I would love that! Fucking love it.

If there is a fundraising plan then it needs to be under the terms of a constitution. For example when it can be used and for what. What happens to it is it isn't used? and at what time point is it considered thus.

Credit Unions do accept organisations, any money deposited is safe but many only accept savings of upto £15k. I reckon that about 5 trustees would be needed to administer any bank account opened. I suggest that Stuart Drummond , Richard Mennear, a rep. from the Supporters Assoc . plus 2 others. Any money raised must not be used to help H.U.F.C. while I.O.R. are involved nor must it be used to settle any debts incurred by I.O.R.
Another fund raising idea is a 100 Club. They are a tried and trusted method of raising funds quickly. Eg 100 people lending £100 for a long loan would generate £10k . The Supporters Assoc. need to play an important part in fundraising simply because the Corner Flag must be the focal point in fund raising. That why it was built in the first place.

A CIC would be better than a constituted group, better access to funding and one off grants, lets get the community behind it.

Sounds good to me!

A CIO would be better than a CIC, qualifies for a lot more grant funding as a charity but can trade. A CIC only works for a social enterprise and until the group is running the club in any form it will be more about raising funds/campaigning than anything else.

Though a legally constituted group wouldn't need any of those structures to begin with (though it does help boost confidence).

Oh and on the subject of fundraising/campaigning how about writing to as many local businesses as possible outlining the importance of the club to the community and how the current owners are alienating people.

In the letter you could ask two questions
1) Would the business support/sponsor etc a fan owned club

2) If they are a current sponsor would they withdraw support while IOR remain in control and unwilling to invest.

Except that none of this is relevant to what BB said in this particular thread. You asked me to give examples of genuine debate of his. I gave them.
Possibly it would be much better to concentrate on what's important than spend all this time trying to justify excluding a poster that a whole 3 people have complained about.

Seeing as I barely have time to read, never mind post, thats a blessing for you. Unfortunately when i do view, i read most of the posts, and when I read yours I find that we bizarrely have something in common, for I disagree too with many of your postings, but you're not alone in my finding discord with your opinion. There's plenty in here who offer their opinion in a thinly dressed diatribe against those who they have issue with, their idiocy and 'trolling' seemingly goes unchecked due to their opinion and stance. But that's the nature of the beast of what is at the end of the day a message board on the internet of 'disgruntled' Poolies. It's the modern equivalent of the back room of a pub, people are going to piss people off, people are going to agree, people are going to be pompous arses who think their opinion is the only one to force home and people are going to be mates and foes. Who'd want to be a moderator eh? Sounds such a tedious chore. Give me an hour in be pub to moan about it. Listen to who I want to, say what I need to say and then get back to my life.

For those who want to get together and protest, sort it out and do it, knock yourself out, I neither have the time or inclination. Doesn't make me less pissed off than anyone else. Doesn't make me a club man. Doesn't mean that people who want to protest should be not nice people with the people who don't want to. Doesn't mean that I don't want to see change. The answer to me to progress any action lies in speaking with those who are in the ground when the ground is empty.

As you know, I write for the programme, three hours an issue maybe, help out with requests for photos, details of players from ex players looking to get in touch with them, family members who would swear blind uncle billy played for Pools at some point, obituaries of dead players and other stuff. If I have the time, I'll help out. I'm nice like that. On the occasions that I can make it to the match, I'm given a pass. I could get a cheap as chips season ticket, but I don't need to, it would be a waste, 23 home games a season I cannot make. Doesn't make me a club man. Doesn't stop people thinking I am either, that's their choice, couldn't give a fuck to be honest.

After watching dreadful defending on football league show, this van damme film is looking very appealing, so I'll cut my message their but as I can tell you like to have the last word I am sure you'll respond at some point, but I probably won't have time to read it for a few days, so we can discuss face to face during the week, including answering the question elsewhere, if you have no spine could you actually sit on your arse?

