Midsblue

Happy to be proved wrong on this as I didn’t attend and again, I stress, I’m not in the FLG or know any of them. 1. Pete Wild. I too felt PW was inflammatory and probably hindered any progress with club rather than helping. However, it’s the horses mouth. Informing the attendees and wider audience that the Clown is interfering to the point a fan who’s dream was to manage the club found his position untenable. 2. Secrecy of FLG members They could well be sponsors of club and declaring involvement would be counter-productive for the present. In near future, different story. Could well be someone we know very well who has had recent history with the Clown 3. £500k My view it’s not just match day. FLG see the OEC as instrumental to aiding club now and making club self-sustainable in future. If off-field activities are symbiotic with the club then start now and develop over time 4. Free lunch The land value of north stand/stadium will only appreciate especially as it will soon be a massive hole amongst a housing development. It’s a fail safe for the owners, an investment. The OEC is a going concern that currently is a loss-maker but FLG see the longer term future where off-field activities will ensure it being profit-making.

Perhaps we just see it as it is? FLG providing c£500k pa to club for strengthening. If this Clown is refusing to accept this then surely - and even BoundaryBlue80 cannot dispute this - this should set alarms ringing with the Clown’s motives? If the FLG was dictating that the club must play Paul Whitehead’s grandson up front for 90 minutes every game then understandable. If however it’s recommending the acquisition of Callum Lang then why turn it down? Correct me if I'm wrong but it’s not £500k in return for 5% stake in club each season and voting rights?! There may be conditions but if it’s to the benefit of the club then why refuse? Serious questions now need asking by Trust, by supporters on mass and by local media - 1. Why won’t you engage with the FLG? 2. What is the actual £ playing budget for 2019/20 season 3. What of this budget has been spent and how proportioned on each and every player? 4. Do you honestly believe we’ve strengthened the team from last season despite an increase on budget? I strongly believe if you got the truth on points 2 and 3, you’ll understand his motive. Some may say we have no right to answers to these questions as he’s owner. However if budget is being wasted on these imports and to detriment of the squad this season and immediate future if club then we have every right.

I’ve met Corney (SC) a few times and had decent chats about the club. Also met ex-managers who worked under SC and chatted about their time under him open and honestly. Don’t know any of the FLG, never met them either and only found out their plans last night. Lastly never met Lemsagam (AL) but listening to everything he has said with as open mind as possible. Just getting all this out there as I’ve been accused of having an agenda. I’m just an impartial, passionate fan. My understanding - 1. Love him or hate him, SC never interfered in team selections. He never dictated recruitment. Always came good on signings. Kept us in L1, admittedly no promotion but odd play-off challenge. No massive line of ex-players, ex-managers or ex-associates slagging him. 2. Based solely on ALs allegation, SC left massive debts. However aside from one occasion from memory and then the absolute end of tenure, players & staff were paid on time. Pensions paid? 3. In abridged and unaudited accounts, debt was reduced by £5m but this is £5m written off. This suggests it’s the not result of AL paying off but written off as terms of sale. Until this is proven one way or other, I have my doubts. No detail; P&L, no wages, no cash flow - basically someone wishing to hide everything so we cannot see what has been invested or any evidence of ALs wealth 4. In ALs tenure to date; numerous ex-managers, ex-players, ex-staff and ex-associates lining up to criticise this regime. Every single one repeats the same - constant interference, dictates recruitment & selection, not paying debts, not paying rent, not paying pensions, players unpaid, disharmony in the changing room. 5. Relegation in his first six months. Mid-table in first full season. Comes out stating 100% improvement in budget for his second full season. However, releases Clarke who was our most reliable defender last season & leader, sells Edmundson for £750k, releases Baxter who struggles fitness-wise but is our creative midfield spark, releases other top-earners. Replaces with a promising RB and a striker who scored at Macclesfield but then floods the team with unknowns who may prove good. However is this seriously a 100% improvement on last years budget when you consider who’ve we’ve released (including Iversen, Lang and Surridge) and not replaced any plus £750k extra?! 6. FLG materialises and states on record; a. AL had opportunity to buy north stand for refused so they’re buying b. Despite them running OEC at a loss matchday, they will aim to generate £500k pa for the club. However AL refuses to talk and closes north stand for friendlies My view - 1. No clear evidence that AL has any wealth whatsoever, blown any of his life savings or even invested millions. Key here is £5m debt written off as part of sale. Since then, no evidence of money invested & reluctance to be open and transparent even in promised (but forced) release of accounts. 2. Disruptive influence that has wrecked any morale within the club - on and off field 3. Dismantled all positives in playing side and replaced with inferior, cheaper alternatives. Totally dictating recruitment & selection resulting in a side who cannot beat non-league teams pre-season and showing no sign of attacking, creative football he promised 4. No sign whatsoever of mirroring last seasons budget let alone 100% improvement plus Edmundson money. This should have strengthened our position - enabling us to bring back Lang, keep Clarke, secure Lyden and others touting in rumours. Dosmetic players acquired so far doesn’t require significant initial outlay. All we get is the further influx of overseas players - why? I have my concerns and hopefully I’m proved wrong here. 5. Reluctant to work with others - Trust, FLG, local media - to improve moral, finances etc because reluctant to give up any control. Measure of actions is closing north stand for friendlies due to FLG involvement. They are promising £500k pa, which is extra to the all income he’s able to generate. Why refusing? 6. The FLG has clearly stated their objectives and openly answered any challenges. They cannot sell or develop the north stand or land holding the stadium. They’re not involved in selling or developing the surrounding land. Their aim is to generate £500k pa income to the club whilst owning the land and asset value. I cannot see any concerns with this - unfortunately cannot say the same with ALs statements or plans to date. Hopefully this explains that I have no agenda but the facts stack up that we need to smoke this Clown out and as urgently as possible. He clearly isn’t to be trusted, he’s disruptive and his recruitment policy or lack of is questionable on so many levels. He claims he was to build a future but unwilling to share this future with others - Trust or FLG - even though they have the club at heart more so than him. His ignorance and contempt will lose us £500k pa but would you trust him to spend that wisely on players? There has been 0% progression on or off the field but all signs are regression. The only policy is lip service to placate whilst the club is used as a funnel to bring cheap, overseas imports flooding into the domestic league. I’d be patient if that policy was immediately improving our squad, which it isn’t. How can anyone sympathise or support AL based on all the above us beyond me. If he’s reluctant to work with those who do care for the club then now is the time to act.

