Maybe he has fallen out with football and realised he actually wanted to have the best network of dance clubs in Europe. I wish him well in this venture.
Next step towards the end of the network and Roland's involvement in football? Hope we're next...
Anyone able to get a translation? Can't get it working through my phone.
According to The Importance of Limburg, STVV comes in Japanese hands. The online company DMM.com would fully take over the Limburg club from entrepreneur Roland Duchâtelet. "The end of an era is in sight," says Stef Wijnants. STVV "DMM.com wants to get to know the club better" DMM.com currently owns 20 to 25 percent of STVV's shares. An acquisition does not seem to be in the way, but officially it is not yet. That also shows the Limburg club today in a communication. "As is known, DMM.com bought a 20% minority share of the club. At the moment, the Japanese and STVV work well together." DMM.com wants to get to know the club first. " "It's therefore premature to talk about a takeover. How the cooperation will evolve will be clear in the near future, and the club will communicate on time." Stef Wijnants: "The end of an era is in sight" Stef Wijnants, football analyst and STVV follower: "The rumor about the acquisition has been going on for a long time. Everything indicates that. Duchâtelet would never have given someone just 20% of the shares in the past." It is awaiting explanation of Duchâtelet. But well, the fact is that an end of an era is in itself. I'm going to learn a mouth of Japanese. That seems to be the language of instruction. "He always kept his clubs alone and suddenly there came Japanese people who took part. I thought that was strange and rarely used to say what Duchâtelet had always said, because you already felt that something was up to it." "On the one hand there is of course the club, the nv STVV, and on the other hand the entire infrastructure, the nv Stayen. It's all in the hands of the same man and it's unclear how much it's all worth. Now we have to Ask if those Japanese buyers buy or buy the club and rent them. " "It has always been said to me that a takeover by the end of this year. The Japanese are always watching the club and then they will decide where they want to go. It's awaiting Duchâtelet's explanation. But well, the fact is that The end of an era is in sight. I'm going to learn a mouth of Japanese. That seems to be the language of the language. "
I don't profess to remotely understand what is going on but my gut feeling is that this all looks like good news.
What is more - on a purely human level - it appears that Roland has - contrary to all expectations and his reservations about cultural differences - learnt to commune with people from Asia. Well, good for him.
All rumour and supposition so far but the portents are looking a little more optimistic than in the past - especially as we are only a weeny 1.5% of the great man's interests.
I don't profess to remotely understand what is going on but my gut feeling is that this all looks like good news.
What is more - on a purely human level - it appears that Roland has - contrary to all expectations and his reservations about cultural differences - learnt to commune with people from Asia. Well, good for him.
All rumour and supposition so far but the portents are looking a little more optimistic than in the past - especially as we are only a weeny 1.5% of the great man's interests.
My first thought as well. I think there is a fair case to be made that he is at least willing to get out of the football ownership game.
That said, and we know the club has been up for sale for a little bit now (a few months pressumably which is nothing in most football takeover terms), the question is "is there anyone out there willing to meet his valuation for us AND buy The Valley and Sparrow Lane?" I think that is a huge stumbling block.
Nonetheless, I think everything from the manager to the team to the prospects of a sale look much better now than they did this time last year, or even six months ago.
Given all this hope, I fully expect it all to end in (figurative) flames.
When he first bought Charlton, he extolled the virtues of a network approach and clearly thought he had the business acumen to make money out of football. He's certainly not done that with us and from what I can see, I'd be amazed if he's done it anywhere else. There is no doubt at all that he bought the wrong clubs for his network; a more ill-fitting ragbag of teams with vastly differing needs it would be hard to gather if you put them together entirely at random.
Hopefully the penny has finally dropped. Not many people make money out of football. To do so you need to have a brilliant plan effectively managed by people who know the game, their leagues and their clubs inside out. That's still not enough though, you also need a massive amount of luck. Whatever luck Duchatelet may have had along they way he'll have squandered by displaying arrogance and unconcern to those who could help him make things work. That's what he's done at Charlton, that's what he did at Liège and I've no doubts that's what he's done across the network.
I hope he sells STTV, and I hope that's a clear signal that he's getting twitchy about his investments as he's realised that he's never going to be one of the few that profits from football.
Does no one else find it strange that he moved some assets (ceballos, tex, igor etc) there before then immediately selling it?!
Perhaps it was a pre-condition of the sale by the buyers? That would be a sensible move for them and of little consequence to the seller. Moving chess pieces is a lot different than moving your kids out/around
I think it's possible his interest in football *is* waning.
As @Stig says, his 'network' experiment failed completely. It seems he's given up on that dream, allowing Charlton to be run pretty much (it seems) like any other club.
Which is boring for him, because it means he hasn't been able to convince anyone that his genius had indeed allowed him to find a 'better' way.
I'm probably being over optimistic, but it's possible he's beefing the side up with the intention of increasing the gates and making a promotion push, to make the club more desirable for prospective owners.
But Asian owners don't respect clubs' identities and don't know how to make a team successful. It wouldn't be like Roland to lie or contradict himself.
When he first bought Charlton, he extolled the virtues of a network approach and clearly thought he had the business acumen to make money out of football. He's certainly not done that with us and from what I can see, I'd be amazed if he's done it anywhere else. There is no doubt at all that he bought the wrong clubs for his network; a more ill-fitting ragbag of teams with vastly differing needs it would be hard to gather if you put them together entirely at random.
