[Archived] Rovers Takeover Thread

[S15]

Nicko is the takeover situation entering an advanced stage.ive heard rumours,that Ronnie and his goons are getting positive responses from those concerned.

Where did you hear rumours?

The Rovers takeover talk of the town in Cape Town?

Or just trying your hardest to get something which doesn't exist?

[The Prof.]

I think a general statement of intent is due from the trustees regarding:

a. The takeover

b. Funding

c. Intent

I don't think the trust is a PLC (anyone?) but if it was it would need to make a statement.

As it has a large number of stakeholders (fans) they should have the courtesy to make a clear statement on their view of the future of the club. At the moment it smacks of 'we have little interest in this part of our investment portfolio.'

Very disappointed at the mo' but three wins from three and hey - that will change.

[Brfcrule1]

Hello all,

Nicko there must be some news on the takeover are they at an advanced stage? what is happening? I notice there was nothing mentioned in the people

please reply when any info is known

laters all.

[philipl]

The odds are very heavily stacked against a deal at the moment. It is clear from the time they are all taking that the people talking to Rothschilds simply don't have enough dosh.

[dave birch]

There is one aspect of the Trust's business that hasn't been taken into consideration here, and that is the issue of the oil price and it's effect on the airline industry.

It's my opinion that it's impacting the trust significantly, and sidelining the Rovers sale somewhat.

[Eddie]

Possibly, but the financial results for the airline for the last financial year were good.

[dave birch]

Eddie, those were based on last years results. How much has oil gone up in the last year, and particularly in the last couple of months/weeks. That, to any airline owner has to be a problem. The value has to be plummeting.

[Dan Furness]

Airlines are dropping thick and fast

[doctorryan]

Eddie, those were based on last years results. How much has oil gone up in the last year, and particularly in the last couple of months/weeks. That, to any airline owner has to be a problem. The value has to be plummeting.

Yo DB! How do you know the Trust (or FlyBE) didn't purchase oil futures as a hedge against prices escalating? Some airlines do that kind of thing. It's my GUESS that you don't have any idea what the value of the airline or the trust is, so give it a break. There are enough wild speculators on this board as it is.

[PAFELL]

Nicko can you tell us anything about the takeover news you mentioned you were going to tell us?

I think it is obvious now that nothing is happening on the takeover - at least for a while.

[philipl]

Well written article Guardian article but there are at least four factual errors.

[grummer]

Well written article Guardian article but there are at least four factual errors.

I'm very much an admirer of David Conn's work. Philip, could you highlight the factual errors please?

[philipl]

I'm very much an admirer of David Conn's work. Philip, could you highlight the factual errors please?

You won't be surprised who Maltesefalcon is who has just posted a comment in the blog.

The other error was the 21,000 attendance figure- the average in the seasons since Jack's death is about 24,000 with last season's figure pretty well bang on the average.

[American]

What a brutally written sentence:

Rovers, the football club of grand tradition parked in the depressed former mill town in Lancashire, are owned by the trust Walker set up during his lifetime in Jersey, the Channel Islands tax haven to which he moved, from Blackburn, in 1974.

And it can't be that great of a column if it has 4 factual errors in it.

[dave birch]

Yo DB! How do you know the Trust (or FlyBE) didn't purchase oil futures as a hedge against prices escalating? Some airlines do that kind of thing. It's my GUESS that you don't have any idea what the value of the airline or the trust is, so give it a break. There are enough wild speculators on this board as it is.

Just caught up with this.

Certainly, if there are decent managers in charge, then Flybe would hedge to a certain extent, but they won't do it on all their oil purchases. A hedge price today will be different from one tomorrow, and the way the oil price has been going, you can bet that it's not lower.

Of course I don't know what the value of the trust is. I doubt that the trustees know that as the value would fluctuate from day to day.

Finally, it's far from being wild speculation. It's a factor that anyone with half an interest in the Rovers would have to think about, because it directly affects (and may have already done so in the lack of funds made available in January) the Rovers.

[Paul Mellelieu]

You won't be surprised who Maltesefalcon is who has just posted a comment in the blog.

The other error was the 21,000 attendance figure- the average in the seasons since Jack's death is about 24,000 with last season's figure pretty well bang on the average.

Philip,

I can't see your reply.

Paul

[doctorryan]

Just caught up with this.

Certainly, if there are decent managers in charge, then Flybe would hedge to a certain extent, but they won't do it on all their oil purchases. A hedge price today will be different from one tomorrow, and the way the oil price has been going, you can bet that it's not lower.

Of course I don't know what the value of the trust is. I doubt that the trustees know that as the value would fluctuate from day to day.

Finally, it's far from being wild speculation. It's a factor that anyone with half an interest in the Rovers would have to think about, because it directly affects (and may have already done so in the lack of funds made available in January) the Rovers.

Funny.....you sound like someone who went and did some research in order to come up with a response because you knew you'd been called out. Your research was not good enough I'm afraid. Try reading this: Jeff Randall Live featuring FlyBE's CEO Jim French 9/06/08

The point is this: IT IS wild speculation when you've only a vague understanding of the situation. The Trust is worth Billions. Hell, FlyBE just spent $2 billion alone on the purchase of new planes in the last 5 years. The club is worth maybe £75-£100 million max, if you include the stadium deed and all 130 acres at Brockhall that are supposed to be reserved for the club (there's 260 total as I understand it), but then that's just me SPECULATING.

