[Interested Bystander]

As some of the directors will read this forum, there are two pertinent subjects which they have chosen not to comment on (I don’t think I’ve seen Hilton make any attempt to clarify either) but will need to consider:

1) Hilton’s declaration on the owners’ and directors’ test. Hilton has spoken about his conviction being spent but that is not the issue here. The issue is, how many of his current and former names did he declare? If he declared all of them, fine. If he didn’t, why not and how will that be interpreted by the FA and what will be the likely punishment?

As it has been confirmed that the FA are investigating, any breach of its rules and subsequent punishment will be made public.

2) The Athletic reported: “In a case that started at Nottingham Crown Court in late 2014, Anderson was also disqualified from being a company director for five years after pleading guilty to 15 charges.”

Yet we know that Hilton became a director of eight businesses during Anderson’s reported disqualification period. Again, if the disqualification period as reported by The Athletic is correct, what are the likely sanctions?

[Interested Bystander]

Riverman wrote:

lesgeo wrote:

Surely, every director must have a better overview than any poster on here can possibly have.
If the position were beyond repair and you were a director – would you not ALL have already jumped ship if something were radically wrong?
Are we to believe that they are all too stoopid not to have given a thorough examination to any and all of DH’s plans? Surely too, they must inevitably have added their own two penn’orth to the rescue project.
With Mr Waters as the only one to have departed – apparently at DH’s behest – I am encouraged.

On a different tack, one thought had crossed my mind was that DH certainly seemed to have the money to have bought the ground last January. Professional people with reputations to protect confirmed the fact.
After claiming to have spent a seven figure sum in the last nine months – which sounds realistic – and with new debts seemingly appearing with great regularity, it has crossed my mind, though, that he might just be a tad stretched at the moment.

Overall, the statement is encouraging.
Me clasping at straws again? – Hopefully, something a bit more substantial.

Keith Waters who is involved with the PGA Golf as a Director was the only one ot the Directors who had any experience regarding the running of professional sporting operations, that tells its own story.

Certainly the most experienced and wealthiest of the recent appointments. Tangible wealth with a traceable career.

[Interested Bystander]

Cliff Byrne’s Right Peg wrote:

64 wrote:

He told a mate of mine that Smitho knows who he is and he won’t be allowed into GP

He tried insinuating it again about club bans and then performed a world record backstroke when he realised what he was implying.

I’ve just had a look at tonight’s version of University Challenge Meets The Jeremy Kyle Show over on Twitter.

Bravo, Matt Ellis.

[Interested Bystander]

Has the penny started to drop at Chez Sherbert?

web upload image[/url]

[Interested Bystander]

MK Iron wrote:

Especially as we had such a fine credit rating and a happy band of suppliers back in January when we had never heard of David Hilton.

Oh hang on a minute – didn’t we have a raft of unpaid suppliers and an imminent winding up order from HMRC. Oh and were we not already under a transfer embargo from the National League. Not to mention Sharp and Elliot having to pay December’s wage bill. Were we not also bottom of the league and hadn’t owned our ground for 2 years.

Hilton has certainly not solved all off the clubs problems and probably hasn’t got enough spare loose change in his pocket to do so. But neither did he create them. If only we’d had an interested bystander with a personal grudge against Peter Swann pitch up a couple of years ago.

Assuming that you’re not the type of person to rush into a debate without having the facts to hand, can you confirm for the good contributors of this forum:

1) With the exception of this latest batch of CCJs which have been registered against Scunthorpe United Football Club Ltd, how many CCJs have been registered against the company in the past 6 years?

2) What is the current credit rating for Scunthorpe United Football Club Ltd and what was it prior to this batch of CCJs being registered?

As for WUPs, it’s currently 1-1. However, Hilton’s already indicated that HMRC are in the process of applying for one, so for the hard of thinking, that will make two.

[Interested Bystander]

Siderite wrote:

In all my life I have heard fewer ridiculous excuses than he was anxious about bad stuff coming out, so he shouldn’t be able to pay those he owes.

Also, the HMRC debt is said to be equivalent or more than when he took over. If he paid 80% of debts off, how is this happening? We have former staff and players not paid, endless CCJs from after he took over and a bill to the taxman. Just what is his money he says he has ploughed in being spent on, besides current player wages?

