The HSBC Letter

I'm impressed by how relaxed you are about it. I certainly don't think you can use their lack of urgency to suggest it's not got the potential to be treated seriously. They could happily pop up in 12 months time 'after a thorough and comprehensive investigation, and after taking legal advice' ask the FA to open disciplinary proceedings against Watford.

 

I'm expecting the number of points to be deducted to be announced at 5.00pm on 21st May 2017.

 

It's only a serious matter if it involves another club.

If it was Bournemouth or QPR we'd be demanding answers.. as it's us it's a 'non story' and/or we are being victimised.

 

Absolutely. But if the case consists only of what was described, which caused no damages nor described a situation that was unjustifiable, then I am very relaxed about any potential punishment; particularly if there are pukker letters from other banks vouching for Gino, and especially if HSBC themselves say that he eas good for it at the time.

If there was neither gain or loss, then basically nothing happened, and the EFL would open themselves up to a counter claim for damages if the pumishment was seen not to match the crime that did not take place.

 

Relaxed because realistically the worst thing that can happen is that there's a fine. Bottom line is how can an offense in breaking the EFL rules mean we could be docked points in the Premier League 2 years later? As I stated however, the EFL have been exposed as incompetent if a pretty blatant fake has got past them, and for argument's sake if persuing it further opens up a history of incompetence within the EFL then I can see this being dealt with quietly.

The other reason we won't get more than a fine from the EFL in my opinion is that we never materially gained anything from it, all that was required was proof that we would be able to fulfill the fixtures for that season, which we did. Also the EFL would have to prove that the letter was sent from the very top of the club and those officials knowingly sent a forgery, Riva may well have resigned due to the exposure but that doesn't necessarily imply he was complicit.

 

Coming to this thread late:

But, if a letter from Credit Suisse was provided in the first instance but was deemed by the FL to be out of date then what they might have been expecting next was another letter from Credit Suisse with a more recent date on it. Then they get a letter from HSBC. That adds a new bit of complexity even if it's reasonable given the formal change of ownership. If you're responsible at the FL for the WFC file (with the original Credit Suisse letter on it), then wouldn't that change of bank interest you especially as the phone number looks like a general one rather than a personal one for Ms Koh who is guaranteeing £7m on behalf of the bank. It would have interested me in the civil service. I'd have picked up the phone. Presumably the FL didn't. Is that the normal quality of due diligence when deciding on 'fit and proper persons' etc. at the FL?

 

The fa are making us keep ighalo as punishment

 

KelsoOrn?

It's like the return of Cliff Holton, Steve Simms, GT, Elton and HH rolled into one.

Looking forward to your future posts and the occasional strong disagreement...

 

Hahaha 424! And thanks. Bring it on! Personally I'd prefer the return of Stewart Scullion but a higher centre of gravity precludes it ...

 

Worse than a points deduction.

 

I agree with this and although it may be nothing to do with this but last year we filed the June 2015 accounts in November-but the June 2016 accounts have not been filed yet. Sometimes companies delay publishing accounts where they have an outstanding claim that might affect the "going concern" basis that the directors have to state. This is not to say it is terminal just that it would be prudent to await any financial penalty/status before filing them. Whilst we remain a PL club then the impact of FFP is not applicable.

Everton have a May y/e and just published theirs whilst Chelsea are June and have not filed yet-they, like us have until 31 March to file them. Why the delay compared to last year-maybe nothing but i also think this investigation has not gone away yet.

 

In any pragmatic consideration then how well our football club is run should count for a lot. And thank you Messrs Pozzos for that. We now have a terrific stadium with a 23k capacity. Haven't needed to go out-of-town to some sort of amorphous, clone facility near to a proximal dual-carriageway either. The Vic. is our home and remains so. OK, having to explain (and deliver) some sort of platform 9 3/4 option can be a bit trying along the way on occasion for us green-jackets in our Leggo-built home but we all get there in the end and have a bit of a larff along the way. We have planning permission to stick a second tier on top of the SEJ which will add close to another 5,000. Work probably due to start in the close-season after next if the business plan says go for it (which it probably will). We have two state-of-the-art video screens at opposite corners. We have a terrific training facility at London Colney, being improved all the time. Soon the Gooners will be looking over our fence! We have a new state-of-the art Sensory Room with a great view of the pitch and a 'quieter place' for autistic kids. We could have sold that space for corporate big time. So why didn't we? Coz we're WFC and we do things a bit different around here. That's why. We have the best international scouting network in the world bar none. We are now competing in the transfer market in the £10m+ bracket with all the bigger boys. Now, if that doesn't look like what a medium-sized, provincial football club should be run like in this country (or any other country for that matter) then any grey-suited bean-counters down at the FL, FA or PL can eff right off and lick Abramovich's arse. Which I've heard tell is a bit pink and cloying.

 

some national journos still seem convinced they are poor owners