north stander

Apologies for selective quoting, I could have picked any number of posts, but these three recent ones encapsulate a question I'd like to raise. I keep reading on here that these foreign venture capitalists will have the wherewithall and deep enough pockets to invest in PTFC. However, and I admit I haven't been researching 24/7 on it, but can anyone point me to cold hard factual evidence of what they invested into Nice and Barnsley, and more pertinently at what specific risk to them (the venture capitalists)? From what I have read (and I may be wrong, hence asking the question), they bought both Nice and Barnsley and whatever money they "put into" these clubs, was simply added to the clubs balance sheet as debt to be paid back to them, while they also reaped sizeable fees for their involvement. As far as I can see, they didn't fund the likes of player signings from their own pockets, it was raised against the clubs, the purchase of the clubs was covered by mortgaging the clubs assets - and while they sold Nice for a tidy profit, that appears to be off the back of a good couple of seasons by the teams performance, and with Barnsley they also seem to have sold their best players in the summer. PTFC, as much as I'd like them to be, is no Nice, nor is it even a Barnsley, in terms of what they can generate from TV deals, attendances, sponsorship, prize money etc either. As far as I can see from all the speculation and (the limited amount of) whats been said in the media (as we have heard nothing official in terms of a press release or a public engagement with the fans), they plan to use PTFC as a feeder club, and their ownership of PTFC would follow the same model as Barnsley and Nice. So, it appears, if the venture capitalists "bought" PTFC and "invested" in it, all these financial transactions would be put onto the club, so PTFC basically "pays for the privilege" of them being owners, and the club goes into debt, while they also take a sizeable chunk from the club for their time. So, in essence it currently appears to me, the venture capitalists cannot lose out financially - best case scenario they improve us and sell us in a few year for a tidy profit (and would the new new owners then do the same, and put their investment/purchase on to the club, so even greater debt?) - worst case scenario, they don't lose any money, and still make a tidy sum for their time owning us by taking money out the club for their fees, and get their original purchase amount, and any money they "put into the club", back in full, as it's been put onto the club as debt in order to pay them back their purchase outlay. So no risk of financial loss to them either way - but if it doesn't work where PTFC end up being "worth more" than before they came in, they can walk away and leave the club saddled with whatever debt that may be. Am I wrong? As I said at outset, if anyone can disprove how things look to how they bought and invested in Barnsley and Nice, and the above scenario I foresee for PTFC if the venture capitalists do end up owning the club (or company if anyone wants to be pedantic), and point me to hard evidence that this is not their model and way of doing things, I would be much obliged.

I actually think we've got the worst run in of the bottom 5, the way the fixtures for each team are falling, particularly given the fact it's going to be Ross 1st, Yinited 2nd, and Ayr/Fake Thistle fighting it out for 3rd and home advantage in 2nd leg. This means (if not after this weekend, then next), Ross will likely be foot off gas and Yinited the same, looking to avoid injuries, playing fringe players, in last few games, so points can be picked from them more easily AFTER this weekend. Look at our competitors run ins first. Falkirk, just behind us - two winnable games against a team who're going nowhere now who'll finish 5th, then their judas hatefest against a morten side in reverse. Then they play the top 2 in their last 2, which could conceivably see them get 6 out of 6 last 2 games if the top 2 are in beach mode. Alloa, got a head start on us - home against a qots side likely dobbie-less, then us - if we don't beat alloa, then anything they take keeps or increases the gap, while remaining games reduced. Depending how Ayr and Fake Thistle fare in next couple of games, by time alloa play them, 3rd and 4th finishing positions may already be decided. Queens, like alloa, got a head start on us - first they've got alloa, which can't see Queens getting any more than a point -if they get it- if they get a point, it could increase their points gap over us thisvweekend, then they've got the team stuck in 5th, before they face a on the beach Ross, then us on their not-so-fantastic plastic. A huge amount of their fortunes will depend on how long Dobbie is out for, and how they cope with it. Morten, again ahead of us, more points in bag, but like queens they are in reverse - the games against fake thistle and grangemouth could go either way, then they face a team with no playoff hopes or relegation fears, and a Yinited on the beach last day., so again, last 2 games can see them getting points there As for us - Ross have chance to win the league this weekend, depending on Yinited result, so we are facing them at worst time - while Falkirk and Queens will play them once they've been confirmed as league winners - so I fear we'll get nothing while the F & B's will. Our game v Alloa is pivotal as already mentioned, then the double header against Ayr may or may not be against a team already knowing whether they're guaranteed 3rd or 4th by then. And then its Dumfries or Die. If we win all our games, we've nothing to worry about, but I'm already resigned to virtually writing off this weekends. So it's down to what we do v Alloa and Ayr, but can see last game in Dumfries being a "winner escapes bottom 2, loser in 9th or 10th" affair. If Falkirk, Morten or Queens can pick up points against the on the beach Ross and Yinited, that spells bad news for us, as they'll be playing at a less competitive level likely than we'll face this weekend. Fact is, the board and both managers have f*cked up this season, we shouldn't be in this position, but we are and deservedly so ultimately, so now we have to find enough points in 4 games to overtake at least one of the three above us, and hope Falkirk don't get more points than us in run in, and I feel Alloa will do enough to stay above us, or at least out of the bottom 2, so that leaves 2 from 4, and as I say, I reckon games/opponents are falling kinder for Queens, Morten and Falkirk, than us in the run in. Lots of twists and turns to come, but struggling to see how we can be "safe" before last game of season. Thanks Jacqui, Alan, Gary etc.

