Smudge1962 Paul Smith @ @MarkCoughlan Not looking good on the Mittal front. I understand selling up is an option. Been linked with Fulham which isn't good.
I know he was a friend to Rangers fans during the FA hearing, but do we really believe he knows what Mittal is doing? Pinch of salt me thinks. Plus he's been openly baiting the Swansea fans all week, I wouldn't believe the Ashley Williams thing either.
That doesn't make sense to me - the prem payout is onlu about 40million - cosa nostra should be able to sell for more than that now.
Actually, I think it might be a worrying possibility. All be it a childish one. Having been rebuffed by the Goons, might the Mittals not go for the nearest rivals that they could get some sort of value for money from (let's face it, that's not Chelsea), in a somewhat vindictive way of showing what they can do? It sounds like any relationship that may have existed between the Mittals and the Goons is now officially broken...
Thats a fair point well made The other R in Houston but you have to ask yourself this one question. If the Mittal (why doesnt anyone use his first name?) was planning to buy fulham, surely, he would have had a word with mark hughes, and offer him a new contract, with the possibility of chucking a fair few bob in the transfer bag as an enticement for him to stay. Or am I just getting nighshift fever right about NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
The most attractive thing about Fulham is the luxury flats that could be built at Craven Cottage with lovely riverside views...Hmmm, better than Shepherd's Bush...
If I was Mittal and wanted to buy QPR, I'd be letting the Goons know they aren't the only game in town, and would put it about that they (the Mittals) might buy into another club instead. That would help balance up the negotiation between the two parties, because at the moment, Eccles has rejected a bid Mittal out of hand - showing his contempt for the amount of the offer by refusing to make a counter-offer, and making the Mittals bid again.
Bernie owns the majority of shares with Flav's portion an option for Flav to buy back, Bernie doesn't need to make any offer as Mittal's shares are worthless in terms of power on the board...
The Mittals made an offer to buy the Goons out - Eccles didn't say their shares weren't for sale - he said the amount of the offer was "insulting", without stating what offer would be acceptable (thus, no counter-offer). So if the Mittals make another offer, they are effectively bidding against themselves. Eccles is playing it tough, and thus the Mittals may remind him that they'll take their money elsewhere if Eccles is unrealistic over the value of the Goons' joint shareholding.
Who would buy the Mittal's shares? Especially at the price he paid for them (20% for £20 million) to basically have no power on the board. I think Mittal has been royally shafted by Bernie and The £100 million price tag Bernie allegedly quoted is in line with what Mittal has already paid.
With the Mittals' worth, they could buy into another club without selling their minority shareholding ( I don't know what the regulatory implications would be, if any, of owning shares in two clubs). That could be the Mittals' implied warning to Eccles, on the assumption that Eccles' plan is that he wants out of the club with a tidy profit. I just think the parties may be positioning themselves ready for another Mittal offer.
Why is everyone assuming that Eccles is dying to sell? He is worth c£2â¢5 billion. There are only 20 clubs in the PL and he owns one of them. He has a finger in lots of pies. He doesn't want all his eggs in one basket(and a dozen other cliches that might apply here). QPR occupies as much of his headspace as the colour of his socks.
also , the offer was verbal and not in writing. Maybe a written offer would be a good starting point and then see where it goes from there...