[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[neekoy]

...yes, suggesting that fans, the people whom without the club would not exist, should have a say in important matters concerning the club is exactly like communist China.

let's see how much these "private wealth and assets" would amount to without the fans.

Attitude like this is the very reason modern football came to be. With the fat cats taking the fans for granted, and some (like you) even getting riled up at the mere suggestion that the fans shouldn't be completely ignored.

I wonder if Jack Walker would also compare the concerns and suggestions of the fans as "communist China".

You can be concerned all you want, doesn't mean they have to consult you on your concerns.

Even Jack had limits, if he wanted the fans input into the sale of his business venture he would have specifically wrotein it in to the "restrictive" terms of his will.

You are trying to tell someone else what they should do with their private asset by claiming that it doesn't actually belong to them, it belongs to the proletariat

[Stuart]

Not often I agree with Mr E but football is very different to other businesses. Players, managers and even owners are only ever passing through but the club 'belongs' to the fans for life.

I'm not naive enough to expect a referendum on the matter but often the fans are more astute than they are given credit for. They are also the ones who usually have most to lose if things go wrong...

[dave birch]

Not often I agree with Mr E but football is very different to other businesses. Players, managers and even owners are only ever passing through but the club 'belongs' to the fans for life.

I'm not naive enough to expect a referendum on the matter but often the fans are more astute than they are given credit for. They are also the ones who usually have most to lose if things go wrong...

Jisty, I know what you are getting at, BUT

when it's your readies that are paying the wages, you can't rely on emotion (though Jack probably did to some extent) or the wishes of fans.

It's probably been mentioned many times before, that owning a football club is something that people with too much money do.

The line, for an owner, has to be drawn as to how much is thrown at the club.

[thenodrog]

Not often I agree with Mr E but football is very different to other businesses. Players, managers and even owners are only ever passing through but the club 'belongs' to the fans for life.

I'm not naive enough to expect a referendum on the matter but often the fans are more astute than they are given credit for. They are also the ones who usually have most to lose if things go wrong...

It's only like having a pub at the end of your road. The brewery own it, they put landlords in it. The brewery might be taken over, they might go bust or in a remarkeable parallel they might even decide to sell it to some [removed] restaurant chain. But whatever they do you and the rest of the locals are not consulted and you do not have any say in the matter.

You can either accept the changes, stop going in or buy it yourself.

[BPF]

It's a good analogy apart from the last part. The fans have always vocally had a say, which I believe does influence the top dogs, if only a small amount. We do have a Fans' Forum, too.

As fans we are far from unheard at Rovers. We also can't say that there has been an overwhelming objection to the take-over - only skepticism.

"Sorry Sam, The fans don't want you. Incey, it's yours..."

[PAFELL]

This is probably the wrong thread for that discussion - or maybe not.

The story has been written by a pal of the manager.

The Dubai club approached Harry Redknapp via an agent who is a pal of the manager.

There may be something to this. Although my feeling is that it is a 'come on' for other prospective employers.

A lot of unhappiness about the lack of cash available and the takeover thing...

Watch this space.

Although Sam likes going to Dubai. I could not see him going there for footballing reasons. After all where would the football challenge be for him with a club in Dubai?

[unluckymorton]

It's only like having a pub at the end of your road. The brewery own it, they put landlords in it. The brewery might be taken over, they might go bust or in a remarkeable parallel they might even decide to sell it to some [removed] restaurant chain. But whatever they do you and the rest of the locals are not consulted and you do not have any say in the matter.

You can either accept the changes, stop going in or buy it yourself.

Very well put!

[Mc Love]

Wish they would hurry up before we lose our manager!

[Stuart]

It's only like having a pub at the end of your road. The brewery own it, they put landlords in it. The brewery might be taken over, they might go bust or in a remarkeable parallel they might even decide to sell it to some [removed] restaurant chain. But whatever they do you and the rest of the locals are not consulted and you do not have any say in the matter.

You can either accept the changes, stop going in or buy it yourself.

It's one of the better analogies. However, you can go to another pub, and most likely even get the exact same drink you would have got in the first place. You can't do that with football.

Another analogy is that of a parent and child relationship. You can try to influence them, offer your thoughts and advice. Shout at them even. But ultimately they can and will do what they like. You don't have to like it though and it doesn't stop you trying. You might even join a parent's group to moan about them to other parents.

But you can't swap your child for another (even if you wanted to!) and you can't change your football club.

[philipl]

I don't know if this post will untwist some nickers or not.

This latest bout of take over fever is now some six weeks old and it is nearly nine weeks since Messrs Shah and Nathaniel enjoyed Rovers beating Arsenal.

