All good things come to an end. Or so they say. AFTN has been around since 1989, first as a fanzine and then making the jump to a website and forum in 2003. We've been through the many ups and down at East Fife in those 12 years but policing the forum has become a giant pain in the ass in recent years. As such, we made the decision not to renew it when it expired.
The forum is no more and will remain as a locked archive until it is eventually deleted by the host. We're looking in to try to save some of the content as an archive.
This is not the end of AFTN though. The site will continue and will be revamped and return in its full glory for the start of the 2016/17 season. Maybe even sooner. There will be a comment sections and possibly even a new, registered forum. Check our Twitter (@aftnwebsite) for all the latest info and we'll also post in on the EFFC memories Facebook page.
Until then, have a last browse here, thanks for all your support over the years, and 'Mon the Fife.
GoF
Now that hahaha's rumour has proved true consider how a takeover can be achieved. As I see it this can only be done if, as was suggested some time ago, Rankine is willing to sell his majority shareholding. Hopefully this is the case as we need shareholders who have the interests of the club at heart and not some absentee owner who is only in for what he can get out of it.
As for Collumbine who said
If they can prove they can take East Fife forward, I would have no objections. I am 72 years old after all but if they can’t prove that then we would view their bid as hostile.
He will do as he is told by the present majority shareholder and will probably resign after the takeover. Three cheers!
East Fife chairman Sid Collumbine has admitted that former director Brian McNeill is involved in moves to buy the club.
Last week, the Methil chief dismissed reports of a “business consortium” making a takeover bid.
However, he has confirmed that McNeill, who was also the club physio, has had a representative making enquiries about taking control of East Fife.
Despite that, Collumbine insists that as yet no firm offer has been tabled and as things stand, it is business as usual as the Fife side gear up for next season.
The chairman said: “Since the end of the season, loads of people have been telling me Brian McNeill and others associated with him are taking over the club.
“He resigned from the club about a month ago and he apparently has a lot of big plans. However, as yet there has been no concrete offer from him or anyone else. We have not seen any money and as far as I am concerned, I am still chairman of East Fife and the board remains in place.
“McNeill has contacted the club through an accountant to do due diligence and he has been told we want to know what his plans are sooner rather than later. However, I believe that he is on his stag do in Magaluf at the moment.
“There has been a lot of talk but few hard facts and we will need to start working to put a squad in place for next season.
“If they can prove they can take East Fife forward, I would have no objections. I am 72 years old after all but if they can’t prove that then we would view their bid as hostile.
“The board of directors at East Fife are very hard-working people and until I know differently, they and myself will be at the club next season.”
As for the courier, they also talk through the same hole covered by the corduroys of Collumbine, The deal is sealed
Collumbine has got a hard neck coming out and saying anything about anything... He has been asked to leave and the quicker he does that the better, He knows nothing about the business side of what is going on and is speculating the majority of the rubbish he is telling reporters.
The only people who have been dragging this on is the current owner(s) as they have been waiting to reap the reward of the end of the financial year, now that is almost upon is the deal has been sealed but won't go through for another week or so.
Love the fact that Sid cries his eyes out at Peterhead and tells everyone he is resigning but now he tells the Courier "Until he tells us his plans I and the board will remain at the club next season".
News flash Mr Collumbine, YOU'RE FIRED!!!!
is this the same guy who last week said there had been no bid for the club? what a disgrace.
How can neil rankin who was at dumbarton then livi but have shares with us, run three clubs in sfl leauges get away with this? Bet if malcolm murray who is the current rangers chairman invest on other clubs expamle hearts, motherwell and rangers he would be rejected so why was mr rankin not? Bet derrick "scumbag" broon is laughing his head off at mr rankin still involved at the club...oh dear but the sooner he's out the better. The other hand that's a class working people so ye canny sack him just like bb so this could take months or days or maybe years to get rid off.
Hope something happens [/quote]
I agree, rankin should of been rejected by former sfa taylor when he stepped in at dumbarton as director when he had shares with us but does only spl teams get assess only in their problems no, it put dunfermline, livi and dundee in adminstration as we have seen but do they do fit to run a club test on these people and check there background history out like our chairman before brown era. Why does a club like east fife have so many people on board shoot the club down like a retirement team incharge of a pub team most seasons, the days when gray was chairman we won the leauge and I attended every game back then, I still share my exprience on from that season we had as a club and it was great. Even in 2003 when we got promoted under moffat and I started 1st year at buckhind was great as I was the ballboy that season through young fifers, was great exprience for me.
At school doing pe I got pelters for supporting east fife as many supported the two big clubs through here even when I do I take it on the chin espically glasgow.
