Whyteleafe is one of three non-league football grounds around the country that has been bought by Irama (the other two being 150 year old Abingdon Towns Culham Road and Brighouse Towns West Yorkshire Payments Stadium), and they have expressed interest to buy at least eight more.
This would be stopped in its tracks if the Department for Communities and Local Government, together with the DCMS made a ruling that development of former football grounds is outlawed. I won't hold my breath though.
Is Ian Rush on Twatter ? I’m not, but maybe those who are could message him asking why he (who started at lowly Chester) is putting his name to this shameful strategy - clearly it’s a property development company
“ They currently operate a “football college” in Liverpool, and from September 2021 will run a similar operation in Tenerife, where they offer a full-time two-year course “equivalent to three A-levels”.”
Try getting into Cambridge with your certificate from the Stephen Gerrard Academy!
I saw an FA Cup tie at Whyteleafe in 2019. It seemed like a decent club. Such a shame. Yet more crooks infiltrating football, but this time at a lower level.
On the other thread it says they have plans for 8 more grounds. This has to be stopped. It is a disgrace. Are they stupid to put their names to this behaviour. Beggars believe.
I wonder if they chose Brighouse Town because they already have a college attached to the club? It does sound very similar to the Stevie G MBE academy model already.
I saw an FA Cup tie at Whyteleafe in 2019. It seemed like a decent club. Such a shame. Yet more crooks infiltrating football, but this time at a lower level.
Location, location, location. The development value of the ground has no relevance to the stature of the club they are putting out of business.
So many private residential and commercial landlords are based overseas. Not just yuppie apartment complexes in metropolitan areas like London and Manchester but even bog standard terraces in areas like Grimsby and all over.
Wealthy overseas millionaires and billionaires buying up whole streets and will never come to the UK.
Same with much of the country's infrastructure.
Surely there should be should be a balance between welcoming overseas investment and avoiding protectionism but also about having a stake in the societies you are ultimately materially impacting.
Surely the investment needs to be more than financial and other considerations such as impact on society need to be taken into account.
I hope they find rare newts, bats and other frustratingly difficult obstacles in their plans to develop these parcels of land. In fact I hope they spend a lifetime regretting buying land.
Unfortunately for my local Club Whyteleafe, the 500k sale of the ground and the owner wanting to sell, and with no one else willing to take on a club and the bills they have folded. Irama, from what I heard locally didn't have to set a high rent as Covid had already put Whyteleafe on the ropes and Irama knew that.
Whyteleafe have a 3G pitch which local youth teams still use plus the successful Kinetic foundation, and as mentioned, Steve Gerard's academy. There are so many talented footballers from the vast South London and Croydon area.
Will be interesting to know if Irama so called committment to Youth football disappears if the clubs they purchase all topple and they get planning permission to build houses ? We may just be cynical but....
Whytelefe is just 5 minutes away from the expensive Woldingham/ Warlingham golf course and multi million pound houses.
That's why for Charlton it was so important to have CAST, even though some of our fans needed sharks to circle before the danger was realized.
Ian Rush has allowed his name for a fee to be used when Irama buy Football grounds at part time lower league level. He may believe they are never going to build on the grounds they are purchasing ! He may prove to be right( very unlikely) but being Cafc fans that is difficult to swallow.
Steven Gerrard's business partner has agreed a fee with Irama to play matches at Whyteleafe for the SG academy so they have a base in the south east, a train ride away for many talented young footballers from South London, Kent, Surrey.
I know they are both Liverpool Legends but Steven Gerrard and Ian Rush have totally different roles in this story. Edit I have just seen Ian Rush on Sky sports News saying he is a massive supporter of grass roots football and the truth will come out !
Is possible that talent found in the south east would end up with liverpool if up to standard?, added to the fact that small clubs are financially vulnerable, hopefully the liverpool lads have the best interest of the clubs in mind and not just an opportunity.
I am going to hold fire regarding exactly what Ian Rush has been involved in all this, simply because I have always liked and respected him and am finding it difficult to believe that the outcome has been his intention. I and thousands of others are going to be hugely disappointed if he’s been heavily involved in these goings on. I sincerely hope he hasn’t. 🙁
Is possible that talent found in the south east would end up with liverpool if up to standard?, added to the fact that small clubs are financially vulnerable, hopefully the liverpool lads have the best interest of the clubs in mind and not just an opportunity.
I doubt that they are the brains behind any of this, just the name and a chance to invest their money.
