[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[nicko]

There is nothing new whatsoever in the Guardian story...

Interesting that Team Syed are now ready to talk and answer some of the rather odd accusations flying around.

Go on, then.

[Fife Rover]

Not meaning to get all vinjay on you, but we are not a 'little football club', we cannot generate the incomes of the big city clubs but don't do the club down.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you have misunderstood completely the context of what I said. In referring to Rovers as a "little football club" that part was used as a term of love and endearment. Perhaps if you and your supporters had a better understanding of the useage of the English language you would have realised that. Just go back and read it again, and you will see what I mean. Even if that particular phrase went over your head, then surely the rest of the post should have shown you what my feelings for the club are and have been for the past 64 years. Can you claim the same?

[Andy]

"A report by the BBC's 5 Live Investigates team has accused Syed of leaving a trail of unpaid debt when he lived in England between 2001 and 2005. These include a failure to settle a £61,500 county court judgment made against him in 2007, unpaid rent of approximately £7,800 on a London flat he vacated in May 2005 and unpaid council tax totalling £932.25."

Does that mean if he takes over that when he appears in the directors box for his first home game and is stood waving to the adoring masses on the Blackburn End and taking their adoration that we might be treated to the unedifying sight of our owner having his collar felt before being 'cuffed and led away by the local plod?

Debt isn't a criminal offence though, is it?

I wouldn't have thought that the police would be involved unless there were indications of fraud/similar.

[BuckyRover]

Council tax evasion is a criminal matter is it not?

I'm very interested about his answers to these questions. Was it really his debt?

[RevidgeBlue]

One possible discrepancy I've noticed, which no-one seems to have picked up on is that originally it was claimed his family wealth had been built up over the last 150 years through the East India Company (whatever that is)

More recently however its been stated the family fortune was built up through having 900 acres of (farming?) land which sounds less feasible and the confusion sort of ties in with no-one seemingly having heard of him or his families exploits.

I don't know if this is pertinent and look forward to hearing the detailed rebuttal from the Ali Syed camp.

[den]

Well I hope Ali realises that unless he gets this word perfect and covers absolutely every allegation made against him, this could backfire. I mean, half the site has already written him off before he's uttered one single word in his own defence. Which is all a bit strange considering what his proposals are.

[broadsword]

Did Syed actually state that he went to the "London School of Economics", or did he just state "LSE"?

He could well have gone to the Lahore Sect of Eel-catchers.

With all due respect explain that one to me then? D'oh!!!!

With absolutely no respect, what the bloody hell are you on about?

How does that say that Lahore is in India?

I just took the letters "L", "S" and "E" and tried to come up with an obscure fictional establishment. I'm getting this awful feeling you're accusing me of casual racism. Would you please now pack it in, it's embarrassing.

[allan]

The Guardian report refers to a requirement for the Trustees to find a buyer who can sustain the club for the "year" ahead. The use of the singular is far from reassuring!!

[den]

The Guardian report refers to a requirement for the Trustees to find a buyer who can sustain the club for the "year" ahead. The use of the singular is far from reassuring!!

I read that as meaning the fit and proper test needed that reassurance - not the trustees.

[RevidgeBlue]

Well I hope Ali realises that unless he gets this word perfect and covers absolutely every allegation made against him, this could backfire. I mean, half the site has already written him off before he's uttered one single word in his own defence. Which is all a bit strange considering what his proposals are.

Indeed.

A lot of people onhere will have some serious back sliding to do if the takeover does go through.

[BuckyRover]

With absolutely no respect, what the bloody hell are you on about?

How does that say that Lahore is in India?

I just took the letters "L", "S" and "E" and tried to come up with an obscure fictional establishment. I'm getting this awful feeling you're accusing me of casual racism. Would you please now pack it in, it's embarrassing.

I don't think he was accusing you of racism. He was just being a smart a$$.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

All this is very interesting - I bet WGA have never had as much publicity as they have had since the takeover news broke. Could this be part of the interest in Rovers - WGA are obviously a quickly growing and expanding concern - for which the takeover has provided lots of unpaid publicity.

Personally I hope Syed's interest is genuine - and not just a way of him increasing the profile of his business. I suppose even if it is a way of increasing WGA's profile - if the promised money is still forthcoming - it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

For me actions will speak louder than words - the day John Williams announces that Mr Syed has paid off our debt, and promised "substantial" funds to purchase players - is the day I will finally allow myself to believe.

I am sure that when Jack took over there will have been a few people scepticle of his motives - history proved them wrong. Lets hope Mr Syed also manages to prove the doubters wrong.

