[Archived] Rovers Sold ??

[yawnsie]

It seems apparent that this Williams character is just fronting the deal, and isn't the one putting in serious money. That would suggest that the real money men want him on board as he's a Rovers fan. If you want to be cynical, you could suggest that they've chosen him to appease the fans and reduce resistance to a takeover; if you want to be optimistic, it might be they genuinely want a man who understands the club and wants the best for us. Williams might not be as "seriously rich" as that People story made out, but the board obviously seem to take him seriously for things to have gotten this far, and he must have some sort of business nous.

On the other hand, apropos of nothing, does anyone remember that 19-year-old kid who "bought" Altrincham even though he didn't have a penny?

I wouldn't say he's necessarily dodgy just because some journo went to Lytham St. Annes and couldn't find any scoops. That said, there's something very mysterious about that cached website: it's convenient that it's currently down. The big question is, if this DJW company claims to be buying 36% of Rovers, who do they think owns the other 64%?

[Beta Ray Bill]

It would appear that there's already a clear connection between DJW Ventures* and Rovers. And Rexs. And Fidos. And Lassies.

check out the contact page

As the saying goes, you've made your bed and now you'll have to lie in it.

* and before anyone says anything, yes it's a different DJW Ventures. (I hope)

[Brownie]

From Tuesday's Sun

Have they got his age right ?

AMERICAN tycoon Daniel Williams is at least three weeks away from making a bid for Blackburn.

Williams, 30, has been a Rovers fan since he was a boy and put together a consortium to buy out late owner Jack Walker’s family.

But the Lytham-born venture-capitalist needs time to finalise his £50million offer and a period of due diligence means it could be mid-August before his Ewood takeover is done.

A source close to the consortium said: "Daniel grew up watching Rovers.

"He’s lived in America for five years but never lost his affection for the club.

"It would be a dream come true if he could one day run the club."

[herbergeehh]

Obviously fantastic news if a lifelong fan could buy our club. Skysports has the following quote: "It's not yet known whether John Williams will be kept on as part of the deal".

This might be a misinterpretation, and Vinjay might be right, but as far as I'm concerned, keeping John Williams as chairman is an immensely important part of this.

[RevidgeBlue]

Obviously fantastic news if a lifelong fan could buy our club. Skysports has the following quote: "It's not yet known whether John Williams will be kept on as part of the deal".

This might be a misinterpretation, and Vinjay might be right, but as far as I'm concerned, keeping John Williams as chairman is an immensely important part of this.

I think "the lifelong fan" thing is a complete red herring to be perfectly honest.

I'm a lifelong fan and it would be my dream to qwn the club and sign Henry and Gerrard before the transfer deadline.

Unfortunately no matter how passionate I was I'd be less than useless as I probably wouldn't have enough money to bring in Simon Garner and Stuart Metcalfe!

This guy is starting to sound the same, almost as if he's tested the water, got an asking price and now needs time to find the necessary backers. And 49.99m.

Even if this bid is a complete hoax, it has been a fascinating exercise in psychology. Everyone was worried, then as soon as it was claimed he was born in Lytham and was a lifelong fan (even though no-one's ever heard of him) everyone went oooo ................. I'm sooooo glad he's a Rovers fan.

[Guest Kamy100]

Full three page interview in the Lancashire Telegraph today, the main highlights of it are:

* He is a lifelong fan

* Money for players but not at Abromovic Levels

* Talks started in March

* He is leading a American Consortium, backed by big, big financial institutions, will not involve any debt

* The investors are in it for the "long, long term".

* The clubs current "hierarchy" will probably remain in place

* His main company is called Princeton Global Housing, which recently has won two contracts worth north of a billion

dollars

* He went to 3 games last season

* No deal Imminent, just talks taken place, he states that IF they were to make a bid then it would be 3 weeks away

There is quite a lot of other stuff in there so it is an interest read.

[modes98]

Kamy's LET Article on Daniel Williams

[Mike Graham]

We could do with some of that housing in Blackburn and Preston!

[John]

Venture Capitalists are generally high risk takers high risk high returns they will invest short term and sell after 3 years for “top” price.

