I want to start by thanking everyone who attended our Open Meeting on Monday, especially the guest speakers who gave up their free time to provide some insight into events at the club and where we go next, and also those who tuned in to the live feed.

We have listened to the feedback we had on the evening and after the event, and would like to update everyone on the various strands that we are working on.

We have decided as a Board to set up 3 sub committees to allow us to give extra focus in the following 3 Areas :

Club/Investor Liaison

This will be headed up by myself and Jo Grylls. We are in ongoing dialogue with the owners regarding the sale of the club. As of today we are still being told that there are interested parties in negotiations to buy the club. As a Trust we continue to facilitate discussions between potential partners in a Consortium to buy the club, we are also doing our best to sell the positive aspects of the club to buyers. Unfortunately we cannot share all of the information we have, as a lot of what we have been passed is of a confidential nature.

One thing we have been told by potential investors, and I am sure Jeff Stelling will confirm this if asked at his Talk In, is that perceived division between the fans is becoming an issue. Our fan base is one of the main selling points the club can use. We are one of the best supported clubs outside of the Football League, and indeed our average attendance is higher than many League Two clubs. As we said on Monday night we do not all have to be friends, but we do have to present a united front. We accept it is only a small minority causing this division, however they are very vocal. Can we ask everyone again to please think very carefully when posting on Social Media and the Forums about what sort of image your comments might present to an investor.

All of the Trust Board are season ticket holders, almost all have day jobs, and they are putting a lot of their own time and effort into trying to save the Club.

Campaign/Fundraising

This will be headed up by Andy Wilson and John Hawksworth, who will seek to increase contributions to the Fighting Fund. We appreciate that people have already contributed in January to the various campaigns, but we do need to build a pot of money to cover all eventualities. Should we be part of a consortium that buys the club we will raise a share issue for our contribution to the purchase price. However we will need money from the Fighting Fund to pay our share of ongoing running costs.

We have already formed a partnership with Hartlepool Media Group who will be assisting with promotional video content but would be happy to work with anyone who has ideas on how we can raise our profile and ultimately more money as long as they are not going to charge for their services.

Liquidation/Phoenix Club

This will be headed up by Richard Ward and Mark Dobson. Obviously this is the option none of us really want to think about, and it would naturally be a last resort, however as part of our Contingency Plan it is something we must think about now.

If we have to start again then the planning for that has to begin now. We have already been in dialogue with the Council and Local MP, the former has confirmed that the ground is not up for sale, and the latter is in the process of setting up a meeting for The Trust with the Councils Head of Regeneration. We are very reassured by what we have heard thus far. We have also been in detailed discussion with Supporters Direct about the practical implications of starting a new club. This is far from straightforward and if we had to start afresh in August then a lot of preparation needs to be done now.

This is NOT us saying we want to start a Phoenix Club, it is us saying it is a possibility we have to consider and the decision to liquidate the club would be something largely outside of our control. The timeframe in which we would have to register a new club after Liquidation is very short and for that reason we need to be prepared.

In closing I would like to thank all that have donated thus far, and would urge everyone to get involved in the campaign, even if it just means sharing details of what we are doing. This is not just about the 9 Board Members, it is about each and every one of us collectively working to keep our club alive.

I'll go with that. The only addition I would make is Mark Hargreaves to the first group. He has offered his services and is an financial guru.

Excellent statement.

This or the ‘movement’ thread anyone?

Bang average statement as ever.

You have to question the judgement of those still interested in investing in the club if true. At least their motivation can't be to rob Pools blond as there's feck all left.

Good luck to all board members with their efforts and thanks for giving your time to benefit the many.

If it,s the same Mark Hargreaves I used to sit next to in the Millhouse stand we will be in safe hands. Nice to see your still around Mark and if you are wondering who I am we had a round of golf together at seaton several years ago you had the Merc, I had the Jag!

I thought you were dead against mentioning a contingency plan?

I have the car radios from the golf club car park

He's a member of this place.

That’s very poor Mr I, I didn’t say anything of the sort you are complaining about the same thing in other threads. It’s a question of timing and delivery. What I said is that it shouldn’t be brought up in a public meeting, at the stage we were in a social club full of people of which all not of them would be on board or open to a Pheonix club. Things have progressed since that appalling statement from whoever it was (the club) yesterday which I think esculated and made it more clear to everyone what was happening. A balanced statement is far better way to introduce the the thought rather than a public free for all. As said peoples jobs are on the line so in statement form with every possible permutation outlined is a far more sensible way to approach things.

Very professional and great work lads. Forever appreciated.

I was about to trawl through posts and quote some but I'm not going to fall out with you. My view was simply that people wanted to hear a plan for the future if it went pear shaped. You take the view that it wasn't the time or place. We disagree but move on.

100%

So does that mean this place is going to be better moderated going forward?

In what sense?

IT's always been self policed and will continue to be as such. Contrary to what you may have been told, there have very few people who have been banned. Some have been chased off for talking bollocks but few bans. Will moderation chance? absolutely not.

In the sense that despite other boards actions/content, this board needs to stop all talk of other boards, other fans etc.

That Movement thread is getting embarrassing.

We want to stop the factions/fighting? We need to get our own house in order first.

I've done away with that thread.

It shouldn't have needed me to bring it up for it to be removed though.

I agreed with that for ages but I don’t now.

They deserve ridicule and plenty of it.

