The Notts County 'Massiz' (Bantz 'N Debate)

[UTS]

The MP has met with AH and it bodes grim reading.
To paraphrase..

No sale yet. He will sell to the highest bidder no matter who it is as long as they offer sustainability. So we could have a convicted fraudster in charge!
There is no money left, reports that players are unpaid are true. I guess the PFA have to step in at least for this month, but normal office staff I have no idea.

I think we either have a buyer next week or we enter administration as July 10th Court case will just be no buyer sorry we are shutting you down.

Sounds identical to the situation at our place (Bury).

Players not paid since march, no manager, no players (all free to walk after breach in contract after non-payment).

We have an owner seemingly unwilling to sell and squeezing every penny out of the club. We’ve apparently filed for administration but our local MP is confident there is a sale in sight, but no one is convinced.

At this point, it’s hard to see how we can realistically start the season. We haven’t released a retained list and have no pre-season fixtures.

Potential new manager walked away yesterday after seeing the state the club is in.

We are in a mess ultimately due to awful financial mismanagement from our previous crackpot owner Stewart Day, who has since fled the country due to owing £54 million (yes £54M) to creditors of his failed businesses. He’s being investigated by the serious fraud office as we speak.

Our new owner claims he’s been left to ‘pick up the peices’ but that’s a lie... he’s asset stripping the carcass remains of the club after Stewart Day left it to die.

How clubs like Bury, Bolton, Coventry and Notts... previously Blackpool and Orient... can all be in such serious peril under the watch of the footballing authorities is hard to take.

There’s always basket-case clubs... Halifax, Scarborough, Boston, Chester and Hereford all died within a span of 10 years... but I never remember such a concentration of clubs in the mire at one time. A sign of the state of the English game littered with owners with ulterior motives.

 

[CFC91]

Sounds very messy. Another circus in the league to join us. We’re in less of a danger currently but the £10m+ debt will come back to bite us sooner or later especially with nobody knowing really what Dave Allen’s end game is for us. It’s all very depressing and I’ve definitely fallen out of love with it all in the last couple of season

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Off topic, but has the situation at Ebbsfleet resolved itself? How many clubs can we expect to receive points deductions this season?

 

[Youpies]

Liquidation is genuinely a very likely scenario now. Monies involved to buy Notts substantial even of it's less than 1p on the pound CVA

 

[DarkSithLord]

Notts County owner and chairman Alan Hardy has provided a further update on his attempts to find a buyer for the club.

I am very pleased to say that, following hugely constructive talks today and over the weekend, I am extremely confident that a sale will be completed ahead of our upcoming court hearing on 10 July.

Conversations with a group who I am certain have Notts’ footballing fortunes at heart are now at an advanced stage and I am sure supporters will be delighted to hear their plans for the club.

Apologies, once again, that I am unable to reveal any identities. At the request of all parties, this remains private business until formalities are completed. I can, however, confirm that we have ceased talks with the group associated with Alex May.

Should our talks progress further as planned, I will be liaising with the prospective new owners to rectify the current situation regarding player and staff salaries at the earliest opportunity. I deeply regret being unable to fulfil this obligation to my employees and hope - and expect - there will be a speedy resolution.

I am also aware that a great deal of cynicism is likely to come my way in response to this update, which I can understand following an immensely frustrating and disappointing chapter in the club’s history.

However, I felt it was only right to bring supporters up to speed following the significant developments of the last few days.

Alan

 

[jacobncfc]

Crunch time then.

It’s all a game of brinksmanship, I think. Most of our debts are to the parent company (AH), so he stands to lose out the most if we’re forced into administration on the 10th. Potential buyers aren’t stupid and know this, so will have assumed that when that looks like becoming a reality he will accept a much lower price than he was seemingly asking for. He’s clearly completely run out of the money to finance the club, back’s against the wall, almost has no choice but to accept what’s on the table.

 

[Youpies]

I'm not sure I believe any of it, certainly not the bit about Alex May or whatever name he's currently going by is out of the running.

Why would anyone want to buy our debt? A hotel cannot be worth the asking price plus debt to get it, on top of the building costs and running a football club

Hardy's statement just rolls out the same old, there is a buyer, honest. The same people who were supposedly close when he sent the world a picture of little Al

Viva la phoenix

 

[valefan16]

Looks a real mess for Notts and hope you come through it without going the Smurf route too! Ten days though is a quick time to get the sale done though surely? Took us a good six weeks once the deal was actually agreed? All be it guess in the NL you don’t have the fit and proper persons checks?

 

[jacobncfc]

Looks a real mess for Notts and hope you come through it without going the Smurf route too! Ten days though is a quick time to get the sale done though surely? Took us a good six weeks once the deal was actually agreed? All be it guess in the NL you don’t have the fit and proper persons checks?

If it’s the same group, they passed the fit and proper persons test back when we were still a FL club.

