[Archived] Rovers Takeover Thread

[Billy Castell]

Carson to buy big club

He has finally made a formal offer and has already had 80% accepted the bid of £1 a share.

Now the Porno Boys can buy West Ham and flog jellied eel sex lube to Ray Winstone. Apparently Yeung has a reputation of being a right meddler, as he often picked the team etc. at Hong Kong Rangers, another club he has owned. Watching Big Club may be interesting in the future, as Yeung could well be a Chnese Vladimir Romanov.

[Kelbo]

One thing I remember Jack saying was, we must ensure that if anyone puts money into the club,it must not be short term!!

To protect against investment and walking away leaving the club heavily in debt!

[Bobby G]

Yes, but how detailed could the will be in terms of safeguards considering that some of the things happening in football today did no begin to do so until around about 2004 or so (going bust, administration, foreign owners)

[Stuart]

Because of the debate going on in the transfer thread, I thought I'd bump this one.

I'm not sure anything has changed other than Manchester City have made it even harder to compete. That's not bitterness, that is just fact.

When a massive injection of money comes into any market it drives prices up and whilst we may be patting ourselves on the back for selling players for very high fees the fact is that also drives prices up such that "cheap" replacements are no longer cheap. In a market where a left back costs £8-12M, a right back can cost £16M and a proven premier league striker costs upwards of £12M, before you even start with £70-80k per week wages. Fact is we cannot compete. We cannot even get close. And even if Jack were alive we would struggle to get into the second tier of the premier league such as it is now. However, if we learn anything from history it is that whenever there is a bubble market it is followed, inevitably, by a bang.

It would be interesting to know how much the TOTAL weekly wage of the premier league is now, today, and how much has gone on transfer fees in the last year. I wouldn't be surprised if we weren't talking over £10M per week in wages and nearly a half billion pounds in the last year or so. Scary.

When, if ever, is this bubble going to burst and what will be the repercussions, in real terms?

Are we going to see administrations and points deductions? Would it even matter to a club like us if United or Liverpool lost 10 points?

Are either of those two ever likely to go to the wall? Highly doubtful. Perhaps the if likes of Portsmouth and West Ham did have deductions it could mean relegation but I'm not sure there'd be many others, in the Premier League.

Unless we find an investor or benefactor, we are relying on this 'football crunch' arriving sooner rather than later. No doubt though, despite cutting our cloth accordingly for the last few years, we will probably still be one of those affected rather than benefitting from it. A takeover would be put on permanent hold because no-one will want to get involved in a football club.

[Craigman]

Has anyone thought about emailing or contacting Rothschilds about the club, or even trying to contact the club's owners to vent their frustrations about this. Surely Rothschilds are trying to sell our club, and they should be advertising the club. There is nothing ever mentioned these days about a takeover, nothing has been in the media about the trustees trying to sell the club.

[67splitscreen]

You could always try ebay.

I doubt a football club is banded about like a second hand car.

People looking for this type of investment will know it's just we are not even close to the top of any list (high risk, no return, and plenty to lose) for any investor.

[Mr. E]

Because of the debate going on in the transfer thread, I thought I'd bump this one.

When, if ever, is this bubble going to burst and what will be the repercussions, in real terms?

Are we going to see administrations and points deductions? Would it even matter to a club like us if United or Liverpool lost 10 points?

Are either of those two ever likely to go to the wall? Highly doubtful. Perhaps the if likes of Portsmouth and West Ham did have deductions it could mean relegation but I'm not sure there'd be many others, in the Premier League.

Unless we find an investor or benefactor, we are relying on this 'football crunch' arriving sooner rather than later. No doubt though, despite cutting our cloth accordingly for the last few years, we will probably still be one of those affected rather than benefitting from it. A takeover would be put on permanent hold because no-one will want to get involved in a football club.

I dream of Chelsea or ManCity being left with so much impossible debt that they go into liquidation...but it's only a dream.

[Exiled in Toronto]

We had just about the lowest debt of any club in the top flight and apparently ours was the only one that had to be paid off in full right now.

I don't think there's much danger we'll be sold to asset strippers -their work here is done already!

[Atty]

We had just about the lowest debt of any club in the top flight and apparently ours was the only one that had to be paid off in full right now.

I don't think there's much danger we'll be sold to asset strippers -their work here is done already!

Agreed.

[Iceman]

Well when they do, we will ask your bank manager to make a statement about your account just to balance things out...

Being more serious, this is one of those things that will be handled with the utmost professionalism and I would expect that the amount of noise made about a prospective buyer will be inversely proportional to their chances of closing a deal.

Im confused by the response to my question, and not exactly sure what my bank balance has to do with the sale of the club. Anyway, all i wanted to know was if there has been any further progress in finding a buyer and if the people handling the sale could let us know. Still a bit confused at Philip's response, as i enjoy reading his posts.

[TimmyJimmy]

When, if ever, is this bubble going to burst and what will be the repercussions, in real terms?

I don't think it will ever burst for the big boys ie the Uniteds or Liverpools etc. These were once driven by a desire for money now they are driven by a need for money. Eventually they will be forced to quit the EPL and start up a European League of some sort. Probably there will be a zero relegation rule so everyone else is frozen out and they will survive off extra global television money and turn into the Harlem Globe Trotters etc.. They will play not for glory and not for the fans but just as entertainers and the money.

