[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[philipl]

A couple of questions about Plainfield seeing as Rovers things that were inside an NDA seem now to be open.

What annual rate of return would they target for a project with a risk profile like Rovers?

What has happened to the failing Plainfield investments which Rovers were instanced with in the first post by Rivercider?

I am genuinely delighted that an influential group of new fans joined the band of Rovers supporters from all this.

PS giving pfam.com (Plainfield's website) misses the point doesn't it? The website I am referring to had an IP location which was traced and claimed Rovers had been acquired in a $100m deal and a number of other business deals. I accept your assertions at face value that it was a hoax but I am still totally bemused as to why anyone would have any reason to go to the trouble of launching a bogus website from right next door to Dan Williams' home if the sleuthing done by people on this MB was accurate.

[47er]

A couple of questions about Plainfield seeing as Rovers things that were inside an NDA seem now to be open.

What annual rate of return would they target for a project with a risk profile like Rovers?

What has happened to the failing Plainfield investments which Rovers were instanced with in the first post by Rivercider?

I am genuinely delighted that an influential group of new fans joined the band of Rovers supporters from all this.

What you're not saying Philip is that Plainfield were looking for dividends from new money financing new activities.This would not have resulted in Plainfield taking money from Rovers' existing income but from a growing income which would have seen Rovers' income grow too. Nor would the club have been saddled with debt in the way Manure have been.

Finally they were looking to ease out and realise their asset but they would have left Rovers stronger than they found it and with the potential to get stronger still. A lot of exciting initiatives will now not take place and the club will be the poorer for it.

The Trust seemingly got carried away by potentially higher offers which then failed to materialise. They have not covered themselves with glory.

PS I too have emailed Dan Williams urging him to do what all Rovers fans would love to do. The poor bloke will be deluged!

[Paul]

I'm not defending philipl, but who the hell are you exactly? It's nice that Mr. Alan Nixon, professional reporter (see, we know who he is), has corroborated your account of events. But who are you? In other words: What is your name and your professional position? Be precise please. Otherwise you're just another anonymous person on an internet forum.

Are you posting from the Wild West, or do you have no subtlety/ manners?

In some people's view the question may lack subtlety / manners, for others it 's perfectly reasonable. I no more know doctorryan than rivercider but doctorryan has been around here a long time, I think I may have mailed him a Rovers shirt once? So I know he has a real postal address in the US. rivercider's posts certainly set my mind racing but perhaps in a different direction from many on here. My deep scepticism of all things tabloid is well known, if I question newspapers I'm just as likely to question a series of internet postings.

Why retain the interest for so long and why decide now to post what has been considered confidential information on the web? NDA or not this is / was a series of confidences which have now been broken, albeit quite legally. However if I was one of those originally involved I would be questioning this individual. This was just a football club, unimportant really, but what else might this poster know that he's prepared to post on the web?

Equally where I an employee / player in these types of deal would I want a reputation for disclosing NDAs within days of them supposedly expiring? Trust and confidence are very important.

What would / do the Walker Trust think of some of the points brought into the open?

Why now? What reason? Plus I'm not altogether convinced the poster is American by nationality. I'm prepared to take what has been posted at face value but the furher I read the more the language seemed less US English. Cider?

With respect to rivercider there is nothing to support any of this other than a one-liner from a journalist.

[Hughesy]

Paul why dont you direct your questions to Dan Williams?

Why give you an email addy to use if people suggest its rubbish?

Im sure the mods could check riverciders IP addy if they wanted to confirm where he was

[nicko]

There is something very strange going on here.

All I would say from taking an interest in potential bidders for Rovers over the years is one thing...and it still holds true.

Talk is cheap. Buying a football club isn't.

[Hughesy]

Surely your sources will confirm the offer included several provisions to prevent this HAPPILY AGREED TO at the time. So nonsense. I have read your speculation (incorrect at that) presented as fact (wrong) about the terms of Jack's will etc.

