Takeover?

[Zingari]

it looks like he's got too much on his shoulders already

[StanSP]

He wants a break and plays down West Ham move:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ity/8293690.stm

David Sullivan insists he will not be making a move to buy West Ham in the immediate future after selling his shares in Birmingham to Carson Yeung.

Birmingham's plc chairman Sullivan, who formally ends his 16-year association with the Blues next Tuesday, has been linked with the London club.

When asked if he was going to approach West Ham, Sullivan told BBC Sport: "It is very unlikely. I need a break.

"I'll then have a look to see what's available but nothing is impossible."

Yeung's takeover represents the formal end of the Sullivan, Ralph Gold and Karren Brady era at St Andrews, although David Gold is poised to remain as chairman.

The Hong Kong businessman will take charge of the club next Tuesday, which is when Birmingham's 8,000 shareholders receive their money from the deal.

Sullivan, along with Brady, took charge of Birmingham in 1993 when the club was in financial administration.

He added: "I bought Birmingham 16 and-a-half years ago and it's been stressful.

"I need a little breather, a tiny little bit of time to recuperate.

"Then I'll see what makes sense from a financial point of view, geographical point of view and heart point of view - you've got to merge all those three together to come up with what's best for you."

[Guest ttfn]

This isn't totally beyond the realms of possibility:

Mandaric was on the board at Pompey with Terry Brady who is:

1) The father of Karen Brady, ex-MD of Birmingham City

2) A close business associate of the porn barons at Birmingham (being one himself - interestingly this explains Karen Brady's remarkable rise to MD at 23)

Anyway, the links are there

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

before anybody jumps in with pointing out it's a tabloid, the original mandaric takeover was in the mirror.

Well if were going to be like that, I have to say, it was actually the News Of The World.

[MPH]

He wants a break and plays down West Ham move:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ity/8293690.stm

MM wanted a break after selling pompey but jumped on the chance when city became available

[S1DDO]

Hows Milan's health nowadays?

[surrifox]

a Spurs supporting mate says there are very strong rumours surrounding the future of Rednapp who may be forced out of the club if the old bill are able to make their fraud case against MM ,Peter Storrie and HR. The case is not closed and the consequences for those concerned could be serious.

As an aside weren't Birmingham also under investigation for irregularities as well?

[Aeropars]

Why would Milan sell? is he looking to get out or something?

[Mickey O'Neil]

I dont think MM will sell and I really hope he doesnt.

We have consistency at the moment and I really like MM as a chairman.

And I dont want that dick as a chairman anyway.

All of this.

I'll add that i really like the MM/Hoos/Pearson combo.

[Fosse Boy]

[haraven]

Hope Milan sticks around.

[Webbo]

Source

A further 10 English clubs are being lined up for takeovers by oil-rich Saudi Arabian businessmen, according to one of the Middle East game's most influential figures.

Following Portsmouth's purchase by Ali Abdullah Al Faraj, the strength of interest in owning a Premier League or Championship team has been revealed by Dr Hafez Almedlej, chairman of the Saudi Professional League Commission.

Dr Almedlej insisted more investors will follow if the Fratton Park takeover proves to be a success. 'If, in a year's time there was no backfire and everyone was settled, I am sure at least 10 more investors will come,' he said. 'Not necessarily to the Premier League. They might come and buy some clubs at the Championship level.

Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdullah

'Last year I had some people interested in Championship clubs and making enquiries. Their specific needs are that they wanted a club that has a high average crowd, with good facilities - and clubs in London.'

Liverpool are the latest club to be linked to a wealthy Saudi, with Prince Faisal said to be in talks about a takeover at Anfield.

Dr Almedlej, speaking at the Leaders in Football conference, insisted the English game had nothing to fear. There was no harm done for Manchester United being taken over by Americans. So why not?

'If the businessmen come, inject the money and leave football decisions to the football people then it's no problem. They just want the success. The passion comes from that. In Saudi, you have to have passion for the club.

'It's very rare to find any businessman in Saudi Arabia who does not support a British team. I think more than 20 seats in the Emirates Stadium are bought by Saudi people who attend every game whenever they are in London.'

But claiming that his countrymen are not only interested in the cream of English teams, Dr Almedlej added that there could also be cases like that of Notts County in the very near future.

'I think not everyone will buy a Premier League club, but buy from a lower level and try to bring them up,' he told the conference at Stamford Bridge.

'To buy a club from the First Division (The Championship) and bring it up is an even better investment.'

Manchester City are the most high-profile club to have profited from a Middle East buy-out, with the investment from Sheik Mansour, of the Abu Dhabi ruling family, having helped transform the Eastlands side into genuine challengers for a Champions League qualification place, if not the title.

