[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[RovertheHill]

Too many people on here have got carried away and pinned their colours to this particular mast at the thought of Football Manager like transfer windows. And based on what? Very little.

It's all very well saying this investigation is based on a few minor indiscrepancies but actually the defence of this guy is based on even less. The defence that he must be okay to have got this far conveniently forgets all the chancers out there that have conned the great and the good for as long as money has existed.

Now I'm not saying he's a chancer, or that he's conning anyone, but at the very least he's not the perfect character a number on here were suggesting he was.

I said it at the start and I'll say it again - keep a healthy cynicism about this until the ink is dry and then keep it a bit longer too.

[Bobby G]

I am sure it is the club or certain members or non-members of the club with a real voice on things that are doing the encouraging.

Anyone has anything on this so-called second bidder? Or its all a mystery?

[philipl]

If Syed went to LSE, then surely he would have a diploma, or certificate, or even the results to show for it.

Every University of LSE's standing (consistently ranked in the world's top ten academic institutions) has problems with chancers saying they went there so I cannot believe the LSE's Alumni in the news listing on its own web site is not hard wired into their Academic records office. If you dig down, there is more than two pages of press clippings about Ali Syed (all of which have appeared on here at one time or another) spread over many weeks on the LSE's own web site- they have had plenty of time and opportunity to have checked him out.

It is also worth pointing out that Ali Syed has a close relationship with PwC (Price Waterhouse) and indeed Gail Monbelly who has lead the WGA negotiations with Rothschilds/the Trust is sometimes described as being from PwC on secondment to WGA. That introduces another blue chip name which according to its own rules must have done detailed digging into Ali Syed's past before accepting him as a client. What the BBC has claimed to have uncovered would not have disqualified Ali Syed from being accepted as a client but PwC would have told him to get it all sorted out immediately (probably insisted on sorting it themselves and giving him a bill for doing it) as that sort of track record is a disaster waiting to happen (and has happened now).

But then there is a lot of stuff now that defies conventional wisdom.

[Paul Mellelieu]

I have to say that I agree with almost every poster so far on this matter. It's strange, worrying and damn frustrating. I just want to see us competitive as a football club once again. The machinations and mechanics of the takeover bid are irritating and I wish they were all over, then as fans we can get on with what we do best i.e. turn up on match day, cheer and then kick around Keith, Peds, the fat centre forward, whatever. Football is what I'm interested in.

That said we are a family club with history and values. We have a good name in the game and I believe we are respected. So for me the most worrying aspect of these latest allegations is not the amount of money Mr Syed has or has not, it's about the image he will bring to the club and the effect he will have on our reputation.

For what it's worth I believe that he has the cash to at least buy the club, I guarantee he will not have got this far without Rothschilds being able to poke a stack of his cash with a sharp stick. As for the extra 300M, well who knows, we have to rely on his word. That seems to be the crux of all this then, his word, his ethics, his character in general.

As for the Club/Trust/Rothschilds, well they are not private investigators they check and challenge what they know, if the allegations are off the radar they cannot tackle them. The whole purpose of due diligence is to allow time for these things to emerge, hence why it wasn't sensible to rush things through to a conclusion before the transfer window closed. Everyone has agendas and stuff like this generally emerges over time, reserve any condemnation of the participants in the process until the fat lady sings and people have taken decisions based on all the info available/discoverable. If they take the wrong decision then they should expect to be castigated by the fans, but right now I'd say just let the process unwind, keep calm and carry on.

As said I don't think the cash is the issue here, that's an easy check to run. The real issue is whether Mr Syed is a Walter Mitty or not. Does he have an MBA? Is it from the prestigious LSE? Is he professionally qualified? Has he been disbarred from UK directorships? Does he have CCJs? How recently did he inherit his cash, does he want to appear that he played a part in the wealth generation or did he just receive the cheque in the post one day last year and is looking for something to do with it?

My hunch is that he's as complex a character as the rest of us. He will have embellished bits, he will have a few things he wishes he hadn't done. He's probably going to come out of this with his peccadilloes exposed and a bit of egg on his face. Does he have the cash, yes I think he has. Is that enough or do we want our white knights to be Galahad types or will we tolerate the odd Lancelot excess. As I said on my last post I think we will find that the 'new' bidders are known for their ethics and they will certainly not struggle financially yet on balance and provided that his character is solid I would prefer the wealth of a personal investor rather than that of a group.

Where's there a fat lady when you need one?

On the money.

[John]

Does Ahsan Ali Syed have Blackburn best interests at heart?

[mogster]

If Mr Ali has the funds he says he has (IF) then the BBC have proved we probably have the 'cleanest' billionaire in the world.

[Bobby G]

I think there is no question that he has the funds. Otherwise he would not have gotten this far. No one can doubt that.

[Ricky]

I ignored the tribal article after it stated that we were for sale for £300m.

[philipl]

I ignored the tribal article after it stated that we were for sale for £300m.

It is good to know in an uncertain world, somethings will never change- Tribal will always get it wrong!

[47er]

Not sure if this has already been posted on here:Lt's comments from the club. Doesn't say much

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8373278.Rovers_assure_fans_over_Ali_Syed/?ref=rss

[philipl]

Not sure if this has already been posted on here:Lt's comments from the club. Doesn't say much

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8373278.Rovers_assure_fans_over_Ali_Syed/?ref=rss

Doesn't say much but is very significant.

The Rovers are taking full responsibility for their own due diligence on potential owners.

Confirms talks with "at least" two other parties despite the media silence (how it should be) of the past week.

