Ladies/Gents
I've read this thread a few times to get a handle on what people actually want to know, and balance that against what realistically you can be told.
Firstly, anything in this reply is my opinion and I am not speaking for the Board nor do I speak for DFCSS.
The ballot at this time is not about giving people a choice about who should or should not be able to buy shares in the Club. It's about giving the Directors an opportunity to look at any cash injection (in return for shares) that they may be offered.
Dundee FC operates in an extremely challenging business environment and while we have all of the finances in place to complete this season (and believe me not all 1st Division clubs do) we as a Board must look a little further forward than that.
For years the Club has lurched from one crisis to another and at last we have the chance to try to avoid that for at least the medium term.
This is not about handing over control to an unknown body nor is it about some sort of takeover bid. ALL of the possible investors known to us want to work in partnership with Dundee fans of all backgrounds in order that this Club is here in another hundred years.
The Board decided some time ago to try to take into account the views of fans through DFCSS and have done so by so far not accepting investment that has been on the table for quite some time.
We have as a Board tried to find a way to keep everyone happy and attract some extra funding into the Club but there is absolutely no point in nailing that down firmly until we know if the masses are vehemently against any investment from outside. I'd expect an outline of what the investment we are looking for looks like to be released by the start of next week (a few legal hurdles had to be jumped first).
All of the Board and all of the DFCSS Board have a broad idea and outline of where we want to go with that and are unanimously behind it. Not one dissentor.
The DFCSS Board are the democratically voted representatives to look after just such decisions and yet they still wanted to give the general fanbase the opportunity to have their say. They are to be credited for that and I believe their decision to return for a second ballot is of great credit to them, they could have simply said no thanks the decision has been made.
I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised at what the final thing looks like and I certainly believe that it is in the best interests of the Club for a heavy Yes vote to prevail.
On a personal note, I know each of the proposed investors personally and would vouch that they want to help the Club. There is no other reason for their possible involvement. They are not linked to each other in any other way and do not even know each other.
Finally, some of the guesswork on here about the finances are just so way off that at times I'd like to be able to say to stop guessing. I can't do that though but can tell you all that should this winter be severe and we miss say 5 home games on the trot, this Club will still not be in danger.
Please trust in your reps and the Club Board, look at what you are being asked to do and vote accordingly. I want everyone to vote Yes so we can continue our rebuilding process and move on.
I can't answer every query here but please feel free to use my email harry@dundeefc.co.uk if you have any pressing concerns.
Harry