[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[gumboots]

Why?

I for one am interested in any details about a proposed takeover of BRFC. I can't for the life of me understand why any Rovers fan wouldn't be. Redevelopment of the Riverside stand, how the cash was to be raised, who was involved and why, how these processes work - why wouldn't you be interested?

Because it's in the past and according to the poster is not going to be revisited? Because it's funny it coming out at the time there is talk about a new takeover? Because I don't understand financial matters at all and don't especially want to? Because I have a nasty suspicious little streak that always makes me ask who is benefiting from this? I don't know what's going on here but I just feel it's all very strange.

[jannerman]

Fascinating debate, but one point.

Ivor Dewdneys pasties always had too much onion in them for my taste.

I'll give you a pound if you print that :-)

Truro Town, don't you mean? They have spent a fortune on players for a club of their standing. Some players are almost on a grand a week!! Just a pity the locals wouldn't let them build a purpose built stadium and leisure centre???? Baffling guess they must have been worried about the drop off in sheep demands??? : Ref's take loads of abuse down that way, devon as well. But its still not as good as a local teams captain taking a "Cantona" impersonation to the next level???

As for the on going debate, why was I not invited??? At the end of the day it all smells a little bit as it seems to serve no purpose? Why would a millionaire really care what we think of him, especially since he's not re-bidding. He waits 3 years and then sends one of his ex/employees to set the record straight? Or even an ex/employee being so incensed over comments that they wait 3 years to post, as well as seeking permission from his previous employers? This is the part I don't get, it makes no sense, at least to me anyway.

Truro Town v St Blazey, highlight of my local football calender

I feel so depressed

[Majiball]

I reckon all will become clear on April 1st.

I deleted a paragraph commenting on how it was funny that this comes out, so close to the derby?

Because it's in the past and according to the poster is not going to be revisited? Because it's funny it coming out at the time there is talk about a new takeover? Because I don't understand financial matters at all and don't especially want to? Because I have a nasty suspicious little streak that always makes me ask who is benefiting from this? I don't know what's going on here but I just feel it's all very strange.

It is all a bit "I'm sparticus" for me, like you I don't see what benefit comes other than the claimed truth??? As to what happened, personnally I don't really care at the end of the day it came to nothing so its irrelevant. We still have no money and no-body wants us, I'm going to the garden to eat worms!!!

[Majiball]

I'll give you a pound if you print that :-)

Truro Town v St Blazey, highlight of my local football calender

I feel so depressed

I love the local football down that way, since there are so few big teams local football is really cared about. Crowds of several hundred at what is no more than county level is great.

Hopefully next year truro make the conference and Cornish football makes the map. Its a un-tapped part of the country footballing wise.

[Shaddy]

Are the walls of your bedsit adorned with pictures of Alan Nixon and Dan Williams with clown faces painted on them?

Serious question... do Americans use the term "bedsit"?

[Paul]

Serious question... do Americans use the term "bedsit"?

I don't know the answer but I think the poster's language swung away from US English several days ago and posted as much

[Moppy]

Just caught up on all this now. And after the info from Rivercider I feel its a shame they couldn't get a deal sorted and it would be great if DW did come back in with another bid (with/without the same/or different partner). I remember at the time thinking I was really gald it was a fan, and from what Rivercider's said they certainly did have a vision for us. Wonder if people realise how damaging commenting without the full/any facts on matters like this can be if you state your knowledge as "facts". Same applies to getting Ince in rather than Sam, I feel the fans are listened to a lot at Rovers, and especially this board. Shame what a lot say is complete rubbish (I include myself in that).

[Shabani]

The 1 dodgy thing I think is the fact that the email address is Dan Firth & not williams....

eh?

If you were a multi millionairre, i doubt your email adress would be danwilliams@ or danielwilliams@

You'd have something a little more subtle

[Amo]

eh?

If you were a multi millionairre, i doubt your email adress would be danwilliams@ or danielwilliams@

You'd have something a little more subtle

Don't ruin his Columbo moment!

