I take it all back................... now it's in the Chronical it definitely must be true, no doubt about it, 100% accurate, all fact based journalism.
It’s likely the potential for a takeover is there. I say potential because Ashley does want out and right this second the feel good factor and positivity is at its highest it’s been. Thus the value of the club it most likely at its highest right now and will justify: A. His valuation; B. Interest; C. Staveleys bid not being based on key milestones. I can see a basic cash offer of 275 million being offered and accepted.
I can see this happening now. The relegation clause that was a major stumbling block is not needed now. A bid of around 300-315 million will secure the sale. Ashley wants out, the feel good factor is back, the club is at its highest point in years. We are a solid PL club and the TV money will be in shortly. Perfect time to get rid. Expect an announcement to be made in late May/ early June.
Only dampener will be Ashley's sting in the tail. He will want something as part of the deal, i.e. advertising.
This is starting to sound like an episode of location, location, location...achieve a price of £300million... For the record, I don't think Staveley has the backing or the amounts we would have liked.
Now we're just about nailed on safe, our owner can look forward to another £100m + rolling in. Let's hope Rafa puts real pressure on him.
Exactly this. She is certainly no Abramovich or Sheik Mansour. Clearly reliant on third parties, so no more than the public face of a consortium really. Whilst i think there will be a long term plan for investment and development of infrastructure, it's not going to be a no holds barred spending spree. It will be interesting to see if the 'other parties' that have allegedly shown interest recently come forward. Personally i am not convinced that is no more than Ashleys piss poor attempts at drumming interest again.
I agree actually. I said a few months ago that it was always a case of waiting for survival and then the sale would be on. I wouldn't have bought the club earlier in the season for full price if I was Staveley - it made no sense to take the risk. I think we are probably looking at a change of ownership by 1st July. My sweepstake entry: £320-330m - no clauses on either side.
We will see. Supposedly they were determined to make the deal last time, but just ended up pissing us about. Certainly Ashley is holding a much bigger stack of chips now, so they will have to bow to his demands somewhat. PL football clubs are a sellers market at the best of times, let alone the position of strength Ashley is in. He currently has a top 10 club, a manager everyone is praising and wouldn't need changed, a solid financial footing put in place by him, a guaranteed large fanbase, a stadium capable of hosting our needs for the foreseeable future and a young first team squad which just needs support. If Staveley and co want to play silly beggars I'd imagine they will get sent packing. The other thing is it is unlikely they will be only the interested party now. Another downside to their January gamble. I think it may happen if someone fronts 350m. I don't think and would be surprised if Ashley would take much less. It just depends how badly he wants out. Its going ok as it is to be fair.
Fat Mike must be chuckling his pork chops off at the recent wins we've had. It's strengthened his hand massively.
You'd think so but I am assured by many of our fans on Not606 (https://www.not606.com/threads/the-rafa-effect.360170/page-4) that is not the case, and his price shouldn't go up...
For the reasons you've outlined above, Fat Mike will want more. There's even a chance he might hold out for another season, Rafa might take the team to a higher finish in 2018-19 and the price could go up even more. Fat Mike does like a gamble after all.
The TV deal and escalating out-of-control costs could well mean that the baseline value of the club (roughly £180m-£200m) is the same. Mike wants his £120m loan back too. The squad is buffered by three loanees at the moment. Thanks to Mike, we run a makeshift exec set-up, haven't capitalised enough on sponsorship deals and are outdated in terms of both training facility and scouting set-up. The squad still needs a good amount of wise investment. I think £300m should in reality still secure the club for a prospective buyer. And whether they're like the City owners or not, as long as there's careful planning, reinvesting in the team, a clever exec board, better sponsor revenues, better investment off the pitch and better financial planning for pending revenues, we should be able to sit around 10th-7th with the odd cup challenge.
