The K's In Point
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Club statement
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/www.kingstonianfc.com/news/club-statement-regarding-escrow-account-withdrawal
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1 person
Re: Club statement
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I’m 36, self employed, divorced, father of 2. Live in Maidstone. Try to take my son to as many Ks games as possible (haven’t been to RPV yet due to work primarily, as my work is very sought after on a Saturday) I used to take my Grandad to games LOADS between 2009 - 2018 but his bad health and fight with the ever winning dementia, has pretty much stopped me taking him along too.
Can it be noted that from now on, when there is any terrible news like this is mentioned, there is a warning label before publication. My poor aching heart can not take it anymore.
There’s only so many times my 8 year old son can sing “THE GRASS IS GREEN, THE SKY IS RED ( I tell him time after time it’s the sky is blue, but he never remembers)” before I have to break my stoic facial expression to let him know that maybe one day there might not be a Kingstonian for him to follow, as I have done since 1992, when my grandad took me to my first game.
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4 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3274
I completely agree with BedfordshireK and others about the error of further drawing down the AFC money to fund this team of step 3 players. That money should be for our future and it's tragic to compare what £1m+ could have got us at 2017 prices compared to 500k now but we never learn from our mistakes.
To the question of an appropriate budget it's one that's within our means. Even in Mitcham our 221 average crowd would have ranked us 8th in Div 1SC last season, so we if we were being well run then midtable should be possible without using AFC money.
But I wanted to focus more on another aspect of this statement, that until a planning application has been submitted, we will not be able to name any of the sites. What a colossal error.
We need to do everything we can to win backing for this. That means working to get the community on side, not eventually dropping it like a bomb into the planning process.
The statement makes it sound like we have a favoured site so let's start on that engagement now. It will give us the best chance of getting things through planning or, if it shows it will be unpopular, at least it stops us wasting more time and money on Lovelace 2.
A Tory councillor's reaction to our statement today was as follows - this isn't really a good sign for the way the board are going about engagement: "It is a shame that supporters and (some) councillors are being kept in the dark as to what is being considered and what help (if any) is being given by Kingston Council."
We're only going to bring people with us by being open with both the fans and the community.
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12 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3056
This is a dreadful decision from the "new" board in itself, and also one that demonstrates how much it is unchanged from the old board.
My personal (cautious) positivity about the new board was largely due to the involvement of Steve Dormer, who from a one-off 'meet the board' meeting seemed a bright guy with a lot to offer us.
But without him, I'm not sure there's any reason to think this board offers Ks anything. The way Jim Page is attacking supporters raising legitimate concerns sums up how unsuited he is to his current position. The fact he's attacking people who put so much effort into trying to help Ks, in terms of money and time, really is quite concerning.
It's unbelievable that we are constantly eating into this money while completing failing to do the basics in terms of attracting sponsorship from local businesses (and businesses owned by people connected to Ks). We'll just continue eating into this money until there's nothing left - not even a football club.
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9 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2602
You have to remember Jim Page has always been anti supporters, and that the old directors are still pulling George's strings.
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3 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2846
I realise that social media 'likes' can mean a variety of things, but interesting to note that Dormer, via his Surrey Hire account, has 'liked' a number of tweets criticising the board statement.
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9 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2970
Isn't he the vice-chairman?
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1 person
Re: Club statement
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Isn't he the vice-chairman?
Don’t have one according to the club official on the Ks website. I’m sure Mr Bangs OBE or Mr Page could answer that question if that’s possible
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2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3216
So we take out more of the Womble money for rent, while throwing money at an expensively-assembled squad?
Three months ago a club statement said:
"Our aim is to significantly reduce any further withdrawals from the AFC Wimbledon-donated money for ground sharing costs. If we can achieve that, it means we only draw funds to pay any new ground related costs."
What has changed in that time other than the opportunity to spend more money on an expensive squad?
Selling our future down the river for the chairman's ego.
Edited by BedfordshireK at 11:42:18 on 31st July 2024
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16 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2470
It's not ego it's stupidity,
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Re: Club statement
Views: 3059
Care to share how much has been thrown at the squad and by how much it is expensive for this level,and by how much more it is than the club can afford?
Ksuals
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1 person
Re: Club statement
Views: 3133
Bedfordshire Ks as you obviously know how much a club should spend on a squad at step 4 perhaps you would be kind enough to pass on your knowledge for future reference.
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2 people 
14 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2883
Evening Jim, quick question if I may…
Did your parents not love you as a child? Just trying to figure out why you come across so horrifically on here?
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1 person 5 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3009
Jim you and your pals have no business plan to take the club forward. You don’t have the people skills to win the fans over and influence us to help take the club forward. You in fact just antagonise people. You don’t do anything to bring new fans in or think outside the box. It’s the same old shit, it’s not going to work! Yes the football product is a lot better but you are gambling on that making the club take off when you can’t even get the right people in to help run the club. You and your pals have pissed off too many fans and volunteers. People who could help the club grow! No one has a positive word to say about you, you are the wrong person to be on the board and now the money for our clubs future is being pissed away on your watch! I was genuinely surprised when I first found out that you had joined the board. I can only assume this was a tactical move made by Yioryos to have someone along side him that is more disliked than he is!