It's going ahead, players report there on Monday 17th June, doing full preseason there, and then for the season they fly back to Glasgow day before each game and fly back out the night or morning after each game. That way they get to live and bond with each other throughout whole season, the trip last week was just a dry run for the full thing in 2019/20 onwards, as the club believes the £4-7m can be spent better this way. Kirkys dead, long live Tenerife. * Okay, not heard this until I typed it, but now I believe it

Played 11, this is form table for last 10 (the one game excluded from this was the 1-1 tannadice draw)

who gets to decide whether the tenure of the board, chair etc, this season is acceptable, and if there is confidence in them remaining in post?

1. When Archie was finally binned, we were in 8th, 5 pts ahead of 9th and 6 pts ahead of 10th, and just 2 pts off of 4th. Can anyone raise their hand and honestly say that they envisaged us to be, approaching 5 months later in March, sitting in 10th? - and 11 pts off 4th, and more points behind the league leaders than we have amassed in total? 2. Especially after our chairman stated her pick to replace AA was the outstanding choice and that she was "blown away by Gary's interview preparation" and that "he had done an analysis of each player, identified a training schedule to deal with the fitness levels and pulled together a vision of how to get Thistle playing well enough to secure promotion," On these 2 points alone it is clear to everyone that the appointment of GC has been an abject and unmitigated disaster and failure, and both the chair and manager should be nowhere near Firhill by 1st June, no matter what position we finish in come 4.50pm on 4th May.

From his twitter https://twitter.com/17ChrisErskine

@Norge, thats disgraceful, but just one of many examples of how shambolic and embarrassing our club has become. As for Chris Erskine being forced out the door. F*CK OFF Caldud F*CK OFF Low And if GB is in on this , he can F*CK OFF too. Chris's Twitter statement says it all (between the lines as to whats gone on), just look at the 150+ replies already to it, what he means to the fans, and what Thistle obviously means to him - he loves this club, and when the incompetent dud playing at being a football manager is banging on about character and right attitude, treats a player and a gentleman such as Chris Erskine this way, it it clear as day what's gone on. Sick to the back teeth of these clowns, playing at being a football manager and a chairman, total imposters, get the f*ck out my club. Not been to games much lately for various reasons, after 40+ years of following Thistle solidly (including 10 years of driving near 300 mile minimum trips to see them at home (usually more if away),), but after todays news, thats it, I'm done with this sh*t. Not a cat in hells chance I'll ever be back til these incompetent f*ckwits are gone. So if Chris, or any of the GC-JL-GB trio are looking in, like many many Thistle fans tonight, you bet I'm angry (and being reactionary), and I'm sad as hell for Chris being treated the way he has and been forced out, and it being allowed to happen. Neither the Imposter Manager or Imposter Chairman has done anything of note since they appeared on the scene - other than take us backwards at an alarming rate. So once again, in the politest way possible, Caldud and Low (and anyone else backing them) GET THE F*CK OUT OF OUR CLUB

This is a relatively small forum on the outskirts of the internet. A forum is for discussion, and a few people airing their concerns, fears etc, is hardly likely to "kill this club". I think you will find there are at least a couple of people, currently in influential positions within the actual club structure who will make the likelihood of "killing the club" a more likely scenario, than a few supporters with no actual influence or input into how the club is run (into the ground)., having a wee discussion amongst themselves on a internet forum.

