Meeting Mr O'Neill And Rob

Shurm · 30-09-2009, 19:27

Well what can I say, I was warmly greeted and Rob made me a coffee and I offered to share my biscuits (half of which I'd ate by the time I got there) whilst we waited for Mr O'Neill. Had a chat with Rob whilst waiting and he was saying how hard it is today to say anything without it being twisted or taken out of context, like the supposed trip that day of Mr O'Neill to see Mr Khan in London.

Whilst waiting I saw some old familiar faces like Mark Turner (you still look the same

) and Liam Smith with his Man Utd top on

and later Buzzer and it made me realise again just what a community club it really is. Everyone was cheerful and going about the place with a smile you wouldn't think they were all close to maybe losing their jobs in the future.

Anyway when Mr O'Neill then came out of his office we chatted by the touchline for well over an hour, Rob was there nearly the entire time too. We just chatted in general about the club and he seemed genuinely optimistic about the club and the future. I asked the questions I wanted to ask and they both gave frank and honest answers and I felt they both cared for the club a great deal and it wasn't just a job to them. How good it must be to have a job you feel real passion for I thought.

I'm finding it hard to explain anything in great detail without saying things which were both personal to both Mr O'Neill and Rob and I felt they didn't really need to mention to me and I ought not to really repeat on here. Needless to say I think the club is in safe hands with them and if they can work with Mr Khan all the better, but I get the impression the share issue is a last resort but who can blame him I suppose he's in charge and he wants to stay there.

They did say the Vice Chairman (Peter Marsden) was going to be seeing Mr Khan but I notice he says no one has been in touch with him on the forum so I don't know what to say about that. I got the impression they are open to talking to Mr Khan but in the long term they want the club to stand on its own feet and live within its means.

They thought the fund might have been further on but they mentioned the Rovers game and a few other events they had planned and they made it seem any shortfall would be made up by the Directors one way or the other.

I made a point of saying I just wanted him to stand up for himself and explain his side of the story in the press and radio etc. His view was that it would make things worse perhaps and divert attention from raising the money which I thought made sense really. I said his absence to me made it seem like he didn't really care but all I can say after meeting him is that he does a great deal.

I would just like to thank Rob for inviting me down to the club today and to Mr O'Neill for taking time out to talk to a fan. I suggest if anyone wants to ask either of these two people anything they get in touch with them they both seemed open and honest in all their answers. These people don't want the club to cease just as much as any fan out there doesn't want the club to die, its not just a job to them its really their day to day life.

accybabs · 30-09-2009, 20:17

Unfortunately Shurm nothing you have said gives me any confidence in Mr O'Neil, because you actually haven't told us anything we didn' know before ! If he has told you something that gives you confidence in him "All well and good", but all the fans need to be in the know! So once again he needs to be transparent with all of us not just you! Surely you and Mr O'Neil can understand that!

Please MrO'Neil speak to all your fans so can understand like Shurm!!!

Pheonix · 30-09-2009, 20:23

Hi Shurm, I too felt like you did when I first chatted with both Rob and David O'Neil, but over time i have seen that it is only words and nothing else.

Shurm · 30-09-2009, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by accybabs

Unfortunately Shurm nothing you have said gives me any confidence in Mr O'Neil, because you actually haven't told us anything we didn' know before ! If he has told you something that gives you confidence in him "All well and good", but all the fans need to be in the know! So once again he needs to be transparent with all of us not just you! Surely you and Mr O'Neil can understand that!

Please MrO'Neil speak to all your fans so can understand like Shurm!!!

I understand what your saying I just thought I'd better give an account of what went on really, it wasn't a meeting or a question and answer session it was just three blokes chatting about the club and the problems it has.

These people are trying their best I feel, if its not enough to save the club only time will tell but they have more to lose than the average fan to be honest if they don't sort this out.

lindsay ormerod · 30-09-2009, 21:10

Shurm, you know I respect you and have known you for a very long time, if you really really feel that the club is in safe hands then tell us so. If not, we need to be getting a fire going under this and sharpish.