RC - Any chance you could go into details about what if anything his will says that the trust must do prior to any sale?!

[S15]

Most people around here have always taken Phils 'knowledge' of Jack's Will with a pinch of salt tbh.

However, hopefully now we've seen the end of such statements.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

What an entertaining read that was last night. An opportunity lost it would seem and one where Rover's best interests would have been kept at the forefront by a Rovers fan.

[koi]

This has become one bizarre thread!

[Paul]

Paul why dont you direct your questions to Dan Williams?

Why? I have no known method of contacting Dan Williams. There is an e-mail address for a Daniel J Firth. Here why don't you e-mail the Walker Trust - here's the e-mail address [email protected]. Believe me? There is no more reason why you should believe that e-mail address than the one posted by rivercider

Why give you an email addy to use if people suggest its rubbish?

See above. Why not try [email protected] or [email protected]. Good grief are you really so gullible. here's another for you [email protected]

Im sure the mods could check riverciders IP addy if they wanted to confirm where he was

The mods can't but admin can. I know I was one. I also know the chances of them checking are minimal, because I know the circumstances under which Glenn and Ste would do this, and the possibility of it being posted on here are billions to one against.

Hughesy I think you're probably I genuinely nice guy but you need to do two things; stop believing everyhting in the Rovers world is rosy and secondly question things a little.

PLEASE NOTE ALL E-MAIL ADDRESSES ARE ENTIRELY FICTIONAL AND MADE UP BY ME TO ILLUSTRATE A POINT. DO NOT USE THEM

[M2XLY]

Can somebody sum what is going on here? I am really confused about it all. Just something short will do!

[Paul]

Took the advice. E-mailed DW and got a response. Just want to share it with you all. Fantastic news.

From: Dan Firth Williams [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Saturday, March 20th, 2010, 05.12

To: Paul ********

Subject: Re: Chelsea Sunday

Paul,

Great to hear from you. Of course I'll see you at half time, I know the spot you usually meet den and Baz. I'll see you there, I'm the big guy with ginger hair. We can sort out the fine details of the takeover with Mr J Williams after the match.

cheers for now

DW

[gumboots]

This thread is getting funnier than watching tv. For what it's worth, Paul, I too share your scepticism.

[OscarRaven]

Can somebody sum what is going on here? I am really confused about it all. Just something short will do!

No, invest a bit of your own time, its only reading its not exactly hard!

[nicko]

Can somebody sum what is going on here? I am really confused about it all. Just something short will do!

I think you now have a very detailed, particularly well-informed summation of events three years ago...

Not sure what it does to help the present situation though.

The bottom line is that the club needs/wants a buyer with money.

[Balwer]

Vinjay!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A65239734

[OscarRaven]

Paul why dont you direct your questions to Dan Williams?

Why give you an email addy to use if people suggest its rubbish?

Im sure the mods could check riverciders IP addy if they wanted to confirm where he was

A bit of a strange statement from a guy who hides his own IP address?

[thenodrog]

Come on guys ... the least you can do is get Rivercider's name right!

Sorry but please note that it's Friday neet and the time of posting ES.

[philipl]

Classic Vinjay:

"The reason it fell through was because the Walkers ruined it. Like they ruin everything else."

...like Jack Walker ruined everything

With regards to the Will or the terms of reference of the Trustees, NOTHING but NOTHING I have posted on here over the years has been anything other than detail taken from material which had already been put into the public domain. In fact, whilst people say the Trust has been silent, the reality is that by the standards of a private Trust they have been very communicative. I have posted based on interviews conducted with the media and any statements made by the Trust and the Rovers Chairman.

If you doubt me, the best single source is to go back and look at the assurances given publicly when it was first announced the Trust had instructed Rothschilds to seek a buyer for the Rovers. Then read that in conjunction with Mr Egerton-Vernon's interview in late 2000.

[M2XLY]

I think you now have a very detailed, particularly well-informed summation of events three years ago...

Not sure what it does to help the present situation though.

The bottom line is that the club needs/wants a buyer with money.

