Felt it was a pretty unsatisfying interview and a lot of detail was left on the table.
For example - why weren't Hoffman and Joy/SISU getting on - why specifically did they not want to name a price for the club?
At a certain point, it sounded like SISU basically gave Boddy a very fixed budget which on some occasions didn't cover salaries(!) and left them to it - would love to understand more of the specifics there about how that arrangement was done.
When they talked about the Doug King era, Richard was super complementary but again, would love to hear more about that takeover process and what went on from his perspective and the various other bidders who surely he must have been connected with.
Robins talked about a bit, but not in great detail and 0 mention of Adi.
Richard sounds like a lovely guy and I think its clear we all owe him a debt of gratitude and many pints because without folks like him throwing money into the SISU pit who knows how much worse it could have been, just wish there was a bit more detail, a lot of the answers felt pretty monosyllabic and light on detail.
I can't say I would do the same with my own money, but the way he drew a line in the sand in his head I think was very wise - that he'd only spend on tangible things and never player or staff wages. You have to say though, when SISU / Boddy / Robins know there is someone who will do that - doesn't that just allow them to focus the money they do have on things like wages, knowing Richard will foot the bill for other stuff? No clue was scale of money we're talking here...
I think it sounds as if his time and contacts were almost as valuable as his money at times. The logistics of taking players cars to games and such like of which I'm aware from another mate who did similar. Not working and having that time to invest is probably more than most of us in the rat race can manage, even without any money.
In terms of other bidders to King, I don't know if there were any. I think it was as much timing and that Doug was owed a debt by SISU which he used as either a bargaining chip or accepted the club as a payment. Remember there was that extra 15% or so at first.
On the fall out with Joy / Hoffman, I think that was to do with Wasps and /or Higgs/council being involved in the consortium which they denied, but RO all but confirmed to be true.
On the money front whatever he gave was generous and important to keep us going, but I think only small change to him. I see him regularly at away games and knew he was loaded, but didn't realise just how much, until I heard this podcast then Googled him. According to the CET article he sold his business for £208m, so even if his investment amounted to over £1m it's nice, but not going to give him any pain and I reckon most of would if we could.
I think they all got fairly close to him and used Marshy for a lot of what they needed but didn't want to ask. Marshy then overshared with him (and others) but probably wouldn't have been an issue if they hadn't all 'told a few in confidence' who then splashed it on social media and wider. Probably why they had to get rid of him as an example, because the Kitch>Fadz>Overson link probably leaked as much if not more, but easier and cheaper to scapegoat the kit man.
Whatever the history, we're lucky to have him (and others) around, although I don't think we're dissimilar to lots of other lower league clubs (that we were at the time), with dual roles etc and shoestring budgets.
Hopefully we get promoted in the summer and never need to worry about this kind of thing again.