If you accept what Hilton has said (easier for some than others) about his reasons for non-payment of creditors, what does he hope to achieve? The club’s credit rating has been smashed to smithereens, any goodwill from existing suppliers will have been eroded and all future business involving existing and new suppliers will generally now be dealt with on a proforma basis. No 30-days, no 60-days, no 90-days, and this will create a much bigger cashflow problem than the one he is currently experiencing.

The National League also has an unusual arrangement with HMRC where they receive information relating to clubs’ PAYE, NI and VAT submissions and payments, so they will be aware of the situation and this will be dealt with by means of a transfer embargo if it is not addressed.

From a credit rating and cashflow perspective, he’s just blown his knee off.

2 users thanked author for this post.

IronIronIron, Siderite

[Interested Bystander]

Siderite wrote:

IB, I say this kindly. You have unearthed some important stuff, but this isn’t one of them. To see this, you must have been trawling through Ilkeston’s likes, as the ability to see who has liked an individual tweet has gone. For the sake of your own mental health, don’t get so involved and obsessed.

Not the case, Siderite. On my PC, I agree with you. However on my phone, the function to see who has liked a post is still active.

Thank you for your concern though, appreciated.

[Interested Bystander]

64 wrote:

Seek help, This is just getting odd

My physical and mental health are checked regularly, all perks of the job.

Of course if you were in any way qualified to be offering such advice you would have recognised that many of your own posts lead the reader to speculate as to what the issue is.

Seeing as I’m not the uncharitable type, I will leave it there but I’m sure you will be familiar with the saying, people in glass houses.

[Interested Bystander]

Siderite wrote:

Another statement via Herbert on the SUFC page. It’s beyond ridiculous now. How much credulity do people have for these endless finger wags at others? Latest board resignation is because it’s yet another disingenuous individual against poor Dave. It’s ludicrous.

Just tell Sherbert and Hilton that the minimum amounted owed, where a creditor can petition for a Winding Up Order is £750.00!

[Interested Bystander]

IPM specialise in security, door personnel and stewards for arenas and sports stadiums.

[Interested Bystander]

That should read Richard Smales, please amend.

[Interested Bystander]

Interested Bystander wrote:

Awaywego wrote:

The biggest thing he’s brought in is the feel good factor, and yet people want to crucify him, Simon and Ian who lied to us when they told us they had bought the club when in reality they hadn’t photo included, are held in such high regard wtf comes to mind.

The feel good factor comes with a cost attached and as things stand it is clearly unsustainable as the club is unable to settle its liabilities as and when they become due. That’s not open for debate, it’s a fact.

Essentially you’re applauding a fantasist who has built a house on sand. You keep clapping but keep a safe distance.

So much for Hilton’s sustainable financial model!

[Interested Bystander]

Awaywego wrote:

The biggest thing he’s brought in is the feel good factor, and yet people want to crucify him, Simon and Ian who lied to us when they told us they had bought the club when in reality they hadn’t photo included, are held in such high regard wtf comes to mind.

The feel good factor comes with a cost attached and as things stand it is clearly unsustainable as the club is unable to settle its liabilities as and when they become due. That’s not open for debate, it’s a fact.

Essentially you’re applauding a fantasist who has built a house on sand. You keep clapping but keep a safe distance.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Siderite

[Interested Bystander]

Pele wrote:

Via his right hand man Herbert
This was our last convo

DH

I don’t have any other convictions. But the situation is simple now mate. I’ve put the club up for sale but nobody wants it. The consortium never had the money last time and still don’t. They are not interested and I’ve offered it at a considerable financial loss to myself for the good of the club. That means that if I step away the club dies. If I don’t pay money to lawyers to continue submitting docs against Swann he gets us out in a week. I didn’t give the stadium away, yet I seem to be blamed now for that to.
If I don’t pay HMRC there will be a winding up petition put out next week.

If I don’t pay players they will leave and an embargo would stop any coming in.

If I don’t pay the bills the club will get 60 CCJs and winding up petitions in a month.

