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10000Hours - Why I'm In

Written by David MacDonald.

The 10000Hours bid, after a rollercoaster ride of two years of many ups and downs has just two days left.

Everyone will just need to decide if they are in or out.

If the numbers aren't sufficient the deal fails and we move on, we roll the dice and we take our chances with international owners who may or may not destroy the club.

That's not scaremongering, that's the reality of life as demonstrated in recent times and at various Scottish Clubs by Craig Whyte, Vladimir Romanov, Ron Dixon, Claude Anelka and Angelo Massone.

South of the border we have had the shambles at Portsmouth with foreign owners, the current meltdown with Venkys at Blackburn, the original botched takeover of Liverpool and the unhappy situation at Man Utd where the Glaziers put the club hundreds of millions into debt to buy the club.

These are all real examples of foreign ownership.

 
 
It's too late for the fans to say 10000 hours model isn't good enough, nobody else within the St.Mirren support has put forward a fans ownership model in the three years that they have had to do so. This is the only shot we are going to get at this.

The time for talking is nearly done.

For me personally, 10000Hours might not be perfect but it can refined from the inside out by sensible St.Mirren supporters.

The debt is a necessary part of the purchase, and will be a necessary part of ANY purchase by ANYONE. Spreading that debt across hundreds of individuals who all care about the club and without incurring borrowing against any club owned assets is a sensible approach in my opinion.

That's enough for me. I'm in, 500 others are also in to date and personally I hope it goes through.
 
You can find out more about 10000Hours on their website at http://www.10000hours.org and you can sign up online in two minutes at http://www.10000hours.org/join
 
Note that if you have previously submitted a paper copy direct debit then you do need to re-submit this via the online system above.

Comments  

 
+3 # Robert Miller 2012-06-14 07:32
It is now time to get the finger out! Sign up for Saints future. It matters!
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-1 # Drew-S 2012-06-14 07:47
Signed up, 10,000 hrs might not be the ideal way but it is the only option that gives people who care a voice in the club. There may be things that people dont agree with in the 10,000 hrs model but if your not in it you wont be able to change it.
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+1 # Jack on Arran 2012-06-14 09:16
Sorry but ir is not for me as I do not know how much money will be made available for the team before the start of the season.
I also would like to know what precisely is the financial committment of Richard Atkinson and how much he is investing in the club.
As nobody has, as yet, invested £25,000 in the consortium he is obviously not investing any of his money.
Let him come clean with his financial committment and then I will re-consider.
I still think the whole idea is a wonderful "con" and an excellenrt way for RA and his friends to take over the club for minimal committment.
I would also like to know what plans RA has if after a year or so many of the £10 per month people pull out.
I would also like to see a more substantial investor
.
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0 # Hartley Hare 2012-06-14 09:27
'That's not scaremongering'

Actually Div, it is. And a pretty disappointing tactic from you if I may say so. Any reasonable person would agree that there are countless examples of foreign ownership / investment in football working well.

If you truly want to influence fans then why not summarise your views on the pros of the CIC, rather than, in effect, attempting to make fans shyte themselves over the alternatives.

For me, plain and simple, I remain to be convinced either professionally or personally that the CIC funding model can be sustained year on year. Yes, I can see the initial enthusiasm carry us through the first 12 to 24 months, however I become much less optimistic beyond that.

All that said, I do applaud your your commitment to the CIC, and I unfailingly believe you have St Mirren’s best interests at heart.

As you say David, the time for talking is nearly done. Let the cards fall where they may.
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+1 # Stephen 2012-06-14 10:07
Hartley, the post by Div does outline the benefits. You can also add all of the pluses explained at every public meeting (fans bar with income, other community groups using the stadium, etc.) the funding is a risk but a low one because none of the finders would ever push for administration. The best possible outcome dwarves the worst outcome under the CiC. Can you honestly say the same if we switch out to an overseas investor this time or the next time or the next time? Come on take a leap you just might enjoy it.
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+2 # Wiser Bud 2012-06-14 10:43
For me, this is a chance for St Mirren fans to put up or shut up.

Often (but not always) fans end up with the club they deserve. I'd like to think that St Mirren fans deserve a well-run, successful club that puts football at the heart of the community and the community at the heart of the club.

Not for us the debt-ridden glory[censored] ting house of cards or the arrogant empire of hate.

But it's now or never: put up or shut up.

I'm in.
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+5 # rogerthealien 2012-06-14 19:28
I am not convinced that 1000 hours is the right way forward for saints and it has taken a long time to almost get there, also there doesnt seem to be a better alternative than RA and TONI at the moment and if it goes thru what happens as some have suggested the monthly funding goes dry. On another point i am like most saints fans and want to see rangers fired down to 3rd div, but as fans i think we have to be realistic and realise that whilst many spl chairman are not saying directly how they will vote, MONEY TALKS IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE and it would be intresting to know how much saints would lose moneywise as one of todays papers said dundee utd without tv revenue would have lost over a million quid and obviously for saints it would be 6 figures and i cant c any chairmen voting for such a big drop in revenue whatever the rights or wrongs. What do others think?
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-1 # Craig 2012-06-15 00:06
what are we, as the fans going to get by signing up an offering OUR money, if the maxi group have the turnovers which were announced last, i cant see why Mr.Atkinson need so much investment from businesses and the fans??
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+7 # Jack on Arran 2012-06-15 08:24
The Daily Redcod today shows how much, they estimate, St Mirren COULD lose if the Sky deal falls through.
But all clubs will be in the same boat so it will be a level playing field.
I object to the fact that The Old Firm have sewn up the Sky money and get far more proportionately than any othe team
Put the cheats down to the 3rd division, let their supporters not buy season tickets but at least we would all know that JUSTICE has been done
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+1 # Old Timer 2012-06-15 14:40
.........and the voting duopoly could then be broken to ensure a fairer distribution of income in future. The unholy alliance of T1ms and [censored]5 would not be able to dictate and block everything not in their interests.
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+1 # ML STEWART 2012-06-17 14:36
The new fixture list has been anounced by the s.f.a it rightly does not include the so called institution .It refers to naming it club 12,So it looks as if justice could be served unless some other form of low-life steps in with another . {get out of jail exscuse}.
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