What if

[hypochondriac]

Now I'm starting this thread with a plea. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can we just discuss this hypothetical scenario without getting into a slanging match. I'm not condemming anyone here, neither am I taking sides.

 

So, I wanted to start this thread to pose a few questions to all saints fans on this site. Just suppose that Markus and Cortese bought this club because they saw an opportunity to grab a bargain and make some serious cash. Cortese was charged with maximising revenue quickly to ensure as large a profit as possible. Just suppose (remember this is hypothetical) that all that "we are custodians of the club" was just PR b*llocks, designed to assist the primary aim of maximising profit.

 

Suppose that fans were seen purely as a means of achieving this profit, that all were ignored when requests were made to open constructive dialogue with the club. What if organisations and even fellow saints fans were threatened by the club with legal action on more than one occasion?

 

How would people feel about this if this was the reason that Markus and Cortese took over and we ultimately find out a few years down the line that they don't give a sh*t about the fans? That's a genuine question by the way, I'm really curious about what people would think if that was a real scenario.

 

I guess what I'm also wondering is what would Cortese and Markus have to do to lose your support or at least make you concerned?

 

I HOPE THIS CAN BE DEBATED WITHOUT GETTING INTO A SLANGING MATCH

 

I'm interested in all (polite) responses.

[Saint_clark]

"What if organisations and even fellow saints fans were threatened by the club with legal action on more than one occasion?"

Do you know of this happening, or is all of the above hypothetical?

[hypochondriac]

hypothetical as I said. IF any of these occurrences happened how would you feel about it?

[Saint_clark]

Rubbish, just seen your "i've been told things about Cortese" post on the other thread. You've heard rumours of the legal action stuff then.

Well, hypothetically, it would depend on the situations in which he found himself where he had to threaten legal action.

As for them wanting to make a quick buck, it would involve them getting the club stable in the Premiership with a decent infrastructure. So I wouldn't have a problem with it as our interests would be temporarily aligned.

Whoever bought the club in the future would have to be extremely wealthy anyway.

As for losing my support i'm not sure to be honest. Sacking Pardew this summer would have gone a long way to doing it, but that doesn't look likely to happen.

[Saintandy666]

Well, obviously we'd all be very píssed off. In addition, there would be very little anyone could do about it as we would be a totally privately owned team. It would probably lead to some sort of mass boycott and attendances would go down. Then again, look at Manchester United... their attendances have gone up under the Glazers so if we did well, there would probably be protests, but people may still attend and stuff. I have no idea to be honest and I hope it never happens to us. In all honesty, I don't see the productiveness of discussing this, but like you said, keep to the debate.

[Saint_clark]

Why would there be protests? To make profit they would need to get the club into the Prem and then sell, and whoever bought the club wouldn't be able to do so if they didn't have a lot of money behind them.

[Blind Dog]

They are both capitalists - not philanthropists, they want a return on their investment. It is fantastic that they have invested in our club and long may that investment continue but it cannot be taken for granted imo

[Saintandy666]

Well, if they treated the club like **** I'm sure people would get annoyed. But like I said, if we are winning people would still probably go to matches.

[Saintandy666]

They are both capitalists - not philanthropists, they want a return on their investment. It is fantastic that they have invested in our club and long may that investment continue but it cannot be taken for granted imo

 

You are right of course. But treating customers well is part of the package of a bigger margin. I expect them to want a profit, but I don't expect them to run the club in a bad way.

[hypochondriac]

Thanks guys for debating this sensibly. Just think it's a good idea to think about these questions in case a scenario like this does occur. Personally I feel it would be a real shame and a bit of a disappointment, especially considering how I felt at the start of last season.

[hypochondriac]

You are right of course. But treating customers well is part of the package of a bigger margin. I expect them to want a profit, but I don't expect them to run the club in a bad way.

 

I suppose that depends on your definition of running the club in a bad way.

[Quickfire Double]

It's surprising what the average footy fan will forgive their club when it's winning on the pitch. Less so how little will placate them when it isn't. For all the ticket taxes, missing installment plans, sponserless shirts and such like, all it really boils down to for the masses is results.

