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Post by stuartnoel on Sept 12, 2023 9:05:12 GMT
One point I'm still not sure about. M13 are proposing "investing" in a 51% share of Lewes Ladies. They expect a return - that's what investors do. OK, no problem with that concept. Therefore, if there's a profit of (just to keep numbers easy) of £100,000 in a financial year, does M13 get £51,000 and Lewes Ladies FC £49,000 ? Now, remembering "equality is a rising tide that lifts all boats", would half of that i.e. £24,500 go to the men's company or Lewes CFC Ltd? It's all very complicated! And that's the problem, not many of us fans understand the technicalities of it. In your scenario, £49k would be transferred from LFCW Ltd to Lewes CFC Ltd and it would be used/apportioned there. It may be used for all and any purpose. 50% of any revenue does not go to the Men’s or Women’s teams otherwise we’d have no money to pay the bills or upkeep the ground. The individual limited company entities exist to receive grant money which is then distributed by the Topco (the community owned entity).
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Post by sedlescombe on Sept 12, 2023 13:31:35 GMT
It really doesn't help the "it isn't a done deal" when that's what M13 are saying still as a company and individually on LinkedIn..... which I know is posh boys Facebook. Perhaps if they stopped assuming people may have more trust. As a company on LinkedIn their bio states their intention to acquire controlling stakes in professional women’s football teams. It doesn’t say takeover of clubs, nor does it mention Lewes specifically. I’m not sure how that description is any different to the proposed investment? We (and they) know some of the articles out there are wrong and misleading but that’s the nature of how the media works. This has been a highly informative exchange on this thread despite the rather provocative title The Mercury website talks about them acquiring and controlling women’s football clubs. It doesn’t say they plan to “invest” in clubs. Having said that I now understand the board position better regarding why they feel that a vote isn’t “required” (which is not to say that there won’t be a vote) nor even that they are bound by a vote (again which is not to say that they won’t be bound) simply that because this is the sale of a controlling interest in part of the club not the whole - our rules do not demand it. Alternatively we are accepting investment funds in return for a controlling stake in the women’s team. Ultimately the board will take legal advice (I hope) and anyone with a controlling view would have to sue the club if we ever got to that point. As Stuart mentioned aspects like IP and the lease of the Pan are held by topco which is reassuring. We will also need to understand what “Mercury Rooks” will be able to do. Will there be some form on injunction preventing them from playing at another ground or stop them playing in different colours? It didn’t take Riyadh United long to start playing in a Saudi flag kit. Doubtless this is part of ongoing discussions but is something we will need to know before any vote.
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Post by stuartnoel on Sept 12, 2023 14:32:04 GMT
As a company on LinkedIn their bio states their intention to acquire controlling stakes in professional women’s football teams. It doesn’t say takeover of clubs, nor does it mention Lewes specifically. I’m not sure how that description is any different to the proposed investment? We (and they) know some of the articles out there are wrong and misleading but that’s the nature of how the media works. This has been a highly informative exchange on this thread despite the rather provocative title The Mercury website talks about them acquiring and controlling women’s football clubs. It doesn’t say they plan to “invest” in clubs. Having said that I now understand the board position better regarding why they feel that a vote isn’t “required” (which is not to say that there won’t be a vote) nor even that they are bound by a vote (again which is not to say that they won’t be bound) simply that because this is the sale of a controlling interest in part of the club not the whole - our rules do not demand it. Alternatively we are accepting investment funds in return for a controlling stake in the women’s team. Ultimately the board will take legal advice (I hope) and anyone with a controlling view would have to sue the club if we ever got to that point. As Stuart mentioned aspects like IP and the lease of the Pan are held by topco which is reassuring. We will also need to understand what “Mercury Rooks” will be able to do. Will there be some form on injunction preventing them from playing at another ground or stop them playing in different colours? It didn’t take Riyadh United long to start playing in a Saudi flag kit. Doubtless this is part of ongoing discussions but is something we will need to know before any vote. 100% and the questions around the IP, influence and all matters inbetween would be the ones I’d raise if I wasn’t sitting in the boardroom with my cognac (but that’s because IP is my job and what I know best).