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7 people 2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2753
Well done Butler I never realised you were so eloquent in your assesment of this board ,you usually tell it how it is .
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Re: Club statement
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Well considering the board said only 3 months ago that the plan wasn't to dip into the escrow money for ground rent, I'd suggest the budget should have been set appropriately for that.
Clearly that hasn't been the case.
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11 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3079
Once again when challenged you don't have an answer. If you are going to make a statement about expensive squads please provide the evidence to back it up to prove that it is expensive. I would just like to know what you think is a sensible wage to pay at this level to make a team competitive.
Also, we said our AIM was to not use the money for ground rent and if we achieved that NOT that we weren't going to use it for ground rent. To enable us to achieve this aim we need to increase our revenue . One way to do this is to increase the success of the club on the pitch. This is what we are hoping to do but if you would prefer that we don't pay our players and tumble down the leagues then unfortunately you are going to be disappointed.
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2 people 11 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2953
we need to increase our revenue
Whatever happened to that MINIMUM £150k investment into the CLUB offer, coupled with unlimited and uncomparible expertise in raising profile and revenue? All wrapped up in an actual commitment (as opposed to what we've now seen reneaged on in just 3 months) to not draw down any more AFCW money?
Ah yes, it was rejected to let one person grow his own stake (ego?) and install an even less qualified board to continue making the same mistakes.
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14 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3013
Also, we said our AIM was to not use the money for ground rent and if we achieved that NOT that we weren't going to use it for ground rent.
so it's just a big failing? and that happened in just three months?
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8 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2747
The whole setup is just an.elaborate. charade to spend the next four or five seasons steadily eroding what's left of the escrow money,as we now have a project manager and an architect perhaps we could have their names and qualifications. (Would they be Anderson,Winwright and Fenwick ) ?collecting the fees.
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2 people 2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2961
If you are going to make a statement about expensive squads please provide the evidence to back it up to prove that it is expensive.
We've signed a load of players who were playing in a competitive step 3 team last season. So yes, I reckon that's an expensive step 4 squad.
I would just like to know what you think is a sensible wage to pay at this level to make a team competitive.
Well that just proves my point doesn't it. You've chosen to dip into the womble money to create, in your own words, a 'competitive' team, you've prioritised short-term success over safeguarding the long-term financial interests of the club. You're gambling on building a good team, playing outside of Kingston and hoping that builds revenue, all while any kind of sponsorship income continues to dry up.
Edited by BedfordshireK at 15:22:24 on 31st July 2024
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Re: Club statement
Views: 3010
Just so I’ve got this straight, the actual “strategy” is:
- Spend money that’s not ours
- To maybe win some football matches
- Because that will increase revenue
- So that we can cover the increased expenses we have accrued
I thought the old board were bad enough but this is even worse.
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10 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 1102
Just so I’ve got this straight, the actual “strategy” is:
- Spend money that’s not ours
- To maybe win some football matches
- Because that will increase revenue
- So that we can cover the increased expenses we have accrued
I thought the old board were bad enough but this is even worse.
How's it going, Jim?
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6 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 1320
Just so I’ve got this straight, the actual “strategy” is:
- Spend money that’s not ours
- To maybe win some football matches
- Because that will increase revenue
- So that we can cover the increased expenses we have accrued
I thought the old board were bad enough but this is even worse.
How's it going, Jim?
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5 people 1 person
Re: Club statement
Views: 1286
Just so I’ve got this straight, the actual “strategy” is:
- Spend money that’s not ours
- To maybe win some football matches
- Because that will increase revenue
- So that we can cover the increased expenses we have accrued
I thought the old board were bad enough but this is even worse.
How's it going, Jim?
Someone said on here a board member wanted a team to watch and have a drink with their mates. Ended up with a pub team on tonight's evidence.
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4 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 1316
Please nobody tell Eddie Simon he only scored 2 in a pub kick about…
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Re: Club statement
Views: 1284
Fair play, Eddie Simon - a shining light once again in an embarrassing display.
But 7-4 is a pub league scoreline. Ashford had scored 5 goals in 7 league games going into tonight. To concede 7 against them is remarkable.
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2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 1332
It's all a conspiracy to make Liam Allen seem like god 😜 so his dad gets free reign to try and assault fans who disagree 🤣
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It's the Organs or the Craic, you can only serve one master
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1 person 1 person
Re: Club statement
Views: 1274
Assault really
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2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 1298
Exactly what a board member said. Should be a fan then not a director
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It's the Organs or the Craic, you can only serve one master
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1 person
Re: Club statement
Views: 2010
Just so I’ve got this straight, the actual “strategy” is:
- Spend money that’s not ours
- To maybe win some football matches
- Because that will increase revenue
- So that we can cover the increased expenses we have accrued
I thought the old board were bad enough but this is even worse.
