Matt Hedges

Products Director @TechLabsLondon for @iPropertyCloud ☁️ #Dynamics365 #MicrosoftPowerPlatform #CRM ❤️ Swindon Town FC #RealFootballFan - views all my own

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@SN1Insider I appreciate there is a lot to be said for ‘what value’ given our relative state, and the £8m+ already owed to Clem. But it’s reality, they’ll want £11m+ to recoup their costs. So the question is, after that, will the club be better or worse off after this work?

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@SN1Insider No owner is going to put it in the plan they’ll sell. But no doubt about it, if they ‘invest’ / borrow and loan us another £3m now, their biggest return is selling the club, after increasing its value. This is a long term vote for STFC, not about Clem’s trustworthiness, IMO

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@PnoTuna If you mean the 6-4 turnaround game, I was there! Still one of my all time favourite games. My dad’s always been an optimist ever since, and I often think this might have been the brain damaging game that inflicted that optimism on us for years to come! 😂

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@PnoTuna Really sorry to hear that Mike. I bet like me you probably miss the good old days of Ceefax/Teletext - watching as page 3 of 3 turned to 1 of 4 and wondering who got a goal!! 😆 Sky Sports does a job I guess, but it’s just not the same!

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@PnoTuna Being a fan of Swindon for 40 years Mike, I can certainly attest to finding it hard to be positive these days! 😅 but as in all walks of life, I just hope we can all keep a sense of balance with these things, and not be strayed by extremist or one sided views 🤞

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@PnoTuna Agreed Mike. As I’ve said, I have my own concerns about the ownership, some of the characters involved in the club, and the financials. But I also want to look at this opportunity with all other factors on the table, not blindly on those initial issues, which I fear some will do

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@scuba_thomas Standing up for alternative views is not antagonistic, it’s a right. Telling someone to ‘jog on’ or trying to force them into giving other suggestions, I think clearly is. I don’t have the answers, I didn’t say I did. And I welcome a healthy debate, but not finger pointing.

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@scuba_thomas That’s fair enough. I’d argue again though, that this point is stemming from a number only (of course I realise you have other concerns). If we had no debt, many would vote yes regardless of owner, but it’s the total debt and unwillingness to write it off is alarming for many.

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@scuba_thomas How is using hospitality unbiased? I don’t do it to benefit the owners, I do it because I enjoy the food, friends, watching my team of 40 years & because I’m fortunate enough to be able to afford to. I’ve done hospitality at away grounds too, does that make me their fan too?

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@PnoTuna True, and I have my own concerns about the ownership for sure. I’d just like to see some sensible, rational, discussion on here, rather than name calling and soundbites for an audience.

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@PnoTuna That’s a real possibility at any point I guess with any owner or builder, given we’re a league two club making a regular operating loss, needing to be kept going by loans. But is the answer then that we can’t do anything until we become profitable? If so, it’d never happen.

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@scuba_thomas 2/2 I’d personally just like to see some stadium progress at the CG, and as someone who uses hospitality, I think it will yield more than any other area of development we could go for right now. But if I’m wrong, again, I don’t see anyone showing better options to the club.

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@scuba_thomas 1/2 Antagonism doesn’t win over anyone, it’s childish. I’m up for being convinced either way at the minute as a fan without bias. But you didn’t answer my question either. My point is, many aren’t going to vote no because it’s good or bad, but because of their views on Clem.

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@scuba_thomas Let me ask a different question. If we weren’t in c.£8m+ debt to the owner. Would you support this development? Appreciate even I don’t think the numbers in the plan are realistic, but principally, would you support the approach?

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@scuba_thomas Jog on🤭 No I’m not, just rather bored of people’s negativity without balance. If we focus on facts not insults, I’m up for debate. Is it a great plan, no. Is there a better option, no. Is anyone else going to step in? I think it’s the right thing, it does need scrutiny though.

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@PnoTuna Agreed. It’s not a plan I’d have put my name to either. But at the same time, current owners aside, do I think the development is good for the club/fans. Yes. If it costs 20% more. If it makes 20% less. Don’t we still want to make progress long term once they inevitably move on?

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@scuba_thomas Which is a view you’re entitled to. Just as the business owners that formed the business group I’m sure have their own views. They’re still supporting the development, and I suspect that’s more to do with wanting the club to progress, than worrying about the current constodians.

[Matt Hedges @TechLabsMatt]

@TrevorSTFC @Official_STFC Sounds like if any business fails to achieve its objectives, it should just fold and not try again? Sound business advice it seems 🫣