Trotter

2 signings in 2 days, this one being on a 2 year contract. Where’s this money coming from? Those in the know seemed to suggest that the former BoD replaced because of overspending budgets? Have they found money down the back of the sofa? Have the potential new owners given the green light to sign players who aren’t Barnsley reserves? Is Caldwell still being given time after Friday’s debacle?

Another week, no news. This has been dragging on for months now. First ‘official’ confirmation about 2 months ago now. With 1 point out of 6 in the league, a squad which is incomplete & playing a County side today that steamrollered us home & away when it mattered to them in the championship last season, there’s a good chance we may be out the cup at 5pm Anyone else still wondering why .the ‘billionaire’ head of a venture capital firm wants to buy a struggling Glasgow club with a 3 sided ground surrounded by student properties? Anyone think Beattie will manage to fund his way to Firhill this week after seemingly being unable to last week? Someone on here claimed takeover would be positive as club stagnating etc. That looks prophetic now!

Just reading through dozens of posts here so apologies for it being a bit out of sync. Britton confirmed at the first meet the manager evening that Caldwell was under budget in Jan window & it would be added to the summer window. However.. when you consider the players that came in January against the players that came in under Archibald last summer it looks as though there was some sort of ‘extra’ money made available. Caldwell has to get rid of Archiblad’s signings (all seemed either bargain basement or really poor scouting) then being in experience like Saunders, McDonald , Cardle etc. Id suggest these guys were being paid more than the Ntambwe, Mutombo, Storer etc. There must have been extra monies put into the transfer kitty last season (Mr Weir?). Wouldn’t have been first time as pretty sure it was Weir who funded the McGinn transfer/contract after all our right backs injured that season. As for the takeover. Been going on too long now. BoD seem unconvinced. Now is that unconvinced it will happen or unconvinced by New City Capital? I never thought I’d feel sorry for Caldwell but I think he’s been shafted a little re budgets. Not the manager’s job to balance the books. It’s his job to balance the squad & id he was told there was money available for these 4 targets then of course you sign players as they become available. Still has until 31/8 to complete squad. Now however... I’ll take the league table as is just now. Crowds of 5000? Think they’ll find numbers drop again through the season. Then again, they’re wanting out so what do they care.

& the question that arises from that is why it hasn’t been done so before now. How many weeks has this gone on for already. I’m willing to bet it doesn’t happen.Sounds like lip service to me.

I’m beginning to think that our best hope here is the SFA -god help us all!!! A Trust that holds 20+% of the shares & hasn't been fully informed of the facts as they don’t sit in the boardroom are useless. Another Trust who said that every ST holder of 2 years or more should have had a voting slip but didn’t actually happen. Beattie (& co) back on the scene again to sell up as no longer interested so with that in mind does anyone actually believe they have the club’s best interests at heart or just their own? Don’t get me wrong, I thought the 3BC running of the club pretty shambolic but can’t help but wonder why Weir (in the guise of the 3BC) would get involved in day to day running of the club without any actual shares if he wasn’t an interested party to actually be in the running to purchase the club! After ‘Save The Jags’ we’re now being shafted. New City Capital come in & flood us with Barnsley reserves them I’m out. We’re about to become a colt team.

This. 25% of the club but unable to take a seat in the boardroom. Everything that’s told is second hand information & can be easily changed to suit the needs of the BoD to satisfy the gullible.

If finances were such a mess, then why do these guys want anything to do with us? No money to be made. Promotion not an aim so walk I crowds likely down. Prospective sponsors holding their cash knowing little or no TV exposure from even BBC Scotland deal as they’ll show promotion chasing teams when next round of fixtures announced. We’re being shafted all ways here. What’s happening with PropCo?

