[Archived] Nickos (newer) Thread

[Majiball]

Ok, if I had £100 million spare right now and wanted to buy Rovers...would I want to give half of that to the Trustees and see a further chunk eaten up by debt?

No, I would want to give them as little as possible, spend money on the team, the academy and other areas to make sure that they became more profitable - by winning games with better players and by producing talent that will have a value.

I'm not saying Ronnie would be ideal - there were as many questions as answers there - but I can see why he doesn't want to pay that much for the right to inherit someone else's debt.

The value of players like Bentley and Roque are irrelevant. They would have to be replaced - possibly even at more cost.

The figures that matter are what the Trustees want and what debt there is.

It's not an insult to say a low bid under-values your club...it's a harsh business reality.

Curiously Nicko do you have an idea, what figures are right your article says bid 30M but they want 40M, the other one bid 40M but want 60M?

With the current finacial climate, I completely understand why people are saying its an insult newcastle 420M man utd 600M blackburn rovers 2 chocolate pennies and a bag of crisps. But thats the way it is.

I hope they can find some middle ground with this whole sorry saga, looks like it will fizzly out again ala Williams.

[Billy Castell]

BRFC would be a completely different animal today if it were not for the Walker years. We'd be playing in front of 4 figure crowds and Ewood would probably only be open on two sides and a team of 3rd rate journeymen would be training an Plessy fields. We'd be 2 major trophies down as well and the nearest we'd have been to playing in Europe would be the Manx trophy

Yes we would be like Burnley without the Walkers.

Hopefully, the right person/consortium will come along, and give us a go.

P.S. I'd be p_ssed off if Friedel goes. Even if he's not as great as he was, he's still very good, and he seems the sort who can help younger keepers with their technique. A potential goalkeeping coach perhaps.

[RevidgeBlue]

The value of players like Bentley and Roque are irrelevant. They would have to be replaced - possibly even at more cost.

Don't agree with that nicko, if hypothetically Ronnie came in and paid say 25m, then sold DB and RSC for 30m, he has got the club for nothing effectively.

Whilst it would be a risk, it's by no means impossible the new manager couldn't replace them with say two up and coming youngsters from abroad relatively cheaply who could do a job.

After all, they only cost 4.6m between them initially.

[thenodrog]

Why would he want rid of JW, there is not a better chairman in football!

Lets not get carried away. Remember he's just let what is widely regarded as one of the best management teams in the country slip from our grasp with what on the face of it seems a very poor attempt to keep them.

Sure we all know that we could not have fought of Chelsea but DodgePot City ffs!

[Guest Kamy100]

Been talking to some people who know Nabeel Chowdry very well and they say that he is a very successful businessman who knows what he is doing, however they say his people skills are atrocious and many people will not work with him anymore because of the way he has treated them, the impression I got was that he treated people like the management of TIME computers did, on that basis I would not want this chap anywhere near our club.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

Lets not get carried away. Remember he's just let what is widely regarded as one of the best management teams in the country slip from our grasp with what on the face of it seems a very poor attempt to keep them.

Sure we all know that we could not have fought of Chelsea but DodgePot City ffs!

Agreed Theno, It appears JW made no attempt to stop Hughes. However, he may have been overuled if the trust if they are conducting a cost-cutting exercise.

[nicko]

Curiously Nicko do you have an idea, what figures are right your article says bid 30M but they want 40M, the other one bid 40M but want 60M?

Chowdery told me over a week ago that he valued Rovers at £40 million [including £17 million debt] and he seems to have confirmed that in the local paper article.

However I understand that he would also pay a bit more for goodwill...a phrase he used when I spoke to him...and I reckon that makes his 'offer' in the region of and getting close to £50 million including the debt.

He says Rovers want £60 million [including £17 million debt] but that appears a slightly rounded-up figure.

I believe the gap between what he is willing to pay and what the Trustees want is in the region of £10 million. There would obviously be some come and go on both sides.

[Majiball]

I'm not saying Brad wants to leave - exactly the opposite. But it is possible that Ince doesn't fancy him or doesn't rate him.

The Man City stuff is a bit too persistent and makes me think there may be an element of truth in the story.

Publicly supports Ince, probably had a hand in the chowdery link, then he pisses off to be with Hughes. I understand its flying around but come on, Brad is a legend at Rovers, if he did all of that and then sodded off he would not make it to manchester!

If Ince sells Friedel then I'll immediately lose all confidence in him as a manager.

Completely agree, I cannot see it happening, Ince has already publicly praised him. If Ince where to do it, I'd want his contract ripped up!

