www.worcesternews.co.uk/sport/15285471._You_are_stuck_with_me___says_Hampson_as_he_dismisses_calls_to_quit_as_City_chairman/Sorry Mr Hampson but you told us we're stuck with you, so we're stuck with you.
If the company has value, money in the bank, a successful gold bond and a badge, then why would you want to walk away? Sounds like you believe that the company is a goer, so make it work. However, you've been out touting the business for sale to numerous people, so why won't they take over?
I've lost track of the many many times that the Supporters Trust have offered up help, resources, and even a fully costed business plan to take the club in a new direction, yet you have been the one instrumental in making sure that those changes can't be made.
Its no good offering the club to Dave Wood to take over as Chairman (you don't seen to understand that Dave is only the Chairman of the Supporters Trust, the ST work on a democratic basis, and Dave is a member of the Board who represent the members) yet when the ST approach the club for more detail regarding the financial situation through a due diligence exercise with Supporters Direct, you refuse access!
The Supporters Trust worked hard to deliver a planning application for Perdiswell, and during the process, you insisted on having the club as joint applicants, on the understanding that it would be jointly funded. The ST invested around £150,000 in the project, but the football club only invested £16,000. Why?
The Supporters Trust invested in a Business Plan which provided a fully costed way forward for WCFC , with or without Perdiswell, which provided access to funding (ok not guaranteed, but what is?) and a more democratic way of engaging all supporters in the running of the football club, on and off the field. At the last fans forum that you attended (before you stormed out) you ripped the Business Plan apart with the help of a pre-written statement, which the rest of your Board were unaware of. Ironically, the Business Plan had been sent through to the Board for amendment, and had been amended by the Company Secretary, so you had visibility and input.
The Shareholders called an EGM to ask shareholders to vote on constitutional change, to create a community football club (which would have kept the present Board in place, if they so wished to, this was NOT a takeover) but you recommended that shareholders vote against the proposals. At the EGM you pitched your plan for investment via share ownership. Shareholders accepted the decision and everyone moved on with your plan.
That was two years ago, there was somewhere in the region of £700,000 in the bank and the club still had the value associated with being a National League team.
Now the club has maybe £150,000 in the bank? No-one knows apart from you what the financial situation is now, and plies their trade in the Midland Football League.
The opportunity presented itself two years ago to make radical changes, and you said No! And now you're expecting those people you said No to, to come forward again? Sorry but that ship has long since sailed.
This is your circus, these are your clowns, this is your plan - now get on with it. We are stuck with you aren't we?
As a side note, when I joined the Board of Directors, I gave you the opportunity to stand down as Chairman, you didn't take it. Its no good still trying to blame everyone else for the mess the club is in, you've had more offers of help, more proposals for change, than most football club Boards ever get. You made your choices.
