Howlin' Wilf

At least as important as the managerial announcement is the news that the whole Cognitive and More Homes DFC shebang has been pawned to Pendragon this morning according to Companies House.

Indeed. Pendragon, aka Gareth Paul Philips has bought the debt.

I think that was what I meant

I don't think so. I think that is part of Brabco's debt of £3,007,827 which they spunked away on trying to move us.

As you know, the point I have been making all along was that it was Brabco 736 which was for sale and not Dumbarton FC. Brabco 736 was a Special Purpose Vehicle Company set up with the specific purpose of relocating DFC's stadium. It was therefore that idea which was for sale. At face value and without an enabling housing development at Dalmoak it looks very difficult to achieve. However at today's escalating house prices, the five houses and 32 flats proposed for the car park land should net enough in profit for Cognitive/Mor Homes DFC, to recoup their "investment". On the playing side, we can only hope that the "global contacts" of Henning Kristoffersen bear fruit.

The Ian Murray situation was a bit different. We were the highest placed part-time club in the SPFL so we pretty much had the pick of part time players despite having a lower budget than other Championship clubs. Thus very decent players who had a good job were signed. Murray was a good manager for us too of course. The information on our budget came from a reliable source with knowledge of the situation. Clyde have a significantly bigger budget than Dumbarton, but even with David Goodwillie finished only a point above us. Falkirk had probably the biggest budget in the division and finished seven points above us. To put that in context we finished eight points ahead of Forfar. I just wonder what an extra £50,000 (around 25% of our budget) might have done had it been available. I'm not certain of Montrose's playing budget but I see from their 2020 accounts that they were £385,874 in debt and that they lost £40k that year. Peterhead (who appear to be tenants of Balmoor and would appear to be surviving with board guarantees) were £634,123 in debt at May 2020 and lost nearly £220,000 that year. DFC's debt for the same period was £282,000 and they lost just under £60k.

I'm told the budget at DFC last season was the second lowest in the league and perhaps that was reflected in our squad selection, performances and final league position. It doesn't matter who is the manager next season, if we hope to finish higher, it will require more money.

9 years ago today we beat Airdrie 4-1 in the play off final second leg to clinch promotion to what was then called the First Division.

Yeah same entry time here. 7:35 ko though maybe players let in at 6:45? I'd imagine for a pee it'll be a 2 in and 2 out system and straight in and straight out Maybe use the toilets near the tunnel and have to ask a steward? Don't know only guessing here.

I think though the early entrance is to allow the concourses to be used as dressing rooms. The serving of drink in the stand would require legislation which in the light of the behaviour of "fans" in Glasgow last week, will be a long time off if ever.

I don't think it's the catering per se that is the problem, it's to reduce movement of people once inside the stadium and minimise people moving along rows to get to the kiosk. I heard that the concourses are doubling as dressing rooms too.

We should appeal Brindley's booking.

Quality again from Forbes. MoTM

Ya dancer!

A huge relief. Now let’s make sure it wasn’t all for nothing.

See also two from Forbes in the last few minutes.

It was never going to be a classic.....

OK now.

Got in but buffering repeatedly. D/L speed is ok too

The way the team's listed it looks like RB. We'll soon find out.

Hope springs eternal. Come on Sons!

You can do that, but you’ll find I’ve moved on. I can recommend it.

The buffering has been terrible here. I had to log out and in again about a dozen times last night because the picture had frozen. I appreciate this is almost certainly the fault of my broadband connection even though I have fibre.

Well....aye but my point is that is not the same as being at the game and being able to see the whole pitch.