[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[BuckyRover]

Indeed. Highest sales in 10 seasons this year.

In 02 when we won the league cup and had Dunn, Duff and Jansen, I would hazard a guess we had more season ticket holders paying more money.

I would guess.

Someone is reported to be willing to invest up to £300m of their own money and you won't pay a bit extra for the ride? Interesting

[Eddie]

Bates left them hours from going bust until The Russian bought them I seem to recall. Sugar, yep, he made money as well. Were the clubs better off?

Go on Eddie, good on you, please explin how investing in BRFC would be a good idea?

Had nothing to do with making money. Simply people who are interested in football and a way of getting a premier league football club for relatively little money (compared to the price of other clubs) and the chance to possibly take them up a level or two with a bit of luck and good management. It's not a pitch about business sense, more one of passion.

The reason why I haven't spoken about it before is for the fact that I was sure it would be met with a huge amount of cynicism and mockery.

[SouthAussieRover]

You're priceless Eddie...priceless.

As for the real bid I cant help but think of the saying "all that glitters is not gold".

[BuckyRover]

I've got some wealthy mates. One of them has even got a mortgage

[Doaksie]

The reason why I haven't spoken about it before is for the fact that I was sure it would be met with a huge amount of cynicism and mockery.

What is life without a dream?

Any ambition towards Blackburn Rovers should be applauded.

[Eddie]

You're priceless Eddie...priceless.

Thanks.

What is life without a dream?

Wouldn't have mentioned it if I thought it was just some dream.

[bob fleming]

Had nothing to do with making money. Simply people who are interested in football and a way of getting a premier league football club for relatively little money (compared to the price of other clubs) and the chance to possibly take them up a level or two with a bit of luck and good management. It's not a pitch about business sense, more one of passion.

The reason why I haven't spoken about it before is for the fact that I was sure it would be met with a huge amount of cynicism and mockery.

Fair enough Eddie. I don't know you other than this messageboard. You're very eloquent. I don't agree with a lot of what you say about Sam, but you do give a damn. That's what matters.

Gazumpted. £300m. If it sounds too good to be true then....

Time will tell.

[Mr. E]

You are getting very confused in your old age.

still waiting for a possible answer.

[Sandiway Blue]

£209 at the moment.

People will pay more if the "product" is better. I guarantee it.

Maybe,but not necessarily the people that are already there.

When the season tickets started costing over £400 a few years back,I personally set myself a limit of £500 and then that would be it.I couldn`t justify spending a sizeable percentage of our household income on watching Rovers.

I would bet that more than 50% of Rovers season ticket holders earn less than £20,000 per year.Most of these people would not be able to fork out over £400 to watch Rovers and would see the gate drop by quite a bit,as has already been proved in the past,hence the now cheap priced season tickets.

[47er]

It is total waffle because

1) You cannot point to any serious willing buyer the Trust have turned down.

2) You cannot come up with anything that shows investment in Rovers now equals hard cash profit for new owners in the future

3) You cannot point to any new benefactor willing to give money so you can indulge your hobby.

Looks like my airy fairy waffle wishes could come true Philip!

Syed has 4 weeks period of exclusivity.

This means there is a deal in place subject to what is found in the next four weeks.

Very good news that they are keeping the existing management, investing in the academy and bringing the French marketing guy in. This one has got legs and is happening pretty well to the timetable I outlined at the beginning of last week.

Yes Philip, you had it right all along!!!!!

[BuckyRover]

That was the change of "tune" I was referring to. He was acting all day like he had been supporting the bid all the way and had been just waiting for the announcement. An announcement he said he had predicted would arrive around now.

[Hughesy]

The Villa semi at home is a good example - quite expensive (in the context of our ST's) and not many bothered turning up, despite it being 1 step from the final.

£400+ would soon alienate alot of our supporters and they would choose not to go.

As for the supportes we currently have, I bet over 80% earn less than 20k - especially when you take into account the OAPS & Kids.

[BuckyRover]

The villa semi is not a good example because there was no belief or expectation present at that time. Not many on here (myself included) gave us any chance we would win.

That's the difference investment may bring

[bluebruce]

Bates left them hours from going bust until The Russian bought them I seem to recall. Sugar, yep, he made money as well. Were the clubs better off?

Yes, of course they were both better off. Spurs have continued pumping money into players, get quite good sales too and have just achieved their best Premiership finish. Chelsea have become a superpower. I'm a little surprised you ask that Bob.

Now, I'm not saying either owner had some grand plan that made it all work, but those are two people who made money and didn't ruin their clubs. That's all you asked for...

By the way Bob, any chance of one of your famous comedic breakdowns of the summer? Might lift the doom and gloom that has abounded.

[47er]

That was the change of "tune" I was referring to. He was acting all day like he had been supporting the bid all the way and had been just waiting for the announcement. An announcement he said he had predicted would arrive around now.

Furthermore I predicted he'd do it!

[tonygreenbank]

Anyone care to name 18 world famous French clubs, or 18 French clubs for that matter without using Google? I got Paris St Germain, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice. As this Jean Claude guy has been promoting them since 2001 I'd hope for a bit more progress if I was in their shoes!

Loads of questions still exist in my mind but mainly two:

Why buy Rovers?

