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Don't mind me saying but those are stupid names for your grandchildren.

Thought I'd share an experience. While in Majorca last Monday evening I met our former manager Dean Holden and had a little chat. I have to say that he was brilliant and a very nice fella. He'd obviously been relaxing with a few but spent time to talk and pose for a photo, though my wife didn't put the flash on. He was there with a mate, his brother and father who was not present at the time. We spoke about his time here and I thanked him for his hard work and efforts with the team. He stated that he was stitched up here, so I asked if M A was behind that, don't think he understood initially then it clicked what I'd meant by M A, oh yes, definitely came the response. We also spoke while in the loo, as he was blocking my exit, I said this is where all the big knobs hang out which seemed to tickle him, not literally. Then one of his party (not Dean Holden) told me that he has an interview for the Blackpool job this coming Monday. The next morning I read online that he was under consideration for this job, I thought I was going to get an exclusive and maybe have a few bob on him. After that nice chance meeting, I had the displeasure of going to Palma airport the following evening with my direct family which included my three young Grandsons, 8, 6 and two. Our flight at 12,30pm was cancelled and we were effectively abandoned in Majorca with no flights back to Bristol until Friday, bastards. Eventually got one back last night to East Mildlands with Jet 2, brilliant company. After two extra nights accommodation, and all the rest of the expenses that go with it, like £300 minibus fare back to Bristol, we arrived home at 5am today.

Anyone getting that Summer of '14 vibe?

No-one expects the OTIB inquisition. Our weapon is fear and surprise. Our 2 weapons are fear, surprise and Mr Popodopolous Among our many weapons are fear, surprise, Mr Popodopolous, Davefevs ............

Delighted with this! I have to say, the early indications of this transfer window are extremely exciting. But also, the long-term impact this could have on our progress as a club. We actually look to be signing for the future, and not just the present (something we have been guilty of in the past). Well done to Nige, Gould and the recruitment team so far.

Love it. Great for us to take a chance on a highly rated youngster from a local club, rather than see them going elsewhere and succeeding. Good luck, Kane.

The Post think we've got him: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-kane-wilson-signing-7183504

I agree it's a shame. A few years ago I remember the Secret Footballer talking up a teenager at his final club who he felt had the potential to go to the absolute top of the game. There's a general consensus based on the evidence that it was Dave Kitson talking about Callum O'Dowda. It's really hard to justify us keeping him and, beyond the injuries, he has to look at himself as to why he's not delivered on all his potential. But it is a massive shame for both us and for him that he's not become the player everyone wants him to be. It's impossible to wish him well given he has gone to Cardiff. But he now has an opportunity to prove the doubters (and maybe himself) wrong and finally kick on. It's down to him to take it.

These are the sort of players people use to beat the club down if we don't sign them and they go on to better things. This is the best round peg in a round hole signing we could have made this summer IMO.

Got a reminder, just renewed, simply brilliant value certainly the best fiver I spend every year! Payment Details paid by Stripe Just now Order Review 1 x Renew: OTIB Supporter

An egg ?

... and a fanatical devotion to amortisation.

This forum is about individual opinions which we are all entitled to post and the general consensus is that CoD failed to impress sufficiently - regardless of what position he played. I wouldn’t call those views ‘nonsense’.

The great thing is that people will click on this topic seeing it’s “hot” and then realise we’re all talking about a dead cat that used to frequent Tesco. Only on OTIB…

Save it's never done.... The Administrators will submit initial public accounts to CH either for the wound up entity or for the restructured entity. Thereafter it'll revert to the companies to file annual returns (what might possibly go wrong there with EFL's powerful sanctions particularly if, as previous, they choose not to use them for favoured members?) That's wholly different from the EFL who require all annual accounts for FFP/ P&S assessment. Supposedly they've had these (at the umpteenth request and having missed multiple deadlines,) but unlike all other clubs who may independently verify their peers accounts, fellow members have only the EFL board's take on how compliant they thought their returns were or whether Derby's accounts were non-impaired. Now suppose Derby come out of administration, repay all secured & football related debt, have paid or have plans to pay non-secured creditors, there's still the thorny matter of HMRC. In theory the owed £36m must be paid in full though there's a suggestion, due to political pressure, HMRC might be persuaded to settle for less. For every £ not repaid HMRC every other member club may rightfully claim that's an unfair advantage Derby have extracted from a supposed level playing field. Derby's peers will demonstrate they've had to pay tax owing, in many cases borrowing monies at commercial rates of interest so to do. Should the EFL not allow them all FFP/PS leeway in an equivalent amount to balance things up, and if doing so drive the final death nail into that preposterous control? And say a restructured Derby decides to take the 3 year plan for repayment of unsecured debt, will the EFL ensure through the distribution of their funds that such payments are met, or will they trust Derby to ensure payments are made, for which the have awful recent track record? Letting Derby off the hook time and again serves only to create future problems. EFL need to stand up and demonstrate why it is they exist. For sure they want to protect member clubs, but not at all cost. Derby have drunk the last chance saloon dry. Time to throw them out the door.

