disheartened fan Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 Apparently the Milan deal is all down to the Birch, he rang him whilst he was still in charge at portsmouth, if Gaydemak comes in are you interested, that sort of thing. true or not i'm not sure.
Ric Flair Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 Apparently the Milan deal is all down to the Birch, he rang him whilst he was still in charge at portsmouth, if Gaydemak comes in are you interested, that sort of thing. true or not i'm not sure. I highly doubt that. I seem to recall Birch being very negative about MM when news broke he might be interested back in August/September. Then once it became clear Mandaric was determined to buy us out, Birch then publically backed the bid. Probably because he knew that if he was seen to be against it, then his cushty little number down at the City would be over.
Geo V Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 I know people always take the pi** out of him but he is harmless and always walks around the place with a smile which is a good thing I suppose. As for him being the reason that MM decided to stump up his personal fortune to buy a club I would say "No" or maybe that makes Birch the most expensive call girl ever??!
Zingari Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 Apparently the Milan deal is all down to the Birch, he rang him whilst he was still in charge at portsmouth, if Gaydemak comes in are you interested, that sort of thing. true or not i'm not sure. according to sources i have in MI5 (phone tapping section) , this is quite true but apparently the Birch had reversed the charges and this was the major sticking point in the deal
disheartened fan Posted 9 March 2007 Author Posted 9 March 2007 I'm just going on what he said last night at a Q&A night in loughborough.
Babylon Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 A new chapter in the history of Leicester City begins today when Milan Mandaric becomes executive chairman. It finally brings an end to his takeover of the club that began almost six months ago. And City club co-ordinator Alan Birchenall, who played for Mandaric's American side San Jose Earthquakes in the late 1970s, is delighted. In an interview last month, shortly after his takeover was announced, Mandaric revealed that Birchenall contacted him a year ago while he was still at Portsmouth. "Birchy was calling me months ago when I was at Portsmouth," he says. "I kept saying to him 'Birchy, I can't do this. Not now.' But he didn't stop." Now Birchenall has spoken for the first time of how he contacted Mandaric almost a year ago about the possibility of turning his attention to City after learning the businessman was selling Pompey. "A year ago now, everyone knew the financial situation of the club," said Birchenall. "I knew we were looking for some investment. "There were a lot of good people who had helped the club through it's dark times, and the shareholders had already dipped into their pockets. You can't keep going back to the well. "Two people approached me but, with all due respect, I didn't think it was a football thing. "I sat at the training ground, racking my brain, and the usual names came to mind. "I remembered that Milan was selling Portsmouth. I hadn't spoken to him for years, other than when he brought Portsmouth here to play us, but it was always nice to see him. He is a football man. He loves football. "After much umming and arring and persuasion from my son Dean, I decided to call him. "We talked and I said to him to come to our club. It went quiet before he replied that he was still chairman of Portsmouth. "That was the start of my weekly phone calls to him," added Birchenall with a wry smile. "His story went from being chairman of Portsmouth to wanting a break away from football, but I felt there was an interest in us." But it was not until last summer that speculation began to surface that Mandaric could be interested in City. He played it down, saying he was going to take time away from the game after leaving Portsmouth. But Birchenall is in no doubt City supporters were already leaving a lasting impression on Mandaric. "The people that got him here were the fans," said Birchenall. "He saw the response he got from them, that they wanted him. "When he was going through due diligence, he received letters from fans and read the letters in the Mercury. That kept him going, I'm sure. "And the warmth he got from our fans when he came out on to the pitch, that was magical." Birchenall aims to take City's new owner around the Walkers Stadium concourses during the remaining home games of the season on a meet-and-greet tour. It starts in the main stand before the game against QPR a week tomorrow. Birchenall added: "I have seen the reaction of the fans and the people around the training ground. Nothing has happened yet, but a lot has happened. "He has put himself under pressure by stating his three-year plan, but how great is it to have that?" The first game for City with Mandaric as executive chairman is against another of Birchenall's former clubs, with tomorrow's trip to Crystal Palace. "I met Steve Kember, one of my best mates in football there," said Birchenall. "But I look at the clubs I played for - Sheffield United, Chelsea and Palace - and Leicester seems to have been my life. I can't think of life before it. That's what this place does to you and I've told Milan that." Indeed, Birchenall has now become part of the fixture and fittings, while his annual end-of-season charity run, which is now in its 27th year, is a club tradition. Birchenall will this year be running for the Rainbow Children's Hospice in Loughborough. "City fans have raised somewhere in the region of £700,000 over the years," said Birchenall, who appealed for collectors to help on the day. "It's a bit of a tradition and I'm surprised other clubs haven't done something similar. "Some of the ex-players that the fans love to see will be joining in. The fans know if they see the old boy breathing through his ears, then summertime is nearly here."
eaststandtom Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 why would people want to take this piss out of the birch? he is a nice guy, good for the club, in touch with the fans and not like the other idiot half time entertainment guys at other clubs. he lives and breathes lcfc too!!!!
Manwell Pablo Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 Still I wouldn't say the deal is "All down to the Birch" that would be incredibly silly.
Thracian Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 I'm just going on what he said last night at a Q&A night in loughborough. You're right. I missed Babylon's comment first time but it's all there.
Master Fox Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 His half time's are still crap though. He's our hero, how dare you? You'd better make sure you applaud all of his half time shows from now on.
Wils Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 He's our hero, how dare you? You'd better make sure you applaud all of his half time shows from now on. Appoligies. The mans a hero.
SystonFox Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 i saw him at greens today(abbey lane). smiled at me as i had my city shirt on.
lookwhaticando Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 Isn't that a bit illegal or something? You can't go around tapping up players, so surely you can't go around tapping up owners?
Stevosevic Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 I highly doubt that. I seem to recall Birch being very negative about MM when news broke he might be interested back in August/September. Then once it became clear Mandaric was determined to buy us out, Birch then publically backed the bid. Probably because he knew that if he was seen to be against it, then his cushty little number down at the City would be over. it is true, Birch said in an interview on SSN the day after the takeover
Geo V Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 i saw him at greens today(abbey lane). smiled at me as i had my city shirt on. Are you sure thats why he smiled? I think he likes you.
Bryn Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 I've seen two halftimes this season and thought both were good. I also think slagging the Birch off sums up most of the negative and cynical fans on here (That's not to say everyone here is like that, I mean those that are negative and cynical)
Sods Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 i always liked the birch. Loved it at half time with the banter with the cov fans top man birch is
Webbo Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 I also think slagging the Birch off sums up most of the negative and cynical fans on here (That's not to say everyone here is like that, I mean those that are negative and cynical) agreed, sure his banter is getting a bit tired now, but he's harmless enough and he's a fan, what's the problem
DB11 Posted 10 March 2007 Posted 10 March 2007 I'm not bothered who brought him here, the important thing is that he's here to stay
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