underdog

41 minutes ago, Lee Sinnott said:

Didn't Lemsagam meet with members of the Trust board last season and then Morallee met with them? Or the other way round. There's your two meetings...

From memory Owner in 2019 (pre MOU), yes Moralle and Bowden in 2020 but not around MOU.

MOU has an agreed agenda, stuff is discussed and agreed notes published. Usually around finances, fan engagement, any major changes like badges. 

I left in Jan so maybe they have held them since. I might have missed an update. I have asked if OASF meeting notes can be published before AGM too. 

Think Matt Dean has said he has been in contact with Adam though

Happy to be correct

8 minutes ago, yarddog73 said:

Who do the club employ to take care of fan engagement do you know? We used to have a supporter liaison officer, is this still the case?

I have no idea TBH.

The last liaison person I knew was Mark Lund

But it would take much would it. A  Iick of paint/art/muriels by Oldham College to brighten the place. I remember someone saying those pop up flags like a legend walkway.

Look at getting a fanzone sorted on carpark somewhere where local business can pull up and ply their trade. Pies, pints, pin badges...

Pre match entertainment. Did they not have a local dance troupe at one stage? 

Half time stuff like OACT do.

Lots of stuff. Stuff fans could have helped with if the engagement was there.

Oh well

2 hours ago, nzlatic said:

I've said this before, but the previous owners aren't responsible for how Abdallah has treated the fans over the last 4 years. That is totally on him. Had he treated fans better then the club could be in a very different position despite all the financial issues.

Club signed off on an MOU with OASF 14 months ago.  It was about fostering more honesty, open-ness and transparency on stuff like financials. The outstanding fan expectations from 2019.

It was from the FSA good guidance piece of work that took me 18months of tooing and froing. One point I said scrap it.

At least 2 meetings per season. None have happened and lots of other stuff has since happened that has made relationships worse.

I believe it can only get better...when is another matter

5 hours ago, Pidge said:

One thing Shahed mentioned was the way he called for money to be spent to arrange activities and entertainment for fans on match days. He was just ignored he said.

 

I know the positive effect of a welcome from the club to fans on match day has been po pooed as having no effect on fan numbers by a certain person on here, but I suspect a lot would appreciate it. As I’ve mentioned before, a winning team brings a bigger crowd, a great experience keeps some of those coming back.

It certainly would have helped OACT in the work they do. Specifically on match days before and half time too.

I remember SI Brooke arranging a junior takeover day. Where youngsters applied for roles like assistant manager, director match day announcer too. Didn't cost much either

Tons of other stuff too.

53 minutes ago, League one forever said:

Can anyone see a plausible or realistic way out? 
 

 

 

OASF/PTB/FLG/taskforce/consortium.

Complete new owners of asset and club.

How, when, etc is another matter. 

Asset locking along the way so we are not in this mess again or future fans are not in this mess way after I am gone

It's a right mess.

You think you have a handle on something and another grenade lands.

It's going to take some serious forensics/legal interpretation before we see some light. Who owns what, what's for sale, how much. 

Everyone is entrenched in

All we can do is be ready the best we can & ensure this mess does not happen to OAFC or any club again

I am 30 mins in. Good interview, questions and research too

I would like to add that it was OASF (was trust) pressure via a letter of complaint that the 2018 accounts were re-published as they were not compliant with FRS102.

From memory, it was never mentioned to Trust that the 1st published accounts (July) were not...erm reflective and would be done again at some point. Or we would not have chase it up as as we did. Eventually, having to write and complain in December. Bearing in mind Trust director Philippa had personally spoken to owner at the end of a meeting in May that Trust do request full accounts due in July that year, as well as Rep to the board asking for them from July onwards . The response back from the club in December was not good and we sought FSA advice at the time.

Philippa was determined to uphold Trust shareholder rights and still work with the club even after they questioned her qualifications to do so. To work with Shahed and get the accounts up to an acceptable standard. She got them to include "ongoing concerns" and was advocating profit and losses too. Hence why she eventually, was kidnapped by the FSA to advised the FSA/Fan Led Rewview of standardising football finances and independant regulator

Same  letter of complaint confirm Corney was a shareholder and co-incidentally, Companies house was updated to reflect this within 24hrs of Trust asking to see the shareholder register.

Then last year, we had some issues too and Shahed left shortly after, well that is what I thought but did he say he was around when there was interest in Harry? was that not January?

What a dysfunctional mess we are in

1 hour ago, Lee Sinnott said:

They've just confirmed on Twitter they've spoken to a club director informally...

Thanks @Lee Sinnott I have not seen any recent OASF meeting notes published as it used to be an agenda item

1 hour ago, Lee Sinnott said:

Have we had recent confirmation from the Trust or PTB that the club are still ignoring them...?

Was it not said at the fans forum?

I could be wrong

11 hours ago, Chaddyexile84 said:

 

Accounts are released a year late as I'm sure you well know so your chief accountant signed then off and then had to back track when someone "competant" looked at them 

 

Due diligence 

From memory. It was Shahed brother and partner of the business they were/are in.