[hypochondriac]

Rubbish, just seen your "i've been told things about Cortese" post on the other thread. You've heard rumours of the legal action stuff then.

Well, hypothetically, it would depend on the situations in which he found himself where he had to threaten legal action.

As for them wanting to make a quick buck, it would involve them getting the club stable in the Premiership with a decent infrastructure. So I wouldn't have a problem with it as our interests would be temporarily aligned.

Whoever bought the club in the future would have to be extremely wealthy anyway.

As for losing my support i'm not sure to be honest. Sacking Pardew this summer would have gone a long way to doing it, but that doesn't look likely to happen.

 

One of my main problems though is that obviously we all want to get to the Prem but at what price? If for instance we saw a huge price hike in the CCC? So much so that I would only be ale to go a couple of times a season. I wouldn't be happy even though SFC were successful. What if a load of decisions were taken which p*ssed off fans but no reason was given for them? I'm sure there would be a point where people would say enough is enough and simply go to less games. As you say saintandy, the danger then is that we are in the prem and the stadium will be full of the prawn sandwich brigade whatever they do and whatever prices they charge. That for me would be terrible.

[hypochondriac]

It's surprising what the average footy fan will forgive their club when it's winning on the pitch. Less so how little will placate them when it isn't. For all the ticket taxes, missing installment plans, sponserless shirts and such like, all it really boils down to for the masses is results.

 

I agree with you but is that the case for yourself? Is it the win at any price you care about? Or is it about something else? Customer satisfaction perhaps? The ability to go to games and have a laugh with mates? I'm sure many or even most would give their right arm for saints to be the man united of the South but personally I couldn't think of much worse.

[MarkSFC]

What if.....and this is just hypothetical.....what if Cortese saw an opportunity to raise his profile ( legitematly so ) which is why he put SFC forward to ML. What if ML actually got excited by the prospect of having the modern day rich mans accessory.what if they both realised how special the club is and what a hell of an opportunity it was not just to make a little bit of money in the long term, but actually an exciting challenge that woul actually create huge personal satisfaction but also make hundreds of thousands of people very happy?!!

God forbid anyone in this world should not be primarily motivated by money. Remember though it's only hyperthetical!!!0

[hypochondriac]

That's obviously a valid view mark but I would prefer to concentrate on what I said in my original post and how you would feel. Hope you understand mate

[for_heaven's_Saint]

As other have suggested, success on the pitch and the value of the club are 'inextricably linked' (remember that phrase?!). Similarly, if the supporters -in essence the customers- are not happy, they are not putting money into the club, and therefore the club doesn't have such a great value. Therefore if Markus simply saw us as a way of making money - which I would neither be surprised or particularly disappointed with- I would not be too worried, as it is vital that the team keep performing and the supporters keep coming to the game and spending money on the club for its value to rise. I'm not sure whether the bit about legal action is a hint at something, but if it is that would certainly be slightly worrying as it would perhaps suggest there is something being hidden from us. However, as long as the team on the pitch continues to progress, I'm more than happy to know Markus is probably looking to make a profit eventually, as we would undoubtedly be left in a better position when he left than when he bought us.

 

I do think it is good that we are asking these kind of questions though, providing we keep it 'hypothetical' and do not cause unnecessary rifts between fans and the club. I'd much rather we made enquiries and were cautious in our enjoyment of Markus' money than end up deep in the sh!t like the rabble down the road.

[teamsaint]

I am already resigned to being treated as ascustomer, from whom the most possible cash needs to be extracted.I am also resigned to the fact that the club will maximise its revenues from every area, including the fans that stuck by it in the bad times, if we get back to the PL.

So to reply to the original question, my answer would be " a bit disappointed, but not surprised".

 

On a slightly broader, but related note,the management would do well to look after the current customer base.The stadium will NOT be full regularly until we get back into the PL, and with the new parachute structure winning promotion from the championship, (when we get there !) is going to be far from easy..

 

Look to SWansea for inspiration is my advice.