There is no comment in there as far as I can see from the club on Ali Syed.

[Iceman]

Doesn't say much but is very significant.

The Rovers are taking full responsibility for their own due diligence on potential owners.

Confirms talks with "at least" two other parties despite the media silence (how it should be) of the past week.

There is no comment in there as far as I can see from the club on Ali Syed.

how significant is that Philip?

[CrazyIvan]

I'm listening to this radio show now. What a load of rubbish. Goldberg hypes the tiniest of tiny stuff up. His tone is utterly disparaging about Rovers as well.

[Iceman]

who is this Goldberg fella? the only Goldberg i know is Bill Goldberg, and he was good

[Bobby G]

The guy is trying to make a splash.

[Paul]

First words spoken to me about football this morning when I arrived at work:

"Who is this Ali Baba trying to buy Blackburn? Apparently he's got debts all over the place"

I make no comment other than this is the perception a non-Rovers fan has suddenly gained over the weekend.

[Sparky Marky]

Where's Kamy and 1864 when you need them.?...They have the bat phone straight into Syed HQ....

[den]

Goldberg interviewed by Graham Liver on Radio Rovers this morning.

Basically, Goldberg says that they don't dispute that Syed might have the funds that he needs for the takeover. Goldberg doesn't make any accusations, but is simply asking whether, based on the evidence from the programme, Syed should be passing any fit and proper test. He says that the PL should look at him closely. That's it really. He doesn't really accuse Syed of anything, just rustles up some dodgy evidence that wouldn't stand up in a small claims court.

I can't see this programme having much sway with Rothschild's or the trustees. They will go beyond any evidence from last night's programme. Nothing to get worked up about here IMO.

[Bobby G]

Yes, but he needs to clear his name firstly and then the question is why is this Goldberg out to get this guy's blood when he doesnt even have a knife on him?

[Hughesy]

With them being bound by the NDA - could they make a statement?

Afterall he would want to back himself....however it needs both parties to agree to any statement does it not?

Therefore if the statement came out - Rovers would be effectively backing him aswell??

[Iceman]

Goldberg interviewed by Graham Liver on Radio Rovers this morning.

Basically, Goldberg says that they don't dispute that Syed might have the funds that he needs for the takeover. Goldberg doesn't make any accusations, but is simply asking whether, based on the evidence from the programme, Syed should be passing any fit and proper test. He says that the PL should look at him closely. That's it really. He doesn't really accuse Syed of anything, just rustles up some dodgy evidence that wouldn't stand up in a small claims court.

I can't see this programme having much sway with Rothschild's or the trustees. They will go beyond any evidence from last night's programme. Nothing to get worked up about here IMO.

so let me get this right, he claims Syed owes in the region of 70k, and then says he wants to know whether he would pass the PL's fit and proper test based on those revelations?

[CrazyIvan]

Goldberg interviewed by Graham Liver on Radio Rovers this morning.

Basically, Goldberg says that they don't dispute that Syed might have the funds that he needs for the takeover. Goldberg doesn't make any accusations, but is simply asking whether, based on the evidence from the programme, Syed should be passing any fit and proper test. He says that the PL should look at him closely. That's it really. He doesn't really accuse Syed of anything, just rustles up some dodgy evidence that wouldn't stand up in a small claims court.

I can't see this programme having much sway with Rothschild's or the trustees. They will go beyond any evidence from last night's programme. Nothing to get worked up about here IMO.

Agreed. There's a lot of vague dirt being thrown about Mr Syed but very little of any substance. I am of the opinion that any new potential owner of a Premier League club is going to have every ounce of their lives examined and the slightest hint of dodgyness is going to be highlighted as a major issue. It was always going to happen following the Pompey debacle. The fact it's little old Rovers and there are some snide comments made about us in the press regularly makes this deal an easy target. To be frank, let the REAL fit and proper test highlight the issues, not the Premier League one but Rovers and their teams own test. That one will show up any serious problems, not some half baked, overhyped, hot air filled supposed journo trying to make a name for himself.

[Bobby G]

I dont think an NDA on the take-over prevents him from speaking out on certain allegations against him (non-related to the takeover).

[MikeB]

Guys, when I deal with prospective new clients, first thing I do is run checks for CCJ's and obtain info. from Companies House, if dealing with a company - all this can be done & dusted within 30 minutes. If the client looks okay, will then obtain authorisation to seek a bank reference which again, can be done very quickly and obtained within a day - these are coded and vary from 'Excellent' to 'our customer would not enter into a commitment they would be unable to fulfil' (and that reference stinks and is bad news).

If potential dealings are substantial, I then ask for a statement of personal wealth and membership of professional bodies much of which can be investigated and verified.

The point I'm trying to make here is that although my dealings are on a far smaller scale than Ali / Rovers when you have access to the aforementioned, you can usually smell a rat as far back as in India !

It's so easy - no one is telling me that Roth's / Rovers have missed the Beeb's alleged findings !

[tony gale's mic]

Yes, but he needs to clear his name firstly and then the question is why is this Goldberg out to get this guy's blood when he doesnt even have a knife on him?

He's not out to get this guy's blood.

He's an investigative journalist.

There have been numerous dodgy takeovers by shady individuals over the years at Premier League clubs so it's fair enough that this one is probed a bit, especially given very little is known about Ali Syed.

And unpaid rent, debts of tens of thousands of pounds, creative accounting, repeated company closures and not being known whatsoever in his home town despite claiming to be from a famous wealthy family are all things that, when taken together, we should be very concerned about.

Like I said earlier, would people be attacking the programme as much if it was another Premier League club?