[rivercider]

OK wow a little bit.....I had no idea that just trying to set a few people straight on a couple of facts would lead to a debate in to the motivations of men, an examination of the US vs UK English and such suspicion.

I gave you the facts, take it or leave it, without wanting to sound like a "cock" (UK English, I am a Top Gear fan) I really don't have to justify myself beyond that, all I posted was true and can be verified as such.

All I have done is tell you what actually transpired 3 years ago, I did so because, perhaps naively, I thought it was better for people to know the truth. Seems that is not the case always. I posted in now because 1/ I thought truth was important and 2/ some of the lies that were being spread might have had an impact on current opinions and attitudes to potential bidders with whom I have zero connection, but would hate to think even a section of the fanbase would start another witch hunt against the next group as they did against ours based on misinformation.

That's all. I now have a better understanding of what's in a cornish pasty, I will definitely try a Thwaites ale in the near future, and I am leaving because it got on to penis size and as an Asian I am screwed there.

Thanks and all the best.

[1864roverite]

I think your honesty Isaac has to be applauded and even more so, I think that you will find 95% of this forums members have been intrigued by your comments.

I too have met Phil and he is a genuine guy, a real Rovers supporter and a belief in all things Blue and White.

I have been enthralled about what could have been but I remain in the pessimistic group about who could provide Rovers and their fans with a suitable takeover and new Blue and White vision for the future.

On the field Rovers are making massive strides, the team is about to flourish, the youth set up has improved dramatically and we have young stars in the first team squad that are earning rave reviews. Off the field, we are run very well but it is abundantly clear that to move forwards even more we need some investment.

I wonder how the extra £20m tv payment will affect Rovers and I wonder that having enrolled down the youth programme just how much of our wages/turnover ration/percentage has changed having offlaoded some big earners.

I have enjoyed your tales and look forwad to reading more, the same very much goes for Mr Nixon and other members as well.

[rivercider]

I think your honesty Isaac has to be applauded and even more so, I think that you will find 95% of this forums members have been intrigued by your comments.

I too have met Phil and he is a genuine guy, a real Rovers supporter and a belief in all things Blue and White.

I have been enthralled about what could have been but I remain in the pessimistic group about who could provide Rovers and their fans with a suitable takeover and new Blue and White vision for the future.

On the field Rovers are making massive strides, the team is about to flourish, the youth set up has improved dramatically and we have young stars in the first team squad that are earning rave reviews. Off the field, we are run very well but it is abundantly clear that to move forwards even more we need some investment.

I wonder how the extra £20m tv payment will affect Rovers and I wonder that having enrolled down the youth programme just how much of our wages/turnover ration/percentage has changed having offlaoded some big earners.

I have enjoyed your tales and look forwad to reading more, the same very much goes for Mr Nixon and other members as well.

I watched the game yesterday and was impressed (especially coming from a culture where most athletes start their careers at 21/22 in the NFL etc) by how some people who'd still be playing college sport here in the US handled themselves - Jones looked really good for instance - and that has to be a good sign IF the club can hang on to the likes of him, the Croatian player etc.

I think I have shared all that I can about the takeover that wasn't in 2007, beyond that all I can share are the insights of an Asian-American Rovers fan, albeit one who was lucky enough to get to meet some very nice people and see the inner workings of the club. On our trip over in 2007 we were there for the West Ham game where Carlos Tevez scored a penalty and then cheated for a goal that even a douche bag like me could see was illegal and West Ham won 2-1. Then I came back over with Peter and Justin and went to the Liverpool game that season which was amazing. I never got to meet Mark Hughes personally - Vee-An, Justin and Peter did and said he came across really well - but the whole experience was pretty cool I have to say. I was amazed at the standards at Ewood (I am told by those who went to White Heart Lane that Ewood Park was a much better set up in terms of facilities etc).

