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Graves
Jan 16, 2024 21:09:46 GMT
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Post by hawke on Jan 16, 2024 21:09:46 GMT
gives away as little as possible on all fronts but says enough to hint at his thoughts on them
what other choice do we have?
for me better than being a poodle of the ECB but there is a leap into the unknown
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Graves
Jan 16, 2024 21:19:27 GMT
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Post by karma on Jan 16, 2024 21:19:27 GMT
That all seems perfectly reasonable to me from Colin Graves.
We seem able to make decisions fairly quickly and then look for reasons to support those decisions. We tend to dismiss contrary arguments or 'facts' .
Having taken a considered view, I've voted for Graves. Regardless of how everyone votes, nobody is going to get hurt, the stars won't fall out of the sky and life will go on.
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Post by slowleftarmer on Jan 17, 2024 8:52:11 GMT
it is a bit of an odd situation as normally when someone sends you their manifesto, there are other candidates doing likewise so you can compare and contrast them. Here you have a choice of one candidate who therefore has a position of strength as he does not need to over promise for fear a rival may be doing so. The alternative is the status quo and his mention of administration or bankruptcy reminds everyone of what this might mean, even if the Graves Trust is the one who could take us down that path by calling in its debts that are long overdue.
So its all a question of Trust - do you Trust Colin Graves or do you trust the Graves Trust - 2 separate things although I suspect a few people will always think they are inextricably linked!
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Graves
Jan 17, 2024 11:42:31 GMT
Post by newby on Jan 17, 2024 11:42:31 GMT
To be honest I've lost it with the rules so the bit I'm interested in is that CG needs 66% of members support to get on with things.
I made the decision to give the club my support by renewing earlier than I normally do so have a vote, but even so I'm not happy with the decision to only allow those who have renewed for 2024 to vote.
Under previous rules membership ran until the 1st of April, or something like that, and I preferred that system. It excluded new members from their first AGM, which was seen as the downside, but, if people have for some reason not renewed their membership by then the AGM was a good place to explain why, seek re-assurances, or be convinced.
I've no idea where cricket is heading and its looking more and more as if the bits I like can't be preserved in aspic. I trust CG to do his best for Yorkshire cricket in the next 3 or 4 seasons.
I don't know and probably won't be around anyway so can't vote for anything that happens after that.
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Graves
Jan 17, 2024 22:04:55 GMT
Post by donnylad on Jan 17, 2024 22:04:55 GMT
Graves (or whoever wrote this for him) says .....
1 I want to make it clear that there are no discussions or plans to change the mutual status of YCCC. However in the changing and challenging arena of both UK and World sport, nothing can be ruled out in the future. POLITICIAN SPEAK FOR 'just you wait until I own your club'! 2 Make no mistake, this is not going to be easy. It will be a bumpy ride and there is a great deal to do. We can do this together with hard work, transparency, trust and enthusiasm from committed people. POLITICIAN SPEAK FOR 'me and my mates will sort this out and 'people that I appoint to do the work'
3 I therefore ask you to give me your support on the ballot paper as I have outlined my manifesto to you to make YCCC great again.
I am not a member. I have a passion for YCCC. I want to feel the club in secure hands and focussing on cricket on the field.
I might just be persuaded about the first couplet. I could stretch a point and look through rosy spectacles at the second. But the last 4 words of the third, reflect too much the ritual slogan of the criminal lunatic prancing around in Idaho. I have just read what he said after the result there (all about America coming together and sorting out the world) and I am thrown back to rejecting the second couplet.
I just have a vision of President Graves (CG Cricket plc) making speeches wearing a cricket cap with the legend MYGA and an embroidered white rose (compulsory for all match attendees when the CGC XI are playing and available at £29.99 from the CGC Sports Store) whilst his mates appointed to the board dismantle the club and liquidise the assets.
Can someone re-assure me that I have just had a bad dream?
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Graves
Jan 18, 2024 1:44:50 GMT
Post by davemorton on Jan 18, 2024 1:44:50 GMT
Odd that. I had much the same dream. Did he really write #3, or was that part of your nightmare?
Delusions of adequacy.
