He has just made a bid for our club after being recommended to another bidder by a former administrator who is pretty much working for the other owner. I know that's confusing but that's the situation. I've heard bad things about Bassini and we Pompey have had enough ****e of late. Is he as bad as other Hornets have made out.
He is probably worse. We know a lot of what happened, but there is plenty we still dont know. It is suspected that we were within inches of administration when he was bought out. Even with the backing of another he is probably trouble.
It is difficult to say how bad this could be for Pompey without getting on the wrong side of the legal brigade. A few facts for you though. He made his bid for Watford hiding behind a respected surgeon. He stated that he would be inviting other people with good reputations to join the board of directors. As soon as he did aquire the club these people were dropped. When people started to dig into his history it was found that he had be an owner or involved with a string of failed companies. He was made bankrupt when a pub went belly up and changed his name so as to have a fresh start. Questions were asked where a person bankrupted three years earlier had found the money, but no answers were ever found. He promised that there would be numerous ground improvements including a new pitch to replace the one beyond it's life span, he would finish the work started on the South West corner of the ground and he had the people lined up to move into the East Stand when it was built. The new pitch was laid during the last close season, but it turns out that he only paid a deposit on the work. Due to the terms of his purchase of the club, if he failed to keep various payments up to date, then the people who still had a hold on the club could reclaim it. It was reported that he had failed to keep up with payments including tax. It is known that the builder who did work for him on the pub just outside the ground did not get paid. It was reported by the local paper that your one time administrator AA had been involved in the sale of the club from Bassini to the current owners. Clearly for this reason he has reared his head again down on the south coast. There are many things more that could be said about the man, but then I would be wandering off into my opinions. My suggestion to Mr. Birch would be steer well clear, although I suspect that there is far more to this than a straight forward bid to buy the club for himself.
Here's an interesting article that surfaced around 2011: In a shocking turn of events, we can exclusively reveal the real reason Laurence Bassini has failed to attend both the Watford FC Fan's Forum and the scheduled question and answers session on BBC 3CR. Statements released by Watford FC have indicated Mr Bassini has not been "well enough" to take part in both events, leaving not only fans, but Chairman/legend, Graham Taylor very disappointed. However, it seems Mr Bassini has actually been involved in lurid activities, which prevented him from attending. So embarrassed was the Stanmore based businessman that he fabricated an elaborate illness to act as a smoke screen, hiding the humiliating circumstances. A source close to the entrepreneur, who has asked to remain anonymous, has confirmed, "Laurence is really keen on craft, particularly cross stitch, having been crowned Best in Show at various cross stitch events over the past decade. So much so, in August [2011], he ran for president of the South West Hertforshire Women's Institute, and was subsequently elected. The WI has become a huge part of his life now, and unfortunately for Watford FC, he had planned to give a cross stitch masterclass to the neighbouring Buckinghamshire WI on 8 November, which he really couldn't miss. There were over 25 attendees, and Barbara had made fairy cakes. He then had to cancel the phone in [on BBC 3CR] because he left his phone at the NEC, following a hugely successful WI Lecture." It has been rumoured that Mr Bassini has been really getting in to the spirit of the Women's Institute, "lately, he has been coming to meetings in a wig, and asking to be called Laura. "I didn't think he would be the sort to change his name." It has also recently been confirmed that Laurence Bassini was the Chief Accountant for Enron, between 1997 and 2001, and was the Marketing Manager for Woolworths PLC. He has also expressed his desire to buy-out Apple Inc., stating, "I can confirm my interest in the consumer electronic, multinational corporation Apple Inc. I just think computers are so funny, and I love fruit. My favourite is the Galia melon."
I think Wooter has been smoking something weird Pompey fans - do everything in your power to stop Bassinin - he would be the worst thing that ever happened to your club - far worse than you have so far had - if he takes over then your club is gone. I cannot be negative enough about the man.
I think one of the first things Baz would do would be to change kick off time to mid-week days about 12 o'clock. He said that he preferred to spend saturday afternoons with his daughter rather than attending football matches.
Love it, sadly probably true. Also we are forgetting the failure to file accounts meaning that we had a transfer embargo over the summer. Wouldn't trust him as far as i could throw him and having said that i'm not that strong and he's a fat ****.
If i read that right M Frenchie, i believed you missed the bit about (alleged) late payment of players and staff. Pompey could not do any worse than let Bas anywhere near their club. He is quite capable of killing your club completely. Please do all you can to avoid him being involved in any way. Yes, the short answer is...worse. Far far worse.
Never mind from the frying pan into the fire, if he becomes Pompey owner, it's from the frying pan into an Icelandic volcano (sorry, Ak).
If this takeover goes through, make sure that you form a phoenix club early enough to enter the league system next season. That is all I can say about the man without him making a hollow legal threat that won't be followed through.
