We have just posted this statement on our website In response to Monday evening's Channel 4 documentary, Dispatches, Leicester City Football Club would like to issue the following statement. Leicester City Football Club and the club's owners, Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, can unequivocally clarify that Joe Sim was not linked to the purchase of Leicester City by Asia Football Investments, nor has he had any involvement with, or authority to comment on any subsequent Leicester City business. Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn have met Joe Sim, through his role as Chief Advisor to the Thai FA, but reiterate that in no way has Mr Sim had any involvement with Leicester City Football Club. Leicester City Football Club and its owners are committed to absolute transparency in every aspect of its operations and activities. The Club is now looking forward to the pre-season tour of Austria, beginning tonight against Bursaspor, following an unbeaten tour of Sweden, ahead of next season's npower Championship campaign. So its good that we have killed this relatively quickly and all the rumours can stop
Neither did I TBH I don't even see why they have to justify themselves with a statement, just because they're from Asia? I mean after all, that's the only reason they were even mentioned in that show. There are actually people who admit to being worried after seeing that program. But I ask - if they were rich and English would you be worried? In fact, If they were poor and foreign, would you be worried? Nobody ever seemed worried about Mandaric when we weren't spending any money (apart from when we realised he had to appoint managers), despite the fact he left Portsmouth and not long after they were up **** creek. I'm not saying that was neccessarily his fault, but surely that was more reason to worry than the Thais have given us? It seems people can't just enjoy being rich and having potential. I guess British people just don't like getting their hopes up for fear of it blowing up in their faces. Maybe it's the administration that people remember. Maybe it's even humans in general find it easier to be cautious and negative than to enjoy themselves. Anyway, I don't get all the worrying, but there's something about the words 'foreign', 'Asian' and 'rich' than make people **** the bed.
That programme even question Southampton because our owner died last year! As if there is something suspicious about that.
Just to be devil's advocate... they are not going to release a statement saying: Asia Football Investments is just a cover name for a bunch of addicted Thai gamblers who's latest idea is to try to get a football club into the Premier League to pay off their massive debts to scary looking Russian mobsters. Joe Sim negotiated the deal with the assistance of his blood brother Alex Ferguson as they dipped a straw each into a lovely cherry milkshake. There is no need to worry about the huge debts being racked up against the club because we already have a deal with Morrison's to convert the stadium into a megastore...that's why so many potential new players are spotted in Morrison's first. There is plenty of evidence that their intentions are honourable however. They are redeveloping our existing training ground, therefore no pay-off from selling the land as suggested in Dispatches. 30% of tickets at KP are cheaper or the same price as last season, hardly using the fans as cash cows. The program also said that to be successful didn't need lots of money putting in, as Joe's chums in football management would lend players to whatever club the 'investors' bought. Well...we did have a lot of players on loan last season and many did come from the big clubs and managers Joe Sim suggested he had influence with. However this season surely we have squashed that accusation as we have actually purchased all of the new arrivals. Our ownership is pretty transparent it seems. LCFC are owned by Asia Football Investments. This sounds dodgy and it could be a consortium as mentioned on Dispatches. Originally King Power owned 80% and Cronus Sports management the other 20%. King Power then brought the remaining 20% and now own AFI 100%. http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/leicester-now-wholly-owned-asia-football-investments-1641061 I think our ownership must be one of the most transparent in football. It doesn't stop the admin gremlims having a tiny little gnaw at your insides from time to time though does it!
My insides are perfectly fine thanks - A money grubbing consortium of dodgy betting debtors would not pay Real Madrid £1,000,000 to play us in a pre-season friendly
Or sponsor the ground so the money they put in can be registered as club revenue rather than a debt on the club.
http://www.lcfc.com/page/PreSeasonTour2011/0,,10274~2397799,00.html Check out the 7th picture from the bottom. These owners are the real deal, I am absolutely thrilled with the support they show. EDIT: Here it is; please log in to view this image
