FlyBritishMidland

We said see you soon to a great family friend today, 37 years old... brain tumours are a Bamford.
godfather to my fantastic niece and an all round top bloke. 
 
raising a glass to you Tommo. See you on the other side mate ?.

Is anyone more encouraged by radio silence on all fronts that a sale may be moving on quietly in the background? After the announcements and then embarrassing social media stunts by Alonso could a more business-like offer be progressing do you think? If everything had just fallen through after his comments after the final match wouldnt WR have perhaps been more vocal or walked? Perhaps I am interpreting silence over- optimistically? Should have done a poll!

Getting quite bored of all the 'nobody's going to want to buy us' BS. To my mind, most recently, there were three really significant inhibitors to what I would term, serious investors; firstly, the imminent threat of relegation'; secondly, the fear of a significant points deduction for next season and a possibly another season-long relegation fight as a result; and lastly, the fact that a deal had already been struck with Alonso pending EFL ratification. In the last few weeks, two of those factors have already been mitigated and we are now told we have multiple credible suitors. Happenstance?
As regards the last outstanding issue, that being our punishment for our supposed FRS 102 'non-compliance', gimme a break! Does anyone really believe the original DC are suddenly going to turn around and ratify a 12 point deduction, or anything like it? 
My predictions for the immediate future: A) The club will be under new, EFL approved and sanctioned ownership inside 3 months. B) There'll be no significant FFP punishment, if for no other reason than we've done nothing wrong. C) The current never-ending pile-on from some on here will thankfully peter out and melodrama and inter-fan sniping levels will return to something like those prevalent before the original FFP charge.
And breathe....
 

That's he crux of the issue - both the Sheikh and Alonso were almost certainly fronting up other parties - as such they would potentially both appear credible if they came to Mel with letters of intent and evidence of wealth from the real backers. The fact that the backers have subsequently got cold feet and walked away in the interim (not surprising given our precarious league position and issues with the EFL) has resulted in both deals falling through.
The Sheikh simply melted away whereas Alonso had made such a big deal of the takeover that he kept on 'giving it large' until Mel pulled the plug when no money appeared. I don't think either of them were necessaarily the chancers they're being made out to be - it's certainly possible that they both started out with good intentions and had the rug pulled from under them when their wealthy backers walked away...
Those people attacking Mel for not doing his due diligence would do well to remember that hindsight is indeed a wonderful thing.....

Agree. And it not being the season finale.  We need Cup Final It’s a Knockout, Question of Sport, etc.  Marvellous!!

FA Cup final day being interrupted by; first the News at 1, secondly Bargain Hunt. Also it not kicking off at 3pm.
Bring back Gerald Sinstadt onboard the team coach from hotel to Wembley, as a helicopter tracks it from above.

Well yeah, I can't see why anyone would think otherwise can you? Who would want to read: Derby have big debts but aren't going into admin and face a fine if found guilty of accounting errors?
I found the bit from Mel reassuring (although all he was saying was 'worst case') - at least it means they've got a handle on it! I'm feeling slightly more positive now we've ditched the chancers and fake sheiks! FFS Mel you'll have to find a way to ride this out. #COYR

Not one person is dismissing everything negative as false, pretending that the club is in a good state or that its finances have been well managed.
There are a number of posters who've calmly analysed the content of the articles and looked into what the figures might actually refer to.
I just find it weird when people take everything written that's negative at face value, but don't allow the same courtesy in respect to the less alarmist articles and analysis.
 

We were living beyond our means pre-pandemic as nearly all football clubs do. No one plans for a global pandemic, what’s our revenue been in the last 12 months given we don’t have parachute payments? All our main revenue streams with exception of TV have disappeared. Where else is the cash going to come from except loans or Mel’s pocket?! I don’t know what people expect. Rolls-Royce lost £2bn last year, generated liquidity by a share issue and taking out loans and is taking other cost cutting measures.  It’s been mentioned that at least 10 other championship clubs are struggling, it’s just we’re the only ones under scrutiny due to FFP, trying to sell the club and the fact Wayne Rooney is also at the club - we are news.
Reality is probably not as bad as the Daily Mail reporter is making out (he is the guy Newcastle banned from press conferences by the way due to his brand of negative sensationalism and the fact he goes about it like a complete Bamford). I don’t get the £20m HMRC bit for a start, seems from Mel’s comments that due to extensions that many clubs have been granted. 
Nevertheless it isn’t good, key is whether Mel can or is willing to underwrite at least some of the debt.  I agree buyers are not going to want to take that on. 
 