What will £300m buy over ten years? Not much considering the directors value our current squad at an estimated £47m. So that's the first £50m or so spent on replacing what we have?

I'm not sure there is quite so much to get excited about.

Paul the article in the Times mentioned his involvement in the raising of revenue of 18 French first division sides. I think the 2 absentees are probably the 2 newly promoted teams for this season. At least the news has been welcomed in a positive way by nearly everyone on here as opposed to the depression on the Summer Transfer thread! I do now think this will happen and I am so excited at the prospect. Syed company assets are about 8billion pounds which is an incredible sum to tap into.

[47er]

You'll have to bide your time then eddie. No doubt you'll get another chance before too long.

Don't sour the milk Theno.

[thenodrog]

I wrote it rather quickly and probably didn't express myself particularly well. I have two or three extraordinarily wealthy friends and I have been convincing them that they this might be a worthwhile venture, at the same time making sure that if we decided to go with it that their intentions would be correct and that they would be seriously committed and in the last few weeks I've made a huge amount of progress.

Thats a let off eddie. You wouldn't have any in a couple of years if you'd actually managed to persuade em to 'invest' in BRFC.

[thenodrog]

£400+ would soon alienate alot of our supporters and they would choose not to go.

Good. Instead of developing the Riverside for no good purpose we could simply demolish it. Might get a bit of peace and quiet whilst I'm watching the match too. Bring it on.

Yes Philip, you had it right all along!!!!!

[bluebruce]

Anyone care to name 18 world famous French clubs, or 18 French clubs for that matter without using Google? I got Paris St Germain, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice. As this Jean Claude guy has been promoting them since 2001 I'd hope for a bit more progress if I was in their shoes!

You mean, you think he must be crap because he hasn't single-handedly turned French football into a superpower?

Ummmmmmm....

[RevidgeBlue]

Really? So thats 300m to attain a position currently 2 places higher in the Prem worth about £1.5m with a ###### ground and a big debt? Wow! No wonder the Trust didn't feel the need to invest in BRFC. I wonder how much we'd need to get in the top 4?

The difference between investing an extra 300m into the team over a sustained period and not investing anything at all as at present wouldn't be just a couple of places in the Premiership each season Gordon.

It would be the difference between possibly being able to attain a top half position in the Premiership each season as against certain relegation down at least one division and near financial oblivion.

[Paul]

You mean, you think he must be crap because he hasn't single-handedly turned French football into a superpower?

Ummmmmmm....

No. I'm making the point that after 10 years its hardly made a jot of difference. I probably completely wrong but my impression is French football is far behind England, Italy, Germany and Spain in terms of public profile - three of those four have been regularly broadcast in the UK, albeit by minor channels on occassions. The majority, perhaps all, major French players have plied their trade outside of the French leagues in the past 10 years etc. etc.

By asking folk to name famous French clubs I'm asking what this Jean Claude Damon has achieved in the past nine years? Not much on the face of it. We all know who Rupbert Murdoch is, love or hate Sky his name will always be assocciated with the development of the PL via the TV rights. Jean Claude Damon is who? Can anyone honestly say they had heard his name before yesterday?

[philipl]

Paul you have got to look at objectives and achievements. The objective was to raise commercial revenue which was achieved as far as I understand it. Not to promote the clubs as competitors to Man U and Real Madrid globally.

For Rovers, the objectives might be different. If global reach becomes part of his remit, he is deeply linked into the media world where it really matters but my guess is he will be starting at the same level as the French projects- how do you get a small unfashionable club to make more money commercially.

The Daily Telegraph's Paul Kelso has a piece on the Syed agreement of exclusivity

Key quote- “WGA has earmarked approximately £300 million to acquire the club, cover its outstanding debts and provide the necessary capital to buy new players and invest over the longer term so it can once again become a title contender.” (my bold)

Interesting times.

The LT has expanded the story it had up on the web yesterday but this is not the full feature.

[47er]

Of course I hope the takeover goes through but I hope we don't change our (enforced)stance of scouring the world for value for money. I'd hate us to be shelling out tens of millions for the likes of the Fletchers and Kenwynne Jones of this world while overlooking the likes of Nelsen,Samba and N'Zonzi

Or for that matter not persevering with Olssen or giving Phil Jones a chance. It wouldn't seem us somehow.

I'm not thinking in terms of the Premiership either though i wouldn't knock it back.

A steady improvement, challenging for top 6, never being afraid of relegation, not having to sell our best players to balance the books and winning a Cup every now and then would do me.

I'm feeling very positive about the future of the club for the first time for a long time.

3 points would make it a perfect day.

[walk down bolton road]

Of course I hope the takeover goes through but I hope we don't change our (enforced)stance of scouring the world for value for money. I'd hate us to be shelling out tens of millions for the likes of the Fletchers and Kenwynne Jones of this world while overlooking the likes of Nelsen,Samba and N'Zonzi

Or for that matter not persevering with Olssen or giving Phil Jones a chance. It wouldn't seem us somehow.

I'm not thinking in terms of the Premiership either though i wouldn't knock it back.

A steady improvement, challenging for top 6, never being afraid of relegation, not having to sell our best players to balance the books and winning a Cup every now and then would do me.

I'm feeling very positive about the future of the club for the first time for a long time.

3 points would make it a perfect day.

Agree 100% with 47er here,excellent post.