[Archived] Venky's willing to sell?

[PAFELL]

For anyone doubting whether the two Ians's would be able to muster a consortium together to buy the club, this is certainly worth a read:

http://www.insidermedia.com/productsandservices/archive/nwbi/2005-10/lunch/

It's a report from a few years ago but still relevant.

The Ian's are our biggest hope imo

Nice one.

[roverandout]

can someone go over the jist of it for me? i dont have the energy to read through all that!!!

[BlueMonday]

can someone go over the jist of it for me? i dont have the energy to read through all that!!!

You should read The History Of Everything. Its just one thing after another...

[Burrells Boy]

It seems to about making money for investors, which definately isn't the case with Rovers, as Venkys have discovered.

[rovers11]

can someone go over the jist of it for me? i dont have the energy to read through all that!!!

The salient point is that they know LOTS of stinking rich people.

[TBTF]

Nice one R11 !!

Just read that article you put up.These guys look serious operators and i think you are right about them being our best hope.I noticed Richard Matthewmans name in the article.Just wondering why with him coming out of the Club when the Trust left why our 2 'great hopes' weren't involved then.

Maybe they didn't want to get involved when the deal was 45million and new owners were promising more millions on Beckham and friends .When i listened to Battersby's podcast i did think it was the wreck that our club has now turned into that made their minds up to get involved.

But i like your thinking R 11 -and we have naff all else to hang on to have we? i have persuaded myself to believe it and a number of other fans seem to believe in it as well

[rovers11]

Nice one R11 !!

Just read that article you put up.These guys look serious operators and i think you are right about them being our best hope.I noticed Richard Matthewmans name in the article.Just wondering why with him coming out of the Club when the Trust left why our 2 'great hopes' weren't involved then.

Maybe they didn't want to get involved when the deal was 45million and new owners were promising more millions on Beckham and friends .When i listened to Battersby's podcast i did think it was the wreck that our club has now turned into that made their minds up to get involved.

But i like your thinking R 11 -and we have naff all else to hang on to have we? i have persuaded myself to believe it and a number of other fans seem to believe in it as well

I'm not sure why they didn't buy when the trust put it up for sale. My guess would be that they would have preferred to have remained just fans of the club rather than owners particularly when they have other professional commitments. The club was running well under the trust so they probably didn't feel the need to buy it then and when, as you say, prospective owners start bidding who talk about chucking millions and millions at the club they again prob though they didn't need to buy the club. Now that the club is in a mess, they feel now it is time they need to step in - this is indicated by Ian in the podcast where he states he feels it would be his 'duty'.

I can understand why other fans are sceptical about and prospective new owners, but these are the real deal. The big question: Can they convince Mrs D to sell at a sensible price?

[Resigned Rover]

I can understand why other fans are sceptical about and prospective new owners, but these are the real deal. The big question: Can they convince Mrs D to sell at a sensible price?

Did i just see Mrs D and sensible in the same sentence??

In all seriousness though, i would be open to it and have said so many times lately

that i would gladly spend a few seasons supporting Rovers in the Championship under legitimate owners who would run the club sensibly.

[gumboots]

Did i just see Mrs D and sensible in the same sentence??

In all seriousness though, i would be open to it and have said so many times lately

that i would gladly spend a few seasons supporting Rovers in the Championship under legitimate owners who would run the club sensibly.

I think most fans would. There is still a lot of good football played in the Championship. I find much of the pure artistry stuff played by Arsenal at their best is not real football. It's pretty to watch when it works, but downright frustrating a lot of the time when it doesn't. I like a blend of real blood and thunder stuff with hard but fair tackles going in and some really nice bits of skill that stand out all the more because they are not commonplace. I like watching up-and-coming players learning their trade, fighting for their places. I'm not a purist and. provided there is not just one tactic, bang the ball long and hope, but a bit of everything, football is really exciting. The premier league only seems to want sides now who "play football the right way" whatever they mean by that, and I want a team that can but isn't afraid to get stuck in when it needs to. I know the money is in the prem, but when you haven't got any and it gets harder and harder to compete with those who have because their wealth, through the cahmpions league deal becomes self perpetuating, then sometimes you have to wonder whether the game is worth the candle or if we'd be better building our strength in the championship.

