Torquay United Fans Forum

In "normal" management, there is a theory that people tend to get promoted one level higher than they're actually capable of, and then screw that job up. Same with football teams/managers/players, I wonder?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_principle

From that link: 'Peter suggests that "In time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out its duties"'.

Neal, did you read what I actually wrote, or did you read what you thought I wrote; did you read where I said I am no fan of GI and don't trust them, or did you forget to read that bit?

Do you really think that if TUST had taken over instead of GI, we'd be in a better position - on and off the field - now? Because I don't think that at all. Their money would have ran out, with no reserves to keep the club going.

I'm no fan of GI and don't trust them. But let's not pretend TUST are the answer to all our prayers and would have whipped the club into better shape now.

Is it a "bad thing" to want his investment back? It's often talked about in hushed tones, whispers and innuendos that he (Phillips) was only in it for himself, but why's it wrong for him to want his money back? I am presuming he is not a man of immense wealth so, yeah, wanting to get his money back seems fine with me. (Note, I am not talking about all the other things people seem to think Phillips did wrong; I am just talking about wanting to get his money back).

Kev, how do we (can we?) put a figure on that? Also, playing Devil's Advocate, if a couple hundred away fans stay over once a fortnight, does that generate enough? I think we need figures, but I don't know how to get them.

Neal, I posted two links to facts, which I think relate to our predicament; one about Torbay's finances, and one about how a 2000 strong objection didn't stop planning going ahead in Torquay. That is what we're up against. It's about finances, pure and simple, and chanting/protesting to GI is aiming at the wrong group of people, in my humble opinion. Yes, it lets us vent and I agree GI are bastards, but I don't think it'll get us anywhere.

What I think is needed is probably impossible for us to generate accurately. We need a statement/business plan which shows how much cash Torquay Utd brings into the Bay in order to persuade the powers that be (I don't mean GI; I mean the Mayor/Council) that the club is important to the local economy. We need to show that the Club generates enough to make it worthwhile now; not in 5 years time, as it's now the Council are struggling for cash. Although, sadly, I wonder if any statement will show that what comes into the Bay due to football is "not very much". That is what we're up against, which is all in the backdrop of Torbay needing to build more houses (another fact, albeit not everyone would agree with this premise).

One other fact we know about, which hopefully is still in our favour, is the covenant on the land. But we also know that these things can be overturned.

For what's it's worth, I wasn't casting aspersions about previous regimes - it was a genuine question.

Still, are we able to find out if it's still ring fenced?

I just tried to post that HE/DevonLife link to Spotted Torquay Facebook page, but he replied that he couldn't post any HE links. I think he's tied to WeAreSouthDevon somehow.

Not totally different, Senor. People were against the hotel, and their concerns were valid, even if others thought the hotel was a good idea.

Anyway, that isn't what this thread was about. I was just pointing out that a couple thousand protesters does not sway the Council...

Gullscorer wrote: ↑27 Mar 2017, 18:26 What's the betting there's no money left in the Players' Fund? Or that any remaining income, or funds which may be there, simply sinks without trace into the club's general finances, some of which may be set aside to pay players' wages, or not, as the case may be. That none of the money paid into the fund can actually be accounted for. That if the club is still pocketing money from the fund in current circumstances, then somebody should consider suing the club?

This is a genuine question. Did we ever know, for sure, that the Players' Fund money was ringfenced?

On the same theme as my previous post, we know the Council has granted permission to build a new hotel, amidst quite a fierce opposition. So they have (very recent) 'previous' in making 'unpopular' decisions.
http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/201 ... -go-ahead/

As it happens, a large number of local people were 'for' the new hotel, and a lot were against it (according to that link, 2000 protested). I think there will be a similar split if Plainmoor comes up for sale.

Well, we know the Council are struggling for money - they have to make £21.5m of saving by 2020, on top of the £62m savings made over the last 6 years - http://www.torbay.gov.uk/council/financ ... et-201718/

That is my concern, and if there is any reason to sell Plainmoor it is for monetary reasons.

Have you seen what was up for sale/rent recently, by the Council? A not exhaustive list includes:
- Brixham breakwater lighthouse
- the block adjacent to The Boathouse in Paignton.
- those pillars adjacent to The Grand hotel (near the bowling lawn/green).
- those enclosed benches in Paignton Green, with planning permission 'considered' (I thought there were covenants on Paignton Green, but that's another story)
- those buildings adjacent to where the ballon was.
- some other weird and wonderful things...

And of course they've gone for that hotel near the Pavillions.

Plainmoor wasn't on the 'For Sale' list the last time I checked, but with everything else up for sale, is Plainmoor safe in the climate where the Council seem to be (trying to!) flog everything off?

I don't know the answer to that question, but as has been pointed out we're in their (or the Mayor's) hands unfortunately.

Is it worth someone putting a summary of the concerns onto somewhere like the SpottedTorquay Facebook group, to get more local people to understand what is going on? I'd do it myself, but I wouldn't want to get the details incorrect.

Judging from the amount of posts on there about lost cats/dogs/phones, it is quite an active group. There was also a fair bit of chat on there recently about the new hotel proposed in Torquay. There is a danger though that you'd get some people saying that they don't care if the club folds, so I suppose we'd need to be prepared to argue that without it turning into a slanging match.

Lucy, I agree. If I was Nicho, I wouldn't quit. I wonder what he'll do when we get relegated, though?