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davieG

How to Buy a Football Club: Dispatches

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Posted

Could be interesting, I wonder if we'll get a mention, probably not.

An undercover investigation into the people who want to control football and how

business figures and former players are allegedly prepared to sidestep the rules to

make money from its financial struggles. The sport is currently under evaluation by

a Select Committe and there are calls for reform

Category:

Documentary

Channel:

Channel 4

Executive Producer :

Geoff Atkinson

Date:

Fri 22 Jul

Time:

2:55am - 3:50am

Duration:

55 minutes

Posted

This friday 18th?

Edit: Monday 18th

Yes, sorry about that.

Posted

Yes, sorry about that.

No need. i did do a double take and then look down to check how much JD was left in the bottlethough!

Posted

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3700358/Bryan-Robsons-alleged-dodgy-soccer-deals.html

ENGLAND soccer legend Bryan Robson has been secretly filmed brokering dodgy deals with foreign investors keen to buy teams here.

Bombshell footage of the ex-Manchester United skipper, 54, shows him allegedly telling would-be owners how to break FA and League rules by taking over TWO football clubs.

He scoffs at those who describe football as a "sport" - declaring as he explains how investors can make millions: "Football's a business."

Boasting that he can help them wring maximum profit by getting old mates to help with transfers, he even pinpoints a string of target clubs.

They include Birmingham City, Leicester City, Sheffield United - and his top "big money" punt

Sheffield Wednesday.In another meeting next day he is asked if the investors can buy Cardiff City too - despite this being a strict violation of the rules. Robson answers: "Yes."

Going to have to wait to see it to get the full story I think.

Posted

I suppose the fact we haven't had any Man U players on loan is a good thing then?

Sim and Robson both boast how they would get players on loan from United once they had bought one or two of the many Championship and Football League clubs they claim are open to a takeover.
Posted

I'm dreading this...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3700358/Bryan-Robsons-alleged-dodgy-soccer-deals.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News

ENGLAND soccer legend Bryan Robson has been secretly filmed brokering dodgy deals with foreign investors keen to buy teams here.

Bombshell footage of the ex-Manchester United skipper, 54, shows him allegedly telling would-be owners how to break FA and League rules by taking over TWO football clubs.

He scoffs at those who describe football as a "sport" - declaring as he explains how investors can make millions: "Football's a business."

Former "Captain Marvel" Robson - capped 90 times for England - is shown spelling out to undercover reporters posing as middlemen how foreigners can cash in by buying a club on the cheap then flogging it.

He tells them: "Build it up from nothing and say it was worth three million when you bought it and now you can sell it for £150million - that's great business by you."

The key, according to Robson, is to get the team promoted to the Premier League, then sell.

Boasting that he can help them wring maximum profit by getting old mates to help with transfers, he even pinpoints a string of target clubs.

They include Birmingham City, Leicester City, Sheffield United - and his top "big money" punt Sheffield Wednesday.

In another meeting next day he is asked if the investors can buy Cardiff City too - despite this being a strict violation of the rules. Robson answers: "Yes."

He then explains in reference to investment fund details: "But it's how you name it, because you're only allowed to own one club."

The team from Channel 4's Dispatches posed as representatives of Chinese and Indian businessmen for the sting.

They arranged meetings in Thailand, where Robson - employed as a global ambassador for Man U - was managing the national side until last month. The talks were with London Nominees Ltd, a company that runs a football investment fund. Robson - currently recovering from throat cancer - is listed on its website as an adviser to the fund.

He was there with the company's chief executive Andrew Leppard and its lawyer Steve Burkill.

Leppard suggested one club could be bought through the fund and the other hidden in a sub-fund.

Football League chairman Greg Clarke was shocked by the footage.

He said: "We don't want people having the ability to affect results, squad selections, source of managers across a number of clubs - and that's why multiple club ownership is beyond the pale."

Robson's pal Joe Sim, chief adviser to the Thai FA, says in a separate meeting: "Once you have put £5million into the fund, I'll arrange for you and me, we have dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson, then Sir Alex Ferguson will tell you that he is going to lend me the players."

The Old Trafford boss's lawyers confirmed Sim is a friend but said: "He has never discussed the possibility of loaning any Manchester United players."

A spokesman for London Nominees said: "Any suggestion Bryan Robson would participate in any breach of League rules is strongly denied."

Posted

Apart from 'potentially' owning more than one club, what's the problem here? Buying something low and then selling it high is just business.

Personally I'd be surprised if anyone would pay £150million for us if we got promotion but even if they did it would be in their interest to keep us in the prem. They'd still have to invest in the club.

Posted

Apart from 'potentially' owning more than one club, what's the problem here? Buying something low and then selling it high is just business.

Personally I'd be surprised if anyone would pay £150million for us if we got promotion but even if they did it would be in their interest to keep us in the prem. They'd still have to invest in the club.

well the two club thing is massive so i won't entertain that. but i agree with the turnaround.

Posted

I can see why owning two clubs sounds dodgy on the face of it, but what exactly is so bad that an investor could do? Chuck a game of one club so the other gets an advantage? They still only have so much influence. Not exactly easy to do anything useful. I doubt there is that much appetite for it to be honest.

Posted

Very unpleasant... and the link to Thai investors is a concern...

Robson's pal Joe Sim, chief adviser to the Thai FA, says in a separate meeting: "Once you have put £5million into the fund, I'll arrange for you and me, we have dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson, then Sir Alex Ferguson will tell you that he is going to lend me the players."

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3700358/Bryan-Robsons-alleged-dodgy-soccer-deals.html#ixzz1STOIjVcp

Posted

Anybody else shitting bricks?

Just sent chills down my spine just hearing our name, going to be honest.

Posted

Wonder how long Bryan will remain Global Ambassador for Man U?

Not long methinks.

Next choice for them was Giggs......

That may not be the best bet either.

Posted

So if Top n co are in it for the fast buck they have got to get us up.

Then they sell out for a vast proffit but the new owner has got to keep us in the prem.

So he's gotta spend money or risk throwing it all away.

MM has done it with two clubs and on his third.

Ok it could all go well wrong but as fans other than be hurt what can we do.

Fingers Crossed and enjoy the ride.

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