They made Philippa wait a good 90mins hoping she would go away and talked about her through paper thin walls....made her more determined not to leave the premises that Friday afternoon. Never mind the scathing attack on credentials afterwards

1 minute ago, PeteG said:

That's interesting that the council can CPO it, problem is the valuation, aren't we talking treble what Gigg Lane went for?

That would be another costing.

I believe a RICS surveyor charges about £800.00 per hour.

It was part of the Pre-ACV trigger work OASF started 12 months ago. What's for sale

Running costs

Remedial work...think 2 new stands

Business plan for next 3yrs.

That kind of stuff....

Now there are other pockets of land at BP too. Do we factor in little Wembley, car parks and Plumpton clough?

What do we all think it's all worth, bearing in mind some pockets of land may have housing value now and lapsed housing permissions

1 hour ago, League one forever said:

 

It’s a fair and reasoned view, I just don’t fancy the chances of getting 5-10 million out of the council. 

However, they have access to grants, low interest loans.

There us a massive levelling up agenda, stuff around Northern powerhouse too as well as other stuff. Bury managed to get I think 1million to buy ground back via DCMS....we just need a funding guru to maximise it all really. 

Little known fact, as there is a ACV on the stadium still, council can CPO it if there was a dire enough situation.

This is a very interesting debate and view points being expressed in a respectful manner....thanks everyone

11 hours ago, wiseowl said:

 

First coined in the English Civil War when Royalist prisoners were literally "sent to Coventry". The city was strongly Parliamentarian and, therefore, nobody would speak to the Royalists - they were completely shunned. 

Well I learn something new everyday. Thanks

19 hours ago, Chaddyexile84 said:

 

Appreciate the detailed response but apologies the above just isn't correct 

 

Simon Brooke would turn up for meetings 30 minutes after they had started to be told "finance had already been discussed" before being sent to Coventry completely.

 

The club have always told that seat what they wanted to tell and only allowed you close if you were in bed with paper and slippers with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With regards to Si Brooke, the meetings were either moved or brought forward without notice. Good practice is secretary to arrange/invite 10 days before. At the time we had a solicitor letter drafted with regards to his treatment but, decided not to issue it as Al was on the scene and we did not want to jeopardise the sale.

There is also the issue over Full accounts being OASF right to see them and the fight over last 3 yrs to get some standards. Do you remember the Xmas 2019 letter to club and how they ripped Philippa apart? She stuck at it. Got the ongoing concern bit in them.too. without this you would have less detail.

Same letter asked to see the share holder register. 1 day later its updated at CH to include Corney.

The accounts issued last month OASF have not managed to see them yet. Never mind given permission to how they are published.

FSA advice is too keep hold of it. Lesson learned is NOT to appoint a fan. Appoint someone/ entity who looks at business first.

Cheers

3 hours ago, LightDN123 said:

Badge or land/stadium it’s a no brainer clearly. It has to be our priority to buy the land/stadium. 

I agree. Just said on another post.

We secure a stadium size/site big enough for a home to both footy and rugby if needed, with other options like a community hub. Similar to NUFC 8 million new hub or Bangla Bantums

We put it in trust or asset lock it.

11 hours ago, Chaddyexile84 said:

 

Let's not look back all teary eyed here 

 

"The club signed upto the MOU and launched a 21 step strategy"

 

What exactly did either achieve? I appreciate the efforts you in particularly made but the trust failed spectacularly- you mention elsewhere about the ground and being fearful of our survival? Well why wasn't that exact issue being raised when we had a presence in the board room??

 

Because Owen and Radcliffe were more interested in themselves and weren't challenged by the wider trust. Speaking of which how's that Hughes fellow getting on in his new prawn sandwich club?

 

I have no idea if the new trust can do anything of note but with the greatest respect they can't be any worse and at least are willing to tackle the club and leave the patsy seat on the board vacant 

 I don't have all the answers to your questions.

What I can say is the turning point is when the then trust attended an FSA clubs in crisis training event approx Oct 2020. (PTB attended too)

The follow up assessment  Nov' 2020 of EFL clubs coming out of covid from the FSA was that in their opinion, potentially 12 EFL clubs may not survive post covid....we were one. If 12 clubs came up for sale what would make us the standout one to buy? Bearing in mind our club does not owed its asset...its stadium.

So the strategy was announced 5 months later. The 1895 CF lottery and pledges initiative being part one. Thanks to our lottery volunteer who gives up his Sunday's to run it and input from FSA, Dave Og & Singe too

Leave a latics legacy in your will. I left with the current team to bottom out...think Dale fan who left 1/4 of a million to his club.

The ACV re-application process started in Nov' 2020, which has Been a good 12 month nightmare, but now is completed as part of that strategy. It's in place for another 5yrs. thanks again to a volunteer and ex-director. Little Wembley covered again too when we thought we would be asked to remove it by the landlord.

It's damn hard work being on the supporters board. It's not been at full capacity for several years. Ideally you need a board of 10 with the right skillsets to do it. Then an army of volunteers to support that team too.

