[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[tonyoz]

You would have thought so Imy9. This is an extract from WGA's own website (under FAQ):

9. What is your due diligence process and what are your specific areas of examination?

As with any lending institution, WGA follows a standard due diligence process.

We require 6 weeks to achieve results, as most of the companies are located overseas.

We check for any record of personal defaults, corporate defaults, bankruptcy proceedings, administrative proceedings or any anti-social activity that the applicant may be involved with.

[BuckyRover]

Which is the most likely explanation?

He doesn't have the money.

He doesn't care about the debts

It's not his debt

He didn't know (or remember) that he owed any money

How does a nobody from India afford to pay for an LSE education. It's very expensive for international students is it not?

[Bobby G]

Interesting comment by their PR person. Not what you want to hear at this stage. Nicko made a very valid point. Why was he living in such a "shack"? And why did he leave it in such a state and hurry? A little bit bemused.

[Fife Rover]

Oh my, didn't expect to wake upto anything like this.

They do not put Mr Ali in a good light, even if the amounts are small, they raise questions of credibility. I made a mistake when checking out Mr Ali, I believed what his company report and didn't even check his background in India. I am going to contact people in Mumbai to see what they have to say about Mr Ali, hopefully hear back from them before I leave tomorrow.

I am hoping that the Trust and Rothchild's haven't dropped the ball big time on this one, I had always assumed that that they would have vetted every aspect of Mr Ali before letting him look at the books (they have done this on all other bidders and they have not gone through the door) maybe they have and are not concerned about what has been alleged in the BBC report. 1864 will confirm that everything in he background suggests the club is on the verge of being sold, now of course the mystery bidder could be further along than we think and the club is being sold to them but that seems far fetched because something would have leaked. So either the trust/rothchilds have dropped the ball big time or are aware of these allegations but are happy to sell to Mr Ali, for that to happen he would have had to "shown them the money".

I have also put these allegations to WGA just now, told them that this raises a whole bunch of concerns and that Mr Ali needs to respond to them, with honesty and no PR spin.

Absolutely right Kamy; you share my thought s entirely. What you have done is the correct approach. I.E. remain calm and open minded about it all , and at the same time be highly aware and even suspicious until further enquiries have cleared the matter up one way or the other.

It is just silly to go off on one in either direction until the relevant questions have been asked and answered. But there simply has to be a further set of questions raised by all with Rovers long term welfare in mind, and answered by both Rothschilds and Mr. Ali Syed's group. That is both essential and urgent.

To all the disappointed amongst us just try and appreciate the fact that assuming the BBC report is correct and Syed did indeed do all (or even any) of the things alleged (and I am NOT saying I believe he did) what does that tell you about the character of the man we are trusting to buy and run BRFC for the next 15 years or so? If he can do the things alleged against him, then what is to say he won't eventually get bored with owning and running the Rovers, and just stop investing in the club or worse still just look to cash in on the saleable assets?

No! I don'tknow the answers to those questions but then neither do any of you, and truthful and checkable answers are exxactly what is required right now.

[Balwer]

The BBC guy has done a very good job tracking more information and has certainly raised some questions that those who are well-paid to sell Rovers obviously failed to find. Well done to him.

All due respect Alan but unless you've seen the results of Rothschilds work to-date I don't see how you can categorically claim that they have or haven't found anything.

[1864roverite]

Ok Bryan I submit I was wrong to label AG as a @#/? and if that hurt your feelings (or anyone elses, or indeed any real mongs who feel aggrieved being labelled in the same sentence as either AG or WBA) then I unreservedly apologise.

I dont have any negative feelings about bad news where BRFC is concerned, I am a Rover for life. It saddens me when things go wrong and it makes me happy when we seemingly find our club linked with pounds and dollars. i bet that is pretty much the same with every supporter.

I am more than happy to bide my time, I dont believe anything until the club announce it and althoiugh I was made party to some information I still wont acceot it is realkkly happening unless BRFC announce it.

Thats the reality of it.

[imy9]

All due respect Alan but unless you've seen the results of Rothschilds work to-date I don't see how you can categorically claim that they have or haven't found anything.