Come on Col. Who are the idiots and trolls? How are people idiots and trolls when they see their football club dying before their very eyes? How else did you think we would all react? It is clearly a majority on these boards. I would take that as a straw poll of opinion amongst the entire fan base. Those that disagree with IOR's running of the club need to make their voices heard. And itf that means banging the drum then that is what has to be done. There is a message to get across that the club is being ran into the ground, but the only message that seems to be allowed is the lone from the club that they are doing their best. Well they aren't and we are not happy that they are lying blatantly to the people of the town cos they are. We are saying no more and get out of town to these people who are killing HUFC. I won't be silenced and if they ban me from the ground then they can crack on. But we aren't going away. Hodcroft must know we are coming for him one way or another. He is fully taking the piss and we want him gone as the first priority

Can they ban us from the ground for protesting?

They may throw us out - but what happened to freedom of speech?

They don't own the ground, so can they ban us for offering a peaceful yet vocal protest against the running of the club?

I'm in H'pool next week and if I get the chance was hoping to get to the ground to voice my anger at Ken

If a steward tried to remove you for peacefully protesting, then can you refuse to leave? If the put their hands on you is that assault? Can we ask for a copper to move us on and will we find a sympathetic ear if we remain vocal yet peaceful?

We need to think smart - if we get evicted, Ken can call us a violent minority mob, if we remain peaceful, don't enter the field of play and manage to last all match voicing our anger at Ken and IOR then we will win more support and it may hit the press for the right reasons.

would agree with you that being a mod is a horrible job, I did it for a fair few years on another forum and as you say you only ever get whinged at for one thing or another.
to help with the banning/keeping things in order we used to have a warning bar system under the joined posts and location thing on the left which I always though worked well, got so much % for whatever they did and everyone could see and click on the bar to see how why what punishment was given and what the member had done. it stopped any of the 'I haven't seen it they're nice they would be nasty to anyone else or troll someone' stuff as it was all there for everyone to see all the time.

Wouldn't use Bury as a good example, sure it was on here that I saw that they are potentially in the shite again. Morecambe did well out of the ground relocation. Accrington is probably the best comparison but they have the benefit of being right in the middle of about 10 other teams from higher levels making it easier to pick up players released from those clubs.

Lets get this right Chip................. I said at this moment in time I can't see any other option than IOR, I have also said I don't like that option so will people give me an alternative no one has.....

I haven't dismissed out of hand a "fans run club", I've pointed out what I consider the downfalls, I honestly cant see how the fans would raise the money (unless IOR put us into administration) to become a fans run club, but if anyone comes up with how we can, I'll most certainly be up for it.

I haven't poured scorn on every suggestion, I said I thought the "lets go to behind the stands was waste oftime. I also said a boycott of games (more attended the JPT than last season) is a non starter unless more are willing. Even the boycott of the game against Blyth was not a boycott against IOR policies (spending/investment)it was a boycott against £20. People who said they weren't going said they would if it was £10 now how is that a boycott against IOR policies it boycott against one policy of £20 for a game on TV. Please feel free to correct me.

Once more I don't have "Free tickets" I worked for them, so I'll tell you what I'll pay in next away game what ever it costs me you give me for a charity of my choice, why should I work for nothing, and away tickets means no loss of income for Pools, simple really. So I'm not getting "looked after because I've worked for those tickets. Unless you want me to work for nothing then I will agree I'm a club man but only if I work for nothing. It benefits me (I get to games) It benefits the Club they save money.

I think you'll find you dismissed the meeting idea, well before I did,



So you said meeting was pointless not me, get your facts right, like you I want things to change but simply because I think an idea is pointless doesn't mean those who do shouldn't go ahead with it. Throwing tennis balls on pitch I was never going to do, I won't do anything that I may be arrested for simple as that, so yes I did say no way to that.Your happy to break law, well you've admitted such on here previously but I'm not.