Ian Rush has allowed his name for a fee to be used when Irama buy Football grounds at part time lower league level. He may believe they are never going to build on the grounds they are purchasing ! He may prove to be right( very unlikely) but being Cafc fans that is difficult to swallow.
Steven Gerrard's business partner has agreed a fee with Irama to play matches at Whyteleafe for the SG academy so they have a base in the south east, a train ride away for many talented young footballers from South London, Kent, Surrey.
I know they are both Liverpool Legends but Steven Gerrard and Ian Rush have totally different roles in this story. Edit I have just seen Ian Rush on Sky sports News saying he is a massive supporter of grass roots football and the truth will come out !
Are you saying he has been challenged by the press over this matter today ?
"Ian Rush is a real estate investor and partner with Irama in all our football grounds shown on this page. Ian Rush plays no part in any other part of IRAMA's business unless stated, and nor should he be held responsible for any of IRAMA's acts. Ian Rush and IRAMA own these football grounds and have no affiliation to the clubs and teams using the grounds."
"Ian Rush is a real estate investor and partner with Irama in all our football grounds shown on this page. Ian Rush plays no part in any other part of IRAMA's business unless stated, and nor should he be held responsible for any of IRAMA's acts. Ian Rush and IRAMA own these football grounds and have no affiliation to the clubs and teams using the grounds."
It's not weird or bizarre. They're attempting to lend their property acquisition and development company an air of legitimacy by using him as a frontman.
Rush's advisors are cretins - I suspect he has absolutely no idea about the company or its intentions, and his business/image management company didn't do their due diligence.
It's not weird or bizarre. They're attempting to lend their property acquisition and development company an air of legitimacy by using him as a frontman.
Rush's advisors are cretins - I suspect he has absolutely no idea about the company or its intentions, and his business/image management company didn't do their due diligence.
Comments
Whyteleafe FC and Abingdon Town both wrapped up yesterday:
http://www.theleafe.co.uk/?content=story&page=1849043590799676584
Whyteleafe is one of three non-league football grounds around the country that has been bought by Irama (the other two being 150 year old Abingdon Towns Culham Road and Brighouse Towns West Yorkshire Payments Stadium), and they have expressed interest to buy at least eight more.
Irama have close links to Ian Rush.
https://insidecroydon.com/2021/03/20/ex-liverpool-star-gerrard-announces-academy-in-surrey/
This is despicable 😡
It's a very strange set up https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/brighouse-towns-football-ground-put-sale-243971 all round.
Utter bastards.
Wealthy overseas millionaires and billionaires buying up whole streets and will never come to the UK.
Same with much of the country's infrastructure.
Surely there should be should be a balance between welcoming overseas investment and avoiding protectionism but also about having a stake in the societies you are ultimately materially impacting.
Surely the investment needs to be more than financial and other considerations such as impact on society need to be taken into account.
Irama, from what I heard locally didn't have to set a high rent as Covid had already put Whyteleafe on the ropes and Irama knew that.
Whyteleafe have a 3G pitch which local youth teams still use plus the successful Kinetic foundation, and as mentioned, Steve Gerard's academy. There are so many talented footballers from the vast South London and Croydon area.
Will be interesting to know if Irama so called committment to Youth football disappears if the clubs they purchase all topple and they get planning permission to build houses ? We may just be cynical but....
Whytelefe is just 5 minutes away from the expensive Woldingham/ Warlingham golf course and multi million pound houses.
That's why for Charlton it was so important to have CAST, even though some of our fans needed sharks to circle before the danger was realized.
Just to be Clear:
Ian Rush has allowed his name for a fee to be used when Irama buy Football grounds at part time lower league level. He may believe they are never going to build on the grounds they are purchasing ! He may prove to be right( very unlikely) but being Cafc fans that is difficult to swallow.
Steven Gerrard's business partner has agreed a fee with Irama to play matches at Whyteleafe for the SG academy so they have a base in the south east, a train ride away for many talented young footballers from South London, Kent, Surrey.
I know they are both Liverpool Legends but Steven Gerrard and Ian Rush have totally different roles in this story.
Edit
I have just seen Ian Rush on Sky sports News saying he is a massive supporter of grass roots football and the truth will come out !
I and thousands of others are going to be hugely disappointed if he’s been heavily involved in these goings on.
I sincerely hope he hasn’t. 🙁
https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-26060/irama.htm
If it smells like....
Rush's advisors are cretins - I suspect he has absolutely no idea about the company or its intentions, and his business/image management company didn't do their due diligence.
But it is odd that Rush is described as a "real estate investor" rather than "partner" or "ambassador" or some such.