[Archived] Investigate or we'll publish Blackburn Rovers findings, warns Mullan

[Steve Moss]

Then when Venky's solicitors said Shaw had no authority to put the clause in Berg's contract, the court accepted that as well? They didn't though Steve. The court thought Venky's entire argument was ludicrous, denied them the full hearing that Venky's wanted and told them to pay up in full.

All facts ar subject to judicial determination. When asserting a fact, the attorney is supposed to have conducted a reasonable good faith investigation. As RividgeBlue pointed out, this does not require the attorneys play amateur detective. It does require them to interview the relevant witnesses they'll call to testify and documents/exhibits they'll submit to the court and ensure the evidence meshes with the arguments they'll present to the court.

The court could accept the factual assertion that as between Venkys and Shaw in dealing with the Berg contract, that Shaw lacked the "acual" authority to place the clause into Berg's contract. This is not determinative, however. The court could also accept (and I think did) the allegation that Shaw had "apparent" authority due to his title and duties. Apparent authority means outsiders, like Berg, are entitled to rely on Shaw's ability to enter into agreements as Venkys vested him with the title, position, and seeming duties which one would expect to negotiate and sign such agreements.

Managing Directors. Presidents, Chairman, and CEOs have apparent authority, even if actually limited by the owners.

The tea lady doesn't.

[mark1875]

To Glen, not Glenn.

Any of those company names familiar?

Any of them emptying their bank accounts just before Rovers were purchased?

Just quickly checked and I have the financial charts of all of those named companies stored on disc, i'll send you an email over tomorrow Phil.

[RoverScot]

I haven't had chance to catch up with the tread, but a chance conversation this evening leads me to believe it's been discussed that in conjunction with the comments in the Kentaro accounts that Kentaro and SEM had a "partnership"?

• Kentaro AG own a controlling interest in Kentaro LTD
• Kentaro LTD own a controlling interest in Sports Holdings LTD
• Sports Holdings LTD own a significant (possibly not controlling) stake in Manmark SA (now dissolved) and The Sports Entertainment and Media Group (SEM to you and me)
• The Sports Entertainment & Media Group own a significant stake (possibly not controlling) in Templar Sports (Formerly "JA Financial Planning") and Jerome Anderson Management LTD

So, I believe it's a little more than a partnership, the way it was explained to me was that Kentaro very much own SEM.

The relationship between the two has been described as a 'corporate partnership' in press releases but what you have posted means it's more like a subsidiary of the Kentaro group. Is it allowed that one part of Kentaro can advise significant use of another part of it's operations? Has Jerome Anderson been speaking to Venkys as a Kentaro partner or as an SEM agent? It seems Kentaro helped form the strategy for Venkys but the resulting strategy heavily involved themselves whilst side-lining the existing management staff and going against best practice for the football industry. Should this unique approach to transfers not be automatically tested for the 'undue influence' criteria set out by the FA for agents?

[philipl]

Exactly and this is why the FA are implicated among the bad boys in this sorry mess

[Guest Norbert]

Which in turn means they'll probably just do nothing and try to make the situation go away by ignoring it and telling Kentaro to get the paper shredders out.

[den]

So Den and Rev, are you still trying to argue that Venkys are merely incompetent?

Merely incompetent? I don't remember using that phrase 47er.

[47er]

Den, its not like you to be that picky! Not necessary for you to have used that actual phrase! That was the essence of your line of thought wasn't it?

No conspiracy, just clueless? Its certainly Rev's. if you think differently please enlighten me.

[RoverScot]

Venkys bought the club with the intention of working closely with Kentaro. It was Kentaro that persuaded them to buy the club and encouraged their line of thinking regarding how they would run the club. Kentaro are so intrinsic to Venkys ownership of Rovers that Venkatesh Rao described Kentaro as being like family.

The Raos openly do not know anything about football so the status of Kentaro's advice has had so much weight placed on it that their influence could be considered in effect to be in 'control' of the owner's actions regarding the football club. The Mrs Desai defence to this 'undue influence' in a January 4th 2011 Sky Sports interview was "no I don't think so. I mean we were all here debating, discussing the things so it's not as if they did everything, okay they were there and they helped, I don't think they have had 'undue influence.' I do not think that would be fair."

In the previous sentence she admitted to making an offer to 'Mr Ronaldinho' which constituted his wages - no consideration being made to the fact that they needed to speak to AC Milan for permission for his transfer. This shows a clear lack of understanding regarding football transfers and the likelihood of 'Mr Ronaldinho' joining Rovers. How can a conversation between the Raos and Kentaro therefore constitute a 'debate' on an equal footing when the Raos are so heavily reliant on Kentaro's expertise?

