Time to go Cellino are doing another protest march please log in to view this image FCUK ME, BOTTOM LEFT, ISN'T THAT KEN BATES LEADING THE MARCH?
Niccolò Barratieri di San Pietro is a name that many fans of Leeds United are talking about. Recently promoted to the board of directors at Elland Road, the man with the exotic name is certainly getting off on the front foot. Two weeks into his new job and he is already being given the responsibility of introducing Leeds’ new manager to the glare of the press, flanking him on the right like Archangel Gabriel sent from above on a mission of stability. To the left of Monk, and by no means Lucifer is Leeds United legend Eddie Gray. please log in to view this image Barratieri di San Pietro is CEO of Northacre, a company that specialises in creating homes in restored historical buildings, towards the ‘luxury’ end of the market. Since his appointment ‘went live’ on May 19th, details have begun to emerge about the exotically-named Italian and the linkages between Northacre, for whom he is CEO, and GFH Capital, the minority shareholders at Elland Road. Northacre are 69% owned by Abu Dhabi Finance Group (ADFG), with ADFG also the largest shareholder of GFH Capital – raising their stake to 10% on February 17 this year. please log in to view this image Adam Pope @APOPEY Niccolo Barratieri is part of Abu Dhabi Financial Group which is the largest stakeholder in GFH #lufc http://adfg.ae/en/about-adfg/ Other links also exist between the exotically-named Italian’s company Northacre and GFH, withLeeds United’s minority owner purchasing a 30%, £100m stake in a Northacre development, 1 Palace Street. Anyway, I digress. What is happening might only seem slight to outside observers, but the appearance of a man just appointed as a director to Leeds United, appearing at the unveiling of the club’s new manager is seen by Leeds fans in some quarters as quite a big thing. Where was Cellino? Why wasn’t he there? Where is GFH’s presence? Questions atop questions. Whilst the appointment of Niccolò Barratieri di San Pietro there has been seen a rise of prominence for an ADFG-affiliated director, which contrasts with their fortunes coming out of the interview with ex-GFH employee David Haigh. From these interviews has emerged a picture of GFH that doesn’t do anything to further endear Leeds United’s minority shareholders to Whites’ fans. Tales of breaking US political sanctions in egregiously taking client money out of accounts without client say-so to fund the purchase of Leeds United was bad enough. Allied to that were links to being complicit with illegal detention, fabricated reasons behind Haigh’s imprisonment and more mundane accusations of an idiotically naive approach to running a football club. The past week-or-so has definitely been a hebdomas horribilis for the Bahraini investment bank and their association to Leeds United. Then, in the early hours of yesterday morning, and from across the pond in Canada, there came these Tweets from Simon O’Rourke, a Leeds fan of some repute when it comes to having ‘connections’ and being able to ‘find out things.’ please log in to view this image Simon O'Rourke @simon_orourke IIB/Envest's man on the Leeds City Holdings board has now been removed (not replaced). Something's afoot at #LUFC please log in to view this image Simon O'Rourke @simon_orourke TBH, I'm willing to go as far as to say GFH as we know them are no longer invested in LUFC. Replaced by ADFG please log in to view this image Simon O'Rourke @simon_orourke @kjtaylor_lufc Best guesstimate is everything GFH had (LUFC wise) is now owned/managed by ADFG. Just my opinion based on the facts of course What O’Rourke seems to hint at here has actually been the topic of conversation in various Facebook groups, likely some forums and across Twitter – are GFH somehow being pushed into the background at Elland Road? Is there a powershift of sorts in place? If this were the case, then you could guarantee that there would be smiles across the faces of many Leeds United fans. Fans who have often seen GFH’s involvement as akin to the behaviour of a leech of some sorts, locking on and bleeding the body dry until they’ve had their fill; Leeds United being simply the host that they feed from. Oh the glorious smiles that would spread across many faces should the demise of GFH be replaced with added stability from their biggest shareholder. Should the tattered reputation of GFH diminish to such an extent that they simply disintegrate and fade from Leeds United’s existence, there will be rejoicing. Please let Simon O’Rourke’s following Tweet be true. please log in to view this image Simon O'Rourke @simon_orourke IIB/Envest's man on the Leeds City Holdings board has now been removed (not replaced). Something's afoot at #LUFC please log in to view this image Simon O'Rourke @simon_orourke TBH, I'm willing to go as far as to say GFH as we know them are no longer invested in LUFC. Replaced by ADFG.
I mentioned this stuff this morning I think Matt. I've said for many months, the real ****** in the woodpile, pardon the pun, at Leeds was gfh and they needed removing before we could progress. Haigh didn't do much for the club but his interviews earlier in the week may have hastened the gfh exit. Not everyone wanted to believe what he said, and I understand why, but much of it was likely true and fairly shocking. Anyway goodbye and good riddance gfh if you are truly gone
Had a very narrow escape tonight swmbo and kids wanted to go to that soccer aid bollix. Was running out of excuses but escaped when you had to join scums ticket office database to get a ticket and the robbing cnuts charge a booking fee....... Phew.
