So how come....

Argyle are operating at a loss?

The Club have been run by a couple of Bankers (no jokes please) for the last seven or so years and attendances throughout that time have held up very well, even when the team was not flying high. Yesterday's gate was only topped by Ipswich & Sunderland in the bottom two divisions and was on a par with some CCC clubs in contention for promotion.

My understanding is that lower League wages are restricted to a % of income and given that Capital Expenditure is not part of a business's P+L accounts, can anyone suggest what regular outgoings Argyle has that is dragging them into a loss making situation?

It's something I've pondered too and a valid point considering our healthy attendances and a relatively low wage bill.

It depends how you look at it.

As an example, it was widely reported that Argyle paid Bury £150,000 compo for Lowe. Now that will almost certainly gone through Argyles books from a financial point...but then the actual paying out of it came from Hallett.

So technically, things like that amount would contribute to an overall minus balance sheet - 'operating at a loss' but subsidised by the Halletts.

How much of a financial black hole did the Sir James Bent leave?

We also paid a rumoured £50k for Telford.

I guess the pay off for Adams and Wotton would have been somewhere in the region of £500K also.

seadog wrote:

How much of a financial black hole did the Sir James Bent leave?

The worlds finest astronomers are looking into it but it's supermassive.

But I would class compo for managers coming in or leaving as "one off payment" in accounting terms, and wouldn't affect the "sustainable" Utopia that SH keeps referring to. Anyway, £750k (less the Lapado fee received) over the course of a season is only about 500 tickets per game and some of the teams in the promotion mix are on gates half the size of those at Home Park.

It's the "trading at a loss" comments that I'm querying. The fans are probably putting more money into the Club than at all but 3 or 4 Clubs in the bottom two Leagues, but keep being told Argyle are losing money? So why is this?


Anyway, did we pay Bury for the services of any of their ex players or coaches? Surely, as they hadn't been paid in full, they were free to seek employment elsewhere under breech-of-contract legislation?

I would have thought that a club with over ten thousand punters every week would be making a profit in the fourth division, so its a fair question, but the Hallets have put money into the club and are very unlikely to make a profit unlike Jimmy Bent, how much did massive argo fan Jim, make out of the club?

Talking about the 5 year plan, the owner said the club is not currently "sustainable" without his support.

Now, with 46 clubs in the lower two tiers and PAFC having attendances in the top six of those two leagues, is Hallett saying that 40+ clubs have a sugar daddy bailing them out? (That's certainly not true at Sid James Park) Is he saying that the FL's 55% rule isn't working? Or does Argyle have some ongoing expenses that no other Club has?

I know "where's the money gone?" was a question asked after the two Liverpool Cup ties. But here were are, been in the top half of the league all season, some of the best attendances in the lower two divisions and it's not "sustainable" so I think the question needs asking again.

I guess all will be revealed when the club publishes its "full accounts" for the first time.

Somehow, I still don't think that is going to satisfy you grovey - you'll probably complain the accountants are based in London?

seadog wrote:

How much of a financial black hole did the Sir James Bent leave?

like the black hole of Calcutta seadog ...in my opinion close to another admin if the shyster didn’t step down let’s not forgot the day he stepped down as chairman saltrock went tits up as well I don’t think people realise how close bent was to taking us back to admin

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

I would have thought that a club with over ten thousand punters every week would be making a profit in the fourth division, so its a fair question, but the Hallets have put money into the club and are very unlikely to make a profit unlike Jimmy Bent, how much did massive argo fan Jim, make out of the club?

at least 5.5million & half a car park the shyster

Rickler wrote:

I guess all will be revealed when the club publishes its "full accounts" for the first time.

Somehow, I still don't think that is going to satisfy you grovey - you'll probably complain the accountants are based in London?

local club for local people way of thinking hey groovy boy lol


its not going to be fixed overnight the clubs incomings and outgoings even with Hallett at the helm it will take time to fix the brent era and its shortcomings.

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

I would have thought that a club with over ten thousand punters every week would be making a profit in the fourth division, so its a fair question, but the Hallets have put money into the club and are very unlikely to make a profit unlike Jimmy Bent, how much did massive argo fan Jim, make out of the club?

I begrudgingly went into the Green Taverners bar yesterday after some fellow block 6 guys persuaded me to go in and found the clientele to be well known Brent supporters, TCE wannabees, and a certain gentleman called Chris Webb.

Never felt so glad to breath in fresh air as I left the gaff, if the devil could cast his net.............

Suffice to say I will not be returning.