So what alternatives do you have , You didn't go to meeting but then again you'd dismissed that (I hadnt)

Once more your putting words into my mouth, your good at that , find a post where I said it was a shit meeting(you can't) I asked simple



where does that say it was a shit meeting it asking where people who are advocating protests (and I've said I see their point and will take part if peaceful ). So once more putting words into peoples mouth to suit your argument. We are actually on the same side the problem is we're both opinated bastards and although I'm willing to listen your not it has to be your way or no way and everyone else opinion doesn't matter. I'll change my opinion when somewone comes up with something I think can work. That doesn't mean I think others shouldn't do it.

When people (you) stop trying to point score the better, try to reason with people and make them come around to your way of thinking, it may work but no you simply have a dig at people whose opinions you disagree with, like this. I'm as much an IOR man as you, MrI, Elvis, etc I think I've spoken to KH once in my life that I can remember but that makes me an IOR man. what a load of bollocks

Excellent idea

What work do you do Bob?

Pro message board support for the club?


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He's their "man on the inside"... Don't know of what but he's definitely inside..

I am not sure how things could get worse without IOR, they are pretty dire as is, some people come over as so far up Russ Greens arse their user name should be 'toenails'

We are a fan owned club in everything but name only. IOR aren't putting money on so the only money comes from fans.

And of course the player sales, but we'll never see that money. It's getting paid at a rate over 3 jelly babies a day for the next 10 years


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I helped out with getting ground ready for start of season and put posters up for the lottery.
Chip what majority if it had been the majority I would have gone along with it. It was unnoticeable and Pools fans increased for the JPT game compared to corresponding game the previous season. So once more what majority ? People who boycotted FA Cup game only did so because of price which I respect but some said at £10 they would have went. So once more it was a price based boycott not an IOR not spending / investing boycott. Do I see boycotting games as a possibility, way of working not really IOR already have the money. Not buying stuff in ground is
better alternative but some won't go without their half time pint. So although I think that decent idea, others may not. And I'm not sure it would work but I'm happy for it to be discussed/ tried. Yubep I actually agree we arevas good as fan owned but do you believe that IOR dont pay staff wages / utility bills etc ( or help little). That where I see the problem lets say fans take over tomorrow where does money come from on 1st January to meet bills. Now council may waive rent for while but others won't. Unless I'm missing something how do we, the fans, meet them bills. All football related debts have to be paid in full under F.A rules. So there about 20 players to pay. If I win euro millions then I'd buy us and back the team until then I cant.

Bob,

You clearly don't want change to happen, but a fan owned club will evolve over time.

What people are saying should happen here is some vocal and public shows of fans feelings towards the owners and some foundations put in place (through fundraising, getting a constituted group up and running, raising awareness and planning activity/strategy) so if/when IOR fuck off or drop us into administration there can be some sort of continuity.

If you think IOR, a business, wouldn't drop the club into admin, fucking off all the staff/debtors in he process if it suited their business needs then you're blind to the reality of big business. Yes they have been here a long time and have spent a lot of money giving us fans some good years but they'll go as soon as they came if the mood takes and I'd rather there was a group ready to pick up the slack even if that was in the Northern league where our neighbours found themselves as the alternative of no club would be (and I'm loathe to use this word to a sports team) tragic.

If only there was something you could keep money in n pay it out once a month over the year.

They should invent that.


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I've read through Bob's last post there and it seems that this man is appointing himself spokesman for what fans should do, he isn't posting opinion.

I can't commit to help but I really wish I could get involved because I'd love to prove the Luddites like him wrong.

We would have a better country if more things were community or locally owned rather than by faceless companies based in fuckknowswherebucktoo paying directors from tax havens nice fat returns for nothing.

I trust that fans of IOR will go and cheer outside Hodcroft's house while Pools are playing once IOR have fucked off

How do the wages of Pools players compare to Accy and Exeter? Have they got bigger budgets or just got better players on the same or less money?

The next 4 weeks are crucial. If and what increasingly looks like when we go out of the football league many fans might just wrap in whether fan owned or ior owned. I'm not sure I can be arsed with the blue square premier or vauxhall conference or whatever it is called.

