Was always going to be hard to run a club on peanuts. Respect to them for trying, but problems would always arise. They need an investor soon.
I can't match that humour. When I posted message #416 I didn't know that they already had an issue with the ground!
With no real assets and a stadium falling down just as they get promoted, this looks like manna from heaven. He seems a reasonable bloke...although his sanity must come into question if he wants to buy Pompey ....presumably he sees it as a challenge and a reasonably priced entry into English football. I understand they may fear falling into the hands of crooks again, but, in the land of football, this man seems respectable.
It'll end in tears within three years. Mark my words. ITK on this one (possibly the first thing ever) but sworn to secrecy. Vin
The problem for Portsmouth is that Fratton Park is only just it for purpose and requires extensive re-building which cannot easily be funded by the fans. The interesting thing is that Pompey fans are likely to worry about trigger happy owners messing with the management. Prior to Cook joining, I this the fan-based ownership team did their equal share of hiring and firing of staff. From an infrastructure point of view, this takeover is necessary even if the idea of seeing how far fan ownership can take a team up the leagues is fascinating. So far, I believe the supporter's trust have done a fantastic job at keeping a steady ship and running the club at a profit even if promotion took longer than anticipated. I like the idea of fan ownership a lot. It will probably ensure that PFC will be unable to get on to the Championship which is quite amusing I believe the former Disney executive now owns Top Trumps. The investment offered will benefit the club in the third tier yet I think it is being done to make a quick return as the club's value will increase significantly if the secure a second promotion. If I was a Pompey fan, I would not worry about this particular take-over but I would worry who he might sell the club on to now that the fans might not have control. Can't say I am too pleased at our proposed Chinese take-over as we have tended to have been in safe hands with the current owners.
I watched the interview he did with South Today. He's aware it's a mighty big challenge. The infrastructure is either crumbling or not there at all, But look at it this way - he's offering £5-6M as it stands [if I have understood correctly], and is prepared to take them forward substantially. They could sally on, with the supporters owning the club, but that would be a relative uphill battle even in League One. Their finances are at the limit for League One. Eisner could come in, do a bit of refurbishment to infrastructure and squad, in core places, and sell in 3 years or so, providing they've progressed to the Championship, with a very tidy profit. It's doable, but it will be difficult. Of course, if he's talking proper tens of, or even a hundred millions, then he's got to wait until they get to the Premier League before he offloads. It's a bit like Saints, only Kat is deciding for us. We are undoubtedly preparing to take the next step, with huge outside investment. Pompey, on the other hand, could play safe, and stay a League One/Two club, with the supporters periodically putting their hands into their pockets besides buying tickets. Or they could choose to take the next step and try to become a more competitive football club. And let's face it, what are football clubs for, at their core, if not to become more competitive.? I couldn't blame them for a second it they choose to go with Michael Eisner, and I wish them well on that. There's a groundswell of football growing in the South and Southampton will want to be on top of it. So the more ambitious Bournemouth, Pompey, Brighton, and even Eastleigh Spitfires become, the better to push Southampton along.
Is it not possible for the club to take out a 30 year mortgage to rebuild Fratton Park's North Stand and Milton End. Pay the interest and gradually lower the debt. In order to make the North Stand profitable it will need to incorporate the every day facilities to generate income. If it is built to accommodate around 12,000 fans this alone would increase the capaciity and income streams.
This might prove a useful link for those interested in the League One playoffs: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live-scores/league-one And there's this one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/39697471
Final score of league 1 play off semi finals 1st leg. Bradford 1-0 Fleetwood Millwall 0-0 Scunthorpe Not sure why Millwall fans are on the pitch when it's the first leg and 0-0...
Damn, I don't care about any of the teams in any of the play offs except Fleetwood, it would be cool if they went up.
