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Reply | Andy Burnham
at 17:34 2 May 2024
Yes, i believe that to be right. I think AB has made a effort to help the club and that should be acknowledged. He might have even been involved prior to the Ogdens being contacted, at the time when the Chairman went public regarding the club running out of money at the end of March. I seem to recall him saying that he wouldn't allow the club to fold on one of the radio stations. |
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Reply | Andy Burnham
at 09:22 2 May 2024
It has been driven by others but it was actually one individual life long fan who sourced SPO himself and made initial contact, everything else flowed from there. That persons initiative needs recognising. The fans have been instrumental from start to finish in ensuring that we have finally secured a investor that is fit for purpose. Had it not been for fan involvement ( it was caring for the club, not meddling) then i shudder to think who would have been involved with the club now. It certainly wouldn't have been Sir Peter Ogden and his family. [Post edited 2 May 9:47]
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Reply | Fan Survey on playing style
at 08:48 28 Apr 2024
Have i just woke up from a very bad dream? Fans should be chomping at the bit now to buy season tickets and kick off the start of a new era for the club. We've recently witnessed the biggest win in the clubs history, the Ogden family's involvement, we couldn't have wished for better owners.
I understand the complaints in respect of the style of play that McNulty employs but that will sort itself out naturally. His fate will be decided by results on the pitch and also whether attendances at games can be improved when it comes to the entertainment being served up, if the product doesn't change then he will come under pressure. Its up to him, he will know how the fans feel and the importance of increasing attendances. The Chairman's fate will sort itself out naturally also. We need a club that is united and the Chairman, Directors, Trust, Supporters all have to work as one, that's what the Ogden family will expect. They are sinking a lot of money into the club and the Chairman sets the tone for everything. If he cant connect with shareholders and fans then everything else falls down. A 'us and them' approach doesn't work at a club of our size and the fans wont put up with it. Lessons need to be learned and attitudes need to change, self analysis is something that some people struggle with because they can never admit that they are wrong...their ego won't allow them to do that. We all need to self analyse, we're all flawed. Things can't carry on as they have, everybody involved needs to realise that, the club needs new people involved with fresh ideas and a proven track record of being fit for purpose. I'm looking forward to seeing some new faces in the boardroom and in key positions at the club.
I hope Sir Peter Ogden and his family take some sort of hands on approach and keep the Supporters Trust very close to them, a direct line of contact would be a sensible thing to do. The fans are the lifeblood of the club and have proved invaluable over the last few months when it's come to sorting out the wheat from the chaf, in respect of finding a suitable investor. That's something that the Chairman should pay tribute to, fan intervention and involvement has proved to be crucial.
In the meantime all of us need to realise that this really is a reset for the club, the start of a new era and to renew our season tickets. The club also need to engage the public of the Town with a promotional campaign for the upcoming sale of season tickets. The club need to do this and not the Trust, spend some money on it and do it professionally. Utilise billboards around the Town, print posters and flood social media. Something like a Phoenix rising from the ashes wearing our new Dale shirt...A new era begins, be part of it! [Post edited 28 Apr 9:11]
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Reply | Investment update
at 09:45 24 Apr 2024
This is the exact type of thing that those working on behalf of Sir Peter Ogden need to address. It's the basics of any business really, straight forward simple stuff and there's no excuse for it. The problem has been flagged up multiple times by shareholders over the last couple of years and the club still can't get it right...it's just a list of shareholders and their contact details thats all, but there isn't the structure in place to even get that right. Its a 'not bothered' attitude. Is it any wonder the clubs has regressed so much and lost its league status? The currant Chairman and secretary can cite cash flow problems and hostile takeovers all they want but not keeping a up to date list of shareholders is a typical snap shot of the way the clubs been run. It's very basic stuff. The Ogden family are investing a lot of money into the club and they deserve a lot better than this. I hope they put their own people in place because the club is crying out for some real leadership and proper direction. New people with new ideas who act as ambassadors not only for our club but also the Ogden family. Hopefully they will use the next 12 months to assess every member of staff at the club and then act accordingly if required. |
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Reply | Investment update
at 11:58 20 Apr 2024
Thanks Kel, i know that the overwhelming majority of us have the best interests of the club at heart, irrespective of the different views.Thats the main thing. Of course, there has always been a small minority who didn't care, even when the evidence of wrong doing was evident to everybody. When your CEO is banned from football for two years and the free loaders still think he was the best thing since sliced bread then there's not much you can do. They can never rewrite history though, we know who they are. Anyway enjoy your Summer also, hope to see you soon. Time to look forward now. |
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Reply | Investment update
at 08:46 20 Apr 2024
It's a bit of a miracle this isn't it? Six months ago the club was staring down the barrel of a gun in the last chance saloon and look what's happened now. The statement from the Ogdens eclipses our promotions to L1 when it comes to emotions and importance, its massive. The Golden Share mentioned in that statement is like winning the world cup, what a fantastic gesture from the family. We could never of dreamed the golden share would become a reality.
