The Annual Circus (AGM)

This mornings annual circus from my persepective.

Got there at 11am and it was bloody cold….. Ahamaad rang and said he would be a little late so I rang up Jon Fear and he too was running late. Did they know something I didn’t?…… well apparently not.

I then felt obliged to go into the Holte Suite and partake of a nice got cup of coffee (thanks Doug!),,,,,, but bloody hell no chocolate digestives?… whats going on.

Met up with those above together with Naz and had a pleasant little chat and then we went in to the ‘arena’.

Taking heed of a warning from yesterday that the back row would contain a load of continual personal relief muppets we manfully positioned ourselves in the back row and I made sure than none of those present indulged in any form of self-abuse during the whole event.

Doug made his appearance and at 11.30 on the dot he opened the meeting and managed this year to get the time right (it all bodes well then)

He then issued the ‘I’ll shut you lot up’ public warning. As the club are currently in negotiations following an approach the board were prevented by Stock Exchange rules in talking about takeovers or the appointment or otherwise of board members……….. whoopy do!

Steve Stride gave us a pictorial history lesson of 1st division attendances in year 1985/86 for some strange reason t oshow how falling attendances are nothing to worry about. This is despite telling us that last season attendances were at an 28 year high and none was below 30,000. So that isn’t continuing this year.

We were told about an £8m investment overtwo years at Bodymoor Heath and that money is set asisde for a replacement pitch in the close season (£750k)

They would very soon be announcing an ‘aggresive’campaign to sell half season tickets as we are about 4,000 down onlast years st sales.

There was a brief presentation by Stuart Ryan (the Sales Director who isn;t on the board???????) outlining his plans to increase revenue etc etc etc…. remember like what Langham said last year!

By the way Doug just managed a few ‘wibbles’ at times.

Question from the floor asking why Langham went and Tony Hales spent 5 minutes failing to answer several direct questions from the questioner merely stating Langham should be asked…..and then just ignored them. Later on strangely enough Doug said there was a confidentiality clause on the severance. If that is true why couldn’t the nice Mr.Hales say so?

Eventually we got around to the bi-annual bun fight over Dougs re-election. He was told he was despised and peole hated the sight of him, he was told to resign over the Crouch deal as there was no sell on clause and at times he stood there like a rabbit in headlights. When pushed over how long he intended to remain he his behind his opening disclaimer regarding potential takeover and Stock Exchange rules.

He agreed that he was acting as CEO and that the Financial Director was Steve Kind (the non-exectutive) who stated he did the job PART-TIME! But that would remain whilst talks continued with the unnamed approach.

One of his cronies stood up and spouted bollocks about how wonderfully well Doug looked after the club but I don;t think he convinced many.

He was ratherbluntly asked ‘what happens when you die!’ and he told us he had every faith in the rest of the board.

Jon Fear did a valiant job asking numerousquestions which others may wish to comment on that who were there.

The bottom line was that Doug and his son were defeated on a show of hands. The boards bonuses were rejected on a show of hands but 7m proxies had already been case so therefore the motions will succeed on the paper vote.

To finish off JF stood up and commented that the back drop were black curtains and the whole show looked like someone had died. It was nothing more than spin and bluster and walked out!. Several of us joined shortly afterwards.

Speaking to certain press personnel later they had also attended this mornings press conference with DOL and got the firm impression that we had lost already….. his excuses were already being laid out.

Thanks Ahamaad for your time and it was nice to meet you. Thanks also to all those that voted.

The only glimmer of hope is that Doug said that talks were approaching an end and they may be able to make an announcemement on a takeover within a month……… and I could see his trousers wee not on fire but there was a definate smell of bulls**te about!

Author: Denis Box.