You see, people want to judge me on what I did 12 years ago. They want to judge me on things that I’ve not done rather than everything I am going Press and media want to say the FA should have more stringent checks. What have I done wrong, why does nobody mention that I saved a club in Ilkeston days from death, spent fortunes and saved a community club that is now thriving, or that I got 600 kids integrated there and paid £1m for a 4g pitch so they are altogether. What about the works and donations to less fortunate and charitable organisations, what about all the money I have put in to Scunthorpe for no reward, the 70 hours a week I’ve put in and not worked my day job, what about the fact that since I came in nobody has helped me, the council promised Quibell park for training but then change their mind because of American football (priorities right) or Ian sharp the saviour actively suing the club for 150k what about the fact the council made me spend thousands on securing land in town for a stadium with the promise of assistance to last week tell me they have no money to contribute. What about the really big businesses up there that are not interested, I’ve done everything up there on my own with the only help being the true supporters coming through the turnstiles and small and medium sized businesses supporting us. Nobody else gives a shit.

I’ve had Taft come out playing the victim but what people don’t know is that he refused to play the final 5 games, he signed for another club with a signing on fee but told them to withheld the registration so he could con another 6k from
Us and people wonder why I’m not paying him. Why has he not gone to the PFA. What about Richard Smales who sold sponsorship and hospitality packages at a loss to the club to fund his own pocket via commission, then when he’s sacked plays the victim and now wants £6k from the club after practically stealing from us.

When you consider what I’ve gone through and the attacks on me for bringing Jimmy in, then the academy then training out of town then the dossier then they want to highlight all the things I’ve not done with no mention of all the things I have it’s a disgrace. I’m not playing the victim but for a certain mob to think I owe apologies because I denied prison and denied my past in February which I was legally entitled to do is bollocks. I owe nobody up there a dam thing.
People can continue, they can continue to bring up my daughter and her home she works Dam hard to provide for herself and is proud, they can ridicule me for my failings, for my past and for the things I get wrong. But know this mate, them cowardly life destroying journalists and especially those trolls up there that hide behind fake accounts will never achieve what I have, I’ve said before, my life has broken
Pieces and it’s littered with mistakes but it also has an almighty comeback and regardless of the real dark place I’m in right now I’m a better man for the path I took. This has affected not just me and the club but also my family, friends and businesses. I’m to ashamed to leave my house and I never deserved that.
People will now see what happens when I don’t pay the bills. The ones missed have either slipped through the net or are in negotiation or quite simply won’t be paid for reasons I’ve mentioned. But they are a drop in the ocean compared to everything I have paid and sorted and now i need to decide if I stop paying and let the people who say it was for the good of the community to practically murder me publicly pat themselves on their own back for potentially killing a football club.
Please thank everyone who supports me and I promise if I continue moving forward it is solely for them. I’m one of them and always have been.

Finally Jason, why do you think I’m all for giving second chances, you’ll see the same people get blamed in DRE that were previously banned. Any mis directed fart is their fault, just because they made a past mistake or two. Judgement of others is rife. The funniest thing is when they say that if I’d been honest about things in February they would of been more supportive, would they fuck they would have lynched me and the club would have been dead already. Apologise I fucking won’t.

This stuff is pretty car crash stuff and as luck would have it these two donuts infront can’t even concentrate on keeping a car on the M1 while I’m trying to save my football club

One word, troubled and more so than I had originally thought.

There was clearly some thing absent from his formative years which has resulted in a grown man, with 6 kids, so desperate to seek praise and adulation from others. I just do not get it.

Likewise, if we play along with the theme of a successful businessperson, I don’t know a single successful person who is interested in noise. Successful people have a plan and they implement it. Not only is he getting caught up in the noise, he’s the one creating it. I call it fodder, fodder for the likes of Facebook and Jeremy Kyle. His narrative and he’s the one creating the distraction.

[Interested Bystander]

Jasper Parrot wrote:

Interested Bystander is not, as popularly believed, Will Swann. He is older than Will I believe but well connected to Peter Swann (the “interested” part of the “bystander”.

