So goes Sinatra's most famous song My Way.
It is apt for this Barrovian Academy scheme as it seems likely that the
Camden Judge will issue their ruling today 31st July 2009.
Note the very similar arguments and the dubious connections she makes with other 'cash injections' just like she did in Barrow
Even JR has alleged that the County is being blackmailed by the DCSF. Here are some more communities whose elected politicians seem incapable of telling the civil servants in London where to get off.
Here is a random collection of letters and charts that I have accumulated.
If the following were really true then ask yourself whose fault it is?
This is an article from a 'built asset' agency which is in English a highly paid consultancy making it's living from providing advice on all manner of construction and use of buildings to clients.
This is an 'expert' article which shows that this government is hell bent on forcing through schemes that 'it's people' think are the dogs doodah's and the people who are to have them foisted upon don't yet realise how lucky they are to have this 'investment' being spent in their neighbourhoods.
Naturally this is only happening in areas of deprivation because every politician wants to be seen to 'aid the poor'. Barrow is very deprived by all accounts so we will get these massive benefits come what may.
The Learning Village on Parkview will become reality and once built the concept will roll out across Cumbria.
Just
have a read of these minutes and you can see for yourself this nanny
evangelical cabal of the DCSF, County civil servants and their tame
county councillors will deliver the vision and drop another few million
into Kier Construction plc's profit pot whilst bagging a huge wad for
themselves from the sale of the smaller and widely dispersed children's
and adults services sites that will be rendered surplus.
They
will do so in the full glare of an apathetic Barrovian public who will
moan and groan and then allow it to happen because "You can't stop
'them' so we have to move forwards just like we are told to by our
betters".
Updated 30-07-09
You shouldn't have.
As is the norm for this government it is intent on using a sledgehammer to crack a nut as this article clearly shows.
If it is will to go to these lengths to 'exert control' over you and your children imagine what they are doing by passing control of your children's education over to a private company built on the evangelising nutter's ethos, visions and dreams.
The good thing is this article has links to all manner of home education web sites and I have included them below the article.
Proof beyond any doubt that Diplomas dumb down education and this is what the Academy is designed to serve up to 'deprived' Barrovian children and the people behind the 'Education Brief' know this. What a result!
For another group of parents who are 'wasting their time' fighting this mad government.
Yet another 'lunatic fringe' aspect to the governments obsession with the educational, religious evangelicals!
What does Moira, Anne, Dave, Neil, Doug or even Mr Vernon Coaker or any of the staff with jobs at FA Limited have to say about this?
I was about to write a post about the silence of the pro's and how unacceptable this state of affairs really is.
However a parent on the Evening Mail comments board puts it so well so here it is...
I have had a dig around to find out a bit more about these people and how they ply their trade and surprise surprise there are real religious evangelicals amongst them!
As you will know religion is usually used in areas of 'deprivation' to give the 'poor' something to cling to in hard times. Well obviously Barrow is seen by the government and the County Council as being very deprived as they have brought in the religious evangelicals to spread succour all over the town and take 1800 of our poor children under their 'benevolent' wing.
And saving the best to last we see that this summers early end of term was planned a long time ago by these evangelical educationalists and civil servants.
Just think back to when the 'powers that be', Moira Swann, told you and me about it and you can begin to understand that we are not really being told anything.
If anyone on the symposium, on the County Council, or in the FEC would care to enlighten a parent of a very worried 12 year old as to why they are doing this to him or why they think it is acceptable behaviour in a first world 21st century democratic country then please drop me an e-mail at blog@furnessacademy.com
Thank god this section is only one and a half pages long. It is as full of lies dreams, visions and bull as all the other sections.
I make no apologies for the amount of red writing because the depth of the doodah in this section is such it warrants a plain English explanation of almost every sentence.
Hallelujah brothers and sisters. This deciphering of evangelical speak offers more insight into the curriculum the weak children of Barrow have to follow to become outstanding citizen workers in the brave new world.
Well after an immense amount of time I have received a reply to three separate e-mails bound up in one response.
