[Archived] Rovers Sold ??

[joeh8]

Why is it that everyone's either a hard-bitten cynic who thinks this man is a charlatan, or a starry-eyed dreamer of an optimist who takes everything on faith?

Why is it not possible to keep an open mind on things since we do not have sufficient information on which to make a decision?

If this guy is genuine and good for BRFC and takes over then they'll be a few people with egg on their faces.

Now there's a fair point, he has managed to sell us to his bankers, so he obviously thinks we a worth something and IMO the future of the club will be in safe hands.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Always better to err on the side of caution Bryan until this Daniel Williams and his associates reveal their true finances, intentions and credibility...it really is as simple as that.We are all desperate for more info on this guy but he does appear a bit of a mystery in all honesty.This club could come tumbling down like a pack of cards with the wrong man at the helm,as stated before if these backers of his are looking for short term profit then what the hell are they doing at Ewood park? we're having to slash the ticket prices to try and attract more support ffs.....that for starters does not equate to any sort of profit showing on next years accounts!

Why the sudden interest now all the tv coin is in the piggy bank? we are all too damn right to be cynical imo.If he turns out to be good for the club then we'll all apologise and shake his hand.

WE WAIT WITH BAITED BREATH.

[Exiled in Toronto]

We will end up being sold to someone and I am fully behind a sale to the right people.

However I've seen no firm evidence yet to suggest this particular expression of interest, would fall into that category.

I don't know why so many people on here think that Dan the Man is under any obligation to share anything with the fans, be it his source of personal wealth, who his backers are and so on. He doesn't need our agreement or approval. Anything he puts in the public domain would have to be seen in the context of his real business interests, and I don't know too many who like to share any information that could be useful to potential business rivals.

Jimmy Armfield once said in a commentary that the Ewood faithful are more like a jury than a crowd, and perhaps he had a point.

Not picking on you Rev, but just quoting this as an example.

[Claytons Left Boot]

You are right in what you say Exiled but I don't think folk on here are thinking Dan is under any obligation to disclose more. They are being rightly cautious. The LT was 'big-ing him up' mentioning $1b contracts etc but behind it all there was no mention of any net worth which would have been a natural progression and something people would have wanted to know.

Sometimes it's good to listen to what everyone else has to say because certain things are thought of that you don't think of yourself.

He surely will be a man of substance and wealth even if it has not been revealed yet. Your average Joe Bloggs does not walk into a financial institution and secure funding for contracts the size of those he has already. The property company would appear to be in it's infancy with no track record to date, so he must be well connected. There could be considerable family wealth, other companies and so on. Other than those involved in the negotiations no one else knows and at this stage he is probably right in keeping his cards close to his chest.

The Walter Hubert endorsement is also a sound one, irrespective of whether Mr Hubert was formerly a Rovers director or not, with the Tom Martin Metals business being a well run, successful and well respected business in town.

I was a little uneasy at first mainly because the LT did not give (and has not yet given) the full picture and I was probably reverting to my days in the finance industry, which I am very glad to say I have now left far behind.

All in all I am warming to 'Dan The Lad' but still await with interest the much fuller picture which will give everyone the opportunity of forming a better opinion. We all want what is best for Blackburn Rovers and can only hope that John Williams & Co together with the Trustees make the right choice. Their record to date suggests they will.

[yoda]

In my humble opinion, we are a small club with relatively low worldwide appeal and have done extremely well to find somebody with enough gumption to put together anything like a package that this one suggests it is.

DW is yet to reveal his backers which is understandable but it seems to me this guy has done an incredible job to sell us to these guys and the bloke should be commended not vilified.

All this "Show me the money" nonsense is bordering on childish at this early stage, it is quite correct that the complexities should be kept quiet for the time being.

As yet nothing has me worried about this takeover, DW has himself pledged that we will have money to spend to maintain a top ten position, money being something we have not had for some time so as far as I am concerned there is nothing, as yet, to worry about.

Brownie where ever I have travelled in the world, I have always met someone who knew of the Rovers, partly because of winning the Premiereship and also because of being in the premiereship. In nearly every case they had done some research into the history of the Rovers and decided the Rovers are worth following. Like I have said previously, any new owner who can tap into the global market could be sitting on a fortune, it won't be long before I have to deliver some more shirts to China.

It is surprising the reaction a Rovers shirt gets because of the unique style

[Fife Rover]

Why is it that everyone's either a hard-bitten cynic who thinks this man is a charlatan, or a starry-eyed dreamer of an optimist who takes everything on faith?

Why is it not possible to keep an open mind on things since we do not have sufficient information on which to make a decision?

If this guy is genuine and good for BRFC and takes over then they'll be a few people with egg on their faces.

