StuartA

I agree they probably are. For an investor to fit into our club, they’ll have to be pretty up for the long haul. We’re not just going to hand over the keys for £400k. My guess is that plenty of frogs are being kissed.

I think some people do see investment as an easier task than it is in the real world, judging by comments I see on here and elsewhere. As if we have a choice between the form of fan ownership we have now or the sugar daddy method. I agree with much of the rest of what you say though. Right person, yes, obvs after the existential threat that came with the previous two bids and amount of shysters out there. Right investment, of course, but I don’t know what that would look like. At the simplest, albeit maximalist level, we’d be asking a new investor for some £800k minimum for 25%, if existing shareholders agreed to dilution. Even then, we’d want them to continue funding by matching FSS. So the more likely scenario is someone buying shares from existing larger shareholders, so c£340k (at cost) for Rawlins 16% and whatever deal can be struck with others. But then, there’s a fair chunk of cash out the investor’s pocket before £1 has come to the club. I’m definitely not against the right investment but I’d much prefer we try growing the club at it’s own pace by running the organisation well (as we are doing), fans continuing to fund the club (as we’re doing so well), and increasing income through success on the park, thereby increasing the likelihood of greater income through cup runs, league prize money and even player sales (as we’ve seen with some of our competitors). I’d prefer that to us taking any risks with the ownership structure just when things have started to go well. Ayr have a major backer and have been in the league for a few seasons, they benefited from the extra Covid money and, while we’re at it, had an away Ibrox tie earlier this year. Yet from what I saw, they aren’t 7-figures ahead of us on the pitch. ETA: I’d also contest the idea I’ve seen in a couple of places that the fact we aren’t blowing other teams out the water financially is a constraint of our form of fan ownership. I’d say it’s the other way: without fans investing, the club would have had the best part of £1million less since 2022, and this year’s budget would be £150k (ish) smaller. Here’s the prize money for last season (source SPFL Mediawatch on Twitter)

Saw that. Goes to show the perils of “investment” especially when the club is distressed. Looks also at Motherwell, with the US investor trying to push the fans out, and Dunfermline’s German owners. There are good examples too obviously, but the idea that proliferates among some that it’s a straightforward decision is flawed.

Out of interest - have we ever had someone who could be considered a “sugar daddy” in the mould of what some people think we can get? The entry fee for any investor would be in the region of £800k (assuming 25% and last season’ share price). I wonder who’d be up for that. ETA: obvs other ways to cut the cake but that’d still be the commitment.

The idea that we can just say “investment” and it’ll appear like Mr Benn’s shopkeeper is for the birds. If the right investment was there, we’d have it by now. And Motherwell’s situation is a cautionary tale. And let’s not lose sight of the fact that Falkirk fans have already “invested” more cash into the club since 2022 than was ever invested in the club up until that point.

“Investment” isn’t a necessity. Cash is, it doesn’t matter how it comes. If anything “investment” is about the worst way to do it as that comes with serious strings re ownership. Let’s not talk this into some kind of crisis. We’ve had a decent start to the league cup and have a squad in place, unlike some. John’s just doing what managers do by banging on about budgets, even if his language is a bit naughty.

Two groups where there can’t be a runner-up on 9 pts and two where the runner-up is likely to have 9 with a large goal difference. So we need to win and win well. I suspect Ayr will run up a decent score and would put them favourites for our group. ETA: actually, I made a Barry Hunt of that. One group where there can’t be a runner-up on 9, and another where it’s quite unlikely. Too many permutations, bugger it just win.

I wouldn’t, boiling just now.

A lot would depend on the regulator’s mandate. I’m not sure they’d be able to impose B teams on a competition (or for that matter, ban them). That’d amount to government interference in the game which is outlawed by FIFA. That does beg the question what they could do, including whether or not they’d have the competence to block the SPL pitch ban on grounds of, e.g. proportionality, reason or “good of the game”.

Forfar. f**k’s sake.

More unfortunate to stay behind

This seems like an inspired choice now

It’s evenings like this when football truly unifies people.

Just watched the interview. Such a nice well spoken lad as well.