Even St Markus had questions about his family business being started by his father in association with Nazis didn't he?
Because it's all related? - Chinese owner almost fails in takeover bid, prompting PL to change their rules (alarm bells in its own right) - Same man has admitted bribery in a court of law - We've had some previous relationships with very questionable businesses one of which we cancelled as it was so dodgy. - We've now announced a sponsorship with a Chinese company that no one has ever heard of but is also our largest ever. - The club don't even seem to know when this company started up with conflicting information. - Their website was bang amateur and seemed to contain not only contradictions but straight up wild claims, including one saying that their main training hq is in Southampton (accompanied by a picture that certainly wasn't Southampton) My two main concerns are firstly that this may be used as a form of channeling funds out of China/money laundering. Secondly, I'm worried that the club are going to go out and spend money on the back of this sponsorship for the funds to not actually exist. I don't think I need to explain what happens next in that situation. That's just a bit of a brainstorm off the top of my head, there's more than enough there (imo) to cause concern to the supporters about where the club is headed.
Gao bribed the man who he eventually testified against to secure business deals is my understanding and the person was executed by the State.
Money is dirty. All of it. If you follow big money far enough it will likely make you sick to the stomach. I care very much about dirty money and corruption. I can’t stand it. I’ve been sucked in to arguing a case here that this sponsorship deal however amateurish and unusual on the face has not been shown to be any of the things it stands accused of yet. However, arguing on the internet is no more significant than yelling at clouds and I’m on the other side of the world, and it’s late. Hopefully DLTW, shad and Libby accept this as a well intentioned debate and nothing more.
I don't think the concern is because LD Sports are Chinese, it's because the launch of the deal was so amateurish and the fact that a company is paying £8m per year just to sponsor us but haven't yet sorted their website is bizarre. Twin that with the contradictions about the company's history, when/where it was formed and Gao's history, it's no surprise some fans are questioning it. Plus the logo looks dreadful on the kit.
You all think too much about something you cannot affect. Why not be content until something bad happens...if it even does.
Shows something of a lack of prescience to mock up a non existent festival, that ultimately went terribly wrong, when announcing a seemingly non existent sponsor....
The way i see it is there is no point in worrying. Beyond my control. I tend to worry only about things i can influence. I also look that SFC owners are business people and they have amassed their wealth somehow, so shouldn't be totally stupid to fall for a con. I cant see them spending money on the back of fake funds. Maybe it is just me.
There's also the double-edged sword of a deal like this, even if it is above board. We're a team, we are told, that is desperate to increase its profile and attract commercial deals. From that standpoint, taking the highest bid makes sense. However, companies with big advertising budgets want to partner with those that make their brands look good, and if it turns out that we eschewed deals with more traditional companies in favour of throwing our lot in with a bunch of chancers who may or may not actually have the money, that will be negatively affect our commercial prospects down the road. I do quite like the irony of "remember when a bunch of chancers tried to wing a huge event with nothing but a glossy media campaign, but failed miserably owning to a lack of foresight or planning? Wasn't that crazy? Anyway, please welcome our new sponsors, who are throwing scads of money our way; don't mind the fact that they don't have a business yet, they'll be huge, we promise."
Gao or at least his advisers have made two very important decisions on the football side of the club in the past few months that have put us back on the right path with what goes on out on the the pitch...that is my primary concern until I hear anything concrete proof that is bad on the business side of the club.
With respect, I disagree that there's nothing that can be done about it, fans have much more power than they realise. It's times like this where we really lack a supporters trust imo.
He's possibly very good at looking after his own affairs and interests. Doubt he gives a monkeys if SFC end up in a crumpled heap though.
Cortese didn't care about the club or its' identity and history either, it was just a giant ego trip for him.
No but I suspect he would have had some personal pride regarding the club/project. I really don't see that with Gao.
I take your point DTLW, but he must be reasonably business savvy to amass his wealth. Granted he can lose it just as easily, but I think we have to trust him on this. That is the most important part. Yes he is business savvy, and has amassed a fortune, but how much does he care about SFC. Katerina you always felt had an affinity to us. Time will tell. I'm willing to take the positives at the moment.