£45 and a stuck on badge. Might give it a miss or go for the training top instead

I think I read that this opens July 29th or is it 27th ready for Halifax game? Anybody local noticed any work in the OEC prepping the shop ready? I thought Hummel had take over and would have expected some news, our wearelatics website back up and running for pre-orders if the new shirts / merch was being released 29th at least?!

I thought it could be him but questioned it as he struggled at my local,club, Tamworth, and dropped down the pyramid. It was actually Kielen Adams from Bradford City youth. Scored a few for them and comes with a lot of promise. Hopefully he can kick on from tonight and score a few more in pre-season trials

What does the FLG now own? Just the north stand/OEC or do they now own all four stands, surrounding land etc? The Clown owns just the club and pays / will pay the FLG rent? I would have expected more news by now and uncertain why the individuals involved aren’t publicly known. What have they got to hide? What’s their plans? Granted that demonstrating the OEC as profitable will entice investment and perhaps a buyout of the club from the Clown but that sounds even more slowly, slowly than Pennywise’s grand scheme. By the time this happens, the club could be non-league, withering on the vine that even the FLG may see it sense to sell on the land again or relocate the club on a much downsized scale to then redevelop the current area.

For those who went, did you have a chance to chat to the manager and owner? Any suggestion of other signings or is this it? I didn’t expect for a second that we’d be signing the likes of Clough but we’re 2-3 strikers down with no #9 or #10 on the horizon. COG is going/gone (although we needed someone better) and Vera isn’t the answer. We have Rochdale this weekend. Fortunately I’m away as I fear we’ll get battered by them... then again I’m fearing a bartering from any of the 23 teams in League 2 next season too. We need at least 6 new players still.

Biggest mistake letting him go. He’d still play the whole season for us if he was here and be the best defender on the pitch. Fucking lunacy but nothing surprises me with those two fuckwits in charge. Nothing has made me think otherwise in the weeks of pre-season ... in fact it’s cemented my view of their fuckwittery. Unless we have 7 or 8 decent players lined up - 2 CBs, a playmaker, 2 strikers, a DM another fullback and a winger - then we’re fucked big style next season. That line up at the airport would have the opposition pissing themselves. Other clubs around us are signing decent players in numbers. We’ve signed two GKs, a fullback and a fucking Spanish donkey

This’ll be a major OG for us next season. PC had at least another season at this level - was a massive influence as captain and leading the back line. Would have be crucial to the kids now coming through. Uncertain what he was asking for wage-wise but if it was similar to last season then it’s a bargain.

