Football Focus

[Alan Medic]

Seems logical to me. CR isn't signing a new contract and surely that can't just be about money. He must have plenty.Bale would placate the Madrid fans to an extent and besides can Madrid really afford him without selling CR? Where else would CR go but back to OT.He would cost a bit but selling Rooney would help offset that. Make sure Rooney gets on an international flight though.

[Otta]

Can't see Rooney going abroad at all, but the Ronaldo thing COULD be a possibility if Bale goes.

Saurez to United. Could you imagine. Him and Evra best mates hugging after each goal. I almost want it to happen just for the panto of it all.

[red devil]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Seems logical to me. CR isn't signing a new

> contract and surely that can't just be about

> money. He must have plenty.Bale would placate the

> Madrid fans to an extent and besides can Madrid

> really afford him without selling CR? Where else

> would CR go but back to OT.He would cost a bit but

> selling Rooney would help offset that. Make sure

> Rooney gets on an international flight though.

Money does come into it with CR, not so much the amount, more the heirarchy, i.e he has to be top earner. Oh, and CR will have to take the free-kicks, take note Gareth.

The top tier of footballers have egos bigger than their wallets. The Rooney situation is all about him now being second in line to RVP. Careful what you wish for eh Wayne...

[ratty]

red devil Wrote:

There are two specific ways to join the trust. You can become a member which gives you the right to vote for a nominal annual fee, a fiver I think. However, if you contributed to the share issue, which was a ?1k buy in then you automatically become a member.

There was some confusion around what happened to syndicate share members of which there were many and I am not sure what the outcome of this was. There was also over ?30k in shares raised by random "what odour can afford donations" organised by a couple of fans.

Raised over ?2.5m in just over 4 months. Pretty good work for one of England's poorest cities. They're all nutcases down there though and put the football club before their own food!

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> ratty Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > red devil Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > ratty, how does the heirarchy work in a

> > > supporter's owned club? How did you go about

> > > appointing the Board, manager etc. Did you

> vote

> > > amongst yourselves as to who would be elected

> > to

> > > the Board?...

> >

> >

> > The Trust is the majority shareholder of the

> club

> > and raised most of the money to buy the club.

> The

> > rest of the money has come from high net worth

> > individuals. Some of these are board members

> along

> > with the chair (elected) of the trust.

> >

> > One high networth individual, Ian Mcinees is

> chair

> > and the board are currently appointing finance

> > director, chief exec etc.

>

> Understood. What do fans have to do to join the

> Trust? Do they have to cough up i.e. minimum

> stake?...

[Mick Mac]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-----------------------------------------------------.

>

> Apparently thats the whole problem (thats if you

> can believe anything Suarez says!) in that he saysr

> that within that contract last year, it allows him

> to leave after a year to a champions league club

> if liverpool failed to get into it, which they did

> fail to do.

>

> A cheat will always look out for himself and

> likely does not give a toss about anyone else.

> Exciting footballer though, which makes it even

> more of a shame.

>

> Steve Nicol on talksport last night said that the

> manager had let Suaraz down by not (so far)

> honouring the contract terms! I wonder why Nicol

> might want to undermine the current manager?

Rogers comes out fighting. Says there were absolutely no guarantees given to Suarez last year . Says Suarez has tried to tarnish the reputation of the club and he will take decisive action.

[red devil]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Rogers comes out fighting. Says there were

> absolutely no guarantees given to Suarez last year

> . Says Suarez has tried to tarnish the reputation

> of the club and he will take decisive action.

The PFA have confirmed this too...

However, Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor explained there is no clause in the player's deal that means Liverpool have to sell him if a club offers more than ?40m.

"If there is a minimum offer of ?40m then the parties will discuss things but it does not say the club has to sell," said Taylor.

"There is a 'good faith' clause in relation to serious discussions, but I can't say it is a cast-iron buy-out clause."

Gonna get messy.

[red devil]

ratty Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There are two specific ways to join the trust. You

> can become a member which gives you the right to

> vote for a nominal annual fee, a fiver I think.

> However, if you contributed to the share issue,

> which was a ?1k buy in then you automatically

> become a member.

>

> There was some confusion around what happened to

> syndicate share members of which there were many

> and I am not sure what the outcome of this was.

> There was also over ?30k in shares raised by

> random "what odour can afford donations" organised

> by a couple of fans.

>

> Raised over ?2.5m in just over 4 months. Pretty

> good work for one of England's poorest cities.

> They're all nutcases down there though and put the

> football club before their own food!

Good stuff. How are the day to day bills/wages/running of the club dealt with?..from the ?2.5m pot?

How is it topped up?..match day revenue, merchandise, continuous voluntary donations?...

[ratty]

We have sold a record number of season tickets this year for Div 4. 10,500 sold pre season. That has contributed about just over ?3m to annual running fees plus obviosuly weekly income expected to be about ?70k in ticket revenue. Merchandise is counting for a lot.

There are ongoing community events happening. Fans day alone took over ?12k directly to the trust, a series of music events have been planned, lots of community stuff!

Playing budget for the year is less than ?500k. Two of the board are very succesful business men in other areas and this is helping the club stick to financial targets of expenditure.