Keep saying it- no fan of the 3BC/Low especially the way departures of certain folk from the club was handled as well as Caldwell appointment. However, we’re now being a colt team for an English Championship/ League 1 club. I really can’t see how this works out well for Thistle. Any good prospects belonging to us will likely end up at Barnsley & any decent prospects from Barnsley will likely be sold or end up back at the next window. My dad just called it Ken Bates all over again. Far too young to remember it but I know from him & others that the club went nowhere. History repeating?

Run out of likes but this- in spades.

Don’t get me wrong NorgeThistle, I didn’t have much faith in the 3BC running the show due to reasons you’ve alluded to. A full analysis of the current health of the club? I know GC was given more monies in his transfer budget in Jan than the previous incumbent did in the Summer but we’ve still got parachute money from premiership as well as Lindsay sell on & Fitzpatrick money (I know it’ll be next year’s accounts showing that) but if our finances are that poor after a year in the championship then surely the BoD in charge at that point are not wholly responsible. Beattie & co only stepped aside just over 12 months ago & our benefactor has in that time financed ‘team bonding’ trips- as he did Archibald. There’s something not sitting right here & the fans (through Jags Trust, The Trust Jags etc) as shareholders should be being told more than one statement almost 3/4 weeks ago to tell us (I paraphrase) “we’re back to sell you on” & a meeting with the aforementioned group telling that it’s still ongoing. How long? Timescale? They must have some indication. Propco? Are the prospective new owners looking at taking that from the BoD? Will the prospective owners speak about what they see PTFC being for them? Feeder? Etc Etc

Don’t read the minutes to the meeting of The Jags Trust & Beattie/Britton then. Their investment/monies are tied into PropCo. It’ll come back to haunt the club.

They’re taking the pi$$ here guys. Waiting for a statement: Season ticket monies paid & in the bank. We’ve nothing to say to you. Not your business despite saving the club & having shares. We just want to say thank you to all the mugs for your continued support.

You’ve kind of answered your own point here. One of the pick up points then would’ve been Stirling services. This. Even if we’re dropping pre match meal for away games (what’s point of sports science then?!) it’s all about professionalism. You wouldn’t expect players to turn up in their own clothes/designer trackies. You arrive together as a team. Show of unity. Professionalism. Next week’s open day will provide no new info I’ll bet. Just more sound bytes. The fans are being pushed aside & to a large extent we’ve let it happen. When fan representation at board meetings was withdrawn, the writing on the wall imo. Beattie & co no longer interested in the future of the club, they’re interested in their future & their investments including propco. Falkirk fans are taking notice of their new owners past business. Thistle fans... most I know are thinking this new guy going to splash the cash. Like the Weirs- ain’t happening. What could he want with a Championship Scottish club when he’s got Barnsley & selling Nice? It’s not for the weather anyway. Nor is it fir TV money even if we reach premiership again. Indent know the answer & having been no fan of the 3BC or Caldwell I think we’re damned if we do & damned if we don’t.

I played a few games (good few years back) for a 3rd Division team. We always got a coach to away games. Usually there were various pick up/drop off points along the way but you were expected to make it to that point. Crowwood Hotel was always a favourite. You normally only took as many as needed for game. Sometimes played with one less sub as warm up injuries etc. Home games everyone there from the YTS boys to a the couple extra bodies who weren’t chosen that day. Now as I said that was a good few years & a 3rd Division club. Surely no one is trying to justify no coach being in place this afternoon? Something badly wrong behind the scenes imo.

I’ll be interested to see who turns up as BoD representative. Even more interested if we get straight answers which don’t involve the words “due to ongoing takeover talks”. Not GC’s biggest fan but this is going to be helluva awkward. I wouldn’t be at all surprised at a last minute change of plan.

The bus story is true. The players ha e been told to make their own way to Alloa this afternoon. As for signings, can’t confirm but story I’ve been told is that there has been one signing ‘postponed’ this week. Unsure whether this is cash flow or new owners. Time will tell. Not good though.

