Have you heard the one about FFP!!!

I said earlier this week that Charlie Methven would feel the urge to explain just what's not going on if we slumped to a third successive defeat. He's obviously struggling about this given previous pronouncements so once again has fed a line to a couple of the usual stooges to start mutterings on social media.

It's being said that Charlie and the myriad of other investors are really frustrated because the rules of FFP is preventing us bringing in any more players. Excuse me, but this is a load of tosh. Plain and simple. It's also why he isn't formally spouting it because he risks being exposed.

In the EFL and in League One, we operate under the 'Salary Cost Management Protocol' and the message they seem to want to perpetuate is that they Directors can't put any more money into player acquisitions or wages etc as we already exceed the 60% Turnover to Salary rule.

They are conveniently forgetting that Directors can put in whatever money they like to boost Turnover as long as it isn't debt (a loan). The main poster claims they are already doing this to cover operating losses. I wonder if this is capital or a loan? Pretty sure I can guess and the interest rates won't be favourable. 

We have brought in (Isted, Edun, Camara, Jones, May and Taylor), but we let a lot more go. I firmly believe we are ahead on budget and may well have used that to fund any fees. Remember, Scott and Rodwell performed the same trick in January. 

What was all that Methven guff two months ago about having the transfer budget ready and all their targets identified? Maybe they are so naive and hopeless that they have only just discovered this and are hamstrung? All those billionaires too!

How do other League One clubs afford it? We are by no means an outlier in terms of Turnover to Salary - Top Six budget and all that....

Nope, just another weak excuse paddled out via social media to try and stop the troops from revolting. One thing is almost cast in my mind, and that is that they won't be committing any further significant sums. 

Ironically, Methven is now trying to perform a trick that many said didn't make any sense - trying to improve the value of the club without gaining promotion. A bit like the Catch 22 that Sandgaard found himself in, without further investment all he can do is cut costs to improve the SCMP ratios but with deadwood like Kirk, Aneke and Jaiyesimi hanging around the squad for another 2 or 3 years, it's looking grim. 

Maybe Steve Sutherland will save the day by helping us massively trade our way into the black? Perhaps this is why Tony Davison hasn't been announced yet as Commercial Director? Waiting to thank Steve for everything he's done to improve our position.

They are going to ride it out and gamble on Leaburn. The other thing they can do, is sell a few players if they can raise enough to make it worthwhile. Selling a fit again Leaburn would be madness but they could argue it helps us over an obstacle. 

Please, don't fall for this nonsense. It's wafer thin - why isn't it front and centre on Charlton News because Methven would have to acknowledge that his backers aren't putting more money in and that this consortium is a house of cards.