[Archived] Rovers Takeover: End game ?

[booth]

Sure Venky's said they would be hands on owners in one of their recent interviews.

They did indeed, but how can one be "hands on" when based in a different continent? Unless they're (meaning one of the main people - not Venky as a whole) planning to relocate to Blackburn or nearby (which I can't see happening).

[broadsword]

"Premier League clubs are professionally managed and run on a business model whereas the Indian clubs don't make money," All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice-president Subrata Dutta told Reuters on Friday.

I think old Subratta is in for a rude awakening soon!

I may be wrong but I seem to rem reading that millions of Chinese were tuning into Prem football on Sky... until Sky tried to charge em £30 per year or similar and they all switched channels.

I remain to be convinced that giving Blackburn Rovers a marketing presence in India will suddenly make us into a viable business. Eeven if it did, is it sustainable? People in India wouldn't have any ties to the club, so if, say Chelsea tried the same thing, would all those people suddenly switch to Chelsea and leave Venky's with a lame duck (or should I say chicken)?

What happens then? Are Venky's in their purchase of Rovers going to be constrained by the same terms as the Trust has been? Or will they be able to cast us off to any passing charlatan?

Of course, everything may work out for the best, but I keep on seeing potential pitfalls, and glib statements of "trust the Trust" are hardly likely, at this stage, to convince me not to worry.

[True Blue & White]

If he made for example 7 million and his charitable gifts were 250,000 the tax liability would be based upon £6,750,000!! and not 7 million

Yes but that tax liability wouldn't be anywhere near 250k more on 7m than it is on 6.75m, therefore it still cost him to make the charitable donations.

Let's say I have £700 and tax is 30% so I decided to make a charitable donation of £50...

1 - No donation, 700 - 30% tax = £490 left over

2 - donation, 700 - 50 = 650 - 30% = £455 left over

cost of donation = £45

You can't make a charitible gift and break even, despite the tax laws which are designed to ensure the charity gets more money and not so the giver and get off tax himself.

[booth]

I remain to be convinced that giving Blackburn Rovers a marketing presence in India will suddenly make us into a viable business. Eeven if it did, is it sustainable? People in India wouldn't have any ties to the club, so if, say Chelsea tried the same thing, would all those people suddenly switch to Chelsea and leave Venky's with a lame duck (or should I say chicken)?

I've been in contact from a chap (a software designer) from Pune where Venky are from, his family are good friends with one of the managers at Venky's. So I asked him what he thought about the takeover. I'll post part of his reply which I received this morning... Bear in mind this is just a chap who is based in Pune.

The thing is, yes there are a lot football maniacs across the country in here. But the truth is Football is not bigger sport than Cricket in here.

I dont know any english premier leage fans forum in India but i'm 200% sure there must be zillions of out there. They do have so many fan clubs in country.. people do worship english clubs like crazy in here..

If they are trying to market the club in India then it is really a huge opportunity. I really wish they shouldn't miss it. The area i live in have a huge football ground and they do conduct national tournaments here on this ground. Its already feels like a huge festival coming to the town. Many big football clubs participate in this tournament. I don't know much about local football clubs in here but my friends who are really that into football, always talk about them.

I have of course said to him, if he ever feels drawn to football to consider BRFC!

If there's any more questions, I could pass them on. He even said he'd ask the Venky guy if I wanted, although I doubt they'd impart any information other than we already knew. TBH I was more interested in what a local had to say about the takeover and the kind of interest there was in the EPL.

[T4E]

What happens then? Are Venky's in their purchase of Rovers going to be constrained by the same terms as the Trust has been? Or will they be able to cast us off to any passing charlatan?

This is my biggest concern Bryan. In selling the club, the Trust are effectively turning off our firewall. We're now as susceptible to viruses as every other club in the country - something we've enjoyed haven from for many years now.

[67splitscreen]

Can't wait. If we lose on home soil though I am leaving England forever. I don't think I could stand the humiliation.

