ktf

Again, Sid takes another opportunity to stick the knife into fellow fans and those concerned about the future of the club. How about promoting the club instead of stirring shit amongst supporters. On the contrary, it is your post that scandalous.

Ok, I'll bite! FFS, Sid. It's absolutely f**king impossible with you, isn't it? This is an Internet forum where people come on an share their opinions. If i had rubbished this as false or doomed to failure or whatever, I'd have got it in the neck from you for being a 10khrs fan and not a SMFC fan. Because I remain open-minded about it, I am accused of being a mouthpiece for 10khrs - you couldn't make it up. For what it's worth, I have had no communication with REA or anyone else connected with 10khrs bid for weeks and I haven't wished any either. I take issue with the suggestion that the posts I make are not my own and that I am somehow a PR person for an organisation that I have simply pledged some money to be part of (because it's good for the club). The only other role I have ever played (apart from handing out leaflets, which you did too) was offer to be part of an initial board, as I was keen to ensure that the community element of the CiC delivered what it always promised to. I want the best for St Mirren and will get behind whatever comes to pass that will deliver that. I, however, don't think that the future of the club is some wee game that I can comfort myself playing from behind my computer screen in the evening. I am deadly serious about how all this comes together and was (and still am) willing to give up a day a week from my work committments to allow me to focus on it, had 10khrs for through and my "application" been successful. For me this isn't a matter for fannying about on the Internet over, for the sake of my own battered ego. This is about St Mirren and the future of the club. The reason people are beginning to turn against you, John, is that it is now clear you are at the fanny, that you think this is a funny wee game, that it pleasures you to come up with, frankly shite, points with which to batter 10khrs and those who are supportive of it. There comes a time when a person should realise that when it is only Dick Slexia/Feegie Saint/Buddiecool and Somner9 who agree with them, it's time to chuck it or get better.

Exactly! It's the blinkered jubilation that this news is being received with that is most concerning. The irony is overwhelming.

I'd be interested in any bid that secures the future of the club, so I'll watch this one with interest and if it appears to be the best or St Mirren, it will get my full backing. I still believe that fan ownership is the way forward and that 10000 Hours offers the most chance of this. However, if this deal succeeds, I'll get behind it 100%. It is funny to see some folks on here, despite denying it, quite clearly creaming themselves at the possibility of someone other than 10000 Hours buying the 52%. Personally, I hope this deal doesn't go through, purely because Sid will doubtless claim that it was his doing that scuppered 10000 Hrs. The thing we need to remember is that R*ngers couldn't get a buyer for months, despite being a much bigger club and global brand. Then when they did, it was Whyte then Green - both of whom borrowed on the assets of the club as security. My feeling is that it is best to remain calm and suspicious of anyone trying to buy the club until we have some info. Sid may not feel like he needs any but I support St Mirren and so would rather have an idea of who and how is buying the club.

I noticed this also... Assumed I had missed something. Hmm! Has someone monumentally cocked up here?

Haha! The cost comparison for mine now compared to when it was built is astronomical... It's not worth around 4x what it sold for in 1997!

No problem at all Sonny. Will gladly get some photos up as soon as possible. I had friends who stayed in Anchor Mill until recently and a friend who owns a couple of flats in there, however they are rented out... There are some photos on the walls of the foyer at the back, just ones off the internet, of the Counting House in its heyday and also as a derelict site, that have been put up by one of my neighbours, aside form this, there is nothing really that alludes to its history. Any time you've got a spare morning or afternoon, drop me a PM and if I'm in, you're more than welcome to pop by for a coffee/tea and have a snoop about the place.

Aww a wee clue woulda been good! I've waited long enough, another day or few hours woulda been fine! I'm not sure that I can provide a full exposé of the history, Sonny, but this site has some brilliant images of the Counting House just prior to and during the demolition of Ferguslie Thread Works, which was demolished throughout the 80s - possibly some still standing in the early 90s. The Counting House was far from the handsomest building on the site and it's a crying shame that the Number 1 Spinning Mill was taken down as it was by far and away the best looking of all of Paisley's Mill buildings... So sad. Of course, a part of it still remains, inset into the wall at the roundabout on the corner of Station Road and Old Mill Road is the stone sign that sat onto of the mill. There are 17 flats in the Counting House now, 13 accessible from the main door on Turners Ave and 4 from the rear door at the back car park... In fact, if you look closely, you can see right into my living room in one of your pics The wonderful thing is that the Counting House was the first one of the few remaining FTW buildings to be refurnished and when it was complete, in 1997, Turners Ave didn't even exist and Old Mill Road didn't go as far as joining Green Road, like it does now. Because if this, the Counting House isn't officially on Turners Ave and as such has its own postcode - I love that! I don't have any photos to put up just now, Sonny, but when I've Hoovered ( ) I'll take some of my place and some of the foyers at the front and back of the building to get a look at the inside. Surely there must be some other buds who live in old mill buildings who can post up pics too... can't just be me!

Yup, must be Feegie Park Gardens...! "The old mansion", was that Glen Coats (Glencoats?) House? I'll take a walk through there today with the wee one, if the rain stays off, and see if I can find it! In fact, there is another interesting feature reasonably nearby that I've considered posting... Maybe if I get a photo of it today and post it up when this one is guessed, Sonny won't mind his thread being hijacked for one more day?!

Hmm... Is it in an old park then?

It's fantasy dreamt up bandwagoned by Sid as a poor attempt to derail a process (that is now very unlikely to fail) due to to his own offence at not being arse-licked by those heading it up. This is what happens when someone gets an inflated sense of their own ego...

Well fudged.

There aren't any reasons not to. It just needs to get up and running... So, go for it. I'm right behind you.

The concept's a good one Somner and I like your vision of what St Mirren could be... Of course there are PVG issues with what you laid out, but I'm sure you were just presenting a concept as opposed to an actual plan. I'd add to it the opening up of the matchday experience: the stadium opens at 11am with 5-a-side tourneys for all age brackets. A BBQ outside selling all the usual guff. The pandas mixing with fans. local bands on a mobile stage, stalls from local community groups. Beat the goalie etc. bouncy castles. A bar. Merchandise stall open. Maybe injured/suspended players out mixing with fans. Face painting for kids. Etc etc... All culminating at 3pm in kick-off - free entry for under 12s who were at the open day. A much happier crowd. Pulling in people from all over the district, non-saints fans, former OF fans, fringe supporters all coming to bring the kids, meet mates etc. All scottish football clubs are so narrow-minded in the way they present the matchday experience. St Mirren could be leading the way in community involvement and attracting more fans.