You can use the ground as collateral to raise money. Try approaching a bank and using the players as collateral. Don Robinson learnt that when he tried to raise £160,000, an amount at the time which could have improved things considerably. He was told that ll he owned was a name, nothing to underwrite a loan. Players are not a very good asset. The idea of getting your money back via dividendsis a nice one. Don't think you would be able to come up with many examples of where this happens though. Although the owners of Man Utd have made money through financial jiggery pokery the fact is they are over £300million in debt. How many dividends has Abramovich picked up for his investment in Chelsea? Yet someone investing in a club which doesn't own the stadium, with a small fan base and unlikely to challenge for trophies or play in Europe would?
I hadn't realised that Reading had quietly risen to 3rd in the Championship. At this point I'd put them as more likely than us to get the next tranche of Sky money and at a much cheaper purchase price. If I was buying one of the two clubs, I know which I think would be the better investment.
I don't see Reading finishing in the play offs. Newcastle and Brighton seem to be running away with it and then there is a proper scrap for the play offs! Some serious money will be spent in January in a desperate bid to go up. Also Reading isn't fully for sale, just a majority stake.
Hadn't realised that. Wonder if that's why the Chinese fella seems to be oscillating between us and them, he'd prefer us if he can get a deal out of Escab but Reading is his fallback?
Reading owned by a Thai with the nickname of Tiger. Set to sell 75% to Chinese. That could be an interesting mix.
The worrying thing is that before the game at Spurs Burnsey talked with Spurs coach who had had Mason through the junior ranks and he said he has always been light weight and that is basically a draw back for him. His position is attacking midfield, and basically unless he is played there you won't see the best of him.
