[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[Iceman]

Whether or not player targets are being discussed is a very moot point.

The involvement of Chrs Nthnl in the Saurin group might suggest that he would like to get hold of Rovers' buying policy to the benefit of his own clients- watch for Ussain Bolt turning up at Ewood!

However, John Williams was remarkably silent when the Dan Williams bid hit the press (the reason being, the Trust had already rejected it before the story broke and Dan Williams was probably using the press to build pressure in his favour) whereas now we have had two if not three references from the club publicly to there being "serious interest".

we do need a speedy right winger, or a pacy striker at Ewood

[John]

Dan Williams was probably using the press to build pressure in his favour) whereas now we have had two if not three references from the club publicly to there being "serious interest".

Hardly - not as if thousands of fans were going to protest outside Ewood if he was not our new owner - what do you mean?

[PAFELL]

Four key points:

The worst kept secret in the Championship- the Leicester takeover has been a done deal for something like two months but it still has not yet resulted in a formal transfer of ownership. People hoping for a quick transfer at Ewood are highly likely to be disappointed- even with the best will in the world, these things are not simple.

The Leicester acquisition involves different individuals from Thailand to the ones looking at Rovers although they are all friends apparently.

The John Williams piece in the LT hopefully puts the lid on this nonsense that the club has simply given up on trying to bring in new players this summer.

Probably the most important comment John Williams makes is to say that talks are continuing on the club sale. I had swung to the view that the likelihood of a take over by the consortia who are publicly known to be in the chase had dropped to close to zero. However, even though things are still alive, the way this is all going points to this takeover being no slam dunk and I suspect most Rovers supporters are going to be disappointed once the novelty has worn off.

I suggest that there was maybe a halt to transfer activity up until yesterday. It was also reported that there was a meeting with Sam and the board yesterday. Policy may have changed during that meeting.

what is the novelty of a Rovers takeover. It has to happen one day anyway. This group or another group it will happen one day. The Trust are not funding the club and therefore are owners in name only.

They have done their part for the club over the years, of which we should also be grateful.

But we have no need to be grateful for the lack of funding and what appears to be dislike for the club, over the past few years. Therefore a takeover will not be a novelty, but something that is inevitable.

[DanLad]

Hardly - not as if thousands of fans were going to protest outside Ewood if he was not our new owner - what do you mean?

He was trying to build a bit of media momentum. These things can start very small and then, before you know it, there are protests outside the ground!

Or at least murmurings in the pub?

The murmurings were a million times more likely than the protests, admittedly!

[nicko]

However, John Williams was remarkably silent when the Dan Williams bid hit the press (the reason being, the Trust had already rejected it before the story broke and Dan Williams was probably using the press to build pressure in his favour) whereas now we have had two if not three references from the club publicly to there being "serious interest".

You are normally pretty well-informed but on that subject you don't half talk some rot.

Williams and his Plainfield mob were STILL in talks with Rovers at the time of the Sunday People article. They came in for a meeting in London the week after but everyone got edgy because the story got out.

Rovers only confirmed the existence of that potential takeover move AFTER the People story appeared.

I assume they were telling the truth.

[John]

He was trying to build a bit of media momentum. These things can start very small and then, before you know it, there are protests outside the ground!

Or at least murmurings in the pub?

The murmurings were a million times more likely than the protests, admittedly!

Most of the media don't care and don't think it would have made any difference, money talks at the end of the day.

[philipl]

As far as I know, Shah went on record as saying a bid was faxed to the club on 12 June. Some are saying it was not accepted but something substantive is continuing although I think there is at least one enormous fundamental question mark over how much money they really have.

There appear to have been two other cases (I am not counting Shah in this) now of bidding processes which were to all practical intent and purposes dead yet conversations continued for as much as months afterwards. This strikes me as strange to say the least- whether it is a case of the Trust giving potential bidders every chance to put something together that might work or the bidders not taking no for an answer I don't know.

I am sticking to my guns, the Dan Williams bid had been rejected before it ever became public knowledge and yes I am well informed on that one.

Chris Ronnie at least seemed to leave the scene when his bid had been rejected.

[nicko]

I am sticking to my guns, the Dan Williams bid had been rejected before it ever became public knowledge and yes I am well informed on that one.

So when Rovers confirmed an approach the day after the Sunday People story came out they were lying???

And there were no further meetings?

From memory Dan Williams pulled the plug about three-four months later because his backers [plural] got cold feet.

Anyway. It's history.

