I don't want to be provocative. But … the reason I hate the MS is that he is completely immoral. The way he 'ran' the bankruptcy process which appeared blatantly dishonest. The way that he ripped off honest people like the ambulance service. His complete disdain of the supporters. The same supporters who carried him over the minus fifteen burden. A debt which he conveniently forgot. As he forgets all other debts. I cannot complain about his managerial and financial goals. It's legitimate and he is the owner. But I despise his narcissistic psychopathic behavior which has condemned us to a fate whereby no business man would touch him with a barge pole. I'm not sure what his goals are. I guess to sell and thus he wants the most sale able commodity for the least investment. The flaw in the plan is that he forgets just who and what he is and the significance on the salability of Leeds United under his ownership.
Sent from my iPhone. D"r Michael Benjamin. Community Psychiatrist. On 3 Jan 2012, at 22:39, Ian Murray <[email protected]> wrote: > And so say all of us. Everyone should print that out and post it to the > odious old get. > > Sent from my iPhone > > On 3 Jan 2012, at 20:23, "Rick Duniec" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2012/01/kens-tight-ship-sadly-sailing-towards-iceberg/ >> >> So it's January again, and as in July the Ken Bates pre-packed clichés are >> already flowing. We won't `break the bank' in the transfer market, or risk >> the clubs financial stability now we can spend some money on players. >> >> We'll also hear about those clubs who foolishly spent money in the summer on >> players, not performing as well as we are (Leicester, Notts Forest etc) >> conversely we'll also hear how our players need to buck their ideas up, >> perform better and get us promoted - or else, ditto the incumbent manager. >> >> Finally as certain key players reach the end of the current contracts we'll >> hear how unreasonable they are in their demands - asking for pay rises, >> add-ons contracts for more than 2 years, and so it's gone for the past three >> seasons with Bates. >> >> Core to all of this is that Bates is running a tight ship, on sound business >> principles, and that while we as `morons' simply want him to spend some of >> his multi-million pound fortune, he will not be swayed - I forgot he may >> also mention something repulsive about intercourse or foreplay at this >> point, to really repel anyone still interested in the detail of what hes >> saying.. apologies, just threw up a bit. >> >> So it's blame the manager, blame the players - even blame the fans, but >> never blame Ken Bates or Shaun Harvey for us being in the second division, >> the business model's rock solid, we must never criticise it.. is it? Let's >> break it down. Firstly why the model is strong >> >> Positives & Potential >> >> 1. A loyal and numerous client and customer base >> >> On average over 20,000 fans turning up to any home game - even in Division >> Three - and prepared to pay Premier League ticket prices to watch the likes >> of Yeovil, Brighton & Walsall. >> >> 2. A worldwide historic brand >> >> A fan base which the likes of West Brom, Fulham and Bolton would kill for, >> and achievements in living memory like winning the last first division title >> and the oft discussed champions league semi. >> >> Sky can sell ours and probably only West Hams games around the world in the >> Championship. Movies are made about Leeds United and best selling books sold. >> >> 3. A profitable business for the past 3 years (into the millions) >> >> A rarity in football, full stop. And this a business which was in >> administration no more than 4 years ago (but see points 1 &2) >> >> 4. A manager who can find decent players for low fees and sell for much more >> >> Part of the above, we have very little in the debit column when it comes to >> fees or salaries as a proportion of our revenue (as per the football >> league). Our manager and our scouts do seem to be able to find them (Gradel, >> Somma, Beckford) - and like Arsenal - sell them well, (generally). Since >> relegation note a few of our key 'outs' - Gradel (£2M), Schmeicel (£1M), >> Delph (£6M), Lennon (£4M), Milner (£5M). >> >> 5. A strong production line of home-grown talent >> >> How much do we think the likes of Howson, Lees, White would go for? More >> recently look at the likes of Garbutt, Kebbie, Taiwo, Woods - who were >> coveted even before an appearance was made in a white shirt. Much of our >> potential financially comes from this; moreover many of our match winning >> players are home-grown. We seem to excel here, with not enough investment it >> seems. >> >> 6. Large