It shows how detached central government is from 'the street people' and shows very clearly that the only four things that will sway this government are sex scandals, being 'found out', proof of corruption or criminal activity
Contacting them seems to be a pointless exercise. If Britain is a true democracy then I'm the king of Siam. After the MP free for all (oh sorry about getting found out screwing the taxpayer out of a few grand. It was a mistake by one of my people. I'll pay it back now the taxpayers know have got wind of it")
I think we must live in one of the most corrupt nations on the planet
The Academy's curriculum will be structured around the three Learning Zones:
• Zone A: Science and Technology (Maths/Science/Technology)
• Zone B: Creative and Performance (Arts/Sport/ICT)
• Zone C: Community, Culture and Communications (English/MfL/Humanities)
Another insight into what goes on...
It just gets worse and worse...
Who Are Experimenting With YOUR Children's Chances Of Getting An Education.
This company cannot stop badgering people into taking the free bits of uniform they have bought. Many parents for their own reasons, mainly blind ignorance it has to be said, have gone to the Identity Limited 'outlet store' in the Borough Council owned Nan Tait centre, not sure what deal they have struck there but cannot be coincidence that its close to Identity Limited's premises nor can it be coincidence that the 'main supporter' of the Furness Learning Village mentioned in the EOL document has an office in the Nan Tait centre, and taken their Identity Limited 'Alms' in the form of a few bits of a uniform for a school that does not exist.
As mad as that sounds that is the reality.
I wonder why!
Well it's this Academy you see. It's the not knowing what is going to happen to him in September. He is in purgatory not on holiday and he is not alone.
There are professional adults who pride themselves in their education and professionalism and they are letting my son and his peers down big time. There are elected Councillors who pride themselves in their ability to get elected who are letting my son and his peers down big time.
May I remind you people that this is Britain a 21st Century first world western democracy that has been 'civilised' for an awful long time that is allowing such incompetence to rule the day and it's not good enough.
Sorry for the lack of posting. My laptop's motherboard died and the man from Dell has now replaced it.
I've noticed this comment on the Ask Dougie post and it seems as though even Doug was sold a completely different scheme than the one Moira is now peddling.
It's now clear that OSANFS were right all along when they said that the central ward children would have to go to Walney school should the Academy come into being. What else could they be right about?
The weeks go by so fast...
When we last left the sage he was about to take coffee with some of his leaders whilst the others drank in the ante room. We return just as the coffee is finished..
Continuing the story of the Sage & His Leaders
The fourth subject leader entered the room. They glanced at their
colleagues who were all sat opposite the sage looking very pensive. The
artist walked to the sages throne and delivered their
list.
Here is the first part of a short story about a sage and his subject leaders.
Got a letter from Moira this morning.
Staggers me to be perfectly honest.
Have a read for your self and then ask the questions in the comments and I'll email them to Moira for you.
Mr Blackledge is a busy man that is about the only truth I have been able to uncover. He has generously made time for 36 people to drop in and have a word with him.
He has also made his e-mail address at Furness College available.
Even with these two concessions there is limited opportunity to meet with him try to sort the wheat from the chaff.
So I am giving those of you who are so minded an opportunity to ask your questions in the comments. Once they are all here I will cut and paste them into an e-mail to Doug to see if he can respond.
I've tried asking him in public to send me an article putting the record straight but that has fell on deaf ears so perhaps a direct approach will bear fruit.
When a department like the OFT is moved to act there isn't just smoke, there is fire.
Have a read through this from the Times no less back in May 2008 and ask yourself if you can see any similarities with contracts that are being won across Cumbria. I have yet to find any hard evidence that there is anything like this going on here but as in Nottingham until someone on the inside blows the whistle none of it comes to light.
However there is total lack of transparency and no small measure of very real secrecy in public/private deals in this town and county... one begins to wonder.
If anyone does fancy a bit of whistle blowing then the OFT is able to reward you to the tune of £100K which is like seven years wages to me!
Come in very handy. But I am only one pair of eyes. That's why I am telling every other reader about the OFT's reward and exactly what it is they are looking for.
I don't mind genuine competition.
No not from Identity Limited, don't be daft.
From Asda of all places.
Working on the curriculum!
I kid you not. This Academy that the sponsors and their principal tell us is 'on track' really isn't.
Well to me it looks like yet another scam but then again I'm cynical and growing more cynical by the day as I dig into the bowels of the way this country, this county, this town goes about it's business.
I'll let you decide but for me they are all charities to take FULL advantage of tax laws that 'normal schools' cannot. I stand to be corrected on this so if you know different please share.
