[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[Majiball]

I usually have something to respond with but on this one all I can think of is "No." Pure and simple, sorry.

Disagreeing means you have reason's for doing, so I'd like to hear them. As opposed to "computer says no".

Its hardly unprecedented, Park Ji Sung springs to mind. Was he signed purely for his footballing ability? Because at the time he was the biggest merchandising player in the far east, coincidence. United at the time where trying very hard to break the Asian market.

If we could find a player with some talent that could be nurtured and at the same time boost our world wide following I don't have an issue with it. American, Asian whichever. With the new rules coming in over spending what you earn, the only real way for us to progress financially is to increase the "in" column. Since we can't get much more locally, we need to do something.

We had Brad Friedel an iconic USA player and yet we did bugger all with it from a marketing and promotion point of view. Yet surely we could have toured the states in pre-season, getting paid for it and perhaps winning over some more fans??

[thenodrog]

Two frames of thought here, - stick with the trust, or move on to other owners? Well, we have no choice in the matter because the trustees will sell the club. The trustees retaining the club really doesn't seem to be a realistic possibility.

Of course the club has been well looked after by the trustees since Jack's death and still will be, although the funding has, at the moment, dried up. The trustees will do their utmost to find the right buyer also, - but even they will have no influence as to how things will pan out, in the middle to long term, once any sale goes through.

What 47er is saying and I have to agree with him, is that there's no point putting any argument forward for the club to stay in the hands of the trustees, no matter how much anyone would like that. That argument is just pointless. There is a viewpoint as well, that any business [and this is a business] can never progress under owners who don't want to be there. The trustees patently don't want to be there, because they do have the option of continuing with the business, but reject that option.

So yeah, a trust who want involvement would be great, but as I started by saying, that's not realistic. They will sell, it's just a matter of when.

Everything I possess is for sale Den. Take my house for example. I don't want to move and it'd take a lot for me to part with it but in reallity it's for sale. Doesn't mean that I won't continue with the upkeep or put another extension on or driveway in though does it?

I would imagine every business in the Walker empire would be similar and open to any offers. Walker Steel was sold when a bid came in that was too good to miss remember.

You see this is exactly why we're lagging behind in commercial activity etc....I'm telling you it's jobs for the boys down at ewood and they're all family members...like Coar in Marketing or something....what's going on?...They can't all be qualified for the jobs they do....the sooner we move into the proper leaguewith the commercial side of things, then we'll always be a shyte prospect for a purchaser....I don't even think they want to sell really...they love the shennanigans and half of them would be sacked if a new buyer came in anyway....Its like a turkey voting for christmas...

Numpty post of the year so far sparky marky. Congratulations you get my vote. On this board it can't have been easy but the level of research you obviously completed has swung it for me.

[Majiball]

Yes but you're talking about Manchester United - a team packed with World Class players who can afford to sign a possibly less talented player for non-footballing reasons. I'd love us to be able to spread the Rovers love around the world but no team outside the big four/five are doing what United et al have done.

We should stick to making the best footballing signings for the club, at least for now. Teams like Bolton, Reading, Middlesbrough etc. over recent years have bought players from the Far East and they've been complete and utter crap. They haven't exactly blowin the Asian market away with those signings.

I'm sure he didn't cost PSV £4million when they signed him from Kyoto Purple Sanga.

I wonder why we are touring Australia this summer, traveling half way around the world for a couple of matches??? I wonder if its got anything to do with the number of Aussies we've had playing for/with us???

Anyway don't Bolton currently have a Asian player who's been doing well?

Lee Chung-Yong?

Taken ffrom Wiki: At the end of his first season, Lee won a triumvirate of awards including Bolton Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year, and best newcomer awards.

There's obviously no talent out there.

[Sparky Marky]

Disagreeing means you have reason's for doing, so I'd like to hear them. As opposed to "computer says no".

Its hardly unprecedented, Park Ji Sung springs to mind. Was he signed purely for his footballing ability? Because at the time he was the biggest merchandising player in the far east, coincidence. United at the time where trying very hard to break the Asian market.

If we could find a player with some talent that could be nurtured and at the same time boost our world wide following I don't have an issue with it. American, Asian whichever. With the new rules coming in over spending what you earn, the only real way for us to progress financially is to increase the "in" column. Since we can't get much more locally, we need to do something.