[Teddy Nutkins]

What if.....and this is just hypothetical.....what if Cortese saw an opportunity to raise his profile ( legitematly so ) which is why he put SFC forward to ML. What if ML actually got excited by the prospect of having the modern day rich mans accessory.what if they both realised how special the club is and what a hell of an opportunity it was not just to make a little bit of money in the long term, but actually an exciting challenge that woul actually create huge personal satisfaction but also make hundreds of thousands of people very happy?!!

God forbid anyone in this world should not be primarily motivated by money. Remember though it's only hyperthetical!!!0

 

That is exactly what i hope is happening Mark...and for the time being i'm not going to think about other scenarios.

[SaintRobbie]

What if we continue to ride the optimism and upbeat environment that is ML and NC and Saints?

 

The what if being suggested wouldnt bother me. In order to be as profitable as you are suggesting (ie not bothered about some fans) we'd need to have been massively successful, eg like Manure.

 

I only want to support a successful team. Bring on the persecution of the fans!

[thorpie the sinner]

I have to say, trawling through some of the comments on this thread, you get the impression that some fans just want to stir up trouble which isn't there! Yes, season ticket prices have gone up, whoopie doo, shock horror, NC is trying to run club on sound business footing! If you don't want to buy one, don't, simple!!!!! Secondly, The club isn't a PLC owned by shareholders anymore, it is owned by a wealthy businessman, who by the way, saved us from extinction! We will have a team next season challenging for the title (hopefully) and providing fantastic entertainment for die hard fans, starved of this in recent years!

Yes, ML may have his own agenda, who hasn't, but it is his club after all! Just look at Liverpool and Man U, £1.6 billion in debt with thoroughly scurrilous owners.....

 

Why can't we all just enjoy the ride up to the Premiership and then see what happens!!!

 

Nah, we may as well all moan our ******** off and protest at each game.........

[Professor]

For people like Leibherr and Cortese there are far less time consuming ways of making money from investments without the personal involvement that buying SFC has entailed. I see no grounds at all for Hypo's conjecture.

 

What is true, as shown down the road and at Palace, is that wealthy owners can lose interest in the football club project. This is a risk that Saints share with several high-profile premier sides. There's a widely held view that Football Clubs being used as the playthings of a few wealthy foreigners is not likely to be in the long-term interests of English football but whether any of the suggestions that there's a need to 'do something about it' will ever come to fruition, who knows?

[trousers]

Now I'm starting this thread with a plea. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can we just discuss this hypothetical scenario without getting into a slanging match. I'm not condemming anyone here, neither am I taking sides.

 

So, I wanted to start this thread to pose a few questions to all saints fans on this site. Just suppose that Markus and Cortese bought this club because they saw an opportunity to grab a bargain and make some serious cash. Cortese was charged with maximising revenue quickly to ensure as large a profit as possible. Just suppose (remember this is hypothetical) that all that "we are custodians of the club" was just PR b*llocks, designed to assist the primary aim of maximising profit.

 

Suppose that fans were seen purely as a means of achieving this profit, that all were ignored when requests were made to open constructive dialogue with the club. What if organisations and even fellow saints fans were threatened by the club with legal action on more than one occasion?

 

How would people feel about this if this was the reason that Markus and Cortese took over and we ultimately find out a few years down the line that they don't give a sh*t about the fans? That's a genuine question by the way, I'm really curious about what people would think if that was a real scenario.

 

I guess what I'm also wondering is what would Cortese and Markus have to do to lose your support or at least make you concerned?

 

I HOPE THIS CAN BE DEBATED WITHOUT GETTING INTO A SLANGING MATCH

 

I'm interested in all (polite) responses.

 

Being the conspiracy theorist 'par excellence' that I am, I've long held what you describe above as a feasible possiblity.

 

We have no tangible evidence that proves that Markus is the cuddly benevolent owner that is portrayed to us.

 

I guess that just leaves blind faith as our only guardian on this journey to the promised land.

 

You will inevitably get slated for daring to suggest such a hypothesis but I think there's one thing we ought to agree on - that both Cortese and Liebherr are doing this as an investment opportunity for profit rather than as some philantrophic hobby.

 

IMHO of course...

 

:-)

[dubai_phil]

Interesting Hypo.

