Fitzhugh Fella

Which will suit the players as they are free to then negotiate their contracts elsewhere in the knowledge the buying club has not had to fork out a transfer fee. No wonder not too many were throwing notes into the bucket!

Hmm I know where you are coming from but can anyone (who is not a fan) afford to chuck away a couple of million?. From what I have been reliably told the main financial investor behind Pinnacle is far from being a SMS regular or even a casual visitor. Don't even know if he likes football.

Sorry I really dunno - I am in no direct contact with them but I still reckon there is an element of "rolling the dice" going on.

Stu, maybe "greedy" should read "realistic". It was my word actually - not the one my source used but I had to change it to protect the innocent.

I only spin now for the future of my club - shame on you for thinking otherwise. Yea sure they are owed money (especially the small creditors whom I feel very sorry for) but the criticism is aimed at the bigger creditors who were happy to lend at high rates and are now reaping what they sow in this debacle. Now Ewell go shoot another messenger if it makes you feel better.

No my source is not from one of the bidders but someone who is certainly well placed to keep an eye out. And it is not anyone previously connected with the club which rules out all the usual suspects. There is still a degree of brinkmanship going on but that will be of no surprise to anyone on here. Perhaps Fry is just "piggy in the middle".

that, in the traumatic circumstances, the creditors are being a little too greedy. (Perhaps "unrealistic" or even "over ambitious" would be a better choice of adverb than "greedy") Excellent source.

Not quite right Steve - there was always a link from the very beginning through the playing staff. For example Ralph Ruffell, the goalie in our first match v Freemantle on the Common was playing FA Cup matches for us 8 years later and George Muir who also played in the first game was still around well into the 1890s in an administrative capacity and later a director. And George Carter, Saints 2nd ever captain who joined the club in 1887 after moving down from Hereford was involved in coaching the Reserves right up to the Great War. He is in the first known photo of the team taken in 1888 and I have in my possesion the original red sash he wore in the picture which was placed into my care by George's daughter-in-law about 10 years ago. AA Fry who also played in the first ever game was a guest of honour in the 1935 jubilee celebrations (along with Muir and Ruffell). Can't see Jason Euell or Rudi Skacel turning up in 2069 for the 50th anniversary of our rebirth.

They can't be that keen if they've been hanging around waiting for the Pinnacle group to fall at the last hurdle.

I don't think that has anything to do with it eelpie.

No offence docker, I think you are barking slightly up the wrong tree. For understandable reasons I think Pinnacle came late to the table hence them now playing an element of catchup over the last fortnight. I don't think MLT will be "window dressing" - I think he will have a pivotal role. I think the money is sorted out perse but some unexpected legal issues arose on Friday which need ironing out over the weekend. Fingers crossed, but from what snippets I have been told (and deduced for myself) I reckon the Pinnacle interest to ultimately be the most beneficial to the club.

Fair enough Phil. I think one of the reasons Pinnacle initially went public was because they suspected Fry was getting too "attached" to the Stuart Green led consortium. They have been pretty circumspect since that initial declaration of interest.

And you are totally innocent of any spinning.... Phil?

A wise post. I think this goes some way to explaining why it is not all going to schedule.

Only voted Liberal when tactically voting NC. Won't be voting for anyone next election mind you.

I really don't know if it will be done or not. Delicately poised I reckon. I think there is reasonable to substantial wealth involved in this consortium but I suppose it all boils down to how serious the investors are and ultimately what their motives are.

I can 100% categorically state the Pinnacle consortium does not involve R Lowe esq.

Sounds like they reached an impasse yesterday and both sides will need to reconsider their positions over the weekend before talks resume on Monday.

Hard copy

It doesn't add up Mike, I agree but it deffo says "the deadline to prove financial guarantees had been extended until the beginning of next week". Sloppy journalism or a worrying development?

Well they are quoting Begbies from last night so I assume they are merely reporting what they were told then. I have copied down the exact words from the Guardian. I guess we will have to see if the Echo say the same.

according to the Guardian who say "The consortium leading the race to buy Southampton has been given until Monday to secure a deal for the south coast club. (Begbies Traynor) said last night the deadline for the group to provide financial guarantees had been extended until the beginning of next week" So it wasn't the haggling holding things up it was Pinnacle not "providing financial guarantees" - that is a worry.

Amen I sometimes wonder is our club worth saving. Probably not......but the fans are!

Sorry John, I am as tense and in the dark as the next man/woman at present. I suspect the word doing the rounds at SMS this evening to be "brinkmanship".

I think the books are kinda looking "nil points" in a Eurovision type accent.