Both times we were in Blackburn we stayed at the Dunkenhalgh hotel, and even as someone used to hanging around with the Wall Street crowd, I was amazed by the number of Range Rovers and Aston Martins in the car park at that place. I also learned that in the UK, Cider is an alcoholic drink (over here it is apple juice and a kids drink - having a Cider at breakfast both raised a few eyebrows and also gave me the giggles for the day).

I do remember one funny story that might make you smile. Obviously we got to meet a couple of the team being around the suites and what not, and the night before we flew out, the guys ran in to David Bentley at a wine bar. He was there with a group of friends and invited them to join him, and ordered champagne for the group - he asked for three bottles. The waiter said "sir, we do sell magnums also" and (honestly) Bentley replied "why the (Please don't use that word again) would I want an ice cream at this time of night".

[T4E]

Sounds like our Dave.

Anyway - Isaac, Rovers takeover talk aside, stick around. Join in with the banter, you'll most likely find you pick more up about the game very quickly. Its a good crack on here most of the time, and we need all the fans we can get.

[47er]

Been away for a few days so haven't had chance to post before. I did get the reply from Dan Williams last Monday as he promised and a very friendly upfront guy he seems to be. Sadly he is not interested in renewing the bid even at a lower price as someone else has said. Specifically he pointed to the example of Newcastle where an owner spent millions of his own money only to be loathed by the fans. He did give me a breakdown of the bid but like an idiot I managed to wipe the email.( I was on holiday and using an i-touch for the first time!) From memory the total bid was 170M--70M for the club, 20M for new players, 20M or so for debt and the rest was for developmental stuff including the Riverside. That's how I remember it. However the owners were not satisfied with this bid and wanted more!

By the way, there was no question about the funds being available, contrary to what some said on here at the time.

I realise that I can't prove any of this. But people who savaged the bid on here couldn't either but it didn't stop them merging opinion and fact. I can only say that my credit card hasn't been accessed yet!

[thenodrog]

From memory the total bid was 170M--70M for the club, 20M for new players, 20M or so for debt and the rest was for developmental stuff including the Riverside. That's how I remember it. However the owners were not satisfied with this bid and wanted more!

170m??? $ I take it. Even with 2 dollars to the pound that takes some justifying.

[rivercider]

170m??? $ I take it. Even with 2 dollars to the pound that takes some justifying.

Deal was $70mm (this was at 2:1 so halve everything for sterling) for the club, $40mm-ish in bank debt, $15mm-ish in other debt, $30mm for players and the balance for development.

Of course now everything would be 20% cheaper but such is the world.

[thenodrog]

Deal was $70mm (this was at 2:1 so halve everything for sterling) for the club, $40mm-ish in bank debt, $15mm-ish in other debt, $30mm for players and the balance for development.

Of course now everything would be 20% cheaper but such is the world.

whats a mm Isaac?

[rivercider]

whats a mm Isaac?

Oh sorry, a million. M being 1,000 in Latin so MM being 1,000 x 1,000 (or so my first boss at Chase told me - he was British, guess they teach you to speak Latin in school there or something). Seems really douchy now I put it that way, but since we don't have the metric system over here I guess we can use mm for million since it doesn't mean millimeter.

[47er]

O.K. I'm prepared for the brickbats so here goes. I emailed Dan Williams asking him to resend the info I'd inadvertently deleted. i didn't expect a reply so quickly but here it is:

The influx of e-mails has led to a little bit of a softening, I must admit.

I am going to meet next week with a couple of old friends from Hong Kong now

living in the States who happen to be billionaires and float the idea of at

least exploring things again. With regards to the last bid, it was $70mm to

buy, $40mm to service the debt, $20mm for players and $40mm for development,

plus another $10mm from selling off a corner of the car park at the Darwen

end that would have been released back to the club and about $500k a year

from additional commercial revenues right out of the gate (we had a tenant

lined up for offices under the Riverside), we also had additional $2mm a

year in net revenue we had identified from improvements on the commercial

side and cutting some pretty loose costs - for example the Directors all fly

first class to away games on the company costs, I didn't envisage taking a

private jet or flying 6 people first class from Manchester to London for

away games when I am happy to bomb it down the M6 and save $6000 a game that

way.