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robm99
Isthmian South
Posts: 649
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Post by robm99 on Sept 12, 2023 15:05:18 GMT
One point I'm still not sure about. M13 are proposing "investing" in a 51% share of Lewes Ladies. They expect a return - that's what investors do. OK, no problem with that concept. Therefore, if there's a profit of (just to keep numbers easy) of £100,000 in a financial year, does M13 get £51,000 and Lewes Ladies FC £49,000 ? Now, remembering "equality is a rising tide that lifts all boats", would half of that i.e. £24,500 go to the men's company or Lewes CFC Ltd? It's all very complicated! And that's the problem, not many of us fans understand the technicalities of it. In your scenario, £49k would be transferred from LFCW Ltd to Lewes CFC Ltd and it would be used/apportioned there. It may be used for all and any purpose. 50% of any revenue does not go to the Men’s or Women’s teams otherwise we’d have no money to pay the bills or upkeep the ground. The individual limited company entities exist to receive grant money which is then distributed by the Topco (the community owned entity).
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robm99
Isthmian South
Posts: 649
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Post by robm99 on Sept 12, 2023 15:06:51 GMT
Ah right, that's clarified the issue.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2023 17:22:45 GMT
for the benefit of those who like to use the word misoginist for anyone who dares touch the sacred cow of the womens team...i used to come along to some of the womens games and the best womens player ive seen at the pan by a country mile is caitlin hayes a sturdy stocky centre half what a player whose gone on to better things at celtic last i heard in fact it wouldnt surprise me if she plays for england at some point i guess she was let go on a free mmm....regardless of what anyone says the womens team are favoured above the mens team contrary to what you may believe..the fact these proposals only concern the womens team bear witness to the facts....and the fact the board are involved in consultations with mercury surely means they are in agreement with whats on the table its called guilt by association they can spin it as much as they like however theres no escaping guilt by association
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dicksmith
Sussex County Division One
COYR
Posts: 298
Member is Online
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Post by dicksmith on Sept 12, 2023 18:25:49 GMT
....regardless of what anyone says the womens team are favoured above the mens team contrary to what you may believe..the fact these proposals only concern the womens team bear witness to the facts.... "Favored" is not the word I'd use to describe the actual situation. For the last several years, the women's team has brought in the majority of the income to Lewes FC. This comes from: - FA payments due to the women's team being in the WCL - The valuable and very lucrative sponsorships which are almost exclusively due to the women being in the WCL, Equality FC, and our ethics. - TV revenue for the women's team. It is unlikely that Lewes FC can survive in its current form without this continued support for the women's side as we'd lose over half of our income. Both teams would likely drop down a league or two and the club would revert to a volunteer organization for the most part. What the board is trying to do is to capitalize on the women's team to carry the club onward and to higher levels all around. I like the progress of the men's team, and it is certainly makes for good non-league football. But I don't see sponsors coming out of the woodwork or people wanting to invest in them. "Sell what 'ya got" is the old motto. Favoritism it is not. It is making use of what we have to progress.
