Club Accounts

Is it really asking much for the club to release the books inline with other clubs? It’s not like fans are asking for stuff that’s never been available before at our level.

It’s time the club was scrutinized off the field like we scrutinize Stuart and the players on it.

 

I'm not sure why he is so defensive? You're only asking for the opportunity that every other football league club fan seems to have. We were told the club was gong to be transparent, why not just publish the accounts? Its not like there's anything to hide. We all know that the club was run to break even figures before the Germans took over, you don't need to be an international accountant to work out that Parky's successful cup runs and the sale of Wells and sell ons from the likes of Wisdom allowed the club to pay back Mark Lawn and effectively wipe the slate clean. Nor does it take a genius to work out that the monies recieved/to be recieved from the sale of Ollie McBurnie have more than offset the overspend from Mr Rahic. Bradford City are a small business with a relatively small turnover, again doesn't take a rocket scientist to work that one out. And the one that really grinds my gears, the one about 'people complaing where's the money gone?' when in truth most people know where the money has gone.
In fact i'm not even sure where this whole 'fans have been demanding to see the accounts' has suddenly reared its head, it hasn't been discussed as a topic on social media or at the football for months even a season or two yet its thrust into the spotlight like a queue of rabid fans with pitchforks were banging on the door of Stefan Rupps two up two down in Stuttgart or wherever he lives. The only comments i can remember were from Ryan Sparks alluding to more transparency in the future. I'd have guessed in the current climate of Corona Virus, deaths, people losing loved ones and jobs and a general depressive feel to society that Bradford City's accounts are well down the list of peoples priorities.

 

Discussing a thread on seeing the clubs accounts. You see them and then what?
A fuss over nothing.
People in large numbers still supported the club without question usually by purchasing a season ticket.

You are in the very small minority who want to see the full accounts for some reason. Fair enough.

 

Why do you have a problem with that? I get that very few people have little interest other than a afternoon out on a Saturday, some like to delve deeper into the workings.

 

I don't see why you care, tbh? You have no interest in the club accounts - fine. Some do. Some question the running of the club beyond which formation Stuart McCall chooses to pick this week, and have an interest in exploring the financial health of the football club. Not necessarily because there are kicks to be had in reading a balance sheet, but many of the points of concern discussed regularly on this forum will be underpinned in some manner by the detail in the clubs accounts.

 

To be fair isnt all this simply yet another "look who we are" article from the 2 protagonists anyway?

My view on it is that it seems a fairly pointless exercise in that Dewhirst may well have had access to the accounts but he aint go to rip his a mate a new one over them is he?

The article will have been picked to pieces by rhodes and possibly an accountant long before it went to print. IF there was something negative in the accounts then the chances are that would have pulled before any of us got the chance to see it.

This is why people, many probably with the ability/experience to read a set of accounts professionally would like to view them and make their own interpretation rather than being driven by a club puppet.

 

Spot on.

 

Good article

 

Club puppet? Wasn’t he the one when people were organising useless flying banners who went to Germany and helped to bring about change

 

Puppets on a string like YOU, sat on your arse and did nothing to assist in helping the club during Rahic rein.

Useless banners, as you call it, got momentum. Got noted in the media. Got noted in the football community. Got noted within our club base of supporters.

What did you do? Sweet FA as normal.

Had we taken YOUR stance of doing nothing how much further in the depths would the club be today?

 

The last time I met anyone at the club was Dave Baldwin re a potential income generating idea. Came to nothing but he was open minded to meet and listen. Nice guy.

 

Fair enough.

 

I am just curious as to what people would do after seeing the accounts. I have no.problem with people wanting to see them.

 

John Dewhirst is the biggest propaganda machine the club have got.

It's like Saddam Hussein rolling out Comical Ali and expecting us just to lap it up.

 

I have been alerted to the post questioning my independence and the suggestion I am a propaganda outlet for the club. Seriously?

I can assure you that this exercise was undertaken independently and without supervision with the full co-operation of the club's auditors and Julian Rhodes. I undertake due diligence for investors and lenders and value not only my professional independence but my reputation. There is no way that I would publish something on a public forum in the knowledge that it was incorrect or misleading. Much as though I have an emotional commitment to BCAFC I attach a higher value to my livelihood and career and would never risk being compromised.

In the last couple of years alone I have been involved in the investigation of significant corporate fraud and have a pretty damn good idea of what to look for. At little old BCAFC there really isn't any sign of a smoking gun which I accept may disappoint the cynics. I recognise that there have been various conspiracy theories about how the club is managed and its affairs and it was for that very reason that I approached JR in the first place back in March to suggest that I undertook this exercise. Getting access to the earlier details required documents to be found in archives and the furloughing of staff at the club's auditors delayed this. With Covid concerns it was topical to get my feature published and I completed the exercise last week to go online on Wednesday.

There are people who follow the club who have fixed beliefs that no amount of transparency, communication or analysis will convince them otherwise. Despite being known as a supporter of the club the PFA considered that I was sufficiently independent to review the club's accounts in 2004 at the time of the insolvency. It is up to individuals to decide for themselves whether I am sufficiently independent but I would counter whether certain people are sufficiently open-minded to accept what I have written. I really can assure you that I have not massaged the numbers and besides, notwithstanding the abbreviated disclosures it is not difficult to determine whether the club is profitable or otherwise.

I have had a number of people contact me with specific questions that I will respond to as appropriate in the next few days but I am unwilling to engage with individuals who choose to conceal their identities. Although I have an account on this forum I rarely use it and I am best contacted via DM on Twitter.

 

Personally speaking, and I'm sure I echo the views of many on here, I would never question your integrity and independence, and welcome your analysis. I think there is one question many are still asking. I understand that the club are perfectly within their rights and have no legal or compliance requirement to post full accounts, but following Ryan's statement that there would be a new era of transparency, can you divulge why the club still choose not to do so. Speaking for myself I don't find it a big deal and believe many if not most small companies only file abbreviated accounts.

 

A platform you use to swear at and insult fellow supporters.

Not on from someone who represents the club.