[Archived] Nicko's Thread

[rovers_rob]

Hardly, it's a fishing expedition. But if you don't ask, you don't find out.

It seems daft that you have people who don't really want the bother of the club any more - the Trustees - and a potential buyer who has funds and wants to get involved but would be at full stretch to buy it, pay off debts and then have some money for players.

There has to be a way where you can get the best of both worlds, especially if the money is coming from someone with a Rovers connection.

However it needs an expert opinion in this field on how - or if - that arrangement could work...and I'm not that.

I assume this is Dan Williams you are talking about. Do you know if he is still interested in investing/buying the club or has he given up ?

[Blackpool_Rover]

wes hoolahan ??

That would be a backwards step for him. He will end up at a top championship club..watford etc or average prem side. He just thrashed the dingles 3-0 with his current team.

[nicko]

I assume this is Dan Williams you are talking about. Do you know if he is he still interested in investing/buying the club or has he given up ?

I think he is still probably the only person around with money - he just seems to have trouble finding the right allies to get to the magic figure needed. So, why not see if they can get together.

To be fair to the guy, when I first tracked him down, he had good football ideas which is why I had time for him. Money-making was not his motive from what I could gather.

If he has cash - and I believe he does - and the club needs some - which we now know - I just wonder if there is a way of getting them together.

It is nine months since he first showed up by my reckoning and nobody serious has come nearer.

Like I say, it's just an idea and it may not be possible. But you never know.

[Fife Rover]

I've always thought that would be the most likely scenario Alan. They (the board and trustees) have been "inviting" investment forever it seems, and someone coming in as a limited partner gives us the best of all worlds:

1 - We gain the investment we need to chase CL places while Rovers continue on with the sweetest insurance policy perhaps in all the sports world; The Jack Walker Trust as majority shareholder.

2 - The trustees don't have to deal with that pesky problem of meeting the Trust's mechanism for turning over control of the club. Coming from a family that has had trusts in it (AND NO I'm neither rich nor a beneficiary of one of them myself) I think I might have a little better understanding than some here with regards to how they work and why they're set up in the first place. Jack Walker put the club into his trust to protect it's Long Term Future. While a set of requirements may exist for the trust to give up majority financial responsibility, meeting them is likely to be the equivalent of jumping over the Channel. Cue the Python references...........

3 - The new investor can come in and be the hero, hold up the trophies and be a public face of the club without having to take on the ultimate financial responsibility for things or have to pay the full cost that is usually required to attain such a position in society. The trust would remain in their comfortable position in the background, making sure that everything else was being done from a sound fiscal standpoint.

Now..............finding someone like that. Only someone with loads of cash and a serious long time affinity for the club or the desire to be a sports big-shot would be willing to go down that road. Anybody with any ideas?

Dave Whelan? He would have to relinquish all interests in Wigan FC first though.

[nicko]

Dave Whelan? He would have to relinquish all interests in Wigan FC first though.

Not him...see above.

[thenodrog]

I think he is still probably the only person around with money - he just seems to have trouble finding the right allies to get to the magic figure needed. So, why not see if they can get together.

The dollars plunging, the property market is set for a slump so I think Dans power is weakening all the time.

Possibly for different reasons but it appears that Hicks/Gillette are disillusioned and are looking to bail out of Liverpool. Might bang it into the thick heads of US wannabee billionaires what most British money men surely already know, that investing in Prem football is one stupid, loss making move. I pointed out on the other thread that after the events in Newcastle over the past couple of weeks that I am gobsmacked how Ashley has made so much money. I still am, and even more so and the fact that he is about the only individual British serious moneyman left in the Prem kind of backs me up. Alan Sugar must be incredulous at the headlong rush of foreign investors in the Prem. Money laundering / personal security prob being the main reason.

[nicko]

The dollars plunging, the property market is set for a slump so I think Dans power is weakening all the time.

That's the spirit...

[nicko]

I pointed out on the other thread that after the events in Newcastle over the past couple of weeks that I am gobsmacked how Ashley has made so much money.

I think Ashley has just shown why he makes money.

There is only one guy who could guarantee season ticket sales for next season and sell shirts in the next few months.

It is actually quite brilliant.