potential catchment area >> >> As per point one, in League One, and Championship regular attendances over >> 20k, are in stark contrast to over 30-35,000 while in the top flight. Leeds >> were big then, and they could be again. Its often trotted out that we're a >> one club city (apologies to Farsley Celtic). >> >> 7. Readymade facilities for purchase at below market price >> >> The club could buy back Elland Road and Thorp Arch for under £30M. The >> facilities are already purpose built for the training and development of >> soccer players, and for the playing of football (no one said good football.) >> >> 8. Support of Local Council >> >> The council, even in these rarefied times offered to loan Bates & Harvey, a >> loan to buy the ground (despite us having turned a profit for the last 3 >> years) because they see it as critical to the success of the city that the >> club has that security. >> >> But for the intractable issue of who exactly FSF were Leeds would have >> secured that loan. Any property developer will tell you such support is like >> Rocking Horse Poo from a city council, moreover that it is vital if you have >> ideas about building casinos, hotels, shopping centres and erm. a football >> team maybe Ken? >> >> So just like Craig David. (I could think of no other), Leeds are 'Born to do >> it' - so why aren't we? Well here's the rub - his name's Ken Bates, and his >> business model stinks like Boxing Day Stilton left next to the oven >> overnight. >> >> Key blockers and disadvantages (or Ken as we know him) >> >> 1. Minimal investment in core business >> >> Why do people (including the non-moronic businessmen) turn up to LS11 every >> other Saturday? To watch football, at best they used to get their business >> contacts down to see the best football in Europe - and it followed that the >> better the offering - the more investors you got, the more tv money you got, >> and the more profits you made. >> >> So you need to win games right? To get out of the dead zone Leeds occupy? To >> be the best you can? How do you do that? - You get the best players you can >> afford. Here's where it breaks. Despite receiving transfer fees, generally >> up front (according to Bates & Harvey) Gradel £2M, Schmeicel £1M, slashing >> the wages of Johnson, Kilkenny, Beckford in the last 2 years from the wage >> bill, Did we go for the best players available? Did we even replace the ones >> we sold? No we didn't, and we won't. >> >> A club of Leeds' financial stature should compete with a Leicester, a >> Southampton, even a Barnsley, but we simply won't spend transfer fees to >> give us a competitive edge. Ken's right, the fees are exorbitant, and >> perhaps banks won't lend 'speculatively' but we do have cash in the bank, >> and a turnover to support a promotion campaign - which should be after all >> what we need to do to get to the next level? Were i involved in credit and >> lending decisions, and I do have some professional expertise in this area, i >> wouldn't call Leeds a bad bet at all. >> >> Nothing wrong with bargain hunting, but man cannot live by the bargain bin >> alone, the odd bit of quality needs recruiting. >> >> 2. Major investment into peripheral areas >> >> So we dont have the money to do that eh? Well what about the £7m of >> investment in corporate boxes. We morons love to roll that one out, and Ken >> doesn't think we understand that even though hes got a lease, that most >> business property is on a long lease and alterations and investments on >> leased property is often worthwhile if it enhances your business profile and >> profit margins. It pays for itself right? >> >> However whilst we dont have top flight football it's immaterial. The >> differentials between Premier League and Championship corporate revenues are >> staggering. It begs the question - has Ken got his priorities wrong? >> >> It's often insinuated he owns the ground already - who knows? >> >> But even if he did this investment is the wrong way round - why build a >> fantastic theatre, but then fail to arrange any shows? Or to extend that >> further, why then arrange shows with anything other than the worst hams, >> luvvies, and burn outs on the stage? Ken has taken his eye off the prize. >> Why not; if property is so important buy it outright now? £7m would be >> sufficient for a deposit (over 20% of the total purchase price) and mortgage >> the ground for 30 years? Then spend your money; the whole thing looks a mess. >> >> 3. Lack of clarity to customers as to direction of business- >> >> We're a successful profitable business, yet we dont spend money on transfer >> fees for players, we dont compete with the best - even in our current >> league, and