[roverfanuk]

Curiously Nicko do you have an idea, what figures are right your article says bid 30M but they want 40M, the other one bid 40M but want 60M?

With the current finacial climate, I completely understand why people are saying its an insult newcastle 420M man utd 600M blackburn rovers 2 chocolate pennies and a bag of crisps. But thats the way it is.

I hope they can find some middle ground with this whole sorry saga, looks like it will fizzly out again ala Williams.

That higher sum is probably taking the club debts into account...

Nicko, if this guy does take over, what kind of transfer kitty can we expect to have in the windows.

He isnt exactly the richest fella in the land? Without a consortium backing him, i would have thought transfer finances wise, we wouldnt be in a much better position than we are now if he should takeover!

[nicko]

Don't agree with that nicko, if hypothetically Ronnie came in and paid say 25m, then sold DB and RSC for 30m, he has got the club for nothing effectively.

Whilst it would be a risk, it's by no means impossible the new manager couldn't replace them with say two up and coming youngsters from abroad relatively cheaply who could do a job.

After all, they only cost 4.6m between them initially.

No, that wasn't his plan.

It's gone now - and will remain that way - but I know of the first two players he planned to sign.

Trust me, they were about as far from cheap as is humanly possible.

It's frustrating but he didn't go through with it...and that's that.

But it's like deja vu after the Dan Williams affair.

[tony gale's mic]

Agreed Theno, It appears JW made no attempt to stop Hughes. However, he may have been overuled if the trust if they are conducting a cost-cutting exercise.

What attempts could he have made? You can't force a manager to stay at the club if he wants to leave. And Hughes had clearly been wanting to leave for some time - remember his reactions to the Newcastle job?

[bob fleming]

Lets not get carried away. Remember he's just let what is widely regarded as one of the best management teams in the country slip from our grasp with what on the face of it seems a very poor attempt to keep them.

Sure we all know that we could not have fought of Chelsea but DodgePot City ffs!

How could he kept them on theno? Offered them more money to spend on the squad perhaps? That would mean new owners by the look of it. The man has to deal with the faceless Trust who have made the decision to stop paying the £3m per annum they were providing as there is "no need" - so there's no cash there. I fail to see what he could have done to keep Hughes and his team when the club is under these constraints.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

What attempts could he have made? You can't force a manager to stay at the club if he wants to leave. And Hughes had clearly been wanting to leave for some time - remember his reactions to the Newcastle job?

errr- "we want to stop". "we will give you money spend", "we want to match your ambitions here at blackburn" etc etc

[Billy Castell]

Kamy, you have compared Chowdrey to TIME computers. That means I am unsure of the afore mentioned gentleman to say the least. My family had one of their PC's and let's just say the build quality and customer service was worse than a package holiday to Guantanamo Bay.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Lets not get carried away. Remember he's just let what is widely regarded as one of the best management teams in the country slip from our grasp with what on the face of it seems a very poor attempt to keep them.

Sure we all know that we could not have fought of Chelsea but DodgePot City ffs!

I'm glad you have said it Theno as its been burning my tongue since he left.

[nicko]

It does seem to me that you really are consistently keen on undervaluing BRFC and whipping up the locals into conflict with the trust. I am beginning to wonder again whether or not you have a hidden agenda.

And what would that be?

The old Dan Williams PR thing that still makes me howl? Or maybe I'm Chris Ronnie's PR machine? Or Nabeel Chowdery's?

Jeez, if I get any more PR work I'll maybe buy it myself...

Maybe it's just chasing a story for so long that you realise what the big problem is.

[Majiball]

Chowdery told me over a week ago that he valued Rovers at £40 million [including £17 million debt] and he seems to have confirmed that in the local paper article.

However I understand that he would also pay a bit more for goodwill...a phrase he used when I spoke to him...and I reckon that makes his 'offer' in the region of and getting close to £50 million including the debt.

He says Rovers want £60 million [including £17 million debt] but that appears a slightly rounded-up figure.

I believe the gap between what he is willing to pay and what the Trustees want is in the region of £10 million. There would obviously be some come and go on both sides.

Well its not dead and buried, what was your impression of him? did he say anything about his vision for the club, investment period etc??

Do you think he's right for the club?

Is there anything we the fans could do to aid a takeover???

[Guest Kamy100]

Kamy, you have compared Chowdrey to TIME computers. That means I am unsure of the afore mentioned gentleman to say the least. My family had one of their PC's and let's just say the build quality and customer service was worse than a package holiday to Guantanamo Bay.