Agreed Rothschild deal with multi billion dollar transactions, cant see a BBC reporter stumping them to a scoop...

We'll find out soon enough.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Easy for you to look on this from a position of detached amusement Alan because its not your club. I'm on here and so are most others, because of my undying emotional attachment to Blackburn Rovers.We might argue and squabble a fair bit but that happens in families. I can't look on all this calmly because I want it too much.

Imagine it were Partick Thistle........

The point to remember is that Syed is clearly not the only interested party. Im confident that by the time the next transfer window opens we will have new owners. If Syed is not the man for the job then it is critical that we find out.

If he takes control then great, I'll be happy in the knowledge that the club and the league believe he is a capable owner, if he falls down at this hurdle then that shows he wasnt good for this club. Either way, we come out on top..

I desperately want to believe that everything is in order, but if its not then we need to know now. I havent detected any sense of amusement from Nicko's part or anyone elses.

I think the initial euphoria of Syed taking control has now passed and there are genuine questions he needs to answer, and its in our interest to hear them answered.

[chaddyrovers]

Julia Thiem has got back to me "We are not commenting on these allegations at this stage".

interesting. wonder if they are waiting till after the report tonight then commenting.

[chocky]

Lets be honest none of us really know what is goping on regarding the take over, its all speculation. Rothschilds are obviously being paid a conciderable fee to make sure any takeover is the right thing for Rovers and the Trust. Im sure they will know all there is to know about Mr Sayed and whether he really has the funds he says he has and he will not be able to take over the club without these funds. If he is successful then we will be able to move forward and he is he is unsuccessful then he has wasted the clubs time and effort. If there are other buyers interest then that is a great fall back. The club is ripe for a take over with only a relatively small debt and great potential to go forward.

[T4E]

Where are all the posters that assured us that Mr Syed wouldn't let the takeover fail because he had a reputation to live up to? I'm intrigued to know the basis for this

viewpoint - it must be hard to live up to any sort of reputation when no one has ever heard of you.

Cmon Philip, tell us more.

[Iceman]

A guy who is worth billions, who have been let near the clubs books, and who apparently owes 70k worth debt, but who has made no statement , or had the opportunity to state his case. Yet, people are already writing him off as a dodgy dealer. Let him defend himself 1st, before we dismiss him as unsuitable for Rovers.

[Brfcrule1]

I have to say after these latest allegations we hear from the man himself to give the whole not picture and not his secretary Ms. Thiem & the trust & Rothschild now thoroughly investigate these claims.

[Iceman]

But what is it about this story, that is such big news? He could easily, have asked somebody to pay on his behalf, and the individual did not make the payment.

[tony gale's mic]

I was initially a bit giddy at the prospect of this takeover and very much taken in by his statements, but since then I've had more questions than anything and this report confirms my suspicions.

- Apparently his family have been big names in Hyderabad for the last 150 years. No one in Hyderabad knows who the hell they are.

- Not on any rich lists despite reportedly being worth up to £8 billion. Not even a wikipedia page, barely anything on google. I'm sorry but you don't earn that much money and not become well known at least within the business world at least. Barely anything is searchable about Western Gulf Advisory from before August - the only report I can find is of them opening offices in Kuala Lumpur two years ago.

- Reports always say he's got other business deals going but it's the same two that are always mentioned - the one in Canada with the Irish guy and the one in Australia. Surely someone worth that much will have many more interests and purchases?

People have been assuming he's worth billions but for some time now I've been wondering if he actually is.

That's even before we get to the business about the BBC investigation.

Even if by some small chance he is worth this much money, why did he live in a tiny flat and owe so much money? Surely he wouldve got a nice flat somewhere like Kensington and paid his rent on time, or at least when he left?

There are far too many questions here and far too many things for him to explain. He's a busted flush IMO.

[Hughesy]

Goldberg's a joke. "Shocking revelations?"

Nobody gives a s**t mate, just glad the Pakistan cricket team have ensured this story gets the publicity it deserves.

Wow, its another part of the "MASSIVE" media hyped negative press about a potential owner of a Premier League club.TBH I ws expecting something much more jucier.

What does that tell you ?

