[Archived] Rovers Sold ??

[philipl]

If Daniel Williams does not already have financial PR, he will be getting someone appointed immediately.

The way this has all limped out with confusion upon confusion has been more than a bit of disaster. If he doesn't comfortably have more than enough money to cover this venture a few times over, he should be taking the hint and get out before it starts getting really exposed and rough.

[USABlue]

Oh dear, now I am getting worried again.

[Blackburn Ender]

From a PR point of view, the worrying thing is who leaked the info to the People?

If it's Rovers, the club could be wanting to force Williams to make his bid public, thereby alerting/putting pressure on other suitors.

If it's the US consortium, I'm not sure what they gain by going public.

The signs are not auspicious, as basic internet research throws up nothing substantial at all.

Walter Hubert was linked to the Burnley takeovers a few years ago, which suggests someone somewhere looking to take a share of a takeover pie.

Rovers are one of the cheapest Premiership clubs to buy without having to settle debts and the TV money must be a huge attraction to speculators. You can almost hear the way the conversation went in that New Jersey bar room discussion about the Glazers, Hicks & Gillett, Loerner, et al.

Our young chap Williams saying, hang on, I know a club we can buy!

Not looking too promising...

[Mike Graham]

I am very worried at our JW stating that we will reveal the interested party when they ask to see our accounts. We need sominone from the rovers saying that WE WANT TO SEE THEIR ACCOUNTS!

Afer speaking to a National sports journo a few minutes back he says that they have been trying to research this guy. The jouno thinks "he is well dodgy". they can find nothing on him in Lytham and he investments to date have been peanuts; it sounds like he is trying to make himself the centre of attention and is looking for investors via the media.

[Guest Kamy100]

Although all this stuff on David Williams is a bit worrying as not much is known about him. However, I full faith in John Williams and the Jack Walker trust, they will not sell the club unless they are 100%.

[John]

I have got an outside feeling this could be complete rubbish and no takeover will take place.

Daniel Williams - just who is he?

He is hardly a major businessman himself so how could he have 'major financial backers'. I know individuals can raise finance using different methods but he would need to have raised too much money in my view to take over a football club. I am not talking about buying it but having money to buy it firstly then pump money in for new players etc.

I think my over-excitement blinded my lack of (logical) judgement over this one.

Who knows – Daniel may be a member of this message board.

Ps – I would like to look back at my post in two months time and admit I have just made a complete knee-jerk reaction!!

Pps – I am currently thinking about this takeover too much and it is making me go insane.

[SouthAussieRover]

Who knows – Daniel may be a member of this message board.

Or an ex member.

Imagine what joy Vinjay would have.

[Mike Graham]

why not get all the BRFCS MB members to get a new credit card each and use our new buying power to buy t'Rovers.

Sounds a more trustworthy bid than Danny Boy Williams.

We can invite Vinjay back and have him the new BRFC Head of Communications. Jordan as Head of (beer) Sales and Marketing, and Thenodrog and Blue Phil as Head of Community Relations. And i'll be CEO please.

[accyrover]

Although all this stuff on David Williams is a bit worrying as not much is known about him. However, I full faith in John Williams and the Jack Walker trust, they will not sell the club unless they are 100%.

I agree. John Williams and the board have not let us down. They have made shrewd and informed judgements in everything they have done in my opinion.

I would much rather see someone local heading the consortium, regardless of who the other backers behind him are.

We all agree we need investment to move forward. Better we have investment from someone with ties to the club than a faceless foreign investor.

Accyrover

[brfc fan]

Todays LET report on the matter

I'm really excited about these possible owners. I think Uncle Jack would approve and I can't understand why any Rovers fan would be worried or not want it.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

I am very worried at our JW stating that we will reveal the interested party when they ask to see our accounts. We need sominone from the rovers saying that WE WANT TO SEE THEIR ACCOUNTS!

Too damn f'kin right preston blue.....reading other peoples posts have me now worried to death.If this consortium is serious lets see faces and hear some public info of substance from them VERY soon.

I voiced my concern about Rovers selling to a Peter Risdale type 'entrepreneur'...In John Williams we trust.

[bluebruce]

I'm really excited about these possible owners. I think Uncle Jack would approve and I can't understand why any Rovers fan would be worried or not want it.

Then I daresay you haven't been paying enough attention.

As for the board always making the right choices for us, that seems very naive. Whilst we've been able to do excellent business for the most part since Hughes came, I don't see, for instance, giving Cole away for free as a remotely good bit of business. Surely with that one we could have gotten a million minimum. We certainly didn't play hardball back then.

This 36 percent ownership on that site confuses me. 50 million quid should buy more than 36% of the club...whoever it was who thought otherwise must be deluded. Sure, if you took the value of our ground, facilities and the value of our playing staff as our value, that might not seem totally unreasonable, but that just isn't how this football takeover lark works. Our access to turnover is limited compared to Villa, who fetched less than that for their whole club. Granted their playing squad was less valuable, but still.

I've been edgy from the start about this from when I heard he was selling off his assets to fund it. Hopefully this only means he is selling them in order to pile as much money in as possible, not that he couldn't buy the club without doing so. Speaking of the man's wealth, which of course we can only guess at, that site says that Elite Graduate Jobs- which if I'm remembering correctly was apparently his main or at least initial money-maker, 'went cash-flow positive' in the first quarter of 2007. I'm not spectacularly schooled on business lingo, perhaps somebody can enlighten me, but doesn't this mean it only started making an actual profit early a few months ago? Doesn't sound like the kind of bucks we need.