Interested Bystander wrote:

3) Glanford Park – How does the club regain ownership of the stadium? For me, Peter Swann owes you one. Swann and his advisors have dropped a massive one here, he knows it and I feel it’s only right that he takes a haircut, for the right people. The local council need to play a part, whether through the direct purchase of the stadium or to provide a mortgage facility for the club to purchase it, but none of this will happen with Hilton in situ. The Iron Trust, the local council, some of the existing board members and other local business people need to meet and get this deal done.

This post is true albeit with a slight pro-Swann bias. It’s silent on the promises made when Swann acquired the land, and
Swann would need to take a haircut anyway (land value, current market conditions). There’s a not-demolished stadium sitting on the land, question marks over whether permission would be granted, and expected higher-than-average construction costs. Swann has more than just altruism pushing him to sell the land to SUFC in whatever guise.

Swann will want to minimise his haircut. He doesn’t want a bald patch to show.

Swann won’t be altruistic, but if Interested Bystander is right (and he usually is, given his access to the horse’s mouth), Swann may be realistic.

I wonder about the offer made by Simon Elliott and others before Hilton got the nod. If that’s still on the table, times have changed….

If I knew or had access to Peter Swann or any individual connected to him, do you really think he would have entertained Hilton after I had finished? Perhaps he is the type of person to ignore advice, but you’ve made the mistake in thinking that I’m the type of person to hang about where my advice is ignored.

As for me usually being right, that’s thanks to a long career and a nose for these things, not because of any horse’s mouth.

[Interested Bystander]

A phoenix club is not the way to go, you already have your identity. As I see it, there are essential three considerations.

1) Hilton’s future – What does the future hold for him? It could now be the very possibility that it’s no longer his decision to make. Putting to one side ongoing investigations, where do the newly appointed board of directors sit on this? You can guarantee that a lot of this has come as a surprise to them, do they still want to be part of it and if they do, with Hilton in situ or not? Their silence would suggest to me that they have been well and truly caught in the headlights.

2) Immediate cashflow issues – What are they and how much is required to see the season out? I suspect those working in the club, even the directors, have little grasp of the club’s current financial position.

3) Glanford Park – How does the club regain ownership of the stadium? For me, Peter Swann owes you one. Swann and his advisors have dropped a massive one here, he knows it and I feel it’s only right that he takes a haircut, for the right people. The local council need to play a part, whether through the direct purchase of the stadium or to provide a mortgage facility for the club to purchase it, but none of this will happen with Hilton in situ. The Iron Trust, the local council, some of the existing board members and other local business people need to meet and get this deal done.

The silence from the club, board of directors, local media, Iron Trust, Football Association and the National League is deafening.

6 users thanked author for this post.

TheJuryeffsOut, another fed up fan, , W4rdie, Cliff Byrne's Right Peg, Siderite

[Interested Bystander]

Interested Bystander wrote:

Hilton’s dig at Matt Slater and The Athletic was a poor move in my opinion. Knowing how journalists work, Matt’s article yesterday will represent 10%-20% of what is known. Don’t be surprised if more is released in the coming weeks.

On the Price of Football Podcast which was released this morning, Kieran Maguire confirms the same.

1 user thanked author for this post.

SODIron

[Interested Bystander]

SST wrote:

Please change your tone.

I find it hard to believe that any true Scunthorpe fan is revelling in recent events.

It may transpire that you have been right all along, but this is not the time for gloating and posts like this are giving our forum a bad name.

SST,

Like you, I’m not a fan of gloating. There is absolutely no need for it especially given club’s precarious position.

Before joining this forum, I spent a number of days looking at the various platforms and listening to some of the podcasts available to understand which site was going to be a good fit for me. With the exception of a handful of contributors who were only interested in pulling me to pieces as opposed to actually debating and challenging what information I was releasing, I think this forum and the majority of its contributors are a credit to you. The information that has been released on this site has been proven to be correct, time and time again. If any individual takes comfort in criticising this platform, it’s either because they see it as a threat or they simply lack the intelligence to process and evaluate information.

There are no prizes in life for being an ill-informed cheerleader, but there are for being right.

As unpalatable as some of the subjects are, you’re on the right side of the fence and in good company.

5 users thanked author for this post.

