We are 2 months away from the 4th anniversary of DB/KT acquiring NTFC on the basis of a clear understanding with NBC that the East Stand would be finished, in return for which NBC forgave the club £10.25m of indebtedness and so saved NTFC from liquidation. It was a bit more complicated than that but that is the essence of it. For the past 4 years our owners have been finding reasons not to do what in 2015 they said they would do and they show no sign of honouring their commitment.
Whilst some can come on here and, if not intentionally, nevertheless provide some cover for KT in putting forward that there is no business case for completing the East Stand I would say that if that is so now it was also the situation when our owners took over NTFC in 2015. They are supposedly seasoned businessmen and came into the ownership with no lack of knowledge. They have let us down and continue to do so. If that is alright with supporters I despair. I can understand supporters being so hacked off with the endless situation that they would rather not bother at all. Indifference and silence is exactly what our owners want as they progress their hidden plans for substantial personal profits from land that was never part of the original situation. If supporters think our owners are acting in the "best interests" of the club let them demonstrate it. The past 4 years has been shrouded in secrecy and obfuscation. Ask yourselves the reason why.
As I tried to show yesterday in providing some alarming figures from the performance of clubs’ across the EFL the football industry is a basket case economically. I don’t endorse it and I for one advocates fundamental change but as the system stands clubs right across the football patch rely on the willingness of owners to invest significant amounts in the clubs they own to keep them alive and hopefully move their club forwards. Therefore, with such reliance on owners there is an understandable tendency of the part of supporters of not being conspicuously critical or confrontational with owners, including bad ones, for fear of the owners’ toys coming out of the ‘pram and them walking away only for another unsatisfactory owner to arrive on the scene as a another white knight often full of wind. Unless absolutely necessary and a financial crisis breaks out it is much easier for supporters to focus on what happens on the pitch and not stray outside the comfort zone. That is where we are at Northampton.
Not for the first time I would say wake up and smell the coffee.
TBH I would agree with that VC. I know I am guilty of yanking Beds chain a bit but I think this comes from a bit of frustration as well? Clearly the club has to move forward but from which ever angle you look at it there doesn’t seem to be a viable option? TBF when Beds came up with his comparative list I had a bit of a quick look and was a bit surprised myself that it was the same old story. Clubs that are supposed to be progressive are cloaked in a thin veneer and beneath it is the same old worrying financial position. It’s a bit chicken and egg I know but this can’t and won’t continue for ever. Left unchecked more and more clubs will start falling into the abyss, this is not scaremongering it’s a fact. Like those pyramid selling schemes that end with no one left to sell to, left unchecked eventually these clubs living beyond their means will reach the end of the financial road. That’s ok if it’s the owners money, more fool them. However, if it’s underwritten debt then these clubs will be in trouble. What do you do, do you try and follow and live the dream, or do you follow the path of abstinence and go to bed early while everyone else parties? I get it, I really do but just because it’s attractive it doesn’t make it either sustainable or right. So what is it to be, languish in league 2 whilst the other clubs shoot for the stars, or follow them and perhaps follow Bury into the abyss? That’s the choice and that’s why we are all arguing, trying to live the dream or avoid the nightmare?