Shurm · 30-09-2009, 21:46

Cheers Lindsay, I really don't know what to think I've probably in hindsight been a bit harsh on Mr O'Neill like I said to him today I just wanted him to come out and tell us all how it is instead of Rob doing all the talking.

I just wish he would go in the paper and explain it all, a lot of what I've read on here he explained differently to me. My thinking now is we should all back the fundraising and plough on if he is in no position to pay the money I'm sure they will ask Mr Khan for his help.

I asked what other debts the club had and he said nothing major apart from day to day bills. I asked how the debt could be so large for so long and he tried to explain they approximate paye payments each month and its not till the end of year that the taxman says hey hang on we want some more cash. He said Eric had nothing to do with the club anymore and referred to him as the immovable object

but said he and his family were always welcome at the club and they had a room for matchdays set aside for them.

Rob said he was not a director but was willing to put money into the final pot. He explained about a £1m injection to transform the coppice end and control room and changing rooms in the form of a grant but they had to put money in as well to get this. He explained how things were better with the council nowadays he really made it sound like a fresh start now Eric has gone.

I can't remember everything its my age but him and Mr Khan both come across as good people I just wish they can get their heads together for the greater benefit of the club.

accybabs · 30-09-2009, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shurm

I understand what your saying I just thought I'd better give an account of what went on really, it wasn't a meeting or a question and answer session it was just three blokes chatting about the club and the problems it has.

These people are trying their best I feel, if its not enough to save the club only time will tell but they have more to lose than the average fan to be honest if they don't sort this out.

Unfortunately we only have your feeling on the matter not facts from the horses mouth! You have done a quick turn around since last night which only tells me they have done a charm act on you! Since you can't tell us anything pointless you saying anything really (no offence)!

As you felt last night nothing has changed!

Why does Mr O'Neil keep coming out as not being very truthfull ,apparentally he was supposed to be having a meeting with Mr Khan ,but Mr Khan says that no meeting has ever been arranged!

We can only judge a book by its cover and up to now thats all we've seen, and so far its not worth reading!

Please tell us more of what has convinced you he is the man for the job and why we can trust him please!

Wynonie Harris · 30-09-2009, 21:56

Crikey, Shurm, didn't you ask him the question on everyone's lips?...what is the delectable Marcelle doing for the SOS?

Shurm · 30-09-2009, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Crikey, Shurm, didn't you ask him the question on everyone's lips?...what is the delectable Marcelle doing for the SOS?

Who ?

Look make your own minds up I had a go at him and they invited me to the club they didn't need to do that did they. I'm not trying to influence anybody all I can say is yes yesterday I was calling him I'll hold my hand up to that and today I really don't know whats best. They certainly didn't say go back and say this and this will you and to be fair I've not said much to sway anyone.

I've just said how it was I'm not trying to be an information service I spoke my mind on here and now I've had a chat with them and I thought I would tell you all how it went rather than put nothing and you all be wondering.

Sorry I can't provide you all with the answers you need.

I know its our Town Team we all care for but its his club like it or not, why would he want it to go bust ?

Doug · 30-09-2009, 22:17

I imagine that a few of us are reading back our posts in light of Shurm’s meeting today; I know I am and I feel a little sheepish when I look back at the catalyst for some of my outbursts. I don’t know Shurm personally although we have had discussions in the past and from those I have a healthy respect for the lad.

I think it rather unfair for people to apply pressure to Shurm i.e. accybabs posts. This Lad challenged Mr. O’Neil to a face to face meeting and he responded to that request, Shurm as give us his personal feelings on the meeting which appears to have had a reassuring effect on him. I would suggest rather than bleed off the positive aspects of his post we look for positives ourselves and if we have any more searching question we perhaps put them to the club directly.