We had Brad Friedel an iconic USA player and yet we did bugger all with it from a marketing and promotion point of view. Yet surely we could have toured the states in pre-season, getting paid for it and perhaps winning over some more fans??

To increase the "in" column isn't to spend millions on some chinese no mark...but to seriously look at the commercial side of the business and get some people in who can increase our "brand" awareness....at the moment our club is managed and run by idiots...our £6m striker is sponsored by the local chippy ffs.....

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

at the moment our club is managed and run by idiots

[only2garners]

You see this is exactly why we're lagging behind in commercial activity etc....I'm telling you it's jobs for the boys down at ewood and they're all family members...like Coar in Marketing or something....what's going on?...They can't all be qualified for the jobs they do....the sooner we move into the proper leaguewith the commercial side of things, then we'll always be a shyte prospect for a purchaser....I don't even think they want to sell really...they love the shennanigans and half of them would be sacked if a new buyer came in anyway....Its like a turkey voting for christmas...

That will presumably be Greg Coar, the one who is no relation to Robert Coar? As far as I know the only family connection is John Williams' son Simon. From what I've seen of him in meetings he seems pretty competent in his role, but perhaps you know differently? Please tell.....

[Sparky Marky]

I just can't believe that the Head of Commercial/Marketing (i.e the department that brings the money in) is being run by the best person, that also just happens to be the CEO/Chairman's son.....surely too much of a coincidence.

[bluebruce]

I just can't believe that the Head of Commercial/Marketing (i.e the department that brings the money in) is being run by the best person, that also just happens to be the CEO/Chairman's son.....surely too much of a coincidence.

I'm not sure you're actually listening to what people are telling you.

[stuwilky]

So are they all family members?

Or is there just one family connection, one you appeared to know nothing about - like you know - his name, or even his department, or what he does!

But that all points to the club being run by idiots!

priceless.

[CrazyIvan]

I just can't believe that the Head of Commercial/Marketing (i.e the department that brings the money in) is being run by the best person, that also just happens to be the CEO/Chairman's son.....surely too much of a coincidence.

Look what happens if you use a bit of Google...

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/simon-williams/9/839/830

[unluckymorton]

Look what happens if you use a bit of Google...

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/simon-williams/9/839/830

A healthy looking CV and an asset to any successful business by the looks of it!

[CrazyIvan]

A healthy looking CV and an asset to any successful business by the looks of it!

Agreed, he looks like the ideal man for the job. Like a lot on this board, it makes me laugh to see people saying things like we're not marketed enough, we don't do enough marketing overseas, the far east is a prime market for Rovers... What they all seem to forget is that any marketing costs money and lots of it. To market Rovers means we have to pay. We either pay for the advertising ourselves as a club or, much more likely, pay an outside company to do it for us i.e. produce the advert to a requirement. To do that overseas is guaranteed to require the extensive use of a local marketing company in each individual market (read country/region in a country) tailored to the local population. That requires a hell of a lot of money. Rovers are run on a tight budget, do you really think our club has the means to do any of that? Local marketing in the north west alone costs a fortune. The best marketing available is fans wearing the shirt abroad. It's free for the club. Oh yeah, the far east follows the Premier League intently, I know because I was sat on one of the Turtle Islands (between Borneo and the Philippines) a couple of years ago chatting to the local Malaysians who were intently listening to a football match on their radio. Guess who they supported? Man U and Chelsea. The reason their shirts are sold there is because the locals want them. I didn't see a single advert anywhere by Man U or Chelsea themselves...

[Sparky Marky]

A healthy looking CV and an asset to any successful business by the looks of it!

rubbish...I wouldn't even employ him...he's been a bit of a ad executive for an agency...so what? there's millions of them in manchester with pinstripe suits on drinking in costa coffee...none of em know how to actually turn a dollar...give me a break...the head of marketing at rovers CV should read something like...."UK Brand Manager at Nike UK"....OR "Marketing Director at Sports Direct"...that type of calibre....Not the boss's son who happens to have a bit of experience putting adverts in the newspaper or "managing director" for 4 years of some company called Fanatic Marketing I can't even bring up on Google.....Get real...we need real players in the know who can bring in the arabs or chinese....not a takeover by Len Neale's Scrapyard.....

