Decision time! an update to the current position.


Current position is that all software involved in ttwebsite and its forum are way out of date. The forum cannot be updated and the security vulnerability removed as the site opsys (php) is too old. The php cannot be updated because Malcolm's newsscript from correspondents is even older.


I have finally traced the developer of the ancient news software package, central to the front page of Malcolm’s ttwebsite. He confirms the news script is a very early version and will not update but the database tables may be copied to the latest version of the database and the latest script installed so that nothing is lost.
 
This should then allow us to update the php opsys on the site and in turn update the mybb for the forum software and remove the vulnerability to attack.
 
The guys wants 150$ to do the script work. I have informed Malcolm's nephew (site owner) and the original ttwebsite developer of this.
 
In the meantime  I thus feel the time has come to make a decision on the site future,
 
1>         Do we keep website and forum going? I would need to appoint one or more news editors for the new news package as Malcolm originally had.
2>         Do we just keep the forum going? (we would still need the domain name).
3>         Close it?
 
Quite frankly the forum is very quiet this time of year membership wise, going days without a post. Activity builds up towards the road racing season. It seems to me there is still a dedicated core of members who want to keep the site going and have been prepared to contribute to its running.

I cannot move forward without support from members and the agreement of the site owner. I have asked the owner for his wishes.

Alternatives if the site owner agrees:

1>       Everything is working at present so just let the lot meander on until something stops working as it's too old for browsers.I don't think the vulnerability will be exploited again as it involved a member and I am very careful on membership approvals from the non road racing community.  

2>       Remove the central news system from ttwebsite and lose a lot of history on the website and update the rest.

I am quite happy to carry on admin for now but, at 76, a potential admin successor needs to be found.

So, opinions please so I can talk to the owner. We have £112 in the pot to help with bills.

Best wishes,

Chris