We don't know anything but I believe that the people who need to know- the Trust, the Board, Sam and the suitors do know how the cookie has crumbled by now. Dan Williams did not like the answer he received and launched months of speculation but he had got his answer from the Trust in much less time than the Shahs have apparently been seriously working on this one. So whatever Sam is up to on his 42 degrees C holiday, it will be with full knowledge of a pretty definitive situation- John Williams prides himself in those sorts of cards on the table working relationships.

Note I am not saying the Shah bid has failed- due processes take time once an outline deal has been struck but I doubt at this stage both sides in any of the bilateral negotiations are in any doubt as to whether a deal is a realistic proposition or not.

Obviously, the Shah team has sensibly shut up after a premature set of comments which have not thus far been borne out by subsequent events. If we hear any more from Shah/Nathaniel without supporting comment from the club, it will be a fair assumption that they have failed whatever they care to say. So the public silence is the best news those hoping for new owners could hope for at this stage.

Nicko might be right that things are motoring along behind the scenes but I cannot see a way for due diligence to be done thoroughly professionally on a business like BRFC without the presence of lawyers and accountants encamped in a 5 star hotel within commuting distance of Ewood and Brockhall hitting this message board within hours of them starting work. So either there is no due diligence or whatever checks are being done are very limited in scope at the moment.

Of course, it might be there is no smoke because there is no fire to make any to mix my metaphors up a bit.

[67splitscreen]

I don't know if this post will untwist some nickers or not.

This latest bout of take over fever is now some six weeks old and it is nearly nine weeks since Messrs Shah and Nathaniel enjoyed Rovers beating Arsenal.

We don't know anything but I believe that the people who need to know- the Trust, the Board, Sam and the suitors do know how the cookie has crumbled by now. Dan Williams did not like the answer he received and launched months of speculation but he had got his answer from the Trust in much less time than the Shahs have apparently been seriously working on this one. So whatever Sam is up to on his 42 degrees C holiday, it will be with full knowledge of a pretty definitive situation- John Williams prides himself in those sorts of cards on the table working relationships.

Note I am not saying the Shah bid has failed- due processes take time once an outline deal has been struck but I doubt at this stage both sides in any of the bilateral negotiations are in any doubt as to whether a deal is a realistic proposition or not.

Obviously, the Shah team has sensibly shut up after a premature set of comments which have not thus far been borne out by subsequent events. If we hear any more from Shah/Nathaniel without supporting comment from the club, it will be a fair assumption that they have failed whatever they care to say. So the public silence is the best news those hoping for new owners could hope for at this stage.

Nicko might be right that things are motoring along behind the scenes but I cannot see a way for due diligence to be done thoroughly professionally on a business like BRFC without the presence of lawyers and accountants encamped in a 5 star hotel within commuting distance of Ewood and Brockhall hitting this message board within hours of them starting work. So either there is no due diligence or whatever checks are being done are very limited in scope at the moment.

Of course, it might be there is no smoke because there is no fire to make any to mix my metaphors up a bit.

That should keep the topic bobbling along for another three weeks or so. plenty to go at for all.

[Bobby G]

I find myself in agreement with phillips post quite extensively.

The club usually quickly quell speculation but they have made it a fact that something is going on. Lets hope whatever happens is for the betterment of our club. Because at the bottom line, this is OUR club.

[1864roverite]

Who says any due dilligence has to take place at Brockhall or Ewood ?

There is every chance that things are happening well away from the club and that that is why we are hearing nothing, not even an ounce of speculation.

The leaks of information are totally closed within football because we all know there are persons on here who know people within the club or within hearing distance of whats going on and in relation to this particular topic there is deafening silence.

I suspect things have moved on so significantly, more than anyone really imagines. My view is that the club is very close to being sold and a deal is to be completed - that is the sole reason why no information whatsoever is in the public domain.

I also dont beliveve that any new owner wouldnt want a manager like SA or a chairman like JW leaving us because of the success they have brought to the club so I would expect them to remain fully in charge. Some of the figures banded around about how much is required to buy the club and run it are totally way off the mark for a club like Rovers because with a standard income of £50m-£60m per annum Rovers could easily continue to be run as a success story and would require comparitively little investment should our youth system continue to flourish.

[Kelbo]

Who says any due dilligence has to take place at Brockhall or Ewood ?

There is every chance that things are happening well away from the club and that that is why we are hearing nothing, not even an ounce of speculation.

The leaks of information are totally closed within football because we all know there are persons on here who know people within the club or within hearing distance of whats going on and in relation to this particular topic there is deafening silence.