North Lincolnshire Irons, TheJuryeffsOut, , Riverman, Siderite

[Interested Bystander]

lesgeo wrote:

The sole issue here is the survival of our beloved Iron.
If the chairman has a chance to achieve this – assuming he still wants to make the effort – I do not see how we can fail to support him.
“But Les, what if it’s only a 20% chance?” – I’d snap his hands off!

For me to feel differently, I’d need to know that Elliott/Sharpe (or others ???) have the wherewithal to save the club.
Phoenix club? – If even possible – that could take a great deal more years than I and many other folks on this board have left to us.

Fail to support him? You have no idea about Hilton or his financial position. Likewise, you have absolutely no idea regarding the current financial position of the club. Public records and social media posts by third parties indicate that things are far from healthy.

With all due respect, you’re gambling on an individual just because he’s insitu, there is no other credible reason for your support.

3 users thanked author for this post.

IronIronIron, Ferrite,

[Interested Bystander]

Hilton’s dig at Matt Slater and The Athletic was a poor move in my opinion. Knowing how journalists work, Matt’s article yesterday will represent 10%-20% of what is known. Don’t be surprised if more is released in the coming weeks.

[Interested Bystander]

There is one point that all of you have overlooked, including Hilton.

From The Athletic:

“In a case that started at Nottingham Crown Court in late 2014, Anderson was also disqualified from being a company director for five years after pleading guilty to 15 charges.”

Yet Hilton became a director in the following businesses:

Reality Management Ltd – appointed 21/11/17
Advent Corporation Ltd – appointed 21/11/17
Centrepoint Marketing Ltd – appointed 21/11/17
Stratton Enterprises Ltd – appointed 21/11/17
Maxwell Cohen Ltd – appointed 28/06/18
Maxwell Cohen Estates Ltd – appointed 18/06/19
Acquisition And Property Management Ltd – appointed 18/06/19
DH Management And Holdings Ltd – appointed – 24/09/19

As you can see, the 5 year disqualification period for David Anderson as reported by The Athletic and the directorships held by David Hilton during the disqualification period don’t reconcile.

1 user thanked author for this post.

let_me_in

[Interested Bystander]

Hilton only has himself to blame. His decisions and his conduct.

1) Hilton fails to acknowledge or explain the reasons behind the use of the name Dave Mellors, David White, David Anderson and David Hilton. His sister also uses the surname Mellors instead of her birth name.

2) Hilton fails to acknowledge or explain the reason why David Anderson was banned as a company director for 5 years.

3) Mortgage fraud – Hilton refers to a mortgage broker, I’m surprised he didn’t see fit to name the broker!

4) Hilton speaks about the economic crash (2007/08 time) and losing everything yet he fails to mention what happened to him in 2001.

5) Hilton has failed to mention what was (possibly still is) his biggest problem when it comes to risk/reward.

6) There was no mention of the business rates reduction companies and his involvement. He’s previously said that he was an employee, working as a debt collector. Given recent events, I have a feeling this is likely to blow up.

7) After being released from prison, he talks about being successful and making money, in which specific business?

8) Hilton failed to mention the secured loans provided by Stoneygate 2007 Ltd and Westfoot Investments Ltd in 2018 and 2019.

9) Hilton refers to the directors’ and owners’ test, the point made by The Athletic was whether or not he disclosed his other names. Again, a point he failed to comment on.

I’m no counsellor but being a fantasist and pretending to be something you’re not is in no way conducive to good mental wellbeing. Telling the truth, treating people with respect, not having to look over your shoulder and being comfortable with your lot will prove a good starting point.

Hilton’s f*****, he knows it and he only has himself to blame.

1 user thanked author for this post.

ScunnyDai

[Interested Bystander]

I was out on my early morning run this morning and my ‘works’ phone was going berserk. I had to pause just to check that a major incident hadn’t been declared.

Now that some of this is out in the open, some serious questions should be asked of Peter Swann, his advisors and the Football Association.

[Interested Bystander]

If you believe Hilton has the financial clout to get the deal done, it should all be plain sailing.