Exactly fella's - My Syed owes 7k in debts to a landlord?! Anybody checked his credibility for proof it was the same Mr Syed??

Seriously this guy has completed major deals - 7k is pocket change to him & there is no PROOF that its his debt.

MASSIVE SHOCKING NEWS!!!! Yeah ok Goldberg! Dont worry im sure if this is the best the BBC can find then we are in very good hands

[imy9]

Where are all the posters that assured us that Mr Syed wouldn't let the takeover fail because he had a reputation to live up to? I'm intrigued to know the basis for this

viewpoint - it must be hard to live up to any sort of reputation when no one has ever heard of you.

Cmon Philip, tell us more.

The guy is dealing in, at the very least hundreds of millions of pounds, he has secured TWO £300 million deals in the last couple of years, which can be checked with a few clicks on google, your company deals with debt management and is about to purchase a premier league football club, I can safely say that he has a reputation to defend and I expect some sort of statement after the 9pm program is aired tonight.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Exactly fella's - My Syed owes 7k in debts to a landlord?! Anybody checked his credibility for proof it was the same Mr Syed??

Seriously this guy has completed major deals - 7k is pocket change to him & there is no PROOF that its his debt.

MASSIVE SHOCKING NEWS!!!! Yeah ok Goldberg! Dont worry im sure if this is the best the BBC can find then we are in very good hands

I'm absolutely desperate for a takeover so that we can stop being outbid for unknown strikers by obscure clubs from Turkey but burying your head in the sand and wishing bad news away wont make it go away.

The bloke has got questions to answer, lets see what he's got to say for himself.

[S15]

The guy is dealing in, at the very least hundreds of millions of pounds, he has secured TWO £300 million deals in the last couple of years, which can be checked with a few clicks on google, your company deals with debt management and is about to purchase a premier league football club, I can safely say that he has a reputation to defend and I expect some sort of statement after the 9pm program is aired tonight.

Nah I reckon Ali boy is smarter than that; He'll ring in and pretend to be the landlord and say it's all rubbish, and Ali Syed is the best tenant he's ever had.

[tony gale's mic]

Ahsan Ali Syed (pictured at the front) leading Blackburn Rovers fans on a merry dance...

[brfcshabba]

Ahsan Ali Syed (pictured at the front) leading Blackburn Rovers fans on a merry dance...

Does he want a monorail as well?

[otto man]

The sky isn't falling, but you do need to wake up and smell the coffee this takeover might not happen BRFC won't go out of business without it.As I've already said in the past in a country like India you have money you make sure that everybody knows it.Is this guy Saurin Shah/Dan Williams in disguise?

Do I? Just because I don't have knee jerk reactions to everything I read

[BuckyRover]

He does, but only on the condition that Leonard Nimoy is on board for the maiden voyage.

[1864roverite]

and the mood was lightened, nice picture and sort of puts it into real perspective if any of the allegations being labelled are found to be true.

[67splitscreen]

Anyone else noticed that the mail in the picture is not addressed to Mr Ashan Ali Syed, (at least from what I can make out when zoomed) in particular the ones staged for the photos, British gas and the brown envelope.

Can anyone else get it readable.

The gas bill looks as though it is addressed the the 'Occupier' and the Brown one does not seem to have the correct number of characters either for his name.

His first company mentioned 'All Star Foods' appears not to have traded, the second Goldbridge Investments did and filed A/C up to 31/08/2004, A/C due 08/08 so filed in time.

The company was then listed as dormant one year later on the 31/08/2004, then dissolved in 2006.

Personally I think the closed companies has been sensationalised, could be wrong of course.

The county court judgement is also a strange one, they were able to find the debt but not the reason for it, sure Experian could have helped them out on that issue, or even the court issuing the judgement.

Lot's of questions to be answered.

No comment from Julia Thiem, not good, sounds as though they have been caught on the hop, or legal reasons preventing the comments.

Another observation, to say Syed allegedly did a runner from the apartment, the letting agent certainly was on his tracks pretty sharpish, those flowers can't be more than a week or so old and no fallen petals on the table. Strange!

Why two empty drawer's on the table when there is no cupboard around, someone empty their contents on a table by any chance?.