Exactly, all this talk about the past does nothin for us now! People are getting so excited about something that never happened!

[dazmaz]

A bit of a strange statement from a guy who hides his own IP address?

what does it matter if he hides his IP address?

[47er]

Took the advice. E-mailed DW and got a response. Just want to share it with you all. Fantastic news.

From: Dan Firth Williams [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Saturday, March 20th, 2010, 05.12

To: Paul ********

Subject: Re: Chelsea Sunday

Paul,

Great to hear from you. Of course I'll see you at half time, I know the spot you usually meet den and Baz. I'll see you there, I'm the big guy with ginger hair. We can sort out the fine details of the takeover with Mr J Williams after the match.

cheers for now

DW

Does that post really help anybody?

[thenodrog]

Catching up this morming leaves me with my 'Suspicious mode' fully engaged.............

Rivercider's posts are out of the blue, informed, very well written but most of all UNECESSARY! I am beginning to suspect probably have more of an eye to the future rather than to the past. I feel that to 'put the record straight' his initial post would have been enough, but now methinks he doth protest rather too much. Rivercider if you have an ulterior motive rem that sometimes Less can be More.

The sceptic in me would feel that all this gushy, butter wouldn't melt in our mouths guff (coming from a guy who by definition must have hard-headed and shrewd on his CV) simply be an attempt to either test the water of even pre-popularise the source of some incoming bid for the club. Remember we (members on here) almost unilaterally dissed the John Williams led, ham fisted attempt 3 years ago. Today it appears that after a few posts from a mysterious septic tank half those previously guarded members are now rueing the near miss and literally salivating on the possibility that Williams / Plainmoor et al might be tempted back. The Chewing gum, cigarettes and nylon stockings factor is still alive within these shores it appears. Some PR eh? If thats what it is. Very effective and best of all very cheap! The power of the internet eh?

Basically Alan Nixon (there's that name again) recently told us that the club is available for a song and that there is a middle east link. Middle East takeovers being viewed with deep suspicion post Pompey might well have rung a bell and signalled an opportunity over the pond. All the homework was done in 07 and all that is needed now is a quick update and maybe a few phone calls to round up the troops and inform them that a 'sleeper' has woken up.

Rem also last time Williams was involved he came in with all guns blazing ready to meet a headline price of 63million (ish) before doing a reverse switch and bidding the club down last time. Big mistake at the time cos all it did was generate bad vibes amongst the supporters. Maybe lessons have been learned about the value of positive PR in these situations. It's no doubt his style to buy cheap, ailing businesses, repair em and sell em dear. (Very much the Jack Walker method in fact.)

Does anybody else smell the same rat as me? Or should I be calling it an 'ulterior motive' out of political expedience perchance this is a pre-curser to the real deal?

btw Rivercider.... Your research / memory is flawed. There is no such person as Linda Walker. Jack had a vivacious and beautiful daughter who knocked about in 'our crowd' 30 odd years ago but she married in the early 80's and I'm fairly sure that you would never have been introduced to her by her maiden name.

[Balwer]

Catching up this morming leaves me with my 'Suspicious mode' fully engaged.............

Rivercider's posts are out of the blue, informed, very well written but most of all UNECESSARY! I am beginning to suspect probably have more of an eye to the future rather than to the past. I feel that to 'put the record straight' his initial post would have been enough, but now methinks he doth protest rather too much. Rivercider if you have an ulterior motive rem that sometimes Less can be More.

The sceptic in me would feel that all this gushy, butter wouldn't melt in our mouths guff might simply be an attempt to either test the water of even pre-popularise the source of some incoming bid for the club. Remember we (members on here) almost unilaterally dissed the John Williams led, ham fisted attempt 3 years ago. Today it appears that after a few posts from a mysterious septic tank half those previously guarded members are now rueing the near miss and literally salivating on the possibility that Williams / Plainmoor et al might be tempted back. The Chewing gum, cigarettes and nylon stockings factor is still alive within these shores it appaers. Some PR eh? If thats what it is. Very effective and best of all very cheap!

