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Why did Bet Butler release a statement distancing themselves from Worldlink?
Compliments are flying in from Cityboyz, Bunglebob! I have never stated that Worldlink gave up the Premier League teams. We all know that they did not get the funding in to pay for these opportunities and we can debate the issue of poor management and/or unreliable investors. Betbutler stepped up to the plate and took these deals over at considerable cost, I believe. Other smaller deals have been completed which are probably not worth communicating to we shareholders but clearly demonstrate that there is still an association between Betbutler and Worldlink. Check out the Sunderland RCA website which was a deal announced some time ago. Also Wearside League website. As I say not major deals however demonstrate alive and kicking!
i dont think that rings true. Don't forget Newcastle have just removed powered by Worldlink off their website and the Ryman League which is all non league (and a deal that was announced by Wordllink) still say that there is no relationship with Worldlink. There don't appear to be any non league clubs mentioning Worldlink and frankly even if they did what value is that? - so sacrifice Premier League teams like Sunderland, Newcastle and Fulham for a few non league club logos. Where's the value in that? - sorry not being negative just fact. Think Bunglebob is talking porkies.
Yes, fingers crossed.. Although, it does beg the question as to why Bet Butler released a statement claiming to no longer being involved with Worldlink technically or financially... Could you post a link for one of the non league clubs please? Would be worth a look.
If you are referring to 'lets see what the next wek or so brings' I am aware of the pledge that Betbutler have made to the Football League about having their own specific club betting sites and these products are already up and running within several non league football leagues within the North East under the banner of Betbutler powered by Worldlink. Also Betbutler have supposedly informed the Football League that they will have this service available by end of the month? Betbutler and Worldlink are in touch so I can only surmise positive news. Fingers crossed.
Can you share what you know about this "big" announcement that is just around the corner please?
I hope I did not give the impression your opinion isn't welcome, it certainly is from my point of view. It is different from mine sure and I have learned to take anything stated by certain individuals at WGP with a grain of salt. Marked suspicion if I am honest which is a shame as you would think an inside contact would normally be accurate. My situation is simply that I have been involved in WGP a long time and in that time, WGP have communicated numerous near certainties, funding rounds, big events, big achievements etc. In many cases, they have far surpassed the potential excitement of current promises (e.g. that organisations like Blackberry etc were liable for the patent, some would pay £8million plus, big settlements to happen via Quest in 2009). If you can still access them, I recommend you look at the Press Releases from WGP since 2007. Just read them in date order. These are authored by Neil Riches in most cases. Keep a tally of how many of those Press Releases happened and how many didn't. Judge for yourself. In my estimation, the people making statements in here from non-Worldlink contacts have proven to be far more accurate than those in touch with Worldlink direct. I would say I did not trust Cityboyz initial comments but he has proven to be accurate. Southerndude is also a poster with a record running back to near 2000 with Neil Riches and Worldlink and whilst being largely negative on them (and who can blame them), recently posted more positive comments because that is what he was hearing. He is not biaised, simply wants to represent the situation as accurately as he (or I) see it. That does not mean we are correct but I am long since past the point of being regarded as a fool for believing in Worldlink in 2008 and 2009 whilst defending the opportunity and potential.
I know you want to stay optimistic - just like the trail of creditors owed millions, discarded at whim when WL fold companies. They probably held out hope they would see a return on their investment. But all WL can do is moan that investors have let them down, if the product was that good then there would be investors lining up but clearly there are not - Why? Will any investor want their money to be swallowed up by debt and management fees rather than go into developing a business. As for the football deals, well the current season is now all but half over, and it was Betbutler themselves apparently stated they had no links "financial or technical" to Worldlink http://calvinayre.com/2012/10/19/business/bet-butler-not-owned-by-worldlink/ That leaves the patent but apparently they lost the case to City Index and another set of costs awarded against them. So how can that be encouraging news to any investor. I also hope things turn out well but you have to look at the facts. And where are the Accounts ???
I own and run a business and have done for over 25 years now. There are many elements but 2 are vital I have found, and that is profit and cash flow. Without either of those your days are numbered whatever spin you put on it. The big deal round the corner might attract some vulnerable investors, but there are not a whole lot of them left now. Did this company ever cover its' costs? Strange that, the toilet seat handle never really took off. I think it was the screws sticking out of the seat that put people off!
Good for you Sir. I agree with a lot of what you have said there. It's the fact that they haven't yet pulled the plug that gives me a little continued faith.
It seems that some peole just wish to dominate the forum and not allow anyone else to volice an opinion. Fully understand people are bitter over recent and past experiences however all I am stating is that if everything was as stated by inktomi and cityboyz then surely Worldlink would have folded by now and Betbutler would have cut the ropes with them. From my sources, Worldlink and Betbutler are still joined at the hip and hence why Worldlink clients are still corporate guests at each of the premiership clubs grounds. My source also confirm that Worldlink won the deals initially on the basis of their Community involvement and to make the betting sites specific to the Clubs. The current Betbutler links from each of the Premiership Clubs sites takes you to a bog standard (even sub standard) betting site whereas the Worldlink product would link specifically to their clubs own betting site. Enough said. The composition of the Worldlink team being small is of no relevance. My team is bigger than your team springs to mind. They have been let down by potential investors as much as their own inability to manage this situation. I agree Neil Riches needs to come clean with a position statement so we can all move on. As for SP being the engine room, agree in some ways however when the going got tough he baled out fast and sought to save his own reputation by attacking others and communicating bad news to everyone he could in the quickest possible time which exascerbated the whole situation. I know as Clubs have informed people of such directly. Never mind, he has had nice pay out if you believe what you read. We will have to wait and see what materilaises ion the next weeek or so? Hope I am partially right and we at least get our money back.