 

[doveranddover]

Some dates for you

FA Cup
Fourth Round Qualifying Saturday 19 October 2019

FA Trophy
First Round Proper Saturday 14 December 2019
Second Round Proper Saturday 11 January 2020
Third Round Proper Saturday 8 February 2020
Fourth Round Proper Saturday 29 February 2020
Semi Final 1 Saturday 21 March 2020
Semi Final 2 Saturday 28 March 2020
Final Sunday 17 May 2020

 

[EnglishRed]

Some dates for you

FA Cup
Fourth Round Qualifying Saturday 19 October 2019

FA Trophy
First Round Proper Saturday 14 December 2019
Second Round Proper Saturday 11 January 2020
Third Round Proper Saturday 8 February 2020
Fourth Round Proper Saturday 29 February 2020
Semi Final 1 Saturday 21 March 2020
Semi Final 2 Saturday 28 March 2020
Final Sunday 17 May 2020

For the Notts County fans benefit:

The FAT first round consists of a game of football against the Dog and Duck on a cabbage patch in the middle of nowhere.

Youll probably lose

 

[LongEatonPie]

Anythings better than the Football League B team trophy.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Anythings better than the Football League B team trophy.

Aye until AFC Figgle Town roll up and poke you up the arse in the first round.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Aye until AFC Figgle Town roll up and poke you up the arse in the first round.

Nah, they'd be a real team not some random under 23 side. Actually looking forward to the FAT. (if we make this season that is)

 

[chief]

Nah, they'd be a real team not some random under 23 side. Actually looking forward to the FAT. (if we make this season that is)

Yeah, a proper, real team.

Like Hashtag United.

 

[Youpies]

4 working days for it to go through.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Yeah, a proper, real team.

Like Hashtag United.

Ah, see what you mean. That said even these who were made up as a joke somewhat are a semi professional team. Not a reserve team forced on you to play.

 

[Youpies]

Most likely outcome is administration on Tuesday evening.

Lots of rumours that the Hayden Green Estate is holding it up. If that's the case then good, because there's no way Notts should move.

 

[LongEatonPie]

I met some of the Green family after the Morecambe home game. They said that under no uncertain terms that meadow Lane would be sold nor altered in such a way to detract from football. Hinting that there was already talk that part of the ground would be redeveloped.

I have also been told that on the Wednesday after the council meeting with regards to the waterside development the SAs removed their offer. I had thought it was due to the land but I heard on Tuesday that it was because they didn't particularly like being pitted against a fraudster in a rival bid.
I think Hardy announcing that they are no longer dealing with that party meant that the SA's have come back in.

 

[Optipez]

Two working days to go. I doubt a deal will be done so it's either kick the can down the road another month, if the judge allows it, administration if Hardy can afford it or straight to liquidation, do not pass go.
I think it'll get kicked down the road another month after Hardy's solicitor explains how close it all is to completion. Hope the judge demands to see a letter of proof from a prospective buyer before granting it as this state of limbo isn't fair to supporters, creditors or the League and the other clubs.

 

[Youpies]

No talks today. Hardy continues to lie to the fans and the court.

What he stands to gain from this is naff all. He might get something in a CVA from administration but it will be pennies in the pound

 

[jacobncfc]

So, it’s the Danes or nothing. South Africans are out and we’ve cut the talks with Alex May.

Seemingly it’s Christoffer and Alexander Reedtz leading it - they own Football Radar, a football analysis company. Possibly backed up financially by their dad and his investment company in Denmark. If we pull it off, I would be much more comfortable being sold to someone who wants to use us as a moneyball experiment for their data analytics company than someone who wants to buy the land our ground is on. Let’s just hope it goes through.

 

[Optipez]

At least there are real names to pin to this group. Everything else has been ephemeral.
Council pledge to keep us in the ground, apparently someone has seen proof of funds to pay the immediate debt off on Wednesday, so, the first glimmer of hope for the club since around February.
We're cutting it fine and liquidation wouldn't be a shock, administration still seems highly possible. But, Carlton Town tomorrow and we are actually staggering on as a club.
Hats off to Ardley for still being here, it must be a thankless task holding this train wreck together.

 

[jacobncfc]

If it goes through then I think it looks much more positive than either of the other groups as they’re clearly not here for any land deals.

 

[Youpies]

Anything that brings some stability is good. Just got to hope we aren’t liquidated before they get a chance to take over

As long as we don’t end up in this situation again in a few years we will be ok. We don’t need someone to throw millions at us. I’d be delighted if we get back to league football

 

[GodsGift]

Forgive my cynicism, but isn't it always amazing how these takeover talks always find a way to be leaked to the media right before a court case, where no doubt Hardy will be seeking another adjournment based on an argument he's close to a deal?

Same happened with Bolton time and time again.

 

[LongEatonPie]

I don't think we'll get another extension unless

A The court can see that a deal is nearing completion in a matter of days.

B They have solid evidence that the HMRC and/or other creditors will be paid in a matter of days even if the takeover isn't going to go through for a few weeks.

C The court really can't be bothered nor want to be one to liquidate a club, especially a former founder of the FL. Which will mean another extension, I guess to be forfilled the Wednesday before the first game.

 

[#Beebot]

A quick look at other clubs in these situations will tell you that extension after extension is the most likely outcome.

 

[Youpies]

Metro sports writer has just said Danish takeover fell through.

Looks like the game is up

 

[Chief Rocka]

This from the same bloke with ground breaking exclusives such as...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1148512983796109313

Take it with a pinch of salt and just ride it out.