I read about our ambitions on here and I am shock about our youth coming through and the clubs policy nowdays, I dunno if there's much talent now or raith and dunfermline have beaten us to them, I dunno but this to be address and being impress about our ladies system at ef, also my old neighbours daughter is playing with them and I'm glad she is and impressed at how liz and christene coach the girls. The whole thing is got me wanting to coach as I am now 20 and I used to play under robert cargill he's a top bloke, so I cant critize as I didnt make as a footballer for east fife one thing for sure I'm dissapointed at, ohwell I hope to see this takeover be good for the club and us fans and hopefully see a rangers side play east fife at bayview for once.
By hendry ireland
Mon the fife!
Baikie to return as manager next season,mark my words .
I for one don't care what team lee supports. the main thing is he is willing to put money into the club and hopefully improve it. something which I cant say the current board has done. they have always distanced themselves from the fans and all this who owns the club questions have went on for years.
even after the Peterhead game one board member was still telling me columbine had the most shares. what a load of pish. we all know its not true.
so I for one welcome the change and I think it is also obvious that they have kept profit at times ie rangers money. one week it went on cctv the next it got invested the next week we did not have funds to pay players. is this proving a good business brain I think not.
so the sooner this goes through the better imo.
I heard lee murray was involved in this with brian could be wrong . but since you seem to know tell us who is going to form this new board ?
read it on previous takeover thread and from a few people as I said may not be true.
the sooner this is done one way or the other the better. I for one am waiting to buy my season ticket and if this is definitely going to happen would rather give my money to new board not give the old board a bigger leaving present.
Me too, they've seen enough money since they were here and lost connections with fans over lack info and team success on park part from barrs wages last season. I don't blame you kceffc.
Still its a mystery who will play next season?
I agree it would be a good thing if he came on board. we are badly needing a change at the club the people mentioned will know that for this to work east fife will have to compete on the park. not saying winning leagues just having a go and not struggling.
this is all I ask as a fan.
Lee Murray was the name I heard at work today. Don't know what to believe but hopefully it will all be clear soon and we can get ready for start of season.
I also hear that Craig Johnstone supports Rangers, Should we just drop him as well?
With this takeover happening and also there's a president role at the club to fill since we lost jimmy last year. RIP will that be choosen by club or jimmys family? Anyone.
I for one we should ever get a new stand or terracing name it under jimmy drysdale now since he was clubs president of the club.
I only support East Fife. I was only able to attend one game all season, but wouldn't dream of supporting anyone else!
cambuslang Fifer
May 30, 2013 - 9:03PM
He has done a lot in area or community already? Like? Tidying gardens etc
Please say?
since you have moved to cambuslang in 2008 then you might not have read any East Fife Mail's since then but most locals in this area know that Lee has giving up lots of his time and money to help families of cancer victims, raised funds for a young boy suffering from Spina Bifida etc.
i'd suggest your problem with Lee is that he likes rangers and you love the team that plays at "paradise park" as you call it.
You may only have been away from Fife for 5yrs but already you have a west coast ignorance
I think hahaha has done enough now and should really just say no more. You are causing more harm than good. it is probably best that you do not add any more. The situation has become inflamed. I have knowledge of the situation so please now just haud yer wheesht.
I can say that hahaha has no connection with the proposed takeover and is not mates with Lee Murray, just to correct an earlier post.
What is an "east fife only" pub? Black and gold attire only allowed in.
As for community involvement, this weeks east fife mail, lee's company making a four figure donation to east fife ladies
Thanks for answer my question kenwit, thank you? Won't have known that he done that and offered the ladies a donanation. That's very good seems a nice bloke if he's done that and thanks for counting my years in staying in the west, no need to slag me for having a west coast ignorance still support the club which is east fife and have to follow this meaning aftn and checking my club online during the summer on the clubs players etc in keeping in touch with following my side but do go to every game as I can now and have relatives that kin me in methil to go to bayview every home game. I only called celtic park paradise so I don't support them never well end of, what's your point?
Ps I was only being sarcastic about a east fife only pub for us supporters about hahaha saying in his post about would be good for his bussiness. But if your going to be negative to your fellow supporters theres no point in replying to you, nae wonder this site goes downhill with fans arguing among other fans who at the end of the day care about east fife fc only.
I guess you will bottle it lol try saying it to my face in person and I will tell u I support the fife, you prob don't go to fife games and spend time slagging others.
Mon the fife!!!!!!
There is certain elements to these posts that are a matter of fact, but other elements are pure nonsense. Someone has a good source but not a very good one.
There are interested parties in taking over the club and as things stand no formal offer has been made that i`m aware of.
