"He oversees more than 60 businesses. He’s seen what’s gone at Man City and the project there. For him, he has seen that and wants to do it. You’ve seen his tweets.... everyone has a love for football and it’s no different from him. He’s passionate from the conversations I’ve had it’s clear he has done his research and knows about the club."
Listening to MS speak I think it's pretty obvious Lee Bowyer is staying. Praising him highly and saying he's an integral part of the club. Very good news
"We had a conversation yesterday and the board have taken note of it. His agent is coming on Saturday, he received an offer this morning. Myself and Rob [agent] will sit down and hammer it out. I’ve made no secret from day one that Lee is an integral part of this. From where he has taken the club in 18 months on the resources he has had is fantastic. We feel with our backing and resourrces... clubs came in for him, everyone knows that. I told him I wanted him to stay. It’s a priority to get it done. Me and Rob will sort it out, I think we’ll get it done. The players he’s meeting with want to know [if he’s staying] before committing. I get that and at the time I felt there was a lot to do. In an ideal situation we’d have come in in October, finalised Lee’s contract and Lyle’s contract but obviously fast forward we are where we are. My main prioritiy is to get that done."
"Most important for me is that the club moves forward, whether that’s me or someone else. I don’t know how many players I’ve met whose first question has been what’s happening with me. I want to be here for years to come. Have we don well? Yes, of course we have to turn it around. When I walked through the doors the club was in a bad place. Yes, I want to sign a contract. The sooner the better for me. I’ve just found out about the contract because my agent is in LA at the minute. I’ll speak to him later on. I don’t know the offer is but we have Saturday which is a big day regarding the contract. They’ll be in the same room and the most important thing for me is to find agreement because we finally have some backing. Everything I’m hearing is positive and I want to be part of this journey. I’m excited."
We made an offer quite a few weeks ago. I met with his representative, had discussions and the ball was in the rep’s court. I felt for the long-term and what I am trying to do at the club, I felt it was a very good offer way above the model. The players we’re trying to get in now... there will be marquee signings, players we feel can strengthen the team. He’s our player. If he comes and says to get around the table, let’s do this, then of course my door and Lee’s door is open.
It’s been widely reported that I’ve looked at clubs over the years. I was an agent until 2014, came out of that and been in the Middle East. For the guys it was Charlton or nothing because they wanted a London club. As a group the only club we looked at was Charlton.
Message to fans who were disenchanted under previous owner?
"No guarantees in life but what I would say is I’ve been open and transparent from the outset. I’ve been visible, at all the games. I will make decisions down the line that are in the best interests of the club going forward. Fans may not feel that’s the situation. I’ll sit down with board or if it’s a footballing matter I’ll sit down with Lee. Take Lyle, if someone offered a ridiculous amount of money... I need to look at the long-term stability of the club. Fans might not like that but I’ll do what’s right for the club. I can’t say where the relationship will go but I’ll do my best to be open and transparent. Reconnecting with the community is so high on my priority list. The disconnect with fans and previous owners was obvious - no one wants that. We want to be successful and do it together. Ultimately moving as one is better than as three or four."
Comments
Iain Dowie, Richard Murray and Simon Jordan's lawyer.
Behind the scenes photo of the negotiations....
Channel?
Tell us more about Tahnoon Nimer...
"He oversees more than 60 businesses. He’s seen what’s gone at Man City and the project there. For him, he has seen that and wants to do it. You’ve seen his tweets.... everyone has a love for football and it’s no different from him. He’s passionate from the conversations I’ve had it’s clear he has done his research and knows about the club."
Praising him highly and saying he's an integral part of the club.
Very good news
Any Bowyer contract update?
"We had a conversation yesterday and the board have taken note of it. His agent is coming on Saturday, he received an offer this morning. Myself and Rob [agent] will sit down and hammer it out. I’ve made no secret from day one that Lee is an integral part of this. From where he has taken the club in 18 months on the resources he has had is fantastic. We feel with our backing and resourrces... clubs came in for him, everyone knows that. I told him I wanted him to stay. It’s a priority to get it done. Me and Rob will sort it out, I think we’ll get it done. The players he’s meeting with want to know [if he’s staying] before committing. I get that and at the time I felt there was a lot to do. In an ideal situation we’d have come in in October, finalised Lee’s contract and Lyle’s contract but obviously fast forward we are where we are. My main prioritiy is to get that done."
Lee, are you pleased with that?
"Most important for me is that the club moves forward, whether that’s me or someone else. I don’t know how many players I’ve met whose first question has been what’s happening with me. I want to be here for years to come. Have we don well? Yes, of course we have to turn it around. When I walked through the doors the club was in a bad place. Yes, I want to sign a contract. The sooner the better for me. I’ve just found out about the contract because my agent is in LA at the minute. I’ll speak to him later on. I don’t know the offer is but we have Saturday which is a big day regarding the contract. They’ll be in the same room and the most important thing for me is to find agreement because we finally have some backing. Everything I’m hearing is positive and I want to be part of this journey. I’m excited."
Lyle Taylor, any updates?
We made an offer quite a few weeks ago. I met with his representative, had discussions and the ball was in the rep’s court. I felt for the long-term and what I am trying to do at the club, I felt it was a very good offer way above the model. The players we’re trying to get in now... there will be marquee signings, players we feel can strengthen the team. He’s our player. If he comes and says to get around the table, let’s do this, then of course my door and Lee’s door is open.
Matt, were you tempted by any other clubs?
It’s been widely reported that I’ve looked at clubs over the years. I was an agent until 2014, came out of that and been in the Middle East. For the guys it was Charlton or nothing because they wanted a London club. As a group the only club we looked at was Charlton.
Message to fans who were disenchanted under previous owner?
"No guarantees in life but what I would say is I’ve been open and transparent from the outset. I’ve been visible, at all the games. I will make decisions down the line that are in the best interests of the club going forward. Fans may not feel that’s the situation. I’ll sit down with board or if it’s a footballing matter I’ll sit down with Lee. Take Lyle, if someone offered a ridiculous amount of money... I need to look at the long-term stability of the club. Fans might not like that but I’ll do what’s right for the club. I can’t say where the relationship will go but I’ll do my best to be open and transparent. Reconnecting with the community is so high on my priority list. The disconnect with fans and previous owners was obvious - no one wants that. We want to be successful and do it together. Ultimately moving as one is better than as three or four."