Is the handle selling well? ; )
Some of the information in your last paragraph is key, and that has been true for almost a decade now. How the value ever got over a few thousand pounds for the patent is beyond me. A guy I knew once sent a picture of a handle you screw to a toilet seat to a patent valuation company, and they came back to him saying the potential value of the marketplace for this was millions. It cost him £500 for them to say that, and it did take them 30 pages of charts and waffle. I would have done it for £50 in 2 pages. Maybe the way they provided the information was unique, but that is like patenting one way of making a hamburger. So what else do they,or have they ever had? Charisma?
The Football side of the company is not really my area of knowledge as I am more connected on the patent side but I understand that Worldlink simply bid the highest amount during the periodic sponsorship merry-go-round. That's it, nothing more. I am told that the entire criteria for winning a football sponsorship rights deal is how much per year you are willing to pay. No other criteria provided to meet the minimum levels of due diligence. No special thoughts about their platform, just a willingness to endorse anything the sponsor wants to say if they pay the fee. Worldlink promised the most and being a "Plc", the Clubs had no reason to believe they would not fulfil their commitments. In my personal opinion, the assumption that a Plc can definitely afford it is bordering on negligent. In addition, Stephen Pearson was clearly the engine room and not Worldlink. I believe he has an independent relationship with the Clubs and Bet Butler. I am also told that Bet Butler need nothing from Worldlink going forward. Neil Riches is definitely not a mover and shaker in the world of Football. If Worldlink have indeed become a poisoned chalice for Football deals, I would not expect Bet Butler to go anywhere near them again. I also have it on good authority that Bet Butler have successfully and fully discharged their obligations to the Football League already notwithstanding the need to pay on future milestone dates as is normal. The "good authority" is a legal firm that also represents a financial organisation in London. Guess who that is? Technologically, now it has become apparently that the patent is valueless and impossible to enforce (on merit or on financial viability), Bet Butler can get a mobile product from anyone or develop it themselves. Virtually all the other market players appear to have long established and elegant applications. Worldlink do not and still only have 2-3 full-time staff.
I have to agree with Cityboyz again on this Breakdance. Even if he has been hurt by Worldlink, the facts are the facts. I too have been badly hurt by Worldlink after the shambolic 2008 Arc round which was less than honest in my opinion. This is approaching my 5th year of repeated announcements, promises and failures. Literally nothing that has been announced has been a success including big name deals like Telegraph, Express Group, Worldspreads, Ladbrokes (few years back), Interactive Data Corporation (who own Esignal yet no patent licenses for Quotrek), Quest, Strategic Allies etc. Always a fresh group of people willing to believe new promises and claim others live in the past. Must be 4-5 rounds of new people claiming this already.
I get the impression that you have been hurt pretty badly by Worldlink......? Don't get me wrong, I am not defending them as I also have my own personal issues, but you seem to instantly shoot down anyone with anything remotely positive and tend to thrive and highlight all bad...
What planet did you land from saying such nonsense (planet Worldlink??) - BUT for benefit of other genuine investors the only reason the clubs welcomed Worldlink was no doubt they assured them as a PLC they would honour the contracts, little did the clubs know that WL never had the money it said it had in the first place, nothing to do with investors pulling out, there were no investors and there was no money.. Why would Betbutler want to work with a company that has not bothered defended its patents and valued them at £1, traded insolvently with high profile football chairmen, left a trail of creditors and lost total credibility with the world of sport. Yes i can see why Betbutler would definitely want to be partnered with this outfit. There are plenty of mobile companies doing what Worldlink claim they can do in the market and here is just one of them www,bet2go.com -
been a shareholder, albeit not a lot of investment, for a considerable time. I still have faith in the Worldlink betting product. It must have been viewed well by three Premiership Clubs and the Football League to have got where it did prior to investors pulling the plug. All is not dead and Betbutler NEED Worldlink if they are to deliver their promise to the Football League. Betbutler are the major players in that they have invested a vast amount of monies however Worldlink is the engine room of the deals . Surely if both work together then we will benefit?
I don't think that this is new news though is it... The only reason it took so long is because the NUFC IT boy had forgot to remove it. We all knew these deals had gone to the pooper a while back.
HS ADVFN Worldlink "logo now removed from Newcastle United website". So from massive self PR, advertising at 3 Premier League clubs, Ryman League, Club Websites etc etc the ONLY place that Worldlink now have anything left is a tiny logo on the website of Ramsgate Football Club. They think it's all over....It surely must be now !!
i'll third it or is it turd it???
i`ll 2nd that, it would be nice to know either way
From anybody???? Mr Riches, please feel free to update us.
they sure did get a look in - a massive look in that they didn't even have the money to pay for LOL
tho didnt they cityboyz