It also shows why the Academies plans are so keen to show 'community' use and involvement. Without then they cannot be charities. Doesn't make it right though that professionals lie on the Expression of Interest document in fact it makes the lies all the more despicable!!
I've known for some time that the Cumbrian Academies Programme is unique without ever really understanding why it should be unique.
This article from the Guardian sheds some light on a possible reason why Moria Swann the Corporate Director of Childrens Services is taking so much 'heat' over the problems with the programme in her attempts to drive it through come what may.
Political dinosaurs carrying on with 'business as usual'.
The birth rate is going up.
There is irrefutable proof of this all over the press and good old Gordon's government is having to throw £200M of public money into local councils who DIDN'T PLAN PROPERLY to try and solve the problem with 'temporary classrooms' whilst new provision is sought through the Primary school rebuilding programme!
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said
"Local authorities should not have been caught short by a rise in the
birthrate and insisted that overall there were places to spare. "Some
did not plan for the rise in birthrates, despite having four years to
provide extra places. But we accept others face rises in demand through
local circumstances."
I've now got another exclusive. This time it's the uniform for the employees of Furness Academy Limited to wear and will be available from the usual location, the Nan Tait Centre of course from August 31st.
Wearing of the uniform is I understand compulsory at all times.
A Furness Academy Limited company spokesperson said:
"It's a durable and inexpensive black tee shirt which is a special colour black, 'jet black' which is exclusively produced for us by a local company.
The staff that took part in the selection process favoured suits but we as a company wanted a radical 21st century shift away from the 20th century so along with our preferred partner in the staff uniform charade we ignored their choice and went with ours instead.
It is important that our employees connect with our teenage customers and dressing in a similar fashion to they do when they are out of their uniforms will make that 'connection'.
There are a wide range of inspirational sayings available and staff will get five free of their choice for this year only in a fantastic deal for the local economy.
They can wear them with anything as long as it's jet black."
Simple post that involves you answering one question with one word.
use doug as the name
and anon@anon.com for anonymity
answer for or against in the comments for this question.
Do you support Furness Academy Limited?
I've already commented as you can see.
I am going to ask some open questions to the
pro Academy camp and I sincerely hope they can take this opportunity to put some truth in
the public domain. This blog has had over 850 unique visitors. This means that
it has served over 17000 page views with a total of over 7000 visits to
this site since it's inception including my own when I check
comments and look for spelling mistakes!
If you would rather I turn the comments off before you respond then just ask. I will publish verbatim and will not be annotating in red or any other colour. I just want truthful unambiguous answers. Thanks.
Seen as how Doug promised my Year 7 and his peers some news on the curriculum would appear on the Furness Academy Limited web site and it has never appeared here is my best guess as to what the current Year 6's may be doing in September if Furness Academy Limited get their way.
It is well known that Cumbria County Council, civil servants and elected Councillors dismissed the signatures of 6000 Barrovians in the blink of an eye as they pressed ahead with the Academy scheme.
The stage managed PR campaign courtesy of MC2 and the Evening Mail is laughable but nevertheless its working.
However one person keeps letting the side down.
An open letter to Doug, Anne, Dave, The FEC, Moira, John Hutton MP,
Vernon Coaker MP, Ed Balls, MP, Keir Group PLC in fact anyone with a
vested interest.
Barrow is yours for the taking.
Today Barrovians in their masses turned the town where they live over
to anyone from outside of the town who wants to come here and do
whatever they want. The people don't care. So bring it on.
Sorry folks but it's not the judicial review result.
It's just an example of the stupidity that exists in local government because of flawed data and the politicians terrible response to that data.
Tomorrow is likely to be a momentous day.
The announcement of the last judicial review was on a Friday so the
chances are the current appeal decision will be announced tomorrow.
What that announcement will contain is anyone's guess but the reality is there are only two options.
Either the judge will rule that 'selection' or as seems more likely,
after reading how Mr Scowcroft was asked by Mr Marklew MP, being
chosen for sponsorship by politicians is a system that breaks EU law or
they will rule there has been no breach.
The County Council Crystal Ball gets a lot of use in Carlisle. Like all crystal balls it doesn't work as these figures prove beyond any doubt.
