Chairman’s Update
A few days have elapsed since my last update and I would like to take this opportunity to draw breath, take stock and consider where our club stands right now. In short, whilst there have been the dramatic events of player sales and management announcements, in reality the situation with the 2020 bid remains one of calm professionalism and long and protracted negotiations as the bid team work tirelessly to save our club and return it to the fans.
We always knew that LTFC was losing large sums of money and that player sales were inevitable both to provide income and to cut the wage bill. This would have been necessary whoever was in charge, but right now, because the Administrator has not granted any bid exclusivity, these decisions are solely in his hands with the advice of an external agency. Clearly this is frustrating for everyone concerned but until new owners are in charge, or at least in an exclusive position of influence, this state of affairs will remain. We can only accept these decisions and keep looking forward, but TiL would like to go on record in thanking Chris Coyne, Ahmet Brkovic and David Edwards for their part in the history of this great club. Coyney and Brko will long be remembered for some wonderful times and great loyalty. The nose bleeds and the bicycle kicks! Dave Edwards offered much promise and we are very sorry to see him leave. We wish them well with their new clubs and look forward to welcoming them warmly when we next meet.
As far as negotiations to purchase the club are concerned no new bids have emerged that are willing to consult with the fan base and we are 100% committed to 2020 Mission. As investors are unveiled, we are more and more impressed with their business credentials, levels of investment, their involvement in resources made available to us and crucially their commitment to the cornerstones;the ethical principles that are needed to rebuild this club from the discredited ashes of Jayten and its legacy of staggering mismanagement.
The 2020 bid team are operating under strict confidentiality agreements and, as such no one is privy to the detailed discussions that are ongoing. What we can report is that we are all surprised and disappointed that Mr Guilfoyle has yet to give 2020 exclusive status, despite good relations with creditors and a business plan that will not be surpassed by anyone. The 2020 Mission is generating huge support from all corners of the football community. On Tuesday almost 7,000 Luton fans will leave Mr Guilfoyle and the football public in no doubt as to where the future lies. There is no other viable option without the fans support!
Today the complex legal process continues and we hope for a positive outcome very soon. When this happens there is still a long way to go before being given the keys to our precious club and it will be April or May before we can finally emerge with the club’s destiny in the right hands, and this assumes that the major creditor (HMRC) and the Football League sanction the takeover without delays. Whilst we are greatly encouraged to have the written support of Keith Harris, one of the most influential people in football takeovers, this is going to be a very tortuous period for the Club.
So, we need to be patient. We need to demonstrate unity and support for the 2020 team which is an exciting Anglo American consortium that has Luton fans at its heart but commercial and business strength as its brain. These investors are not in this for personal glory, they are not egotists looking for a fix (we’ve had enough of those), nor are they land owners looking to make money off the back of our club. So far, on all fronts they are doing a great job; from the PR efforts spearheaded by Nick Owen to the quiet and dedicated efforts of Messrs Foster, Ingram, Pattinson, Roberts, and Curson the team grows stronger daily with new investors and important contacts increasing all the time buying in to the philosophy and spirit of the bid which means that:
a) no one person will control the Club or be able to hold it to ransom,
b) there are multiple backers, so if in 5 years time circumstances change for someone, it doesn't matter as we have others to fall back on who all have in common a love for our Club,
c) we, the fans, will be given the opportunity to invest into the Club, in many ways.
We must be confident 2020 will win and if it does the number one priority is to stabilise the club and run it properly, whichever division we are in. No wealthy investor is going to throw good money after bad and we must get our house in order first. Funds will be available to do this but our cornerstones must remain intact and investment must be used to steadily build the foundations for a well-run club.
As fans our job is to unite, to show solidarity, to keep the pressure on the administrator to act decisively soon, and most of all to turn up. We need to fill the ground, put the past behind us, because at the end of the day we are all any club has. If we want investors to commit personal wealth and expertise we too must commit time, energy and money in supporting Luton Town FC.
On Tuesday you all have an opportunity to show your support for the team, the club and 2020 in front of millions. We applaud the work of fans that are ensuring a great display of unity and whatever the result this night will be magic.
So, I know this update is short of the awaited words, ‘Jayten is dead - long live 2020’, but we remain very upbeat and confident. We must be patient and accept that times will be tough for sometime yet but that ultimately we will be a club every football fan would love to support and a club at the heart of the local community.
We are so close to controlling our future that we must not lose this final chance. If you support the cornerstones, let everyone know. You may not normally be the type of person who sings at football matches but for this one occasion sing at Anfield. Sing at home. Sing in the pub. Support the lads. Win, lose or draw, we will not care as hopefully we will soon know that we have got our Club back.
They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn. This is that hour, and a bright and shining day awaits us.
Liam