From todays T&A...

Coulby told the T&A: “Our efforts at the present time are firmly focused on keeping the club out of administration and putting it on a sustainable business footing moving forward.

“At the conclusion of this process, we intend to give a full account of exactly what has occurred over the past two years and this will answer much of what has been raised by Peter Hood in Monday’s Telegraph & Argus.

“We owe this anyway to the supporters of the club, whose magnificent efforts in April have given us more than a fighting chance of achieving our objective.”

I just hope he is true to his word, he'll get a lot of support back on side if he is.

And I don't doubt that conversations are taking place despite the special measures but it is a big hinderance I would of thought. Some players might quite rightly be a little nervous to accept a verbal agreement from the Bulls right now with some much speculation and uncertainty.

Supporters mentioned.

It needs sorting and quickly. Clubs are doing some trading now and it appears we can't. We have too many OOC, and in fairness to them, with mortgages and bills to pay, they are going to have to secure their futures, no matter how much they may want to stay. Couldn't blame them.

Yup. And I'm sure any players would be given reassurances to isolate and mitigate that very point.

Nobody wants administration either financially, morally or PR wise. Nor do I see it as an easy option for anybody involved. The review will outline as Coulby says, where we are, what has happened and what will be happening.

As for Hoods grandstanding in the T&A, I'm actually embarrassed for the man. The number of times he contradicts himself in one article is frightening. "we did pay, we didn't pay; we didn't borrow, we did borrow; we did get, we didn't get." it simply smacks of a flag waving Jonah with very little in the way of business acumen, hence our current predicament.

I mentioned the VAT scenario months ago, it's a pity he didn't!

Seems there is too much grandstanding from the major shareholders. We have a real chance with the present squad with some quality additions to making a challenge next year. Whilst we have this hanging over our heads the likelihood is that we will be left behind for another season.

Unfortunately, we don't have a real chance with the current squad. It's average at best and possibly batting above its average a little. We are at least 6 players short and perhaps need to jettison some of the over-rated, under performing, members.

The current situation, is what it is, and somewhat unavoidable. A necessary evil if you will. I will be more confident in 2 months time than I was 2 months ago.

I think some posters may have overlooked the opening line of the thread!

Trying to keep to my original aim of looking to the future after last night's effort I think we can say at the moment the team is certainly doing it's part, and the fan's have done all that has been asked of them. Yes we do understand that there are no easy, quick fixs for the commercial/business side of the equation, and it was good to hear some of the thanks being given to the fans at last night's game.

However at the moment it seems that most of the communications coming from the various owning factions of the club are being aimed at each other - not practical suggestions on taking the club forward. So what is stopping small steps like pushing "virtual tickets" or old-fashioned buckets for fans to contribute? What about specific schemes to raise £x to keep player y? A lot of fans have already rallied behind the club and its players - but if you delay too long, and keep up all the petty squabbling then the momentum and goodwill will fade.

Fair point relic and apologies for the mini derailment on my point. Noted.

The virtual ticket has legs, but perhaps the club are wary of juicing the orange any further. Fans have dug deep for too long and to keep asking to contribute is perhaps just a little too much.

I'd expect anybody wishing to take control of a business to have an extremely strong plan in place, particularly one that has taken a lot of flak. Given that, I understand elements of the silence for now based on some of the revelations they may be unearthing. Who knows. On your point of the future, it can't get any bloody worse and for that reason, it's a great cause for optimism. In fact, I believe the Queen is that excited she's having a pre-celebration party today.

I wish I could say I had just won the € millions and would be sorting out the minor problems at Odsal from petty cash - but I bought the wrong ticket!

However I am lucky enough to be able to pay a bit more and though having a season ticket have been paying on the gate, but would prefer not to donating VAT as well. I know it would not be a huge amount but if we made more of the virtual tickets - or a bucket some fans at least would be able help make the hole a bit smaller. I realise it is a cliche but every little does help, and it is easier if you can spread the donations over the rest of the season.

Still good to know we have some inside contacts at the Palace - maybe we could raffle a corgi?

In order to move forward more easily I can only reiterate my plea to the current board to end - with immediate effect - all the political statements about what did, or didn't, happen in the past. The only thing it serves to do, inevitably, is to elicit a response form the old board. The whole lot of them, old lot and new lot, have to realise that this slanging match does the club no favours and only makes any effort to find investment more difficult - would you invest in a club where the shareholders are having an open civil war through the media?

The ball is actually in the court of the new board; if they don't make provocative announcements there is nothing to respond to. If the old board then make statements without provocation then they stand to be, rightly, damned for it. At the end of the day I still, maybe naively, believe both of them actually want what is best for the club; maybe it's time to prove it.

