Joe. Posted 17 September 2010 Posted 17 September 2010 BBC Sport: Former Pompey owner Milan Mandaric is considering a dramatic return to Fratton Park once he leaves his current post as chairman of Leicester City. According to Mandaric, a Thai-led consortium is now just days away from completing its purchase of the Foxes. The 72-year-old will then continue as chairman but only on an interim basis. "I'm still chairman here but there's no secret about how much I love Pompey and I think I have another round left in me," Mandaric told BBC Sport. "But committing to anything now would be wrong, for the fans here and the fans there. I will not be putting my name near any deal for a club until I'm ready." The Serbian-American businessman enjoyed eight years as Portsmouth owner before selling the south coast club to the Gaydamak family in 2006. Pompey's on-field success continued for three more years but things went downhill towards the end of the Gaydamak reign. That decline accelerated last season in a disastrous campaign that ended with the club in administration and relegated. The Fratton Park outfit are currently bottom of the Championship, with just two points from six games, and remain under the control of joint administrator Andrew Andronikou. The ownership situation is expected to change in the coming weeks with the club's last owner, Balram Chainrai, assuming control once more, but this is believed to be a short-term solution, with Chainrai still claiming to be a "reluctant owner". Andronikou, whose foremost responsibility is to secure the best deal for Pompey's numerous creditors, has been in talks with a number of interested parties but none has so far proceeded much further than preliminary conversations and press speculation. One of those parties, a group led by 22-year-old Tom Lever, has been linked with Mandaric but the former owner categorically denies any intention to team up with the Cheshire-based university student. "Tom Lever called me a couple of times to talk about Portsmouth and I told him I was already chairman of another club," said Mandaric. "Then I hear I am supposed to be making some kind of move with him. I have no intention whatsoever of getting involved with those people." This will come as a relief to many Pompey fans who have voiced concerns about Lever's inexperience and his plan to fund the takeover entirely with borrowed money. Supporters of Leicester City, however, will be encouraged to hear the uncertainty surrounding their club is now just "a couple of formalities" away from resolution. Mandaric announced the club's sale to Vichai Raksriaksorn and his son Aiyawatt last month, although details of the deal were conspicuous by their absence and the Football League failed to ratify the takeover at last week's monthly board meeting. Speaking at the time, a league spokesman said more information on the deal was needed before formal approval could be given. But Mandaric, who has not confirmed reports he sold the club for £40m or revealed if there are other investors in the Raksriakorn consortium, is adamant "everything is progressing nicely". He also made it clear he is selling all his shares in Leicester City and only staying on as chairman "as long as they need me". Mandaric, who has put more than £20m into the club in equity and loans over the last three years, said he thought a new boss would be in place "sooner rather than later". That is looking increasingly like being the 25-year-old Aiyawatt, who is already a visible presence at the Walkers Stadium along with other members of his family. The Raksriaksorns, who own the King Power chain of duty free outlets in Thailand, were first linked with Leicester City this summer when they signed a three-year shirt sponsorship deal with the East Midlands club. This tie-up soon developed into something more all-encompassing and the talk now is of using Leicester City to develop the King Power brand outside Thailand, and King Power to boost Leicester City's profile in the Far East. Mandaric, who bought Leicester City in 2007 for an initial £640,000, said he is proud of his record at the club and leaves it "in much better shape than I found it, on and off the pitch". Not all City fans will agree - the club was relegated to English football's third tier after his first full season in charge - but many will acknowledge Mandaric's financial support has been crucial in enabling the team to regain its Championship status and reach last season's play-offs. A second coming for Mandaric at Fratton Park might also receive majority support, as he left Pompey relatively profitable and safely ensconced in the top flight, but it could pose difficulties for the Football League as he currently faces tax fraud charges related to his time at Portsmouth.
Matt Posted 17 September 2010 Posted 17 September 2010 This is old news isn't it? Unless i've dreamt a article before it was written, I'm psychic!
davieG Posted 17 September 2010 Posted 17 September 2010 It was doing the rounds towards the end of July hence: this
Foxes_Trust Posted 17 September 2010 Posted 17 September 2010 The BBC reporter did speak to Milan today (as he spoke to us shortly afterwards)
jonthefox Posted 17 September 2010 Posted 17 September 2010 weve got thai owners now. he did a great job for us. good luck milan i say.
dave the caveman Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 See ya Mandy. Your double speak was nauseating, but you did a pretty good job, in my opinion at least. Good luck!
MPH Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 Milan Mandaric has revealed that he has not ruled out selling Leicester City to the consortium currently considering investing in the club.A group of mystery investors, believed to be from the Far East, have been shown around the facilities at the Walkers Stadium and the Belvoir Drive training ground in recent weeks. The City chairman has admitted he is looking to bring in a partner to ease the burden on himself. The 72-year-old said he had neglected his family and his businesses to focus on City, and said he hoped investors would help him ease back on his City commitments. http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/MANDARIC-ADMITS-SELL-CLUB/article-2376788-detail/article.html But now he suddenly would go back to Pompey... How anyone can ever trust a word this man says is beyond me......
Lineker's Left Foot Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 See ya Mandy. Your double speak was nauseating, but you did a pretty good job, in my opinion at least. Good luck! Completely agree mate. I was so excited when he took over the club, but now the new Thai owners will take us to the promised land IMO. Milan was better when he was quiet and got on with his daily job - it's just when he opened his mouth to the media.
