Simple mismanagement is always a possibility, but we have outgrown the viability of asset-stripping. So long as football clubs are appreciating in value as much as they are (and that remains to be seen, but that's the motivation) the best option is to run them at less than a profound loss, keep them at the top level where the money spigot remains open, and then take a profit when the club is sold. As KL is doing here, really; taking into account the purchase price, the debt that was converted to equity, and the outstanding debts to herself, she'll still clear £75m+ in profit from this.
I'm naive, but I'd hope that any potential buyer of Saints would be buying our values, as we don't have the football success or legacy of any value to outsiders. Its quite clear (to me, anyway) that we are one of the best run and managed clubs in the country, if not Europe. So I would hope we would attract similarly-minded investors, who would be looking to keep our key assets intact (Academy, backroom team, hiring policy etc.). Nor would I expect to find ourselves sponsored by betting companies. But with the Chinese notoriously anti-gambling (in-play or otherwise), I expect that's unlikely.
Southampton are in talks with the Chinese company Lander Sports Development over a potential sale. Owner Katharina Liebherr has held discussions with the prospective investor in recent weeks and, while no deal is imminent, a six week period of exclusivity has begun. A deal of £200 million has been mooted, but Liebherr is said to be keen to find out more about Lander’s intentions before considering selling or even simply diluting her stake. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...with-chinese-firm-lander-sports-development/? from Jeremy Wilson
Could be good or bad, but I seem to remember an old adage about crossing bridges when you come to them. Relaxed for now but I am not really interested in buying our way into the big time. I would rather any purchasers were attracted to the club because it is run in a sustainable way.
Everything comes to an end at some point. I trust Katharina to make the right decision not only for us, but for her family. Will be a sad day when the Liebherr family finally leave town once and for all though - their impact on the club has been massive and they can't be thanked enough in my eyes.
Agree with this ^^^ I'm sure when the time comes, retaining the right to have the club's training facility called The Markus Liebherr Pavillion will be every bit if not more important to Katharina than the money. I'm sure she'll also still follow the club in some form, and may even retain a non controlling share of equity. So with that said I have every faith she'll do her best to make sure we're alright. I reckon her fit and proper persons test will be far more strenuous than the FA one.
All kind of explains why we didn't spend more money this summer I guess. Fair enough if she wants to sell up and make a profit. We will always owe that family. I'm just gutted that we will be owned by the Chinese. They have no idea about football culture and history, they just simply want to jump on the bandwagon and flash their cash in more and more extravagant ways. They should all be spending money on developing decent footballing infrastructure in their own country. The Chinese Super League is a joke because it is so full of corruption, but they just gloss over this by throwing money at big-name international football players to develop and sell the brand of each club. I lived for two years in China, and although I try to be as open-minded and tolerant as I can be, that society and culture is ****ing disgraceful in so many different ways. I'm not hating on individuals because I met so many amazing and wonderful people there, but collectively - the social conscience or whatever you call it - they're too much. So many problems, but they all just choose to brush everything under the carpet and live in denial while continuing to bark the governments bullshit slogans etc.
We have also to thank Nicola Cortese in all of this. Yes it was ML's money and of course I am grateful to him and his daughter. Let's not forget though, that it was Cortese who gave Marcus the idea in the first place.
I'm sure Cortese said at some point that he knew people with money... I find this interesting. I've said for years that the club needs to spend more money to progress and there's never been any real suggestion that Katharina Liebherr has been prepared to put that money into the club. Not a criticism of her, this was never truly her project, but I'm not going to be horribly sad if she moves on. Equally though, I know nothing about these new investors so I'm not going to start jumping up and down with excitement just yet.
I started supporting Saints around the time Ted Bates handed over to Lawrie Mac, who then took us down. I carried on supporting them. I supported them when we won the FA Cup and was still supporting them when we signed and sold Kevin Keegan and went on to finish second in the league. I even stayed supporting them when we sold Steve Williams, my hero. I was very upset though. How we all stayed supporting them during the branfoot days is still a mystery. I was behind them for the numerous Premier League Great Escapes and then the gradual rise starting with Dave Jones, Hoddle and WGS, only to see the fall again a couple of seasons later and then the disasterous tumble that followed. I was there at Derby when penalties stopped us rising again and then still there when we collapsed financially and ended up in league one. I'll always be massively grateful to Markus and Katharina Liebherr - I hope when the time comes we continue singing "Walking in a Liebherr Wonderland" because that's where we are. Wonderland. I am also very grateful to Nicola Cortese for convincing Herr Liebherr to buy us and then agreeing to run the business. I wasn't fond of him from the brief first hand experience I had of him dealing with his people, but he was charming and polite to me. What he did can't be forgotten either. I'll be here tomorrow too, whether we're the new Chinese super power of world football, or if we've gone tits up and back in league one again. Hold on to your seats folks! The roller coaster rides on... or marches on.
How the hell do you know that! You literally couldn't be more subjective if you tried. Glad not everyone is like that!
