Switzerland worked out rather well for Saints. Poor chap passed away since though.

@ The Doctor:

I'm involved with PAST&DT as a member of the Advisory Committee, but I'm not a Trustee and had no part in this decision.

You'll forgive me, as I'm not normally shy of making comments on key issues like this, but I'm going Switzerland on this one.

Given today's Herald reports, this comment seems more significant now.

Once upon a time, I'd have liked to have claimed foresight and/or inside knowledge in this type of situation. But not any more.

I really don't want to know about what the carpet-baggers are up to.

Seriously.

The use of the Switzerland image was primarily to do with neutrality, with a subtle reference to secretive financial practices.

Woodward and Bernstein I ain't.

You're "Deep Throat" and I claim my £5.00.

And by a 3 letter poster

So what, exactly, have DRJ and/or Mr A done wrong BAS?

Cmon guys, the trust has a skilled accountant in Paul Stapleton onboard!

When has he ever let us down???

So let's get this straight.

A charity with a very specific published mission loans virtually all its cash to a commercial business recently described in public by a leading councillor as a "basket case", with little prospect of ever getting its money back.

One of the charity's trustees is also a shareholder in the failing business.

Interesting, to say the least.

As usual, summed up very succinctly.

Is this worth passing on to, say, Private Eye, for example?

Apparently, the PST money is behind Lombard and in front of Mastpoint in the pecking order IF everything should go tits up.

Is it possible that If/When PAFC enters administration that the youth trust could receive part/all of stadium? Could the charity then sell it on or develop a 'youth team' and call it, say Plymouth Argyle?

VERY unlikely. There are 3 or 4 charges against the stadium that are ahead of this loan in the pecking order. If (when?) administration happens, the T&DT will be lucky to get much back at all.

Remember that ahead of us in the queue of mortgage charges is Siroy, Chairman responsible for the mess we're in. If he gets his money out before the trust ,it's even more of a disgrace

BUT, if PAST&DT was funded through general donations (money boxes in pubs was mentioned?) then it would be a disgrace if that money (for a charity) has been used in this way.

I don't know where all the money the PAST&DT came from, maybe the club put some money into it. But I know several people who donated either one off sums or via direct debit. If I remember right, Mark Colling helped set those up, and is a poster on here. I don't for one moment suggest he's involved in this decision, but he may have a better insight. I haven't noticed him post in this thread yet.

Personally I have donated a few hundred quid over the years. I may even have a direct debit still open on it.

Note that PAST&DT may not have had £300k in donations - it's possible the property was bought many years ago and much of that sum has accrued with house price rises.

I haven't posted on here because I hadn't seen the thread until a few minutes ago and I'm still struggling to believe that it's not a wind up.

To answer your question, though, lots of Argyle fans donated money to help with paying the mortgage that bought the hostel for the benefit of the youth footballers and for an assortment of other things to make living away from home more bearable.

The football club made a significant contribution to to pay then running costs as you can see from the accounts.

I resigned as a Trustee in 2006 when impending fatherhood meant I couldn't commit the necessary time. Almost immediately, the club pulled the plug on the hostel and in 2008 it was sold leaving the Trustees with the unenviable position of doing the right thing with the money (primarily in terms of the Trust's objectives but also with an eye on the Argyle link that brought in the donations in the first place).

To be honest, I am very glad not to have been involved over the last few years and this latest turn of events more than surprises me - I have absolutely no inside knowledge on it (and how the decision was reached) but hope the Trustees have been well advised.

BUT, if PAST&DT was funded through general donations (money boxes in pubs was mentioned?) then it would be a disgrace if that money (for a charity) has been used in this way.

I don't know where all the money the PAST&DT came from, maybe the club put some money into it. But I know several people who donated either one off sums or via direct debit. If I remember right, Mark Colling helped set those up, and is a poster on here. I don't for one moment suggest he's involved in this decision, but he may have a better insight. I haven't noticed him post in this thread yet.

Personally I have donated a few hundred quid over the years. I may even have a direct debit still open on it.

Note that PAST&DT may not have had £300k in donations - it's possible the property was bought many years ago and much of that sum has accrued with house price rises.

I haven't posted on here because I hadn't seen the thread until a few minutes ago and I'm still struggling to believe that it's not a wind up.

To answer your question, though, lots of Argyle fans donated money to help with paying the mortgage that bought the hostel for the benefit of the youth footballers and for an assortment of other things to make living away from home more bearable.

The football club made a significant contribution to to pay then running costs as you can see from the accounts.

I resigned as a Trustee in 2006 when impending fatherhood meant I couldn't commit the necessary time. Almost immediately, the club pulled the plug on the hostel and in 2008 it was sold leaving the Trustees with the unenviable position of doing the right thing with the money (primarily in terms of the Trust's objectives but also with an eye on the Argyle link that brought in the donations in the first place).

To be honest, I am very glad not to have been involved over the last few years and this latest turn of events more than surprises me - I have absolutely no inside knowledge on it (and how the decision was reached) but hope the Trustees have been well advised.[/quote]

Indeed, do they not have a duty of care under the Trustees Act 2000? I would hate to have been a Trustee in this circumstance, must involve some very difficult issues.

Can someone clarify who and how the PAST&DT are/were funded?

I understand they sold the hotel, but that hotel must have been paid for before that happened. Were these funds from the Trustees or from donations made by the public/fans?

If 100% of the funds controlled were through private donations and those members voted, then I guess the rest of us have no valid comment on what they do with the money.

BUT, if PAST&DT was funded through general donations (money boxes in pubs was mentioned?) then it would be a disgrace if that money (for a charity) has been used in this way.

This all just highlights the fears I have with the new TRUST. What will happen with the money they raise? The new trust lacked a clear mission statement which concerned me, yet here PAST&DT seems to have a clear mission, yet is able to use its money on something outside of that regardless!!

......

The beauty of this arrangement was that fans could contribute financially to the "club" supposedly safe in the knowledge that their donation would be used to support the development of our players within our youth scheme and that it could not be used for general purposes at the whim of the club; for instance if you hated McCauley and did not trust him then you could put money into the "club" that he could not be used in some other way other than that intended by the donor.

Says it all really, bailing out Directors wasn't its purpose, paying an administrator would have been more preferable and in the better interest of the club. Absolute disgrace.

And what about Ken Jones? He is still an Associate director of the club - whatever that means

Babs, didn't the youth trust get charitable status only because it stated it would help develop youth football in the whole area of Devon and Cornwall, not just for Argyle?

If that's true, taking a punt with all that cash on Argyle's (apparently) uncertain future would run against that, even if you overlooked due diligence for a moment.

I've come into this late, i'm very surprised but i'm at work so can't do a 12 pager. I'm sorry therefore if this quick question has already been covered.

I have a standing order for the (original) trust, I set it up because PASOTI required it for membership at the time AND I wished to help youth development. Now I don't have PASOTI membership and the trust does not support youth development i'm questioning the need, especially in light of this news.

As I personally believe it's time to stop giving the NWO our money, time to starve them out and start again........

.......is my standing order helping to prop up the failed regime?.