They can be low risk when investing as part of a consortium with clearing banks however the want high returns. 3I’S is a good example of a venture capitalist, look at their website

[philipl]

Sound move by Daniel Williams but I will be interested to see the full 3 pager which presumably will not be online for a while yet.

What we do know for certain- Rovers are in "play"

- Williams is the only one who has gone public

- The headline statements from him are reassuring in what are inevitably unsettling times.

This is bound to have some impact on the club's transfer activity but

- The club had indicated it wasn't going to be that active anyway

- this won't get in the way if Sparky has another Samba or Nelsen deal which needs completing

- the main target (Bellamy) will not come available until Liverpool make their own moves which are in turn almost certainly part of a larger game of dominos

- the Rovers can quite rightly stall any moves for our own players saying it will be a decision for the new (rich) owners. So what if Benni/MGP/Bentley/the club cat dream about Champs League? Paradoxically, this could be an easier summer of resistance for JW and co. Very easy to play "I will have to ask the (insert large but credible number) consortia bidding to buy us but we've promised all of them not to disturb the club's asset base at this time...." to agents, spuds, eggheads and real Champions League teams.

[John]

Speaking to someone in the office here who says:

VC money is dangerous. The VC investing have ownership and can restructure the board, sack anyone they want, and take the company to a trade sale if they are not turning a profit. It doesn’t matter how much he loves the club if they are not producing a profit.

[Damage]

None of this sounds credible to me!

The guy fronting the "bid" has a recruitment company (must make about 30bob profit after wages) plus a "global property" company with $1bn contracts (what does that mean?). Doesn't inspire me with confidence.

Then we have a "no bid for at least 3 weeks" but his Nuttall Investments site mentions the $100m dollar spring 2007 takeover as though the deal is already signed sealed delivered. And then there is conflicting price information £50m or £67m?

If this is a genuine takeover bid I am extremely sceptical that it is in the long-term interests of BRFC. Alternatively this could be:

- a chancer looking to generate publicity and maybe even funding from banks

- a product of the ewood boardroom with aim of promoting the sale of the club to other unidentfied or potential investers

- a product of the boardroom aimed at giving the club leverage in the transfer market (as suggested by philipl above)

- a complete hoax to make some people look silly

Having said all that it is just as likely that Paul Allen or similar mega-billionaire is really the financial powerhouse behind this 30 yr old recruitment agent from Lytham, isnt it? :ph34r:

[den]

Interview with Williams.

[Blackburn Ender]

First of all, congratulations to Andy Neild at the Telegraph. That's a great scoop.

Second, this chap does not sound like he is in a position to fulfill Jack Walker's conditions on selling the club. It's US investment funds looking at buying, on the cheap, into the next 3 - 10 years worth of multi-billion pound Sky TV deals.

Then selling on - presumably then without the protection of Uncle Jack's legacy. So stand by for a Ken Bates chancer owning the club in five years time.

[thenodrog]

First of all, congratulations to Andy Neild at the Telegraph. That's a great scoop.

Second, this chap does not sound like he is in a position to fulfill Jack Walker's conditions on selling the club. It's US investment funds looking at buying, on the cheap, into the next 3 - 10 years worth of multi-billion pound Sky TV deals.

Then selling on - presumably then without the protection of Uncle Jack's legacy. So stand by for a Ken Bates chancer owning the club in five years time.

Lateral thinking mode on.........

It might be a case of 'softly softly catchee monkey'. The Walker Trust might be planning to grab a chunk of Uncle Sam's greenbacks whilst the 2007 gold rush is in full swing, watch the club flounder and wither for a few years into the Championship before activating some clause in the contract and buying it back for a 'stop loss' price. More than one way to skin a cat..... or to make the football gravy train stop at our station.

[thenodrog]

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

A situation that had certainly crossed my mind on Sunday. I wonder how good Williams is at keep-ups?

[Billy Castell]

Maybe Michael Knighton will be interested in buying us in 5 years time!

Bum, Alan75 beat me to it.

[Tris]

I do not like the sound of this one bit.

Just reading that interview, it sounds like some youth has gone over to America, made a few bob in recruitment (fair play) ... and then tripped over a situation which opened a door.

