[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[John]

Jean-Claude Darmon is in that picture - anyone know much about his potential role?

[47er]

The man has obviously done his homework and in his home country too. I feel he truly believes that he can turn Rovers into THE team that Indians will support. The idea has risk of failure, but the success that could come from attempting this could be massive. He specifically said room for development and expansion of fan base “in India.

We shouldn't just be looking at "direct" income either. For example, how many people buy a Rolex because Rolex sponsers yachting? Its the association with a wealthy sport that Rolex is looking for-there's an indirect benefit. Similarly do people choose Emirates for their flights because of the Arsenal association or open Barclays accounts because they follow a Premier league club? In these cases its a matter of the name being repeated over and over again in sports stories.

If Syed can turn a "little" club into a genuine title aspirant and make us the club that the Indian sub-continent supports he will get further kudos as a "can-do" businessman who's likely to succeed in other ventures .And if he decides to sell in the future he may be calculating that he can make a profit eventually. Clearly this is a long-term strategy with risk involved but he is obviously up for it. The bigger overall picture as opposed to the annual accounts will be more significant for him.

I hope that makes sense!

[Iceman]

I hope nobody has Messi Tattooed on their chest just yet lol

[LeChuck]

Not often I disagree with you LeChuck but I will do here. The owner-to-be is a prolific Indian business man. I would have thought that would be enough of a pull on the local Indian population without having to sign Asian players.

Not a big fan of how Abromovich tried to force his Russian influence on Chelsea but I suppose there needs to be some compromise with the money man, so it still could happen.

Edit: Oops, I had it in my head you were talking about the local population. For India itself then, yes, that would make sense.

Perhaps I overdid it by saying 'players', one as a token gesture could be enough.

Everton did it with a couple of Chinese lads when they got Chinese sponsors.

Imagine the excitement that an Indian international in the Premier League would cause! I don't doubt the owners will create some sort of bond, but will it get enough interest? It's on the pitch that people follow really.

LeChuck if you were to set-up a Blackburn rovers academy there and put in place great coaches and support who's to say in 5-7 years you couldn't create some yourselves???

It's definitely possible. There is a huge Asian population in this country now, if we could be the 'academy of choice' for the top young players in this country...who knows?

I just think Syed would want a more immediate effect. The Chinese went mad for Li Tie at Everton, if we could find a useful squad player from India then it could really give this whole project a massive lift.

[Iceman]

I'll ask this again, why would many Muslims all of a sudden start supporting Rovers, when 3 generations have supported United/Liverpool?

am i the only Muslim who supports Rovers?

[Mattyblue]

am i the only Muslim who supports Rovers?

Of course not Icers! But Rovers come a very poor third in Blackburn's Asian community unfortunately.

[Balwer]

The interview was a good listen. Ali Syed sure sounds like sponsorship and marketing are going to be the driving forces for his additional revenue streams. It sounds like he will look to tie up a whole host of Asian, specifically Indian businesses and lock them into long-term, multi-million pound deals a la AIG had at Man U.

I think Crown Paints shirts might become a thing of the past somehow...

[Hughesy]

I wonder how impressed he will be with the fact that, to leverage our position in a globally-viewed league, our last 2 sponsorship deals have been sourced as far away as Darwen?

Dont forget our sponsorship is over £1m a season - a deal that 7 of the current 20 premier league clubs couldnt manage. Big fancy names dont always pay top wonga for clubs like ours. Never rule out the importance local business can play.

[imy9]

I'll ask this again, why would many Muslims all of a sudden start supporting Rovers, when 3 generations have supported United/Liverpool?

Liverpool and Man Utd are the two most successful teams in England, to compete with them, we need to be more successful, sign high profile players and have a more family feel, that coupled with the fact that there is an Asian/Muslim owner means that where there was no link to the club, perhaps a new 'fan base' can be created, I am talking about India and further as well as the immediate catchment area.

Iceman- make that two

[philipl]

Auxerre probably doesn't have multiple top league and second tier clubs surrounding it in such close proximity though.

I think the absolute maximum for our club is 35-40k. To go any higher than this will require fans to ditch their own sides in favour of ours, and given the tradition of rivalry in our neck of the woods, even if we had Messi, Xavi and Iniesta lining up for us if anything Burnley/Preston/Bolton fans would hate us even more.

Auxerre has loads and loads of that for about an hour's drive in every direction all around it!