All in all it has been an amazing effort by some very key individuals that has lead to the continued existence of the club. I doubt we can rise much above Lge 1 on the budgets that we have, but who cares tbh?

[Mick Mac]

Arsenal could face PSV or Fenerbahce in Champions League play-off... but Celtic have got it easy

UEFA president Michel Platini's desire to see more domestic title-holders in the Champions League leaves Arsenal facing a tough task to qualify for the group stages.

League winners such as Celtic are kept apart from non-league winners like Arsenal, with five places each up for grabs in the 'champions' and 'non-champions' routes.

Both Arsenal and Celtic are seeded for Friday's draw in Nyon, meaning that they have the perceived advantage of playing their second legs at home

Who could Arsenal and Celtic play?

Arsenal: PSV Eindhoven (Holland), Fenerbahce (Turkey), Real Sociedad (Spain), Metalist Kharkiv (Ukraine), Pacos de Ferreira (Portugal).

Celtic: Austria Vienna (Austria), Legia Warsaw (Poland), Maribor (Slovenia), Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria) and Shakhter Karagandy (Kazakhstan

.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2386591/Champions-League-play-draw-Arsenal-face-PSV-Fenerbahce.html#ixzz2bMfBLJQJ

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[Otta]

Please let Suarez go to Arsenal and fail to qualify for the groups! Pleeeeeease!!!!!!!!!

[StraferJack]

That thought occurred to me too Otta - a LOT of very amused people

[Mick Mac]

I heard this morning that the goal line technology is being tested at the Emirates of all places. True.

But they are still passing it around, and it might be some time before they actually get a shot in.

(All my own work - I'm here all week)

[Parkdrive]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> I heard this morning that the goal line technology

> is being tested at the Emirates of all places.

> True.

>

> But they are still passing it around, and it might

> be some time before they actually get a shot in.

>

>

> (All my own work - I'm here all week)

Are you sure you aren't stealing someone elses work, its too hilarious (and predictable) for you

[Parkdrive]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> That thought occurred to me too Otta - a LOT of

> very amused people

You're easily amused then.

[Otta]

Fabregas is staying at Barca. Or so he says anyway.

[Parkdrive]

And Bale is staying at Spurs or so he................oh wait

[StraferJack]

Calm down Parkie, remember I'm an Arsenal fan too. I didn't say I would be amused but it doesn't take much imagination to see how much other would enjoy that particular banana skin

[Jah Lush]

There's no way Fabregas is leaving Barcelona. I just can't see it myself. Whether Bale stays at Spurs or not (and of course I hope he stays) we're in a win win situation. We've already spent ?50 million on three top classes players. If he goes it's a hell of a lot of money in the bank to invest at the club. If stays, and I think he will, we've still got a top class player.

[red devil]

Otta Wrote:

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> Saurez to United. Could you imagine. Him and Evra

> best mates hugging after each goal. I almost want

> it to happen just for the panto of it all.

You have an evil mind under that mild mannered persona.

How about this then, Utd sign Baines and sell Evra to Monaco...problem solved

[red devil]

ratty Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We have sold a record number of season tickets

> this year for Div 4. 10,500 sold pre season. That

> has contributed about just over ?3m to annual

> running fees plus obviosuly weekly income expected

> to be about ?70k in ticket revenue. Merchandise is

> counting for a lot.

>

> There are ongoing community events happening. Fans

> day alone took over ?12k directly to the trust, a

> series of music events have been planned, lots of

> community stuff!

>

> Playing budget for the year is less than ?500k.

> Two of the board are very succesful business men

> in other areas and this is helping the club stick

> to financial targets of expenditure.

>

> All in all it has been an amazing effort by some

> very key individuals that has lead to the

> continued existence of the club. I doubt we can

> rise much above Lge 1 on the budgets that we have,

> but who cares tbh?

Thanks for all the info ratty, very informative.

Now the big question...would tha fans ever consider selling up to a mega cash rich investor, who would have sole ownership?..

[ratty]

The majority of fans would not. And seeing as the majority of fans own the club then..........

[Mick Mac]

UEFA Champions League play-off draw

League route

Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v Real Sociedad de F?tbol (ESP)

FC Schalke 04 (GER) v FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)

FC Pa?os de Ferreira (POR) v FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)

PSV Eindhoven (NED) v AC Milan (ITA)

Fenerbah?e SK (TUR) v Arsenal FC (ENG)

Champions route

GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v FK Austria Wien (AUT)

PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v FC Basel 1893 (SUI)

FC Viktoria Plze? (CZE) v NK Maribor (SVN)

FC Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ) v Celtic FC (SCO)

FC Steaua Bucure?ti (ROU) v Legia Warszawa (POL)

The participation of Fenerbah?e SK and FC Metalist Kharkiv in the competition is subject to pending disciplinary and CAS proceedings.

[Otta]

So if Fenerbah?e are kicked out, do Arsenal get a pass?

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

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> So if Fenerbah?e are kicked out, do Arsenal get a

> pass?

Pass

[Alan Medic]

So what's the inside scoop on Shaktar Karabandy Mick?