Promotions will be won today but the biggest victory of all is ours and it brings to a end the near three years of struggle to save the club. It's been a nightmare for all concerned but the end result is definitely worth it. The book is waiting to be written and it will be a best seller, the author of the book could possibly be the most influential character when it comes to how the Club was finally saved. Thanks to all involved during this saga, especially our two Trust Chairman. Time to go fishing and watch some cricket. Looking forward to next season now👍 |
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 10:27 15 Mar 2024
I'll do what I want on a public forum, not what you suggest. You need to remember that. There are far more important things going on than trying to pick holes with my posts, we are all flawed and i include you in that. Enjoy your weekend and let's hope there's a good outcome for the club at the end of all this. I'm sending you peace and a big man hug, even an apology if I've upset you in some way. [Post edited 15 Mar 10:52]
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 10:23 15 Mar 2024
It wouldn't be just me though who needs good luck and would challenge the process, i outlined that in my post. It would need to be done as a collective and with support from the Trust I think. Does anybody else have the appetite to go down that particular route? Well plenty of people who I have spoken to suggested that it needed challenging and you've confirmed that yourself in your reply if its legally possible. So we agree on that. You make a great point that any action being pursued should not come at the expense of the club and that is something that can't be guaranteed so unfortunately we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Life is all about timing and with so much uncertainty to pursue this matter now would run the risk of upsetting the apple cart. I've sent my concerns to the Trust and I know others have, it's probably best to be guided by them at this moment in time. |
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 09:18 15 Mar 2024
We're all a bit desperate , desperate to save the club. The Chairman's desperation will be greater though because of his financial outlay, i get that, but that was his own personal decision to make. The club will always be bigger than any individual and he must know that fans who have invested both financially and emotionally throughout their life's won't just sit back and let one person do what they want with the club. It's not personal towards Simon Gauge, we wouldn't let anybody do that. Disrespecting the shareholders was a big no, no..he shouldn't have done that but as you say, probably the actions of a desperate and highly stressed individual. Fellow Directors and staff have a duty of care for each other, they need to speak to him. A fellow fan did the same to me last week and it worked for a day unfortunately, it was appreciated though. All the chairman had to do was embrace the help around him and I would suggest the Trust are his biggest friend, certainly not his enemy. Everybody working together to better the club in the knowledge that if at all possible Simon recoups some of his outlay, that should have been the blueprint. Does he know how to work as a team though and trust individuals,or is he just set in his ways and has to be in control all the time? He'll know the answer to that and so will those in his close circle. So yes, time to take a moment and consider the stress everybody is under, including the Chairman and no doubt those fighting the fight behind the scenes to save the club. [Post edited 15 Mar 9:21]
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 06:53 15 Mar 2024
Yes, i've been informed that the EGM should be legally challenged by a member of the legal profession.The person i spoke to is not a Dale fan and it was a off the record conversation. Not the same as putting the wheels in motion i know. Threatening ( thats what it was) shareholders at a EGM vote isn't right, especially when the person doing the threatening/coercing stands to gain financially as a result of that vote.The club solicitors will be aware of that.I haven't gone off on my own and started the process but I don't think that it should be just down to me to do that, we're a fan owned club. The Supporters Trust represent the fans and they are/ were the largest shareholder, do you not think they should provide clarification on this point because its something that does affect the whole future of the club? I'm assuming the Trust are up to their neck in it though trying to deal with the Chairman etc and ensure ALL interested parties are given a proper audience and treated fairly. I'm sure the members/ shareholders would help to pay for any legal fees in relation to this, in fact I would be the first person to chip in. Great idea (not) by Simon Gauge and the directors to take the Trust down the road of funding players wages etc, at a time when we needed to keep money in the pot to maybe pay for legal fees? Something that was pointed out at a Trust meeting not long ago. I have spoken to Trust representative about the EGM but will contact them again today and make it formal, I would hope other shareholders will also do the same thing. If it transpires there is no appetite to follow this up then I will accept that and put it down to me being too sensitive.