Is it the cricket ashes he's referring to. Or ........

[Athlete]

This is my biggest concern Bryan. In selling the club, the Trust are effectively turning off our firewall. We're now as susceptible to viruses as every other club in the country - something we've enjoyed haven from for many years now.

that comment T4E is the most sensible anyones come out with...the Trust where our Firewall !

I still remain sceptical to say the least on this take over...they say you should never judge a book by its cover the 2 brothers covered in bling on saturday ?????

[Al]

Yes but that tax liability wouldn't be anywhere near 250k more on 7m than it is on 6.75m, therefore it still cost him to make the charitable donations.

Let's say I have £700 and tax is 30% so I decided to make a charitable donation of £50...

1 - No donation, 700 - 30% tax = £490 left over

2 - donation, 700 - 50 = 650 - 30% = £455 left over

cost of donation = £45

You can't make a charitible gift and break even, despite the tax laws which are designed to ensure the charity gets more money and not so the giver and get off tax himself.

Thanks for that. You saved me the trouble.

[Blue n White Rover]

Been away from the MB for a few days. Can anyone briefly tell me what's going on with regards to the takeover.

Cheers!

[booth]

Been away from the MB for a few days. Can anyone briefly tell me what's going on with regards to the takeover.

Cheers!

Syed's pulled out of the running. He says it's due to BRFC's lack of co-operation.

Shah is annoyed because according to him he told Venky's about BRFC. He's considering legal action.

According to BRFC and Venky's, Venky's are taking over very soon.

We're getting £5mil in the Jan transfer window. Perhaps more if necessary.

More money is to come in the Summer.

The involvement of Kentaro has still not been officially disclosed, but they were at the match with the Venky guys at the weekend.

[broadsword]

I don't think there's been any concrete news in the last few days, other than Syed chickening out, Venky's apparently flying the coop back to their London HQ and Shah crowing that he wanted to takeover with help from Venky's and he is apparently still in the running.

Other than that we're all running round like headless chickens worried sick about being taken over.

[ABBEY]

NOT being negative with this in way,but where will all the ordinary Indian who lives in india get there money from to make us such a big brand name? When i went to goa it was 90% pure poverty with people living under make yourself tents on roundabouts and at the roadside and there were beggers eveywhere.How can we make money from them? I know parts are booming and the IPL pays big money but thats for there national sport,you only need to look no further than the lack of people paying to watch the commenwealth games?

or am i wrong? like i said genuine question not a negative one.

[broadsword]

Isn't it one of the world's biggest growing economies?

There is wealth there, but there's also a lot of mind-numbing poverty. We don't need everyone to become a Blackburn Rovers fan, presumably there would be a % of football fans we would need to convert, and persuade them to part with their cash. Whether it is feasible or not I guess only time will tell.

[Roversider]

I've been in contact from a chap (a software designer) from Pune where Venky are from, his family are good friends with one of the managers at Venky's. So I asked him what he thought about the takeover. I'll post part of his reply which I received this morning... Bear in mind this is just a chap who is based in Pune.

I have of course said to him, if he ever feels drawn to football to consider BRFC!

If there's any more questions, I could pass them on. He even said he'd ask the Venky guy if I wanted, although I doubt they'd impart any information other than we already knew. TBH I was more interested in what a local had to say about the takeover and the kind of interest there was in the EPL.

There is a lot of opportunity in India which is available to be tapped. Its true that the average annual income is c. £300, that cricket is the major sport there and Rovers are relatively unknown. However football is growing, there are c. 1.1 billion! Indians. So, if you assume that the VH model is to keep Rovers puttering along and keep it on a break-even basis then taking the Trusts logic we might be looking to generate an extra £5 to 15 million in revenues we haven't had before. That might be 3 million Indians spending £5 each on Rovers product or, using Rovers as an advertising platform adding extra sponsorship from other Indian companies. Even if that means renaming the stadium.

