[Archived] Nickos (newer) Thread

[Roversider]

You can make your business run well and possibly make a profit on it, but maybe his motivation is just to 'have' a Premier League club.

I can think of worse things to want.

Better a businessman than a fan who wants to throw daft money about and lose it.

Totally agree Nicko, got to say I think the Trustees appear to be putting a rich price on the club. A normal way to price up a business would be to look at a P/E rating and using that to decide how much. For example a P/E of 10 would take a company with a profit of £4 million p.a. and price it at £40 million. The riskier the business, the higher the P/E. Obviously you can also take into account the balance sheet worth of the business.

All seems a bit rich but given that the trustees need to look after the overall trust fund there may be other issues we aren't privy to.

As to the motivation of Mr. Chowdery perhaps he sees some business opportunities we haven't discussed, for example the potential to make money in the sub-continent by using a Premiership club. Anyway, providing his motivation isn't based on asset stripping that is all fine by me. Asset stripping doesn't make much sense though as that would certainly destroy the money to be earned via staying in the Premiership.

Mind you, like they say, how do you make a millionaire? Get a billionaire to buy a football club

[Exiled in Toronto]

I've never thought that the asset-stripping concern holds much water. Ewood is effectively a white elephant, hardly a desirable piece of real estate. Brockhall obviously is attractive but I'm sure you could buy much bigger and better pieces of land for the price of buying the Rovers.

Staying in the Premiership makes by far the most financial sense, guaranteeing as it does massive annual payments just for being a member; payments that are quite likely to keep rising on average well above inflation as overseas rights are still relatively untapped.

So I don't get the immediate distrust of any potential buyer; there's nothing wrong with wanting to make money over time, probably through increased capital value of the club. Isn't that how property developers work? Buy at a good price, spruce it up to increase its value and sell later for a profit? On the other hand, our current owners want to sell up so that the money can be invested elsewhere to make yet more money for the ultimate benefit of an already very rich family. Not sure I see that one is good and one is bad.

[PAFELL]

I have only read the web version of the article, so if that is not the full info I apologise.I agree with you Pafell about Brad etc, and I am not trying to be negative.We were extremely lucky to have had Uncle Jack, and it is unrealistic to expect another local bloke with plenty of money to pop up from nowhere, I would remain wary of a guy who has already said that he's not a Rovers fan, as buying a football club seems to be a strange way of making money, but if he just wants a hobby, and he's got money to throw around then fair enough, rather have a property tycoon than someone like Shinawatra.

But he's still not local, and I'm sticking to that Nicko lol.

I think anybody will be better than somebody such as 'where's my lawyers - their in jail waiting for you ' Shinawatra. This property bloke may not be a Rovers supporter, just a business man wanting to make money. But if a business is to be sold on, it needs to be sold on in a better state than it was when it was bought, for a person to make money on it. If not the owner of the business has just invested in the business for nothing.

In Rovers case, I suggest, that for anybody to be able to make money from making the club a good business investment, they would have to buy the club and invest in the playing staff to make the club better than what it is now. Lets be honest, football may be the sport, but the club (any football club) is a business whoever owns it.

The motives behind the ownership of a business may be different. Some to make a quick or even long term profit, but I believe that Jack Walker invested in Rovers for his love for the club - but it was also a business - and he had and did treat it as such. If that wasn't the case he could have left half of his wealth to the club as a whole. Being local, his motives was different. Jack Walker was unique in that sence - he loved the town and the business he bought and wanted to give 'something' back to Blackburn. He did what he did for the club because he was able to do so.

Today I think he would say to the supporters of Rovers, do your part for the club I loved, through good times and bad, no matter who the manager is, whether you approve of them or not, do your part and, if you are able to do so, turn up to Ewood Park and support the Rovers. Which is possible the best way of showing gratitude to Jack Walker for what he did for Rovers.

