[Archived] Rovers Takeover Thread

[dingles staying down 4ever]

...and it degenerates into a racist slur slanging match.

Back on track, is there any genuine takeover interest that's recent and relevant in our club? I've heard nothing for ages.

no...nope....not a thing!

[modes98]

Stay on Topic please lads and lasses.

[JC4LAB]

According to GMTV this morning looks like Everton may be the next to have billionaire owners..An Indian reputed to be the sixth richest man in the world is said to be interested......

[Billy Castell]

Note to Colin, Gordon and Phil: This thread is about the Rovers takeover, not Islam, racism and petty personal feuds. Please refrain from treading over this area again, have your threesome gang bang in private and leave the rest of us to read our threads free from the kind of tedious repeats Guy Ritchie would be ashamed of.

To get back on topic, I doubt we'll get some billionaire as we have few fans, unlike Everton, and our greatest successes have been many years ago. The only thing we have in our favour is that we're financially sound and run with stability in mind. Everton would be the next rich man's toy as they are a solid team with good potential for expand their fanbase and status. A bit like Aston Villa when Randy Lerner took over.

[blue phil]

I think you actually need to justify that opinion with some rational comments rather than to make the statement and invite people to argue against it.

You'll need to do something a bit more substantial than "I feel it's natural......"

Just plain common sense , Colin .

People who live in a town tend to know more about that town than , for example , people who live on a faraway island who haven't visited in decades . Or those who live in a city 50 miles away who only pass through once a fortnight for an hour and a half . Like I said , just plain common sense ; if it's too difficult for you to comprehend then I can't really help you ....

But if you feel you know more about the town and its people than myself then , like I said earlier , I'm open to counter arguments . That goes for the other one-line-snipers out there - I welcome debate on the future of the club and its (in)ability to atttract support from the communities within the area .

As for the relevance of my arguments I'm not the one who raised the potential of attracting Asian owners who may in turn attract much needed support from the Muslim sections of Blackburn . I merely expressed my views (which , like it or not , are shared by many , many fans - particular those who live locally ) that this would be counter productive . Like it or not the two communities in this town do NOT have the same interests and , apart from individual cases , are intent on leading seperate existencies .

It is even more relevant when you consider that a short while ago we were indeed linked with an "Asian" gentleman . Thankfully it all fell through and , IMO , the club didn't risk its very existence by rushing in foolishly and alienating its true core support . Pointing this out may offend your notoriously brittle sensitivities but it is something that the club had better consider seriously when planning its future .

Now let's hear something a little "substantial" on your part , Col . The tiresome late night one-line digs backed up by the pitiful contributions of old man jim don't add much to the debate .

[blue phil]

Have you asked "most people" because you seem to think you speak for "most people" all the time ?

Or is it "most people" in the Blackburn branch of the BNP ?

You're a bore Enoch.

So boring that you feel obliged to quote and answer .....no change there then

As for the pedantic part of your post I will , if it is so important to you , gladly amend the "most people" to something along the lines of "some" people or "many" people ....although I do feel on reflection that "most" people was accurate enough .

Oh ...and I have never had any connection with any branch of the BNP ...or any other party come to that .

Now is it being pedantic to ask yourself to try and debate in a reasonable , adult manner without recourse to your usual mudslinging tactics ? Or is that too "boring" for you ?

[CrazyIvan]

For gods sake! Can we talk about what this thread is supposed to be about rather than racial divides in Blackburn?

[gumboots]

I work in Blackburn and in schools with large numbers of Asian pupils. There is surprisingly little racism between white kids and Asian kids and some very good friendships. The worst racial tensions seem to be between those of Indian origin and those of Pakistani, Bangladeshi or other origins. To say that most people in Blackburn are in some way against the Asian population or that the Asian population are not prepared to integrate is a sweeping generalisation that has little basis in what I see every day. Whoever takes over Rovers will need to work hard to bring back old fans and to attract new fans. The reality is that kids are largely brainwashed by Sky nowadays and many of them know the names of those who play in the Champions league but could not name the Rovers first team squad. That's not an Asian/white divide. That is fact from talking to kids in town who do not read newspapers or go to matches but watch SSN. With many boys growing up in households where there is no father figure to take them to matches and probably no money to pay for them anyway, lads take their heroes form la Liga or Serie a as much as from Man U or Chelsea or whoever. Only if we could start to attract superstar players would we stand a chance of drawing in large numbers of people and then only if they looked like they were going to stay for a long time.