I compared the management style of Chowdrey to that of TIME computers, if anyone has ever worked at TIME they will know what I mean, the management was universally hated by all the employees because they treated employees badly, apparently this guy has the same kind of style. So on that basis it would disappoint me personally if he owned our club. However there is no doubt that he is a top notch businessman, everyone who I have talked to say the same, this guy knows how to maximise business opportunities.

[RevidgeBlue]

No, that wasn't his plan.

Not saying it was - but to say the value of our players has no bearing on the value of the club can't be right either.

Anyhow, more importantly seemingly now, any indication on who Chowdery's backers would be?

If his total worth is "only" around 150m, most of which is presumably tied up in property, I doubt he would be risking his personal fortune putting it into Rovers?

[nicko]

Well its not dead and buried, what was your impression of him? did he say anything about his vision for the club, investment period etc?? NO, BUT HE SEEMED PLEASANT ENOUGH. HE WAS STRAIGHT AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS. YOU CAN'T ASK FOR MUCH MORE. I TRIED TO GET BACK TO HIM FOR MORE DETAILS LAST WEEK BUT HE WAS ABROAD ON BUSINESS.

Do you think he's right for the club? I CAN'T BE THE JUDGE OF THAT.

Is there anything we the fans could do to aid a takeover??? UNFORTUNATELY, NOT MUCH.

[tony gale's mic]

errr- "we want to stop". "we will give you money spend", "we want to match your ambitions here at blackburn" etc etc

I'm sure he did tell Hughes he wanted to match his ambitions and he wanted to stop him from leaving. The money issue was completely out of JW's control.

[Billy Castell]

I compared the management style of Chowdrey to that of TIME computers, if anyone has ever worked at TIME they will know what I mean, the management was universally hated by all the employees because they treated employees badly, apparently this guy has the same kind of style. So on that basis it would disappoint me personally if he owned our club. However there is no doubt that he is a top notch businessman, everyone who I have talked to say the same, this guy knows how to maximise business opportunities.

So he's great at what he does, but he's a tosser as a person. Sort of like Alex Ferguson, Simon Cowell....................

Did you work for TIME then? Or knew someone who did? I'll blame you for that ____ PC we had if you did!

[nicko]

Not saying it was - but to say the value of our players has no bearing on the value of the club can't be right either.

Anyhow, more importantly seemingly now, any indication on who Chowdery's backers would be?

If his total worth is "only" around 150m, most of which is presumably tied up in property, I doubt he would be risking his personal fortune putting it into Rovers?

IF Bentley goes he will have to be replaced by an equivalent player who will - in all probability - be on MORE money than he is even if he costs less.

IF Roque goes he will have to be replaced by an equivalent player who will - in all probability - be on MORE money than he is even if he costs less.

So it is not an exact science.

I would look at the current scene - which has seen little money invested lately - and be concerned about what that means for now and in the future.

I don't know about Chowdery's allies although I understand - thanks to a helpful PM - that he has an equally wealthy cousin.

[Majiball]

People should get off JW's back, yes keeping hughes would have been good, but what realisticaly could he do?

JW answers to the trust, he can't decide to plunge the club deeper into debt, to satisfy Hughes needs, the trust would block it. JW has his hands tied, he's told what he has and does what he can for the club. The takeover has been dragging on for over a year now with nothing concrete on the horizion, Hughes was not going to hang around forever.

Blaming JW is unfair and unjustified Hughes was not forced to go to Man City he choose too he said he wanted to speak to them.

[Parsonblue]

Agreed Theno, It appears JW made no attempt to stop Hughes. However, he may have been overuled if the trust if they are conducting a cost-cutting exercise.

Ultimately, Hughes left because he got fed up of having to compete with biggers clubs with larger budgets. He was continually asked to achieve European football on a shoestring budget. I don't think there was anything that John Williams could have done to change that fact. We might argue about the merits of the team that have come in to replace Hughes, but only time will tell if it's a success or not. Personally, any new owner who came in and replaced John Williams and Tom Finn would immediately start on the backfoot. These two guys have steered the club through difficult times with great success.

With regard to the new owner it would appear both Ronnie and Chowdrey want the club on the cheap. They have every right to bid low and the Trust have every right to tell them where to stick their bids. Ultimately, the Trust have a duty to get the best price possible for the club. Everything that I have read so far would suggest that neither Ronnie nor Chowdrey have the money neccessary to make a REAL difference to the Rovers present situation.