I don't disagree with any of that, Melly. The thing is, to enact most of it would require a fundamental change in the structure of the game from top to bottom. I'm not saying that won't happen some day, but realistically that change isn't going to be driven by the supporters of humble little Northampton Town.
I said this to someone yesterday, we have to deal in the here and now. Where we are is that we are run by investors, not fans. They've nonetheless invested well in our playing staff in the past, but that seems to have dried up. Whether that is because of covid related cloth cutting or that they've decided enough is enough is anyone's guess.
If we want new owners who are more ambitious for the club and are willing to spend accordingly
then the easiest way to expedite the current owners' exit is to all pull in the same direction to get them what they want.
That's my issue with the Trust over all this. They don't like KT or DB and want them out, but equally aren't willing to compromise to achieve this (on anything, even a bloody Zoom call for Christ's sake!). To this end they keep throwing obstacles in the path and while none of them are full on roadblocks, they are enough to slow the journey.
In my mind, the best (and more importantly realistic) outcome is:
- the surrounding redevelopment is completed.
- the resulting profit shared between the club and the council, thereby buying back some goodwill in the wider community after the loan scandal.
- part of the club's share is used to fund a modest completion of the East Stand (and possibly to pay off the directors loans)
- some cash going into the club coffers to put us on an even keel
- a nice, fat profit for the owners.
At this point, as they are investors not supporters, the club becomes a millstone around the owners' necks and they are likely to sell, but they will be selling a club with marginally better facilities and a decent balancesheet, which would be an attractive proposition for any potential buyers, who will hopefully be more interested in the football side of things (or could be far worse than we currently have, but that's a risk you will always take!!)
Everyone wins though; the fans get a finished ground and a more stable football club, the owners walk away with a profit, the Trust get shot of the current owners, the council get some cash back and the people of the town get some of their lost taxes back, plus some additional jobs from the surrounding developments.
We (the fans, the club, the council, the Trust) all need to be pulling in the right direction for that to happen though. As long as we're all pulling in different directions, nothing will move anywhere.
The Trust have compromised for 6 years, they stood aside to allow Kt to take over and have been treated with destain every since.
The Trust have had a number of zoom calls with KT / DB over the years.
On the vitally important East stand land deal that KT has sat on for 6 years, a zoom call just would not cut it (again after quite a few zoom call where nothing ever moved forward)
KT only involved the Trust again when it became clear that the council valued the Trust's input and approval (of sorts)
Genuine Question BOTN - Why would you want a modest completion of the East stand?