Anyone Caught Knapping?

[vos 155]

Fascinating that once again the Chase era has been brought up. In his time he was a classic football boss. Wheeler/dealer and constantly juggled with buying and selling players in an attempt to balance the books but at the same time produce a decent side. Bearing in mind he was at the helm when were in Europe and dealt with significant ground improvements, it is a fact that his successors have never approached his levels. Nothing has really changed in the transfer market where we still buy/sell to financially stay afloat and apart from expenditure at Colney there has been little done at Carrow Road. Indeed it has taken some 10 years to apply a coat of paint at the River End toilets !!! 

As regards his "management fees" I would have thought they were justified. I heard he was often working well in to the night at the Club and nowadays we probably employ ten people to do his job. All those CEO's who have come and disappeared and how much do we pay Chloe and hubby ??

As for D & M as I have just said on another thread we seem to have an American busting a gut to provide us with some money. But no, at their age they want to cling on for another couple of years so leaving the Club in limbo.

Finally as regards the Sutton interview, when you are in business you do not show your hand until you think it necessary. If people feel that he was telling white lies perhaps somebody can tell me the name of any large business  or politician these days who is white than white. I can't think of anyone !!!

[vos 155]

To confirm I am “whiter than white” her real name is Zoe !!!!!!!!!!

[essex canary 506]

2 minutes ago, vos said:

To confirm I am “whiter than white” her real name is Zoe !!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps it is Phooey?

[PurpleCanary 5,585]

20 hours ago, essex canary said:

Why not email 'supportgroup@thetakeoverpanel.co.uk'

A sensible suggestion, but as it happens I sent the Panel a lengthy email in September, soon after the Proposals etc were published.

The email repeated the criticisms I had already made here on the ATTANASIO thread of its decision to allow the waiver vote under such peculiar circumstances and its certification of Smith and Webber as independent directors.

Making the point that the waiver decision in particular went against its remit of protecting the minorities. Later the same day I had a conversation with the Panel's case officer in which we discussed my arguments on both complaints. 

Edited October 14, 2023 by PurpleCanary

[Midlands Yellow 4,083]

17 hours ago, vos said:

Fascinating that once again the Chase era has been brought up. In his time he was a classic football boss. Wheeler/dealer and constantly juggled with buying and selling players in an attempt to balance the books but at the same time produce a decent side. Bearing in mind he was at the helm when were in Europe and dealt with significant ground improvements, it is a fact that his successors have never approached his levels. Nothing has really changed in the transfer market where we still buy/sell to financially stay afloat and apart from expenditure at Colney there has been little done at Carrow Road. Indeed it has taken some 10 years to apply a coat of paint at the River End toilets !!! 

As regards his "management fees" I would have thought they were justified. I heard he was often working well in to the night at the Club and nowadays we probably employ ten people to do his job. All those CEO's who have come and disappeared and how much do we pay Chloe and hubby ??

As for D & M as I have just said on another thread we seem to have an American busting a gut to provide us with some money. But no, at their age they want to cling on for another couple of years so leaving the Club in limbo.

Finally as regards the Sutton interview, when you are in business you do not show your hand until you think it necessary. If people feel that he was telling white lies perhaps somebody can tell me the name of any large business  or politician these days who is white than white. I can't think of anyone !!!

Great post. 

[PurpleCanary 5,585]

17 hours ago, vos said:

Fascinating that once again the Chase era has been brought up. In his time he was a classic football boss. Wheeler/dealer and constantly juggled with buying and selling players in an attempt to balance the books but at the same time produce a decent side. Bearing in mind he was at the helm when were in Europe and dealt with significant ground improvements, it is a fact that his successors have never approached his levels. Nothing has really changed in the transfer market where we still buy/sell to financially stay afloat and apart from expenditure at Colney there has been little done at Carrow Road. Indeed it has taken some 10 years to apply a coat of paint at the River End toilets !!! 

As regards his "management fees" I would have thought they were justified. I heard he was often working well in to the night at the Club and nowadays we probably employ ten people to do his job. All those CEO's who have come and disappeared and how much do we pay Chloe and hubby ??

As for D & M as I have just said on another thread we seem to have an American busting a gut to provide us with some money. But no, at their age they want to cling on for another couple of years so leaving the Club in limbo.