Sadly some of the posts on this forum sometimes seem negative in my opinion - such as 'I'm not coming anymore - returning season tickets etc because they do not approve of the new manager. To those with that type of attitude, I say don't come to Ewood Park for Paul Ince, do it for Jack Walker as a way of saying thanks for what he did for Rovers. We may not be happy with the trusties at the moment - but surely none of us can complaign about what Jack Walker did for Rovers.

Ok 35 to 40 miles away may not be considered ' that' local, but he is the nearest person living to Rovers who has money that he wants to use to buy Rovers. Has any other local business man come forward who has the amount of money needed to buy Rovers (forget Dan Williams, he didn't have the money himself). Nobody in Blackburn has come forward - is there anybody rich enough in Blackburn to even consider buying Rovers? Therefore we cannot expect anybody local to come forward from Blackburn.

[PAFELL]

£40? F**k it, I'm having it! And I'll have a fiver left to spend on players

I bid £50

[PAFELL]

Did anyone say it was a way of making money?

And as for 'local' have you got to be born in a certain range before you can want to buy Rovers?

Right now it's hard enough finding anyone never mind someone who fits that criteria. He/she/it DOESN''T exist

Do you expect a statement from Rovers with this takeover news soon?

[nicko]

Do you expect a statement from Rovers with this takeover news soon?

The talks are being handled by Rothschilds on behalf of the Trustees and I don't imagine they will say anything.

You can probably expect the same old 'we are talking to lots of interested parties' line in the LT tomorrow. And I suppose, strictly speaking, they are talking - after a fashion - with two [at least].

Can you get a bet on that?

[bringdunnback]

I assume that any takeover wont happen this summer or will it. It just seems that the Trustees are playing hradball and no-one is willing to match.

[PAFELL]

The talks are being handled by Rothschilds on behalf of the Trustees and I don't imagine they will say anything. How advanced are these talks and do you think that there is a realitic chance that this takeover will happen?

You can probably expect the same old 'we are talking to lots of interested parties' line in the LT tomorrow. And I suppose, strictly speaking, they are talking - after a fashion - with two [at least].

Can you get a bet on that? I do not bet, so I would not know, I leave that to others to supply bookies with an income

[Mike Graham]

I've never thought that the asset-stripping concern holds much water. Ewood is effectively a white elephant, hardly a desirable piece of real estate. Brockhall obviously is attractive but I'm sure you could buy much bigger and better pieces of land for the price of buying the Rovers.

You are correct EiT; Ewood has little value except for use as relatively low value housing. The only real value lies in Brockhall as potential up-market real estate.

[Hughesy]

Much more likely in place of RSC. How do you feel about that Hughesy?

No wouldnt be happy with that. RSC, Benni, Cisse & Derbyshire however looks much more promising than the usual bunch + roberts

[roverfanuk]

... and as if by magic: http://msnsport.skysports.com/story/0,1952...3753850,00.html

[Fife Rover]

Maybe if you two chucked your £400 in every season I'd take more notice of the pair of you.

btw admin.... ever considered a ST holders only section?

Funny you should say that Theno, because for 4 consecutive seasons from 1999 to 2002 I spent well over £1000 per season in travel and accomodation alone coming down to watch Rovers, and then on top of that I had my admission for each match as well. I even brought my grandsons down to see them on a number of occasions, and of course had their costs as well.

All this had to stop because of increasing problems with my health and simply not being able to travel, but I have still managed to get down for about 4 or 5 matches a season on average over the last five years and I am still aiming to do the same this coming season. No I don't have a saeson ticket any more under these circumstances, but over all my years as a Rovers fan I think I have paid my dues to Rovers as much as you have and probably more. And in supporting Rovers for over 60 years I have never sent my season ticket back or even thought about doing so in spite of all the tribulations I have endured as a fan in that timespan. Shame you cannot claim the same eh Theno?

[Paul Mellelieu]

Don't sweat on it Fife. If anyone has ever taken him seriously, they certainly won't after his recent fit of pique.

