Nell
East Sussex Football League
Posts: 11
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Post by Nell on Oct 16, 2023 7:18:27 GMT
Hello, all. Those of us Lewes FC owners who are opposed to the sale of 51% of the women's team to Mercury 13 private equity investors are gearing up our campaign this week to ask owners to vote NO to the sale, when the vote opens on 24th October. If you want to hear more or lend your support, please email votenom13@gmail.com and we'll keep you in the loop! You don't have to be an owner or season ticket to get involved - just a Lewes FC fan who wants to keep our women's team 100% fan-owned and keep Equality FC. ❤️🖤⚽️
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robm99
Isthmian South
Posts: 649
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Post by robm99 on Oct 16, 2023 9:58:12 GMT
We are aware of what there is to gain for a "yes". What could we lose with a "no"?
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Post by Steve Watts on Oct 16, 2023 10:47:15 GMT
1 We will lose 100% ownership of Lewes FC 2 We will lose Equality FC ( now being rebranded as "Equality2" I would laugh if it wasnt so serious ! 3 We would lose control of the Womens team the majority of the new board set up to deal directly with the womens team would have a majority of Mercury 13 members. 4 We could lose some if not most of our brave current playing women in the transfer window in January, as Mercury 13 money attracts "better" players in their crazed ambition that Lewes FC can compete in the WSL. 5 We could lose owners as it must be harder to sell 74.5 % ownership rather than 100% dont you agree. I personally know people who wont renew their owners status if this takeover goes through. Got to walk the dog now, will come back with more later..........
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wm
Sussex County Division Two
Posts: 207
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Post by wm on Oct 16, 2023 11:49:18 GMT
As listed before, but now with translation...
Cons: ● The club would move from a full ownership model into a co-ownership model, as Lewes Football Club Women’s Limited would be co-owned Ie meaningless - the unique characteristic will be gone ● ‘Control’ of Lewes Football Club Women Ltd would sit with Mercury 13 if their equity owned exceeds 50% If?? It will be a case of When, as they're buying 51% ● Equality FC will need to change as Lewes FC Women will adopt an equitable playing budget / pay model So 'equitable playing budget / pay model' is the new name for doing what every other club does, which we've been screaming for years is wrong ● Some of the non-tangible elements that make Lewes FC different from other clubs may be lost. How marvellously understated. Pretty much everything that owners have signed up because of, will be gone.
My guess is that most of the directors pushing this through will be long gone by the time the chickens come home to roost. And who will bother standing for the board when it just involves doing what mercury order and / or looking after the rump of the club that they don't care about is anyone's guess. It doesn't sound like a very compelling opportunity.
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dicksmith
Sussex County Division One
COYR
Posts: 298
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Post by dicksmith on Oct 16, 2023 13:19:43 GMT
Yes, Lewes FC will lose a lot........
Here's what will happen:
- The women's team will be unable to compete in the WCL due to very limited playing budgets when compared to other teams. They will fall down divisions. If it does not happen this season, it certainly will soon.
- The women's team dropping down will result in major losses in sponsorship and other funding. Currently, the women's team brings in 20+% of our total revenue from the FA being in the WCL, 20+% of the club' revenue from sponsorship, plus TV money. When you add in gate and food, the women's contribution is well over half of Lewes' total income. The basic truth of the matter is that the women's team has been funding the men's side for several years.
- Personally, I don't think that the FA would have funded the new world class pitch on the basis of a club team playing in the 7th division. Equality and the position of the women's team brought this on.
- Due to loss of revenue, the result will be losses in staff and support personnel as well as major cuts to players budgets in both the women's as well as the men's side. This will further accelerate the downward drift.
- Falling down divisions will also result in a falloff in attendance and interest. Sorry, but it's a fact of life that this happens. Once again, it all leads to declining revenues.
Lewes FC is where it is today due to the success of the women's team. Sorry if that offends you. This all came about due to the Equity FC program established years ago. However, the world changes and football changes. To stay relevant and to maintain our position as a "brand" within football, we need to change as well. Maintaining our "brand" allows Lewes FC to keep focusing on our values and promote then throughout the football world.
After a lot of study and work, the club leadership has identified the Mercury 13 proposal as the best path forward for us in a changing environment. If you wish to return to the world and atmosphere of the 1990's, you can turn down the proposal. You might as well go back to land lines only for your phone.
The world changes. Football changes. And yes, change is difficult. But if you want to stay current, Lewes FC must change as well.
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wm
Sussex County Division Two
Posts: 207
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Post by wm on Oct 16, 2023 14:08:50 GMT
Spoken like a true local.
What's wrong with playing at the highest SUSTAINABLE level, as we were all promised ten or so years ago?