Then there is the future prep too required for EFL reform. Shadow boards, golden share etc.

The patsy seat gets you upto date intel at board level. Like financials...is everyone getting paid and on time?..stuff maybe a new owner may want in advance? ...not so much the tiny detail but to have a supporters rep to say independently yes/no stuff is being paid. The FSA monthly key marker questions. OASF were toying with the 

idea of hiring an qualified independent to do it. Who would then report back to OASF board and wider fanbase. Its still an idea

This kind of Stuff that gets lost and nor reported on when you are daily firefighting with stuff surrounding our club.

Cheers

7 hours ago, PeteG said:

Pity Phillipa isn't still involved.

She was this time last year as was Jason Flynn.

Wow. Just hit me that this time last year we got the Club to sign off on the MOU and launched the 21 step strategy into fan ownership of club, stadium or both.

From memory, Yes both Philippa/Jason were looking at Escrow? accounts at the time. As we were about to launch the lottery. This was with a view to open another account.

We then went into a full AGM prep and they left. 

It was then going to be looked at when PTB cast their eyes over it and thumbs up they wanted to get involved.

But we then had to plough on with launching the pledges ASAP with club stuff making it more urgent.

I have left since. I presumed it was all sorted with the rally call for cash by end if season, but maybe I listed the announcement about it and the legal signatures on the account too.

47 minutes ago, PeteG said:

I'm assuming that OASF is a registered charity. Perhaps @underdogknows the answer because it has implications as to what it can invest in if it raised this £1 million.

Hi Pete

I was just about too reply...haha

OASF is not set up as a charity.

It is a company limited by guarantee. 

There are other models out there too like CIC and CBS's.

Cheers on my dinner nom, nom

3 hours ago, OASF1895 Lottery said:

 

 

 

Thanks Singe for giving up some Sunday time to do this

On 1/9/2022 at 10:28 PM, Dave_Og said:

Isn't a CBS just a new name for an Industrial & Provident Society which I think was the original format of the trust?  Could be memory playing tricks though! 

I have no idea, that is why we need skilled people like yourself, or those with better memories than I to help us the best we can

Cheers Dave

On 1/8/2022 at 8:51 AM, Pidge said:

IMO we/OASF, need to work out a system of fundraising which can work for our unique issues.  
 

Making the fund raising specifically for purchasing the ground, would allow a system to be developed where the contributor ultimately owns a small share of an asset.  If we can have a system where the contributor to the fund, also has a promise of money back if no purchase ever happens, then I’m in for a 4 or possibly 5 figure sum. 
 

I am not prepared to donate that amount with the possibility that it will not be spent for its intended use. I would not want it sitting in the OASF account being frittered away on helping a new owner fund a player or some other so far not invented reason.  If I am not unique and we have other fans willing to contribute even a small amount as long as they have some control and possible money back, we could quickly have a much more impressive amount to offer. It would really be nice to know what Blitz would accept from a fans buy out.

Buying a badge off our present owner is something I don’t want to contribute to, unless it is 1£.

There is another option, something that we need to thrash out but came from Ashley Brown at his time at Pompey and their woes.

Best way I can describe it is a "promisary pledge". You might not be convinced to hand over cash now and sit in OSAF account rather than your own.

But a promise to give X amount if x happens?...Something we can "bank" for that day and forecast for. Would this be of interest?

Another option I picked up when researching would be that we change to a Community Benefit Society and look at bonds? Again something that needs exhausting.

We could do with some think tanks to thrash this kind if stuff out and what grants are available too.

The asset does need valuing and comess under pre-acv trigger plan. Like a RICS survey. But they would be costly....hence the skillscan of the fanbase if we can get it cheaper. We know 2 stands will need replacing at some point too.

Pre-acv trigger include having a 3 Yr business plan to run the asset.  stuff that goes whoosh over my head. Hence we need help

Cheers

Sorry its late...but if anyone is planning online shopping, booking away travel, changing insurances, summer holidays, xmas......then please consider using the easyfundrasing online shopping app.

Over 6,000 retailers who will give OASF a kickback. The funds raised are for our admin costs - thanks

Easyfundraising

Afternoon folks....I am the poor substitute today for Singe. Here is todays lottery results.

1895 lottery results for 17/10/2021 are:  
14 29 30 16. There are no winners. Next weeks jackpot is now £700.00 drawn on 24/10/2021. 

£5 lucky dip winner is S.Whittles. Congrats, OASF director Tracy Wright will contact you to arrange your winnings.
https://t.co/nKfvorIkZL

On 10/6/2021 at 3:29 PM, Dave_Og said:

i see there is a memorabilia auction but I can't find any details of what's in it or if items are wanted

Apologies Dave, I forgot my password and its took me ages to get around to sorting it out - Doh!

One of our Directors is working on the list of stuff, TBA when we have finalised it nearer the time

Apologies Chaps I am late seeing this.

All ideas are very welcomed.

We will be having folk to work on events/fundraising stuff.

Please keep this post going and thanks