To just keep quiet and let these things roll, put it down to the Chairman's incompetence is akin to turning a blind eye and when it comes to Simon Gauge we keep doing that. He suddenly put the club up for sale overnight once they bought back the MH shares, nobody challenged him about it and that's why he continues to do exactly what he wants with the club. I would like some support in relation to challenging the legality of what went on at the EGM ( there are plenty who feel the same way as myself) because unfortunately I can't fight the battle alone. What do you think, do you think we should just forget it and put it down to his lack of acumen as you suggest? The shareholders deserve to be treated better, many of those present at the EGM kept the club going long before Gauge turned up at the club. My concerns are legitimate ones, the way he treats shareholders and the fan base is a disgrace, the sooner he's out of the club the better. If he doesn't leave the club we lose supporter, i don't want to support a club with him in the boardroom. Early Bird season tickets are already on sale at Bolton Wanderers, £279 for a adult if bought before 14th April. I'm hoping we'll have some clarity on the situation by then because a club with Gauge at the helm isn't for me anymore. I'll get my football fix elsewhere like many others have and look forward to just going to the match. [Post edited 15 Mar 7:31]
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 03:29 15 Mar 2024
Something else that needs highlighting about that shambles of a EGM last week..a EGM that needs to be investigated from a legal point of view. Why did Simon Gauge ask George Bigham to stand at the front of the room just prior to the shareholders vote and request him to tell all shareholders present in the room which way the Trust members ( Trust ) are voting? He used the largest shareholder in the room to try to influence the way others would vote on the night. You can't do that. That was on top of his threat to cancel the up coming Saturday fixture and to warn anybody daring to vote 'no' that they will be standing up in front of the media the following morning to explain why they voted no. I know for a fact that people changed their vote at the last minute due to Gauges attempt to manipulate the vote on the night. Any transfer of shares following on from this meeting need to be suspended as a result of how the EGM was conducted. George Delves and Richard Knight were also present at the EGM so will be well aware of what played out on the night. [Post edited 15 Mar 3:35]
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Reply | TFC respond to WSH exclusivity
at 21:09 14 Mar 2024
Compared to most clubs at this level and in EFL1 and EFL2 we are in decent financial health. We aren't carrying loads of debt, we own our stadium, a luxury that many clubs don't have. Our home attendances in the National League are better than most, we receive a 50% parachute payment next season which most clubs don't and we can start selling our season tickets next month if we wanted to do. Nearly every club outside the Premiership will be trading knowing full well that they will be trading at a loss, many of them losing multi millions of pounds every season. When you factor all of that in why is it only Rochdale that has to be liquidated? It doesn't make sense does it unless thats another option that gives the Chairman etc a chance of getting their money back ? We could well have a shortfall to find when Gauge stops his funding but there is money on the horizon and there are players to sell, sponsorship money to come in and other revenue streams which will kick in as the new season arrives. Painting the club as some sort of financial basket case that has to be liquidated if Gauge doesn't fund it is a narrative that has been perpetuated on this forum by Gauge's bag man and people are falling for it. We are no worse off than any other club at this level and financially better than most.