Shocking.

[Craigman]

So everyone, is there any movement on the sale of our beloved club ?

[BPF]

rubbish...I wouldn't even employ him...he's been a bit of a ad executive for an agency...so what? there's millions of them in manchester with pinstripe suits on drinking in costa coffee...none of em know how to actually turn a dollar...give me a break...the head of marketing at rovers CV should read something like...."UK Brand Manager at Nike UK"....OR "Marketing Director at Sports Direct"...that type of calibre....Not the boss's son who happens to have a bit of experience putting adverts in the newspaper or "managing director" for 4 years of some company called Fanatic Marketing I can't even bring up on Google.....Get real...we need real players in the know who can bring in the arabs or chinese....not a takeover by Len Neale's Scrapyard.....

Shocking.

You know nothing.

I was Regional Brand Manager for Jack Daniels. I wouldn't go near his job in a million years. He does a great job.

I think Rovers do an excellent job when it comes to marketing. We finished tenth last season with a large amount of terrible performances yet our attendances were nearing what they were in the season that we won the league, that is called 'good marketing'.

[CrazyIvan]

rubbish...I wouldn't even employ him...he's been a bit of a ad executive for an agency...so what? there's millions of them in manchester with pinstripe suits on drinking in costa coffee...none of em know how to actually turn a dollar...give me a break...the head of marketing at rovers CV should read something like...."UK Brand Manager at Nike UK"....OR "Marketing Director at Sports Direct"...that type of calibre....Not the boss's son who happens to have a bit of experience putting adverts in the newspaper or "managing director" for 4 years of some company called Fanatic Marketing I can't even bring up on Google.....Get real...we need real players in the know who can bring in the arabs or chinese....not a takeover by Len Neale's Scrapyard.....

Shocking.

Are you incredibly naive or just on a wind-up? Compare Simon Williams to Bolton Wanderers marketing man http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mike-needham/8/1a5/a63... We're about as likely to get the calibre of person you have indicated as anyone else is in the Premier League. People at that level don't go into Premier League clubs. Do you know why? MONEY!!!

[unluckymorton]

rubbish...I wouldn't even employ him...he's been a bit of a ad executive for an agency...so what? there's millions of them in manchester with pinstripe suits on drinking in costa coffee...none of em know how to actually turn a dollar...give me a break...the head of marketing at rovers CV should read something like...."UK Brand Manager at Nike UK"....OR "Marketing Director at Sports Direct"...that type of calibre....Not the boss's son who happens to have a bit of experience putting adverts in the newspaper or "managing director" for 4 years of some company called Fanatic Marketing I can't even bring up on Google.....Get real...we need real players in the know who can bring in the arabs or chinese....not a takeover by Len Neale's Scrapyard.....

Shocking.

Your having a laugh Sparky. Either that or you are extremely bitter for some strange reason.

"Marketing Director at Sports Direct"

[PAFELL]

You know nothing.

I was Regional Brand Manager for Jack Daniels. I wouldn't go near his job in a million years. He does a great job.

I think Rovers do an excellent job when it comes to marketing. We finished tenth last season with a large amount of terrible performances yet our attendances were nearing what they were in the season that we won the league, that is called 'good marketing'.

So you were the regional brand manager for Jack Daniels. Well I am still a Jack Daniels taster / tester/ tippler in any region there are supplies

[OJRovers]

As OTT the response was from Sparky-M, I do think its a bit dodgy that he is the Chairman's son. I'm sure the proper interview process took place, but come on...having said that it happens at every company.

Yes we are doing a decent job locally in attracting bigger crowds but this is mainly due to pricing, not better marketing.

The Premier league is an international product, its probably watched on tv by more people outside the UK than here, we need someone with experience of taking a brand global. Maybe this means using an agency if we can't afford to bring someone of that callibre in permanently.

Would be interesting to see what (if any) the club does in terms of trying to push the Rovers brand abroad and build relationships with potential foreigh partners/sponsors.

