Friday Fans Meeting with board over PC's takeover

[spirit of 1990]

Pete, would there be any chance of a mic being set up for when directors are answering questions in the Cross Bar on Friday? This is probably one of the most important meetings that fans have had to attend since Vaughan's era & there have been complaints in the past that directors can't be heard.

If there is a possibility the bar will be full (which it quite easily could be) should this be looked into?

[Richard Ingham]

Good point that Ian.

[McMark]

Had to leave just before nine to pick my lad up. The negotiations started with Mr Casson last July and were put on hold when Mr casson's father passed away. Re-ignited by EM's Steve Shaw when he contacted Mr Casson. Mr Casson has proven to the club that he can finance the proposed take over. No recommendation by the board until the AGM, it also looks like Tony Keen is moving on whatever the outcome due mainly to work and also sounded like Brian Keen soon to call it a day too.

[spirit of 1990]

I think that should be it done & dusted, if PC doesn't get the 75% after people listening to Tony tonight I don't know where we go......unless the people against are willing to take up the reigns.

It's quite obvious the present set up have done as as much as they feel they can. Tony spoke very well & it's plain to see he's put all he's got into it, as have the rest of the board more than likely! At times it felt a bit like a "handover speech"

There were some good questions, honest answers & heartfelt type replies from TK. After 9:00 it started to feel as though we were going around in circles though.

Among the people I was with tonight was a big sceptic, when I asked him which way he'd vote & he replied "after tonight - Yes" that wiped out any remaining doubt for me.

Overall it was quite light hearted and pretty enjoyable. The one certainty that came out was for the AGM/EGM we will need a better way of the directors communicating with us (volume-wise.....mic please!) and perhaps a bigger venue.

[John Very Little]

Yep gotta say that it's pretty much over now as it clearly obvious the board don't really think they can go any further with the current members club and virtually implied we vote for PC's bid.

The board couldn't actually say much about the bid because it wasn't a members meeting and they also couldn't give a recommendation one way or the other about the bid for the same reason but will do so at the AGM and EGM on 28th March.
TK talked about the situation with the present members club which is safe at present but has limitations in the amount of income it can generate. Basically they'll never do well in Conf Prem or get into the league with the present set-up.
TK did initially present how he saw the immediate future which was more development of the Cross Bar and removing the tops of the floodlights and moving the lights down to get them sorted. They also said the set up of the members club hindered us in the development bid for the NHS. Later in the meeting it was asked which of the current board would like to carry on and TK said no while the others didn't really express any preference but JM implied that PC didn't want any of them.

The club have checked that PC has the cash and the board won't stand in the way of PC taking over the club in any way but the members have to make a decision between the members club which we were told has a load of limitations and the takeover bid which provides more income initially and has risks. With regard to the bid from PC it clears all the debts but some directors won't get all their cash (loans) back. The question was raised about safeguards on the ground and an ACV but the board didn't ask this so Jeff Smith from Winders will check with PC on this. TK also said there was no other options on the table other than the members club or PC's bid.

One issue that was discussed was the way forward and the voting. Jeff Smith who'd been looking into the legal stuff said that 75% of the total membership was required to pass any motion as it was both a Special and Written resolution. However if 70% of the membership voted for the proposal TK said they would try to find a way round it legally so the motion could pass as he didn't want to be on a board where something else was more popular. There were also issues with proxy voting where 75% of those votes cast could be used but there would be no proxy or postal voting allowed for this but the club wants everyone to vote.
In addition there were members not receiving AGM Notices and kids signed up as members even though they weren't old enough to vote so these issues have to be sorted and any member who hasn't received an AGM Notice should get in contact with the club. The club currently has around 450 members but this total has been rising over the past week or so because of the PC bid.

In a fortnight the normal AGM will take place and then straight after that will be the EGM where further discussions will take place along with the board giving a recommendation the PC bid (pretty obvious from tonight they'll recommend acceptance). The following week voting forms will be sent out. One concern is that the AGM/EGM has been scheduled for the Cross Bar and many are wondering whether it will be a big enough venue?

[Steelworks End]

Thanks for the detailed report, John.

[Uncle Peter]

The club are looking at alternative venues. Watch this space

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

[Spanner]

The lack of microphones business sounds a bit shoddy [pun entirely intended] but credit where credit is due: the live updates during the meeting from the official BAFC Twitter account were top notch.

[barrowfan]

The club are looking at alternative venues. Watch this space

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

With a decent working PA system please!

[boyliegladbach]

Interesting meeting, long one I managed 6 pints. But from my understanding the way ahead is casson.
The board have done great and I don't doubt that and if they carry on the club would survive, but for us to move forwards there's only one option.

[dodger]

I think a lot of people went to the meeting and expected a firm directive of which way the members should vote! This couldn't and didn't happen! I'm sure over the next fortnight there will be plenty more to debate on this. One major point is that for the members voting against P.C. They will be voting for a board that next season won't be headed by Tony Keen! It would be interesting to see who would (or is capable )of stepping up into his role)?

[Uncle Peter]

The lack of microphones business sounds a bit shoddy [pun entirely intended] but credit where credit is due: the live updates during the meeting from the official BAFC Twitter account were top notch.

Thanks for this must go to Richard and Frazer, who've worked tirelessly with regards to social media

Cheers lads

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

[russell_anderson]

This vote is a complete "no-brainer". If Casson isn't given control it's pretty obvious the best Barrow will ever achieve is Conference North and it's highly likely that if the current board disappear the club will not even stay at that level for too long. I have no doubt that the vast majority of people will vote for a takeover. The concern is that the 75% target might be missed because of apathy or members who have left the area and are no longer aware of affairs at the club. Therefore, can anybody answer this question? If the takeover fails because the vote narrowly misses the 75% mark, can another vote be taken very quickly afterwards following a campaign to recruit new members who would vote for the takeover?

[barrowaberdeen]

The board were 'adamantly not opposed' to the takeover and TK and BK were clear things had run their course, BK in particular spoke from the heart.
They gave as much as an indication without giving an indication.


Everyone who I trust down at Barrow in the support feel that PC was genuine..I liked the fact we weren't 'owned' by anyone but the members but ultimately the town isn't supporting that model right now, we are stagnating and we must move on.

So, that's it for me, there's no other course of action but to vote yes. In fact we have to do all we can to make sure the vote is 'got out' to make the 75%

[Richard Ingham]

This vote is a complete "no-brainer". If Casson isn't given control it's pretty obvious the best Barrow will ever achieve is Conference North and it's highly likely that if the current board disappear the club will not even stay at that level for too long. I have no doubt that the vast majority of people will vote for a takeover. The concern is that the 75% target might be missed because of apathy or members who have left the area and are no longer aware of affairs at the club. Therefore, can anybody answer this question? If the takeover fails because the vote narrowly misses the 75% mark, can another vote be taken very quickly afterwards following a campaign to recruit new members who would vote for the takeover?

Yes. This is what John said above about TK finding another legal way of making it happen.