First time poster - taken me 4 days to get this account!!!
Been a supporter since 1968 - through good and bad - but none in my time as desperate as this. And the sad thing on Tuesday - I wasn't surprised - I expected it with the decline we've seen since 2003 but accelarated since 2008!!
I sent the attached e-mail to the club on Wednesday - to date no reply
Peter
I wrote to you a couple of years ago on the subject of Leadership - in the dark days of 2009 when our decline as a force in Super league accelerated. There was no leadership then in changes of the coaching staff which may have reversed that decline, but that lack of leadership pales into insignificance with what we see today. If people are not leaders in positions like you hold, you hope they are good managers who administer the club effectively. The evidence suggests you are neither.
You as the temporary custodian of my club should hang your head in shame today. Not for the cash flow situation, that can happen for a number of reasons, but for the inept way you have managed this situation. You talk, sorry write, you haven't been brave enough to lead the charge in the media, delegating that to others, about the withdrawal of the overdraft. Again that can happen given the economic times we are in. But the withdrawal was inextricably linked to a decision the board made! Did no one consider that, was there any discussions with the bank? Also, the decision of the RFL to use the proceeds of the ground sale to offset other debts seemed to take the board by surprise - why? I run a division of a multi national business turning over £70m as my responsibility. If I made decisions a tenth as inept as the board has, I would be worried for my future.
But - we are where we are!
I have followed this club since 1968 - it's been an important part of my life - and 3 of my 4 children - my 4th is just getting interested. I have 3 season tickets. Will I pledge £300 - probably - but not out of any wish to see you continue in role - but because of my love for this club. But I, along with many others would have been far more willing to part with cash if:-
You had been open and honest about the problem - it should have been communicated in a much more open and transparent way - such as an extraordinary supporters meeting Monday evening - advertised at half time on Sunday.
If I knew categorically where the next £500k is coming from
If I knew what sacrifices the Directors were making
If I had a report from a respected independent Financial Accountant that the club would be debt free and should be able to trade profitably without selling players and operating at a maximum salary cap providing there were no extraordinary items and attendance's/revenue hold up.
You have clearly known this day was coming for some time - well over a week given my experience of preparing mail shots, Internet changes etc. When professional organisations plan major changes they have a robust communication plan addressing the needs of different stakeholder groups. Your plan seemed to be - Give us some money - we have a short term problem but everything will be OK after that - don't worry!!!
I imagine you are monitoring the Internet message boards (still given the ineptitude demonstrated in other areas, possibly not!) - you will know that I am not the only person to love this club! You had a chance to get this right and engage those current and past supporters in a partnership to save this club - instead you seem to be like a beggar sat on the street with his hand out - with the suspicion of passers by that you have a BMW parked around the corner. I don't see how you can rescue your reputation with the supporters - I sincerely hope you have beefed up security on Good Friday - I will not condone any violence but I fear emotions are running so high that some idiot could try something.
When you took over in 2006 we were clearly a club in decline, not helped by the Leeds legal dispute etc. That decline has accelerated due to a lack of vision by your board and a lack of engagement with supporters. One of my happiest Bulls memories was the 2000 Challenge Cup final and I remember driving up the A1 and we had a banner next to the road saying 'Bulls - The People's Team'. I really believed we were at that time - I felt involved in my club - now I feel I am viewed as a walking piggy bank to be raided.
You need to break your silence Peter, you need to address the points I have made, along with those made by other supporters. You need to convince us that you are the man to the this club forward - that you have a vision and a plan to get us to that vision which you need to share with supporters. You might get your £500k, but without it you will never be trusted again!!