Postscript: and then sell it. That sounds like a Portsmouth scenario. Not sure of their definition of success. Looks like they intend to allow NW to buy his players in January. Also backs up the information spread by LUST previously that the new owners had been bankrolling the club through the summer. We knew this anyway through previous comments and things that came to light, but it does show that LUST had someone feeding them information as they were the first to let us know. Bates role is merely ceremonial now. He is out of the picture. That should make for a very merry Christmas for everyone.
tbh, if thats their business plan its not entirely bad news. Most venture capitalists only invest if they have a clearly defined exit strategy. I would dearly loved the new owners to be buying LUFC for PR reasons or personal ego, as that would have meant a disproportionate focus being given to the team performance over other priorities. At the moment, we are languishing in the middle of the table, all I need these new owners to do is to execute well against that business strategy (if you are right, and I'd say its likely you are, based on what little we know). If they have enough cash to spend the relatively modest amounts required to strengthen the team, they show some consistency of approach to the manager, they do what they can to get the crowds growing again (not expecting miracles or whgolesale price reducrtions, by the way) then I will be relatively happy. The possibility they may sell Leeds in a few years is only a worry in that some buyers can be the sort who leverage themselves (or more accurately, the club) up to the eyeballs with debt because they can't really afford to pay what its worth, and forever after the financial stresses get in the way of building a team to go to the highest levels. For now though, not unhappy. Not overwhelmed, either. Just waiting and seeing.
I'm not 100% dedicated to them either. The next month will show us whether they A) invest the money we need on the team, and show real ambition rather than just getting the three existing loanees who don't really bolster us to playoff standard, B) interact on a serious level with fan groups, and C) outline their vision more clearly than the non-committal PR babble in the press conference yesterday, for example telling us about this 'transparency' of theirs by naming their backers and who will actually be involved in funding transfers and the like, detailing specifically their plans for Elland Road and Thorp Arch and so on. I expect they might do that under decent enough questioning from LUST if they can be put in the same room. I like the noises they're making, but after ten years of ****, we've all learnt the hard way that actions speak the loudest. I'm delighted they're here and the club is increasingly responding to the radiotherapy which is zapping away the Chelsea Cancer from its constitution. But scrutiny is essential. If they want to get us up and sell, fair enough as long as we're transferred into the right hands. I don't forsee a Portsmouth-type ending to all this; they stressed the debt-free nature of the transaction and club and rightly so. PS: glad to see it's confirmed they've been bankrolling the club since summer. Humble pie Ristac? (I doubt it, but it's proof nonetheless).
A club the size of Leeds would be worth double or treble what GFH bought it for if we got promoted. Then a mega rich billionnaire will take us over
Making the investment sustainable is clearly not the Man Sh%ty model, but it suggests that they won't be taking the "living the dream" approach. Means that we may have to be a bit patient. But with Warnock in charge this season (& possibly next), anything's possible. Me, I like the look of all this. More investment in the team than was the case with Papa Smurf, but a similarly cautious approach. Hoping for 3pts today to keep the good news flowing.
Nice interview here which deals with some of the specifics I queried above! http://rightinthegarykellys.com/2012/12/22/exclusive-david-haigh-salem-patel-interview/
Good interview. If they want some ideas on how to re-engage the supporters, they would do well to consider looking at these fora also as there are ideas abounding
Assisted him with his plans, when does that equate to bankrolling the club? You can continue to support LUST all you like, they have got a lot wrong and some right, they certainly got the buyers wrong and I haven't seen the proof that they were going to release the day the takeover happened. Let us also remember what LUST were supposed to have claimed, without investment LUFC would not see the end of the season out, if you believe that crock of **** that's up to you. I believe that as much as I believe GC loaned his brother 10k to set himself up in business and steer him away from the naughty people. Like I have said all along, LUST started okay, actually pretty great and they could have been even better but they have been slipping away with one mistake and embarrassment and wrong announcement after another, in their present format they have no future. 3 Key points as per Salem – Did the club have debts? – no, did it possess a decent stadium – yes, there is little that needs doing to the stadium. And finally what about the manager – when we saw his track record we knew he was the right man and as per yesterdays press conference it was a contractual requirement he was in place” Arguments aside has much money really been invested into the squad since closing day last season? We know the funds were not there to sign Ward, we know Warnock had to wheel and deal to bring in those that he did and we know the books were about even up to the point of selling Snodgrass, that was swiftly followed by Peltier incoming. So are we talking funds for the most recent loan players? I can't see how they really assisted NW in the summer, he was a frustrated man losing out on many targets, the 'marquee' signings never arrived, we are still a long way short of a promotion pushing squad, if their idea of backing him in January is making Tate and Tonge permanent and then closing the cheque book then we are not much better off.
Certainly a better Interview than Sky managed. Not happy Harvey is being kept on and all hot air until we see actual proof. I do like what he is saying but talk is cheap.
Their idea of engaging supporters is sweet talk, it isn't ever going to happen. Look at the split on this forum over LUST we all have different ideas and even on the manager himself. All they want to see is bums on seats, chance one and the pricing for the season tickets for the last ten games and they got it wrong straight away. I am very pleased that they now control the purse strings and not Bates but I am not confident that they have much more than a pot to piss in if I am honest. I don't want to whinge before they have had a chance, I am just not going to get excited until we see what happens in January and again close season. The owners of teams like Chelsea and Man City will never get their investment back, the clubs are just toys to them.