Hopefully the penny has finally dropped. Not many people make money out of football. To do so you need to have a brilliant plan effectively managed by people who know the game, their leagues and their clubs inside out. That's still not enough though, you also need a massive amount of luck. Whatever luck Duchatelet may have had along they way he'll have squandered by displaying arrogance and unconcern to those who could help him make things work. That's what he's done at Charlton, that's what he did at Liège and I've no doubts that's what he's done across the network.
I hope he sells STTV, and I hope that's a clear signal that he's getting twitchy about his investments as he's realised that he's never going to be one of the few that profits from football.
Duchâtelet made a significant sum from Standard. He paid himself a sum of 20m Euros from the club in 2013, sold the club for more than he'd paid, and then retained rights over a number a number of Standard Liege players, - those who when sold on, had good potential to pay him a dividend, - Batshuayi being the obvious example.
At STVV, he picked up the real estate for a song. The subsequent development of that real estate, means that NV Stayen, his property company, has significant tangible assets and a serious annual turnover that continues to grow. So he has engineered a way to make money from his ownership of STVV.
Duchâtelet is on record as saying he believes he can make money from football, the fact he hasn't achieved that at Charlton, may well be reason for him not to let go just yet.
I think he must now realise that his cunning plan was worthy of Baldrick! That seemed to be the reason for aquiring clubs so what is the point now? He has already indicated he pretty much has no interest in us!
Comments
Anyone able to get a translation? Can't get it working through my phone.
Can't think what would give the fans that idea.
STVV
"DMM.com wants to get to know the club better"
DMM.com currently owns 20 to 25 percent of STVV's shares. An acquisition does not seem to be in the way, but officially it is not yet. That also shows the Limburg club today in a communication.
"As is known, DMM.com bought a 20% minority share of the club. At the moment, the Japanese and STVV work well together." DMM.com wants to get to know the club first. "
"It's therefore premature to talk about a takeover. How the cooperation will evolve will be clear in the near future, and the club will communicate on time."
Stef Wijnants: "The end of an era is in sight"
Stef Wijnants, football analyst and STVV follower: "The rumor about the acquisition has been going on for a long time. Everything indicates that. Duchâtelet would never have given someone just 20% of the shares in the past."
It is awaiting explanation of Duchâtelet. But well, the fact is that an end of an era is in itself. I'm going to learn a mouth of Japanese. That seems to be the language of instruction.
"He always kept his clubs alone and suddenly there came Japanese people who took part. I thought that was strange and rarely used to say what Duchâtelet had always said, because you already felt that something was up to it."
"On the one hand there is of course the club, the nv STVV, and on the other hand the entire infrastructure, the nv Stayen. It's all in the hands of the same man and it's unclear how much it's all worth. Now we have to Ask if those Japanese buyers buy or buy the club and rent them. "
"It has always been said to me that a takeover by the end of this year. The Japanese are always watching the club and then they will decide where they want to go. It's awaiting Duchâtelet's explanation. But well, the fact is that The end of an era is in sight. I'm going to learn a mouth of Japanese. That seems to be the language of the language. "
What is more - on a purely human level - it appears that Roland has - contrary to all expectations and his reservations about cultural differences - learnt to commune with people from Asia. Well, good for him.
All rumour and supposition so far but the portents are looking a little more optimistic than in the past - especially as we are only a weeny 1.5% of the great man's interests.
Hope springs eternal.
That said, and we know the club has been up for sale for a little bit now (a few months pressumably which is nothing in most football takeover terms), the question is "is there anyone out there willing to meet his valuation for us AND buy The Valley and Sparrow Lane?" I think that is a huge stumbling block.
Nonetheless, I think everything from the manager to the team to the prospects of a sale look much better now than they did this time last year, or even six months ago.
Given all this hope, I fully expect it all to end in (figurative) flames.
Perhaps if we're vinegar pissers, the STVV supporters are cheese eaters? http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/1189310/Who-Done-It-Movie-Clip-One-Limburger-Cheese-Sandwich-.html
Hopefully the penny has finally dropped. Not many people make money out of football. To do so you need to have a brilliant plan effectively managed by people who know the game, their leagues and their clubs inside out. That's still not enough though, you also need a massive amount of luck. Whatever luck Duchatelet may have had along they way he'll have squandered by displaying arrogance and unconcern to those who could help him make things work. That's what he's done at Charlton, that's what he did at Liège and I've no doubts that's what he's done across the network.
I hope he sells STTV, and I hope that's a clear signal that he's getting twitchy about his investments as he's realised that he's never going to be one of the few that profits from football.
As @Stig says, his 'network' experiment failed completely. It seems he's given up on that dream, allowing Charlton to be run pretty much (it seems) like any other club.
Which is boring for him, because it means he hasn't been able to convince anyone that his genius had indeed allowed him to find a 'better' way.
I'm probably being over optimistic, but it's possible he's beefing the side up with the intention of increasing the gates and making a promotion push, to make the club more desirable for prospective owners.
You never know...
Thank you Roland
On the other hand NV Stayen might be considered his baby, but of course he is likely to keep hold of that concern.
At STVV, he picked up the real estate for a song. The subsequent development of that real estate, means that NV Stayen, his property company, has significant tangible assets and a serious annual turnover that continues to grow. So he has engineered a way to make money from his ownership of STVV.
Duchâtelet is on record as saying he believes he can make money from football, the fact he hasn't achieved that at Charlton, may well be reason for him not to let go just yet.
Hope I'm wrong.
BOGOF Roland.