Aldershot win FA Trophy

[dillydilly]

Congratulations to our former manager on winning the FA Trophy at Wembley in front of 38,000 spectators.  Also to Josh Barret for scoring the winning goal.  Imho, Josh was the best player at The Walks in the last 10, perhaps 20 years  He was a genuine talent, and I was frustrated to see him on the bench so often, usually because strength and effort were seemingly preferred to the real ability that JB possesses.  Now back to KLTFC, with fingers crossed we get to the other end of the difficult period we are in….

[Tennylad]

Indeed Dilly, lovely to see a few ex Linnets enjoying success, with a smile on their faces. Good luck to AL also . Let’s remember he never called himself the best manager in the league……

[Mallard]

Winning goal Dilly ?  He got the third in a 3-0 win

[Blueboy]

Very interesting that the 2 flair players that AL had, Barrett and Hughes were let go.

[dillydilly]

Fair dos, Mall - the final goal more like!  But my point remains.  Frustrating that players like him are always seen with suspicion that they’re not in the game enough.  It’s “50s muddy pitch Alan Shearer get the crosses in to the Big Number 9” caveman mentality imho!  Anyway, hoping for a warm summer to all you Linnets fans, and here’s to a healthy and progressive future for the club.  I’m not all HappyClappy though because I hereby risk brickbats from some by stating my hope that we keep SC’s interest on board!!!….

[TonyM]

... by stating my hope that we keep SC’s interest on board!!!….

Dilly, did you read Greg's article in the Lynn News on Friday?  If not, please let me quote - "Without the financial support of TSI, it remains very clear that the club would already be in liquidation for a second time in 15 years".  Just curious as to why you would hope for the person that was responsible for getting the club into this mess to still be involved with the club going forward?

[dillydilly]

Hi TonyM - I probably know less than some on here about SC and his Chairmanship.  However, I think he has emptied his pockets and found others to do the same more than any previous Captain of the ship.  He also showed more ambition to pull the club as high up the Pyramid as possible, and even beyond.  His full ambition hasn’t been realised, but we have certainly had more progress and success than in any previous era.  Rightly or wrongly, I think we’re a fickle bunch of supporters, myself included, and crowds have not reached the level expected or needed to make the desired progress.  I still believe the potential is there, but our organisation is a lot weaker than many other clubs at this level.  It needn’t stay that way, of course, but I hope we have another season with him at the helm….

[Mallard]

Emptying his pockets and leaving a huge debt in Non League Football speaks volumes.

However I think Jo also has to take a certain amount of responsibility as he has put another £700k into the loan column on the balance sheet. In 15 months.  With the promise of loading it up by another £500k next season. 

[TonyM]

Hi TonyM - I probably know less than some on here about SC and his Chairmanship.  However, I think he has emptied his pockets and found others to do the same more than any previous Captain of the ship.  He also showed more ambition to pull the club as high up the Pyramid as possible, and even beyond.  His full ambition hasn’t been realised, but we have certainly had more progress and success than in any previous era.  Rightly or wrongly, I think we’re a fickle bunch of supporters, myself included, and crowds have not reached the level expected or needed to make the desired progress.  I still believe the potential is there, but our organisation is a lot weaker than many other clubs at this level.  It needn’t stay that way, of course, but I hope we have another season with him at the helm….

Dilly, I think we view the events of SC's tenure through very different lenses.  Whilst I appreciate that the club reached the National League and we have seen some fantastic football, particularly under IC and at times TW, the club itself is a basket case, and for you to say the organisation is a 'lot weaker than many other clubs at this level' is being very, very kind to SC. 

Effectively KLTFC has been some sort of weird experiment where SC has pumped every pound he could attract into the playing budget and whilst you can point to the on field success, the truth is there would always come a day when the sources of funding would run dry, whether we are at that point just yet, time will tell, but as the Lynn News said after Thursdays meeting "Without the financial support of TSI, it remains very clear that the club would already be in liquidation for a second time in 15 years".  So forgive me if I don't share your hope that we have another season with SC at the helm as we have had claims in each of the last two years that we needed extra funds to see out the season and I think it may well turn out to be third time unlucky if we don't have a fundamental change in how the club is run.  If that means the club is still here but with ambition that is in line with the funds available then that is a trade off I am more than willing to accept to continue to have a club.

[Mallard]

Agree with a lot of that Tony.  Some saw it earlier than others.

Playing devils advocate what evidence have we seen so far that Jo/Bal will not end up going the same route. Albeit on a smaller budget ?

[TonyM]

...Playing devils advocate what evidence have we seen so far that Jo/Bal will not end up going the same route. Albeit on a smaller budget ?

No real evidence, as up to now they have funded SC's dream but the statement on Thursday seemed like a line in the sand, setting out their vision for the club in stark contrast to SC's 'we will be in the EFL' opening gambit when he arrived.  Obviously still lots of questions as TSI still haven't taken on the ownership, deal with the Trust still to be thrashed out and voted on by the membership and then will have to see what the reaction of the wider fanbase is (mixed based on the past few days) and that is just off the field before we get to a new manager and building a squad for 2025-26.

[Mallard]

I wonder what was given as a guarantee to TSI for the 700k loan.   I guess this is the stick Jo/Bal will have over SC for control of the Club.  Also I wonder how much Bal has managed to get the Sports England loan down by so far? 

Also was thinking if SC is not funding the Club and TSI are not putting anything more in while SC is in situ, is there enough cash in the business to meet all the current liabilities? 

[Blue_and_Gold]

However I think Jo also has to take a certain amount of responsibility as he has put another £700k into the loan column on the balance sheet. In 15 months.  With the promise of loading it up by another £500k next season.

Of course he does. He was kicking around in December 2023. Apparently the relationship didn't deteriorate (fully) until Jan/Feb 2025. Its been very clear who's was pulling the strings for last season, so unless Cleeve spent the 700k between December 2023 and May 2024, surely this overspend must fall at Jo and Bal's door as much as it does Cleeves.   

Of course I stand to be corrected on this if anyone knows any better.

Either way, it is what it is, and the people in charge have put the Club in this position, nobody else.