Terry Bramall: Part 1,149

[Red Rover]

Right, I don't want this to come across anyway ungrateful, because being on the board and putting your own money into a football club is a thankless task because the fans are always going to want more, but...

Is Terry Bramall single-handedly to blame for our current plight? Roll back 3 months, Dick Watson and John Ryan were happy to hand the baton over to Sequential. Doncaster Rovers had been investigating Sequential for over 6 months, and all their promises stacked u. John Ryan publicly stated him and Dick had agreed to sell on as it was in best interests of the club, however Terry didnt, and whats more, couldn't even be bothered to show to the explanatory press conference. Why won't he sell? He is worth over £800m, he doesn't need to be on the board at Rovers, he openly admits he doesn't even like football!

At the time he said there was another bid on the table he wanted to follow up. JR knew nothing of this, however, Rovers went along and qualified the bid, and it turned out within days it wasn't a viable project.

A week ago John Ryan went to the Press and said everything was in place...Sequential were going to plow up to £20m into the coffers for players, he'd spoken to Billy Sharp, he was in his car ready to come over, everything was in place, a few other players were ready, and at the last possible minute, Terry Bramall went "nahhhh...i think i'll hang on"

Why? That is all I want to know. It seems JR isn't even too sure.

Obviously I'm not saying our recent run of poor results/performances is down to one man not selling his stake in the club, however, its abundantly clear our current squad isn't 'Championship Ready' and we are lacking the type of class that could/would have come through the door if Sequential had bought the club at the end of August.

Instead of kicking on in the Championship, we have spent £0 this pre-season and are aiming for 21st position.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Roll back 3 months, Dick Watson and John Ryan were happy to hand the baton over to Sequential.

Sorry, but your whole theory falls down on that central plank.

If both JR and DW wanted to sell to Sequential, they would have a majority in the Boardroom and TB couldn't have stopped any takeover at all.

[Wild Rover]

Firstly TB wealth is half what you state.
Secondly I don't remember DW saying he sanctioned the bid.
Thirdly the other bid ran its course until the "Former pro footballer and Car Magnate" decided costs to much.
Lastly. TB did nothing "Last Minute".

Good or bad for the club? who knows, that's just the way it is.

[silent majority]

There's an awful lot of misinformation and assumption based on nothing more than rumour in your post.

Without TB and DW we would be nowhere near the Championship. Be careful what you wish for.

[GazLaz]

We need to over achieve to stay in this division. It's possible as we have a squad with a good attitude but it will be hard.

Do people think our wage bill will be smaller now than last time in the championship? I think it is. This must mean we have a massive uphill struggle to stay in the division.

[drfcbenny625]

Did we not pay for Duffy and Forrester? Robinson? 21st will do for me quite nicely.

[silent majority]

We need to over achieve to stay in this division. It's possible as we have a squad with a good attitude but it will be hard.

Do people think our wage bill will be smaller now than last time in the championship? I think it is. This must mean we have a massive uphill struggle to stay in the division.

Of course it's smaller than the last time we were here, then it had grown to over £9m under the so called 'experiment'. If you remember JR said that would get us into the premiership to.

[BigColSutherland]

What is our current "plight"?
In the grand scheme of things, we're doing pretty well aren't we?

[ponte_ricky]

You beat me to it bigcol. People need to get some perspective. We all knew it was going to tough when we were all cheering at the end of last season.  We are a league 1 team really and that's ok with me it just makes it that little more special when we turn over teams like blackburn and Leicester.  I don't know much about the ins and outs on the board but theyve not sold the club down the river to investors who will get fed up when we're not in the prem in 2 years time. Its just never good enough for football fans is it

[Lytham Rover]

PS

It's sequentia (and they appear to have no 'l' of a chance)

[since-1969]

Get attendances up ,then investment would make more sense . We are putting cart before the horse if we think JR and Co should dip there hand every time we have an injury or bad result. Put investment in to marketing it will pay off long term. Since we moved from Bell Vue we have lost the Main advertising ( seeing a football ground from a main road ) and it needs to be addressed by bill boards and direct marketing . Local businesses ( ASDA ) have huge site the Dome has Huge site but no Rovers bill boards to let anyone know what's happening . We can't attract passing trade . Moving to new site has failed IMO as this  has not been addressed . Bus advertising .taxis .etc. I have NOT seen one anywhere carrying  Rovers information. Rovers need more support NOW or we end up back in League 1 .

[IDM]

What is our current "plight"?
In the grand scheme of things, we're doing pretty well aren't we?

This.

God forbid we do ever reach the premier league, there'll be folks on here complaining we're not in the champions league..

[steve@dcfd]

God forbid we go back to league 1 there will folks who will be very happy, but owners who will not see the point of promotion again, they will know we can't compete the home support does not improve so why bother.

[DRNaith]

What is our current "plight"?
In the grand scheme of things, we're doing pretty well aren't we?

Indeed, think twice, it's another day for you and me in (comparative) paradise.

