After the latest League defeat, Peterborough United Chairman hints at putting the club up for sale if promotion isn`t achieved by the end of next season!
After an excellent performance against Premiership West Bromwich Albion in front of over 10,000 fans at the ABAX Stadium and over 5 million TV viewers, Posh came down to earth with a massive bump with a four-nil stuffing by Bradford City on Saturday.
As usual, after any defeat come the Twitter trolls and the negative comments on social media which at times really gets to Posh Chairman Darragh MacAnthony. Everyone are entitled to their own opinion although some people do go a bit too far and after the embarrassing performance by the Posh players which the players also agreed with, it seems the latest outburst aimed at MacAnthony may have finally been the last straw.
MacAnthony believes the policy the club has is a good one and firmly believes in what they are doing. Despite what some people say about certain people at the club taking out as much as they can, MacAnthony has certainly put his money where his mouth is. The club is much better run although it is in debt to the Chairman to the tune of around £6 million.
However, MacAnthony has now put a time-limit on gaining promotion by sticking with the policy he adopted 10-years ago when he took over Posh. If Posh don`t achieve promotion by the end of the 2016/2017 season, then he will look for a buyer of the club who have different views and policies who can take the club in a different direction!
In a series of tweets, MacAnthony said:
we take the plaudits for everything that was good about our team/club on wed night.So we shall take deserved criticism for yesterdays.
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
We hit a brick wall in many ways. No excuse but it happened. Apologies for that & now on us to get the credit/plaudits back quickly.
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
Yesterday has brought out usual critics on club policy & way we do things under me etc. No probs with opinions/part of the game etc.
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
But I’m happy to put money/mouth is & back policy/what we do by stating honestly/categorically that should Posh not win promotion –
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
inside the next 18 months (which i have no doubt we will) then ill stop my policy & find another owner with a different policy/approach.
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
No owner should be satisfied with averageness & should always strive for promotion/success. Its what drives me/my policy.
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
My Policy isn’t about personal financial gain, its about allowing a small club do outstanding things in an entertaining manner whilst –
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
Being financially responsible on behalf of the fans/staff/players of the organisation.
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
So there it is, we are on the clock. 18 months, promotion & hopefully buy stadium back for the club or time for diff owners/policy/approach.
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
Btw this isn’t a pity party. I believe all owners should fall on sword if success isn’t delivered. Footballs about winning/succeeding.
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
It`s hard to argue that during MacAnthony`s time at Posh that we, as supporters, have seen arguably the most entertaining football for many a year and have seen three promotions, two relegations and a Johnstone`s Paint Trophy win at Wembley Stadium.
We`ve seen some very talented players at the club during that time who have gone on to higher league clubs with many players playing in the Championship and Premier League with a few even playing for their country. So it`s hard to disagree with at least part of the policy Posh have but it`s frustrating that we can`t keep hold of the players to give ourselves a better chance of promotion and establishing ourselves in the Championship.
Then there is the realisation that we need to balance the books and that is where the need to sell players comes from but by doing that, it also sets Posh back as they attempt to gain promotion as the people coming in to replace those who have gone, need time to gel with the rest of the squad and start to achieve the potential we see in the players brought in but that all takes time. Some of the players brought in during the latest window are obviously for the future while some are for now but indications so far is that a few of the new players currently challenging for a starting place in the Posh team aren`t ready and will take a couple of seasons to get up to the standard needed!
The next 18-months will be interesting though as Posh have a very good squad and after the latest sale of a player, it was suggested that there was no need to sell another player for a similar amount of time! Does that mean we will hang on to all the players that are attracting so much attention? If we can, then there is a good chance that Posh could achieve that aim of promotion.
We`ve said we wouldn`t stand in a players way if a bid was received that matched the clubs valuation, but are we too quick to sell players because of what happened when we turned down a bid from Celtic for Lee Tomlin?
Could we fend off any potential bids that come our way in the summer and the January transfer window, keep our players happy and really go for that promotion? If we`re financially stable following the Washington transfer then why not try and keep our squad together?
However, if Posh do fail to win promotion in the next 18-months and MacAnthony sells up, it won`t be the last we`ve seen of him as he is determined to stay involved in football as he responded to a question on twitter:
I will stay in football. Love it too much not to be involved. Anyhow we will I’m very confident win pro in that time https://t.co/dy0d7dWeun
? Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) February 14, 2016
Personally, we believe it`ll be a sad day if MacAnthony leaves Posh and if he does sell up, we need to hope he finds someone just as good, open and honest with the fans (but has a much bigger bank balance that he wants to spend at Posh). 😉
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