That is all before any links with Kentaro. There could also be significant benefit for VH in PR spin-off.

It could make sense and the Trust seem to favour the bid. Certainly the Trust wants to sell and I, for one, thank them for their stewardship since Jack passed away. People need to remember that the beneficiaries of the Trust included Jack's family, not just the Rovers. Dave Whelans comments were an interesting insight.

[Hughesy]

NOT being negative with this in way,but where will all the ordinary Indian who lives in india get there money from to make us such a big brand name? When i went to goa it was 90% pure poverty with people living under make yourself tents on roundabouts and at the roadside and there were beggers eveywhere.How can we make money from them? I know parts are booming and the IPL pays big money but thats for there national sport,you only need to look no further than the lack of people paying to watch the commenwealth games?

or am i wrong? like i said genuine question not a negative one.

Someone must have cash as its the fastest growing economy & population (1.2bn) in the world

60m people last season watched the premier league over there & according to several news articles - Football is the fastest growing sport over there.

Also alot of the younger generation are getting into footy in a big way - so the hope is that it continues to grow.

Has to be all about sponsorship money....If Blackburn get popular in India & 60m+ people are watching it...what better place to advertise your brand in India?

[ABBEY]

roversider MOST i wouldnt have thought would have a spare fiver??

[modes98]

Shah is annoyed because according to him he told Venky's about BRFC. He's considering legal action.

He's a bit of a moron really. If you go about trying to sell this brilliant business idea then you need to make sure that none of them are going to cut you out of a deal and do it themselves. I don't think he can take legal action as there is nothing to sue them for.

[PAFELL]

Its pretty boring now the takeover is settled isn't it?

Who says it has been settled. The fat lady is still singing. Until we have an announcment from Rovers saying the club has now been sold and told us who the owners are. The club is still up for sale.

[JohnD]

Its pretty boring now the takeover is settled isn't it?

Don't count your chickens...............

Where did I put my coat?

[S15]

Maybe we should just get John Williams and one of the trust go go on Dragon's Den.

Fairly sure Big Dunc, Theo and Caany would have nothing to do with us but I bet a fairly decent pitch would get a joint investment from Jonesy and that bitch.

[booth]

He's a bit of a moron really. If you go about trying to sell this brilliant business idea then you need to make sure that none of them are going to cut you out of a deal and do it themselves. I don't think he can take legal action as there is nothing to sue them for.

I can't see how he has a leg to stand on legally too. If I told you that there was a lovely house down the road from me at a decent asking price, and I was thinking of buying it, and you purchased it before I could put an offer in - by Shah's logic I'd seek legal advice. A bit barmy really. Unless he did more than that, which I think is what he's claiming.

[bob fleming]

...and that bitch.

Do you mean Deborah Meaden?

[waggy]

3. The Trust Fund is primarily set up for the benefit of Jack and Fred Walkers families and NOT for the benefit of BRFC. You don't appear willing to accept that for some reason. BRFC is simply a part of the overall trust and I understand is now in the portfolio of just one member of the Walker family. Maybe that person is sick of the BRFC business consistently making a loss. I certainly would be thats for sure.

[

well for years i and every rovers fan apart from you were led to believe that there was a trust fund set up for the rovers by jack.were we not getting 2-3 million every year till a few years back?then the walker trust deemed us doing well enough to stand on our own two feet.

[TimmyJimmy]

With Whelan's recent comments and the wider commentary on here about the Trust and firewalls etc (great imagery by the way) and the irreversible changes in the game I think it becomes more and more imperative that we hang on to the one constant reference point we have ie John Williams. It is vital that all the existing staff are not just swept aside and that someone remains who remembers what the club is all about and what it stands for.

It would be nice to tell VH/Kentaro, the world and his dog that we insist on JW staying so a big chorus of 'John Williams, there's only one John Williams' would go down well against Wigan.

BBE/DE singers, any chance?

[Sparky Marky]

He'll be gone more or less straight away...his position will be untenable.