Plus I am no Mike Ashley (though I maintain I could drink the fat f^$#er

under the table) - you wouldn't necessarily see me sitting among the "lads"

trying to make friends, I am a little more low key.

Going to either have some friends over or maybe head in to the City to watch

the game, should be a doosie. I think we've looked pretty good the last few

games - Brum was a great result, Chelski was fantastic, and if we can carry

that in against Laws's (who seems pretty clueless) mob, I think 3 points are

there for the taking.

[Jackson]

O.K. I'm prepared for the brickbats so here goes. I emailed Dan Williams asking him to resend the info I'd inadvertently deleted. i didn't expect a reply so quickly but here it is:

The influx of e-mails has led to a little bit of a softening, I must admit.

I am going to meet next week with a couple of old friends from Hong Kong now

living in the States who happen to be billionaires and float the idea of at

least exploring things again. With regards to the last bid, it was $70mm to

buy, $40mm to service the debt, $20mm for players and $40mm for development,

plus another $10mm from selling off a corner of the car park at the Darwen

end that would have been released back to the club and about $500k a year

from additional commercial revenues right out of the gate (we had a tenant

lined up for offices under the Riverside), we also had additional $2mm a

year in net revenue we had identified from improvements on the commercial

side and cutting some pretty loose costs - for example the Directors all fly

first class to away games on the company costs, I didn't envisage taking a

private jet or flying 6 people first class from Manchester to London for

away games when I am happy to bomb it down the M6 and save $6000 a game that

way.

Plus I am no Mike Ashley (though I maintain I could drink the fat f^$#er

under the table) - you wouldn't necessarily see me sitting among the "lads"

trying to make friends, I am a little more low key.

Going to either have some friends over or maybe head in to the City to watch

the game, should be a doosie. I think we've looked pretty good the last few

games - Brum was a great result, Chelski was fantastic, and if we can carry

that in against Laws's (who seems pretty clueless) mob, I think 3 points are

there for the taking.

He's softening.

Lets keep up the pressure.

[Shaddy]

O.K. I'm prepared for the brickbats so here goes. I emailed Dan Williams asking him to resend the info I'd inadvertently deleted. i didn't expect a reply so quickly but here it is:

...least exploring things again. With regards to the last bid, it was $70mm to

buy, $40mm to service the debt, $20mm for players and $40mm for development,

plus another $10mm from selling off a corner of the car park at the Darwen

...

There's that mm notation for million again. I'm not levelling any accusations, but I have to admit I'm finding this whole dialogue, with its weird intermingly of British and US english terms, and now even more obscure terminology, quite bizarre.

"who happen to be billionaires"... really???

[T4E]

O.K. I'm prepared for the brickbats so here goes. I emailed Dan Williams asking him to resend the info I'd inadvertently deleted. i didn't expect a reply so quickly but here it is:

The influx of e-mails has led to a little bit of a softening, I must admit.

I am going to meet next week with a couple of old friends from Hong Kong now

living in the States who happen to be billionaires and float the idea of at

least exploring things again. With regards to the last bid, it was $70mm to

buy, $40mm to service the debt, $20mm for players and $40mm for development,

plus another $10mm from selling off a corner of the car park at the Darwen

end that would have been released back to the club and about $500k a year

from additional commercial revenues right out of the gate (we had a tenant

lined up for offices under the Riverside), we also had additional $2mm a

year in net revenue we had identified from improvements on the commercial

side and cutting some pretty loose costs - for example the Directors all fly

first class to away games on the company costs, I didn't envisage taking a

private jet or flying 6 people first class from Manchester to London for

away games when I am happy to bomb it down the M6 and save $6000 a game that

way.

