Independent Leyton Orient Forum

gshaw wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 5:16 pm

Mistadobalina wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 4:54 pm

gshaw wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 12:26 pm

NT himself had said they had the 6-year plan to get to L1 but having done that to a tee they've then had to try and figure out what the plan is for what comes next.

To some extent they were likely surprised that the L1 goal was achieved as quickly as it was (thank you JE and RW) and really the only way forward is with significantly more cash, hence that recent announcement

Says he has a 6 year plan to reach league 1, hits that target on schedule, and yet you're implying he would have been surprised at meeting that target, with no thinking given to what would happen after?

That's what he was saying yes, they got to L1 then had to try and figure out "now what" hence only recently drawing up the next plan. Does seem odd but that's where we are hence floundering with a poor squad and still racking up losses

They were publicly talking about the next stage of their plan nearly a year ago, within a few months of promotion. They're already well into the process of looking at expansion options, which have to be done to appease the council, and new ground sites.

Our budget size is fine even if you can question how it's been used, but conflating that issue with the much bigger and more important question on the future of the club is ridiculous.

Again I'd counter that with the club saying it can't afford to sign a permanent GK within the current budget and we've seen where two seasons of "cheap" loans have got us. Does seem the only way to compete in this league is to spend a lot more. That can't be all on NT shoulders hence eventually (or maybe sooner) a sale to someone with more cash to burn

gshaw wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 6:36 pm Again I'd counter that with the club saying it can't afford to sign a permanent GK within the current budget and we've seen where two seasons of "cheap" loans have got us. Does seem the only way to compete in this league is to spend a lot more. That can't be all on NT shoulders hence eventually (or maybe sooner) a sale to someone with more cash to burn

Totally agree, if the club haven’t got the budget to sign a permanent GK they have to find an investor that can provide a budget that has been so obviously needed to bring in the quality of players needed to progress or risk stagnation in League 1 or possible relegation.A shrewd club would have known this some lengthy time ago but nothing emerged to fix the obvious problem both short term and long term.

gshaw wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 6:36 pm Again I'd counter that with the club saying it can't afford to sign a permanent GK within the current budget and we've seen where two seasons of "cheap" loans have got us. Does seem the only way to compete in this league is to spend a lot more. That can't be all on NT shoulders hence eventually (or maybe sooner) a sale to someone with more cash to burn

One of those seasons was a top half finish in our first season back in league 1? We have enough budget to compete just fine and I really doubt are comparatively worse off than when Slade had us challenging for promotion. We aren't going to be one of the higher spenders in the league. Believing we should be goes against the reality of our size and over 40 years of history.

Extrapolating from an iffy start and a few poor recruitment decisions that there isn't a long term plan for the club, when we've had endless Orientear, podcast, radio, newspaper and website interviews being pretty clear on what the owners see the plan as being, doesn't add up. Have to be patient, the wider picture is a far better situation than we ever had during the Hearn years.

Is Nigel still dunking doughnuts ? I have not seen them for sale in ages. Nice with a cuppa

gshaw wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 6:36 pm Again I'd counter that with the club saying it can't afford to sign a permanent GK within the current budget and we've seen where two seasons of "cheap" loans have got us. Does seem the only way to compete in this league is to spend a lot more. That can't be all on NT shoulders hence eventually (or maybe sooner) a sale to someone with more cash to burn

2 seasons of cheap loans have seen us win the league and highest league position for several years

Mistadobalina wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 6:58 pm

gshaw wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 6:36 pm Again I'd counter that with the club saying it can't afford to sign a permanent GK within the current budget and we've seen where two seasons of "cheap" loans have got us. Does seem the only way to compete in this league is to spend a lot more. That can't be all on NT shoulders hence eventually (or maybe sooner) a sale to someone with more cash to burn

One of those seasons was a top half finish in our first season back in league 1? We have enough budget to compete just fine and I really doubt are comparatively worse off than when Slade had us challenging for promotion. We aren't going to be one of the higher spenders in the league. Believing we should be goes against the reality of our size and over 40 years of history.

Talking about the GK position specifically, two poor signings who have cost more goals than they saved (Brynn had similar poor stats of shots-goals, just Hemming's is worse)

I do believe we should have a budget that allows for a proper spine of the squad to build upon. Whether that's down to using the current budget poorly or just pure spending power is another debate.

You also nail a point there, if the club wants to go above and beyond it's recent history the only solution is more money. It appears that may also be the case just to stay where we currently are as that £4 million a year won't go down and we still seem a long way from having players we can sell for big enough fees to make a significant dent in that.

Plenty to chew on here - including a very clear difference in tone and emphasis to Mr Marshall Taylor

https://x.com/leytonorientfc/status/1846128892676821049

I must admit my heart sank somewhat when NT mentioned he had been in discussion with Hearn concerning the process surrounding the investment!

redintheface wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 12:51 pm I must admit my heart sank somewhat when NT mentioned he had been in discussion with Hearn concerning the process surrounding the investment!

Step 1, listen to how Hearn did it
Step 2, do the polar opposite

In summary sounds like club is up for sale to the right person / funding, quite possibly a consortium rather than one billionaire (but hey you never know)

I think NT is pragmatic enough to get that major investment may also signal changes at the top.