It’s been said time and time again; the best outlook can only be achieved by the two sides working together without demands. Sort the problem first and then discuss an appropriate level of representation by the ASSF on the Board.

Wynonie Harris · 30-09-2009, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shurm

Who ?

Look make your own minds up I had a go at him and they invited me to the club they didn't need to do that did they. I'm not trying to influence anybody all I can say is yes yesterday I was calling him I'll hold my hand up to that and today I really don't know whats best. They certainly didn't say go back and say this and this will you and to be fair I've not said much to sway anyone.

I've just said how it was I'm not trying to be an information service I spoke my mind on here and now I've had a chat with them and I thought I would tell you all how it went rather than put nothing and you all be wondering.

Sorry I can't provide you all with the answers you need.

I know its our Town Team we all care for but its his club like it or not, why would he want it to go bust ?

So I'll take that as a no, then?

Doug · 30-09-2009, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Crikey, Shurm, didn't you ask him the question on everyone's lips?...what is the delectable Marcelle doing for the SOS?

Perhaps he could trade "M" in for a good P.A.; he needs to get himself an organiser, a good communicator who can look over his drafts and advise him as to the potential pit falls of engaging is gob in matters of delicacy….

I don’t mean that disrespectfully and with due respect to the other guys and girls at the club the last few weeks have been dire in terms of clarity and communication. Get in an advisor or select internally someone impartial that won’t leave you and Rob sitting targets…

yonmon · 30-09-2009, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Crikey, Shurm, didn't you ask him the question on everyone's lips?...what is the delectable Marcelle doing for the SOS?

This obsession with Ms.Lazarus and her perambulations on behalf of 'The Reds' is taking on somewhat unhealthy proportions Wyn!!...

I have, with the aid of my Psychiatrist, been able to erase her winsome image from the forefront of my mind...yet the pressing question relating to her real function in the scenario of 'Saving our Stanley' keeps constantly returning to haunt my waking moments!!

Perhaps , like her Co-Chairman, she is somewhat diffident when it comes to expressing herself in the media and elsewhere....a trait which I must admit I find rather charming where most females are concerned !..But under present 'emergency' conditions this reticence in Ms Lazarus' case, seems extremely strange to me!!...

An early joint statement from the both of them would not only be appreciated..But just might convince us that they really are decent individuals who seek only to do what is right by Accrington Stanley and it's confused and in some cases depressed, Fans !.

Then my dear friend....we could both, with some sincerity, rejoice in our paean of praise for this apparent pillar of Feminine Integrity !. and dare I say it....burgeoning pulchritude??

' QUO VADIS MARCELLE ???'

Shurm · 30-09-2009, 22:38

Thanks Doug, I really got the impression today that there are two sides to this story and for one reason or another Mr O'Neill refuses to go to press with his. I tried to get him to come out of hiding and he invited me to the club. I told him today why don't you give your side of the story to the press because I said if it was me I certainly would but he thinks it will only make things worse.

He mentioned his notes in the programme and he seems to stand by them and believes he was correct in what he was saying. The blokes a normal guy, his family think he's mad for sticking it out whilst the easy option would have been not to have got involved in the first place but he made it sound like he has wanted to take over from Eric for a long while and change things at the club.

I'm not saying he is the man for the job but I've certainly changed my view from last night which was more through frustration of his silence than anything, I challenged him and he said come down you can't say fairer than that.

Revived Red · 30-09-2009, 22:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shurm

a lot of what I've read on here he explained differently to me.

Sorry, Shurm, but I wish you could be more specific. Why did he not explain it differently in his programme notes instead of the personal attack on Mr Khan?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shurm

I asked how the debt could be so large for so long and he tried to explain they approximate paye payments each month and its not till the end of year that the taxman says hey hang on we want some more cash.

Is that normal business practice? It's certainly not something that I am familiar with.

Anyway, the conclusion we seem to draw from what you were told is that the debt to HMRC is only for the current year, any debts from previous years having been cleared at the end of that year. Is that correct?