I caught the post match interview on the radio, it was excruciating. Like you, don't know the lassie, she may even not be overly experienced and a couple of her questions could have been better phrased, but in the main she asked the right questions, in a polite and reasonable manner. In response, I heard a defensive rudeness, arrogance and unedifying condescending manner (towards a female, simply doing her job), that came across as him thinking "why am I having to speak to this stupid woman".. All in all, totally unprofessional and unbefitting of a PTFC manager.

Caldud was appointed on 15th Oct. IF there is a 3 month probationary period clause in his contract, then there is less than 48 hours to activate it. If there isn't such a clause or he isn't emptied by Monday night, then the person currently playing horrendously at being chairman should be made to walk on the same day that caldud is inevitably binned.

Caldud calling someone else arrogant. Pot. Kettle. Black. Deflect deflect deflect, smoke and mirrors everywhere. FML

She's not listening. Expect this and more of the same for a long while yet.

And why not? After all their four studio albums are ahead of their time (the jags, mcginty is murder, the king john lambie is dead, seaside leagues here we come), plus there's the aptly titled live album rank, and as for the compilation albums, where do I start, with magnificent collections including hatful of sorrow, and jacqui low won't listen. As for the songs themselves, i'm currently listening to a playlist of them that includes classics such as bigmouth gary strikes again, some managers are bigger tits than others, mccall started something he couldn't finish, what difference does a decent manager make, suffer little keown, powerpoint it was really nothing, i want the manager i can't have, i know 2013s over, that two years of sh1te isn't funny anymore, frankly mr caldwell, there is a storey that never gets dropped, panic on the streets of maryhill, jacqui in a tutu, death of a sand dancer, last night i dreamt that thistle were top, please please please let the thistle fans get what they want, jags fans of the world unite and take over, doolan take a bow, this charming erskine Now, what to drink to welcome oblivion?

What have you heard, seen or read, to make you think this is the case, and any definition on what such a "get out of jail clause" entails? Or is it just a gut feeling or hope of yours? It's been mentioned on here, P&B and other social media that GB apparently wasn't for GC being appointed, but JL (and possibly others) oevr-ruled/ignored his opinion. No idea as to whether such a rumour has any true substance to it though.

Seen this on the thistle twitter in the replies to his signing announcement. Was this for real, then swiftly deleted by the club??!!! Or a windup photoshop by a sevconihun?

Caldwell and Jacqui need emptied NOW before they take us to a new low. The problems within the club go back further than them, both previous chair and manager are responsible too for this mess, but the 2 current heads of our club are ensuring we are on a fastrack to financial and league status catastrophe. The money that has been squandered by AA over the past few years, the last board and now this current one, is frightening scandalous, especially in relation to how far we have fallen in such a short space of time. The thought of even more money being wasted under GC and JL and finding ourselves in an even worse position come summer 2019 is terrifying. Move heaven and earth to get McCall, yes he is doing exceptionally well with Ayr and has chance of promotion to top tier, but there have been precedents in past where managers have left clubs near top of league for clubs languishing in lower end of same league. He has a massive love and affinity for Thistle, and while he may not get us up this season with what we have in terms of squad, it would be much more achievable next season in this league, than what it would be if we keep GC, as we'll be in League One trying to get back to where we are now. McCall would be welcomed, backed in numbers of support, so the club coffers will see increase in revenue from gates and likely other commercial avenues where fans buy into backing the McCall Revolution. McCall could come in now as he isn't taking his pals job, steady the ship, instill a much better belief and players playing for the jersey and him, than any current or incoming players will do for the arrogant GC, and get better results out of the current squad than what GC will ever manage Caldwell was the wrong appointment at the time, and this vanity project of Lows has not worked and will not work, everyone can see it now except her and her few remaining sycophants unfortunately. I am but one of many who have drifted from attending regularly, gave up season ticket too, the past couple of years have been horrendous torture, and the dwindling number of match attendees will only continue to drop while GC and JL are in charge at OUR club. This current situation cannot continue. Full stop. No argument. You are both killing this club. Taking us back to dark days of DJ, BL, Murder Mc, and others I'd prefer to forget. The club has massive infastructure problems in how its run and who runs it, the bleeding has to stop before its too late and we end up dicking around in League One being part time for years and losing the potential we saw that we as a club can be, before we let the archibald era drag on too long. So, I repeat, get them both emptied before the year is out, thanks for your efforts blah blah, but neither of you are nowhere near up to it, goodbye.