[RedJ]

owners who will not see the point of promotion again

Well that's b*llocks for a start.

[Mr1Croft]

Based on the opening post:

Terry Bramall is very rich (we are safe to assume this is the case)
He doesn't like 'football' and has no need to be on the board at Doncaster Rovers. (Again we can probably take this to be true)

A couple of thing yours missing:

He did turn up the press conference but he wasn't there to meet the press however he was there at the fans one, he also made it pretty clear that they would only sell if it was in the best interests of the football club.

If DW was also backing the takeover then it probably would have gone ahead.

So taking in mind those points above, I think the answer of why he didn't want to sell is right under your nose...

[donnygav93]

I might be a little confused but in my personal opinion if Terry doesn't think the investment is a good idea then id have to agree with him this is a man who has made millions so if he doesn't think the investment idea is not a good idea who am i to argue 

Of course id love to see rovers in the premier league but what happens if this investment happened and we didn't get there i wouldn't want to go back to the conference (even worse go bust) i mean i read alot about donny's dark days being born in 93 i wasn't old enough to remember them well enough

John Ryan is a fan of drfc and would love to see us in the premier league but then what would happen then ?

[newyankee]

 The same argument could be said of Ryan and Watson wanting the deal. In the end I think they will win as DW is not in the greatest of health and could be ready to pull out of Rovers for the benefit of him and his wife.

It doesn't matter how much money you have if you're dead, no one has yet found a way to take it with them.  I do feel that DW will finally have the final say, whether in the end it is good for the club will remain to be seen.

[Wild Rover]

Is there not a "block" on share transfers or sales that the board ( individually or as a whole ), can apply. Therefore irrespective of whether DW and JR and sundrie other shareholders MAY want to sell on, TB only has to say "NO" and that's that. Scuppered.

Its all ducks in line or nothing.

[newyankee]

As I understand, if DW sides with JR and all the other shareholders, ie, Wetzel, Collett, Highfield etc sel to Sequentia that gives them 64% or control.  Don;'t quote me on this as I don't know for certain, but I would think it very strange if 36% could outvote 64%, it doesn't make sense Wildrover.

[newyankee]

 As I stated earlier, I think the final outcome will be decided by DW's health and as they haver been partners for many years I can see TB giving way to help his old mate. I cannot see him being so bloody minded about a sport he has no interest in compared to the health and well being of DW.

[Wild Rover]

I wasn't referring to who can do what as far as shareholding is concerned. I am of the understanding that when Trevor Milton wished to sell up ALL THE BOARD needed to agree the sale. If one disagreed then no sale. I assume all agreed as TM had 1.3% of shares and could not effect DRFC day to day running. I assume the sale went ahead.
If the above is indeed true, then what I said earlier stands. one opposes sale then no sale.

[newyankee]

 I take your point Wildrover, but friendship may play a part in the end. TB may well concede to help DW.  I am no wiser than anyone else on here, but DW's health has deteriorated in the last month or so, so it could be a factor.

[Wild Rover]

Depends what at the end of the Rainbow I guess. Something there for SC to want, and for TB to hang on to.
Didn't realise DW was deteriorating as far as health goes ( though I did realise he not in prime condition).

Perhaps TB has no need to concede to help DW, I read somewhere recently the 3 ducks had put into the club 10 million since arrival of KM2, so for each that's just over 3 million ( stating the obvious there I suppose ) , maybe TB will simply BUY DW shares ( with Ryans say so ).

[Glyn_Wigley]

I wasn't referring to who can do what as far as shareholding is concerned. I am of the understanding that when Trevor Milton wished to sell up ALL THE BOARD needed to agree the sale. If one disagreed then no sale. I assume all agreed as TM had 1.3% of shares and could not effect DRFC day to day running. I assume the sale went ahead.
If the above is indeed true, then what I said earlier stands. one opposes sale then no sale.

As I understand it, any existing director wishing to sell his shares has to offer them to existing shareholders first. Again, as far as I know, the VSC (as an existing shareholder) was not offered the chance of buying Milton's shares. Which to me makes the article as it appeared in the paper look rather like a PR puff for Sequentia than a serious intent.

I might be wrong but I believe that's the situation.

[newyankee]

I think yours is the best post so far,  Glyn. We will not be told anything until there is something for us to be told.  It is all speculation at this moment but it ios fun speculating how people are going spend or get millions don't you think?

  I wish I had enough money to buy a club, but as that will never happen, this is the next best thing.

[BobG]

I wish I had enough money to buy Wensdeh. Then I could close 'em down and use the land as a great  big site for the disposal of Donny's waste. Perfect.

BobG

[roversontheup]

I wish I had enough money to buy Wensdeh. Then I could close 'em down and use the land as a great  big site for the disposal of Donny's waste. Perfect.

BobG

Quote of the week for me:-):-)

[Red Rover]

Sooooo, u can all pipe down then, Ryan obviously thinks the same...