Manchester City

Dr Almedlej added: 'I wrote an article seven years ago about Manchester City inviting Saudi businessman to buy them at that time when they were bottom of the second league.'

On the issue of Portsmouth's ownership, however, Dr Almedlej added that, while he is hopeful the club's fortunes will receive a much-needed boost following Al Faraj's takeover, he admitted the new man at Fratton Park is just as much of a mystery in his homeland.

'To us, we hear rumours from the British media. I read the papers online and watch Sky News. I asked my friends and nobody knows him. For three days, I see there is no picture of him in the Saudi papers.'

[Daggers]

The day someone like Sullivan takes over my club is the day I put my cock in a blender and start supporting Forest.

[FilboFox]

I think that with the state of the club at the moment and how there seems to be a good relationship building between Nige and Milan, we ought to be hoping that things don't change. Takeovers can potentially be bad and unsteady the team which is not what we need... just look at Portsmouth.

[StanSP]

I think that with the state of the club at the moment and how there seems to be a good relationship building between Nige and Milan, we ought to be hoping that things don't change. Takeovers can potentially be bad and unsteady the team which is not what we need... just look at Portsmouth.

Or Newcastle. Mike Ashley and co totally wrecked them.

[iancognito]

Unsponsored home shirts & LOROS on the away would be replaced with The Daily Sport & Sunday Sport logos, we could have the Razzle Family Stand and the Birch being replaced at half time with Cassie/Jenny/Britney/Roxy, 21/19/20/18 from London/Liverpool/Kent/Essex. Actually, things are looking up! If Brady comes in to replace Hoos, it seals the deal for me

Seriously though, we'd be swapping one millionaire owner for another, one owner with promotion experience for another and one clueless "football genius" for another. These are the people who handed Barry Fry an open chequebook in the 90s and ended up with a squad of 53 players. Lets stick with Mandaric, for once he's the sensible option.

[surrifox]

Unsponsored home shirts & LOROS on the away would be replaced with The Daily Sport & Sunday Sport logos, we could have the Razzle Family Stand and the Birch being replaced at half time with Cassie/Jenny/Britney/Roxy, 21/19/20/18 from London/Liverpool/Kent/Essex. Actually, things are looking up! If Brady comes in to replace Hoos, it seals the deal for me

Seriously though, we'd be swapping one millionaire owner for another, one owner with promotion experience for another and one clueless "football genius" for another. These are the people who handed Barry Fry an open chequebook in the 90s and ended up with a squad of 53 players. Lets stick with Mandaric, for once he's the sensible option.

I think you'll find we will not be given a choice in the matter

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

We must not forget the fact that we have massive competition with attendance from the Tigers, who are consistantly successful. Their new stadium will be far better than ours in every practical sense..

This will be a potential banana skin for any future new buyers.

Perhaps Tigers would like to buy us out, sell the Wlakers for whatever! After all Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers share the same ownership, and ground.

It may be a bit fanciful, but it's a funny old world.

[Fosse Boy]

We must not forget the fact that we have massive competition with attendance from the Tigers, who are consistantly successful. Their new stadium will be far better than ours in every practical sense..

This will be a potential banana skin for any future new buyers.

Perhaps Tigers would like to buy us out, sell the Wlakers for whatever! After all Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers share the same ownership, and ground.

It may be a bit fanciful, but it's a funny old world.

If this means us moving into Welford Road then I'm all for it.

[Fosse Boy]

Unsponsored home shirts & LOROS on the away would be replaced with The Daily Sport & Sunday Sport logos, we could have the Razzle Family Stand and the Birch being replaced at half time with Cassie/Jenny/Britney/Roxy, 21/19/20/18 from London/Liverpool/Kent/Essex. Actually, things are looking up! If Brady comes in to replace Hoos, it seals the deal for me

Seriously though, we'd be swapping one millionaire owner for another, one owner with promotion experience for another and one clueless "football genius" for another. These are the people who handed Barry Fry an open chequebook in the 90s and ended up with a squad of 53 players. Lets stick with Mandaric, for once he's the sensible option.

And I can find her where?

[Rich Fox]

We must not forget the fact that we have massive competition with attendance from the Tigers, who are consistantly successful. Their new stadium will be far better than ours in every practical sense..

This will be a potential banana skin for any future new buyers.

Perhaps Tigers would like to buy us out, sell the Wlakers for whatever! After all Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers share the same ownership, and ground.

It may be a bit fanciful, but it's a funny old world.

Welford road is going to be no bigger than the walkers when developed to max capacity. The walkers can be increased to 45.000. Most people who watch Rugby union hate football so there is no problem with attendance competition. I dont really think most of the country gives a stuff about rugby union apart from a handfull of clubs and you only have to watch a load of grown men rolling round in the mud like animals to see why.