We have lost a lot of money under Gauge's stewardship but I'd suggest that his decisions and others in the boardroom have been responsible for that. Some of their decision making has cost the club a absolute fortune, the Stockdale saga, stupid transfer fees and ludicrous two year contracts are all down to Simon Gauge, he signed it all off. So yes, he's put a lot of money in but he's also cost the club a lot more when you look at his tenure. There's been a deliberate attempt to frighten the fan base I think by banding around the words liquidation and administration and when you stop and think rationally, if it applies to us then it applies to every club outside the Premiership. The scare tactic was one the Chairman used again at the EGM, blackmailing the fans and threatening shareholders at the most important vote in the clubs history. A EGM that wasn't conducted correctly and needs challenging. [Post edited 14 Mar 21:58]
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Reply | TFC respond to WSH exclusivity
at 15:21 14 Mar 2024
It is pretty unbelievable how one man has been allowed to just do as he want with the club, how has the situation been allowed to develop bearing in mind its a fan owned club with over 500 shareholders and the Trust holding the most shares? It's not just the Trust who should be asking themselves that question but also the shareholders and fans. As a collective fan base we are all culpable and also too quick to believe what comes out of the boardroom. The fans always want what's best for the club but recent history has revealed that quite a few who sit in the boardroom think entirely differently. |
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Reply | TFC respond to WSH exclusivity
at 14:44 14 Mar 2024
Just because Simon Gauge says it's a deal or liquidation at the end of the month doesn't mean it's true. We have interested parties, so time and money will be found in order to explore all options..not just Simons. I'm pretty sure that will happen. Desperation isn't required and you are completely wrong when you suggest that any deal is better than no deal at this stage. That's disrespectful to the football club when all options should still be on the table. This isn't Simon Gauge's Club. [Post edited 14 Mar 14:46]
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 13:41 14 Mar 2024
Just needs 'Alan Partridge' to step into the boardroom to fill the bingo card. The club can't progress with Gauge as Chairman, he's took us to the brink of liquidation and threatened to call off last Saturdays game unless shareholders voted a certain way at the EGM. Blackmailing shareholders just prior to voting. |
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 11:30 14 Mar 2024
I think it's about time we stopped all this pussy footing around with the Chairman and called a EGM to remove him from post. He must think we're daft, he's bothered about his investment and is prioritising that over the club. Look how he addressed the shareholders last week, what a absolute disgrace. Others are also involved with the Chairman and will be ready with their snouts at the trough, the silence from the Boardroom and the likes of Andrew Kelly etc speaks volumes. Its time the Trust/ sharehokders and supporters started fighting for our club instead of leaving it to the likes of Simon Gauge. They'll sell out the club to whoever suits their agenda if we let them. The Chairman isn't fit for purpose and he never has been, that's the bottom line. |
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 11:04 14 Mar 2024
Exactly...and we have a Chairman with a thirst to sell the club under those circumstances it would appear. You can't sell the club without proof of where the money has come from, not in a era were money laundering and people with bad intentions seem to go hand in hand with trying to aquire football clubs. As a club we know that better than anybody and so does the Chairman. Ignorance isn't a defence neither. As shareholders it's incumbent on us all to ensure things are done in the correct manner and that also includes the validity of last week's EGM. [Post edited 14 Mar 11:08]
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Reply | Dale Trust Meeting With WSH LLC
at 10:43 14 Mar 2024
Thanks for the update. Sounds like a lot of talk but not much meat on the bones from WSH. Are they actually going to be running the Club? It sounds like nobody knows the answer to that. Hopefully others have gleaned a lot more positives than I have. It seems as clear as mud and very convoluted. [Post edited 14 Mar 10:50]
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Reply | TFC respond to WSH exclusivity
at 20:47 13 Mar 2024
It's not down to the Trust to decide the future of the club. The Trust didn't expect the statement from the club yesterday in relation to exclusivity with WSH, it took them by surprise. I'm not sure what the future of the club is at this stage. I do have faith in the Trust representatives to do their very best though and fight for what is in the best interests of the club. |
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