Whatever the club's true market value, it's just a drop of water in the ocean that is the Jack Walker Settlement. That the Trustees have chosen to suspend investment (for now anyway) in BRFC and look for new investors is a decision that all of us on the outside can only guess about. And as I alluded to before: There's enough of that here as it is.

[dave birch]

Funny.....you sound like someone who went and did some research in order to come up with a response because you knew you'd been called out. Your research was not good enough I'm afraid. Try reading this: Jeff Randall Live featuring FlyBE's CEO Jim French 9/06/08

The point is this: IT IS wild speculation when you've only a vague understanding of the situation. The Trust is worth Billions. Hell, FlyBE just spent $2 billion alone on the purchase of new planes in the last 5 years. The club is worth maybe £75-£100 million max, if you include the stadium deed and all 130 acres at Brockhall that are supposed to be reserved for the club (there's 260 total as I understand it), but then that's just me SPECULATING.

Whatever the club's true market value, it's just a drop of water in the ocean that is the Jack Walker Settlement. That the Trustees have chosen to suspend investment (for now anyway) in BRFC and look for new investors is a decision that all of us on the outside can only guess about. And as I alluded to before: There's enough of that here as it is.

Worth Billions is it? I think that back my comments.

I might do a "drog" here.

It's my educated guess that you're a doctor ( or trying to become one, you may even be a Phd, or trying to become one), but in business, cash is everything. When it runs short, you have problems. When you can see problems ahead, you plan. You getting my drift? That is what the Walker Trust is doing. It's protecting its base. It's not rocket science, hell, it's not even medical science, it's common sense, financial sense.

[part69]

Hi, Im a Rovers supporter as well as an employee at Flybe

Just to clear a few things.

This month we have just repaid the final £20 million the walker trust loaned to us in 2001 to keep us afloat. (We were basically bankrupt)

Record profits about to be announced for last year. (probably due to £100 million British Airways paid us to take their regional operations).

Are fuel is hedged 75% for 08/09

Oil needs to reach $170 per barrel before start losing money as we operate fuel efficient aircraft. For ryanair and easyjet its $130.

We now have very good cash reserves, shame we don't sponser Rovers.

We are due to Float on Market as soon as conditions prevail as Walker trust want rid.

Hope this helps, lets hope we find a buyer for Rovers soon, to give Incy some cash and keep us in premier league!

[philipl]

Philip,

I can't see your reply.

Paul

Posted at 6.49.

Incidentally, the Guardian have brought this comment on the blog onto themselves by their stupid headline in the news section-

"Is this all some kind of code for "the Trust is selling up because Paul Ince is Black?" "

[DannyKeg]

When clubs are relegated (or promoted,) there are various figures mentioned concerning what a place in the premier league is worth, compared to the championship. I’ve heard anything from £30 million to £60 million quoted in this respect.

I guess this sum is a total of TV money, gates, sponsorship, merchandising, transfers out and place prize money.

If players wages amount to £37 million, and our 7th. place finish brings in £10 million.

How self sufficient are we at the moment ? and is the trust's decision to suspend funding justified and understandable ?

[philipl]

Yes the club is currently self-sufficient.

Wages were budgeted to be £40m in 07/8 and the 7th placed finish MIGHT have pushed income to £60m.

[j166429]

What do you make of this nicko?

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=99852

Nothing there that we don't already know. The thing that I don't understand is why, if they want out of the club, are they apparently making things difficult for potentiel investors ie. Chris Ronnie?

[nicko]

What do you make of this nicko?

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=99852

Nothing there that we don't already know. The thing that I don't understand is why, if they want out of the club, are they apparently making things difficult for potentiel investors ie. Chris Ronnie?

Read it all before...written most of it all before. It's mostly well out-of-date.

There's more I could add at this stage, but it's probably best for things to run their course.

I believe next week's Guardian has an article on the Relief of Mafeking.

[doctorryan]

Worth Billions is it? I think that back my comments.

I might do a "drog" here.

It's my educated guess that you're a doctor ( or trying to become one, you may even be a Phd, or trying to become one), but in business, cash is everything. When it runs short, you have problems. When you can see problems ahead, you plan. You getting my drift? That is what the Walker Trust is doing. It's protecting its base. It's not rocket science, hell, it's not even medical science, it's common sense, financial sense.

Did you even read the link?

Do all the "drogs" you want. Your guesses aren't educated at all.

doctorryan is a nickname on a message board. I'm not a physician, but I come from a family with trusts in it. Reading most of the stuff that gets posted here about the Trust makes me laugh my ass off. You honestly think that there's not a serious percentage of the Trust's holdings that are of the liquid type (i.e. cash or other easily convertible holdings). They must be really dumb but lucky, huh? If you're smart, you plan regardless of whether you can see problems ahead or not. It's common sense not to "call a shot" as we say in my part of the world when you don't have the information to support your point. But maybe that's the equivalent of rocket science in your world. You getting my drift?