[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[den]

These articles are being used to harm Syed as a fit and proper person. The real questions are, although he's probably telling the truth about the Bahrain branch and there is no link to his proposed buy out of Rovers, is there enough here for the PL to doubt him being "fit and proper"? After all, that isn't just limited to his Rovers business deals.

[Paul]

These articles are being used to harm Syed as a fit and proper person.

I don't have a view about this story and regard it as just another piece of journalism typical of the world we live in. I do think there is likely to be an element of truth in the story as this is the BBC ( an office may well have been closed on a technicality or similar infringement) who clearly don't get everything right but I'd suggest are more reliable than many sources. Do we though truely believe the BBC have any interest in harming the Syed bid? It's hard for me to imagine.

[Amo]

Journos being journos. They can't resist a good scoop at the expense of someone's reputation. If not for our persecution complex, we'd accept that and move on - but of course, the whole world is out to get us!

[47er]

These articles are being used to harm Syed as a fit and proper person. The real questions are, although he's probably telling the truth about the Bahrain branch and there is no link to his proposed buy out of Rovers, is there enough here for the PL to doubt him being "fit and proper"? After all, that isn't just limited to his Rovers business deals.

If Sinnawatra can be regarded as a fit and proper person to own a football club, Syed's enemies/rivals are going to have to come up with something better than a breach of Bahrain corporate law!

[rebelmswar]

If Sinnawatra can be regarded as a fit and proper person to own a football club, Syed's enemies/rivals are going to have to come up with something better than a breach of Bahrain corporate law!

He was getting a "big" club though...

[den]

Do we though truely believe the BBC have any interest in harming the Syed bid? It's hard for me to imagine.

Do we truly believe that it was "just the BBC" behind these stories? Someone has alerted them IMO Paul.

[philipl]

These articles are being used to harm Syed as a fit and proper person. The real questions are, although he's probably telling the truth about the Bahrain branch and there is no link to his proposed buy out of Rovers, is there enough here for the PL to doubt him being "fit and proper"? After all, that isn't just limited to his Rovers business deals.

If I remember correctly, the big tightening is with respect to demonstrating sufficient funds sufficient to meet the club's cash flow for a complete season. On that basis, Mr Ali has shown Rothschilds all the funds for the next 15 years already if recent WGA statements are read that way.

Therefore getting clearance from the PL would be a two day nod through but the emergence of these allegations almost certainly mean the PL would take the full ten days and crawl over Mr Ali looking for potential sources of embarassment.

That delay is likely to be the real base cost of the BBC arrticle.

[EwoodGlory]

Who does this Goldberg support then?

[Moppy]

Who does this Goldberg support then?

WBA I think

[Paul]

Do we truly believe that it was "just the BBC" behind these stories? Someone has alerted them IMO Paul.

OK I'm sure BBC journalists have "sources" and obviously obtain information which pushes them towards a certain story. It may be the case someone who wishes to harm the Syed bid has passed information to Adrian Goldberg and he has followed the story. I have no idea if it's true or not and I am 100% refraining from any comment except I feel the majority would feel comfortable with the BBC as a reputable news source (lets try not have that debate guys ). If this was any one of a number of media outlets, tabloid paper, etc. I'd say it was nonsense, as it's the BBC I'm inclined to think there will be something there. As I said before it will most likely be some technical infringement or similar. The Beeb don't often get these things wrong though I know they do on occassions.

I think we should avoid feeling Rovers are being persecuted in some way, which seems to be the tone in three different threads at present, and all by the BBC. I think the Beeb probably have bigger fish to fry. If the BBC is being used in this manner I'd guess the club would be talking privately to the corporation and any journalist involved might have questions to answer.

[den]

If this was any one of a number of media outlets, tabloid paper, etc. I'd say it was nonsense, as it's the BBC I'm inclined to think there will be something there. As I said before it will most likely be some technical infringement or similar. The Beeb don't often get these things wrong though I know they do on occassions.

I haven't cast any doubts as to the "substance" behind this story - or lack of it, because we simply don't know the situation. The only doubts I have, are about how the BBC came to this information.

[philipl]

Two red top journalists independently found different new buyers and a newly ex-Talksport BBC journo finds a problem in Bahrain all on the same day.

Could be coincidence, clumsiness or suspicious or some combination of all three.

[Mc Love]

Two red top journalists independently found different new buyers and a newly ex-Talksport BBC journo finds a problem in Bahrain all on the same day.

Could be coincidence, clumsiness or suspicious or some combination of all three.

Nicko's rule of three perhaps??

[Roversider]

Radio 5 Live had planned a slot on the story this morning but time got in the way so it was dropped. I guess the BBC felt there were more interesting stories to run with?

In the meantime there will be plenty of gossip and inuendo I suspect. Nature abhors a vacuum and the Due Diligence and negotiation enforces a news vacuum.