Hard though it may be we really have to ignore those who are on a totally different wavelength. Rational discussion has not worked and just leads to greater confrontation.

The HUST statement very clearly states to cut the shit.

So it's time to cut the shit.

Bravo, bravo, 100% agree with all of the above - in the Trust, we trust - let it be.

You have a PM..............

Exactly!
We've got more to be concerned about than message boards spats. I'd be very disheartened to think that a serious investor would really be bothered about squabbling between a tiny minority of supporters. Shirley these boards exist to air differing opinions, it's the same at any club. Emotions are running high because of the sheer desperation of the Clubs position - but it doesn't have to descend into civil war. Hells bells we fight like buggery with each other on here!

I’m not concerned in message board spats, it isn’t important or a major concern but this has gone way beyond that.

This agenda has gone on a long time now and the people involved deserve ridicule, I’m sorry but they do. The last week has seen some of most pathetic, shameful embarrassing behavior imaginable. I’d rather go the other way because tip toeing around the issue hasn’t worked. Call them out, don’t allow them to cause anymore damage than they already have.

I understand your sentiment but by doing that your engaging in exactly the thing potential investors are worried about.Let it lie move on for the good of the club whether it be new or old. You can have your own personal long memory but publlcly we must be seen as one. May go against the grain but it's the only way forward

I must have missed the infamous "movement" thread so I can't comment on it.
There aren't moderators logged onto the board 24/7.
There's a button for calling attention to dodgy posts. Everyone is free to use it. Everyone is also free to call people out and tell them to shut the fuck up.

I personally am not willing to play the censor. I don't delete posts unless they are duplicates, against Bunker rules (e.g., spam), or a clear attempt at disrupting the Bunker. But I'm not averse to locking topics that are descending into flame wars. That's not censorship, that's editorial. The posts remain intact and visible and are simply shifted off the front page.

To be fair I’ve often been the one posting exactly what you did there for the last year. It’s not worked has it?

The only thing these people are trying to damage is The Trust, whatever way they can. From desperately badgering some poor bloke from Ebbsfleet to setting up fake accounts and deliberately and loudly banning them. It’s absurd at this time more than ever that we have grown men behaving like this and they certainly don’t deserve to get away with it. Realistically the actions of a few is not going to have any impact on potential investors, the absolute charlatans running the club have seen to that but moving forward it’s clear these people will not stop unless they are nipped in the bud for good. If people disagree then I’m happy to let them get on with it but personally I’ve had enough after this week.

Some of it is ridiculous like, but at the same time I would like to think potential investors have the intelligence to look past it. Currently the club is in a horrific state and emotions come with that, especially around the concerns where money should be going.

Yes there will still be debates if/when it gets resolved, and yes there will still be a minority who try to be obstructive. But ultimately all groups and factions will still be supporting the club.

I suspect a lot of the conflict among fans comes down to having someone to blame. Those who called the owners to account, had their target, but those who backed the owner found themselves with egg on their face and apparently had a problem accepting the evidence before their eyes. There was also some who believed the revelations undermined the owner and their blame was turned on the detectives for wrecking the club. Now most people realise the situation we're in, but we're left with a fog horn rump who refuse to face up to reality.

As usual, Geoff has hit the nail on the head.

"Rational discussion" is beyond them.

Hartlepool United

Well done the Trust, covers all bases that statement.

Wrong threadtastic!

The Fog Horn Rump would be a great name for a folk influenced prog band. I'm off to form one now, thanks Snowy. All song writing royalties will be donated to the Trust.

Great statement.

Three key areas covered with lots of clear explanation.

Great work folks.

Certainly agree with this in principle, though I am a little concerned about the lack of democracy within the Trust. Shoudn't plans/changes of this magnitude be discussed and voted on at a full meeting?. Just inviting people into the fold, because someone thinks said person is a financial guru. George Osborne was a financial guru. I might have something to offer, can I just walk into a position?.

The Trust need to be more democratic and transparent, otherwise there will be problems further down the line when more join.

I know people will think , there he goes again, but I want this to work and just want things done properly.

Replied!

Do people not realise you can NOT get more democratic than a fans run club.
Do people not realise that a club run by fans have regular voting, And if you believe you
Can do better then can be proposed and voted into a position on the board.

Or do some people as has been suggested have hidden agendas.
(in no way am i refering to the above poster)

Potential investors can’t expect all fans to be in agreement all the time. Most fans are united. It is up to the hopefully new owners to give everyone a business plan and vision to buy in to. If they did and their actions proved what they were saying people would soon set aside their differences as there would be nothing to argue about. It’s hardly as if there are running battles in rift house between rival factions. If 90% of fans are onside and that’s as good as it gets.

For whatever reason, Mr. Harnish and co. are making far too much of the "fans unity issue.'

If I was a potential investor I'd be far more interested in how home gates are holding up than anything else. Despite repeated allegations that nobody on the Bunker actually goes to games, all the fans groups and boards are equally committed to supporting their club when it comes down to it.

There's a minority of fans on here who live too far from the North-East to get to home games regularly, but can be relied on to turn up to away games in footballing hotbeds like Maidstone and Eastleigh.

Already got tickets for the Stelling do at the Borough Hall next week, hopefully get answers to a lot of questions.

Yeah a club run event will really tell all of the details, surprised Loughlin hasn’t already decided which questions to be asked

Stelling likes a hobnob

Will he turn up???