I couldn't believe how this man who is an incredibly successful businessman, not a college principal, could admit his part in the collapse of education that is Richard Rose Academy in Carlisle and then not take the action needed to fix it nor tell everyone who authorised the 'fast track' and put him in the position he is.
Once the fast track was forced on him, as he implies, why didn't he just turn round to 'the dark hand' and say 'not possible. Get another fool to do it?'
Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Read the article listen to his words and then understand that he is successful, he is a successful man manger, he is good at delivering large projects, on time, on budget and yet he got this very badly wrong.
Honestly what chance have the three academics got when they are backed by the same level of County and DCSF incompetence?
And if anyone knows the answers please share.
This is terrifying.
Cumbria County Council is closing the county's schools at the rate of one every nine and a half months and that rate is increasing.
According to the County this is because young people are leaving the County and as the remaining population ages there are fewer children being born.
I have just had a very upset girl come home from school.
It seems Alfred barrow pupils and parents spent the day in the hall watching
slide shows and talking about the past, lots of tears and upset, she
told me teachers were coming up to them hugging them and crying, a very
very sad and emotional day.
One male teacher their who is known for
being quite strict was signing pupils shirts and seemed to be dealing
with it quite well but my daughter after leaving the building had to go
back for her bag, when she did she found him sat alone in his classroom
sobbing, this just isn't fair, my daughter who isn't one for showing her
emotions said it was awful, she and her fellow pupils spent most of the
day crying, this should not be happening, I for one will not be
bullied, I will do what it takes no matter what it takes to stop this,
and I mean ANYTHING!!!!!
I hope you are all sitting there smug and safe in the knowledge you are doing this for the 'greater good'. Us poor 'Barrovian Hillbilles' simply don't understand but we are truly grateful for your benevolence.
two days ahead of the other Barrovian Secondary schools sits inside the head of Moira Swann and those of the Dark Hands.
There is no logic to it, Alfred Barrow will still exist as a school until 31st August even if Ed signs off in the next ten minutes!
So what is the real reason?
I have no idea if the OFT is right to investigate these construction companies but these three articles show the government is in effect 'bailing out' the construction industry through the school building programme. None of these construction companies have gone squealing to the government for help in the way that the banks and the car companies did.
In fact they have been quieter than church mice and with good reason.
Being a preferred bidder IS being a member of a very exclusive club. There are only six members of this club and on many schools contracts there are two or fewer bidders!
So the chances of each member of the club getting the work they want is greatly enhanced. Of course it is all supposed to give you and me the taxpayer 'value for money' but we never get to see ANYTHING about the process so we are expected to just trust these massive companies and some senior civil servants to deliver this value for money. Most people won't have a clue that the deals are being done until they appear in the local press!
Whether either is worthy of our trust is open to question but there is no smoke without fire and as the OFT are still investigating you are free to form your own conclusions.
Still not 100% clear why Moira has lumped five new builds into one project but it is much clearer than it was just 48 hours ago.
This is a reprise of an article published on 21st May on this blog which is worthy of a second read as if Moira has her way and today is the last day ever of education at Alfred Barrow School well... just read it.
I've taken a break for uncovering what Kier construction stand to gain from the Cumbrian Academies programme and why Moira Swann has structured it the way she has to write down the list of known facts about this scheme.
I will have missed some but it's a start. If you dear reader would be so kind as to enlighten me via the comments I will add them in as they come in to build up a clear picture of what we don't know and what we should know.
Welcome to the Fraud Academy
To any reader of this blog;
If anything posted on here isn't actually true and you can prove it to me by e-mail then please do so and I will post the correction and remove the error.
This whole scheme is full of lies and untruths and I have no intention of adding to them.
e-mail address is blog@furnessacademy.com
Equally if anyone knows any truths that aren't on here and should be then again get in touch by e-mail.
I want this scheme stopped because it is risking my youngest sons education and that is not acceptable.
This is 21st century Britain for crying out loud and yet no-one is allowed to discuss anything about this scheme in public any more. It feels like we are one step away from 'Gulag Barrow'.
Whenever anyone tries there are threats of disciplinary or legal action. Gagging orders are issued. This is a school we are on about not locating a missile silo under the town hall, now there's an idea!