The rest of us will either survive but have nothing to play for becasue they've gone OR some will collapse under the weight of debt because they are overstretched and cannot generate enough money to support the interest payments because everyone is off watching the Eurpoean League on the tele.

The money in the current game will, one way or another, kill the game off, it's just a question of time.

Interestingly it's always been the over-extended clubs who are on the brink of collapse that got bought up. But going forward why would anyone do that for the remainder clubs if no ones going to around to watch us? Hence no buyer interest.

I'm not gloomy on this because I will greatly enjoy turning up to watch us play other 'proper' clubs albeit with small crowds. At least it will mean something.

[modes98]

I would have thought the introduction of home grown quotas and the possibility of wage caps will bring some relief to clubs like ourselves. I think we will be gone from the PL by that time unless a Blackburn Rovers fan hits the big money some time soon.

[67splitscreen]

Every time the topic appears I just can't resist.

[philipl]

Sorry Icers.

What I was trying to say is that Rothschilds are a bank and have a banking relationship with Rovers just as your bank has a relationship with you.

It is as realistic to expect a statement from Rothschilds as for you to open the Cape Argus and find your bank manager has published your last bank statement in it.

The point about noise is that Dan Williams and Chris Ronnie were all mouth and no trousers. If we hear of a prospective buyer it is more likely to be another one who cannot fulfill the requirements of Jack's settlement than somebody whom the Trustees believe they can safely pass the club to.

[Billy Castell]

You'd have to stop teams like Arsenal and ManUtd poaching 14 year olds from other clubs if the quota system came in. Otherwise nowt will change. I would welcome a Euro Super league, as people will eventually lose interest after a few seasons, and it will be like the A1 Grand Prix. And thus clubs like Man Utd will go under. Kick out the toys and the greedy clubs, and let proper football flourish again.

[Craigman]

Could we be close to a takeover ?

Is there any news Nicko ?

[joey_big_nose]

Sorry Icers.

What I was trying to say is that Rothschilds are a bank and have a banking relationship with Rovers just as your bank has a relationship with you.

It is as realistic to expect a statement from Rothschilds as for you to open the Cape Argus and find your bank manager has published your last bank statement in it.

The point about noise is that Dan Williams and Chris Ronnie were all mouth and no trousers. If we hear of a prospective buyer it is more likely to be another one who cannot fulfill the requirements of Jack's settlement than somebody whom the Trustees believe they can safely pass the club to.

I just get the feeling the Trustees are upping the ante now. They are clearing the decks, painting up the gables, putting out the specials board in order to try and aggressively sell the club.

There is nothing wrong with that, it needs to happen it would seem, simply because the Trustees don't want the club anymore and it is not healthy having someone in charge who is frustrated out of an exit by having no buyer. I just hope the standards of who is acceptable does not fall.

[philipl]

I just get the feeling the Trustees are upping the ante now. They are clearing the decks, painting up the gables, putting out the specials board in order to try and aggressively sell the club.

There is nothing wrong with that, it needs to happen it would seem, simply because the Trustees don't want the club anymore and it is not healthy having someone in charge who is frustrated out of an exit by having no buyer. I just hope the standards of who is acceptable does not fall.

No.

I don't think it is safe for anyone to assume the situation is changed from what it was three summers ago when the club said the Trustees were open for offers.

Rovers' ownership is unique. Trustees by their very nature are extremely cautious people with a verty long term view on things, especially when the trust is as big as the Jack Walker Trust is. The only thing that can change is a new owner emerges who can fulfill Jack's wishes and offer a better future for Rovers long term than the provisions of his Trust can.

I don't think Jack has popped down from heaven to cross a few lines out and add a word here and there in his deed of settlement.

[Eddie]

The trust has without doubt changed things a bit over the past few years. To say otherwise is to just ignore the obvious, this may be stipulated by the terms of the trust, who knows, but if you really think the policy is the same now as it was five-six seasons ago then we aren't watching the same thing happen.

[philipl]

Interesting article from BBC

Even the American who searches for investors says now investors are looking for a return on their investment.

I still find that commentators are completely gaga on the Glazers. £250m+ has been syphoned off in interest payments that could have been spent on transfer fees. If the equivalent had happened at Rovers, the fans would have rioted.

[rebelmswar]

Interesting article from BBC

Even the American who searches for investors says now investors are looking for a return on their investment.

I still find that commentators are completely gaga on the Glazers. £250m+ has been syphoned off in interest payments that could have been spent on transfer fees. If the equivalent had happened at Rovers, the fans would have rioted.

You forget philipl that Rovers fans (mostly) seem to have a higher IQ.

As long as the Great Pooba stops the volcano from erupting everything is great.

[American]

Also forgot the cups, league titles and Champions League title. If they spent the money who's to say they'd have won anything more?

[PAFELL]

I dream of Chelsea or ManCity being left with so much impossible debt that they go into liquidation...but it's only a dream.

Jack Walker protected Rovers in the event of his death - we do not know if any other owner of a football club has done so. If the owners of chelsea / man u / man city / liverpool have not planned anything for their clubs in the event of their death - what would happen? They would all have debts that they cannot manage and therefore I presume fold. Only time will tell. For Jack Walker, Rovers was a love. For the other owners it is just a business.

[Exiled in Toronto]

For Jack Walker, Rovers was a love. For the other owners it is just a business.

...for the Walker Trust, it is an unwanted liability

[Alan75]

...for the Walker Trust, it is an unwanted liability

We'll as supporters lets be gratefull to Uncle Jack's legacy.