This. He actually went on record slagging off the previous owner of total incompetence, dodgy practices etc. When it was the questioned that he was actually sitting on the board at the time, he claimed total ignorance. This is total fuckwittery of the highest order. I can’t be arsed to pull that recording on BBC Manchester but did he not state to Mike on that radio show that he knew it was happening but didn’t feel right to challenge Corney? Something along the lines of...sometimes you question things in your head but keep to yourself. Why? It does imply that he turned a blind eye whilst still getting the trappings of a director ie seat in directors box, free food in boardroom, free tickets home/away & free travel to away games. I’m uncertain if he got all this free though but that’s the impression I get. I did witness him first hand once when I as invited to the boardroom and directors box for the Yeovil home game under Lee Johnson. He waltzed in like he was the owner and was just as opinionated and brash like he comes over on interviews. He challenged me as to what I was doing there but fortunately Neil Joy (who I personally thought was excellent in his role, extremely courtesy and warmly welcomed me and my daughter) jumped in. Extremely odious individual who shows only contempt to fans.

Yes I would. Guardiola would struggle with the squad at his disposal and no sign of strengthening. Even more so being hamstrung by Pennywise. Problem isn’t the manager. Yet another sign of total contempt for our fanbase. Supposed to be building bridges but this Clown is killing it off by the day. The lack of any conference to welcome this new bloke speaks volumes. Why announce it now if he’s joining July? The Clown doesn’t give a fuck about a few comments meaning about the lack of an appointment. This smacks of ticking a box - a patsy with control firmly sat elsewhere.

I always have that faint glimmer of hope that there’s always 2-3 teams much worse than us. That said, I always thought that in L1 and look what happened. I’m not even convinced that we’re “too good” anymore to avoid non-league football but this season I fear that we’ll be looking down in increasing panic over the season than looking up. There’s two months effectively to strengthen but we’re potless and, as per my other post, we’ll be gambling with unknowns from overseas rather than reliable domestic players. I seriously see Lemsagam’s 3 year plan going backwards. 12/1 to be relegated is tempting but I’ve promised myself never to bet against my team. Bottom half obscurity by March seems more likely.

Saw the announcement yesterday and normally I’d be rushing on here to post comment. I guess it reflects just how much I’m disillusioned and disinterested in our club at the moment. To be honest, if we announced Guardiola yesterday I’d still be shrugging my shoulders. Key here is recruitment rather than whoever’s coaching. Granted tactics are crucial but if we’re going to trot out O’Grady up front then - no disrespect to Chris - we’re fucked even before we kick a ball in anger. I’m anticipating an influx of more foreign unknowns now and with an open mind, they could all come good but FFS we’re in L2 and need players who know this league because our new head coach certainly doesn’t. Again its an own goal for Lemsagam - an opportunity to engage with the dwindling fanbase and excite prospective ST purchasers goes missing. I wasn’t expecting Danny Cowley but there’s hundreds of domestic managers/coaches out there but our club is now too toxic for 95% of them. Even an OAFC diehard in PW walked away from his dream job because of this cancer in charge. I took more interest in a fans post that languishing in L1 with David Eyres in the autumn of his career is like Champions League football to where we are now. That’s how far we’ve fallen. Very sad times and whilst I’m expecting the worst this coming season, my heart is hoping that the unknown factor shocks L2 and we’re back in L1 come May 2020 with a crop of promising acquisitions from across the channel.

Listened to both the Owen & Lemsagam interviews. I still don’t know what Owen adds to the club. He’s quick to distance himself from Corney though, isn’t he? Stated that he wasn’t happy with how Corney did things and admittedly didn't question them. How the fuck can he sit on this current board having admitted that?! Also the knives are out for this FLG, their intentions on buying the ground and how close the Trust is to this FLG. Lemsagam states club is 95% debt free but there’s suggestions rent to Blitz remains unpaid. Is this the 5% or, as Owen implied, Corney got away with not paying rent but Lemsagam was made to pay rent ... and possibly refusing to pay because of this? Frustrating thing is that we’re no nearer the truth because it’s sitting behind legal NDAs as if Lemsagam is suing Corney possibly Blitz for undisclosed debts that Lemsagam is claiming he’s had to pay out. If this is indeed true and the Trust have seen sight of this at their meeting then why can’t they, Lemsagam and this FLG get together for the sake of our clubs future? I’m just sick of it all now and just want to see progress on the pitch ahead of next season. I don’t know who to trust (excuse the pun) now and I strongly believe this is the same for the other 1000-2000 fans yet to renew. If Lemsagam does have funds then get that head coach in, sign some quality and demonstrate irrefutably his commitment for promotion. The fans will renew then hopefully if he is indeed the fall guy, he can legally get compensation.