[RovertheHill]

As for the relevance of my arguments I'm not the one who raised the potential of attracting Asian owners who may in turn attract much needed support from the Muslim sections of Blackburn . I merely expressed my views (which , like it or not , are shared by many , many fans - particular those who live locally ) that this would be counter productive . Like it or not the two communities in this town do NOT have the same interests and , apart from individual cases , are intent on leading seperate existencies .

I am interested to know how attracting more FANS to Ewood would be, in any way shape or form, counter-productive? After all, the money that those FANS brought to the club is the same as mine and yours. The only way I can see that it would be counter-productive is that those FANS drove away some existing fans? Now, why would that be the case? Frankly, I'm pretty sure I don't have the same interest as many other Rovers fans, other than Rovers. That's certainly true of some who sit near me for sure. But it doesn't matter when we're all supporting Rovers - how could it?

Back on the topic - there appear to be 2 types of buyers in the prem league - those who want a return, and those who want a plaything. Not convinced I wan't either to own and run our club

[blue phil]

I am interested to know how attracting more FANS to Ewood would be, in any way shape or form, counter-productive? After all, the money that those FANS brought to the club is the same as mine and yours. The only way I can see that it would be counter-productive is that those FANS drove away some existing fans? Now, why would that be the case?

Without labouring the point , we have history and traditions that cannot be simply overthrown and replaced by foreign owners of any persuasion .

To put it simply if we were taken other by a Yank looking for a franchise it would be enough to drive me away (and yes , there are many like me !) . If we were taken over by an Asian Muslim then that would also drive me away ( and yes , there are even more like me in that category !) These owners may well attract new fans .....but would they still be there when the novelty has worn off on a wet Wednesday night ?

We can all smile and trot out the usual mantra that new owners might bring in the Asian fans (who may , or may not even exist) . But don't mistake that for what would probably happen in reality .....

.........and don't shoot the messenger who points this out

[trueblue]

Will you all PLEASE keep this thread to dicussing what the topic says... 'Rovers Takeover' !!!

Thank you

[blue phil]

But that's what we are talking about - possible Rovers takeovers

If you wish to contain it to possible non foreign , white Anglo Saxon bidders only then please say so . It should make for an interesting discussion .

So anything new about ginger to$$er Dan Williams ...?

[JAL]

Just cant understand why we need new owners when the current ones are rich enough with plenty to spare.

[stuwilky]

If we were taken over by an Asian Muslim then that would also drive me away ( and yes , there are even more like me in that category !)

Wouldnt you at least wait to see what plans he/she/they had for the club you support before abandoning all hope?

[Flopsy]

hopefully not.

We have to trust the Trustee's to do what's best for the longterm future of the club. The ongoing financial issues means that the chances of a British or American group doing it are minimal, therefore any bid will be coming from further overseas.

[dr_awol]

Wouldnt you at least wait to see what plans he/she/they had for the club you support before abandoning all hope?

i trust the rules uncle jack set for selling the club, and if they happened to be Asian Muslim are what ever, then that would not matter as they would had to have passed JW criteria, and yes , there are even more like me in this category.

alto the trust are willing sellers they dont apper to be desprate to sell which can only be a good thing.

[blue phil]

Probably not , Stu ....if truth be told .

Neither would I if it were a Glazer or an Abramovitch or an Ashley .

I'm a traditionalist at heart . Most* fans who have left the game have done so because they disagree with current trends about money , greed etc .

....oh - and I doubt if any Asian bidder for the club would be a "she" - I doubt that would be acceptable to many potential new fans in the town

* I used the word "most" ; I hope this isn't offensive to old man jim

And now I must depart this thread for the time being ; a moderator is making some very unsavoury , if rather silly , noises via the PM .......

[RovertheHill]

Without labouring the point , we have history and traditions that cannot be simply overthrown and replaced by foreign owners of any persuasion .

To put it simply if we were taken other by a Yank looking for a franchise it would be enough to drive me away (and yes , there are many like me !) . If we were taken over by an Asian Muslim then that would also drive me away ( and yes , there are even more like me in that category !) These owners may well attract new fans .....but would they still be there when the novelty has worn off on a wet Wednesday night ?

