gonzo

This is one occasion where Rupert did absolutely the right thing. He had no option really, as others have stated.

I don't think Matt will have anything more to do with them. They've already done their utmost to make him look like a tit with the very people who idolise him.

That's the problem. They're so amatuerish and unprofessional that I think saving face is all they're interested in. They've already shown how little regard they have for the club, its staff and its supporters by not only wasting a vital 21 days exclusivity, and roping in our biggest modern-day hero under false pretenses. Funny how Pinnacle are shouting out that they're still in the race, yet Matt Le Tissier appears to be distancing himself from it this time. Matt was the one who publicly said they were out - if he was still on board, surely he would have been the one to come out and say "Er, well actually......." Apologies to any who still support Pinnacle (and hopefully there's not many left) but I was sucked in with their little game before. But I'm not buying it now. Let's face it, they've still got their contracts in their hand. If they were serious, especially after the FL's public statement, they would have done the deal by now. If the funds are there, what's stopping them contacting Mark Fry and signing on the line?

Personally, I wish Pinnacle would bugger off. All the signs say their bid was a sham.

Here's my take on Pinnacle. The FL have called their bluff by publicly stating that no further sanctions are being considered, and the only outstanding issue is clarification on funding. Pinnacle have had to declare themselves back in to save face because of this. However, they feel sure in themselves that one of the other groups will complete. Therefore, nobody will ever be able to say for certain that the funding wasn't there. However, if the other groups do pull out and there's only Pinnacle left, we will see for sure. I hope it doesn't come to this, as I honestly don't think they've got the backing to pull this off. All IMHO.

I would say its outside of their remit. Their job is to get the best deal for the creditors, nothing more, nothing less.

Nobody here has any real hard evidence AFAIK. However, Crouch's 'no comment' on the matter speaks volumes.

Fialka is a joke. The FL have stated quite clearly that no further deductions are being considered, totally discrediting the excuses that Lynam et al have given. So, please. Fialka, and all your mates - sod off.

I just want my club to survive. If that means Lowe, then so be it. That said, I really doubt we'll see Rupert back again.

In answer to the question, I ****ing hope so. They're the only hope we have left.

Because they didn't have the backing to go through with the deal. Whether they had at the beginning is debatable, but by the end it was all a charade.

Why do you have an avatar of Ian Branfoot? Valid question.

There has been heavy hints that it was Leon Crouch who paid the money for Pinnacle's exclusivity period, which was basically topped up by Dyer's transfer fee to make the full £500k. Yes, there would have been legal fees etc, but a man like Lynam in the property would have contacts in the legal profession as well, as there are all kinds of legal wranglings involved in developing property, so no doubt he would have got one of his legal mates involved as well. TL was quoted as saying they'd spent over £1m just after the exclusivity period had expired, but I doubt this very much. Anybody who does a good line in 'bovine scatology' (ie bulls**t), would have been able to rope in Crouch and Le Tissier for this. Crouch was wanting to have a place on the board, as he no doubt felt hard done by after RL and MW ousted him (he said as much himself shortly after the event), and Le Tiss is as much a supporter as the rest of us, and would have been desperate to see the club survive. So rope in Crouch to stump up the cash (TL knew he would after he'd paid the wages previously), and get Le Tiss on board to give the bid credibility amongst the supporters. Genius, he gets his 15 minutes of fame, and is hardly out of pocket. Meanwhile, the club goes to the wall. All IMHO, of course.

Perhaps he just missed out on his chance to audition for the X-Factor. and thought he'd do this instead?

More the question - will Saints make the Eastleigh game?

I don't think Guildford is classed as a city?

Good call. I've done it too. Copied and pasted your message, hope you don't mind.

That actually made me laugh!

Hammer. Nail. Head. IMHO.

Yes, I have heard that our new Austrian owner will be announced by close of business on Thursday:

I did think at the time, if the apology wasn't tongue-in-cheek that it was a bit premature.

But, anybody with any amount of brainpower would know that the football league would not back down. Apart from the face-saving aspect of it, had they backed down, they would have been subject to legal action from pretty much every club that has suffered the points penalty. Rather one club go under than **** off many others, from the FL's point of view.

Very true, but we were talking of football of the spherical-ball variety!

What a load of waffle. I would like to meet you face to face and tell you what I think of you.

Durham Truro Salisbury Ely Canterbury Chester Gloucester Lancaster Lichfield Ripon Wells Salford York Cambridge I think that pretty much sums it up, other than the ones already mentioned.