Rarely post, but last post 4th Nov, i floated this, in a longish post So has GB and JL looked after number one (ptfc, not themselves), and ensured a termination clause in the contract with no financial penalty to ptfc if GC is removed from post within a 3 month probationary period? I don't trust GC to even be given chance of spending ptfc's money and signing new faces in the upcoming window. or that he will manage to bring in players who will miraculously improve our results - if you check what fans of chesterfield have to say, he came in and left them in a worse position over 29 games (they were on fringes of relegation spots when he was appointed), where he was insistent in how they were supposed to play, and when he left they were 10 points adrift at bottom and all his signings were duds, didn't improve them with a window, and where the club is still trying to recover financially from it. I fear the parallels with his record at chesterfield, will be in signings as well as overall record here if he is here to end of season. I know we ain't a kneejerk sacking club, but for the good of ptfc and its dwindling support, it really is for the best IMO that JL and GB hold their hands up now and admit they got it wrong, than continue to blindly bury their heads in sand. Who we get in is a different convo (IMc said he wouldn't replace his pal archie, well now he wouldn't be doing that, but that ships sailed for a couple of years at least now, thanks to his doing so well at ayr), but it's clearly not working under GC, so better to lance the boil before its too late. And then hope JL and GB make a better fist of it this time, or else they should be next out the door.

Interesting question for the legal eagles amongst us, this from the chesterfield forum Now, first thought/argument/rebuff to this would be ptfc (gerry/jacqui/board?) should have done due diligence etc, checked out facts, not taken his word alone for it. So possibly, any lack of this due diligence, would be the clubs fault/oversight/negligence. But beyond that or ignoring that, is there a case for such a suggestion being legally possible, due to GC allegedly lying at interview, and thus arguably, getting the job under false pretences or some other legalese speak? Alternatively, especially after it emerged that Miller at Livi had a 3 month probationary period in his contract, and this was before archie was finally shown the exit door, you would have thought it prudent and wise for the club to have insisted such a clause in a contract for a manager untested in Scotland and whom was at the time unemployed, so bargaining power was all in favour of thistle at the time. And not give him a carte blanche watertight 2 year contract. Not saying he should be punted immediately, but do have fear of what state we could be in come 1st January if things continue in vein they are, and then the thought of possibly throwing even more good money after bad in the window, on yet more dross/wrong players under a manager still drowning unable to change fortunes, and where we could spiral to come end of season - and impact that could have even longer term. If he turns it round in next few upcoming matches or there is at the very least encouraging signs of improvement in performances, attitude, resilience and ideally at least a couple of positive results this month, then fair do's, but until such signs of recovery are there, i feel the club has to consider their options. We desperately need a manager who can work with a sizeable chunk of the current squad, motivate, train, lead and improve them by whatever means, and thats now, not in six or 12 months time - we cannot change a whole squad midseason, short of predominately signing every unwanted castoff that no one else wants (and you can be certain we won't be able to offload the majority of the current squad in January either), and that rarely works out well. Yes, this is a squad assembled in a panic scattergun approach by archie, but if GC cannot change the current trajectory or even performances in coming weeks, and actually is worsening the situation, then the club seriously has to look at its options, including termination of his contract before January window, and get in someone who has the managerial ability to impose a positive improvement and ensure the club does not slide into the seaside league next season. It's better to hold your hands up early and admit got it wrong, than blindly bury heads in sand and hope it miraculously changes for the better. Didn't work last time out, sure as hell it won't again if that approach is taken. If things don't improve in next month by some tangible signs, and the board don't act, even more will drift away from the club and that will negatively impact the clubs longterm plans and progress even more. We've seen this movie before, back to back relegations, the board cannot allow another disaster sequel or box office remake flop, so can only hope the initial question posed has a get out clause for us, should it be required, to ensure ptfc v.2019 is a memorable hit for the fans. Otherwise, it's more than this season we will be writing off.

Can anyone confirm with 100% certainty, Is that really GC managing us, or is it actually just been archie all along, wearing a Cary Caldwell bodysuit and mask?

Go on then, arm twisted.

Jacqui, Gerry and AA in conversation...

If you think Thistle and Ayr will win by two or more goals against Rovers and Stenny, Thistle and Ayr -1, pays 2/1 Alternatively, if you think both Thistle and Ayr will score at least 3 goals each, it pays 10/3