Originally Posted by
blacksheep
The shareholders or a single motivated shareholder must initiate the sale of the club. Robison said twice the shareholders decide the fate of the club. What he didn't say is that the league probably has the authority to bring the sale issue to the shareholders should the deterioration continue. Second this board will not initiate a sale to anyone as they are under no obligation to do so until forced by the shareholder(s). We can dream someone (who must be a shareholder(s)) will step forward and initiate the necessary legal requirements to sell. Until the Mr. Millionaire is a pipe dream.
The BOD will never initiate or even suggest the sale of this franchise because that is not within their mandate, they are put in place by the shareholders and act only on behalf of the shareholders so the fate of this franchise rests solely with the shareholders. Again, Robison was crystal clear on what needs to take place in order to turn this franchise around, "better management/leadership of hockey operations" he said it several times and the direct response from McNaughton was that there will be no change made at either of the manager/coaching positions and that the team will move forward next season with no changes in these positions and went on to say that they would be adding an assistant coach and an assistant GM? Being totally cash strapped, where is the money coming from to fund these positions? If Lukowich wins the lawsuit that he has levied against this franchise, where is the money coming from to fund that? The player's operating budget has already been cut right back, so it seems there in not much more they can claw back there? Season ticket sales will likely continue to plummet again this season? There is no revenue sharing from the venue, Enmax gets it all. McNaughton also stated that "the corporate market in Lethbridge is tapped out" and they need to now focus on the small businesses for more support? Good luck with that!
You know, the funny thing here is that either the manager/head coach, or anyone else for that matter, has yet to be accountable or even accept any responsibility for the total lack of success of the on ice product last season or the entire franchise? It's like it never happened? Listened to the whole 1hr council address again last night, McNaughton sounded totally un-informed and lost as he stumbled and fumbled through his thoughts and words? Personally, I do not believe that there is any type of business plan, marketing plan or for that matter, GAME plan for the upcoming season or beyond and from some of the councillors questions and comments, it didn't really sound like they really believed that there was one either? I am fully expecting next season to be even worse than the one we just finished because there really is not one single shred of optimistic information available, at least none that I've seen or heard? Likely the WHL will be represented at the AGM and if they don't like what they hear, hopefully they will act immediately and don't kid yourself, when this franchise is finally deemed for sale, there will be lots of interest by people that have the money and the expertise, thats a fore sure!
Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not. But, we will all be judged by only one thing, the result. - Vincent Lombardy