Personally I am happy that there is generally silence.

[philipl]

Bahrain Government record of WGA

This could be very embarassing for the BBC- If you look at that link it says WESTERN GULF ADVISORY B S C CLOSED

The closed refers to it being a Closed Joint Stock Company which is covered by the following definition taken from a Bahraini legal services web site:

Companies Law

Joint Stock Companies

A joint stock company is a pure shareholding company in which all of the members are liable for company debts to the extent of the nominal value of their shares. This type of company can take the form of an exempt joint stock company, a closed joint stock company or a public joint stock company. While the latter type requires a minimum of 51 percent Bahraini ownership, the exempt and closed joint stock companies may be 100 percent foreign owned. All forms of the joint stock company must maintain permanent offices in Bahrain.

Could the ex-Talksport guy really have run that story on something as flimsy as not understanding that a CLOSED Joint Stock Company is one in which shares are not available for Bahrainis to buy, not a company that has been shut down?

That is so basic I would be shocked (and relieved) if this is what this BBC story really boils down to but then again it is what I would expect at Talksport....

Just done a bit more digging, if WGA had indeed been closed down by the authorities, the fact it is closed down would be recorded on the page I have linked to for everyone to see. I think the BBC really could have egg on its face and a letter from m'learned friends on this one.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

These articles are being used to harm Syed as a fit and proper person. The real questions are, although he's probably telling the truth about the Bahrain branch and there is no link to his proposed buy out of Rovers, is there enough here for the PL to doubt him being "fit and proper"? After all, that isn't just limited to his Rovers business deals.

Dark forces at work here folks.The press hate us with a passion,I do believe there are people who will move heaven and earth to scupper this deal,maybe failed bidders or you know who.

STAND STRONG.

[jodrell]

Philip I am just wondering if they have already had a letter/phone call from m'learned friends? It could be the reason why they pulled the plug on that program they planed.

[BuckyRover]

I also believe that to be the case. I haven't been able to find any confirmation from an official source.

[koi]

The knives are out on this one! Still, just imagine how much digging is going on to get a negative on Syed and all they've managed is a dodgy story that is lacking any substance, that speaks volumes to me.

[ABBEY]

He was getting a "big" club though...

big club? only in their eyes!!

how long is it since they won anything?

id wager we will something again before they do.

[Amo]

For the love of sweet Jebus, I hope Mr. Syed can put his money where his mouth is. If there was ever any indication that Rovers need serious investment it's today. The worst transfer window in quite some time.

[jimlav]

For the love of sweet Jebus, I hope Mr. Syed can put his money where his mouth is. If there was ever any indication that Rovers need serious investment it's today. The worst transfer window in quite some time.

Yeah, quite some time. about 7 months.

[rovgers]

I don't know if this as been posted before but the 5 live investigates page on facebook as been updated. He is trying to make his story more credible by linking to a Canadian Press story.

Here's the link to the Canadian Press story

The Canadian Press

There is a quote from a Bahraini trade official called Hameed Yousif Rahma, who is the Commerce Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic Trade, in the Al Wasat newspaper. Unfortunately the website is in arabic, so unable to check were the qoute came from.

[Brfcrule1]

First off they must have dropped the slot on five live after the email I sent to to five live investigates Mr Goldberg. Nicko or Kamy can you clear something up this story which I believe is mud raking. When searching the websites of the Bahrain government and the Bahrain trade & industry there is no information on the closure which suggests to me this is just someone's attempt to muddy the waters. Also when I emailed the 5 live investigates team they said someone in the Bahrain government gave them the information of the company closure but would not reveal his source this suggests to me this story is total bullpop. Also if they had been ordered to cease trading would the papers in Bahrain not have picked up on the story?. The fact nothing is in the press over there suggests these are just rumours with nothing to backup the claims!. Also when they emailed back I asked about the Bahrain government & Bahrain Trade & Ind. website would have something on there but they said they don't always update their sites,but something so big would be on there the fact there is nothing to back up their claims seems to me it is just mud slinging. Nicko/Kamy can you confirm if the firm was asked to cease trading there would be more on the Bahrain Govt & Trade & Ind. website can you clarify. Also Nicko/Kamy they said the company was asked to cease trading 2 weeks ago around the same time the MOU was signed & due dilligence began when asked why it did not come out then instead of the bid going to due dilligence stage they had no answer If the Trustees/Rothschild had a sniff of this 2 weeks ago surely the bid would not have gone to the due dilligence stage and it would make a mockery of the heads of agreement and would also call into question the practices of Rothschild as a company. Can someone confirm the timing of this seems strange & the information in that article seems totally inaccurate. Also just to clarify Mr Goldberg does support WBA.

Good Night.

[mogster]

Andy Cryer says he's... well, this is what he says:

"Exclusive follow up to takeover saga in LT tomorrow. Interesting read"