[PAFELL]

As far as I know, Shah went on record as saying a bid was faxed to the club on 12 June. Some are saying it was not accepted but something substantive is continuing although I think there is at least one enormous fundamental question mark over how much money they really have.

There appear to have been two other cases (I am not counting Shah in this) now of bidding processes which were to all practical intent and purposes dead yet conversations continued for as much as months afterwards. This strikes me as strange to say the least- whether it is a case of the Trust giving potential bidders every chance to put something together that might work or the bidders not taking no for an answer I don't know.

I am sticking to my guns, the Dan Williams bid had been rejected before it ever became public knowledge and yes I am well informed on that one.

Chris Ronnie at least seemed to leave the scene when his bid had been rejected.

Are you saying that Rothschilds have mentioned / suggested / put forward, a bidder, BEFORE knowing if the interested party have the monsy or not? If so what is the point of employing Rothschilds to find a buyer if they are not first of all going to check first if they have the money or not. Who's task is it to find out if parties have the funds to buy the club, Rothschild or the trustees.

[BPF]

I hope this is sorted one way or the other soon.

It is elevating people's levels of self importance to entire new heights!

"This is clearly happening"

"NO! I know differently, what is really happening is this."

"It can't be because a totally unrelated event did this."

Noone here, NOONE knows anything about what is going on. That is the point of non disclosure. If the bid is rejected or falls through, we'll know about it.

JW has said to everyone that it is ongoing, so that's what is happening. These are big decisions.

In the meantime, chill out. Just wait and see

[CrazyIvan]

I hope this is sorted one way or the other soon.

It is elevating people's levels of self importance to entire new heights!

"This is clearly happening"

"NO! I know differently, what is really happening is this."

"It can't be because a totally unrelated event did this."

Noone here, NOONE knows anything about what is going on. That is the point of non disclosure. If the bid is rejected or falls through, we'll know about it.

JW has said to everyone that it is ongoing, so that's what is happening. These are big decisions.

In the meantime, chill out. Just wait and see

Amen to that...

[rovers_rob]

Noone here, NOONE knows anything about what is going on. That is the point of non disclosure. If the bid is rejected or falls through, we'll know about it.

JW has said to everyone that it is ongoing, so that's what is happening. These are big decisions.

In the meantime, chill out. Just wait and see

Aye, that is the sensible thing to do but until this deal is done (or not) I will be stressing about it, checking this thread everyday, checking that damn twitter site and analysing every newspaper report and every quote from John Williams !!

[philipl]

Are you saying that Rothschilds have mentioned / suggested / put forward, a bidder, BEFORE knowing if the interested party have the monsy or not? If so what is the point of employing Rothschilds to find a buyer if they are not first of all going to check first if they have the money or not. Who's task is it to find out if parties have the funds to buy the club, Rothschild or the trustees.

No- Rothschilds will be actively looking for qualified bidders and others like Shah will be introduced by other third parties or walk in through the front door themselves.

After a party comes forward and appears to be serious, then the reality or otherwise of their funds will be checked.

By all accounts, Chrs Nthnl found/was found by Saurin Shah and was introduced to Rovers. Nathaniel's identity was probably known around the place long before Saurin Shah was revealed. Saurin Shah clearly has money available, the issues are is it enough, whose is it in reality and how committed is it to Rovers?

Of course it could be that Nathaniel actually knew Shah's uncle through cricket and "sold" the idea of nabbing a PL club to him. That would explain why such an unconventional character as our tweeting buddy is still involved in the process.

One thing Rothschilds will also be doing all the time is screening out unfunded time wasters and they probably now have more than 100 names in that file by now.

[PAFELL]

No- Rothschilds will be actively looking for qualified bidders and others like Shah will be introduced by other third parties or walk in through the front door themselves.

After a party comes forward and appears to be serious, then the reality or otherwise of their funds will be checked.

By all accounts, Chrs Nthnl found/was found by Saurin Shah and was introduced to Rovers. Nathaniel's identity was probably known around the place long before Saurin Shah was revealed. Saurin Shah clearly has money available, the issues are is it enough, whose is it in reality and how committed is it to Rovers?

Of course it could be that Nathaniel actually knew Shah's uncle through cricket and "sold" the idea of nabbing a PL club to him. That would explain why such an unconventional character as our tweeting buddy is still involved in the process.

One thing Rothschilds will also be doing all the time is screening out unfunded time wasters and they probably now have more than 100 names in that file by now.

Ok if the current interested party just walked through the door or were introduced by Chris Nthnl, would that mean that Rothschilds would play no part - or would they be checking on behalf of the club to see if Saurin shah has the funds or not.

