BigShadow

I thought you'd be pleased - using my expat dollars to support a British company.

1. Yes - was cancelled due to volcanic ash. 2. Yes - will probably book BA for August. Reason - There are large numbers of decent hardworking employees at BA that deserve our support. This strike action has been voted for by a minority of cabin crew - the figures show a 71% vote in favour - but only 81% of eligible employees voted. Only Union members are eligible to vote and not all cabin crew belong to the Union - so it was something like 5-6000 votes in favour out of a cabin crew of 13-14000. Less than half. Furthermore, whilst Unite/BASSA members have voted in large numbers for strike action, when it comes down to it, many of them do not have the conviction to back up their vote with actual action. To me that says one thing - this isn't a strike about protecting the airline standards, quality of service, employees rights etc. A large percentage of these members are voting for strike action in the hope that it will get them, personally, a better deal BUT they are not prepared to put themselves out to secure that deal. It is not BA that are destroying BASSA/Unite - their own members are doing it by failing to support the action. That is why it is failing and I fully expect BA to be running a normal schedule within a couple weeks with the dispute finished. Best wishes to all BA staff working this week. :smt038

Yes, but 'going their way' does not necessarily equate to getting off scot-free. Even at 20p in the £ - that's a lot of money to find. The skates think they will raise £35m from player sales - we all know they will be lucky to get £20m. Chanrai may well end up as owner, but I can't see him wanting to sink additional funds into the club, so.....best case scenario for them.... They start next season on 0 points having secured the CVA and rescheduled their football creditors to be paid off by the PL using parachute money for the next two years. They have flogged all the players they could, and brought in a few of Spurs youth team as loaners. They have a crap team, can't afford to bring anyone decent in, and have only their gate income to depend on....and the blue few will be even fewer in the Championship....so I'll generously suggest they could raise £7m from ticket sales. That doesn't even cover the £10m wage budget the Android has proposed. So throw in a bit of TV money and sponsorship, they might cover the wages - but what about all the other operating costs??? I must be missing something obvious....but even if PCFC's unsecured debts were settled at 0p in the £...I still don't see how they are a viable proposition with a £10m wage bill. So I think the Skates misery will continue for a long time to come.

As with many things - the degree of militancy is subjective. Having seen many of the BASSA communications, often attributed to FF, my personal view point puts him firmly in the militant camp. However, militancy in itself is not a bad thing when you are desperately passionate about your cause. I think BASSA have picked the wrong fight at the wrong time - this should not be about protecting the rights they believe they are entitled to, it should be about obtaining the best possible deal for the cabin crew in the face of a changing world. Regardless of my personal feelings on this - to lose your income for pursuing something you felt morally obligated to do is a hard pill to swallow, and I hope things work out for your family.

It won't do any good but I really felt I had to send this to the FA.... I am saddened that this years FA cup final will feature a club that has cheated its way to Wembley by using players that have been bought at the expense of the British Taxpayer and other creditors that Portsmouth FC cannot afford to pay. The Premier League has rightly seen fit to punish this abuse of fair play by docking points, yet The FA seemingly turn a blind eye. So clubs that have abided by the rules are eliminated, whilst one that has bought and used players it cannot afford is allowed to grace the Wembley showcase of our nations greatest cup competition. The 2010 FA Cup Final has been tainted and will be the first final in living memory that I will not watch. I only hope that The FA will be immediately implementing rules to ensure this can never happen again. I know I will probably be accused of being 'bitter and jealous' - but honestly, I am just saddened by the fact PFC have for the second time, and even more obviously, cheated their way to Wembley.

Excellent - some quality post-season entertainment to look forward to. Should keep us going until the World Cup starts. I also don't see how they can be appointing a new Chief Exec at this time - isn't Android supposed to be solely responsible for running the show?

It always ****es me off that Scottish MPs get to vote on issues affecting only England, but English MP's get no say on votes in the Scottish Parliament. There should be an English Assembly just for the sake of consistency and fairness.

Don't worry...it will probably just get brushed under the carpet.

Yep...I heard he was on the administrators team last time around....this time he has the top job. They do like to keep it in the family down that end of the M27.

I wouldn't get your hopes up. Best Buy are still way overpriced compared to the likes of Amazon etc. They have some good sales periodically but in overall terms I wouldn't think you can look forward to a lowering of prices for Consumer Electronics/White Goods. At best, it is just another store to do your research before heading home to buy on the internet.

It could be money well spent - Wolves play Pompey in May - if wolves still need points to avoid the drop, a weakened pompey would be very useful. Presumably any players bought and loaned back would not be eligible to play against their 'new' club. It might cost Wolves a couple million now, but if those points v Pompey ensure PL survival it will be spend £2m now - gain £30m next season.

I thought James was a free agent in a couple of months? Who is going to pay £1m now?

For those of us wondering I had to google internecine - means mutually destructive. An educational pasttime - SWF.

Well Labour might be in for more than a migraine...... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1260178/BA-militants-plot-control-Labour-Damning-emails-strike-union-chief-reveal-secret-agenda.html?ITO=1490 BA want to crush the unions - The unions want to crush New Labour - the cabin crew are pawns in a giant power struggle. :smt102

Don't forget, PCFC probably haven't paid in full for them yet - about £4 million each. How much of those transfer fees remain outstanding?

In addition to the above, the Times article also states..... The second case involves the voluntary liquidation of Aqua, a London-based commercial laundry that serviced various top hotels. The taxman disputed a £500,000 debt, which the sole director claimed his insolvent company owed him. But last May Andronikou agreed to be replaced as the liquidator ahead of a High Court hearing. Last night Stephen Hunt, the new liquidator chosen by HMRC, confirmed that he is investigating “the director and Andronikou’s conduct in the run-up to the insolvency”. So..Pompey have managed to find probably the only administrator in the UK who within the last 18 months has been found to have acted incompetently by a judge, and whose conduct is currently under investigation on another case. I know its been said many, many times before...but...no matter how hard you tried... You just couldn't make it up! :D:D

Superb post. If only the PL would follow this advice.... :supz:

A good example indeed. I seem to remember an already relegated Derby giving us a 6-2 whooping a few years back.

Slippery buggggers those fishy folk - you think you got 'em, then they slide right through your hands.

I think he means - if the debt increased while in admin, the administrator would be held responsible for that.

HMRC have not given up on the money owed by PCFC - they have just accepted the appointment of the administrator can not be successfully challenged. There is only so much they can do within the law.

On SSN 30 mins ago - they said HMRC have dropped its challenge to PCFC's administration - so no court appearance next week? Anyone else hear that?

Tears down face...absolutely top drawer!!! Thanks Pilchards

Tears down face...absolutely top drawer!!! Thanks Pilchards

Yep - that's my take on it too. I also think the FA/PL should immediately implement the following rules:- 1) No club can be owned by a company that is based in a country that does not publicly publish its financial statements and ownership status. 2) Any player purchased on an installment plan may not be sold on to another club unless all outstanding installments are settled as part of the new deal. This shady business of buying players, selling them on for a profit and then continuing to have instalments due on a player you no longer own is ridiculous.