derby8

7 August 2010, Leeds 1 Derby 2, Hulse, Commons.

7 August 2010, Leeds 1 Derby 2, Hulse, Commons.

I was in Derby on Saturday and took a drive to the old BBG then drove the walk back to the station we used to take. 
Always in the Grange pre-match then a run back to the station past the Grange to catch the train back to LE.  Each game never seemed to pass without some form of incident.  Those narrow streets around the old ground.  Must have been very daunting for an away supporter if you somehow finished up parking in the wrong place.  Really miss the old girl,  RIP BBG.
Regards
Gangway D from the terrace 
 

That was our only Wembley playoff final I've missed....blooming typical. ?

Me and my son were there, in the posh seats  behind the goal where we scored, perfect view of our goal. Remember being full of optimism on the way back on the train...didn’t last long ?

How did we win this one and lose to QPR lol

28 May 2007, Derby 1 WBA 0, play-off, Wembley.

runs a lonely hearts club band.

A man joins an order of Trappist monks. Trappists are only to speak when necessary. In this particular monastery the rule was that monks were only allowed to speak once every 5 years. The man was told this and was happy to enter into viitual silence.
5 years pass and the man is sitting in the refectory when the head monk approaches and says to him "It's been 5 years. What would you like to say brother?".
The man says, "Are the Rams in the Premier League yet?."
The head monk shakes his head and walks away.
Another 5 years pass and the head monk finds the man in the dormitory and says "Brother, it's been another 5 years. What is it that you wish to say?"
"Are the Rams in the Premier League yet?" the man replies.
Again the head monk shakes his head sorrowfully.
Yet another 5 years pass and the head monk sees the man and says "Another 5 years have passed. Have you anything to say?"
"Are the Rams in the Premier League yet?" says the man.
"I have good news" says the head monk "Now remember your vows, and no cheering now Brother Mel, but the Rams were promoted to the Northern Premier League last season and they are only 6 points behind table toppers Mickleover this season”.

13 May 1989, Arsenal 1 Derby County 2, Saunders 2.

13 May 1989, Arsenal 1 Derby County 2, Saunders 2.

I think it's fair to say that we are all getting impatient for news.... What will be the nature of the EFL punishment? Will we find new owners? Will we be selling anyone? Will we be able to sign anyone?
In the meantime, there have been calls for Mel to make a statement. People are dissatisfied with what the club put out last week and, irrespective of any delicate negotiations, they demand an update from the owner.
The only way people would be satisfied, if he were to do so, would be if he laid it all bare and on the line, something like this:
"Thanks to chasing the dream and Covid, the club is in a poor financial state. I've gone as far as I can and need to hand it over to someone else. We've tried with three different parties to accomplish a takeover but, either because they couldn't fund it or because they were put off by the size of the task, none of those deals have been achieved.
"Consequently, I will try to fund the club in order to keep it out of administration. But we will have to cut costs. We will be forced to sell the best of our promising youngsters, at cut prices, just to be able to pay the day to day running costs.
"Of course, it means we do not have the money to buy the goal scoring striker(s) that we desperately need. We may not even be able to afford loan fees.
"That, along with a likely points deduction for next season - and a rookie manager - all means we are very likely to struggle - even more than last season."
And here's the crunch...
"We need support now from our great fans. Even though the football will be dire, shocking performances and awful results, we need everyone to renew their season tickets, buy merchandise and support the club in every monetary way possible."
Really, people are saying that they want honesty and openness, what do they really expect him to be able to say?
Would you renew season tickets etc if you knew we were heading for League 1 with barely a whimper?
Edit: I just wanted to add that I, too, would like more honest communication from the club - it's just that I don't think they can, not in a way that wouldn't cause more damage if the situation is as bad as we all suspect.

I bought the shirt he wore that game at auction a few years ago.

That's very harsh and it is the story of an innocent being punished for the acts of others.
I do miss the baseball ground.
I do not miss the walk/run back to the bus station.