we dont hold on to our best players and tie them to decent >> contracts. >> >> So are we profitable or not? What is this dreadful `foreplay' in which we're >> engaging and what is the desired long term outcome? >> >> We just dont know - and it smacks of total disrespect to the fans (who are >> the clubs major financial backers) It also speaks volumes to the business >> community. Our ownership structure remains opaque at best, and exactly where >> do the transfer fees, the inflated ticket prices, sponsorship money, tv cash >> etc go? Where and how does it get spent? >> >> 4. Visible dislike of key client/customer base >> >> How can we forget being called 'morons?' It ranks with Ratners faux pas >> about selling 'crap' - you just dont slag off your loyal customers, some of >> them may even be investors. Ken Bates comes across as a malodorous, >> repulsive despot, of the worst kind. A misanthrope, who wants to bleed the >> club dry with little regard for the fans. Many fans have begun to vote with >> their feet, he just doesn't seem to care, or want to change his ways - there >> are no olive branches offered, and no `plan B' to get us promoted. >> >> 5. Failure to attract serious investors and business partners >> >> No Matthew Harding, certainly no Roman Abramovich, apparently no one wants >> to invest in this climate. erm. apart from Marcus Liebherr at Southampton >> less than 12 months ago, the Thai backers of Leicester City, Hull's backers >> (whoever they are? Birds Eye I suppose?) These all of course in the >> Championship, let's not forget the major investment into Man City, Paris St >> Germain, Liverpool. Football clubs that are profitable, that have a large >> fanbase are the plum ones to buy - mysteriously apart from us. >> >> Wonder why that is? Would you lend Ken £10? I wouldn't. Would you buy a used >> car from him? So why might you give him £70M lets say, to buy a football >> club, the phrase `magic beans' would be running through your mind as an >> investor as you handed the unkindly old gent that cash - would you own the >> club? The ground, the players contracts? >> >> Credibility is everything in business and Ken exudes a disingenuous and >> antagonistic air, he is a dreadful ambassador for the club. Litigious, >> cantankerous and out of touch. Just ask fans of Aston Villa about Doug >> Ellis, they felt then as we do now - like no one will ever buy their team >> while hes around. Ken Bates is the man who demanded to see 'proof of funds' >> from Roman Abramovich - bjesus. Who called the recently deceased Matthew >> Harding 'evil' - really? >> >> 6. Open criticism of internal management and staff from the top >> >> In what business is it acceptable to openly slate individual members of your >> staff and management? Ken Bates has opinions about individual players and >> their efforts. McCartney, Kilkenny, Johnson, Beckford have all felt the >> rough edge of his tongue, and with the exception of Kilkenny have all gone >> on to play for successful teams, generally at a higher level. Sour Grapes >> doesn't do it justice. Moreover Ken slags off his manager's capability. >> >> Whether this is reverse psychology, garnering support from the fans, or just >> that hes a grumpy old man is moot. You just don't wash your dirty laundry in >> public - not in any business. And you don't demotivate your employees. But >> hey if customers are fair game - what do you expect? >> >> A parting thought >> >> Perhaps this is extremely biased, well it is, and it's only one fans opinion. >> >> Is Ken Bates totally to blame for where we are? Well not entirely of course >> - we're not a very good team, so that limits our chances of promotion. But >> he's the man with the plan - as it were. And that plan seems totally devoid >> of creativity, belief or credibility. >> >> When we look at that underperforming team, and at the bench for hope at 2-0 >> down - remember we can only deploy the resources we are afforded by the >> chairman - we don't have access to the full profits we make, or the leverage >> of our reputation, and notions of where we ought to be as a team. That is >> something the businessman in charge is paid handsomely to achieve. >> >> If the club really were in such a bad state - would he really have stuck >> around as long as he has? >> >> Written by Matthew Brown-Bolton >> >> © 2012, The Scratching Shed. All rights reserved. >> _______________________________________________ >> Leedslist mailing list >> Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist >> To unsubscribe, email [email protected] >> >> PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate >> > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