I think he needs to start levelling with us about the future.

Headline: more than £60m
Content: £60m worst case scenario
 
Why is the reporting in papers so poor?

We’ll probably yes .
I argued we should have kept Cocu party because of the cost of sacking him and it appears it was 8 Million !
This sack sack sack of managers has not helped us. 
 

Yankee Doodle Derby?
 

So my parents left the gate open in case she managed to find her way home, and this morning when they went downstairs she was asleep on the garden. No idea where she was or how she got back, she happy that she did!

 

This is a bit of a reach, but I've posted on every other social media platform that I have and my mum is pretty upset about it. 
Tonight at roughly 5.27pm my dog managed to escape our gate and we've been unable to find her since. She escaped on to our driveway next to the B6179 just outside of Little Eaton. 
Posting on the off chance that somebody may have been driving past at that point in time and seen something, cheers. 
 
 

Saw Billy Joel at Old Trafford a couple of years ago.  Bloody brilliant!!
 

Top man, I'd like to see him given another contract.
 

We don't know if Alonso has told Rooney that regardless of the result today, he wants Rooney to stay on.
That gives Rooney confidence and doesn't mean that pressure is all out for him to get a result.
My thoughts are that if it was me and I was seeking to spend 50 million to buy Derby, I wouldn't hesitate to pay of Rooney regardless of say a few extra million and then buy the best team and manager that I could afford to lift the club out of the mess its in.
I would not risk it all on a manager who in my opinion isn't good enough to manage the club at any level.
Just because he's played for England and was an amazing striker doesn't mean he's equipped to get the best out of the team.
I know I'm guilty of rehashing thoughts I've already shared.
For me its not just about the players its about the tactics, players not being managed properly and played out of their best position.
Rooney totally lacks management experience. In my opinion he was given the job as a means to help find a buyer for the club.
If he was in any other job he would have been fired by now for his performances.

You telling me that Coventry Birmingham Preston Luton Barnsley (massively overachieving) Millwall have better squads than ours in terms of ability? We’re scrapping with Rotherham and we’re 3 points above Wycombe - they’ve done great - but they’re pub teams by comparison.
 
Lawrence Waghorn Byrne Clarke Shinnie Roberts Marshall are all more than capable championship players, with exception of Waggy and Marshall I’d say the others could all play in a top 6 team. With the right players around them Knight Bird Buchanan and Sibley could also play in a top 6 team. Then there’s Jozwiak - a first team polish international going to the Euros! 
A large chunk of this team was here last season and we finished 10th. We should not be anywhere near this. Top 6 - no chance, but mid-table definitely.
They should be doing better with this team. However they are not, and even if we do stay up, if the off field stuff isn’t sorted and Rooney remains in charge then players out of contract and loans will leave, we will be struggling to bring players in and IMO we would be odds on for relegation next season.

But that's all we are - training wheels for this arrogant incompetent, simply for the privilege of getting a regular mention on Sky Sport News. Heady days. Meanwhile a tinpot outfit down the road is qualifying for the Champions League
I want us to be recognised for two things only; quality of our support & quality of our football. The celebrity crap needs cutting out of this club on Monday - Rooney's sycophants can indulge their hero worship in OK magazine instead.

What Rooney says to the players tomorrow is critical...

Hector - five today.

Just found my dogs asleep on their chair after I'd taken them for a long walk...

Then why don't you tell us?
Otherwise you just sound like other posters who don't know anything but are fearing the worst.
If you do know stuff and are trying to rally supporters around a campaign, then shouldn't you be telling folks how it is?

Those of us who remember 1984 and the travails of Stuart Webb in saving the club from going out of business at the 59th minute of the 11th hour can't help but be concerned at the moment and that is just taking into account the known facts and not the added suppositions.
In 1984 it was the Inland Revenue petitioning to wind the club up due to unpaid taxes, I don't beleive that we have worries of that kind this time but the EFL have shown with Bury that they are willing to let clubs go. Hopefully the fact that they were substantially culpable in that case with their 'fit and proper person test' failure will make tham more careful this time.