I feel as though our history has been littered with this sort of thing - although off the top of my head I couldn't name any
A while ago we had a thread of those players we could have had, but for various reasons did not come. Van Dijk, Evan's and a certain Chelsea LB ( girls in the Shop were upset that we did not resign him!) A midfielder (from a Russian side) we would not pay the extra 2 bob.. the list goes on...it wasn't just the numpties we signed it was also the decent players that we missed out on.
You take this stuff awfully personally, or frame it as being negative about the club, but I'm being realistic and objective. As someone who has sold part of a business, and valued it accurately in a difficult market, I'm giving an opinion. Simply saying that they got involved glosses over that they clearly didn't go ahead with a direct and immediate takeover, and whatever your position, that is not a good sign. My opinion is simply that they wanted to see us further up the chain, (ie: challenging for the league one title) and that they appreciate how competitive the market is. They can't buy success at the next level. Those same people who advised them also told them that for whatever reason, buying us outright was not an optimal move. At our lowest ebb. With the price only going to rise. So basically, until they say they are now interested in buying the club outright, and they instigate a proper, majority purchase of Stewart Donald's shares immediately, not simply kick that can down the road for later evaluation if we meet targets etc with a convertible loan that doesn't come with a single cent of risk to then, then I will remain sceptical that they are now going to snap Donald's arm off just because he wants to leave. I hope they do, I just haven't seen much that unequivocally suggests that level of buy in yet.
According to Total Sport tonight PP signing players won't be affected by SD selling the club, and he isn't under any obligation to sell players. Read into that what you will! There could be a few explanations for it I suppose... either we never had money and we still don't... or that the loan was to buy players, not just fix the lift and change a few light bulbs.
I'd like to think that we have a bit left from the lifts and speakers and that this is being played down to stop us appearing (to other clubs and agents)to be in a position to spray cash around
Agreed, I've suspected this all along.. which also raises the question of why the Dell boys would lend money for player purchases.. funding Donald's ambitions or their own?
Hopefully their own. It wouldn't surprise me if the Yanks have said "be in a playoff spot by new years or your out". Well we can hope can't we.
I'd been thinking that announcing the intention to sell was about SD saving a few bob in the next few weeks.. if that's not the case, it does insinuate other things.