[modes98]

his main or at least initial money-maker, 'went cash-flow positive' in the first quarter of 2007. I'm not spectacularly schooled on business lingo, perhaps somebody can enlighten me, but doesn't this mean it only started making an actual profit early a few months ago?

I presume that means following start up costs(loans, etc) and all outgoings he makes a profit. I doubt that it would only now be turning a profit, otherwise thats a seriously slow investment. So to take it literally the business has entirely paid for itself and now any money is profit. Although you'll probably find i'm totally wrong and it means he's losing loads of money

I'm sure more will come out about any deal in the near future, but the simple fact is we hardly know anything about him or his backers.

[John]

I'm sure more will come out about any deal in the near future, but the simple fact is we hardly know anything about him or his backers.

Sums up the current situation well. Problem is we have feck all transfer gossip to discuss.....(concerning us that is).

[1864roverite]

I think a few people are jumping the gun a little.

Our proposed investor/buyer has only been named by The People Newspaper in an exclusive from Alan Nixon !

It has since been re-reported in several journalistic rags and regurgitated on some news reels.

There has been NO quotes attached from either BRFC or its proposed investors that would give to identify just who the potential buyer(s) is/are.

Lets wait and see until when the club announce its next move, and from that point onwards we can then get around to discussing it.

UNTIL that happens we will all sit and get very ill/agitated and angry with each other

PATIENCE PEOPLE

[modes98]

Problem is we have feck all transfer gossip to discuss.....(concerning us that is).

It's your round! We have plenty of rumours, problem is they are all players leaving us.

Our season start draws ever closer, meaning hughes has a choice whether to move now or leave it for when he would normally move and just let them fit in at a later date. Maybe when the new investor's money is in but more than likely with the resources we have.

[JAL]

I think a few people are jumping the gun a little.

Our proposed investor/buyer has only been named by The People Newspaper in an exclusive from Alan Nixon !

It has since been re-reported in several journalistic rags and regurgitated on some news reels.

There has been NO quotes attached from either BRFC or its proposed investors that would give to identify just who the potential buyer(s) is/are.

Lets wait and see until when the club announce its next move, and from that point onwards we can then get around to discussing it.

UNTIL that happens we will all sit and get very ill/agitated and angry with each other

PATIENCE PEOPLE

Looks like Rovers gave Alan Nixon he story to flush this guy Williams out or at least show his true hand of intent, looking at the research done on this site by various members and the qoute from another journalist about him seeming "very dodgy" seems like this takeover will fail to materialise.

Having the misfortune of working for a venture capitalist firm, i wouldnt wish it on anyone after the experiences i've had, and for my beloved Rovers to become part of one would be a crying shame for all connected with the club.

Deal or no deal ......this has got to be a No DEAL!!!!!!

[thenodrog]

From the dictionary......

venture capital

Function: noun

: capital (as retained corporate earnings or individual savings) invested or available for investment in the ownership element of new or fresh enterprise -- called also risk capital

- venture capitalist noun

'Risk capital' eh? I'm not sure that I like the sound of that.

[benhben]

Right im confused. First it was reported that this Williams guy had significant funds along with significant financial backing by other members. However Ive been reading today that Williams only owns small companies and struggled to find the money to actually make a bid for Rovers. So how much money will he really have and will we actually have any increased transfer funds than we would without a takeover?

[Alan75]

Another Michael Knighton Saga !!!!!!!!!!!

[Tony Diamond Inc]

To all those who are worried....please!!!

Rovers have employed top financial experts to ensure any deal is right for the club and the Walker Trust, so let's chill, and wait until something concrete comes from the club.

[ABBEY]

as man u and leeds probably did too

[John]

Yesterday in the People, Alan Nixon said Daniel Williams was born in Lytham St Annes, then today in the Mirror, Nixon says he was born in Scotland. Nixon has obviously been given a tip off from the club on this (as he has had connections with us for years), but he still does not know the full details at all.

He has often been right with most of our transfer speculation in the past, so there is no reason to doubt that there is something in this. It is obvious from reading Nixon's articles last week on the takeover that he does not have that much information about it. They have been rather vauge articles starting with the Hollywood story last week which broke in the Daily Mirror. Gradually he has found out more information and revealed it.

Interesting to see what big Alan has to say on it tomorrow!

[RevidgeBlue]

Maybe everyone is being unnecessarily harsh on this Williams chap without knowing enough about his financial situation.

However it must be a concern mustn't it that that apology for a website states that his company acquired Blackburn Rovers for 100m dollars in Spring 2007. I mean they haven't done have they?.

"Here you are old chap, there's 100m dollars in cash, don't worry about the paperwork - we'll sort all that out later."

It smacks of Williams fraudulently trying to entice investors in to his venture capital company by cracking on they've a far more impressive and valuable range of investments than they actually have.

Looking very much like a Michael Knighton scenario.

On the plus side the LT states there are several interested parties so maybe there are other irons in the fire.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I wouldn't be surprised if the People story was to flush out any interested parties.

I just wonder what Uncle Jack would make of all this ? His idea was always that the Walker Trust fund would keep his club solvent as long as possible. Not that it would be sold on as soon as we started to break even.

Jack Hayward sold Wolves for £10 on the understanding that the new owners heavily invested in the club. Now I am not saying that the Trust should necessarily do the same - but it would be a nice gesture to give the club a few million for transfer funds out of the proceeds