As I see it, unless someone drops three big ones in Hilton’s lap or the newly appointed directors chuck £300K-£400K a piece in the pot (which isn’t going to happen), the elephant in the room remains.

I see Simon Elliott has taken to social media to back his man. Perhaps Simon could start the ball rolling and be the first to donate £300K-£400K to help fund the purchase of GP.

[Interested Bystander]

There’s potentially another storm brewing here between other member clubs and the National League. If you’re only paying 7p a week in rent and not paying some suppliers, it wouldn’t be to hard to argue that you’re benefitting from an unfair advantage over other clubs in the division. News of the 7p per week rental payment will have been the last thing Hilton wanted getting out in the public domain.

[Interested Bystander]

If I was the mean-spirited sort and lacking in empathy, I think this is the point where I am meant to ask if you’re OK, Hun?

This subject is clearly bothering you. Backing a loser can’t be nice. You will already be at the stage where you’re questioning your own judgement and unable to decide what is fact and what is fiction. Try not to dwell on it too much.

If you and others want to accept Hilton’s version of events (as reported by SST) concerning the missing invoices and how the CCJs have come about that’s up to you. As I have highlighted in my earlier post, the processes involved in reality contradict what SST has been told. As I suggested to SST, please feel free to speak with a credit controller or management accountant who will confirm the same to you.

I’m going nowhere. For the record, there is only one person and one person only who creates and controls the flow of news, you would do well to remember that.

2 users thanked author for this post.

IronIronIron, TheJuryeffsOut

[Interested Bystander]

Iron-awe wrote:

That’s another grumble off the IB list then, I’m sure he’ll be coming up with something else. They had a section on Burnsys show on Humberside called ” praise or grumble ” as far as DH is concerned it’s always a grumble from IB.

Not a beef of mine, squire.

[Interested Bystander]

With the exception of Lee Turnbull, all appointments now confirmed at Companies House.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Just Iron, ironfromafar

[Interested Bystander]

Siderite wrote:

Just Iron wrote:

Deereyme66 wrote:

Agree with those points Westyorksiron. I’m more interested in engaging with posts like that in the future that raise sensible points rather than these stupid witch hunts regarding particular posters and attempting to find out posters real names and quietening doubters

We’ve had the ‘burning torches’ and now it’s ‘witch hunts’ by folks who aren’t ‘sensible,’ Deerey. Just recently you professed to be ‘confused’ as to whether I believe in free speech. I know … from you and other posters..that there are some bad ‘uns on Twitter and Facebook. But, at the risk of triggering outrage, you are coming across a bit ‘puritanical’ at present. A good few on here ..NI, IA , Ironfromafar and others..have accepted concerns but find the relentless negativity of a few posters clearly with an agenda tiresome to the pint of nauseating.
Have another look at my reply to Westyorks. Is my first point about DH and dealing with emerging debt invalid?
Is my concluding point about possible scenarios without DH not worthy of consideration?
Let’s not berate others for doing what any of us ..including you .. can slip into.

I can understand the curiosity about those who have taken an interest in the club; I am interested myself. I can understand how this can be tiring. However, some of the questioning of IB has been a bit like a ‘witch hunt’ and I don’t think it is vital. Ultimately, the person with a position of power is Hilton, not IB. I am not saying people have no right to question IB, and I suspect DM isn’t either, but people are allowed to disagree with what they see as a misguided effort. I see no free speech issue here.

The increased spotlight on me coincides with the news of the CCJs. They are not interested in me. Their sole interest is to ensure their judgement is not cast into further doubt.

As you have correctly pointed out, there is only one individual who has ignored payment requests from creditors which has resulted in these CCJs being granted and it is not me. On a related subject, did you see the thread over on Facebook featuring the parent of one of the young lads who has not been paid? Shameful.

There was no Peter Swann, IE or IB to blame when Jewsons Ltd and Rushcliffe Borough Council served their winding up petitions!

[Interested Bystander]

samways1 wrote:

IB – It sounds like the club are doing the best to repair the damage. 80% of their way through clearing 600 debts is good going all things considered.

80% of 600 debts means nothing.

The reality of the situation is that suppliers to the club are having to resort to legal action in an attempt to get paid for goods/services provided.

[Author]

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