Appreciate what you say but honest folks understand why AML compliance exists and why the additional diligence and paperwork it generates is necessary. I'm pretty sure those who have been killed, robbed, defrauded, enslaved or had their lives ruined by drugs or sexual exploitation won't find them annoying. Nor the young, old, sick, vulnerable or needy from whom many such monies have been deprived. I once had access to a secure office which upon one large wall displayed mug shots of 'persons of interest'. They were in groups which one might easily have concluded were arranged by ethnicity, not the Producers, Transporters, Recruiters, Importers, Smugglers, Henchmen, Accountants & Bankers they were. My point? At the end of the wall there was also a selection of images of their victims. Staff new to their roles were directed to look at those images first, not avert their eyes to the horror. A stark and constant reminder of why such offices exist. As you say it shouldn't be difficult for CK to comply and if it is, well, that does tell its own story.......

This made me snicker

When he signed from Oxford, he seemed to be an out and out left winger, bombing forward, beating full backs. Johnson then tried to be clever, sticking him out on the right wing. Then whenever he had to cut inside on his left, more often than not lost it or got crowded out. I am not saying he didn't have his faults, but Callum strikes me as confidence player and if he was put in his proper position early on I think he could have flourished. Good luck Callum, you don't deserve some of the nonsense written on this thread.

There’s now a blue plaque by the trolleys where she used to sleep

A nice story, and I am pleased you found Dean Holden as nice as he came across when he was here. Incidentally, I don't know your wife, but I am glad she didn't flash for Dean.

Yes….if Mr P is working to similar estimates as me. My estimate is about £3m gap…but is based on no player sales and a bit of re-contracting / extending (smoothing amortisation over longer period). It includes the likes of O’Dowda not having his option exercised for example. Edit: once a few more deals are known, I’ll do a refresh of my estimates.

That is a minuscule part of the government budget, although one that must break your heart as it's stopping Putin takeover a country that do not want him. The £1.3bn in military aid has been given. By comparison, the government was scammed out of £11.8bn in business support loans during Covid - because it was too stupid and lazy to write watertight rules and proper oversight into the process - and this money has just been written off.

Not sure how we would sign players to be back ups that would only be needed if 2 players got injured, that are better than our youngsters and that wouldn’t be a waste of a wage. Next season isn’t a push for the play offs, it’s a building job so need to give Conway and the likes some chance and not make them 6th choice

My experience is that AML/Client ID is never a problem. 1. The UK lawyers would have to have under taken the checks into ID and source of funds whilst taking on a client, ie not now. 2. Any banks involved in a large commercial transaction would be involved at the beginning, and again carry out their checks before opening any UK accounts for receipt of funds, ie not now. 3. Any solicitor's client account opened would be subject to the same checks when being opened, ie not now. I can understand concerns about $20 million being wired from an obscure offshore bank, but that points more to the stupidity of those undertaking the transfer, which in itself would concern me,

I don't wish injury on any player

Thanks, very informed, informative and intelligently put as usual. I admit I am deeply irritated (and sometimes amused) by many on the Derby forum as a result of the regular special pleading, conspiracy thinking and so on. More so since most of them don't seem to have ever read the EFL regulations or even understand what the EFL actually is. We are fortunate on here to have people who are steeped in the regs and/or have considerable financial expertise. I don't see that on the Derby forum but you are welcome here because you are clearly both knowledgeable and rational. We don't always have to agree to recognise that. I understand how you are feeling so I hope for your sake at least that it is all sorted to your satisfaction soon. Take care.

Don’t know what you mean. It is OUR traditional kit when we fielded a team of great quality and we were promoted. Too few of us seniors around who have lived thro a great deal of City’s history. In my case, counting departed family members, we supported City before we became City. What is genuine tradition for some is novel to others I love this kit. Memories of Milton charging down the wing and crossing to Atyeo provided some of my best moments supporting City as a child.

Unbelievable bunch aren’t they?

On another note, if this isn’t his signing video we sack the social media team:

And bring squad wages down massively… so whoever replaces Pearson will have some serious spending power when we start 23/24 in the Prem. It’d be just my luck that’d be the return of Lee Johnson.

Wasn’t there a few grumbles when Nige said we’d have to be dealing in the free transfer market this summer as there was little money to spend. We seem to be doing alright out of it it would seem.