The Barrow Business Consortium has never ever existed and yet the EOI authors use it to back their case. That is lying in it's purest form and yet no-one seems capable of issuing sanctions or legal action to have this lie removed from the report and with it everything it underpins. What sort of society do we really live in where such things are allowed to go on.
We have a man telling one group of parents one thing and then two days later telling another group something completely different. He is either genuinely ignorant of the facts or he is being used by others as a 'patsy' again nothing is clear and I for one wouldn't want to be in his shoes, rather doubt he would want to be in mine as I earn one tenth of what he does!
These two things highlight the very real and very serious problems with this scheme.
It is badly designed, it is flawed from top to bottom, it is built on lies and myths, the main players seem all to have motives that are at odds with their publically stated intentions.
The dark hand isn't in my imagination. It's left it's mark everywhere I have looked and if I could pin it down and expose it I would let you all know who it really is.
The sponsors and their principal have been put forward to take flak and divert attention from the dark hand and this is one thing they have been very successful at. I for one now believe that they are as much in the dark as you or I but to admit this in public wouldn't put them in a good light and so they soldier on.
There is gross incompetence running all through this scheme. Whether that is deliberate as I think or really is just as a result of people taking things on they are not qualified for isn't at all clear but it is very real.
This should have been a fantastic opportunity for 40% of Barrows children that if proved to work could have been extended to the remaining 60% of Barrows children.
As it is it has been mismanaged by everyone involved because they DO NOT TRUST THE LIKES OF ME AND YOU WITH OUR OWN CHILDREN'S FUTURES.
Here's some background on this company which has won the unprecedented deal of the century from Moira Swann, rubber stamped of course by a few people who are no longer publically accountable and a few who are.
I am of course referring to the Labour County Councillors. These are the same five Labour County Councillors who voted to close the three schools. They are;
Mr S F Young (Leader)
Mr A Clark
Mrs A Burns (Deputy Leader)
Mr T J Knowles
Mrs B A Cannon
Plus 5 vacancies (4 Conservative and 1 Liberal Democrat)
Here we have two Parkview Governors Mr Wardman and Mr Mackay
selling YOUR kids and mine down the river. They may be Parkview
Governors but they are Governors of a Foundation school and have the
power to kill off this scheme at their meeting this Thursday so they are selling all three school populations down the river.
By now you may like me be sick to death of hearing about Moira Swann and her department. However this is a bit of crystal ball gazing which actually might prove to be very real.
I know it's incredible but it's true.
The Furness Academy Logo of three stars, or as one local primary head calls them '3 ink drops' inside the purple shield has been dropped from the uniform.
Furness Academy Limited, which DID request the early school closure despite Mr Blackledges lack of knowledge, has posted a page which tells Year 6 Parents how to appeal against the placement of their child.
Poor Mr Blackledge is like a puppet on a string.
After all this mornings gloom about the way in which the country is really being run a story which gladdens the heart.
As Jimmy Cricket the Irish comedian used to say.
Sorry it's another Google for a lot of you as he is a figure from my past and I'm an ancient 48 according to my sons. Odd thing is they laugh their heads off at another comedian from my past Dave Allen!
Sorry digressing.
It is possible to find out how much cash is being splashed by the DCSF & Moira if you look long enough.
Is unique.
No other LA has put together such a package as this with just one company. It is unprecedented so it begs the question why has Moira Swann chosen to do it this way?
Well I hope you have had a decent weekend. I've spent mine purely by choice up to my eyeballs in Kier Construction PLC.
Sad I know there are much nicer things to do on a summer weekend but it was very informative. It'll take a bit of time to put it all together but to whet your appetite...
Paid For By The Taxpayer then nothing will.
Briefing on Academies opening in 2008
There are now 130 Academies open. This briefing provides information on
the 47 Academies that opened in September 2008. It includes background
information on sponsors including any previous involvement with the
Academies programme. It also attempts to seek out any new developments
and patterns emerging from the programme.
"I wanna tell you a story."
Now before you all head off to find out who Max Bygraves is have a read of this and if it shocks you as much as it shocks me make sure you show it to at least one person who believes Furness Academy Limited will be 'okay really'!
At least if it ever did come into being you would have the satisfaction of telling them I told you so back in July!
I have a reply to an e-mail from John Hutton my MP.
Not sure which e-mail he is replying to but it doesn't matter at least he replied except he didn't sign it it was just his agent but hey he's a busy man.