[Resigned Rover]

I think most fans would. There is still a lot of good football played in the Championship. I find much of the pure artistry stuff played by Arsenal at their best is not real football. It's pretty to watch when it works, but downright frustrating a lot of the time when it doesn't. I like a blend of real blood and thunder stuff with hard but fair tackles going in and some really nice bits of skill that stand out all the more because they are not commonplace. I like watching up-and-coming players learning their trade, fighting for their places. I'm not a purist and. provided there is not just one tactic, bang the ball long and hope, but a bit of everything, football is really exciting. The premier league only seems to want sides now who "play football the right way" whatever they mean by that, and I want a team that can but isn't afraid to get stuck in when it needs to. I know the money is in the prem, but when you haven't got any and it gets harder and harder to compete with those who have because their wealth, through the cahmpions league deal becomes self perpetuating, then sometimes you have to wonder whether the game is worth the candle or if we'd be better building our strength in the championship.

I couldn't agree more with you there mate, whenever i watch Arsenal or Barca i find myself shouting "shoot ya numpty" at the tv, not get into a good position and look for the perfect pass or goal. Thats not football to me either. I love a good battle with committed sides giving it their all and being evenly matched. Some of my favourite times supporting Rovers were during the promotion season under Souness. I was genuinely excited to see the likes of Duff, Dunn & Jansen progress. I struggle to watch an entire PL game these days, i try get into it but then i see a player like Kompany make a great tackle, i call it that and he gets a red card. Or i see players acting and trying to deceive the ref. Not that it doesnt happen in all leagues but its way more prevalent in the PL.

Who'd have thought we'd be yearning for a return to the Championship under thrifty owners again?!!

[Mattyblue]

I'm not yearning for the Championship in the slightest, it is absolutely dire down there, lets not kid ourselves.

Watching cloggers still earning 15/20k a week attempt to play football, still paying £25 for a match ticket, plus much more for our season ticket, to potentially see the closure of the Academy, to see Ewood Park with 10000 people in it watching us in all likleyhood slide down that league as well, is not something I am hankering to go back to.

All this talk about the Souness era is neither here nor there, it will be nothing like 2001.

Do I want shut of Venky's? Too right, if we end up ridding ourselves of them by ending up on -10 points in a lower league, then so be it, but please, lets not get misty eyed about the bloody Championship.

[thenodrog]

I'm not sure why they didn't buy when the trust put it up for sale.

How about a valuation of 50 million compared to a 'stop loss' offer to the Venkeys or even a 'I'll take it off your hands' bid to Barclays or even worse the administrators?

Not only that but the fan base may be better to handle now that those of shallow thought and or short memories who harboured unattainable expecations have seen the other side of the coin.

btw If Richard Matthewman holds any sway over the issue I'd imagine he'll tell them to walk away from this 'investment' asap. Prem football club ownership in it's present form is a poisoned chalice.

[gumboots]

I'm not yearning for the Championship in the slightest, it is absolutely dire down there, lets not kid ourselves.

Watching cloggers still earning 15/20k a week attempt to play football, still paying £25 for a match ticket, plus much more for our season ticket, to potentially see the closure of the Academy, to see Ewood Park with 10000 people in it watching us in all likleyhood slide down that league as well, is not something I am hankering to go back to.

All this talk about the Souness era is neither here nor there, it will be nothing like 2001.

Do I want shut of Venky's? Too right, if we end up ridding ourselves of them by ending up on -10 points in a lower league, then so be it, but please, lets not get misty eyed about the bloody Championship.

Not misty eyed nor yearning for the championship. Just pointing out that there are decent sides playing some decent stuff and it's not all brilliant in the premier league either. the PL doesn't have a monopoly on divers, it doesn't have a monopoly on skill and talent either. I'm not suggesting for one minute it would be like it was under Souness. those were good days when we had a better squad then many premier league teams and not likely to be replicated. Still rather see us there under the ownership of people who are committed to doing their best for the club than limp along another season like this one, never even really competing on the pitch and knowing we are only 2 mins from disaster even at 2 -0 up, with a manager and team who are not and can't be good enough, because next season, whatever league we are in, we will sell most of the rest that haven't already been sold and bring in more dross to replace them and Kean will still be there telling us that there is no way we will be relegated and we just can't see what he is trying to do.

[Resigned Rover]

I'm not yearning for the Championship in the slightest, it is absolutely dire down there, lets not kid ourselves.

Watching cloggers still earning 15/20k a week attempt to play football, still paying £25 for a match ticket, plus much more for our season ticket, to potentially see the closure of the Academy, to see Ewood Park with 10000 people in it watching us in all likleyhood slide down that league as well, is not something I am hankering to go back to.

All this talk about the Souness era is neither here nor there, it will be nothing like 2001.

Do I want shut of Venky's? Too right, if we end up ridding ourselves of them by ending up on -10 points in a lower league, then so be it, but please, lets not get misty eyed about the bloody Championship.

It's a matter of opinion and preference. I personally don't think the Premier League is all its cracked up to be at times. The Utd v Chelsea game last week was, from a technical standpoint, poor. I lost count of the amount of times possession was given away. I enjoy a good battle and physical game, it might not be for the purists but thats my preference.