We can all smile and trot out the usual mantra that new owners might bring in the Asian fans (who may , or may not even exist) . But don't mistake that for what would probably happen in reality .....

.........and don't shoot the messenger who points this out

Well I'm sorry but you are going to have to labour the point with me as I don't understand why you would be driven away if the club were taken over by whoever? Now I caveat that by the club being run in a fit and proper manner - for example Lerner at Villa seems to be doing a sensible job. I don't like it any more than you but face facts - the current oweners want to sell and as I said there are 2 types of owenrs out there - those in it for a buck (unlikely with Rovers) and those looking for a toy. The only other type we had in Jack, and I don't think we will be that lucky again.

[dr_awol]

i forgot the point i was trying to make. so i removed it. but it had a nice grath

Top European Football Leagues Average Attendances 1966/67-2007/08

which should not go to waste

[stuwilky]

Probably not , Stu ....if truth be told .

Neither would I if it were a Glazer or an Abramovitch or an Ashley .

I'm a traditionalist at heart . Most* fans who have left the game have done so because they disagree with current trends about money , greed etc .

Strangely I agree with most of this.

Personally, and call me old fashioned, whoever our new owners may be I couldnt give a flying one about. As long as they held the best interests of OUR football club at heart.

[AggyBlue]

a moderator is making some very unsavoury , if rather silly , noises via the PM .......

Well, who'd have thought

[Hughesy]

Just cant understand why we need new owners when the current ones are rich enough with plenty to spare.

Because they havent really followed Jack's wishes. Yes they have kept us afloat and helped us over the last 10 years but Im 100% certain that if he was still alive then he would still own us and still be pumping Millions £'s every year into us.

[colin]

Note to Colin, Gordon and Phil: This thread is about the Rovers takeover, not Islam, racism and petty personal feuds.

Just to extract myself out of your observation. I just had a quick laugh at Blue Phil for his obsession with Islam.

If the truth be told I'll stick with my post from last night that I don't really want to be taken over by any billionaire.

Perhaps where I differentiate with Phil is that I don't rate these potention billionaires by their religion. Apart from that I agree 100% with his posts that we are a independant club, pulling our weight in a competative league and I'd really rather not have Rovers as a toy for someone who wants a "train set" to play with just to keep up with Abramovich or Abu Dhabi sheiks.

Whatever their religion. It's a bit humiliating isn't it: to be supporting a team that is basically a hobby for someone who sits in the executive box and gets his kicks from a game he knows nothing about; in a town he knows nothing about; watching a team he knows nothing about; has no appreciation of the history of the game, the history of the club. Then he has his fun watching the supporters celebrating these things. He's using them for fun.

It's a bit like paying two people having sex, watching it, and pretending to enjoy it.

I don't suppose yer sheik who took over Manchester City has the faintest idea who Bert Trautmann or Colin Bell or Franny Lee were. Abramovich probably has no idea about Peter Houseman or Ron Harris or Peter Osgood. The Gaziers couldn't tell George Best or Duncan Edwards from a balance sheet.

The day Rovers is taken over from some rich person who has never heard of Ronnie Clayton, Bryan Douglas, Bob Compton or Simon Garner is the day that my soul will die a little bit.

It's late; I don't live in Blackburn. Anyone want to disagree?

[Paul]

i trust the rules uncle jack set for selling the club,

The problem with this being that once the club is sold the rules no longer apply. Clearly the Trust will try to find a fit and proper buyer but there is nothing they can do to control the buyer's future actions.

[The Prof.]

Probably not , Stu ....if truth be told .

Neither would I if it were a Glazer or an Abramovitch or an Ashley .

I'm a traditionalist at heart . Most* fans who have left the game have done so because they disagree with current trends about money , greed etc .

....oh - and I doubt if any Asian bidder for the club would be a "she" - I doubt that would be acceptable to many potential new fans in the town

* I used the word "most" ; I hope this isn't offensive to old man jim

And now I must depart this thread for the time being ; a moderator is making some very unsavoury , if rather silly , noises via the PM .......

So you'd have turned down the City buying Arabs with their trillions eh? No chance - you'd be the first to buy a head dress! Or is it just some Muslims you object to like those next door to you?