[Archived] Rovers Sold ??

[JamieUK]

John Williams was pointing out the fact we got Chris Samba for around that amount and then went on immediately to say you cant get a 20 goal striker for £500,000. This was the context for his quote and I think it has absolutely no correlation to our transfer budget...

[Eddie]

Well, in a perfect world maybe we'll have the trustees decide that as one last passing gesture they'll hand over £x million to be used for transfers this summer even before any take-over could be completed. It seems unlikely, but it would be great.

[RevidgeBlue]

Seeing Newcastle, Aston Villa and especially West Ham making themselves big by giving good, but not fantastic Premiership players 60-80k a week - I gotta say I rather want 10th-12th place the next five seasons than jumping on the same bandwagon. Sickening..

If we did suddenly find ourselves in the fortunate position of being able to pay wages of 70 -80k p.w. it would then be up to the manager to spend that sort of money wisely on exceptional players not average cloggers like Lucas Neill, italian duds or old has beens.

If it were Souness in charge I'd be very very afraid. With Mark Hughes at the helm it would be a tremendously exciting prospect.

As for losing the feel of it being a family club, I don't see why that would have to be the case. It didn't happen when Uncle Jack took over, redeveloped Ewood and smashed the British transfer record on more than one occasion, so it needn't now.

[Darth]

Has anyone also noticed that among prohibited items at Qwest Field are all "noise makers", including drums?!

Can't be a bad thing.

[LeftWinger]

If JW had said "You can't generally get a 20 goal a season man for 5m" that would also have been accurate

But that wouldn't have been accurate - Benni McCarthy!!

[RevidgeBlue]

But that wouldn't have been accurate - Benni McCarthy!!

"generally"

[philipl]

What John Williams said is printed in full context in the LT. That points to Rovers being able if not necessarily wanting to spend big with the current ownership in order to secure the right first team strengthening up front.

[Paul]

Am I the only person completely underwhelmed by all this takeover business in the PL?

In recent years transfer fees and player wages have skyrocketted on the back of TV money. Now another mega-deal has made the PL such an attractive proposition we have multi-million and billionaires falling over each other to invest in the PL. There are only so many players to go around, the only change will be the big four will have to spend even more to keep the rest of us in our place.

English football clubs owned by foreign investors. Great. What do we have? A Russian ogliarch, a disgraced Taiwanese politician and human rights abuser, a couple of other ex USSR millionaires and a bunch of rich Americans who know nothing of the game. Our game is becoming one of two things ~ the rich man's plaything or the investor's cash cow.

I've said it before but does anyone really believe the big four will allow their position to be threatened by an outsider? No chance, absolutely no chance. Blackburn Rovers may well prove to be the last club to sneak up and pinch the title.

Look down the road lads - Old Trafford ST prices increased by 25% in two seasons AND fans are forced to buy cup tickets. Manchester City, almost ownerless, managerless, no pre-season, no forwards and I read four midfielders and five defenders left in the first team squad. Welcome to the REAL world of outside investment.

The one big question that has yet to be answered is this. What happens when these people get bored?

All that glitters is not gold........ or even blue and white.

[Fife Rover]

Interesting article on Paul Allen; didnt realise he had Hodgkins Disease

http://www.answers.com/topic/paul-allen

Sorry SS, but that link does not work.

[den]

Paul Allen on wikipedia

[modes98]

Paul Allen on wikipedia

Reading the sports investments bit makes me even happier to have him in charge.

In 1988, Allen purchased the Portland Trail Blazers NBA team from Harry Glickman for $70 million, and was instrumental in the development and funding of their Rose Garden Arena in 1993. One of Allen’s most memorable moments as owner of the Trail Blazers was his participation in a hot dog eating contest at halftime of a 2002 game against the Denver Nuggets. Allen ate ten hot dogs in 12 minutes, but lost to world champion Takeru Kobayashi.

On 27 April 2007, it was rumoured that Allen may launch a takeover bid for English football club Southampton. An apparent close source said "he believes there is long term investment value in UK Soccer. Southampton is a sleeping giant, a family-supported club with traditional values, and we see the value in taking the brand global."

[Eddie]

I agree with you Paul and I think most on here would say that football would be better off without the investment; however, the take-overs are happening and we are going to be left behind if we don't act and we are probably in as strong a position now as we ever will be.

[Mike Graham]

It would be nice to think it would be Paul Allen. Perhaps John Williams (a Southampton lad originally) managed to hook up with his people as the Southampton deal folded. Certainly the comments about family values etc which Allen made about Southampton apply very realistically to Rovers.

One thing I noticed on google is that our Rovers, the Mars Rover and this site are vying for top spot on search for Rovers. Hopefully, Allen associates Rovers with high quality as a result and hasn't had any bad experiences there.

Octopus is frequently in the Grand Harbour here in Malta. Always think it looks much nicer than Abramovic's Pelorus.

[/quo

Thanks for this link philip. I'm in Seattle in July and again in Oct so i'll try out the "Rovers" and knock on Paul Allen's door with a tacky nylon Rovers shirt.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Dear Mr Allen......

Can you please rebuild the Riverside stand before it falls down and complete Ewood Park making it the first class stadium it should be.....it will only cost a few months interest from your bank balance!