 

My only comment would be that at this moment, the best way to maximise a return is to gain successive promotions. Forgetting the value that they could achieve from "Revenues" that would enhance the "Capital Value" far more. Rumours have bounced around of bonuses for NC in other threads over the past season.

 

The Capital growth would be very difficult to achieve in the current economic climate, but as we progress so the "economic situation" may well improve. Whilst Business & The Public sector are starved of cash at the moment and awash in debt, there are actually huge amounts of Private Capital chasing "Good Investment Opportunities".

 

So, in theory I would agree that you have a good Hypothesis.

 

 

Also, in tehory I actually believe that AT THIS POINT IN TIME, the aims of a "Capitalisitic Ownership" actually co-incides with the Aims of the fan base. So, while some may (justifiably) feel they are being "ripped off", for the majority of the fans we will see only the progression up the Leagues.

 

Is this a dangerous course to take? Yes, eventually it would all end in tears OR we would end up sold to an Oliagarch or Private Equity Fund. I've expressed concerns about our funding all season and I don't think we should be blind in our support.

 

BUT, while the objectives are aligned, and in the current global climate, hell we are So damned lucky we all want the same thing and have the backing to get it.

 

We haven't done a deal with the Devil like the Skates did, but we should also not believe we are owned by a charity aimed solely at making us feel good every weekend

[eurosaint]

We need ML/ NC and they need us, the fans !

No business will ever be successful without this combination being satisfied, so we should remain optimistic and supportive until such time as the situation changes !

Failure to embrace this on either side will undermine the whole project and be counter-productive IMO !

Enjoy the ride (as they say!) and forget the worries as it may never happen !

[Saint Fan CaM]

There are attrocities happening all over the World to thousands of people. People are starving as we debate this. And you want to hypothesise over whether the owner of the football club MIGHT not have the best intentions?!?!? I work with facts and data - not idle speculation - and all I see is a club in ascendency getting leaner, fitter, healthier in so many ways. I do not care one iota whether NC wants to be my friend - he is doing a good job revitalising the club and that is born out by tanglible improvements. Sorry, but this type of thread really gets me angry when there are so many more important things in life and death to concern ourselves with.

 

In summary, this coming season I am looking forward to us getting promotion for the first time for decades. Do I need negative man to ruin that pleasure? NO. Get back negative man, get back.

[Quickfire Double]

I agree with you but is that the case for yourself? Is it the win at any price you care about? Or is it about something else? Customer satisfaction perhaps? The ability to go to games and have a laugh with mates? I'm sure many or even most would give their right arm for saints to be the man united of the South but personally I couldn't think of much worse.

 

I'm afraid that pretty much is the case for me! My expecation of those who own and operate Saints is to do no more or less than everything in their power to maximise our success on the pitch. If their motivation in doing so is to turn a profit and move the club on, then I shall transfer my expectations upon the inbound owner(s).

[scotty]

For people like Leibherr and Cortese there are far less time consuming ways of making money from investments without the personal involvement that buying SFC has entailed. I see no grounds at all for Hypo's conjecture.

 

What is true, as shown down the road and at Palace, is that wealthy owners can lose interest in the football club project. This is a risk that Saints share with several high-profile premier sides. There's a widely held view that Football Clubs being used as the playthings of a few wealthy foreigners is not likely to be in the long-term interests of English football but whether any of the suggestions that there's a need to 'do something about it' will ever come to fruition, who knows?

 

+1, if money was their only motivation, there are far easier ways to make it. And how much more could Markus realistically use anyway? My personal opinion is that they are either genuinely interested in owning/running a successful football club, or that Markus and Nicola are in fact hostile aliens from another galaxy bent on world domination using SMS as a springboard. Take your pick

[Pilchards]

Well said Thorpie.

 

I can't quote your comments as this ****e forum is not Iphone friendly.

[trousers]

There are attrocities happening all over the World to thousands of people. People are starving as we debate this. And you want to hypothesise over whether the owner of the football club MIGHT not have the best intentions?!?!? I work with facts and data - not idle speculation - and all I see is a club in ascendency getting leaner, fitter, healthier in so many ways. I do not care one iota whether NC wants to be my friend - he is doing a good job revitalising the club and that is born out by tanglible improvements. Sorry, but this type of thread really gets me angry when there are so many more important things in life and death to concern ourselves with.