Kentaro has interests in advising owners, acting on behalf of managers and players and financial stakes in player investment funds. The intertwining nature of these services is such that even with the most altruistic intentions from all parties involved, the 'undue influence' test surely has to be applied with a formal investigation from the F.A. I'm sure it would be revealing and Kentaro should welcome the chance to be transparent - if they still are trading as a company which looks unlikely.

[RoyRover]

Mike Ashley's decision-making made him about as popular as herpes on Tyneside, but even he was able to turn their fortunes around. And yet we're still to believe Venky's are scratching their skulls in a vain attempt to understand what's gone wrong? Quite clearly the people giving them advice (Kentaro, Shebby, Shagnew) have done nothing but cost them money, so why haven't they addressed that? Why are those people still earning at the club? Why are they so decisive to sack some people but not others? If this was me, and say I'd taken over an NFL team. I know jack about American Football, but I know that if I was in that position I would seek out some of the most respected names in the industry and ask their advice. I wouldn't keep faith with the same circus of clowns expecting things to change, while their stewardship is p*ssing millions down the drain. Doesn't make sense, any of it.

Good post. This is what has always bugged me about this whole situation. Blackburn Rovers punched above it's weight, year after year in the Premiership. The reason for this was because it was so well run - arguably the best run club in English football. This is what would have made them an attractive proposition for any new owners. It just doesn't add up that the people who made the club what it was or those raised concerns about the direction the club was taking, were either sacked or frozen out leading to their resignation. Meanwhile the bumbling buffoons that now are in charge and who have made such a mighty royal balls up of the whole thing are left to deepen the mess we are in.

Surely the owners can just look to where the club was when they bought it, to where it is now and see that the decisions they and others have made have led us down the path we are now on. It could be too much for people like them who are used to being right, told that they are right or just get their way no matter what, to accept that they are the reason for what's happened and by getting rid of the people they appointed would be an admission of their incompentency and negligence. Or it could be something totally different altogether.

[Stuart]

I assume that if Kentaro fold then any investigation which might happen would be quashed? Leaving the people running it free of any baggage and able to start up a new company?

[philipl]

I assume that if Kentaro fold then any investigation which might happen would be quashed? Leaving the people running it free of any baggage and able to start up a new company?

I guess so.

[perthblue02]

I assume that if Kentaro fold then any investigation which might happen would be quashed? Leaving the people running it free of any baggage and able to start up a new company?

Pitch International seem to be the ones who have snatched the contracts (England , Brazil etc) from Kentaro possibly putting them in the at risk position, bit sneaky if you ask me as they have partnered with Kentaro in various activities, but would be very convenient for the FA if Kentaro cease to exist.

Edit. Not suggesting that Pitch International are involved in anyway in the scam that is Blackburn Rovers Agents ,Agency , thieves and snakes retirement fund, previously known as a Football Club

[den]

Den, its not like you to be that picky! Not necessary for you to have used that actual phrase! That was the essence of your line of thought wasn't it?

No conspiracy, just clueless? Its certainly Rev's. if you think differently please enlighten me.

I'm not sure what you want me to say 47er. I've never said the Raos are "merely incompetent". Far from it. All I can do is repeat what I did say and that is, as far as the idea that the Raos aren't the real owners of the club, I've not seen the slightest bit of evidence that says they aren't. That isn't to say there isn't evidence in the hands of someone else, but until someone points that evidence my way, I'll be in the dubious camp.

[T.J.Newton]

To be honest I couldn't give a toss who actually owns/runs the club, I'm only interested in what their intentions are and if things continue to improve on the footballing side(as they have over the final month or so) then I'm fairly content.

[gumboots]

And how do you think they will do that? We don't have a manager. Nobody is dealing with season tickets as far as we can see. The finance director is leaving. There are decisions to be made about player contracts, preseason friendlies, and all sorts of other issues that need sorting in the close season. The only people at Ewood are Shaw and Agnew and one has just cost the club a fortune and is pretty useless at what he is supposed to be doing, whilst the other is occupying a position he has no qualifications for and is not very good at. And you expect things to continue to improve on the pitch!!!! I'm not subscribing to any conspiracy theories or getting involved in the stuff about who's making money out of the club or who owns which bit of it, but the sheer incompetence of everyone who seems to have any say in what is going on in terms of running a football club means we cannot move forwards.

[T.J.Newton]

Honestly I Know mate!!! I've read all the same stories(fact and fiction), theories and fairy tails(told by those with various personal agendas),

as you probably have.

Its crazy behind the scenes(and it has been for the last 2 years), but assuming Bowyer gets the job(and yes I know you shouldn't take out for granted under this lot) he seems to have the ability to just keep the players focused on the football and not getting caught up in the bs of the pitch.

