Is this bad news or not?

Ojc · Post by **Ojc** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:31 am

[b]Club statement on Michael Anderson [/b]
As a result of an article in a national newspaper Michael Anderson has offered not to take up his position on the board of Ipswich Town Football Club. This has been accepted while the situation is reviewed. 
The Club has issued the following statement:-

Michael Anderson has informed us of his brief involvement in two football clubs in the early 90's (Aldershot and Kettering Town) and the fact that he was encouraged to invest on the basis of false information. In fact, he advises us that it was he who called the police to investigate the irregularities that he discovered at Aldershot.

He has assured us that there has been no wrong doing on his part at any time and regrets that he did not reveal this information during the extensive interview process that we undertook. 

Before being accepted as a director we took references and checks both through lawyers and accountants, which gave him a clean bill of health. He has also signed the new 'Fit and Proper Person' certificate as required both by the Football League and ourselves.

After satisfying these checks we accepted Michael's substantial investment in the Club in return for a 15% equity stake and offered him a seat on the board.

Club Chairman David Sheepshanks said: "Although very disappointed that we were not made aware of Michael's previous involvement in football, despite our extensive interview process, we have actually seen no proof of any wrong doing on his part, indeed he claims the opposite. 

"He has made a substantial and irrevocable investment in the Club in the hope that he can fulfil his ambition to be involved in professional football at this level. However, in order to minimise embarrassment, Michael has quite properly offered not take up his directorship that had yet to be ratified and we have accepted this until the matter is cleared up as I hope it quickly will be. His investment remains in the Club. 

"This is a very unfortunate turn of events but must not detract from the good news of the week regarding the Club's improving financial position and our investment in the playing squad. All attentions are very much focussed on the match against Sheffield United."

Very confusing statement IMO

the-mole · Post by **the-mole** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:48 am

Well sounds as though we still got his cash which is the main thing!!!

I don't know it all sounds a bit odd really - buying your way on the board! Surely people should be placed on the board because of business skills they have rather than simply buying their way on the board??

John · Post by **John** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:15 am

the-mole wrote:Well sounds as though we still got his cash which is the main thing!!!

....so we keep the cash,all we need to do is find loads more people like him and we are laughing.

to be honest it seems like once the investigation is done with,he will be in the clear anyway.

the-mole · Post by **the-mole** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:09 am

TWTD seems to have extended a bit more information about the guy!!!

Strange that a small fansite could find out such information - yet a company like ITFC saw nothing wrong???

http://ipswichtown.rivals.net/default.a ... id=8400759

Interesting reading indeed!!

crazee · Post by **crazee** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:19 am

all that information probaly came from the nationial newspaper

the-mole · Post by **the-mole** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:23 am

crazee wrote:all that information probaly came from the nationial newspaper

Well my friend seems strange that ONE journalist to dig up such information yet our strict vetting of potential board members could not!!!

I did find it funny when Sheepshanks starts to say that Mr Anderson (cool name) had said something to the contrary - i.e. he believes everything that Mr Anderson has said!!

Well sheeps for someone who has lied to the fans on numerous occasions you sure seem a strange one to put your trust in total strangers LOL!!!

Considering that WE NEED sheeps in charge so much because of the people we are in debt to - I seriously hope this doesn't back-fire and our debt holders lose confidence in us as a viable business!!!

Dubai Blue · Post by **Dubai Blue** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:45 am

Well to be honest the TWTD piece has a lot of words but no real information of any value. I am director of a number of companies and some of the people I have done business with in the past have turned out to have skeletons in their cupboards as no doubt some of your friends have.

But this doesn't tell you anything about me.

Have to agree on one point though. How come they didn't know of his previous involvement, even if it turns out to be irrelevant ?

Anglo-Saxon · Post by **Anglo-Saxon** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:50 am

I suppose it's a question of how the questions were worded.

Plus I can't see what wether he had anything to do with clubs in the past has any thing to do with things.

the-mole · Post by **the-mole** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:55 am

Anglo-Saxon wrote:I suppose it's a question of how the questions were worded.

Plus I can't see what wether he had anything to do with clubs in the past has any thing to do with things.

Well by all accounts aldershot hit the fan - whilst he had a large involvement - not stating this to be true or not - merely highlighting what seems to have been mentioned!!

What is bad about that is that we have only just seemed to drag ourselves out of the financial gutter so do we need people on the board who are renowned to have been involved in financial mis-management at other clubs!!! Considering Sheepshanks has told us on numerous occasions that our creditors trust and have faith in him - it doesn't look too great from his perspective.

Hopefully for Sheepshanks and the club there is a simple explanation - and Mr Anderson has no blame for any wrong doing at all.

Bluebird · Post by **Bluebird** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:09 pm

Club Chairman David Sheepshanks said: "Although very disappointed that we were not made aware of Michael's previous involvement in football, despite our extensive interview process, we have actually seen no proof of any wrong doing on his part, indeed he claims the opposite

FFS, either the bloke lied or Sheppy & Co, didn't ask the right basic questions! If this is true, another nail in the coffin of ITFC, absolute mickey mouse management.

Post by **Earl Blue** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:06 pm

Bluebird wrote:
Club Chairman David Sheepshanks said: "Although very disappointed that we were not made aware of Michael's previous involvement in football, despite our extensive interview process, we have actually seen no proof of any wrong doing on his part, indeed he claims the opposite
FFS, either the bloke lied or Sheppy & Co, didn't ask the right basic questions! If this is true, another nail in the coffin of ITFC, absolute mickey mouse management.

Thats exactly what I had in the back of my mind but have been
so confused with this issues I did not know how to word
it..

Ojc · Post by **Ojc** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:40 pm

Earl Blue wrote:
Thats exactly what I had in the back of my mind but have been
so confused with this issues I did not know how to word
it..

You and me both.