Starting question - ”who’s your favourite spice girl?”

But that core support has reduced over the years so the rot has to stop (remember that campaign?) and turn the tide of fans leaving. Only way to do that is success on the pitch starting with a major shot in the arm. Hopefully the Edmundson sale gives Lemsagam the opportunity to convince the stayaways to come back.

Mike; I hope you asked BO what he is adding to the club in his role? Genuine question as I haven’t a clue. This bloke was part of the last regime that Lemsagam is criticising (and apparently going legal against) so what is he bringing to the table? Bloke is toxic - the only thing I recall his involvement on is the Ched Evan debacle and prior to that Lee Hughes?

How many STs sold last season? I think we did then we were royally mugged off before the events towards end of season into close season have added to the misery. Besides; were punters. It’s down to the owner to produce a team that grabs the fans interest to buy STs, not the other way around. Doesn’t happen anywhere else in commerce when the existence of a company is wholly reliant in blind loyalty of the punter.

Should nail that to the Clown’s office door ... or his fucking forehead Forget statements with no substance and promised talks with the Trust. Talk is cheap. For the love of our loyal fan base - and your potential ST audience - show your commitment with some decent signings in the next fortnight. Prove me wrong and get Lang signed up for next season and perhaps Surridge. Decent GK & a flair midfielder. Release a video statement “there you go, I’ve stepped up to the challenge .... now it’s the fans turn”. Get a decent catch in who can motivate and deliver your “fast paced and technically good football” promise that’s prolific up top and watertight at the back. That’s the only way you’ll secure anywhere near 3k STs again

Obviously support Oldham & have done so for over 30 years now even though I had no connection to the club nor the town. Mixture of a bet, which resulted in me following Oldham’s matches, and seeing them as the away team when attending matches with by older siblings etc. I love watching football regardless of who’s playing but I do kind of follow the scores of - Derby - lived there for 4 years and attended most of their home games Villa - most of my in-laws support so only follow to wind them up when they lose. Needless to say I want Derby to win Huddersfield - work a lot there and our office was right near the stadium so cannot avoid taking about this club Tamworth - my hometown club albeit non-league. Like Oldham, they flirted with success and was close to league football but been relegated a number of times since

From what I listened to Campbell’s interview, his tenure would have been much shorter than Scholes had he come here. Campbell was complaining over the lack of money at Macclesfield and was dictating what the owner should do. On one hand he was moaning he wasn’t being paid (then happened to mention the players weren’t being paid either) then he was demanding that Macclesfield paid for warm weather training in close season somewhere abroad. Came over a spoilt brat totally out of tune with the finances at our level and priorities. Jordan ripped him a new one claiming Campbell always plays the victim, hasn’t proved anything and avoiding relegation by skin of their teeth isn’t something to crow about. Said that if he was owner of Macclesfield he would have sacked him immediately because of the interview.

And true....

Andries Jonker... where’s the rumour come from? Ineffective at Wolfsburg, right time/right place at Bayern under Van Gaal and a very , very patchy managerial record. He lasted two seasons headed Arsenal’s academy but majority saw this as a failure too. Quite an abrasive character, falling out why Wenger and this led to his departure. Spent quite a fortune there too. Granted it could be £5 placed but where’s the name come from in the first place? Fucking bonkers, our club.

Firstly thanks to the Trust members who attended this meeting. FTAO of Trust members who attended. When Lemsagam confirmed that budget would be 100% better than last season, did you ask him to clarify what this meant as in actual increase? It would be a valid and fair question and wouldn’t compromise any confidential information but just give us fans assurances of whether we get two COGs up front next season or another Surridge and hopefully Lang Two things did make me chuckle from the minutes - BO (club) asked what The Trust wants from this meeting. I can imagine him actually saying this to open the meeting and in that tone BO (club) explained Mr Lemsagam has invested millions to stabilise the Club after it was left in a terrible state by the previous owner. It was explained that the Club was sold with undisclosed claims, debts and liabilities totalling millions of pounds. Wasn’t he on that board alongside SC and involved in those decisions in running the club? Genuine question - was BO’s arms firmly folded when he spoke? Body language speaks a million words.....