Investment

[Chris Black come back]

I am going to get swept away here in a tsunami of over optimism I suspect but I personally am uncomfortable about the motivations of any investor coming to the club without an existing link. We are a club with nothing to offer other than to people with ties and obligations to the club and town. No ground of our own, no fan base, no star players and no record whatsoever of increasing crowds anywhere enough to sustain a good Championship club let alone anything higher. Especially because of Richardson we should be very cautious about outside folk bearing gifts and promising the world. I hope JR knows what he is doing.

[PDX_Rover]

I can't help wondering if Westferry is involved here. Once bitten, twice shy I hope. Or once attempted arson, twice keep the matches out of harm's way.

[balbykiwirover]

I suppose that the millions of quid generated by 1 season in the Premier League plus parachute payments thereafter may be motivation enough for some.

[the vicar]

people dont come in to it £150mill a year does though

[silent majority]

Maybe some people are beginning to realise why the VSC was formed and why it's important that its still here.

[TommyC]

I am going to get swept away here in a tsunami of over optimism I suspect but I personally am uncomfortable about the motivations of any investor coming to the club without an existing link. We are a club with nothing to offer other than to people with ties and obligations to the club and town. No ground of our own, no fan base, no star players and no record whatsoever of increasing crowds anywhere enough to sustain a good Championship club let alone anything higher. Especially because of Richardson we should be very cautious about outside folk bearing gifts and promising the world. I hope JR knows what he is doing.

Nah, he's not a clue that bloke. Knows sod all about business.

[bobjimwilly]

Maybe some people are beginning to realise why the VSC was formed and why it's important that its still here.

Martin has a good point here Gentlemen. It's at times like this a stronger trust gives fans a stronger chance of getting their voices heard and influencing those who are making decisions at the top, including potential investors!

[The L J Monk]

Have the VSC been involved in the investment discussions thus far?

[bobjimwilly]

Have the VSC been involved in the investment discussions thus far?

Not directly in the discussions, no.

[The L J Monk]

Maybe some people are beginning to realise why the VSC was formed and why it's important that its still here.

Based on BJW's response above, can I ask, what part does the VSC play in the present scenario?

[GazLaz]

None I would say. How could we stop them selling the club to who they wanted if we didnt agree with it?

[Alickismyhero]

Chris,
You have taken the words from my mouth. The directors of VSC will have to earn their corn on this very thorny problem. Its very easy to be critical especially when you are kept in the dark. Heads down boys and make sure the heart of the club remains on this current track of improvement.

[silent majority]

As I've already stated elsewhere the VSC is working hard on behalf of its members (and the wider DRFC supporter base) but until the talks progress we have nothing to add.

[RobTheRover]

None I would say. How could we stop them selling the club to who they wanted if we didnt agree with it?

Quite right Gaz, from a shareholding position at least.  Whilst the VSC as a trust owns c115,000 shares in Patienceform, this is dwarfed by the holdings of JR, TB and DW.  If those

However, dont let that fool you into thinking that the VSC has no influence.  The club recognises that the VSC represents a significant number of supporters, which are after all the lifeblood of any club, and our work with the club over the past 15 months on the IRWT project has strengthened those bonds immeasurably.

[The L J Monk]

As I've already stated elsewhere the VSC is working hard on behalf of its members (and the wider DRFC supporter base) but until the talks progress we have nothing to add.

Martin, could you give us an idea of what "working hard" entails, if the VSC are not involved in the discussions?

[the vicar]

I can't help wondering if Westferry is involved here. Once bitten, twice shy I hope. Or once attempted arson, twice keep the matches out of harm's way.

so tell me what westferry did wrong to us. they was intremental in saving us then sold it to JR cheap 

[bobjimwilly]

As I've already stated elsewhere the VSC is working hard on behalf of its members (and the wider DRFC supporter base) but until the talks progress we have nothing to add.

[jonnydog]

Wouldn't it be a severe anti-climax if the investment was just a local brewery supplying their specialist brew for less than Boddingtons.

[Filo]

I can't help wondering if Westferry is involved here. Once bitten, twice shy I hope. Or once attempted arson, twice keep the matches out of harm's way.

so tell me what westferry did wrong to us. they was intremental in saving us then sold it to JR cheap 

Correct, without Westferry`s involvement post Richardson, we would n`t be on here discussing this now!

[Dr Fundlekrotch]

Many people forget that, Filo.  There was a lot of suspicion at the time because Westferry were IoM registered, as was Dinard Trading.  People thought there was some link and that Ken Richardson was behind them.  There was no link and it was to remove that suspicion that the VSC was set up.  People even assumed JR was Richardson's puppet for a while!

There was no link but, due to the suspicions at teh time and the short period Westferry were involved, people forget.

[The L J Monk]

My memory is not what it was. Could someone remind me:

When you join the VSC, you receive a share certificate. Which organisation was that share in?

[RobTheRover]

Its a share certificate in the Viking Supporter's Co-operative.

[Filo]

My memory is not what it was. Could someone remind me:

When you join the VSC, you receive a share certificate. Which organisation was that share in?

As I understand it the share certificate is 1 share in the VSC, which in turn holds the shares they`ve acquired in patienceform

[The L J Monk]

Thanks Rob/Filo

So you can be a shareholder of the VSC but not a member?

[RobTheRover]

Not quite.  The VSC is an IPS, which in basic terms is a member-orientated society.  Each member holds 1 share in the IPS, obtained through their continued membership.  The VSC hold the shares in Patienceform on behalf of its membership.

[The L J Monk]

So if your VSC membership lapses you lose your share?

[jmt]

all this talk of tissues is a worry, is jr to stand down? is this just investment for a year, to get the ireland squad fit and playing, world cup year and all that?
will we feel like we did during the "experiment" and after come to that.
there are so many questions,flying around in my mind.

[bobjimwilly]

So if your VSC membership lapses you lose your share?

Yes

[The L J Monk]

Where does the share go? Into the ether?

[Mr1Croft]

As stated in our rules it is transferred back to the ownership of the society. Once you renew your share becomes yours again.