Is being fan owned viable? How many of us have got a spare couple of grand to throw in to keep the club going? Many of us on here including me haven't even bought season ticket this season so will there be hundreds of people who couldn't commit to season tickets this season suddenly getting them next if IOR fuck off?

The whole situation is a mess, a decent manager needs appointing - preferably Ronnie Moore and players need to be signed. If that doesn't happen then I will stop going....

If you give up cos we end up fan owned or in the conference then you can't call yourself a Pools fan. That is when the fans will come together in one common cause

It feels like any money fans are putting into the club would be better spent putting into a trust fund if sorts

This getting season tickets early is just a con from IOR so they have the money up front and don't have to give a fuck about the team

Well said Parmo! I have only been to a handful of games in the last 2 seasons after following Pools home and away since I was a nipper. It was my own personal protest again the owners but once I.O.R have gone ( and that time is so close now) I will buy a season ticket every year regardless of what division we are in.

If the 17000 who went to CARDIFF payed £30 each towards the trust fund theres £510,000.

A good will gesture on the tenth aniversery of our finest moment.

If fans owned is the way forward then thats what we have to do.
Other fans owned clubs seem to manage ok you only have to look at exeter to get some inspiration of what can be achieved.

Darlington are our rivals but i have nothing but admiration for the way there fans have rallied around.Some post on here and areactually enjoying there rise back up the football pyramid.

In the meantime we need to crack on with the protests give hodcroft as much bad publicity as possible get the football people of the country on our side.
No one likes a bent chairman.

Get the protests on you tube shame hodcroft he deserves it!

HODCROFT OUT

Never thought i'd see this..

They've done very well..the real fans that is.. They're all happy and cock a hoop on Saturdays as well..

I have been doing some phone calls and this is the outcome. The Credit Union do allow groups to have accounts . These accounts can have a max of £10k invested. minimum of 2 signatories. A dividend is paid annually. Building Societies seem to have stopped having group accounts, so it looks as if any accounts set up will have to be with a bank.. Here is a suggestion. Fund raising should be 2 pronged. 1. Money from small individual donations, fund raising events etc could be lodged in a bank account. The Supporters Assoc. ,who already have bank accounts might care to handle these. The stipulation being that the money cannot in anyway benefit I.O.R. A fund raising steering committee could iron out the details.
2. As previously suggested a 100 Club be formed. Multiples of £100 would be lent to the S.A.or another group, on a long term loan. Same terms as above. 5 trustees to be appointed. This is more for supporters who do not need their money back in a hurry. Accumulated funds could be eventually used as a guarantee in the event of the departure of I.O.R.
We need to get started A.S.A.P. this week preferably

Excellent stuff Corner Flag. Sounds like that is just what we need to do. We have to me an business and demonstrate we can get this fund raising off the ground. The important thing is that Hodcroft never gets his hands on it no matter what

my next door neighbour gives 25 quid a month to exeters trust fund on top of buying a season ticket and has done for a while.how many poolies would do that? also exeter are at least cash flow wise in the shit and are selling matt grimes in the transfer window to stay afloat

What would the alternative be if we were left on our own? I am hopeful some genuine supporters of the club and local businesses can rescue us from this nightmare. But we have to face up to this

And I would swap our position with Exeter in a flash

I'll state again that I an far from happy with the current state of affairs at HUFC. I will also state again that I no longer want IOR to have anything to do with the club if they have no further ambition and no desire to invest (which seems to be increasingly clear). I hope that is clear - in these respects I am no different to anyone else on here.

I know that fans feel the need to "do something" but this is where my views differ. Without a backer who has £££££££ to invest we wont get anywhere. All these well intended plans of "who will put in £100" will not work. It will need 100 this month, next month and so on indefinitely. Fans representation on the board would be good but the club could not survive, never mind run well, on the well meaning contributions to the bucket. (Which is still happening every game at Darlo).

I believe IOR may well have decided that the time is up - they are not blind to the head of steam being built up against them. I also believe attempts may be ongoing to try and attract new investors, but all the negativity at present ( and I DO understand peoples views and concerns) may be counter productive to this.