Finally as regards the Sutton interview, when you are in business you do not show your hand until you think it necessary. If people feel that he was telling white lies perhaps somebody can tell me the name of any large business  or politician these days who is white than white. I can't think of anyone !!!

Well, apart from by far and away the single most expensive piece of building since Carrow Road itself - the knocking down of the old South Stand and doubling the capacity with the replacement.

[nutty nigel 7,643]

17 minutes ago, PurpleCanary said:

Well, apart from by far and away the single most expensive piece of building since Carrow Road itself - the knocking down of the old South Stand and doubling the capacity with the replacement.

Yes but if Bob hadn’t have been chased out we could have had matching City stands and it would have been a symmetrical theatre experience from both sides of the ground…

[vos 155]

2 hours ago, PurpleCanary said:

Well, apart from by far and away the single most expensive piece of building since Carrow Road itself - the knocking down of the old South Stand and doubling the capacity with the replacement.

Purple. I have to confess I can't recall exactly when this improvement was done. Presumably it was it done in the Delia era or if I was more intelligent with the usage of words ""After Bob was chased out". Perhaps with the glorious benefit of hindsight it was not a good idea to build a hotel to infill part of the stands.

[TIL 1010 4,798]

36 minutes ago, vos said:

Purple. I have to confess I can't recall exactly when this improvement was done. Presumably it was it done in the Delia era or if I was more intelligent with the usage of words ""After Bob was chased out". Perhaps with the glorious benefit of hindsight it was not a good idea to build a hotel to infill part of the stands.

The building of the South Stand was forced upon D&M as it was in serious danger of failing the safety certificate and being closed. It caused major financial problems until Alan Bowkett rode into town a few years later and renegotiated the loan payments with the bank.

[Big Vince 319]

1 hour ago, vos said:

Purple. I have to confess I can't recall exactly when this improvement was done. Presumably it was it done in the Delia era or if I was more intelligent with the usage of words ""After Bob was chased out". Perhaps with the glorious benefit of hindsight it was not a good idea to build a hotel to infill part of the stands.

It was completed in 2004 and officially opened by John Bond and Ken Brown.

No, the hotel was not a good idea as it has deprived the club of much needed seating capacity.

[nutty nigel 7,643]

1 hour ago, vos said:

Purple. I have to confess I can't recall exactly when this improvement was done. Presumably it was it done in the Delia era or if I was more intelligent with the usage of words ""After Bob was chased out". Perhaps with the glorious benefit of hindsight it was not a good idea to build a hotel to infill part of the stands.

Of course it's not an intelligent usage of words because it isn't true. For all the hot air, banners, placards, protests, fights, police horses and even the spectre of  St Andrews Hall couldn't move him. Big Bob stood strong repelling all. Even Barclays bank couldn't shift him. They would have in the end but just in the nick of time Geoffrey Watling opened his wallet and Big Bad Bob was smitten and became a pussycat.

Later Watling undid all the good work by selling to Michael and Delia. But he was happy and content with it all. Plus nobody else wanted our club.

[PurpleCanary 5,585]

34 minutes ago, TIL 1010 said:

The building of the South Stand was forced upon D&M as it was in serious danger of failing the safety certificate and being closed. It caused major financial problems until Alan Bowkett rode into town a few years later and renegotiated the loan payments with the bank.

It was a problem that to an extent they inherited from Chase. And rather than do what Chase did with the Main Stand, and use the insurance money to rebuild it without increasing capacity, which has bedeviled us ever since, they doubled it in size. Which indeed caused financial problems but in the long run has way more than paid for itself.

[nutty nigel 7,643]

Just to say Alan Bowkett didn't ride into town. He was appointed.

[TIL 1010 4,798]

1 hour ago, PurpleCanary said:

It was a problem that to an extent they inherited from Chase. And rather than do what Chase did with the Main Stand, and use the insurance money to rebuild it without increasing capacity, which has bedeviled us ever since, they doubled it in size. Which indeed caused financial problems but in the long run has way more than paid for itself.

In fairness to Chase it was rebuilt with the Norwich Union payout but the foundations were such that it could take further development in later years and here we are rolling towards 2024 with nothing done.

