Not true. You can argue that a deal is not a deal until it's done, but there is and always a plan B and even a plan C - but they cannot be executed until the parameters are known.

Ted / James / a Trust - would all have faced the same situation.

In fairness though TRB, business doesn't work like that; plan B should have been finalised such that, within an hour of the PI being announced, it could be publicised to fans, investors, the governing body etc. That would have steadied the ship and given confidence to everyone with a stake in the club.

Failure to have it ready to roll has, once again, made WTW look like a shambolic and unprofessional outfit; Mr Elston should take responsibility for that. As someone much cleverer than me once said - fail to plan, plan to fail.

surely this debate has been answered, there was only a plan a for the whole club never mind where we play the games, if we do.

Agreed. It appears clear that the club were relying on plan A coming off with no hitches.

The concern about Plan B now surely has to be getting a finalised agreement. If I was Barnsley or whoever else we have been talking to, with the news about our current financial plight, I would have grave reservations about entering into any agreement with us to rent their facilities, as the possibility of owing them money which we end up not being able to pay, would be a real concern.

That's exactly my point; the total failure to have any contingencies in place was a grave and possibly fatal error - someone has to take responsibility for that.

so you agree with everything i have to say then. you just dont want to admit it

I don't see that - the only people upset by events so far are those who are impatient for an answer. We don't need a ground for 12 months; we don't apply for SL for another 2 months and we won't know for another 6 months.

The timescale for having everything in place is the SL licence submission in March. I would hope that any deal would be tied up by then and hopefully some time before - but no-one has died yet so I reckon 'fatal' is a little strong!

TRB
We had no plan B ready financially for when ground got referred, simple and undeniable fact, whether we had anywhere else lined up to play is largely now irrelevant, I know you would do almost anything for the club, and have, but at this moment in time its not just the people impatient for answers who are upset, its those of us who have them staring us right in the face.

quality post

As one fo the upset impatient ones, I take great offence to that comment.
Baring in mind the club has given the fans less than a month to find half a million to save it from the clueless mismanagement of calamity ted, I hardly consider asking questions before I throw a grand into what potentially could be teds back pocket (we don't know, because it's all got be kept secret) makes me impatient.
A month for half a million makes the bungling bafoon look a bit less patient than the rest of us.
As for the rest of it, all the timescale stuff, as ever, with this lot, we'll wait until last minute.com and then look to blame someone else.

I do see it, and judging by the comments on other fora, media reports and the reaction of the governing body, I'd say that other people see it too. The clubs handling of this situation has been woefully inept - the major strategy seems to have been blind hope, coupled with a tight-lipped refusal to be honest and transparent with the stakeholders.

The deafening silence about plan B, together with the scant information about this last minute money grabbing exercise is proof positive, if there was any doubt, that of all the highly paid executive officers at the club, not one of them has the slightest clue about strategy, marketing, PR, communications or project management.

I'm 100% behind the proposed Supporters Trust and given the right assurances, my cheque book is primed and ready, but for the love of god, whomever ends up running the club, RECRUIT SOMEONE WHO CAN ACTUALLY DO THE JOB.

you missed out the finance person, super duper clueless.

answer to title of thread - most probably

I wouldn't argue at all about the communication side of things. I do however believe that substance is more important than style and, without knowing all the details of any potential ground share deals to date, provided the club come up with the goods in the relevant timescale the only harm done will be a few words written on a forum.

TBF to all involved in the NM stuff, until the control of Leeds council took place, we had their support as well. This may well have been the crucial issue which resulted in the scheme going to PI, but there was plenty of advice suggesting that this would not happen. Hey, it has and the club are dealing with it.

I also reckon that you are a bit off the mark in condemning all of the people at the club. It can be very difficult to work under such conditions and it may well be that there are people there willing and able to do more than they can as we stand. For the moment at least they are us, they represent us and they work for us (sort of) - as such we all need to try and make the best of things - tough as that may be!

Not meant to offend at all - sorry - was talking purely about the ground issue. Agree that more info is required re the finances - as it is the HMRC who are really the impatient ones!