I was just about to write something very similar to your post Bryan. To be honest I cannot believe the sheer arrogance of some of the posters above. People ranting about "show me the money" etc. What right have any of us as supporters of the club to see any money? Whoever the parties that are interested in buying Rovers are they deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy, as I am absolutely certain they will be by the only people that have any right to know what is going on at this stage in the proceedings. Yes, I do mean the Walker Trust and the Rovers board. Nobody else has any right whatsoever to know anything. But if either of the parties in the negotiations see fit to inform the supporters with any news that they feel is appropriate at any point in the proceedings, then that is purely and simply a matter for them to decide, and for the rest of us to accept and to trust the Rovers board and the Walker trustees to do the job as they see fit as long as it is in accordance with Jack's wishes. We have to let them get on with it, and to speculate that any would be buyer is unfit either by motive or ability to find the funds is gross discourtesy. It is not for me, you or any of us to sit in judgement on Dan Williams or any one else that the board recognises as a suitable candidate to negotiate with.

So, please let them get on with it without all this outside interference from us. Just TRUST JW and the Walker trustees and let them do whatever they have to do in peace.

[yoda]

On the money Fife Rover

[John]

Well said Fife - too many people (including me) with knee-jerk reactions on this one. The fact we are still (apparently) in discussions with Daniel Williams means he must be a serious candidate to take us over.

I am going to try and not comment until we know a bit more information, as it is pretty sparse at the moment.

[daren]

Always better to err on the side of caution [rest snipped]

Erring on the side of caution is fine. I'm nervous myself. But the outright negativity shown by some people is staggering. I wonder would these people sit around water in the middle of the desert arguing that it wasn't quite clear enough until they died of thirst.

If you trust the current Board, and the Trustees, and believe one of the few categorical statements that DW made (which was that he'd be mad to remove the current Board) then where's the problem? It'll go ahead if they feel it's good, and it won't if they don't. And no-one has questioned Walter Hubert's commitment to the club at any point. He's clearly a fan. I can't imagine why he'd suddenly change colours at age 75, for god's sake, for the sake of money that he doesn't appear to need.

DW's been referred to as 'dodgy', people are screaming 'show me the money', and now you're accusing a bone-fide lifelong fan of attempting to sell the club out. I'm just waiting for someone to break Godwin's law on this one.

[Roversider]

Agree with all the more recent, balanced posts.

There are a few reasons why we are not in a position to criticise Daniel Williams and his backers or, for that matter, be ecstatic yet. I suspect the reality of a new set of owners would be much the same as we have seen from the Trust with some more, modest, investment in the team.

The Trust will verify his credentials.

Walter Hubert does deserve some respect for his past involvement with the Rovers and Blackburn. He and his dad did pretty well for a couple of refugees from a Nazi concentration camp. It is more than unfair to make adverse comments about him without any substantiated evidence.

None of the plans or finances are in the public domain.

The Trust is being very careful about their comments.

Daniel Williams has given arestrained and plausible interview to the LT.

And finally, we have to trust the Trustees because, like it or not, the Rovers is a provately owned company and the owners (i.e. the Trust) can do what they like in terms of sale or no sale. Complicated, admittedly, by any covenants laid down in the trust agreement. Not that we have any idea what those covenants may be.

[92er]

Is it correct that tomorrow the Lancashire Evening Telegraph will reveal further information on the backers behind Daniel Williams?

Does it say that in the hard copy?

Yes.

[RevidgeBlue]

I don't know why so many people on here think that Dan the Man is under any obligation to share anything with the fans, be it his source of personal wealth, who his backers are and so on. He doesn't need our agreement or approval. Anything he puts in the public domain would have to be seen in the context of his real business interests, and I don't know too many who like to share any information that could be useful to potential business rivals.

Jimmy Armfield once said in a commentary that the Ewood faithful are more like a jury than a crowd, and perhaps he had a point.

Not picking on you Rev, but just quoting this as an example.

You are quite right of course in saying that DW is under no obligation whatsoever to share anything with us the fans as to the extent of his personal wealth.

I don't think it's at all unreasonable though as fans to know the precise extent of his personal investment in the takeover. Which he has also declined to reveal at this stage.

Correct me if I'm wrong but unlesss he is purchasing a sizeable proportion of the shares in the club himself (greater than 25%) he will be completely at the mercy of his backers will he not?

Whoever they may be.

[RevidgeBlue]

Is it correct that tomorrow the Lancashire Evening Telegraph will reveal further information on the backers behind Daniel Williams?

Does it say that in the hard copy?

Tomorrow's story in the LT is headlined tonight:

"The men behind the Rovers bid"

Should be very interesting and I find it even more so because I wouldn't have thought they would have allowed a piece like this to be done unless they were deadly serious about actually getting to the stage of lodging a formal bid, which seemed by no means certain going from the article the other day.