[LDRover]

To be honest I couldn't give a toss who actually owns/runs the club, I'm only interested in what their intentions are and if things continue to improve on the footballing side(as they have over the final month or so) then I'm fairly content.

Can we have a new forum please mods, 'wind up gold'. I propose this post as the first entry.

[Guest Norbert]

I would rather have clean, competent people running the club thank you. "No point admiring a castle's impressive walls if the whole structure is built upon the ytop of an active volcano.

[T.J.Newton]

yea, well your living in the wrong world mate, where there's big money and power there's usually big corruption(and EVERY club/buisness has its share), are you 100% morally and/or legally squeaky clean in every aspect of your life or just another hypocrite?

(jeez I feel dirty, I just remembered I swore not to post in this minging thread again, ill stop now )

[Guest Norbert]

Not a hypocrite, I just would rather not have major corruption going on at the the club I support. I'd rather have it built on solid foundations, and not a front for money laundering or whatever crazy illegal stuff that it may be used for.

You don't need to tell me that the world is corrupt and all the rest of it. I do read the news.

[Roverall]

By 2012 "the British Virgin Islands were recognized as "a particularly successful hideaway, thanks to the exceptional secrecy on offer. This Caribbean territory, which is ultimately controlled by the UK, has sold more than a million anonymously-owned offshore entities since launching itself in 1984 as a tax haven."

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists collaborated with major international media outlets in a research effort to uncover an "extraordinary global network" of companies with nominee directors most of them British, with companies located in places like the British Virgin Islands. Twenty-eight nominee directors were linked 21,500 companies keeping their commercial transactions in the shadows to avoid taxation and to conceal assets.

How interesting.

[gumboots]

Honestly I Know mate!!! I've read all the same stories(fact and fiction), theories and fairy tails(told by those with various personal agendas),

as you probably have.

Its crazy behind the scenes(and it has been for the last 2 years), but assuming Bowyer gets the job(and yes I know you shouldn't take out for granted under this lot) he seems to have the ability to just keep the players focused on the football and not getting caught up in the bs of the pitch.

Sorry but you can't really call me mate. Elderly ladies like me tend not to like it.

[T.J.Newton]

Sorry but you can't really call me mate. Elderly ladies like me tend not to like it.

Wasn't specifically aimed at you(or anybody in particular) sorry cocker

and give over, 59(if your profile age is correct!) is not "Elderly"

[philipl]

By 2012 "the British Virgin Islands were recognized as "a particularly successful hideaway, thanks to the exceptional secrecy on offer. This Caribbean territory, which is ultimately controlled by the UK, has sold more than a million anonymously-owned offshore entities since launching itself in 1984 as a tax haven."

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists collaborated with major international media outlets in a research effort to uncover an "extraordinary global network" of companies with nominee directors most of them British, with companies located in places like the British Virgin Islands. Twenty-eight nominee directors were linked 21,500 companies keeping their commercial transactions in the shadows to avoid taxation and to conceal assets.

How interesting.

I had understood most of our action was taking place through the Cayman Islands but the Premier League but the blocker on that route.

Only recently I heard that the BVI was where the Brunei hook-up was apparently going on. Previously I thought the BVI was just for Steve Kean's ramblings.

[John]

Venkys bought the club with the intention of working closely with Kentaro. It was Kentaro that persuaded them to buy the club and encouraged their line of thinking regarding how they would run the club. Kentaro are so intrinsic to Venkys ownership of Rovers that Venkatesh Rao described Kentaro as being like family.

The Raos openly do not know anything about football so the status of Kentaro's advice has had so much weight placed on it that their influence could be considered in effect to be in 'control' of the owner's actions regarding the football club. The Mrs Desai defence to this 'undue influence' in a January 4th 2011 Sky Sports interview was "no I don't think so. I mean we were all here debating, discussing the things so it's not as if they did everything, okay they were there and they helped, I don't think they have had 'undue influence.' I do not think that would be fair."

In the previous sentence she admitted to making an offer to 'Mr Ronaldinho' which constituted his wages - no consideration being made to the fact that they needed to speak to AC Milan for permission for his transfer. This shows a clear lack of understanding regarding football transfers and the likelihood of 'Mr Ronaldinho' joining Rovers. How can a conversation between the Raos and Kentaro therefore constitute a 'debate' on an equal footing when the Raos are so heavily reliant on Kentaro's expertise?

Kentaro has interests in advising owners, acting on behalf of managers and players and financial stakes in player investment funds. The intertwining nature of these services is such that even with the most altruistic intentions from all parties involved, the 'undue influence' test surely has to be applied with a formal investigation from the F.A. I'm sure it would be revealing and Kentaro should welcome the chance to be transparent - if they still are trading as a company which looks unlikely.

This is 100% the case.