[Big Vince 319]

30 minutes ago, TIL 1010 said:

In fairness to Chase it was rebuilt with the Norwich Union payout but the foundations were such that it could take further development in later years and here we are rolling towards 2024 with nothing done.

Chase was a builder and developer. The Socialists are not. One is a cook and the other a journo/writer/publisher.

[Nuff Said 5,178]

2 hours ago, nutty nigel said:

Just to say Alan Bowkett didn't ride into town. He was appointed.

So was Farke but that didn’t stop us singing songs about him riding a horse. 
 

I’m not sure what that proves mind you, but I wanted to say it. 😳

[Big Vince 319]

2 hours ago, PurpleCanary said:

It was a problem that to an extent they inherited from Chase. And rather than do what Chase did with the Main Stand, and use the insurance money to rebuild it without increasing capacity, which has bedeviled us ever since, they doubled it in size. Which indeed caused financial problems but in the long run has way more than paid for itself.

Capacity wasn't such an issue in Chase's day as the gates were typically 14,000.

[essex canary 506]

2 hours ago, nutty nigel said:

Just to say Alan Bowkett didn't ride into town. He was appointed.

Perhaps rather reluctantly and out of necessity?

[Big Vince 319]

23 hours ago, vos said:

Fascinating that once again the Chase era has been brought up. In his time he was a classic football boss. Wheeler/dealer and constantly juggled with buying and selling players in an attempt to balance the books but at the same time produce a decent side. Bearing in mind he was at the helm when were in Europe and dealt with significant ground improvements, it is a fact that his successors have never approached his levels. Nothing has really changed in the transfer market where we still buy/sell to financially stay afloat and apart from expenditure at Colney there has been little done at Carrow Road. Indeed it has taken some 10 years to apply a coat of paint at the River End toilets !!! 

As regards his "management fees" I would have thought they were justified. I heard he was often working well in to the night at the Club and nowadays we probably employ ten people to do his job. All those CEO's who have come and disappeared and how much do we pay Chloe and hubby ??

As for D & M as I have just said on another thread we seem to have an American busting a gut to provide us with some money. But no, at their age they want to cling on for another couple of years so leaving the Club in limbo.

Finally as regards the Sutton interview, when you are in business you do not show your hand until you think it necessary. If people feel that he was telling white lies perhaps somebody can tell me the name of any large business  or politician these days who is white than white. I can't think of anyone !!!

I can also vouch for Chase's work ethic. He was typically down at the ground by 7am most days and I agree the work that he did would take up several paid employees by today's standards.

[NewNestCarrow 203]

23 hours ago, vos said:

Fascinating that once again the Chase era has been brought up. In his time he was a classic football boss. Wheeler/dealer and constantly juggled with buying and selling players in an attempt to balance the books but at the same time produce a decent side. Bearing in mind he was at the helm when were in Europe and dealt with significant ground improvements, it is a fact that his successors have never approached his levels. Nothing has really changed in the transfer market where we still buy/sell to financially stay afloat and apart from expenditure at Colney there has been little done at Carrow Road. Indeed it has taken some 10 years to apply a coat of paint at the River End toilets !!! 

As regards his "management fees" I would have thought they were justified. I heard he was often working well in to the night at the Club and nowadays we probably employ ten people to do his job. All those CEO's who have come and disappeared and how much do we pay Chloe and hubby ??

As for D & M as I have just said on another thread we seem to have an American busting a gut to provide us with some money. But no, at their age they want to cling on for another couple of years so leaving the Club in limbo.

Finally as regards the Sutton interview, when you are in business you do not show your hand until you think it necessary. If people feel that he was telling white lies perhaps somebody can tell me the name of any large business  or politician these days who is white than white. I can't think of anyone !!!

Chase was not the design visionary you believe him to be. Both stand replacements of his era were forced upon NCFC (by fire & by all-seater requirements). [Your view that D&M have done nothing to improve Carrow Rd has already been corrected]

The idea that Chase was justified in taking management fees is laughable. Already lining his pockets with emoluments (being an early departure from the notion that Directors give their time freely) he chose to double-dip, at a time when NCFC was financially on its knees. 