 

In summary, this coming season I am looking forward to us getting promotion for the first time for decades. Do I need negative man to ruin that pleasure? NO. Get back negative man, get back.

 

So you'll be giving the money you had earmarked for watching something as trivial as football next season to Mr Geldof instead...? ;-)

[Daren W]

We've got to accept any price rises and take them on the chin. We can't take the p1ss out of Pompey for their unsustainable wage structure and then expect to pay stupidly low prices on tickets. If we want to have success then we've got to pay for it or we'll end up just like Pompey...

[trousers]

I have to say, trawling through some of the comments on this thread, you get the impression that some fans just want to stir up trouble which isn't there! Yes, season ticket prices have gone up, whoopie doo, shock horror, NC is trying to run club on sound business footing! If you don't want to buy one, don't, simple!!!!! Secondly, The club isn't a PLC owned by shareholders anymore, it is owned by a wealthy businessman, who by the way, saved us from extinction! We will have a team next season challenging for the title (hopefully) and providing fantastic entertainment for die hard fans, starved of this in recent years!

Yes, ML may have his own agenda, who hasn't, but it is his club after all! Just look at Liverpool and Man U, £1.6 billion in debt with thoroughly scurrilous owners.....

 

Why can't we all just enjoy the ride up to the Premiership and then see what happens!!!

 

Nah, we may as well all moan our ******** off and protest at each game.........

 

why jump to the conclusion that those of us open minded enough to consider all eventualties aren't "enjoying the ride"?

It is possible to be 'grumpy old man' about a possible outcome whilst being more cheerful than Christopher Biggins about the here and now.

 

Happy days

[Saint Fan CaM]

So you'll be giving the money you had earmarked for watching something as trivial as football next season to Mr Geldof instead...? ;-)

 

Hehe - that's money well spent already Trousers...too bad Mr. Geldof.

[thorpie the sinner]

why jump to the conclusion that those of us open minded enough to consider all eventualties aren't "enjoying the ride"?

It is possible to be 'grumpy old man' about a possible outcome whilst being more cheerful than Christopher Biggins about the here and now.

 

Happy days

 

Agree, just got a bit fed with up certain posters who I don't think would be pleased in any circumstances. This is worth consideration and debate as Phil eloquently showed, but some comments are just downright negative all the time! I am in the Happy days corner....for now lol

[Joensuu]

Sorry Hypo, but this is a daft hypothetical theory.

 

1) Cortese has denied the intention to sell during his Beeb interview. So was he lieing?

2) The potential, say, £30 million profit really isn't going to line Markus' pockets much at all. Unless you are saying Markus is the kind of guy to take a fairly risky and effort-filled punt on an investment which might just increase his wealth by 1%.

[S-Clarke]

Sorry Hypo, but this is a daft hypothetical theory.

 

1) Cortese has denied the intention to sell during his Beeb interview. So was he lieing?

2) The potential, say, £30 million profit really isn't going to line Markus' pockets much at all. Unless you are saying Markus is the kind of guy to take a fairly risky and effort-filled punt on an investment which might just increase his wealth by 1%.

 

You’ve also got development of land, the SFC Catering Company and the possible development of Jackson’s farm. That is all designed to make money and offer a return on his investment. I'm not saying it's true, but an out of town 55k stadium with shops/cinema on the complex would offer alot more return than the current site.

 

Personally I think Cortese is acting in the wishes of Markus and also what's best for the club, I don't see him disregarding fans as he'd be putting himself on a road to nowhere and I’m sure he realises that.

 

I can see why people may query his interests though; he does come across as a very brash personality - very driven and not particularly friendly or approachable. So I can see why some people may read that as not being particularly bothered about the fans, but i don't think that's really the case.

