46pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Brick Tannon
says...
6:48pm Wed 1 Feb 12
I dont want to put a downer on today, but the above quote is bad news.
Got to agree with rudge1 also. The administrators can taste another 1 or 2 games at home with big support, get the cash then pull the dreaded plug. Hope I'm wrong about both scenarios...
MST75
says...
6:57pm Wed 1 Feb 12
So said group takes over with say £100,000 raised.... What is then to stop them approaching (for arguments sake lets call them a venture capitalist ) and sell a 40-60% stake in the club for hmmmm around £300-£400k
Result club has a more realistic future and Singh has been shafted!!!
Any takers??
geoffcn
says...
7:41pm Wed 1 Feb 12
darlo86
says...
8:12pm Wed 1 Feb 12
randy mcflabb
says...
8:14pm Wed 1 Feb 12
overseas
says...
9:47pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Now is the time to pull together as a club,which it seems the majority are doing.
I am certain that those who are trying to save the club are taking advice on the true running costs and fixed overheads.The administrator will have these to hand and I am sure will be sharing the information with interested parties.
Please lets stay positive.
tabby67
says...
1:22am Thu 2 Feb 12
Jarkko
says...
7:23am Thu 2 Feb 12
Does this mean something similar as Wimbledon supporters have done since the original Wimbledon was moved to become MK Dons? Could the Darlo fans get ideas and support from them and use their know how in the beginning?
All the best for the Quakers!
Hunty1
says...
9:03am Thu 2 Feb 12
As for the club, it's as well as dead, It's a tough economy we are in and about time people put money into planning a better future for themselves ans not a "White Elephant" There will only be one winner in all of this, although the people involved who are clearly doing it for the publicity do appear genuine you have to ask your self , why, what do they want as an end result?
Let them build houses!
Everyone one knows that Darlington Council has plenty of wheelers and dealers and he who pays cash in hand gets what he wants... you only have to look at some of the contracts the council give to certain companies!!
cromwell1599
says...
10:00am Thu 2 Feb 12
Of course the lovely Mr Madden is going to give you more time, I expect his fees are somewhere between £250 and £400 an hour, has he said he will waive any of his fees for the good of the club ? I very much doubt it. There are just too many complications for this idea to be viable, if in the unlikely event that half a million pounds is raised, how long will that last ? You can't depend on volunteers and people's goodwill forever, it won't be long before everyone is sick and tired of being asked to dig into their pockets for what is ultimately a lost cause. There are far more worthy things to donate to to than a football club with only weeks left. Even if you were to lurch through to the end of the season, the very real prospect of relegation would seal the club's fate anyway.
DarloJon
says...
7:45am Fri 3 Feb 12
cromwell1599 wrote:Entirely agree with comments about the Administrators who are just bleeding the last drops of cash from the carcass. Need to stop this now, start afresh as a phoenix club and use the cash from the rescue fund for the good of the club, the magnificent Mr Liddle and the lads who did so well against York City. Let us fans face the facts, give two fingers to Scott Singh Sizer Houghton Reynolds et al who have used the club to further their own gains. The council could do no better than place a compulsory purchase order on the stadium and buy it for £1, then sell it back to the new membership/shared club.
I've always thought of the gruesome twosome as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, but Zippy and Bungle is fairly apt too. It's also apt of the Echo to show a rainbow over the White Elephant, apart from the Zippy and Bungle reference it always chucks it down beneath a rainbow. Of course the lovely Mr Madden is going to give you more time, I expect his fees are somewhere between £250 and £400 an hour, has he said he will waive any of his fees for the good of the club ? I very much doubt it. There are just too many complications for this idea to be viable, if in the unlikely event that half a million pounds is raised, how long will that last ? You can't depend on volunteers and people's goodwill forever, it won't be long before everyone is sick and tired of being asked to dig into their pockets for what is ultimately a lost cause. There are far more worthy things to donate to to than a football club with only weeks left. Even if you were to lurch through to the end of the season, the very real prospect of relegation would seal the club's fate anyway.
ted forster
says...
12:18pm Fri 3 Feb 12
If you have no interest just shut up, Go away and let them fail.
Personally I wish them all the good luck in the world.
click2find
swissball says...
6:31pm Wed 1 Feb 12