Reply To: Dear David,

[Siderite]

Deereyme66 wrote:

I said yesterday, I’d prefer he stayed rather than cut loose. That would appease those who don’t want him to leave and leave him more open to ongoing scrutiny by the authorities and not potentially disappearing.

An interesting point. MK Iron puts the statement of getting round how people who don’t like him and wished we had someone else as owner can’t just want him out immediately. I realise it’s a tricky situation. However, I cannot understand how others expect those of us who are sceptical or disliking of his ownership can support him. I find him utterly unfit to run this club after his dishonesty, accusations against others which are quite slanderous to say the least and amounting suspicion that he can’t fund the club.

For those with similar opinions, what are we supposed to do? Does anyone think it’s reasonable to swallow doubt over very serious worries and support someone they do not trust? If our success is dependent on every fan swallowing worries and not airing their mind, in case it hounds him out, it isn’t workable. Les and MKiron make good points in what happens without him, but I do not think he has the money anyway and I find it hard to back someone I distrust so much in owning the club. Just as many did with Swann, despite opposition and the same claims hurled at them (and they turned out to be correct).

One possible solution would be to grin and bear it, hoping he does the best, but remaining very wary. I don’t see how this week’s revealings can lead to anything but increased wariness, given the nature of it all. People have said that he deserves second chances and such, sure, but this comes after dishonesty and a serious crime related to scamming people of money. Of course he could have rehabilitated, but how can we be sure? I would say this would demand vigilance. Yet such suggestions and concerns get accusations that you want the club dead and picking on poor Dave, who has regrets. I am admittedly bamboozled at how we are expected to throw caution to the wind and support him given the context and circumstances. Some have taken it to absurd levels.

I don’t want to appear harsh. People with depression deserve sympathy and people deserve second chances. However, I don’t like the idea of depression being a prevention from criticism and it doesn’t protect from people disliking your actions and words. Second chances should be possible, but people who have done serious wrong should realise that greater scrutiny may be there, because we only have their word that it won’t happen again. Current issues around wages and pensions indicate that he may not be the most responsible or able to pay for his obligations.