Potter is again linked with the France job, could pave the way for a Brian Noble return as expected.

Well, whatever will be, will be, as they say. I wouldn't blame him for going, not for a second - nor any of the payers if they chose to accept an offer elsewhere - at the end of the day their future and families come first. That said, I hope Mick stays and competes the job. He's been brilliant under very trying circumstances, imo - ditto the players, none of them deserves to have to work under the current circumstances.

Still, the piece said dint no whether Potter would do it in a part time or full time capacity

Broadly agree with the sentiments but I think the last few weeks have shown there is little if any chance of this happening with the current shareholding as it is.

We can argue forever on the nuts and bolts but I've argued for years that the key problem could only be solved by administration. I disagree the ball is in the court of the new board as we can see an effective message board campaign has been mounted to undermine them. Personnally, whether justified or not, I think CC is simply too divisive a figure to take us forward. People really seem to hate him and there's just too much history I'm afraid.

I paid my pledge out of emotion but feel in retrospect it was the worst thing we could have done. Had we entered administrtaion in April we could have been shut of Caisley, Hood and the rest. I think the club would have been bought out of admin. We'd have lost points but those saying we'd lose our franchise are talking nonsense. The RFL have secretly lent the club money and bought a lease they probably didn't want to keep us alive.

We have ended up in the worst of all worlds.

Well all we can do is hope things come out in the wash alright. I'm sick of the blame game, I couldn't care less if Caisley emerges in charge if we're put on an even keel.

A keel, but even with what? Unless we can find a benefactor like the leading clubs have, our keel will remain a couple of levels below their keels.

In a way, we are approaching full circle. I can quite easily see - IF we can keep the cream of our developing young talent - situation where in 2 or 3 years time we have grown back into a consistent force, and are back in the top 4 area. By which time the crowds would be back up to over 10K 'normal paying' customers. And we are where we were when Caisley was last in charge, moaning at the fans for the crowds actually being slightly down even though we were winning. Which is because while at around 11K fans we can run the show, it still isn't enough to compete with sugar daddy clubs on anything like a level playing field.

But sadly telling the fans off for not coming is probably the most stupid, pointless and annoying thing that any club chairman can do. I understand entirely how they must feel, but it is really bizarre to think in the 21st C. you could get more people to come by giving them a jolly good ticking off.

So, to sum up my point, we needed and still need a rich benefactor to compete at the level people fatuously claim we "should" be, (as if we had a right), if we don't get one the we could within a couple of years become close to a top 5 - top 6 team, improving, but in the meantime I doubt it is sensible to expect the team to be kept together when the money just won't be coming through the gate in large enough quantities, unless the new bosses can persuade somebody - even if not a true sugar daddy - to part with a ranch, which we can bet on our future progress.

Best get a Euromillions ticket for Friday. £126m oughta help.

I think you're correct to say CC is a 'divisive' figure and I've posted with the odd complaint of my own, though I would hate to be thought part of any, 'campaign to undermine', anyone who is trying to save the club. In those terms it sounds like an organised campaign with leaders and an agenda, which I don't think exists to be honest. I think any major change is going to bring out pros and antis and that is what we are seeing, but it is just individuals voicing concern.

The important fact though, is that Chris, and his group, effectively run the show, it is a fait accompli, and as a supporter I want him, and them, to do what is best for the club. Ultimately we all support the club, the team on the field, not the people in the boardroom, and when, or indeed if, things get back to something approaching normality 99.99% of fans won't give two hoots who is chairman, or on the board imo.

For what it's worth, I'm sure you're right about admin sorting out the shareholding problem, my problem with it is that I've always complained about clubs 'going the admin route' just to evade debts and taxes etc. It's unfair on everyone from local businesses who are owed money and to the taxman (who represents US) and just because it's [imy club[/i doesn't make it right imo. If a club is totally up the creek, with no chance of carrying on, well Ok, things have to be sorted one way or another but as a smart Alec business tactic it's wrong, wrong, wrong. But that is just my opinion and it matters not one jot, in the great scheme of things.

Already got my ticket. Bought it yesterday, for 2 draws, as i knew I wouldn't win on the first one.

If my arithmetic is correct, it will pay the running costs shortfall from now until the next Transit of Venus. Fscked if I know what we'll do after that, though.

Does buying a shirt and season ticket disqualify you as an unconnected third party??

Well if you read it on here, it must be true.

I wonder if the group from the far east who have made Cardiff play in red fancy a change? I am sure for a small investment we would happily play in red or anything else for that matter

I am sure they would get less grief from our fans than they will from Cardiffs!!!

No. The season ticket was, as you know, basically free, and they didn't have a shirt big enough . . .