thunder_rd said:
Just Read Paul's statement.
I have to say I am happy with the outcome. A professional business man totally focused on managing the best Team in the League. For all it's faults "the League that is". Don't loose focus that this guy loves his hockey as we all do.
Tough business decision sometime have to be taken.
Ownership of the Squlealers in what ever % is of no interest to me. Good that he has handed over the leash to another guy.
He saved the Squealer no matter what anyone says. We enjoyed some great games against them last season and to have lost them would be a total disaster. I remember the loss of Durham Wasps, hated the sons! but what a great night. Gone!
Relieved the My season ticket is valid. I renewed mine weeks ago. Can't wait for the new season to come around.
Now is the time to get behind the Guy and give him our support.
Can't be asked to read through some of the negative stuff around the Squealers and the past.
Clean sheet!
New team! Got a lot to live up to!
New Management!
Best Coach!
Best pound for pound supporters!
Bring it on.
Get behind them!
you know what, there's only one point in all of that, that I can agree with
Tough business decision sometime have to be taken
other than that I would implore that everyone proceeds into this new season with extreme caution
Don't loose focus that this guy loves his hockey as we all do.
Do you really really think so? Paul Ragan stumbled across Ice Hockey about 18 months ago when he was drafted in to "advise" on Matt Burges businesses. He then charged "consultancy fees" and then closed the company. He inherited Rink Corp and was hoping that they were going to be awarded the Tender for the new Ice arena. When this didn't happen, it seems that the business was diverted to buying a Polo Events company. Now to have 2 Ice Hockey clubs and a Polo events company in the same pot does not strike me as being "Professional" If he really did love Hockey and HAD done a small amount of research, he would have quickly told that most Hockey clubs in this country lose on average £150k per year. No due diligence needed here, just picking up a phone and asking around
but it's not new management, it's the same management that has so alienated the Sponsors and quite a few of the fan base. Albeit there's a lot less of them, but do you really believe that Paul Ragan wants to get his hands dirty running the club? Ask yourself this, if he really has that much money, why is he wanting to work on the shop floor of a minority sports club that regularly returns no profit?
I will get behind the team once they are on the Ice. Which will be a tall order as the cash injection that the team needs to start the season is no longer available. Where is the money going to come from to get the playeers here? to pay the deposits for the housing? there's loads of questions to ask
Until then, I will wait a whole season. A whole season for the SAME back office staff to redeem themselves and bring the club around. They dragged it down in a year, so I will reserve judgement when they've tried to resolve the issues over the same timescale.
Now before anyone says that the debt was inherited, IT WASN'T. the club was put into administration when Paul Ragan took control, therefore it didn't take any debt forward. They purchased the Steelers with very little of their debt. They then closed Rink Corp with a substantial debt. Where is the money.
I keep feeling like I have to apologise for being negative, and looking at what has just happened in this thread, it's dangerous to even stray off the happy medium. But I am a realist and these are the facts, and until the "SAME" management prove to me that they can run the club, I'll be concerned.
From what others are saying, the ability to maintain and communicate with sponsors should be rectified immidietaly. As we all know Ice Hockey is a minorty sport that survives week to week via volunteers and by "SMALL" scale local sponsors who care about the sport. it seems a really difficult business model to understand :?