TA CHUCK AND HIGH FIVES,

sg194

Seriously,an injection of new ideas,drive and ambition is what this clubs needs right now and maybe is about to get......exciting times again to be blue and white.

[blue phil]

I've said it before but does anyone really believe the big four will allow their position to be threatened by an outsider? No chance, absolutely no chance. Blackburn Rovers may well prove to be the last club to sneak up and pinch the title.

Look down the road lads - Old Trafford ST prices increased by 25% in two seasons AND fans are forced to buy cup tickets. Manchester City, almost ownerless, managerless, no pre-season, no forwards and I read four midfielders and five defenders left in the first team squad. Welcome to the REAL world of outside investment.

Unfortunately we may need such "investors" merely to retain our position . Even fair sized championship teams will be looking around for backers ....

This Paul Allen character might pove to our best bet precisely because he is so damn rich already his motives may not entirely be to screw us for the TV money . It's the consortiums that are the worst bets ...

Hopefully he realises that to maintain premiership status our support base must become higher and consequently ticket prices can only go one way - and that's down .

One thing in his favour (according to a post higher up) .........he doesn't like "noise makers" . Good riddance to the drummers .....

[mike at picture]

Apparently , despite all the hype, Liverpool will not be spending 10's of millions this summer and doubt that Rafa will not be a very happy man. A great quote from one of the American owners - "We wont be spending like drunken sailors"

Some of us, understanably, are getting a bit giddy at the prospect of a flood of dollars. A quick glance Mersyside way should calm us all down.

[John]

We are suggesting it is Paul Allen which would be amazing because he is minted - reading about his profile excites me greatly!

Do we know much about the other guy who being speculated about - Jerome Simon? I can't find out any information on him......

[Alan75]

Manchester City, almost ownerless, managerless, no pre-season, no forwards and I read four midfielders and five defenders left in the first team squad. Welcome to the REAL world of outside investment.

What about Dickov.......on second thoughts you were right no forwards.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Theno my 'owd mucker, would your baby 'Lancashire Utd' still be on the cards if this takover comes to fruition?

[thenodrog]

Theno my 'owd mucker, would your baby 'Lancashire Utd' still be on the cards if this takover comes to fruition?

It IS the only long term solution. Maybe some yank would have the acumen, wherewithall and clout (and distant location ) to pull it off!

[mac]

Is this the right place for posting about the possible Rovers take-over ???

[brfc fan]

Dear Mr Allen......

Can you please rebuild the Riverside stand before it falls down and complete Ewood Park making it the first class stadium it should be...

Yes but please keep the "Rovers" design on it.

[Roversider]

Oh look, Gordon has managed to take the thread off topic again.

Up until then it has been making an interesting read.

Do we stay safe, sound and cosy as a family club with the Walkers at the helm or do we risk the unknown just to try and keep up?

I`m sure the current board will try their best to get the right deal. I just don`t want us to lose our identidy and become another plc run be faceless suits.

Sorry to be back on topic but my thought is around how the Trust rules are written. I assume Uncle Jack had some thoughts about the future and what covenants would be in place should circumstances require the Trust shareholding to be passed to another owner.

If there are no covenants I would still expect the current trustees to follow Jack's plan to secure the Rovers future to the extent they can.

On that basis a new owner (or owners in a consortium) would be taking over a club with no debt, already built facilities (a new Riverside would finish the place off), great acadamy and a very solid squad with a firm Premiership base. Takeover would be easy with over 99% of the shares held by the Trust but perhaps with some strings to be imposed by the current Trustees to protect the long-term future of the Rovers. That would not necessarilly be at odds with any new owners and would probably mean the bulk of the money would go to strengthening the team and also some further investment in facilities. Plus, naturally, any promotion of the 'brand' to increase earnings.

The purchase price may well be relatively cheap compared to what else is on the market so I've been surprised it has taken as long as this for investors to look at Blackburn.

As for us fans? Increased prices but a stronger team - I hate to say this but that would increase the gate more than dropping prices. I was amongst the fans who watched Rovers in the old 3rd div with average gates at 6-7,000. In 1994/95 we added 20,000 to that number. Succes draws attendees from further afield than the town boundary and we need that to move forward.

Hate to say this but this move appears to be inevitable - the only other way would be for players and agents to reduce their wage demands from the current obscene levels (and for chairmen to collectively put the brake on) and that is not going to happen.

American sports investors do understand that to earn you need to be succesful on the pitch and make the matchday experience very good. They then charge a premium price for a premium product.

Let's hope and pray that the Trustees set up the deal in the right way, I do feel that I can trust John Williams to do his best.

[ABBEY]

As for us fans? Increased prices but a stronger team - I hate to say this but that would increase the gate more than dropping prices. I was amongst the fans who watched Rovers in the old 3rd div with average gates at 6-7,000. In 1994/95 we added 20,000 to that number. Succes draws attendees from further afield than the town boundary and we need that to move forward.

doesnt mattter how much the team gets strenghtened if the price at ewood went up to say 40 quid a game the place would be empty.

Yes i would want to payit...begrugingly

no I couldnt afford it and i dare say a lot more working people wouldnt be able to go....my vie w is if new folk come in and increase the prices it would signal the end of blackburn rovers..and ive been going 37 years

[Florida Rover]

With this quote I guess we can put our dream of Paul Allen to rest

Oh well