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Graves
Jan 18, 2024 7:19:46 GMT
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hawke likes this
Post by karma on Jan 18, 2024 7:19:46 GMT
Graves (or whoever wrote this for him) says ..... 1 I want to make it clear that there are no discussions or plans to change the mutual status of YCCC. However in the changing and challenging arena of both UK and World sport, nothing can be ruled out in the future. POLITICIAN SPEAK FOR 'just you wait until I own your club'! 2 Make no mistake, this is not going to be easy. It will be a bumpy ride and there is a great deal to do. We can do this together with hard work, transparency, trust and enthusiasm from committed people. POLITICIAN SPEAK FOR 'me and my mates will sort this out and 'people that I appoint to do the work'3 I therefore ask you to give me your support on the ballot paper as I have outlined my manifesto to you to make YCCC great again.
I am not a member. I have a passion for YCCC. I want to feel the club in secure hands and focussing on cricket on the field. I might just be persuaded about the first couplet. I could stretch a point and look through rosy spectacles at the second. But the last 4 words of the third, reflect too much the ritual slogan of the criminal lunatic prancing around in Idaho. I have just read what he said after the result there (all about America coming together and sorting out the world) and I am thrown back to rejecting the second couplet. I just have a vision of President Graves (CG Cricket plc) making speeches wearing a cricket cap with the legend MYGA and an embroidered white rose (compulsory for all match attendees when the CGC XI are playing and available at £29.99 from the CGC Sports Store) whilst his mates appointed to the board dismantle the club and liquidise the assets. Can someone re-assure me that I have just had a bad dream? The only guarantees is that there are no guarantees. I've voted in favour of the Graves deal and therefor I'm biased. I'm biased in favour of backing the only deal on the table. The alternative are not to vote or vote against Graves. I don't know exactly what that would mean though the range of possibilities looking into that black hole fill me with horror for YCCC. However , regardless, nobody will die and the Earth will keep turning. I believe Graves has a love of cricket and in particular YCCC. I also believe he is an astute businessman. I don't think he will want to put his own monies at excessive risk and the future success of YCCC is linked to his own monies being 'safe' Some of the decisions under the present board have been poor (including this apallingly drawn out refinancing) Before that we had Lord Patel. While I like Harry Chathli ,I'm afraid he is going to be a casualty of Graves bringing in his own team, people that he has worked with and trusts. So it's up to the membership to carefully consider the deal and then vote. I've made my decision for the success and safety of the club I love and for the generations still to come
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Post by slowleftarmer on Jan 18, 2024 7:56:01 GMT
Perhaps some of the current Board could comment on
1. the deal itself and whether it does or does not mean the end of a members club. The Board have backed the deal so you would like to think they must know if they are so supportive 2. in some cases, they have supported the deal, knowing that this means the end of their tenure as a YCCC Board member if it goes through. This is quite telling - they either want out as the task ahead of them is too big, or they know the deal is the best option available for securing the future, or they dont really care as none of them are from Yorkshire or ever liked cricket 3. why this deal is better than the others considered and rejected. Lets see the best 2 or 3 other options in more detail to put into context or are they all protected by NDAs and the like?
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Post by byased on Jan 18, 2024 8:53:14 GMT
It is a bit odd that the vote comes with no alternatives. It seems members have no real option but to vote for this. The realistic alternatives are Ashley, possibly an IPL franchise, or simply no cricket . It is difficult to see significant changes not coming, and to be fair to Graves, he will never get his money back if he does not make changes. Membership, like being a small shareholder, does not really mean much, other than being able to attend the odd meeting. Unless members can band together and raise £20m,the idea of a members club seems dead. Stephen Vaughan does not inspire confidence, so not surprising he has not come up with any great options with other investors. He needs to go, as do most of the board. The political style wording is probably the work of someone else, but agree it less than attractive. Graves at least has had the club at heart in the past, so hopefully that will continue. On the other hand this could all be about money in the long run. I have seen this at my football club, where a lifelong fan took the reins, did a great job for 10 years, then sold the club down the river for an obscene amount. Without Graves though, there will probably be nowhere near 10 years of cricket watching in Yorkshire.
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Post by newby on Jan 18, 2024 9:58:43 GMT
Those opposed to Graves, with the exception of members of the DCMS, who are staying on the racism bandwagon, are concentrating on the question of whether Yorkshire remains a members club.
We aren't voting for that this time around, but those opposed like to throw it in to muddy the water. Voting for the Graves deal is the only option in my view.