Never before has Identity been given this information so who gave it to them, why do they need it what on earth are they doing with it.
My sons have gone through their entire lives wearing crappy uniforms from this shoddy company as they held a monopoly agreement with schools that the County Council forced them to rip up so it must have been unethical at best or illegal at worst.
By the way they are so 'well organised' and on track that the PE tops WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL SEPTEMBER and they will be delivered to SCHOOL!!!!!
...and any parent who wanted an answer to the question raised at Parkview on Friday evening
Furness Academy Limited is a Private Limited Company.
Before you come to the conclusion that I too have dropped the ball. Read this comment from the Evening Mail comment boards especially the 'enlarged bit' and you will see it has relevance to the bullies in the Academy scheme namely. DCSF, CCC, The Sponsors!
This story nearly made me physically sick. I had no idea how corrupt my country really is.
It started with a look at a little story that the biased Evening Mail chose to ignore about how a Cumbrian Academy blew thousands of pounds of taxpayers money to learn about how other countries 'do school' in Mauritius of all places.
As I read through the penny dropped. Apparently you and I as taxpayers donated £35M of our pounds to a 'charity' which is in reality another government quango and this quango refuses to tell it's donors i.e. you and me how it is spending our money on it's INet junkets.
In it you will see clear and unambiguous evidence that Richard Rose Academy is performing far below it's predecessor schools and it is only making minor inroads into things that were supposed to be sorted out for the Academy opening in Sept 2008.
Bear in mind that Richard Rose is being sponsored by a businessman or two who make their living by successfully managing large numbers of employees so if they could get it so wrong what chance have the Three Academics in Barrow got?
There is a FOURTH Cumbrian Academy scheme this time in Workington.
Naturally our local paper considers this of no local interest whatsoever but here is the proof on another CN group web site.
Some more excellent reporting of FACTS from the BBC which throws some light on the suitability of the colleges in Barrow as potential sponsors of a school.
You know my views but what's yours?
"It is shocking that further education colleges are closing down
nurseries and cutting jobs at the same as wasting millions on
consultants' fees.
Well Mrs Attwood respond to this in your Evening Mail Learning supplement!
Annotated in my own inimitable fashion.
I am totally and utterly dejected.
Why is the government afraid to let communities decide who should run local schools?
Academy sponsors are being handpicked before parents and teachers get a chance to consider the options, says Fiona Millar
I was about to attend a 'consultation' meeting regarding the merger of a junior school with it's next door infant school. I had a vested interest in that as well as I had one son in each school.
I spoke with the head teacher of the infant school as she was one person who I would really call 'inspirational' and mean it.
I have been told to 'go back to my day job' today and now Furness Academy Limited are telling parents to shut up and lets get this Academy rolling.
See for yourself
I have just received this short report from a parent who went to the Thorncliffe
'Meet Billly Graham, sorry, Douglas Blackledge Event' yesterday evening.
Have a read and then if you have a job in this man's Academy come on here and publically back him I DARE YOU!
Here is a letter that reveals EXACTLY what Doug thinks of the teachers in the three schools.
I have my own thoughts about this but I am a little shaken by the reaction to the scaredy cats post so I won't share them with you...
There are lot of them and they are all over 16 years of age and 'educational professionals'.
Sent to school to send to all staff. 30 minutes later retracted.
No idea why but it also went out to primary schools and wasn't retracted.
And all whilst Moira was on holiday, on the sick or being beaten in a sauna with birch twigs for all I know. Truly no-one seems to know where she is except that she isn't at her desk!
You cannot make this stuff up
Have a butchers at the sums that have been done for Richard Rose Academy in Carlisle and pay special attention to how much is going into KIER Constructions back pocket and how little is being spent on new equipment. It disgusting but all apparently above board.
...the Labour Party agent for Barrow and Furness. Other than the fact he may still be a member of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust nothing more is known about him.
My wife and I received a plain white envelope today postmarked Furness College. In it were two sheets of A4 paper with the Furness Academy Logo on them. The whole thing looks and feels very dodgy so it probably is.
John Smith is correct in his comments. The publicly available accounts for the uni show a whopping loss of over £8 million pounds in its first year - that's almost £22,000 a day lost of taxpayers money! If this was a bank the directors would be sacked.