Frankie

Stage one DW Stadium Announced http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~1602350,00.html

Article from the Boss: Todayââ?¬â?¢s the day that the future of JJB may transform from being utterly unknown, to simply being as clear as mud. Itââ?¬â?¢s quarterly rent day today, when JJB and most others have to pay their landlords' rent in advance for the next 3 months. JJBââ?¬â?¢s banks have given the company extended deadline after extended deadline to repay the millions owed to them. The latest deadline expired yesterday, quite deliberately the day before the rent is due. JJBââ?¬â?¢s recent history since my last epistle is a trail of bloodshed, incompetence, new hope, intrigue, private jets, CEO suspension, PR leaks, and corporate backstabbing. It would take me all day, really it would ....... Suffice to say that Sir David Jones (he of Next fame) is in charge, he has made massive changes already, however the banks are still growling, the vultures are circling, but JJB might survive. For now. To do so, they need to sell their profitable gym division ââ?¬â?? just over 50 JJB Fitness gyms (together with the attached JJB stores), most of which are in England. Dave Whelan, JJB founder, is the preferred bidder and looks likely to pay something like Ã?£70m; the name would be changed to DW Sports/DW Fitness/or some combination. http://www.dwsportsfitness.com was registered a few weeks ago by the former JJB Marketing associate director who left in February! Wiganââ?¬â?¢s JJB stadium would also change its name accordingly. In the meantime, Mike Ashley (Sports Division and Newcastle United supremo) is trying to scupper the deal, writing to JJBââ?¬â?¢s landlords, the LSE, Uncle Tom Cobley and all. He is a bad man. A very bad man. And he hates Dave Whelan. He wants Whelanââ?¬â?¢s deal to fail, JJB put into administration, and pick from the carcass. There will be an announcement today. It will probably be that Dave Whelan has bought the gyms and stores, the banks have got their money, the rents have been paid, and JJB continues. But it just might be that JJB have gone into administration, though there is probably too much at stake, financially and politically, for that to happen today. So if things go to plan today, why does that leave JJBââ?¬â?¢s future as clear as mud ? Well, I did say that the gym division was profitable, very profitable. Together with other forced disposals of profitable stores, that leaves JJB a rump of what is was a year ago, and a loss-making rump at that. Sir David Jones will have a massive task in turning it around in the months and years ahead and save it from eventually going belly up. Can he do it ? If anyone can, he can ââ?¬â?? he has done an excellent clear-out job in the few months since his appointment. Will he do it ? Depends entirely on future spending by customers. And on whether a rumoured Company Voluntary Arrangement is successful in ridding JJB of a further 30 unprofitable stores. So it is down to the wire. In the next few hours there will be much happening, whether itââ?¬â?¢s a sale to Dave Whelan or Administration. And if Whelan gets his way, who knows whether, and for how long, JJB can subsequently survive. Either way, desperate times. Mud, mud, glorious mud.

Too early to make a decision but it is Bougherra for me at the moment....

Understandable but this has been the case since the organisation was put together. Necessary evil IMO but people will disagree on that so it is up to them if they can accept it or not.

I don't have a problem with that usually as PLUS Market, legal and strategic stipulations may mean some of the items discussed can't be released publicly.

Thanks for that S_A - interesting stuff and like the bank idea!

Apparently minutes will be online today.

Always liked the wee man and am quite gutted that injury seems to have ended his Rangers career before it really started... http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2009/03/25/rangers-steven-smith-in-cardiff-city-squad-for-charity-match-91466-23222065/

Sure is mate...

Bump. Great odds of winning this for the sake of a quick pm...

Again, less talk more action. Was glad to see Ferguson play well on Saturday (for an hour anyway) but that is the standard he must reach every week - while demanding the same from others in the team - if we're to win the SPL.

Aye, Hearts fans were singing that on Saturday....

Ah, excellent stuff mate... I agree with Jon - if you could get the material for a monthly look at the football world that would be superb.

Also, Jon; we can incorporate the voting into the main site PollXT software which will make it easier for you to report the results.

Yep, plenty of quality this year so will enjoy voting for the people who deserve recognition by their peers...

Any illegal streams of football etc mate...

Try joanne@rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk or the contact form on their site should work but they have had hosting issues of late I believe which may cause problems...

Aye, did a bit of digging on this since you posted and I'm reliably informed 4 people representing the Assembly and the Trust met with the club late last week. Would certainly be interesting to hear what was said as I'm sure there would be lots to discuss given both the Assembly and the Trust were extremely critical of the club late last year.

Since BD and Craig are in agreement, maybe I should add it to the STS report... :D

Don't worry mate - I've edited the NN article... Only a slight error and the overall tone of the article is an interesting and very valid one.

So let's say a generous 10% of season ticket holders take up the 2 year option. That's 4300 fans (at current season book rates) at say an average of �£500. That gives us �£2.25million which is around the kind of figure SDM was desperate for in January. Of course, this does mean the same amount wouldn't be available for the following season. Rather risky and short-termist IMO. Maybe I was too quick to dismiss the idea.

Not bad... Certainly the tune can't be racist any more given they were asking Warren Feeney to go home on Sunday.

You're right bigbear...

Of course mate. It would require a different mindset from the board of directors and all at the club - including senior players. A mindset that will have been flushed down the drain with the PLG debacle.

No chance...