[MarkSFC]

That's obviously a valid view mark but I would prefer to concentrate on what I said in my original post and how you would feel. Hope you understand mate

 

I understand, and as much as your hypothetical scenario could well become the truth so could a thousand others. If it was to occur then it would still not be the end of the world. In order for ML to make a profit Saints will have to be very succesful for a number of years, well the amount of profit that would make a difference to a billionaire!

 

I'm not a "happy clapper" by any means and can definitely see all view points but I don't understand why after all the sh*te we've had over the last 5 years some people always look at the worst case scenario?!! It's your right of course!!

[saintwarwick]

I guess the new owners invested a lot of money bailing us out and knowing it will be some years before they see a return let alone a profit. If they wanted to make a quick buck they could of picked a premiership (or whatever its called at the mo) club rather than some old division 3 club. Lets enjoy the ride and see where it takes us, I for one am not fretting on them doing a quick runner.

[AussieDog]

In my opinion most wealthy people are either rich through inheritance, or rich through residual income, not capital gains. SFC could provide a fantastic stream of residual income if (when!) we are successful. I would imagine that ML is in it for the long haul, but Cortese will eventually move on to bigger and better things once (if?) he really has proved to be successful.

I would think the real worry would be ff ML popped his clogs - he doesn't look overly fit and he certainly doesn't have age on his side. If that was to happen and his estate was either tied up in some form of probate, or no form of continuity has been provided for, then we would be back to the position we were in last year very quickly.

[trousers]

Sorry Hypo, but this is a daft hypothetical theory.

 

1) Cortese has denied the intention to sell during his Beeb interview. So was he lieing?

.

 

No. Businessmen and politicians alike use the "I've no intention of..." line all the time. Note that the use the present tense. This allows them to change their mind when 'circumstances' change and thus refute the charge of "lieing"

 

and, no, I'm not saying that cortese has conciously used that technique above. Just an observation that it happens often.

[the saint in winchester]

Sure, it's a business opportunity for them. They were able to buy high value assets at a knock-down price. The business plan is get us back to the Premiership, with associated revenues, within 5 years. Then the value of the Club, with its assets and revenue stream, will be significant. At that point, I would expect them to consider their options, and they may chose to sell to another investor. And fair enough, they will have taken us back to the Promised Land, and if the costs of investment over the 5 years plus the initial capital outlay (in year 0) is less than the resale value, meaning they have made a profit, good luck to them - they will have deserved it.

What impresses me, and makes me believe they are in it for the long-term, is the redevelopment of Staplewood and the proposed infrastructure improvements at St Mary's. If they were mercenary, they would minimise expenditure and maximise revenues, and - instalment plan issue aside - they haven't given any indication they will hike season ticket prices to the max.

Yes, Leibherr is largely anonymous, and Cortese is very driven and a bit abrasive, but I'd rather have this setup than that at - say, Liverpool, ManYoo, West Ham etc.

I honestly believe we're in safe hands.

Edited 15 June, 2010 by the saint in winchester

[PokingFun]

One of my main problems though is that obviously we all want to get to the Prem but at what price? If for instance we saw a huge price hike in the CCC? So much so that I would only be ale to go a couple of times a season. I wouldn't be happy even though SFC were successful. What if a load of decisions were taken which p*ssed off fans but no reason was given for them? I'm sure there would be a point where people would say enough is enough and simply go to less games. As you say saintandy, the danger then is that we are in the prem and the stadium will be full of the prawn sandwich brigade whatever they do and whatever prices they charge. That for me would be terrible.

 

If we get to the CCC next year then expect the price hike as it will happen. Cortese will set pricing at the upper end of where the competiton do in the CCC because he will do the research and act accordingly. His view will be that we have a product that is on demand and will price it as such. He will not need to give the tickets away to sell them or retain L1 pricing.

[Colinjb]

How would I feel about the idea of Markus and Cortese only becoming involved because they see the potential to make money.......

 

I would not be surprised at all, in fact, I am delighted at that.

 

They seem to appreciate that a pragmatic long term view would need to be taken on this in order for it to work, and based on the sums they've put in, we would need to be pushing for Europe in the premiership for it to be justifiable.