Zingari Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 But now he suddenly would go back to Pompey... How anyone can ever trust a word this man says is beyond me...... maybe he considers pompey to be his real "family" and we the tarty girl he just ran off with for a bit
Guest Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 maybe he considers pompey to be his real "family" and we the tarty girl he just ran off with for a bit I often consider Leicester City to be a bit of filth I see on the side
Zingari Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 I often consider Leicester City to be a bit of filth I see on the side I suppose it's not uncommon for gentlemen of a certain age to develop a passion for a foxy mistress to bring out the lusty beast within , but then return to the warmth of the domestic hearth once again
haraven Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 I just don't understand anything how Milan Mandaric reasons. He's getting on, says he has neglected his family, wanted help to bring out the potential of LCFC, and now he would love to do one more dance for Pompey after he has left us. Can a sitting chairman even express delight in managing another club? Fair enough, his love was never with us and we knew it all along - but surely a sitting chairman should be careful expressing his lovestruck thoughts about a rival and competing club... Is he simply hopeless with media relations and becomes misunderstood time after time? or Is he the turncoat of the century? Perhaps neither, but if I were him, I would hang up the old tie and smart suit after the LCFC venture. However, he is too much of an old circus horse to leave the stage just yet - the smell of sawdust keeps him running around in circles.
Basingstoke Fox Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 I just don't understand anything how Milan Mandaric reasons. He's getting on, says he has neglected his family, wanted help to bring out the potential of LCFC, and now he would love to do one more dance for Pompey after he has left us. Can a sitting chairman even express delight in managing another club? Fair enough, his love was never with us and we knew it all along - but surely a sitting chairman should be careful expressing his lovestruck thoughts about a rival and competing club... Is he simply hopeless with media relations and becomes misunderstood time after time? or Is he the turncoat of the century? Perhaps neither, but if I were him, I would hang up the old tie and smart suit after the LCFC venture. However, he is too much of an old circus horse to leave the stage just yet - the smell of sawdust keeps him running around in circles. Which we are going to be playing twice in the coming week!!!
wurmer Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 Good riddance, can't wait for him to go. Has he ever said anything that turns out to be 100% true...
Jay Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 The size of this mans ego never fails to amaze me! This sort of behaviour is insulting to Leicester fans, Portsmouth fans and those connected with the club. fair enough he may fancy a return to Pompey but he should keep his trap shut as he still owns a significant stake in Leicester and is the current chairman. It seems he wants to drum up some sort of heroes return to Portsmouth where they line the streets awaiting his arrival in an open top bus parade of Portsmouth.
Webbo Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 Totally disrespectful to say that while he is still our chairman. Having said that I'll be glad when he fooks off.
Corky Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 The size of this mans ego never fails to amaze me! This sort of behaviour is insulting to Leicester fans, Portsmouth fans and those connected with the club. fair enough he may fancy a return to Pompey but he should keep his trap shut as he still owns a significant stake in Leicester and is the current chairman. It seems he wants to drum up some sort of heroes return to Portsmouth where they line the streets awaiting his arrival in an open top bus parade of Portsmouth. Very much this.
Guest Mickyblueeyes Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 I thought we were a family Milan!!!! Stupid Moron! He genuinely thinks football fans are idiots doesnt he! The sooner he goes the sooner he can stop spouting on about how he isnt making a penny from the sale!The amount the twat has written off in the last 5 years in support of football clubs he'd be a billionaire by now. From what a Pompey fan mate of mine says about him I doubt they'd welcome him back with open arms!!!
Guest Mee-9 Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 He ripped the guy off he sold Pompey to. He started their downfall. I've said it all along, Mandaric is a crook, and the sooner he's gone from this club. The better.
phillthefox Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 To be fair he got us out of a financial situation but other than that i will happily give him a lift to pompey next week as i dont think his heart ever been in the club like he was at pompey, and the funds dont seem to be forthcoming under him as at pompey, now we under new guidance of TOP and the lady boys, fook him off.. new era new board, same old leicester
m00nie Posted 18 September 2010 Posted 18 September 2010 anyone hear the radio interview at half time today ?? reckoned he hadnt received a penny for the sale of leicester yet and they can pay him in a couple of years.. also said the other investor family will be in place within days..
Jordan Posted 20 September 2010 Posted 20 September 2010 anyone hear the radio interview at half time today ?? Yes, and Mandaric sounded like a total cvnt. He pretty much refused to answer several of Stringer's questions and dismissed a lot of them by saying that the fans have no need to know anything beyond the most superficial details of the takeover and that we should just trust him when he says everything is going to be OK. I'd hope that we're not that foolish. Considering how poorly his last football club sale went (not to mention a a few terrible decisions he has made as chairman of LCFC), I'd say we, the fans, have every right to question the integrity of his actions. Whatever happened when Mandaric took over the club is already history--now, I'll be happy to see him go already. I'd be thrilled, but my emotions will be tempered because I don't know just how many pounds of flesh Mandaric will tear from the club and Asia Football Investments for the repayments of his loans + interest.
Phil Ken Sebben Posted 20 September 2010 Posted 20 September 2010 I'd be happy for him to go. He's more than played his part and now we need to move on before he sacks Sousa.
Mack Posted 20 September 2010 Posted 20 September 2010 But now he suddenly would go back to Pompey... How anyone can ever trust a word this man says is beyond me...... This really rubbed me up the wrong way. I believed him when he said he was getting long in the tooth and was neglecting his family. Just shows he is a full of shit as some have said on here, he still did an OK job but I have no faith in the new owners at all.
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