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Post by Steve Watts on Oct 16, 2023 14:13:22 GMT
I dont recognise the portrait of doom and gloom you paint Dick. We survived well last season without the overseas investment money and we will probably do so this season though to be honest as Andy has mentioned we might have to sign a women player or two in the transfer window which can be funded or partly funded with the revenues from the mens cup runs this season and hopefully more to come in the Trophy. Yes your right the world changes and we are living in harsh economic times but when it gets tough you look at what wealth you have within not to Greeks bearing gifts. COYR
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Post by Steve Watts on Oct 16, 2023 14:42:07 GMT
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Post by exasperatedrook on Oct 16, 2023 15:24:04 GMT
And just to even things up.
Snow Patrol say Just Say Yes
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Post by gonefishing046 on Oct 16, 2023 15:29:42 GMT
Why the ridiculous analogy about 1990s and landline phones. It's nothing too do with being in a modern game situation. Plenty of football clubs have had the keys to the promised land with much more proficient and experienced benefactors than mercury 13 and gone too the wall or suffered. If your a gambler vote for it. But there is no concrete proof of who is on board with them too fund it. In three years Lewes women may not exist or may be owned by someone completely different playing elsewhere as I'm sure would be able too happen once they sell for their hoped for profit. But I'm probably an ill informed dinosaur
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Post by stuartnoel on Oct 16, 2023 15:30:23 GMT
A couple of points.
Naughty says the directors will be “long gone”. Perhaps they may but that could be because they reach their term limits. Or in the other hand, they may continue to work incredibly hard to improve the club for the future by using the additional funds available for ground developments, the community programmes and facilities.
By looking within do you mean determining whether local investors may want to be involved? Part of the criticism I’ve seen levelled at the club, and the board has been that it has been supported by donations (not loans or repayable capital) by a small number of individuals in the past.
One aspect that has always made the task of running the club difficult is finding the individuals with the time, motivation and thick skin to take on a voluntary role with the club including running for the board. There’s been a fair amount of stick given to those who have stood for election and aren’t considered local enough yet are willing to put that dedication into the club.
I’d be interested to know if those who are vigorously against the investment would seriously consider standing for the board in the coming election, irrespective of the vote result.
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Post by stuartnoel on Oct 16, 2023 15:39:05 GMT
Spoken like a true local. What's wrong with playing at the highest SUSTAINABLE level, as we were all promised ten or so years ago? I don’t see why all of a sudden where someone lives is a major factor in the validity of their view. We are a community club, our community is local and global.
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Post by stuartnoel on Oct 16, 2023 15:43:21 GMT
I dont recognise the portrait of doom and gloom you paint Dick. We survived well last season without the overseas investment money and we will probably do so this season though to be honest as Andy has mentioned we might have to sign a women player or two in the transfer window which can be funded or partly funded with the revenues from the mens cup runs this season and hopefully more to come in the Trophy. Yes your right the world changes and we are living in harsh economic times but when it gets tough you look at what wealth you have within not to Greeks bearing gifts. COYR We survived because we had the endowment fund set up by former directors. We pool all of our revenue coming in and this season we’ve brought unbudgeted money through our cup run, sale of Joe Taylor and money from the deal we did for Ollie Tanner. But likewise, we may use that revenue to buy a Men’s team player, improve something in the ground or cover an unexpected, unbudgeted item. When the times get tough, you look at all the options which is exactly what the board has done.
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Post by Steve Watts on Oct 16, 2023 16:06:17 GMT
Glad you agree Stuart that there are other ways to survive without the Sell=off money. I certainly dont think i have critised any member of the board local or not. More than happy to stand for the board if you think i have something to offer ? I presume i can rely on your vote
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Nell
East Sussex Football League
Posts: 11
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Post by Nell on Oct 16, 2023 16:14:06 GMT
A couple of points. Naughty says the directors will be “long gone”. Perhaps they may but that could be because they reach their term limits. Or in the other hand, they may continue to work incredibly hard to improve the club for the future by using the additional funds available for ground developments, the community programmes and facilities. By looking within do you mean determining whether local investors may want to be involved? Part of the criticism I’ve seen levelled at the club, and the board has been that it has been supported by donations (not loans or repayable capital) by a small number of individuals in the past. One aspect that has always made the task of running the club difficult is finding the individuals with the time, motivation and thick skin to take on a voluntary role with the club including running for the board. There’s been a fair amount of stick given to those who have stood for election and aren’t considered local enough yet are willing to put that dedication into the club. I’d be interested to know if those who are vigorously against the investment would seriously consider standing for the board in the coming election, irrespective of the vote result.
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