I know time is precious but I would be very surprised if major changes weren't forthcoming as soon as we hit January 1st. I just hope that the gap between us and safety isn't too great by then.

Once the public turn then, whether its a politician or a company, the game is up. Protests will simply bring forward the date of IOR's departure and reduce the sale value of the company.

This reads like the sort of guff that was being punted out by the UK establishment to Scots who wanted their country to be ran internally, did Russ script it for you or were you allowed to rearrange the words yourself?

For God's sake, who cares what any individual poster has or hasn't said in the past? Having been wrong before doesn't mean a man will never be right ever again. In any case, what does it matter? As I've pointed out before, no-one needs Geoff N's or Bearded Beast's or anyone else's permission to have an opinion or to pursue whatever course of action they think fit.

How about looking at the issues and how they can be addressed instead of wasting time scoring points?

I tend to agree with what Geoff says about the fan owned thing, I think its only a route we should go down as an absolute last resort if new investment can't be sought.

I would agree with a lot of what GeoffcN says here. You have to separate protest from preparedness. No one knows what is going to happen to your club in the next 6 months, 12 months or 5 years . . . in terms of ownership, nothing may actually happen. But as fans you can prepare for any eventuality starting now.
Darlo's Trust started a ring-fenced fund years before it was actually used for the purpose it was set up for. A similar fund could provide your fans with future influence, part / whole ownership when something materially changes. It's all about the fans having a meaningful influence on the direction of the club.
A fans-owned club is not a nirvana, it's bloody hard work and may have a natural ceiling in terms of the league structure. There's nothing wrong with fans keeping options open, but you need influence (usually in the form of some kind of ownership) to do that.
There's a lot of trust needed for fans to contribute large sums or regularly into a ring-fenced fund, which is why it should be set up with criteria as tight as a duck's arse - no misunderstanding about its intention!
Still think Supporters Direct is a good starting point for advice, as your fans need to be part of any solution when the time comes for when a solution is required

Oh, yes, chip, of course the whole dispute has all been about different senses of humour.

I do have difficulty keeping up with the moved goal posts, but appreciate that it's my fault for bothering to try.

To be fair, if you stop talking out of your arse, I might continue the 'conversation'. If not, accept my silence as proof I've found a more intelligent form of life to talk to.

grabec, I will talk to you. I am far more intelligent than most on here as well you know.

And also, I have total respect for GeoffN, and his perfect right to talk complete horseshit constantly.

And the fact that he is a pools shareholder increases my respect.

Me to!!!!

I actually don't think it will come to that - but what if it does? What if we don't have any other option? We have to be prepared, and we have to face up to that possibility

If it is that or no Pools - are some people really advocating giving up altogether?

There's just no way on Earth that Pools fans and people of the town could raise enough money for Conference never mind League Football....sad but true!!!!

I like the idea of the supporters setting up a trust and putting some money aside if it's ever needed. That makes sense for fans of any club at our level. I still stand by being fan owned as an absolute last resort, either that or the club folds situation.

so what if we end up in the Northern Premier League then... so what? It means we are still here!!! If we disappear altogether we can then safely say we won't come back. But something is better than nothing, it really is

If Gainsborough Trinity and Matlock Town have football clubs then I'm damn sure we would. We are a bigger club than Halifax and Chester and Macclesfield etc have ever been and they do ok

Our income stream and turnover would attract investors eventually

I don't know whether the likes of Exeter have total mistrust of investors, but looking in I would see them as an attractive proposition to invest in a football club.

The best model is York City - part fans owned to the point that they can block/veto major decisions, but mostly funded by local businesses who are also fans of York City

That is the best way to go

Chip why is it that you have to resort to abuse with anyone who refuses to agree with anything you say. Are your views the only ones that count on here anymore. We are not so far apart as you seem to think. I just believe that some of your alternatives to I OR will not work....and it seems I am not alone.