[Brfcrule1]

Hi All,

I read into today's people now there are possible 2 potential bidders for BRFC first off Nicko can you confirm have Chris Ronnie & Co. & Nabeel Chowdery proved they have enough finances to take the club forward. Also on this board it says in the U.K. he is worth 150M but abroad he is worth more can you shed some light on how much more?, as someone said on here earlier could not both parties make a consortium and both buy-out rovers then we would have substantially more and it would prove financially beneficial. Has that been suggested at Rovers? also Nicko it says on here that potential bidders value the club at 40M but the trustees want more as they want future buyers to take on the debt of the club,begs the question I heard the club has been exceptionally well run this figure of 15-17M of debt questions have to be answered as to where this comes from? as I thought before Uncle Jack died he left in the trust money for the future of BRFC. Over 8 years 3M P.A. would come to 24M also the trustees want a future bidder to take on the debt unless I am missing the point why didn't they sell to Dan Williams who was willing to take on the clubs debt which at the time seems generous?. Also if due dilligence had been done and parties had gone through the books they would have said or is it because the club has taken it's time in giving the accounts to prospective buyers? as always Nicko we thank-you for all your info hopefully you can give us good news soon on this any answers would be great to the above.

Laters all.

[hawkiiz]

J Williams said that the debt mainly is from our two years in the championshop, which makes a lot of sense. so i think we are in good hands as it is.also i think the trustees cant sell unless the buyer promise to keep the club out of debt and give finacial support. if i remember correctly that was something jack insisted on??

[yoda]

All of these 'estimated worth' figures are just that...estimates.

I can't imagine the guy would want to buy the club without thinking it through.

And he is the 532nd richest man in the country. I would point out that none of the other 531 don't seem to have been interested in Rovers...

Nabeel Chowdery does not have that much cash, it is tied up in property, and it is family money!

[Exiledfan]

Nicko - I think someone in your paper has misprinted the wage figure here:

"Veteran striker Andy Cole, 36, has been offered £25,000 a week by Nottingham Forest to sign on a free transfer following his release from Sunderland."

Surely nobody is going to pay anything like for him?

[rovers_rob]

I'm not sure if this is true but Talksport are reporting that Spurs are on the verge of signing Bentley.

Have you heard anything about this nicko ?

[Hughesy]

No gossip in any of the papers about us today, great!

Rumour that Pablo Aimar wants a premier league move, and Newcastle & Everton are showing an interest - he would be a good signing

[Billy Castell]

Would we have to completely rejig the team around Aimar though? Or can he adapt to various formations/

[alexanders]

No gossip in any of the papers about us today, great!

Rumour that Pablo Aimar wants a premier league move, and Newcastle & Everton are showing an interest - he would be a good signing

I really like Aimar, but I think he is a typical Newcastle signing.

Expensive and over the top.

[broadsword]

I'm not sure if this is true but Talksport are reporting that Spurs are on the verge of signing Bentley.

Have you heard anything about this nicko ?

That was a rumour that was in yesterday's 'papers.

[Tris]

The pesky LET is stealing all Nicko's stories again ...

[rovers_rob]

That was a rumour that was in yesterday's 'papers.

I've just listened to the report again, "Talksport understand that Bentley will sign for spurs. He has bought a property in the south and as soon as Blackburn agree a fee with Spurs he will sign"

That sounds like his agent talking.

[alexanders]

I've just listened to the report again, "Talksport understand that Bentley will sign for spurs. He has bought a property in the south and as soon as Blackburn agree a fee with Spurs he will sign"

That sounds like his agent talking.

Or probably a real estate agent

I think if David Bentley decides to leave Rovers for Spurs that is just ridiculous. He says he needs European football and I can understand that, but if you are not attractive to the top 4 or even Manchester ###### with your old manager Mark Hughes David Bentley should start looking reality in the eye and realize that he's not good enough.