It’s glorified pre season I know but... Don’t like 3 at the back with players we have. It needs someone to communicate in middle. O’Ware too quiet. Get him right side & bring in an organiser in middle. As soon as QP shut down 2 wingbacks 2nd half we were lost!! Poster who said about Palmer being a million miles of Championship pace spot on. Rather see Penrice in there. Failing that why not see what Callum Wilson can do? I’ll happily be proved wrong but looked like a little boy lost last night especially 2nd half. Miller not for me. Dropping far too deep. Needs to run the channels in behind, not make the extra man in midfield. Gordon, if he stays fit, will score at least 10 goals this season. Busts a gut to get up top on the end of crosses. Cardle looks a little bit lost just now. Cant fault work rate but seems unsure of his role imo. Jones & Penrice to start up front/midfield on Sat. Miller & Palmer to sit out.

It’s pre season yes but the signings of Mansell & Miller to replace Doolan looks bizarre. Both spend more time outside penalty area than in it. Already pinning my hopes on Alex Jones!! Know we’re still short of bodies but that first half with Gordon bursting forward from the midfield & Miller, Mansell nowhere near the box summed it up. Gordon likely hooked as midfield (aka Bannigan) getting overrun when we lost the ball (lack of pace). Thought the young Sevco5088 boy did ok. Still need width & need pace in next few weeks or it’s likely to be another long season.

& your point is caller....?

Pray tell... how am I twisting it? It’s another example of poor decision making from previous BoD. The PTFC name associated with that whether we like it or not. Everything from the handling of budgets, Erskine & Doolan departures, Caldwell appointment (I mean the guy in Wigan as much as he is in Glasgow) has been a negative for JLow chairmanship in past 12 months. That said, I’m definitely no fan of previous BoD but wary of a takeover.

I very much doubt it also. The Jags Trust from being almost ‘invisible’ are now being pro active. I suspect they’re being played beautifully in all this (my opinion). Likewise but just so happens the guys who own Propco also own the shares & are also the ones (supposedly) wanting out/sell their shares. Would you buy a club with half a ground? Like I said, suspect this is Propco end game. New City Capital perhaps. Club size doesn’t matter. Does it matter whether you’re buying a 1 bed flat or 30 acres of land. Banks are back to the- If you’re good for it then bank will lend secured against assets. Watford maybe not best example but it’s the model that popped into my head. If we were a mid table premiership team then I’d be happy also!! How many other clubs do Man City own in UK? That’s difference.

I don’t know the definitive answer to that but I suspect the answer is ‘no’. My 2 cents worth- expect him to continue with ThistleWeir for the next few years that he’s already committed the money to but after that I think he’ll sever all ties. Health issues, divorce, bad advice.... I can’t see him wanting to continue to throw money into a football club in which he has no say & wasn’t even his first love.

For crying out loud!!! I’m highlighting that the BoD (including the 3 black cats/JLow) made an almighty **** up of that also. I know that it didn’t cost the football club money but another example of the ineptitude of the previous BoD.

The bank not going to lend us millions but neither is Mr Lee & co. Why does Mr Lee & co want PTFC? Do you think any potential owner going to buy half a stadium? This is Propco end game also. From my albeit limited understanding, Mr Lee & co gets their initial investment back by remortgaging the ground. The club then pays the charges. Its what the Glazers did on a grand scale at Man U. As for Watford being a bad example... I meant in the sense that very few of the players are ours as such to sell on. Then there’s the head coach/manager... Barnsley have had 4 in the 2 seasons since New City Capital bought the controlling interest in them. Strong & stable it ain’t!! Someone else mentioned the SFA & dual ownership rules. I’m sure we’ll hear more on this over next few weeks.

It’s been a shambles- that’s just excusing the previous BoD. The land was bought after they spoke to whoever that told them it was good to go. You don’t spend £3m+ on a cow field in mid of nowhere with doing due diligence. As for demands for information, I don’t see where there has ever been a clamour from fans looking for info on it & if there has been then surely a statement highlighting planning bureaucracy would have been sufficient for the lay person?