It’s interesting if someone is actively trying to buy us. From the outside looking in (owners investing pretty heavily, stating long term plans, making changes at board and manager level) we don’t look like a club where the owners want out. You would think that that means the interested party is minted and willing to pay potentially over the odds to take over as they have their heart set on buying a club. Probably identified us as being cheaper than buying a PL side, but the closest thing to buying a PL side that they can do at this moment
A quick search didn't throw up any potential purchasers. Please post links to any rumours if you have any.
The echo article stated that a Saudi billionaire and American consortium are known to be actively in the market for a UK football club (both linked to Sheff Weds recently). The Saudi is believed to be Turki Alashikh but no information given on the Americans.
So, I've seen Alfie House give his update and also a couple of others I've spoken to privately are saying the same thing - which is: - There's a buyer in the market at the moment for a PL/CH club with PL infrastructure and potential - As part of that, Dragan Solak was contacted regarding Saints and whether it was available for purchase - Solak said that he would have to listen to a good offer but getting rid of the club is not actively on his agenda - Inside the club, Solak is still visible and very focused on next season and the next few years through to 2030 - There are other senior hires happening behind the scenes at Saints currently, we might hear more soon - Solak still enjoys owning Saints and is more hands-on now that he's the chairman than he was before
I dont know much about who he is or his relationship to the Saudi PIF. I guess if he is just another rich Saudi bloke, that has also worked for the Saudi Government, it would be fine but I don't know much about him
Or he's realised he's broken his shiny new toy and has decided that rather than spend money to fix it, he'll just throw it away.
Well Alfie House has said that Solak is getting more involved with the running of the club and is enjoying it and isn't keen to sell. Given how close he is to the club I think I'll take his word for it.
The most significant thing for me is that the two people who persuaded Dragan to invest his money (not theirs) in Southampton FC have both been removed from their positions in the club. Dragan, on the other hand, is very much involved, and is consolidating the football side of things with a view to the future. Banging on about Sport Republic and their ineptitude is disingenuous, as the two main figures in setting up SR, Kraft and Ankersen, aren’t involved with Saints. I’ll say it again, the Sport Republic which purchased Southampton FC isn’t there anymore.
He's very high up in the government and is leading all the their sports investment ls into boxing etc
He's the driving force behind all the sports stuff in Saudi - particularly boxing. Basically the bellend that wears shades the whole time inside, and is either on his phone or looks asleep all the time at the boxing. I would absolutely hate to be owned by him, quite frankly.
Think he’s owned Almeria for over 5yrs now and they’re bobbing along outside the playoffs in La Liga 2
“There is a real rivalry between them, pure hatred spanning weeks. Le Tiss called Jake Paul a moron for getting a Covid jab. £35 on DAZN pay per view”
Yeah, isn't he still on the board of SR, just not Saints? If so he will definitely be involved in any major decisions at any of the SR clubs, just not the day to day stuff like he will do at Goztepe.
