Saints in takeover talks with Chinese group

Whoever they are they will have to pass the Premier Leagues' due diligence, fit and proper person criteria.

 

Don't want to generalize, but many of the Chinese businesspeople have also tended to get more involved in the day-to-day operations than their experience in football would merit. It's a jump into the unknown, and it'll take a while to know whether it's for the better or worse.

A ham sandwich with a £5 note stapled to it would pass the Fit and Proper criteria, heh.

 

Also, our (initial) annual report is about a month past due based upon when it came out last year. There's no hard-and-fast time for such, but I wonder whether it's connected.

 

I am no expert on the subject but didn't Assem Allam. (correcting my previous gaff) try to offload Hull to a Chinese Consortium which was rumoured to have failed the Premier League fit and proper test?

 

I know it's unlreated (or maybe not?) But I was wondering when it was due?

 

Did you forget the blue print?

 

Moi?

 

Yeah. What could possibly go wrong?

 

Wasn't it him that assured Saints fans that Koeman wasn't leaving for Everton?.......

 

Dunno, ask the Skates....

 

Why can't we have a calm period that lasts longer than a few days.

 

I'm a bloke and too old anyhow.

 

Sounds boring!

 

Boring is underrated.

 

Noah Liebherr was in Shanghai last week as well. Well according to his Instagram which has been posted on Saints Web.

 

Don't worry, we'll probably never win the league, or get relegated. So boring mid table stability.

But we could get relegated. But we'll never win the league.

So.

 

Also said we were not getting charlie austin a couple of days before we got charlie austin

 

Could be good, could be bad. I wouldn't hold it against Kat if she wanted to sell us. I don't think any of us hold a grudge towards the Leibherr family. Hopefully, she'll want to honour the memory of her father and see that we end up in good hands, rather than vulture capitalists and asset strippers.

A sensible owner would see us as a good prospect. Leicester City prove that anyone can win the league. Despite everything we've gone through, we've managed not merely to survive but to prosper, which shows prudent stewardship and management, so why would they rock the boat and damage their investment, far better to make astute purchases, develop the academy and continue the Southampton Way...

 

KL can obviously sell up to whoever she wants, however I do not believe she would do a deal that she thinks could be harmful to the club longterm, given the family connection she will always have with us.


I also think it is absolutely crucial that in any deal the key figures stay in place: Les Reed, Gareth Rogers and (to a slightly lesser extent) Ralph Kruger. This will provide an overall continuity of ethos and club direction, plus we know they are extrememly level headed and good at following through a long term plan

 

What have those Japanese cats got to do with it??