 

I am really looking forward to the next few years! As for what happens in terms of PR and fan relations. Well, i've not been put off so far. I am in fact impressed by their professionalism. Cortese has stuck by his statement issued back in May and the fact that we, as fans, seem to demand information and clarification to everything on tap speaks far more about our mentality then it does about them. There is only one decision where I can understand a negative reaction, the season ticket payment plan withdrawl, yet it's withdrawl seems to fit the business philosophy of Markus Leibherr and Cortese, pay what you can afford up front, do not accumulate debt. While it may be draconian to impose this on people who do not agree with that ideology, you cannot fault their consistency.

 

It is a fact that we, as fans, are a resource. The big clubs are (or where) because they had the most fans. I do not however feel, as a fan, like I did under previous regimes, that I am simply being used as a cash cow. Our season ticket prices are reasonable, the gesture like the launch day for the shirt was excellent (particularly after the long wait) and crucially...... I am loving the standard of football we now seem capable of and we will not fulfill the aims that Markus and Cortese have unless the standard of football is kept high. THAT is what I want from my club, winning football. They are obviously commited to that.

 

If he is an abrassive b*stard, who cares! If he gets the job done and we progress on the pitch to match this guys obvious ambition, outstanding!

Edited 15 June, 2010 by Colinjb

[saintwarwick]

In my opinion most wealthy people are either rich through inheritance, or rich through residual income, not capital gains. SFC could provide a fantastic stream of residual income if (when!) we are successful. I would imagine that ML is in it for the long haul, but Cortese will eventually move on to bigger and better things once (if?) he really has proved to be successful.

I would think the real worry would be ff ML popped his clogs - he doesn't look overly fit and he certainly doesn't have age on his side. If that was to happen and his estate was either tied up in some form of probate, or no form of continuity has been provided for, then we would be back to the position we were in last year very quickly.

 

I don't think so, I read somewhere that the new owners bought the club and paid off the debt with no strings attached, ie we will not be in debt should something drastic happen although not suggesting something is about to happen. You can only pay off a debt if you have money in the first place, to suggest his money is tied up in other areas would mean he wouldn't of managed to buy or rescue us in the first place.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

I picked Southampton because they where my local team, Southampton born and bred.

 

I didn't pick Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd etc because winning isn't everything, the sense of belonging to the city I live in is.

 

I have no interest it watching Saints compete the big 4 and paying the price that goes with it. Give me sensible prices, sensible football and sensible league postions any day of the week.

[Saint_clark]

I picked Southampton because they where my local team, Southampton born and bred.

 

I didn't pick Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd etc because winning isn't everything, the sense of belonging to the city I live in is.

 

I have no interest it watching Saints compete the big 4 and paying the price that goes with it. Give me sensible prices, sensible football and sensible league postions any day of the week.

 

What an odd way of looking at it.

[Arizona]

If, in five years time, we're a stable Premiership side with aspirations on Europe and the ticket prices haven't gone through the roof, then I wouldn't care if Hitler was running the club.

[Saint_clark]

If, in five years time, we're a stable Premiership side with aspirations on Europe and the ticket prices haven't gone through the roof, then I wouldn't care if Hitler was running the club.

 

What would you consider to be through the roof?

[AussieDog]

I don't think so, I read somewhere that the new owners bought the club and paid off the debt with no strings attached, ie we will not be in debt should something drastic happen although not suggesting something is about to happen. You can only pay off a debt if you have money in the first place, to suggest his money is tied up in other areas would mean he wouldn't of managed to buy or rescue us in the first place.

 

We may not have any debt but we do have players tied in to contracts on good wages. The more successful we aspire to be, the higher those wage demands will get. I doubt very much we could sustain our present spending and ambitious plans without someone rich to bankroll us, at least until we are in the premiership.

[saintwarwick]

I picked Southampton because they where my local team, Southampton born and bred.

 

I didn't pick Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd etc because winning isn't everything, the sense of belonging to the city I live in is.

 

I have no interest it watching Saints compete the big 4 and paying the price that goes with it. Give me sensible prices, sensible football and sensible league postions any day of the week.

 

That's one way of looking at it but we all aspire to winning something, pricing doesn't affect me but I can see your point.