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Post by stuartnoel on Sept 12, 2023 19:39:08 GMT
for the benefit of those who like to use the word misoginist for anyone who dares touch the sacred cow of the womens team...i used to come along to some of the womens games and the best womens player ive seen at the pan by a country mile is caitlin hayes a sturdy stocky centre half what a player whose gone on to better things at celtic last i heard in fact it wouldnt surprise me if she plays for england at some point i guess she was let go on a free mmm....regardless of what anyone says the womens team are favoured above the mens team contrary to what you may believe..the fact these proposals only concern the womens team bear witness to the facts....and the fact the board are involved in consultations with mercury surely means they are in agreement with whats on the table its called guilt by association they can spin it as much as they like however theres no escaping guilt by association Panenka - I have no idea who you are but I’m sick and tired of your constant snipes and underhand comment. I guess you’d never actually say these things to me in person or to any of my colleagues on the board. Catlin Hayes was out of contract and chose to go to Celtic although I doubt you’d believe the truth - happy to provide you with Fran Alonso’s number so you can call him direct but I am guessing that’s a call you’d never make. Guilty by association? What does that even mean? I’ve given thousands of hours to the club at my own personal expense in the last decade. If that makes me ”guilty by association” then I hold my hands up. I have 47 days left. That’s 46 too many if I have to continue to answer insinuations like that
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Post by mightymouse on Sept 13, 2023 9:09:51 GMT
All this talk of done deals seems to miss the point that the board have responded to the reality of our financial situation by researching the available possibilities.This has resulted in our having a choice to make or as Stuart put it, 'We have reached a fork in the road.'
This is an entirely appropriate and responsible action for any organisation to take ie: to assess your current situation and provide alternative actions that might provide a better outcome. It's what good Boards of successful organisations do.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2023 14:18:51 GMT
for the benefit of those who like to use the word misoginist for anyone who dares touch the sacred cow of the womens team...i used to come along to some of the womens games and the best womens player ive seen at the pan by a country mile is caitlin hayes a sturdy stocky centre half what a player whose gone on to better things at celtic last i heard in fact it wouldnt surprise me if she plays for england at some point i guess she was let go on a free mmm....regardless of what anyone says the womens team are favoured above the mens team contrary to what you may believe..the fact these proposals only concern the womens team bear witness to the facts....and the fact the board are involved in consultations with mercury surely means they are in agreement with whats on the table its called guilt by association they can spin it as much as they like however theres no escaping guilt by association Panenka - I have no idea who you are but I’m sick and tired of your constant snipes and underhand comment. I guess you’d never actually say these things to me in person or to any of my colleagues on the board. Catlin Hayes was out of contract and chose to go to Celtic although I doubt you’d believe the truth - happy to provide you with Fran Alonso’s number so you can call him direct but I am guessing that’s a call you’d never make. Guilty by association? What does that even mean? I’ve given thousands of hours to the club at my own personal expense in the last decade. If that makes me ”guilty by association” then I hold my hands up. I have 47 days left. That’s 46 too many if I have to continue to answer insinuations like that
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2023 14:40:53 GMT
oh yes i would say them to your face but whats the point neither of us are going to back down it seems like both you and the board only like to deal with people who butter you up well im not going to do it i ll leave that to them that do....your brusque reply is very telling...guilt by association concerns mercurys proposals....
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offside
Sussex County Division Two
Posts: 136
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Post by offside on Sept 13, 2023 14:51:53 GMT
Good riddance
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Thebigman
Sussex County Division Two
Posts: 232
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Post by Thebigman on Sept 13, 2023 15:00:39 GMT
oh yes i would say them to your face but whats the point neither of us are going to back down it seems like both you and the board only like to deal with people who butter you up well im not going to do it i ll leave that to them that do....your brusque reply is very telling...guilt by association concerns mercurys proposals.... Stuart has spent ages both on this platform and others patiently answering people’s points and questions, some valid and some not. To say that he is only willing to deal with people who ‘butter’ him up is quite frankly ridiculous. it’s okay to disagree with what has been said by Stuart or anyone. But it should be done in a respectful manner, which some ‘fans’ on this platform and others seem to struggle with.
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Post by baresi on Sept 13, 2023 15:02:06 GMT
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Post by stuartnoel on Sept 13, 2023 15:17:04 GMT
panenka may have a valid point...stuart why the brusque reply which could be seen as very telling could it be you dont like dealing with people who dont butter up yourself and the board unlike many on here that do..you may not like what he has to say however he has every right to say it popular or not its an old fashioned concept called democracy I like what you’ve done there..just change the user name to another random footballer..
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