We just have to hope that the Trust care enough about Jack's memory to ensure Rovers future isn't put at risk.

[Mattyblue]

I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you have misunderstood completely the context of what I said. In referring to Rovers as a "little football club" that part was used as a term of love and endearment. Perhaps if you and your supporters had a better understanding of the useage of the English language you would have realised that. Just go back and read it again, and you will see what I mean. Even if that particular phrase went over your head, then surely the rest of the post should have shown you what my feelings for the club are and have been for the past 64 years. Can you claim the same?

Who are my supporters?!

I would be watching Blackburn Rovers if we played on Pleasington, however, watching us rise and remain at the top level for almost 20 years has been a source of immense pride, sure you are the same, and we need to embrace the fact that we are a top club.

[RevidgeBlue]

The Guardian report refers to a requirement for the Trustees to find a buyer who can sustain the club for the "year" ahead. The use of the singular is far from reassuring!!

Yes I think that is one of the requirements for the Premier League's new owners test - that the owner can meet all financial liabilities for the year ahead.

The GLazers and the guys at Liverpool would have been clearly ruled out on that basis.

[67splitscreen]

Council tax evasion is a criminal matter is it not?

I'm very interested about his answers to these questions. Was it really his debt?

It is only a civil matter, and a Liability Order is not a criminal order.

[broadsword]

Playing devil's advocate, if he really didn't have the funds he says he has, what would he hope to gain by buying Rovers?

You can't really asset strip the place, and if he's a chancer trying to wing it and use the club as a springboard then it's the wrong club to do that as we don't have the income stream.

To believe that he's not genuine, well, it doesn't really add up. Not much makes sense at the moment and we could really do with a point-by-point refutation of what's now been put into the public domain.

Perhaps if you and your supporters had a better understanding of the useage of the English language you would have realised that.

*usage

[Fife Rover]

A big coupe for this site that they decided to release this statement to us before any other media outlet. This is just the start they are VERY confident that they can refute every inaccuracy with evidence to the contary.

Phew!! What a feeling of relief when I read that Kamy. I really, really wanted this takeover to be true and to succeed. All my concerns that I have expressed since this BBC Five Live thing hit us arose from genuine concern and worry that it was all about to go horribly wrong for BRFC and us the supporters. We all desparately needed answers to the questions that the BBC program had raised in all our minds. Now at last it seems that the Syed group are ready to reply and hopefully to dispel those concerns.

[Iceman]

Well, at least i have remained positive. I said on numerous occasions, that we 1st have to hear Syed's side of the story. It has just been Goldberg, Goldberg, and more Goldberg

[rebelmswar]

This thread is like a news weathervane - swings around with the current direction.

[ewoodpo]

It is only a civil matter, and a Liability Order is not a criminal order.

Can they still not send you to prison for non payment?

[67splitscreen]

Can they still not send you to prison for non payment?

Only when there is a space available.

Courts discretion if you refuse to pay, rather than can't pay.

My link

[rebelmswar]

Can they still not send you to prison for non payment?

Prisons would be rather full and the population of Burnley would be smaller than the average IQ there.

[nicko]

Been doing some frantic calling round tonight to check a couple of things...trouble is too many people are in different time zones...and that includes people in rival camps.

There could be a definitive result here quite soon. That time-scale tip is originally from someone who is in the know on this one - and who I won't 'out' as a mark of respect.

It would help if the Syed people put the BBC accusations to bed though. Like specifically saying what the £61,500 debt was all about.

IF Syed gets the go-ahead he wouldn't want those kind of bad smells hanging around. It would get that regime off to a bad start.

Getting a sore head with this one. Too many questions on too many fronts and not enough answers.

[PAFELL]

Indeed.

A lot of people onhere will have some serious back sliding to do if the takeover does go through.

No the doubters on here, such as myself, want clarification before supportinging or not Syed's bid to takeover Rovers. They want what is best for the club, like everybody else. At this moment in time Syed claims to have got his money from land / farming in India. What is it, 900 acres. But NOBODY has heard about a man or a family in that area owning 900 acres of farm land, called Syed. Is there a land registory over there? If so 900 acres of land would have a name of the owner against it. Question for the maths experts on here, but how many football pitchs is 900 acres. Can Syed claify just this area - then we will get onto the money part. Can you really make billions from 900 acres farming in India - by farming it?

It is not a case of people will have to backslide if the takeover goes through. It is a case that some are a bit more cautious and dilligent than others.

[bob fleming]

nicko - will there be an 11.00 O'Clocker on the Lahore Sect of Eel catchers?