Birmingham Future In Doubt ? Alan Phillips Has Had Enough!

[arthur cross]

Hence the reason for the fighting fund, if the GRA are the obstacle it could go part way to funding the gap.

But the difference with the GRA compared to just about any other obstacle in this financial saga is that money alone probably isn't going to repair the damage of the Phillips regime and allow a resumption of the Brummies.

 

Gett Handbag is absolutely right to recall the GRA's attitude elsewhere that once speedway becomes any sort of awkward problem at any of their tracks, they find it all too easy to wash their hands of the sport at that particular track rather than battle through such problems.

 

Has there been any official comment from the GRA over the past fortnight to confirm either their initial change in attitude (seemingly refusing any speedway access to Perry Barr) that seems to have prompted Alan Phillips to want out or any news from their end of any subsequent negotiations to find a solution ? ... I haven't seen a single word from their side with any media reports only going as far as mentioning the BSPA would be having talks with the GRA to resolve the current track-rent debt.

 

I don't think it's been really mentioned on this thread so far but, from my perspective, it looks incredibly useful that when the BSPA guaranteed those 2 Brummies away fixtures at the end of June, they didn't just safeguard the meeting on the day Alan Phillips wanted out (Poole - Wed 25th) but also the only remaining away fixture for the Brummies on a GRA-owned track (Belle Vue - Mon 30th) as Birmingham had already been to Belle Vue in mid-May.

 

That means if any way can be found to complete this season for the Brummies, even if it takes them borrowing other clubs' tracks to hold their 11 remaining home meetings while sorting out their Perry Barr debt to the GRA, they don't need any further access to the away-pits of any other GRA-owned track.

 

But I can only repeat that while it's bad to let a track-rent debt grow out-of-control with any stadium-landlord, it's downright suicidal if the stadium happens to be run by the GRA ... I fear many hopeful and well-meaning Brummie fans are still struggling to come to terms with this terrible angle of their club's problems.

Edited July 11, 2014 by arthur cross

[Aces51]

Latest news. http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/birmingham-brummies-face-d-day-over-7406378

 

Let's hope it's good news today.

[The Voice Of Reason]

Interesting article - particularly concerning the divvi-up of Sky money

"But there are serious complications to overcome for a successful outcome, not just a new rent agreement with the GRA, but the allocation of future TV money, some of which could well be needed to clear debts from the previous owners".

 

I seem to remember that, during the Alan Phillips interview, he had approached (either) the SCB/BSPA asking for an advance from the monies owed to The Brummies to enable him to pay off the debts. Apparently, this was refused.

 

It raises an interesting question though. Is SKY money paid to the BSPA in advance, and when do clubs actually get see their share? In the interim, is it kept in a bank account - and who creams off the interest from, what I assume to be, a sum of money with lots of 0000's?

 

Meanwhile, here's hoping that the talks for the continuation of the club from THIS season onwards bear fruit.

[semion]

With interest rates at .5% there would be enough to buy each promotor an Ice cream each.

[The Voice Of Reason]

0.5%?

 

I suggest that you change banks, and ice-cream shops.

[semion]

I would be interested to hear of any decent rates being offered.....just pop the link on here...thanks

Edited July 11, 2014 by semion

[The Voice Of Reason]

I would be interested to hear of any decent rates being offered.....just pop the link on here...thanks

https://www.google.co.uk/compare/currentaccount/as?gclid=CPuB9PCOvb8CFQ2WtAodszAA2Q#!accountType=&typicalMonthlyDeposit=&overdraftLevel=

 

And this may come in useful for you too:

 

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/shelves/Ice_Cream_in_Tesco.html?_fty=Ice_Cream_Bars_Bites_And_Cones

 

There you go - wasn't that difficult.

 

Enjoy!

[semion]

Thanks for that, I cant really see which one you are suggesting the BSPA should use to invest their Sky Monies in though.

 

Ice creams look good.

[A ORLOV]

Thanks for that, I cant really see which one you are suggesting the BSPA should use to invest their Sky Monies in though.

 

 

With the astute decisions the bspa make probably the bank in Portugal that is going bust.

Edited July 11, 2014 by A ORLOV

[The Pedaler]

It raises an interesting question though. Is SKY money paid to the BSPA in advance, and when do clubs actually get see their share? In the interim, is it kept in a bank account - and who creams off the interest from, what I assume to be, a sum of money with lots of 0000's?

 

According to what Philips said on the radio, the Sky money is in the bank account of the BSPA. He may be wrong of course, it could be in the hands of the SCB or of GoSpeed...but that's just a matter of technicalities, and pretty much certainly "none of our business" lol. He may also have been cold bloodedly lying and the money wasn't in anyone's safe keeping at all. HOWEVER, Philips's contention was always that the BSPA had the money, and he wanted an advance on what was coming to Birmingham in the long term. The BSPA refused...and now we are in the situation we are in. It would be an irony indeed if the money that was refused to Philips suddenly became available to someone else.