[John]

Like a lot of us on here, I am intrigued to find out who they are.... Hubert obviously rates them:

Hubert insists the 30-year-old, whose business interests include Princeton Global, a US building firm that has contracts worth more than $1 billion, has the support of some wealthy backers in the States.

"I can't tell you who they are at this stage, but I can only assure you that they are top drawer," said Hubert.

"These are people who would grace any London establishment, for want of a better phrase, and if they weren't then I wouldn't be involved in this in any way.

The LET's coverage on the takeover has been great so far.

[Craigman]

http://themarpleleaf.blogspot.com/search/label/football

This journalists blog is very interesting. (Michael Taylor) He seems to be in the know of who might be the backers of this bid.

[RevidgeBlue]

The LET's coverage on the takeover has been great so far.

Agreed.

The LT has previously stated that there have been "SEVERAL" expressions of interest from "both home and abroad."

It would be nice to find out who they all are but I don't suppose we'll ever find out unless an alternative bid proves successful.

[BlueMonday]

http://themarpleleaf.blogspot.com/search/label/football

This journalists blog is very interesting. (Michael Taylor) He seems to be in the know of who might be the backers of this bid.

"His backers would make some Rovers fans cry" Don't like the sound of that.

[RevidgeBlue]

http://themarpleleaf.blogspot.com/search/label/football

This journalists blog is very interesting. (Michael Taylor) He seems to be in the know of who might be the backers of this bid.

Again, very interesting.

Of course, there may be no truth in it but if there is, hardly the bluechip names Walter Hubert was promising. Being owned by a City and Spurs fan wouldn't be overly encouraging either.

[modes98]

"His backers would make some Rovers fans cry" Don't like the sound of that.

It says weep not cry and that makes me wonder in which sense he means it.

Does he mean it's that good that we'll just collapse under the pure genious of Daniel Williams in getting these backers or they are that bad that he'll be laughed out of town. I seriously doubt that it would have got this far if it were the latter. Furthermore if he is out to make a name for himself it would destroy his credibility and make this a pointless exercise.

I guess we'll find out tomorrow......

[jim mk2]

Johann Rupert, a South African billionaire, is a possible rival bidder to Daniel Williams in the battle for control at Rovers, it was reported tonight.

Rupert, 57, is the head of Swiss-based Richemont, whose brands include Cartier and Dunhill. His family is the 207th richest in the world, with assets of about £1.65 billion.

He is said to be building a consortium that includes Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huigenza. "My good friend Johann Rupert asked me if I'd be a very, very small partner," Huigenza said. "I did say that I'd do that - but only because I was a friend of his."

[AggyBlue]

Where was that reported Jim?

[Billinge End Blue]

If BRFC are to be subject to an auction of rival bids, I hope the right decision is taken and for the right reasons.

Nothing to add really other than all this takeover speculation has certainly added a whole new dimension to the close season.

We Rovers fans are living in very interesting times...

[Jordan]

Where was that reported Jim?

I'm sure it will be in the papers tomorrow.

It sure is getting interesting.

[Roar of the Rover]

Unless something does'nt go to plan we should have new owners but the sooner the better for us and for Sparky.

[Tris]

So, please let them get on with it without all this outside interference from us. Just TRUST JW and the Walker trustees and let them do whatever they have to do in peace.

I usually agree with everything you post FR, but I only agree with 25% of the above.

Yes, I entirely trust John Williams to make the right decisions for Blackburn Rovers. However I can't "trust" the trustees, because I don't know to what extent we (as Rovers fans) are protected from them by Jack Walker's will.

That aside, the "outside interference" from this messageboard is hardly a dealbreaker. Nobody is outside Ewood Park with placards.

People are commenting on what has been made public via the LET and the Citizen. At this stage, the two people who have propelled this subject into the public domain in such a discussion provoking manner are Mr (D) Williams, and Mr Hubert.

That is their choice, and they must expect some reaction and comment. Therefore I am entitled to make a judgement on this thread about what has been put into the public domain by those individuals.

And - as todays new information is Hubert's comments in the LET - my personal opinion remains negative.

"I've been with Daniel to two or three games since this process began and make no mistake, he's passionate about this club," said Hubert.

DW has only been to three games this season - including the FA semi - according to his own LET interview. Other than that his passion is limited to Sunday mornings on the internet (LET interview). So the games he's been to have been since March then.

Shame such a rich, passionate fan ignored the UEFA Cup run - seems pretty fundamental to me.

These guys have chosen to put a large amount of information in front of us fans, via our local newspaper. Therefore we are entitled to comment on it, and analyse it, wherever we want to and as much as we want to.