Plus I am no Mike Ashley (though I maintain I could drink the fat f^$#er

under the table) - you wouldn't necessarily see me sitting among the "lads"

trying to make friends, I am a little more low key.

Going to either have some friends over or maybe head in to the City to watch

the game, should be a doosie. I think we've looked pretty good the last few

games - Brum was a great result, Chelski was fantastic, and if we can carry

that in against Laws's (who seems pretty clueless) mob, I think 3 points are

there for the taking.

Very very interesting. Thanks for posting.

[thenodrog]

O.K. I'm prepared for the brickbats so here goes. I emailed Dan Williams asking him to resend the info I'd inadvertently deleted. i didn't expect a reply so quickly but here it is:

The influx of e-mails has led to a little bit of a softening, I must admit.

I am going to meet next week with a couple of old friends from Hong Kong now

living in the States who happen to be billionaires and float the idea of at

least exploring things again. With regards to the last bid, it was $70mm to

buy, $40mm to service the debt, $20mm for players and $40mm for development,

plus another $10mm from selling off a corner of the car park at the Darwen

end that would have been released back to the club and about $500k a year

from additional commercial revenues right out of the gate (we had a tenant

lined up for offices under the Riverside), we also had additional $2mm a

year in net revenue we had identified from improvements on the commercial

side and cutting some pretty loose costs - for example the Directors all fly

first class to away games on the company costs, I didn't envisage taking a

private jet or flying 6 people first class from Manchester to London for

away games when I am happy to bomb it down the M6 and save $6000 a game that

way.

Plus I am no Mike Ashley (though I maintain I could drink the fat f^$#er

under the table) - you wouldn't necessarily see me sitting among the "lads"

trying to make friends, I am a little more low key.

Going to either have some friends over or maybe head in to the City to watch

the game, should be a doosie. I think we've looked pretty good the last few

games - Brum was a great result, Chelski was fantastic, and if we can carry

that in against Laws's (who seems pretty clueless) mob, I think 3 points are

there for the taking.

Eh? Now I'm only from the sticks around Blackburn but .....

1. Air travel costs are a drop in a bucket and largely irrelevent in comparison to the numbers being talked about. An investment of £70m needs to return a significant amount otherwise their wont be an investment. Furthermore there's only 5 away matches per season in the capital so a total cost of $30k or £20k sterling is a drop in a bucket...... or to put it in perspective prob a weeks wage in June for Keith.

Just as a matter of interest our directors and their guests don't fly over club class or whatever from the US every home game either so I suggest the current cost of air travel to the club will look pretty cheap compared to yours should you get the nod.

2. Selling off part of the DE car park to some supermarket will realise 500k pa! Well whoopy doo! That won't go far and once it's sold it's gone! (Not really relevent financially but where would that leave the brick btw?)

3. Spare office space in Blackburn is plentiful and cheap as chips. In fact go to the horses mouth and ask the Walkers! Theyve plenty of office space on Walker Park that they cant get rid of for goodness sake. Truth is a 'make me any kind of an offer' situation exists around these parts at the moment regarding office space.

Mr Williams I don't expect you to reveal all your plans but all that is candy floss and simply isn't enough to provide any sort of a decent return. Where do you expect a big enough return to justify such investment really come from?

I don't really want to rain on your parade but if there was any money to be made out of BRFC the Walkers wouldn't be wanting to sell. They'd be damned well making it. They aren't known to be naive when it comes to business matters are they?

As for out-drinking Mike Ashley...... Good grief!

[jrabrfc]

Looks like we're one of the better Premiership teams for credit rating:

Times Article on football credit

[thenodrog]

Looks like we're one of the better Premiership teams for credit rating:

Times Article on football credit

Very revealing and displays the shambles that prem football is in... and the acumen of those individuals running it. Idiots with a deathwish or what? Chief executives using somebody elses money and strap on balls.

BRFC stands out like a beacon and yet how many want to see the end of the Walker years? err ... apart from the Walkers that is.

Well done to BRFC and respect to the Dingles.