He looks an astute person. Nobody's fool, that is for sure. Probably a tad conservative in philosophy, so don't expect SFC to suddenly sp*** huge a amount of money on mediocrity.
While true, I'd imagine we'd have been less enthused if the Italian chap had to admit multiple instances of public corruption, and the PL launched a failed effort to prevent him from holding a director's role (before then changing the rules so that it could never happen again). We have our new owner based on a technicality: the PL's rules banned ownership by individuals who have been convicted of a crime, rather than individuals known to have committed a crime. Gao admittedly committed a crime -- in at least two separate cases -- but avoided a conviction because he turned state's evidence. Though in China, it'd probably be somewhat immaterial; had he been convicted, his likelihood of buying a football club would have been reduced somewhat.
Yes 3 . Purdey an 18 year old Tabby . Jasper ( my avatar ) a 15 year old cross between British short hair silver tabby and a black Persian . Toby a 10 year old cream British short hair . All lovely in their own way
Got to be? other than the bra which was my give away, we happened to play Chelsea on the 25th of April when the video was posted.
Lots of due diligence, getting it passed the FA (though that was a while ago), and problems with the Chinese government who have got tough on investments in risky businesses, hence the change from Landers Sports (on Chinese stock market) to an individual. Of course all that could be wrong and they just couldn't pry us away from a weeping Katharina (that's the one I'm going for ).
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/15472828.ANALYSIS__A_look_behind_the_Saints_deal/ The Echo's summary of events.
Gao financing the deal himself is certainly a twist in this tale. The biggest question for me is if his company couldn't gain funding from China, how could he? http://m.scmp.com/business/companie...ove-hundreds-billions-abroad-buy-assets?amp=1 This article from a year ago states that legally an individual can only invest $50k abroad per year. The article also goes on to list ways the Chinese have been able to get around those rules. But this is not like he is purchasing a semi in Basingstoke. Surely he can't make this level of personal investment without the knowledge and permission from the Chinese authorities
Similar situation to the bindippers, admitted they done wrong, weren't charged, can't be convicted, can't be punished!