I’ve long had a feeling we’ll do a lot better next season than the odds envisage, and in fact I started a thread in Feb time that stated I thought we’d go up in 22/23. I genuinely, 100%, believe that. There is no standout championship team. We’ve got a manager who knows what he’s doing, a plan, and players coveted by other clubs. Remember without the late goals last year how high we’d have been. And then think that was without Semenyo for half a season and Williams not fully fit. This signing fills our most glaring gap. I’m not saying it’s the final piece, but if you could give me a side of… Bentley Wilson-Atkinson-Klose-Naismith-DaSilva Williams-James (Rinhomota)-Scott Weimann-Martin-Semenyo It’d be up there. And that’s on the assumption of losing HNM and Kalas. One further midfielder and another striker and I think we’re there. But at the current odds, I’m definitely tempted to pile in

I’d give anything for that.

The Away shirt modelled by Wilson tomorrow then

Really nice guy, but if he takes over at Blackpool that would be at least one relegation place filled for next season.

James Piercy pointed that out last month & I must admit I thought he must be wrong, but checked & he was spot on. It is quite incredible that he never even started half of our league games in any of the 6 seasons that he was with us. Pearson uses the word efficient a lot, this is an obvious example of where a signing really did not contribute as much as we expect. Sadly he doesn’t stand out in this regard because there were far, far worse examples of this.

I mean...everyone tries to 'get around' AML checks. They are annoying, and can at times be tricky to satisfy. Everyone tries to provide the absolute bare minimum of information necessary to sate the enforcers. It's not about 'avoiding' the checks, it's about doing the bare minimum. Same as with taxes - no one pays more than they reasonably need to, but likewise you make sure you don't break the law. You're right, Nixon has chosen his words carelessly. That said, I've never seen a client or prospective purchaser 'fail' the checks three times. Generally people either comply on the first attempt or they disappear. I suspect this is the receiving bank querying items, and CK/CK's sending bank cannot answer them. Likely source of wealth questions aren't being answered. Basically "how come you are so rich?" has to be answered with "by perfectly legal and explainable means which are X, Y, and Z". If it cannot be answered like that...well then there's a suspicion that you've got dodgy funds and banks, who have incredibly rigid matrixes and rules on this, won't take your money into their system.

On the Kane Wilson thread, I spoke about how Bristol World, and the Watford Observer were quoting each other over their "If Rob Edwards was interested in signing old FGR players" pieces. There is of course a necessity for sites to generate their own click bait nowadays (look at the Bristol live "Latest Transfer gossip" or "Live" pages). The headlines of any site nowadays say nothing of the true message (ie F##k all going on). But you have to click onto them to be told that nothing is happening. It's all a bit painful at the moment. That's why the Naismith transfer was so refreshing. No "Gossip", ITK's posting nonsense etc. All very old school, done before anyone really knew anything about it ( other than @Lew-T of course)

Truly the perfect move. Takes a step down whilst lumbering Cardiff with his wages for 3 years. Couldn’t think of a better destination for him. COD isn’t 1% of the player Whittingham was.

I can’t remember him challenging anyone! He never seemed to do anything and as winger we rarely saw him take on a full back or create havoc with his ball skills. He was anonymous in too many games. He’s no great loss imo

From the @Davefevs equivalent ? on the Cardiff forum I was interested to read he's never in his career ever started more than 20 games in a season "The most league games he's started in a season is just 20 (2014/15 in League Two for Oxford and 2018/19 in the Championship for Bristol)." The record laid out isn't pretty:

1. Voted best player in League 2 iirc, a great prospect. We are likely to have a lot of competition for him so it could be a bit of a coup in fact. 2. Players do step up, like Ollie Watkins for example. 3. No fee involved of course so low risk and 4. If Nigel thinks he can step up that's enough for me.

Bottom yellow shirt one of my favourites. Likes a yellow away shirt

The old dead cat strategy to divert away from Wes Brown. Nice try

This is actually a Yate “Legends” side playing against Man U “Legends”. For Man U, it’s not really Beckham, Giggs, Robson etc. Tends to be Wes Brown as the biggest name with Russell Beardsmore and the like getting minutes. For Yate legends, I’m expecting Richard Thompson, Nick Peare, that guy who cycles round with 4 full carrier bags on his handlebars, Molly the Tesco cat, JK Rowling and Tyrone Mings. Over 1000 sold already

If he does as much for Cardiff as he did for us I think we’d still be left with no regrets about letting him go. That really says it all I think. I’ve always thought there was a player in there, still might be but I just don’t care, it wasn’t going to happen here and that’s been clear for years.

Tomlin was at this stage with ALL his clubs !

Am I the only who's feeling mildly sad at this, he came to us with an exciting air around him, and has shown sparks of excellence. However, through injuries and positional problems, he's never reached close to the potential I've longed for him to acheive. By all means the right choice for us to let him go, but leaves me with a 'what could have been' feeling.

It was complete mismanagement thatgot us in this position!