No emails from Lottery HQ this morning, so I'm afraid no magnanimous gestures from this member.
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Post by karma on Jan 18, 2024 11:16:36 GMT
I remember when Lord Patel swept in to YCCC, made a brilliant speech about inclusivity and what he was going to do next. He then promptly did the exact opposite and with a vengeance. I can understand some people's opposition to Graves statement given what Patel did.
The situation is somewhat different however, Patel was forced upon YCCC by the ECB with menaces ie 'an offer we couldn't refuse. I don't believe he had a real interest in YCCC but rather doing what he'd been instructed re Racism.
Graves loves cricket and particularly Yorkshire cricket. His offer has been accepted by the board of YCCC (and the board members are jointly and severally liable for decisions they make). In accepting this offer(subject to the member's vote and EGM) then some of board are also acknowledging they will be leaving. Vaughan has not given me great confidence and he seems to be getting a reputation for fire-fighting (and failing)
Much has been made of 'we're a member's club and that could disappear'. Well yes, but you've got to ask how valuable that 'membership' is and as several have pointed out, including newby, members would have to vote for the end of membership. I don't believe there are plans to try to change this.
Yes, it would be great to know what the other 'serious' offers for re-financing were but these are commercially sensitive to both the lender and borrower, in spite of, I feel, carefully leaked details either to promote one offer or defeat another.
I'm really looking forward to the start of the new season, I don't know how many seasons I've left in me but this vote is important.
A 'YES' vote will ensure continued existence of YCCC for future generations.
A 'NO' vote WILL lead to great uncertainty and who knows where?
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Post by byased on Jan 20, 2024 0:06:49 GMT
The only alternative to Graves that has been publicised is Mike Ashley. I thought of him today. I was in the centre of Birmingham, which is full of iconic buildings, old and new. One is/was the old Rackham's building, which then became House of Fraser. It now stands in a very shabby state, and heading into a state of disrepair, with a few cheap outlets the only life within the huge building. I think anything would be better than Ashley.
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Graves
Jan 22, 2024 11:30:04 GMT
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hawke likes this
Post by karma on Jan 22, 2024 11:30:04 GMT
It's a long time since anyone has posted on this thread for 76 year old (today) Colin Graves.
People are still arguing pretty strongly elsewhere about what the vote means or not , even dragging in a criticism of Boycott for his support for the Yes vote. I remember Boycs at the last EGM making an impassioned plea (but phrased as a question) not to do a deal that involves selling Headingley.
I don't do social media but it seems that Azeem Rafiq has been quiet recently as his previous missives had become more extreme, bizarre and critical of everyone : Graves, PCA, ECB, YCCC and even Yorkshire members.
Perhaps his minders or PR company had suggested he 'toned it down' as his rhetoric was increasing the number of 'yes' voters for YCCC and/or affecting pre-launch sales of his book. Or maybe he's been a cricket groupie around the England Test cricket squad who have been in Dubai, where Rafiq is now esconsed with his extended family.
I've also not heard anything from any politicians giving us their two peneth about Graves in the last week. Perhaps they're busy.
I'm seriously going to try to get to the EGM next week, to hear the questions and answers 🤔 , important day in the history and future of our club
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Graves
Jan 22, 2024 14:45:32 GMT
Post by newby on Jan 22, 2024 14:45:32 GMT
I'm staying away from the fevered atmosphere of the other place, certainly until after the EGM. My vote has been cast, my mind is made up, and I have no interest in trying to change anyone else's.
Given the current state of play in our household I've zero chance of getting to the EGM. I'd like to go, but then again, not being able to has it's advantages.
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Graves
Jan 25, 2024 15:47:01 GMT
Post by karma on Jan 25, 2024 15:47:01 GMT
I'm staying away from the fevered atmosphere of the other place, certainly until after the EGM. My vote has been cast, my mind is made up, and I have no interest in trying to change anyone else's. Given the current state of play in our household I've zero chance of getting to the EGM. I'd like to go, but then again, not being able to has it's advantages. Well that other place has had some good reasoned and insightful discussion but I've said, more than once that " a 'Yes' vote means the club will stay a Member's club unless and until Members themselves vote against it ( as Graves cannot) and a 'No' vote will lead to insolvency and no members in future" An unscientific 'straw poll' came out over 70% yes. I think it's virtually impossible to change someone else's mind 🗳
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