How’s this plan going?
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9 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2722
The old board were at least business men albeit crooked,this board will just be crooked.
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4 people 2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2913
Aka the early 2000s Leeds Tactic, think that worked out well...
This highlights exactly the need for independent football regulators.
It is literal fiscal insanity.
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It's the Organs or the Craic, you can only serve one master
Edited by JBreeze at 16:36:28 on 31st July 2024
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3 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2918
Jim it’s clear you are out of your depth.
If you really love this club step down now and give control to those who will keep it alive!
Edited by Filipo at 15:34:13 on 31st July 2024
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5 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3024
Bit of PR advise, I’d get less caught up on semantics of wording and calling out supporters on finances when you refuse to share anything substantial so it’s pointless.
Would be better off blaming previous regime and finances in worst place than expected. If you only the club managed to fill that Comms Director position…
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6 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2933
The timeline suggests the difference may be the mysterious vanishing of our Vice-Chairman - Steve Dormer. But as the chairman and other remaining directors fail to acknowledge/communicate anything on this, difficult to say
Edited by PlayupKs at 12:31:49 on 31st July 2024
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6 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3054
Yeah, Jamie - maybe you should form some kind of consortium and offer the club proper investment and expertise.
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11 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2952
Begs the question why the club isn't generating income to be self sufficient, we must be one of the only clubs who has such an account to go into.
I dread to think what would have happened if we didn't have this escrow money.
If we are throwing money to gain promotion is that wise when we couldn't afford to league above either?
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It's the Organs or the Craic, you can only serve one master
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2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3047
I think majority could tell you the answer is whatever is less than needing to dip into reserved funds for a new stadium that are depleting… doesn’t need an accountant
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2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2999
So outwith the AFCW money I wonder what level of football Ks would reasonably maintain.
Ksuals
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1 person
Re: Club statement
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So outwith the AFCW money I wonder what level of football Ks would reasonably maintain.
That's the point! We have to be financially sustainable. At this rate, we'll have spent all the Wombles money in a few years.
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2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2945
Well Rex if some predictions bout dwindling AFCW money come true the club will have no problem in finding a home venue in Kingston - pity it'll be in the Kingston & District League
Ksuals
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1 person 1 person
Re: Club statement
Views: 2987
Well Jim if you want our help as supporters going forward maybe you should be transparent and open the books!
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3 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 3017
I assume the club has not received sufficient external investment (if any) to cover the cost of the rent so it is necessarily coming out of the funds held on escrow.
I know the club sought investment after the appointment of Scott Harris but one assumes that until such time as a location has been announced and planning permission received, any investor is going to be wary.
I do not know what the cost of assembling the squad was although several players came down a division to play again for Scott so I doubt money is their motivation. Speaking for myself I am looking forward to seeing a team which is going to win more games than it loses and is going to compete at the top of the league table. I think crowds will increase this year if Scott Harris has a winning team.
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3 people 3 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2980
I know the club sought investment
They can't even get volunteers to cover all of the jobs that need doing on matchdays! They've got no chance of getting investment!
Absolute clown show. Sack the board.
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13 people 1 person
Re: Club statement
Views: 3075
What a farce! If the chairman and current board cannot afford to run a football club, why have they fought tooth and nail to prevent people who actually want to run the club from doing so? This egotistical fool and his acolytes will be the death of this club if they are not careful.
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12 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2983
Eey eye oh, back to the AFC piggy bank we go - this not good.
Raynes Park Vale for ten five more years...
Edited by irishk at 16:29:54 on 31st July 2024
Edited by irishk at 16:30:14 on 31st July 2024
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2 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2755
"This would leave £550 000 in the Escrow account. £50,000 of this amount would be a further contingency which is expected to be matched to grant support from The Football Foundation Trust ..."
I found this section - "... of this amount..." - difficult to follow. Is the money ultimately down to £550 000 or £500 000?
Either figure is appalling.
RPV rent is around £20 000. It seems the new board and its investors could not muster that sum to pay the rent and so chose to further risk Ks future.
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8 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2764
Agree totally, although is there really much of a future anymore? There was a brief blip of optimism but this feels like the start of the next chapter in the endgame of our journey from millionaires to mendicants.
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3 people
Re: Club statement
Views: 2599
As an outsider looking in, if K's were my club I would do everything I could to get them playing in their own borough. Playing elsewhere, and wasting large amounts of money in the process, is a complete waste of time. If the quoted figure (£500k?) is accurate, the club is running out of time. If they're not happening already, negotiations should start with RBK Council about using the athletics stadium. Even if this means dropping to intermediate football for a while, at least the club would be back home, and crowds would probably increase. Failing that, it might be worth approaching Chelsea to share KIngsmeadow. They're a hard-headed bunch, but you never know.
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