Ok say a takeover was being negotiated and the buyer says "I have 25 billion pound that I want to invest into Rovers (Yes silly number, but for discussion sakes will do) shows / prove they have the money, buys the club. What is to stop them then withdrawing that 'intention or plan' and do what the trust are doing now and let the club generate its own income, after they have bought the club. After at the end of the day that could be done, because being owners they can do whatever they like. Their money and their club !!!!!!

[Majiball]

Can someone wake me up when this is all over.

[Doaksie]

Can someone wake me up when this is all over.

I'd advise you to get comfy mate.

[philipl]

Ok if the current interested party just walked through the door or were introduced by Chris Nthnl, would that mean that Rothschilds would play no part - or would they be checking on behalf of the club to see if Saurin shah has the funds or not.

Ok say a takeover was being negotiated and the buyer says "I have 25 billion pound that I want to invest into Rovers (Yes silly number, but for discussion sakes will do) shows / prove they have the money, buys the club. What is to stop them then withdrawing that 'intention or plan' and do what the trust are doing now and let the club generate its own income, after they have bought the club. After at the end of the day that could be done, because being owners they can do whatever they like. Their money and their club !!!!!!

Your question isn't theoretical as the new owners of Man U and Liverpool both landed their clubs in deep financial indebtedness by doing things they pledged not to during the takeover process. You are articulating the fear of myself and many other Rovers fans about the prospect of a takeover.

Rovers fans have grown complacent on the back of twenty superb years of ownership by Jack Walker and then his Trust. I will be honest and say I cannot see how any commercial ownership of Rovers can possibly be better than what we have now unless there is an almighty tow through from some external commercial factor which the Rovers as the club is today is unable to address. To be fair to Sarin Shah, the IPL plus very heavy marketing to the south Asian communities of Lancashire could just be that difference but lets not fool ourselves- it is one enormous punt and who knows what happens to our club if the gamble fails?

Against that background, all this talk of stagnate and die under the Trust is tommy rot- far better to have benign ownership requiring the club to stand on its own feet than sell to some commercial operation taking on a £60m project (the absolute bare minimum number needed; this takeover is a £120m+ project if it is to make a serious and secured difference to Rovers) and needing to find a return on its outlay.

The only way the new owners can be held to honour their commitment is to come up with a binding agreement. But Hicks and Gillet honoured their binding agreement to the Moores family and the day it expired, LFC found themselves lumbered with hundreds of million of debt. Based on that experience there are cleverer ways of binding new ownership but at the end of the day agreements have to be policed and enforceable- would the Walker Trust sue Shah for breach of agreement years after the transaction had happened?

Whoever comes in will be vetted by Rothschilds and almost certainly Rothschilds will be at the negotiating table.

[John]

I do love this thread, the same debate goes round and round in circles....

[Majiball]

I'd advise you to get comfy mate.

I too have a feeling that its going to be a long summer.

[den]

I too have a feeling that its going to be a long summer.

A bloody long winter as well - the way we're going.

[Majiball]

A bloody long winter as well - the way we're going.

Don't make it worse, its doing me head in.

[Sandiway Blue]

I hope this is sorted one way or the other soon.

It is elevating people's levels of self importance to entire new heights!

"This is clearly happening"

"NO! I know differently, what is really happening is this."

"It can't be because a totally unrelated event did this."

Noone here, NOONE knows anything about what is going on. That is the point of non disclosure. If the bid is rejected or falls through, we'll know about it.

JW has said to everyone that it is ongoing, so that's what is happening. These are big decisions.

In the meantime, chill out. Just wait and see

At last a voice of reason!

[BPF]

Sam was just on Talks***e.

When asked about the 'transfer wishlist if bought' he basically just said:

People know the club is for sale, there is interest. I hope that it can be concluded soon, but if not then we'll continue as normal and not to worry because we have many good players coming through the youth system.

[TugaysMarlboro]

I see an "S.Shah" is now sifting through these neck of the woods.

[Brfcrule1]

Nicko: a previous poster on here said there are rumblings something will come out next week any idea whether it will be good news & what the latest stage is with it?. Do you think it will go through if so do you think it will be done before the close of the window closing?. Have the group made a bid as of yet?. There was a lot on it that a bid was faxed to Rothschilds is that correct?. If not do you think a bid will be made soon?. Also Nicko it said recently in the LET Sam & his staff made an alternative list of targets should they receive more money to the pot any ideas who is on that alternative list or is it being kept quiet until something happens any clues would be great. Thanks as ever for your valuable input.