I suspect things have moved on so significantly, more than anyone really imagines. My view is that the club is very close to being sold and a deal is to be completed - that is the sole reason why no information whatsoever is in the public domain.

I also dont beliveve that any new owner wouldnt want a manager like SA or a chairman like JW leaving us because of the success they have brought to the club so I would expect them to remain fully in charge. Some of the figures banded around about how much is required to buy the club and run it are totally way off the mark for a club like Rovers because with a standard income of £50m-£60m per annum Rovers could easily continue to be run as a success story and would require comparitively little investment should our youth system continue to flourish.

Thats a fair post, could be quite true, I dont know as I have no real contacts in the boardroom and even if I had, the situation is so delicate I wouldnt get info anyway, so we wait and see, I do however think 1864 that youm could be close to the mark!

[Exiled in Toronto]

Who says any due dilligence has to take place at Brockhall or Ewood ?

There is every chance that things are happening well away from the club and that that is why we are hearing nothing, not even an ounce of speculation.

The two due diligences I took part in as a member of the potential acquirers both took place hundreds of miles from the head offices of the companies up for sale; both were at the offices of the equivalent of Rothschilds.

[67splitscreen]

I thought the other day it might be Jersey, once the shutters were drawn down.

Well out of the way and I'm sure JW and other board members will have been there many times, so doesn't look out of the ordinary.

Private jets landing every day, hardly going to be noticed either.

[only2garners]

The two due diligences I took part in as a member of the potential acquirers both took place hundreds of miles from the head offices of the companies up for sale; both were at the offices of the equivalent of Rothschilds.

Agree. It's most likely any due diligence will be done in the City.

[unluckymorton]

Indeed but if said group converted Sainsburys into executive flats you'd find another supermarket. The same principles don't quite hold with football clubs.

I agree with you mind, fans can't possibly have a say in things as complex as that and at what level do you become a "fan with a right to a say"?

Try telling that to Chester City fans.

[vintageadidas]

I believe from a source pretty high up at the club that the interest has been there for considerably longer than the speculation on this forum.

When my father sold his business to the Sunlight Group we met at a 5* hotel in the city with our negotiating team and their team.

I am pretty sure due diligence will be undertaken in a City not to far from our ground with stylised figures and the lack of weather effects in many landscapes

[Jackson]

I don't know if this post will untwist some nickers or not.

This latest bout of take over fever is now some six weeks old and it is nearly nine weeks since Messrs Shah and Nathaniel enjoyed Rovers beating Arsenal.

We don't know anything but I believe that the people who need to know- the Trust, the Board, Sam and the suitors do know how the cookie has crumbled by now. Dan Williams did not like the answer he received and launched months of speculation but he had got his answer from the Trust in much less time than the Shahs have apparently been seriously working on this one. So whatever Sam is up to on his 42 degrees C holiday, it will be with full knowledge of a pretty definitive situation- John Williams prides himself in those sorts of cards on the table working relationships.

Note I am not saying the Shah bid has failed- due processes take time once an outline deal has been struck but I doubt at this stage both sides in any of the bilateral negotiations are in any doubt as to whether a deal is a realistic proposition or not.

Obviously, the Shah team has sensibly shut up after a premature set of comments which have not thus far been borne out by subsequent events. If we hear any more from Shah/Nathaniel without supporting comment from the club, it will be a fair assumption that they have failed whatever they care to say. So the public silence is the best news those hoping for new owners could hope for at this stage.

Nicko might be right that things are motoring along behind the scenes but I cannot see a way for due diligence to be done thoroughly professionally on a business like BRFC without the presence of lawyers and accountants encamped in a 5 star hotel within commuting distance of Ewood and Brockhall hitting this message board within hours of them starting work. So either there is no due diligence or whatever checks are being done are very limited in scope at the moment.

Of course, it might be there is no smoke because there is no fire to make any to mix my metaphors up a bit.

So basically, Philip, you're saying that the takeover may, or may not, be happening.

[Kelbo]

So basically, Philip, you're saying that the takeover may, or may not, be happening.

Well, its got to be one or the other!!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Well, its got to be one or the other!!

Its nice to see that the club have actually managed to confuse everyone :-)

One minute transfers are on hold pending potential take over - the next we are supposedly signing Boyd.

All this confusion just adds to the necogiating position of the club - especially as we are led to believe other people are interested in the club. Not certain it helps Sam in his search for new players - would players be attracted to a club with so much uncertainty ?

[philipl]

I have never been involved in a due diligence which didn't include "kicking the tyres" of the business.

[Majiball]

The mental one, does an interview

[Guest Kamy100]

The mental one, does an interview

can't believe that Vinjay has become a internet celebrity.