ianw

I cannot remember St Mirren supporters (as a support en masse) offer anything but support for the long tenure of SG and the incumbent BOD. No 'sack the board' or 'Gilmour out' cries. A large section of our support have also backed the 10000hours bid in both monetary pledges and in many cases, including my own, by getting involved and putting in our skills, time, and effort. Those behind the 10000hours bid put in immense amounts of effort, and stuck with it for a lengthy period.
Whatever happens now - the St Mirren support stepped up to the plate - both in backing the incumbent BOD, and in giving the CIC bid a fair hearing over a long time.
Don't let us down. Or those kids currently sitting in the South stand who will be collecting 1,000 away shirts and are our next generation of fans.

I think the wording of that leaves it open to interpretation but my reading of that was that they're just trying to reassure the fans that they won't now just sell the club to an unknown who arrives with the required amount of cash - unless they have the best interests of the club at heart. I don't think they're saying anything against the fans or 10000 Hours.

BBC are reporting on the newco pre season training.
Today Wallace beat McCulloch 21-17 at longshots.

I'm in, having looked at it from pretty much all sides and even considered myself out at one point...there's enough good people around, plus it's about Saint Mirren and not the application of creating a "global club" or whatever MYFC was meant to be. I'm also one of the three to have applied for the 3 interim places, my Grandpa used to sell lottery tickets in the Piazza booths and hopefully I'll get to my chance to help Saint Mirren along the road.

Plenty of Personal Bests confirmed tonight.
Highest SPL finish.....check
Highest Points total.....check
Most goals scored in an SPL season......check
Least SPL Defeats.....check
Most SPL clean sheets.....check
All achieved this season. Anyone still want to argue that we aren't progressing in the correct manner? Anyone?

Happy to see that the cheeky chappie has a big Bile just under his nostrils. I hope it REALLY hurts and that he nicks it many times, whilst shaving.
Meanwhile as Buddies were trying to enjoy the dreadfully shite match today, in a West London pub, the sounds of a song about being "Up to our knees in... " ....some sort of blood, resounded with foot-stamping from the floor above, in which the obvious detritus from an earlier game were still in residence,
They'd been beaten 3-0. not won a league, heading for liquidation, you'd think there might just be some sort of realisation that their view of the world was not working...
FUCKEM.

Following that thinking at countless games over the years when most, maybe all of us have said at some point: "thats it, thats me, never again" only to cut a pathetic sight a week or so later scuttling down love street, heart in mouth, hoping not to have missed anything as you hear a roar, whilst fumbling your money through the turnstile..... Then should we always through the buddy out with the bath water?
As I understand it this is an open forum for SMFC supporters to discuss, debate, take the mickey etc etc about all things SMFC and quite a few not?
If it still is an open forum then yes I'll participate in an open way! but I won't be rail roaded into accepting that SMFC is in dire straits when the selling consortium tell me it is not! and i'll also not be rail roaded into accepting that 10000 hours offer the only possibe escape from this desperate plight we are NOT in!
I'll leave the "Dicky" references to someone else