Then there's a couple of big numbers thrown in - attached to some housing construction projects in West Africa, which alone sets alarm bells ringing. Here's the website which goes with that one. You'd think the news page would be up to date, and there would be a few pictures of what's been achieved to date. Like - they can build these durable insect resistant houses in one day, etc etc - where's the pictures??

And on the same subject - the LET interview mentions 15,000 houses for $750 million in Gabon - that's 50,000 USD each!!! Something isn't adding up there. Maybe they're doing the deluxe 2 day version with windows in that project.

Back to the Rovers situation -

There's "no other individual involved other than myself" - so it's just this guy and a load of institutions - who could no doubt eat him for breakfast at any time of their choosing.

And let's finish with "We're not really at the point where we have long term plans."

From what I've seen so far, I hope it doesn't ever get to that point.

[mattym]

I do not like the sound of this one bit.

Just reading that interview, it sounds like some youth has gone over to America, made a few bob in recruitment (fair play) ... and then tripped over a situation which opened a door.

Then there's a couple of big numbers thrown in - attached to some housing construction projects in West Africa, which alone sets alarm bells ringing. Here's the website which goes with that one. You'd think the news page would be up to date, and there would be a few pictures of what's been achieved to date. Like - they can build these durable insect resistant houses in one day, etc etc - where's the pictures??

And on the same subject - the LET interview mentions 15,000 houses for $750 million in Gabon - that's 50,000 USD each!!! Something isn't adding up there. Maybe they're doing the deluxe 2 day version with windows in that project.

Back to the Rovers situation -

There's "no other individual involved other than myself" - so it's just this guy and a load of institutions - who could no doubt eat him for breakfast at any time of their choosing.

And let's finish with "We're not really at the point where we have long term plans."

From what I've seen so far, I hope it doesn't ever get to that point.

here here !! Couldnt of put it better myself.

[krislu]

There's "no other individual involved other than myself" - so it's just this guy and a load of institutions - who could no doubt eat him for breakfast at any time of their choosing.

And let's finish with "We're not really at the point where we have long term plans."

I'm with you on this one Tris, did not like the sound of that interview at all.

[Blueboy Downunder]

i have just recieved an email from andy neild, regarding this bloke daniel williams and somethings that i asked him regarding if he could contact daniel williams and ask him if he would be prepared to answer some questions from the fans, on the possible takeover. just letting you all know!!

here is his reply:

Many thanks for your email. I can certainly ask Daniel if he would be prepared to answer some questions from the fans on your behalf.

I'm not sure what his movements are for the next few weeks/months so the chances of getting him to do something at Ewood, in the short term at least, look slim. However, it might be possible to email some questions to him at some point. I'll speak to him and see if he's up for doing something, then if he is we'll have to come up with a way of giving fans the chance to send their questions.

I'll keep you posted of developments.

All the best

Andy

[ace]

The more I read about this guy and his "consortium" the more uncomfortable I feel about the so called proposed deal.

Overall would Rovers be better off in 5 years time because of his involvement? ...strongly doubt it

Will we get a better "product" ( his words) during that 5 years?..Possibly..unless some accountant decides to pull the plug out early!

Will supporters' costs increase significantly during the same period?..Almost certainly.yes! ( As at Man U, Liverpool,Arsenal , Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa,West Ham,Tottenham, Man City....)

As with all takeovers institutions (especially venture capitalists ) will only put money in if they have prospects of making a positive return and that must mean , sooner or later , taking a lot more out!

[thenodrog]

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.

Now that is about the only positive that I can think of. But who knows what goes on behind closed doors?

[modes98]

There's "no other individual involved other than myself" - so it's just this guy and a load of institutions - who could no doubt eat him for breakfast at any time of their choosing.

And let's finish with "We're not really at the point where we have long term plans."

The way i read it is his investors are looking at a 3 and then 6/7 year plan for sky investment. Then Daniel's plan would be to try and buy his backers out at that stage. I could be totally wrong but he does mention the 3 year timescale an awful lot.

At least he has the housing investment business with some good contracts in place.

I'm sure that rovers financial experts will fully investigate Mr Williams and any abnormalities in his business portfolio.

I hope he will answer at least a few questions from fans, but i understand he is busy making his millions.

[B'burn End Row 10 Seat 160]

He had no interest in buying until it was mentioned too him i'm sure "It's my No 1 passion" Me not think so.