And I would guess he will be very impressed by the strength of the local commercial base to build from. Rovers have had the last two shirt sponsors from Darwen and the fees paid are comfortably better than the five worst-paying shirt sponsorships in the PL.

[Iceman]

Of course not Icers! But Rovers come a very poor third in Blackburn's Asian community unfortunately.

I was just joking when i said that. The problem with all of this, is that Religion should really not be talked about when it comes to supporting Rovers. Why do the Asian people not attend Ewood? Something must be wrong, or there must an explanation as to why so few attend. Has the club done any surveys to find out, why their are not more Asians going to the stadium?

I believe tv also plays a big role, and games played at Ewood should not be televised within the Blackburn and surrounding areas. Its been done to great effect here in South Africa, that when a cricket test match is at eg Newlands stadium, that the game is not televised to encourage people to attend games.

[unluckymorton]

The interview was a good listen. Ali Syed sure sounds like sponsorship and marketing are going to be the driving forces for his additional revenue streams. It sounds like he will look to tie up a whole host of Asian, specifically Indian businesses and lock them into long-term, multi-million pound deals a la AIG had at Man U.

I think Crown Paints shirts might become a thing of the past somehow...

I'm quite proud of the fact that our sponsor Crown Paints is a very successful local business that pay's a handsome sum of money into the club and also offers fans very good discounts on it's products. It sure beats our old sponsor Bet24 and Sunderland's new sponsor Tombola!

[Balwer]

I'm quite proud of the fact that our sponsor Crown Paints is a very successful local business that pay's a handsome sum of money into the club and also offers fans very good discounts on it's products. It sure beats our old sponsor Bet24 and Sunderland's new sponsor Tombola!

I agree, Crown Paints have been excellent, I am simply speculating on what might be running through his head when he thinks about sponsorship, which he mentioned three or four times in a four minute interview. If he wants to make us big on the international scene then a large Asian business (a la Etihad) would surely appeal.

[Iceman]

I agree, Crown Paints have been excellent, I am simply speculating on what might be running through his head when he thinks about sponsorship, which he mentioned three or four times in a four minute interview. If he wants to make us big on the international scene then a large Asian business (a la Etihad) would surely appeal.

Fly Emirates perhaps as well?

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Aren't Gulf Air Bahrain based?

[bubblerrovers]

Wasn't Jacks Motto 'Think Big' If the potential new owner shares that view then I don't see the problem. I think we should all be excited and welcome the new investment with open arms.

[tony gale's mic]

I think we've got a long way to go before we can start to think about attracting major international airlines as sponsors.

We should look at the Everton/Villa models for where we should be aiming for next in terms of sponsorship.

[mark]

If this goes ahead i think a TATA company would sponsor us next year - they are MASSIVE! http://www.tata.com/

Or... and this may have been said before... if he has links to another similar trading group then this could be a canny way of introducing Indian products to a UK market.

Don't ask my why but I like this guy. (Oh, I remember, it's the 7 billion!!).

[Mike Graham]

We will be the pride of India: just imagine all them blue and white shirts that will be worn in Bombay, Calcutta etc. I expect that this Syed guy ownes a factory that turns them out cheaper than 8 year old chinese kids (by using 6 year old Indian kiddies).

[Balwer]

Fly Emirates perhaps as well?

Seems like the Middle East luxury airlines are sadly covered.

[Mike Graham]

If this goes ahead i think a TATA company would sponsor us next year - they are MASSIVE! http://www.tata.com/

Or... and this may have been said before... if he has links to another similar trading group then this could be a canny way of introducing Indian products to a UK market.

Don't ask my why but I like this guy. (Oh, I remember, it's the 7 billion!!).

what about sponsorship from Bombay Nuts ?

This is a link to the best quality image at the LT of them arriving at Ewood.

Click this.

yep, I saw them coming out of the Fernhurst Lodge after a late fry up breakfast.

[rebelmswar]

what about sponsorship from Bombay Nuts ?

That would be cool, but I prefer Dees Nuts.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

One of my favourite ads. Possibly more likely to sponsor Sunderland though.

[Hughesy]

The Uncle Bens riverside! Pataks Darwen End! Ha

[den]

On BBC north west today at lunchtime, it showed Syed's people arriving and it showed them looking at the rovers shirts in the club shop.

Syed spoke to NWT via telephone and said to tell the rovers fans that he wasn't coming here to make money. He said he's making enough money out of his other business affairs. He said he was taking rovers because of a passion. He wanted the rovers fans to support that passion and said he would be here for as long as is reasonably possible.