Punchdrunk wrote:

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

I would have thought that a club with over ten thousand punters every week would be making a profit in the fourth division, so its a fair question, but the Hallets have put money into the club and are very unlikely to make a profit unlike Jimmy Bent, how much did massive argo fan Jim, make out of the club?

I begrudgingly went into the Green Taverners bar yesterday after some fellow block 6 guys persuaded me to go in and found the clientele to be well known Brent supporters, TCE wannabees, and a certain gentleman called Chris Webb.

Never felt so glad to breath in fresh air as I left the gaff, if the devil could cast his net.............

Suffice to say I will not be returning.

don’t blame you punchey hope you had a shower when got home as well punchey plenty of viruses in there see Ex president C#%T face put in a appearance yesterday the tosser

RegGreen wrote:

Punchdrunk wrote:

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

I would have thought that a club with over ten thousand punters every week would be making a profit in the fourth division, so its a fair question, but the Hallets have put money into the club and are very unlikely to make a profit unlike Jimmy Bent, how much did massive argo fan Jim, make out of the club?

I begrudgingly went into the Green Taverners bar yesterday after some fellow block 6 guys persuaded me to go in and found the clientele to be well known Brent supporters, TCE wannabees, and a certain gentleman called Chris Webb.

Never felt so glad to breath in fresh air as I left the gaff, if the devil could cast his net.............

Suffice to say I will not be returning.

don’t blame you punchey hope you had a shower when got home as well punchey plenty of viruses in there see Ex president C#%T face put in a appearance yesterday the tosser

i forgot all about that tosspot.

Punchdrunk wrote:

I begrudgingly went into the Green Taverners bar yesterday after some fellow block 6 guys persuaded me to go in and found the clientele to be well known Brent supporters, TCE wannabees, and a certain gentleman called Chris Webb.

I'm surprised you recognised him...


[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Oh I don’t know...his still got the face of a virgina from a 1970s blue film with that beard still ..lol

Rickler wrote:

Punchdrunk wrote:

I begrudgingly went into the Green Taverners bar yesterday after some fellow block 6 guys persuaded me to go in and found the clientele to be well known Brent supporters, TCE wannabees, and a certain gentleman called Chris Webb.

I'm surprised you recognised him...


[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

has he recently been placed on a offenders list or something?

Rickler wrote:

Punchdrunk wrote:

I begrudgingly went into the Green Taverners bar yesterday after some fellow block 6 guys persuaded me to go in and found the clientele to be well known Brent supporters, TCE wannabees, and a certain gentleman called Chris Webb.

I'm surprised you recognised him...


[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

That bearded Lothario is recognisable anywhere.

Punchdrunk wrote:

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

I would have thought that a club with over ten thousand punters every week would be making a profit in the fourth division, so its a fair question, but the Hallets have put money into the club and are very unlikely to make a profit unlike Jimmy Bent, how much did massive argo fan Jim, make out of the club?

I begrudgingly went into the Green Taverners bar yesterday after some fellow block 6 guys persuaded me to go in and found the clientele to be well known Brent supporters, TCE wannabees, and a certain gentleman called Chris Webb.

Never felt so glad to breath in fresh air as I left the gaff, if the devil could cast his net.............

Suffice to say I will not be returning.

Yep i'm sure once is enough for Brents Bar.

Punchdrunk wrote:

Rickler wrote:

Punchdrunk wrote:

I begrudgingly went into the Green Taverners bar yesterday after some fellow block 6 guys persuaded me to go in and found the clientele to be well known Brent supporters, TCE wannabees, and a certain gentleman called Chris Webb.

I'm surprised you recognised him...


[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

That bearded Lothario is recognisable anywhere.

And still talking the same Eeeeee saveeeeeed uzzz shit - no doubt.

The answer to Groves question is to trust in Stapes/Brent/Hallett.......
Fooked if I care anymore not my train set.

No real answers to why a well supported Club isn't sustainable then?

Can't see how not sustainable in League 1 can be turned round to sustainable in the Championship,because, lets be honest, the new facilities aren't going to make the £2-£3 million extra it'll cost to run the Club in the Championship.


Just hope Ridsdale doesn't fancy another walking holiday in Devon

Grovehill wrote:

No real answers to why a well supported Club isn't sustainable then?

Without access to the clubs accounts how would anyone know?  

Brent in his last full year had claimed we made a small profit.  Hallett says that isn't the case currently.  

Is it this summer that the new revamped yearly 'transparent' accounts come out?  If so...  You should have your answer pretty soon, Grovey?