I also must stress that i don't yearn for a Venky's run Rovers in the Championship but if the club was under the stewardship of sensible owners then i could get behind it more and who knows how things would be. The Academy might not close, gates would indeed be down but thats nothing new for Rovers. The Souness era it might not be but i know i'd rather take my chances with this scenario than suffer another season in the PL with Venkey's.

Again though, thats my personal preference.

[yoda]

How about a valuation of 50 million compared to a 'stop loss' offer to the Venkeys or even a 'I'll take it off your hands' bid to Barclays or even worse the administrators?

Not only that but the fan base may be better to handle now that those of shallow thought and or short memories who harboured unattainable expecations have seen the other side of the coin.

btw If Richard Matthewman holds any sway over the issue I'd imagine he'll tell them to walk away from this 'investment' asap. Prem football club ownership in it's present form is a poisoned chalice.

And a faint chance to try and redress the money issues in the game disappeared today when the taxman lost the case, can of worms firmly shut again.

[den]

For all it's faults, the PL is the only place to be. We're kidding ourselves if we believe that the lower leagues is in any way comparable. Sure, as football fans we can enjoy a game at any level, even park football, but I wouldn't want rovers to be there either.

Ask the fans of Hartlepool and Chesterfield where they would like their club to be. If they didn't say the top league, they'd be lieing.

[broadsword]

Den, do you really think it's possible for the Venky's to sell up while we're in this division?

If they don't want to sell then all bets are off.

We want them to sell because they're neglectful, disinterested and useless. Under such ownership we are likely to tumble through the leagues. perversely we may stay up this season, but that would be a stay of execution.

If there's a way to force a sale whilewe're still a Premiership club, I'm all for it.

[hesfromburn]

For all it's faults, the PL is the only place to be. We're kidding ourselves if we believe that the lower leagues is in any way comparable. Sure, as football fans we can enjoy a game at any level, even park football, but I wouldn't want rovers to be there either.

Ask the fans of Hartlepool and Chesterfield where they would like their club to be. If they didn't say the top league, they'd be lieing.

Spot On!!

[gumboots]

Spot On!!

The thing is, it might be the best place to be in lots of ways but since we are in all likelihood not going to be there next season or any season soon after that that point is irrelevant. and the fact is that the way some people on here talk about the Championship is unbelievable. Like we'll never see any decent players or skill or anything worth watching anymore. My ideal scenario would be sell, survive and build but i don't see it happening like that. More likely get relegated, sell if we're lucky and then rebuild a shattered team and infrastructure. that could take years - look at my first love, Boro. they took ages to stabilise in the Championship and are only now beginning to rebuild, with a manager to whom the club actually means something. Going down will not be a bed of roses and we'd all be lacking ambition if we didn't admit that we'd love to be challenging for cups and the champions League places.Reality however, says it isn't going to happen, so we might as well get used to the idea whilst hoping for a miracle

[PAFELL]

Venkys will only sell if their shareholders in India put pressure on them. The customer, fan means nothing to them. Only bringing in money and feeding their own egos is what matters to them.

[den]

Den, do you really think it's possible for the Venky's to sell up while we're in this division?

If they don't want to sell then all bets are off.

We want them to sell because they're neglectful, disinterested and useless. Under such ownership we are likely to tumble through the leagues. perversely we may stay up this season, but that would be a stay of execution.

If there's a way to force a sale whilewe're still a Premiership club, I'm all for it.

Bryan, I would be certain of renewing my ST even if we were in the Championship next season - as long as the axis of evil were out of this club. If you asked me whether it be the Raos/Kean/JA and the PL, or new owners who saw their business model based on improving the team, along with a new manager and starting next season in the Championship - I would take option two every single time. To my mind the Raos simply don't have it in them to turn this club around.

My only point really is that the quality of football in the Championship is quite a way below PL standards and we're kidding ourselves if we think otherwise.

[Blueboy Downunder]

unless i am missing something or some other bit of information, where does this article suggest that there might be a consortium put together to try and buy rovers back and rescue us??

[Amo]

My only point really is that the quality of football in the Championship is quite a way below PL standards and we're kidding ourselves if we think otherwise.

It's really not, Den. More than half of the PL clubs are bog average.

[den]

It's really not, Den. More than half of the PL clubs are bog average.

That suggests that the top 12 clubs or so in the Championship, would survive in the PL Topman. - Whereas, the truth is that without strengthening their squads, I reckon not one team from the Championship would survive in the PL.

[Amo]

That suggests that the top 12 clubs or so in the Championship, would survive in the PL Topman.

No it doesn't.