 

[TIL 1010 4,798]

1 minute ago, NewNestCarrow said:

Chase was not the design visionary you believe him to be. Both stand replacements of his era were forced upon NCFC (by fire & by all-seater requirements). [Your view that D&M have done nothing to improve Carrow Rd has already been corrected]

The idea that Chase was justified in taking management fees is laughable. Already lining his pockets with emoluments (being an early departure from the notion that Directors give their time freely) he chose to double-dip, at a time when NCFC was financially on its knees. 

 

The Barclay was built with a grant from the Football Trust and what is now the Regency Security Stand was built before Chase set foot in the boardroom.

[NewNestCarrow 203]

3 hours ago, TIL 1010 said:

The building of the South Stand was forced upon D&M as it was in serious danger of failing the safety certificate and being closed. It caused major financial problems until Alan Bowkett rode into town a few years later and renegotiated the loan payments with the bank.

Without the ITV Digital problems I suspect the Securitisation loan might have £10m (not £15m), and therefore less of a millstone? 

[Big Vince 319]

10 minutes ago, TIL 1010 said:

The Barclay was built with a grant from the Football Trust and what is now the Regency Security Stand was built before Chase set foot in the boardroom.

You mean the Kevin Reeves Stand.

[PurpleCanary 5,585]

30 minutes ago, Big Vince said:

Capacity wasn't such an issue in Chase's day as the gates were typically 14,000.

Yes, even when we finished third in The Premier League for many games it was five or six thousand short of capacity. But when Smith and Jones took over they used Andrew Cullen’s skills to get attendances so far up we were close to capacity all the time even when down in the third tier. You possibly should have thought a touch more deeply about whether the point you were making was actually helping your overall view.

[nutty nigel 7,643]

32 minutes ago, essex canary said:

Perhaps rather reluctantly and out of necessity?

Definitely reluctantly. But persuasively.

We don't have to peer back through the mists of time to spin anything because history is history...

Tuesday October 271:07  Sports Desk Pete: You publically challenged how Smith & Jones were running the club back in May. Apart from their obvious love of the club, what have you seen to change your opinion?

Can u sit down please 

Tuesday October 27, 2009 1:07 Sports Desk Pete

1:13  Alan Bowkett: Can u sit down please - I must correct you, I publicly challenged how Neil Doncaster was running the Club.   As for Delia and the two Michaels, I think their outstanding contribution has been the appointment of David McNally   as Chief Executive - a consummate businessman who has a decade of football experience at the highest level.   Paul, David and I are now running the Football Club with the complete support of the substantial shareholders.   When we have had to take very difficult decisions, all our substantial shareholders have been demanding in their questioning of our proposals, as I would wish any non-executive director to be and then they have been some of the most supportive non-executive directors I have ever worked with and I can assure you I have worked with a lot.   Let's not forget, I did not seek this job and it was Delia and Michael that realised some fundamental changes had, 2009 1:13 Alan Bowkett

 

[Big Vince 319]

4 minutes ago, PurpleCanary said:

Yes, even when we finished third in The Premier League for many games it was five or six thousand short of capacity. But when Smith and Jones took over they used Andrew Cullen’s skills to get attendances so far up we were close to capacity all the time even when down in the third tier. You possibly should have thought a touch more deeply about whether the point you were making was actually helping your overall view.

I do have an overall view. I was only pointing out the danger of judging the past by what comes afterwards. No one could have foreseen such a big uptick in attendances.

[NewNestCarrow 203]

17 minutes ago, Big Vince said:

You mean the Kevin Reeves Stand.

Three days ago you were stating that before D&M the club's Selling Culture was nowhere as aggressive, yet here you are plainly contradicting yourself!  

Couldn't make it up (though you try to)

 

[PurpleCanary 5,585]

8 minutes ago, Big Vince said:

I do have an overall view. I was only pointing out the danger of judging the past by what comes afterwards. No one could have foreseen such a big uptick in attendances.

Actually you could have. All that was needed was working to achieve it. Which Chase did not do and your hated Smith and Jones did. A friendly suggestion is that you drop this argument, because it really cannot work for you. You are on a loser as far as this is concerned.

[nutty nigel 7,643]

Vinny's getting out of his comfort zone a wee bit tonight. He's usually more savvy than that...

[PurpleCanary 5,585]

12 minutes ago, nutty nigel said:

Vinny's getting out of his comfort zone a wee bit tonight. He's usually more savvy than that...

And we were becoming fast friends. That is what is so upsetting…