It might be a marriage of convenience, but it is what the punters want up there and Ashley made his cash by serving the customers.

[thenodrog]

That's the spirit...

Sorry Alan, do you think that statement is inaccurate in any way?

[nicko]

Anyway...on more normal matters.

Amdy Faye is in the area. Now it is down to the paper shufflers to figure out whether he can play or not. Rangers and Charlton are both happy with the arrangement.

Jason Koumas has another admirer. I can't name them - for the usual reasons - but at least it might kick-start this one into action.

The Bulgarian is still here and probably working on his sprinting technique to live up to his billing...

[nicko]

Sorry Alan, do you think that statement is inaccurate in any way?

I think it's a bit sour. The guy wants to get involved and has more money and interest than anyone else we know about.

His prospective partners all backed off because Rovers is not a money-making exercise. Yet, as I understand, his interest is still there.

So, we either moan about how there is no cash to spend in the foreseaable future and come to terms with Trustees who want rid or we think of a solution.

Frankly, it makes little odds to me although it would be nice to write about big-money buys etc. And, from the club's point of view it could mean they had a benefactor who isn't running off with the family jewels if there was a workable partnership.

It's just a suggestion.

[brian_gallagher85]

Good player, but it's not him. I can't say his name, it's too delicate - it's foreign anyway. I;ve got an investment to consider, a chunk at 20 to 1 to get your friendly local rivals promotion.

This is so bloody obvious....you and Dan get your combined fortunes on the Dingles to go up and hey presto, buy Rovers and fuel our Top 4 push...come on it's so simple!

(Anyone have a problem with Burnley coming up if it got us the money?)

....do I smell a People exclusive Mr Nixon?

[nicko]

....do I smell a People exclusive Mr Nixon?

No, just a daft idea. It's hardly exclusive now anyway.

[nicko]

TOP FOUR TRANSFER WATCH...which is maybe relevant just now.

PORTSMOUTH and ASTON VILLA in for Defoe. Pompey asked for loan, Villa may buy. Big dough.

EVERTON may not have much of the McFadden cash to spend. Interesting.

LIVERPOOL...oh dear.

MAN CITY have been knocked back in a loan bid for Podolski and are also temporarily skint.

So maybe you are not as badly off currently as you imagined.

[LeftWinger]

LIVERPOOL...oh dear.

Care to expand?

[brian_gallagher85]

Please do expand, I want to depress my dad

[nicko]

Care to expand?

Manager who has lost the faith of the owners.

Fans who side with the boss against the owners despite the fact that his signings and tactics have made them also-rans.

Owners who never come to games and would sell if they could find a buyer.

And if they miss out on the top four...the next Leeds United?

[herbergeehh]

Gerrard and Torres going on loan to Burnley, funded by some "Nick Alanson". Apparently, he's got a big big bet on Burnley for promotion.

[nicko]

Gerrard and Torres going on loan to Burnley, funded by some "Nick Alanson". Apparently, he's got a big big bet on Burnley for promotion.

Would have to accept squad rotation.

Anyway, got to go, day job calls.

[Ronin]

Manager who has lost the faith of the owners.

Fans who side with the boss against the owners despite the fact that his signings and tactics have made them also-rans.

Owners who never come to games and would sell if they could find a buyer.

And if they miss out on the top four...the next Leeds United?

Oh dear, never mind, what a pity!

[thenodrog]

And if they miss out on the top four...the next Leeds United?

Somehow I can't see that happening but it might quell the madness and be the best thing to happen to the future of English football.

[Cocker]

EVERTON may not have much of the McFadden cash to spend. Interesting.

MAN CITY have been knocked back in a loan bid for Podolski and are also temporarily skint.

Is that not because they'll be putting it towards paying for Pienaar and Fernandes - therefore they won't be spending it on any new players?

As for city - I would have hated them to get Podolski because I think he is ace and city are crying our for a decent striker

[rovers1993]

we are now linked with owen.. any thing on this nicko?

[LeftWinger]

we are now linked with owen.. any thing on this nicko?

Where you getting that from?

[John]

No need for panic until the window ends. Pletly of movement can still happen in the last few days of the window.

Other clubs appear to be struggling in the market, and their managers are openly admitting this. The majority of clubs who are being active in the market are paying over the odds.