Not surprised at all to hear Mark Devlin is making good progress, he's a great asset to the club.

Feel pretty chill about it all. It’s obvious Nigel and investors haven’t got the stomach for 2-4m losses every year or more to go up/sustain a championship club, which is fair enough. It shows good ambition and self awareness to want to bring in people who can and considering our location and the increase in attendance we are a decent risk to the right person

I'm not so sure we are a good attractive enterprise for investor or consortium, because although it's London position is attractive, the fact the ground can only get about 8.8 thousand in, and we don't own our own ground will put people off.

Thought what he said was okay, feel less worried than before. To leave ground they would need to agree something with Bazza , but hopefully not a problem. He can move his new team Brentwood into the stadium when we move out. It will take ages to sort out a move, so I will be six foot under when we move. I want my family to flush my ashes into the bogs in the new ground

The money and investment was always in moving ground ala West Ham and now that looks borderline impossible so the club has hit a complete impasse. The big issue is who comes next I think, as on paper London club, family, etc but in investment terms not much unless you want to asset strip or run money through for other companies

Eggski wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 5:59 pm Thought what he said was okay, feel less worried than before. To leave ground they would need to agree something with Bazza , but hopefully not a problem. He can move his new team Brentwood into the stadium when we move out. It will take ages to sort out a move, so I will be six foot under when we move. I want my family to flush my ashes into the bogs in the new ground

Very much doubt that Barry plans to do anything of the kind with the stadium once he's finally got Orient out of the way.

Qin wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 5:53 pm I'm not so sure we are a good attractive enterprise for investor or consortium, because although it's London position is attractive, the fact the ground can only get about 8.8 thousand in, and we don't own our own ground will put people off.

Correct, which is why we need the new ground approved before Nige can make his money back.

essexfootball wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 6:17 pm The money and investment was always in moving ground ala West Ham and now that looks borderline impossible so the club has hit a complete impasse.

You could listen to the short interview where Travis says the complete opposite but hey ho.

Eggski wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 5:59 pm Thought what he said was okay, feel less worried than before. To leave ground they would need to agree something with Bazza , but hopefully not a problem. He can move his new team Brentwood into the stadium when we move out. It will take ages to sort out a move, so I will be six foot under when we move. I want my family to flush my ashes into the bogs in the new ground

Orient to Brentwood
Flats to Brisbane Road
Brentwood can... ummm... "ground share"

Watch out Brentwood fans, this plan would work out very nicely financially for Hearn

Mistadobalina wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 6:28 pm

essexfootball wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 6:17 pm The money and investment was always in moving ground ala West Ham and now that looks borderline impossible so the club has hit a complete impasse.

You could listen to the short interview where Travis says the complete opposite but hey ho.

Most multi-millionaires looking for investment aren't going to tell the truth....

BiggsyMalone wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2024 10:23 pm

Currywurst and Chips wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2024 6:37 pm Money dried up when Kent sold his shares

He sold his shares to Coley who recently lost £9m to Vitesse. Now Eagle Investments are actively looking to sell the club.

What a coincidence

When did this happen? I missed it and wondered recently why he didn’t seem to be as present at the club.

ValJac wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 11:23 pm

BiggsyMalone wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2024 10:23 pm

Currywurst and Chips wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2024 6:37 pm Money dried up when Kent sold his shares

He sold his shares to Coley who recently lost £9m to Vitesse. Now Eagle Investments are actively looking to sell the club.

What a coincidence

When did this happen? I missed it and wondered recently why he didn’t seem to be as present at the club.

It wasn’t a sale, but he scaled back his holding and wrote off a lot of the debt outstanding to him, to make way for Parry…. over three years ago.

OyinbO wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 7:41 am

ValJac wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 11:23 pm

BiggsyMalone wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2024 10:23 pm
He sold his shares to Coley who recently lost £9m to Vitesse. Now Eagle Investments are actively looking to sell the club.

What a coincidence

When did this happen? I missed it and wondered recently why he didn’t seem to be as present at the club.

It wasn’t a sale, but he scaled back his holding and wrote off a lot of the debt outstanding to him, to make way for Parry…. over three years ago.

Kent wrote off £2m worth of shares which Coley Parry bought.

BiggsyMalone wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 9:13 am

OyinbO wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 7:41 am

ValJac wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 11:23 pm

When did this happen? I missed it and wondered recently why he didn’t seem to be as present at the club.

It wasn’t a sale, but he scaled back his holding and wrote off a lot of the debt outstanding to him, to make way for Parry…. over three years ago.

Kent wrote off £2m worth of shares which Coley Parry bought.

But Kent is still involved

BiggsyMalone wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 9:13 am

OyinbO wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 7:41 am

ValJac wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 11:23 pm

When did this happen? I missed it and wondered recently why he didn’t seem to be as present at the club.

It wasn’t a sale, but he scaled back his holding and wrote off a lot of the debt outstanding to him, to make way for Parry…. over three years ago.

Kent wrote off £2m worth of shares which Coley Parry bought.

This doesn’t make any sense.

Do you mean £2m worth of debt?