I have a number of concerns still over the CIC, and they are mainly ones that cant be addressed without seeing the thing in action. Its a long post but appreciate any feedback.
1 Bureaucracy we are going to have 3 boards, SMFC Board, CIC Board, Exec Board. I understand the requirement of each but I also can see this becoming a very difficult set up to maintain without the CIC or SMFC becoming difficult to operate effectively. On this point I also think that its important that the elected SMFC board is allowed to run the club in the way they see fit i.e. the CIC board and indeed members cant expect to be consulted on every decision if the board arent running things to your liking dont re-elect them sort of idea.
2 Exec Board I completely understand the necessity of this board and agree with it in principle, but as its unelected it wouldnt be answerable to the supporters what if the exec board make a decision or veto a deal against the wishes of the support at large. I understand the premise is to only get involved in legal dealings etc but who determines what goes to the exec board and what doesnt if they have overall governance then whats to stop them making decisions on issues that they were not originally supposed to have a say on.
3 - Fan apathy SMiSA really struggled to make an impact because there were never more that about 120 members and only really 10 who actually were actively doing things if Saints fans get bored of the CIC or if the team gets relegated Im concerned the fan involvement might drop off to the point that the model becomes unsustainable.
4 Division of support The Saints fans are a great bunch for not getting on with each other Im concerned that the CIC members/Non Members will become a big division in our support and may lead to some people feeling isolated or worse, some fans feeling superior. This is something we all probably have to be careful of and ensure that any new regime is totally inclusive.
5 Inexperience - I like Richard and I like that hes come up with a lot of new ideas for the club to make money I like that he is driven and has belief that St Mirren can grow as a club, but I fear there is an element of naivety. The numbers that were discussed in the presentations seem reasonable enough, but there has also been talk of getting Old Firm fans to get Season tickets at St Mirren instead of with the OF, because well offer them more value, or because we will be their community club. By and large fans dont change their teams, we can convince a few Im sure, but were talking 10s not 100s. Football fans arent consumers its a business yes, but it doesnt really work the same way other ones do and Im not certain Richard appreciates that yet.
6 - Exit strategy if/when this happens I will sign up so dont take this point as me willing the thing to fail if/when it happens I will really be hoping it takes off and is a huge success, because this is my club and I want it to work. That said, I think there has to be a clearly defined exit strategy At what point is the scheme determined a failure? Would those involved, both Richard and his team, and the fans who have bought in be willing/brave enough to admit if it hadnt been successful and was time to call it a day? In such a scenario the club is put up for sale as the only asset of TTH to pay its debts, fair enough, but who decides on the suitability of potential buyers? Also on this Richard mentioned that he and Chris held the 100 or so shares in TTH is there a potential that the power would be taken out of the fans hands in this situation?
If/when this happens I will be 100% on board but we are all going to have to work hard to ensure the above points dont turn this project into a disaster.

Views on the CiC?
I have none. It's an intangible; as long as a piece of string; smoke and mirrors; what you want it to be or what you've always feared.
I did think of pledging money. Then I bought lottery tickets.
Even if I cared one way or another, I'm sure you'd twist a way to pillory that opinion and attach a smiley.

So it IS cynicism. That's a shame.
You've been the thrower of 'negative buns' in every CiC thread there is - even starting your own threads in order to chuck even more about. It's been sad to witness. I don't know where your all-encompassing loathing of other Buds comes from. Nor the nastiness in your posts. You do know that Sid Vicious was acting a part to sell a 'character'. He wasn't real, you know.
I'm sure St Sid will be pleased to have noted that it 'appears' that the supras have stopped their efforts. St Sid slagged and mocked all attempts by those good Buddies to generate enthusiasm for the club. I thought that was the most un-Buddie-like attitude to take.
You even personally attack Big Fras, denigrating him and accusing him of undermining St Mirren when you know, we all know, that he's been a longer term, more proactive supporter and contributor to the club and its players than you have ever been or could be.
If you really want to focus on the future, perhaps try to be a bit more generous of spirit. Be more like a Buddie and less like not so long ago, when you were a Shellic supporter.

St Sid = Kate McCann.
Any responsible parent would keep their child close by their side at a football match with 5,000 strangers in attendance but St Sid is more than happy to pass care of his young child to any stranger wearing a yellow tabard.

Related to this question to a degree, and apologies in advance if this is a bit daft.
Working on the basis that we will effectively have two clear and discreet/distinct businesses at the heart of the club. The CIC who will own 52% of the shares, and St Mirren FC (based on this confirmation from 10000Hours earlier in the thread - Remember each business 10000hours CIC and St Mirren FC still has its own board of directors and those Directors have legal responsbilities to discharge under the Companies Act.) :
a) The CIC will hold loans etc. and will therefore have creditors. Can a CIC go into administration or even be liquidated?
b ) If the answer to the above question is yes, would the club be subject to the current sanctions that are associated with administration? If, so, this clearly increases the risk to the future of the club should the CIC initially get up and running but subsequently fail.

Sid. Read any of my posts over the last few days - against any RA abuse; supportive of the CIC bid; merely expressing a concern over funding, and asking for a positive reply. You have completely proven my point about anyone raising a query being blindly slaughtered. This does the CIC lobby no favours whatsoever. Read/think before clattering the keypad.