The rest is pure speculation and best left to the club and potential buyer(s) to resolve. There is much work still to be done i believe, but i wish them the best of luck. There intentions seem honest.
There is a glimmer of light at the end of this long dark frustrating tunnel we choose to travel, and if all goes to plan this current charlatan chairman and his dedicated followers will be removed.
Certain current board members at EFFC need to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror and ask are they there for the social pleasure or the best interests of the club. I have my reservations. This club has been poorly run for years and fraudulent activity has taken place of that there is no doubt. There is no place for yes men at East Fife.
These board members have no future at EFFC and should be removed in order that progress can be made and the club attempt to move forward in testing times.
Rankin, Columbine do not give much in consideration to EFFC as a club, purely an investment. Had the Muir Homes development went ahead 2 years ago this would have meant disaster for the club. Nothing but lies.
They deserve very little in respect.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/state-of-the-art-stadium-plans-confirmed-by-east-fife-1.25449
edited e-mail
u r blatantly telling a lie. u have newly arrived on this forum, and u either think we r all thick or u r not the brightest urself
Bully for you.
I can see that this particular thread has gone the way of most other threads on AFTN and that is the core AFTN posters that generally tend to find fault with everything East Fife and all those who differ from their opinion, are now having a go at hahaha because he appears to have one up on them regarding the proposed takeover. I can just see it next year, if it goes through, the posts from the self-same AFTN diehards criticising the board, simply because they are on the outside and have no influence, - their main problem.
To sum up, they look like they may get their dream of a new board, but soon they will turn against it. It has started again with Supporter already, showing that he does not like the knowledge that Hahaha has on the proposed takeover and 'watching' accusing people of telling lies.
Will it ever end?
Yup, if we dont make spl in 5 years the knives will be out.
[
quote=Fifey]Yup, if we dont make spl in 5 years the knives will be out.[/quote]
You lack ambition Bob,Im looking for a spl slot in two years
He also didn't know of this forum until recently, despite it existing for what must be ten years now and it being mentioned in every programme.
Does anyone know when this will be announced yet then??
If the rumours I have heard about some changes are true then we could be challenging for a playoff place at least and maybe giving Rangers a game of it too.
Very exciting times ahead if it goes ahead.
Out with the old and in with the new.
Lets just say we might be bringing back the glory days of old.
Can't say much more on the matter yet but my source doesn't strike me as a liar really.
Don't people deserve to know about the 'changes'
Yes they certainly do you are 100 percent right but I have been sworn to secrecy until the deal is complete and signed incase of the slim chance it falls through. I just don't know what stage the deal is at and was hoping someone on here might know.
Do you have any idea when the deal could be completed? Think we may need to sign some players at some stage
Wouldn't worry about the players anyway we will have a better team than last year mark my word.
That widnae be hard would it.
Hope so
I think it'll be hard to have a weaker side than last season, looks like we are going to give it a go tho.
Christian Nade will be here as he is very good friends with the new manager Willie Aitchison.
I have heard that it is a done deal and that Lee Murray is the new chairman, which is fair enough. I have also heard that David Hamilton will be part of the new regime, that will be a step backwards imo as he is an ignorant dickhead.
Did you hear when they will be announcing it
Its all nonsense.
No truth in any of this evenings posts at all.
Lies and utter fantasy.
I have nothing against Lee Murray and Brian McNeil taking over the club,as long it is for the right of the club ,but if hamilton is back they better watch their backs,how many chairmen has he stabbed in the back,I personally hate the man and I am considering about running buses to future games if he is there.
Nothing but speculation. I'll believe it when it's confirmed. Think people gettin a bit carried away.
So have we now got confirmation that the consortium is as follows:
Brian McNeil, Lee Murray and David Hamilton? Presumably Willie Gray is involved too? After all McNeil's firm sponsored Ballingry last season and Hamilton is the commercial manager of Ballingry
http://www.ballingryroversfc.co.uk/committee.asp
Am I the only one not that impressed with all this? I'm actually fed up with all this hearsay. The names mentioned are all decent enough local businessmen but lets not kid ourselves - they don't have the sort of money that's going to DRAMATICALLY change the club.
It has to come to a stop quickly otherwise its going to totally destabilise preparations for next season. We struggled to get the right players in last pre season and look what happened.
I want to see Billy Brown get a chance to build a team. The fact is he was brought in to keep the club in the league, and he achieved that albeit by the skin of our teeth. However his passion cant be doubted and he will be desperate to get one over his old pal Jim Jefferies at Dunfermline.
Its time now for this consortium to come out the closet and speak. I say:
PUT UP OR SHUT UP
I'm refusing to post anymore as someone is pretending to be me, So congratulations on fucking it up for yourself.
The rest will just have to unfold in due course.