We needed a win to guarantee safety, if I recall?  Anyway, despite heading to the game, I never got there...
 
39 years ago today then, when I suffered my one and only arrest!  ?
Got ambushed by their lot up by Ivy Square (Pre match), and before any actual fists made contact, a police van screeched to a halt, and they grabbed anyone who wasn't fast enough to escape!  About 8 of them, and 4 of us were in a face off.  4 of their lot got nabbed... and little old me!  ?
Spent 3 or 4 hours in the cells (Cotton Lane), and not allowed out until well after the game/fans had dispersed.
Unofficially, I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and got set upon.
Officially, I was charged with Breach of the peace, fined £80, and was named and shamed in the DET on the Monday, in the "More football hooligans in court today" column!
I was very strongly advised to plead guilty, as this was around the time Maggie had simply had enough, and this sort of crap was getting more and more "Front page".  Anyone pleading not guilty stood to be made an example of, once the courts decided otherwise!
To clarify... I am not proud, of course, and certainly not bragging, but as I see myself as an innocent/unlucky victim, neither am I ashamed.
 
 
 

15 May 1982, Derby County 3 Watford 2, Kevin Hector scores in his final game.

A CVA is still administration in the eyes of EFL so 12 points penalty

15 May 1982, Derby County 3 Watford 2, Kevin Hector scores in his final game.

How about apply to the govt review on football to be a 'pathfinder' fan run club, first on a larger scale, following success of smaller clubs like Exeter City. Case for some pump-priming cash to get off the ground.
If I had £30m would be very tempted to buy, become Chairman, with a paid Chief Executive and fans on the board. Budget scenarios, current (prob way too high), max allowed under ffp rules, max possible under break even, etc.
I would not look to take money out, achieve capital appreciation by a successful team run on good business lines.

Depends on the governance and decision making models you choose!
You can start out with wide consultation to work out your constitution and decision makers.
And you're aiming at a structure that has clear decision making responsibilities while giving fans a say.
Maybe you have a football executive or DOF who reports to a fan board. The fan board, chosen from the shareholders, can be elected at regular intervals, or chosen by random ballot, or half and half. Plus some experienced outsiders.

Ha! That depends, doesn't it?
First of all, the only realistic business plan option is one which aims at breaking even. It's not realistic to expect fans to keep putting their hands in their pockets every year to cover losses, and there would never be any consensus.
As for buying it. Suppose Mel writes off some debts and it's £30m: for 30,000 that's an average of £1,000 each. 
But I would say not everyone needs to put the same amount in. There could be a minimum investment to give you a membership vote.
You could have shares which are structured so that every shareholder gets an equal voting right, even if owning different percentages of the equity. Or you could have voting rights proportionate to ownership share.
As for raising the money, it is not impossible that the fans don't need to raise it all themselves.
What if we incorporate a community interest company, i.e. a social enterprise, and look for support in the form of grants or loans or guarantees? There could be supportive financial institutions out there that would be willing to lend money on better terms than the shark rates available from Dell.

How about apply to the govt review on football to be a 'pathfinder' fan run club, first on a larger scale, following success of smaller clubs like Exeter City. Case for some pump-priming cash to get off the ground.
If I had £30m would be very tempted to buy, become Chairman, with a paid Chief Executive and fans on the board. Budget scenarios, current (prob way too high), max allowed under ffp rules, max possible under break even, etc.
I would not look to take money out, achieve capital appreciation by a successful team run on good business lines.

Think there are 2 companies, combined debt £60m. PP £17.5m, balance DC £42.5m.
You could buy DC and deal with their debts, rent PP.
Or buy DC + PP deal with combined debts, no PP rent.
As ever over simplified because we don't have full info?

So many thoughts on this, but the main one is: IT CAN BE DONE.
To do it requires a lot of joint thought and action. But where better to start the ball rolling than this forum? I've read knowledgeable contributions from business owners, accountants, ex-footballers, and loads more: people with experience in all walks of life. The wisdom of crowds is not a myth.