[Exiled in Toronto]

It is a very thin CV before the Rovers job; basically it's a career going nowhere fast until a huge leap into BRFC. To still be an Account Manager 8 years after graduation, at presumably the Manchester branch (given the employee numbers) of an ad agency is extremely underwhelming. Also, no evidence of being promoted within any of his past employers would be a question mark. Fanatic Marketing was clearly a 1 or 2 man band and I wouldn't be too shocked to find out who his largest client was given BRFC was not the first time he joined Daddy's place of work: his first job out of uni was at Granada while JW was still there. Was not the boy Simon also involved in the abortive Drumhawk Communications that was run out of Ewood for a while?

So, was he ideally qualified to lead a sales and marketing team of 15 in a 40 mill T/O company? No. Does it matter much? Probably not. I get the sense JW is very much a hands on person so all the big decisions will be his. And given we still have Beamo running corporate, Williams Jnr must seem like Peter Drucker in comparison.

[modes98]

Right so your having a pop at Rovers marketing which has seen us increase attendances and offer a wide range of BRFC branded products in our own club shop. So what if he is related to the CE, if he wasn't good enough or capable of doing the job then he wouldn't have been employed. Not because JW wouldn't want him but because there are far more people involved than just him. Give the guy a break he's doing a fine job.

[PAFELL]

It is a very thin CV before the Rovers job; basically it's a career going nowhere fast until a huge leap into BRFC. To still be an Account Manager 8 years after graduation, at presumably the Manchester branch (given the employee numbers) of an ad agency is extremely underwhelming. Also, no evidence of being promoted within any of his past employers would be a question mark. Fanatic Marketing was clearly a 1 or 2 man band and I wouldn't be too shocked to find out who his largest client was given BRFC was not the first time he joined Daddy's place of work: his first job out of uni was at Granada while JW was still there. Was not the boy Simon also involved in the abortive Drumhawk Communications that was run out of Ewood for a while?

So, was he ideally qualified to lead a sales and marketing team of 15 in a 40 mill T/O company? No. Does it matter much? Probably not. I get the sense JW is very much a hands on person so all the big decisions will be his. And given we still have Beamo running corporate, Williams Jnr must seem like Peter Drucker in comparison.

Sooy mate but you are totally wrong. he is doing the job on his ability. Attendences are up, even the darwen end is being used for home supporters, the shop is selling rovers items. i suggest you let the man continue doing the good job he is doing. It is not about who he is, who he is related to or friends with. But can he do the job. I suggest that there has been no complaints yet, so there is nothing to complain or moan or jibe about.

[Hughesy]

I just can't believe that the Head of Commercial/Marketing (i.e the department that brings the money in) is being run by the best person, that also just happens to be the CEO/Chairman's son.....surely too much of a coincidence.

Too much of a coincidence that season ticket sales went up, the marketing department convinced the club to reduce prices and allow home fans in all areas, and that hospitality was up, unlike most?!

"Marketing Director at Sports Direct"...that type of calibre...

Who's that? The fat geezer who thinks he knows how to run Newcastle?! Or the same guy that does all the marketting for a company that have been struggling in the last couple of years?!

You know nothing.

I was Regional Brand Manager for Jack Daniels. I wouldn't go near his job in a million years. He does a great job.

I think Rovers do an excellent job when it comes to marketing. We finished tenth last season with a large amount of terrible performances yet our attendances were nearing what they were in the season that we won the league, that is called 'good marketing'.

Spot on Broken.....fantastic job - they clearly listen to what fans want, hence the club shop ideas, ST sales are up, home fans in all areas, a big sponsorship deal (compared with rivals) etc...what more do you want Sparky Marky?!

[Majiball]

If you all want to know if he's doing a good job get the accounts. If sales are up = Good Job, If Sales are down = bad job.

[Majiball]

To come full circle to the point you are making, has he gained Bolton a load of fans from the Far East?

I'm sure there's been more interest in them as a club, its just logical that there would be. As to sales etc I don't know. They haven't done a tour so I could argue that point even if they hadn't gained a shed load of fans.

Whilst I don't doubt we do a good job locally of promoting the club, we have a limited scope to expand within our own country, without serious cash and success. The tour of Australia is a good start and not many premiership clubs have done it, but it would have been better if we were keeping Grella. But we still have Emo and have had a few others over the years so hopeful we can generate fans that way and sell some shirts.

At the end of the day as I said the in column must go up for us to progress as most want with the new rules. So whether it works or not its an idea we should explore IE money from abroad.