Basically Alan Nixon (there's that name again) recently told us that the club is available for a song and that there is a middle east link. Middle East takeovers being viewed with deep suspicion post Pompey might well have rung a bell and signalled an opportunity over the pond. All the homework was done in 07 and all that is needed now is a quick update and maybe a few phone calls to round up the troops and inform them that a 'sleeper' has woken up.

Rem also last time Williams was involved he came in with all guns blazing ready to meet a headline price of 63million (ish) before doing a reverse switch and bidding the club down last time. Big mistake at the time cos all it did was generate bad vibes amongst the supporters. Maybe lessons have been learned about the value of positive PR in these situations. It's no doubt his style to buy cheap, ailing businesses, repair em and sell em dear. (Very much the Jack Walker method in fact.)

Does anybody else smell the same rat as me? Or should I be calling it an 'ulterior motive' out of political expedience perchance this is a pre-curser to the real deal?

btw Rivercider.... Your research / memory is flawed. There is no such person as Linda Walker. Jack had a vivacious and beautiful daughter who knocked about in 'our crowd' 30 odd years ago but she married in the early 80's and I'm fairly sure that you would never have been introduced to her by her maiden name.

One point I agree with you on here theno is the suspicious timing of all this. Apparently our club is up for sale and very coincidentally we are informed about the goings on of a previous failed purchase attempt. My Spidey Senses are tingling.

[gumboots]

Catching up this morming leaves me with my 'Suspicious mode' fully engaged.............

Rivercider's posts are out of the blue, informed, very well written but most of all UNECESSARY! I am beginning to suspect probably have more of an eye to the future rather than to the past. I feel that to 'put the record straight' his initial post would have been enough, but now methinks he doth protest rather too much. Rivercider if you have an ulterior motive rem that sometimes Less can be More.

The sceptic in me would feel that all this gushy, butter wouldn't melt in our mouths guff (coming from a guy who by definition must have hard-headed and shrewd on his CV) simply be an attempt to either test the water of even pre-popularise the source of some incoming bid for the club. Remember we (members on here) almost unilaterally dissed the John Williams led, ham fisted attempt 3 years ago. Today it appears that after a few posts from a mysterious septic tank half those previously guarded members are now rueing the near miss and literally salivating on the possibility that Williams / Plainmoor et al might be tempted back. The Chewing gum, cigarettes and nylon stockings factor is still alive within these shores it appaers. Some PR eh? If thats what it is. Very effective and best of all very cheap!

Basically Alan Nixon (there's that name again) recently told us that the club is available for a song and that there is a middle east link. Middle East takeovers being viewed with deep suspicion post Pompey might well have rung a bell and signalled an opportunity over the pond. All the homework was done in 07 and all that is needed now is a quick update and maybe a few phone calls to round up the troops and inform them that a 'sleeper' has woken up.

Rem also last time Williams was involved he came in with all guns blazing ready to meet a headline price of 63million (ish) before doing a reverse switch and bidding the club down last time. Big mistake at the time cos all it did was generate bad vibes amongst the supporters. Maybe lessons have been learned about the value of positive PR in these situations. It's no doubt his style to buy cheap, ailing businesses, repair em and sell em dear. (Very much the Jack Walker method in fact.)

Does anybody else smell the same rat as me? Or should I be calling it an 'ulterior motive' out of political expedience perchance this is a pre-curser to the real deal?

btw Rivercider.... Your research / memory is flawed. There is no such person as Linda Walker. Jack had a vivacious and beautiful daughter who knocked about in 'our crowd' 30 odd years ago but she married in the early 80's and I'm fairly sure that you would never have been introduced to her by her maiden name.

It's not often I find myself in agreement with you Gordon, but much of what you say here is what has been going through my head since I started reading this stuff and the questions that keep coming back are why and why now? There's something afoot somewhere and this engaging with fans makes me more suspicious than anything.