 

The BSPA are now in a cleft stick situation. If they don't come up with the Sky money, they will see the Brummies go to the grave. If they do come up with the Sky money, then they will prove what Philips said all along, that they were conspiring against him and wanted to be shot of him personally. Either way, they won't look too good out of all this.

Edited July 11, 2014 by The Pedaler

[tsc1]

According to what Philips said on the radio, the Sky money is in the bank account of the BSPA. He may be wrong of course, it could be in the hands of the SCB or of GoSpeed...but that's just a matter of technicalities, and pretty much certainly "none of our business" lol. He may also have been cold bloodedly lying and the money wasn't in anyone's safe keeping at all. HOWEVER, Philips's contention was always that the BSPA had the money, and he wanted an advance on what was coming to Birmingham in the long term. The BSPA refused...and now we are in the situation we are in. It would be an irony indeed if the money that was refused to Philips suddenly became available to someone else.

 

The BSPA are now in a cleft stick situation. If they don't come up with the Sky money, they will see the Brummies go to the grave. If they do come up with the Sky money, then they will prove what Philips said all along, that they were conspiring against him and wanted to be shot of him personally. Either way, they won't look too good out of all this.

. Philips have had the sky money already . That's a fact. And also he knows what money would be coming to the club from sky as all the clubs do..?..........

[semion]

Maybe the Sky Monies are dripped fed to the Clubs to stop Promotuions going gung ho and throwing a load of dosh at a team, only to run out of cash half through the season.

[SteveLyric2]

 

According to what Philips said on the radio, the Sky money is in the bank account of the BSPA. He may be wrong of course, it could be in the hands of the SCB or of GoSpeed...but that's just a matter of technicalities, and pretty much certainly "none of our business" lol. He may also have been cold bloodedly lying and the money wasn't in anyone's safe keeping at all. HOWEVER, Philips's contention was always that the BSPA had the money, and he wanted an advance on what was coming to Birmingham in the long term. The BSPA refused...and now we are in the situation we are in. It would be an irony indeed if the money that was refused to Philips suddenly became available to someone else.

 

The BSPA are now in a cleft stick situation. If they don't come up with the Sky money, they will see the Brummies go to the grave. If they do come up with the Sky money, then they will prove what Philips said all along, that they were conspiring against him and wanted to be shot of him personally. Either way, they won't look too good out of all this.

So the Sky money would have saved the promotion with 'no debts'???!!

 

On the basis that this season's Sky fees are reportedly dramatically reduced, just for TV rights rather than the previous EL sponsorship as well, then with Tony Mole's assessment of the size of debt, the Sky money would go virtually nowhere towards settling anything!!!

[wealdstone]

The BSPA never seem to have had any regard as to how they are perceived before and doubt whether they care very much now.

[tsc1]

The BSPA never seem to have had any regard as to how they are perceived before and doubt whether they care very much now.[/quot. Why is it all you read on here when things go wrong its the BSPA fault.............. I know sometimes they got it wrong but with the brummies its all down to the Philips clan. Just hope it can be sorted because its a great race track..............

[Brummie Kev]

Been said on Brummies forum that the fighting fund has hit £10,000!!!

 

Whatever happens to the Brummies over the coming hours/days, I am so proud to be a Brummies fan. Extraordinary response.

[Daniel Smith]

Just a question, what happens to the fund if it does go wrong?

[kitten2502]

Just a question, what happens to the fund if it does go wrong?

If the club folds the options offered are return it to the donator or BEN Fund.

[Barry The Cat]

According to what Philips said on the radio, the Sky money is in the bank account of the BSPA. He may be wrong of course, it could be in the hands of the SCB or of GoSpeed...but that's just a matter of technicalities, and pretty much certainly "none of our business" lol. He may also have been cold bloodedly lying and the money wasn't in anyone's safe keeping at all. HOWEVER, Philips's contention was always that the BSPA had the money, and he wanted an advance on what was coming to Birmingham in the long term. The BSPA refused...and now we are in the situation we are in. It would be an irony indeed if the money that was refused to Philips suddenly became available to someone else.

 

The BSPA are now in a cleft stick situation. If they don't come up with the Sky money, they will see the Brummies go to the grave. If they do come up with the Sky money, then they will prove what Philips said all along, that they were conspiring against him and wanted to be shot of him personally. Either way, they won't look too good out of all this.

Refused?....the blue bean counter must have forgotten about the five figure advance

[John Leslie]

 

 

The riders have already indicated they would be prepared to take a pay cut and ride for basic points money in away meetings to reduce the cost to a new promoter – and key race-night staff have also agreed a dramatic reduction after being approached on an informal basis, although some have declined.

 

"Key race-night staff taking a reduction, but some have declined"?

 

Apart from a doctor/paramedic, and maybe a track curator working hours before the meeting, I don't understand what "key race-night staff" need to be paid. Surely all track staff/track officials should be just doing it for nothing more than a free admission? I've done plenty of racenight jobs at various tracks, but never asked or expected to be paid.