Smash Bugger, the reason I say that there are dirty deeds being done by Hedge funds is that no management and Board could possibly be so completely inept as the current lot.
Since they haven't been removed by the major investors, the only remaining explanation (apart from an off the wall Blackadder style cunning plan) is that they are doing exactly what the major investors want. Since the current management are crucifying Mum and Dad investors, they must be doing something that the major investors want done - because by definition, you cannot crucify a major investor and live to tell about it.