Why have others walked away and they are still here? I don't have any inside info but it just smells wrong.
I'm not claiming to have a great business mind, but I've been saying it a while, if these are the same outfit who were sniffing round for more investment in the City to even make the initial offer, it should ring alarm bells imo.
I think the Aussies have thought they've had the upper hand all along and basically went along with everything to get to the point where RD was so desperate to offload, that He would agree to a couple of small concessions to get the deal over the line, the £7 million charge being one, but they never took into account what a greedy stubborn old goat he is. Whoever was responsible for paying this £7 million off shoulda / woulda been agreed months ago, surely. So why is it a sticking point now, when the deal is supposedly so close? Someone ain't being honest and I personally don't think its all RD meself.
Queue the LOLs from the sheeple on here who won't have nothing bad said about the Aussies, but look at the bigger picture ffs, even if the deal goes through on Monday, there's still a couple of quite large question marks over certain things that have gone on over the last few months.
Sheeple? Bit harsh. To say something bad about the Aussies you need to have some evidence that they’ve done something wrong. If we find out something bad about the Aussies I’m sure opinions will shift. You’ve speculated a lot here, but I’m not sure what it’s based on, is all.
What are these question marks? There’s been lots of speculation about them bidding high, or bidding low, or paying off directors or not paying off directors, when the truth is no one knows what’s going on in the negotiations because they’re between Gerard Murphy and Roland’s money man, and neither are saying a word. If you’re implying something shady is going on, I’d like to see your evidence of that!
GM has said zero to me since our beer, except to deny rumours put out by agitators.
So what is your evidence, or where are you hearing these rumours?
It's taken them well over a year to get their hands on a tin pot league one club.
Alarm bells have pretty much rung themselves out. Something seriously wrong with their plan imo. You can bang their drum all you like. The fact that they still haven't managed to get this over the line at point critical speaks volumes. Any group with proper business savvy would have walked away long ago imo.
Don't tell me. .....They're just trying to help us out and are hanging in there for the good of the club. Total bollox if you ask me.
So you’d rather they had given up after what, a week, a month, six months? Based on your idea of what proper business savvy is all about?
Maybe they should, maybe they shouldn’t. But if they had where would you be now? Enjoying Roland’s fire sale? Waiting for some Brits to scrape together the thirty or forty million required to buy out Roly, so they too can run the club on a shoestring budget? Again, your last bit suggests they’re up to no good. What do you think they’re after? And where’s your evidence?
We all want the Aussies to come through. Without that I see a steady decline in our fortunes as Roland trims everything back to the bone. There are no parties out there ready and waiting to replace the Australians at the deluded price Duchatelet is asking. No Aussies could quite simply be no future. It’s not even as if Administration is an option. Unpalatable or otherwise.
I genuinely believe this season is already a write off. The squad just wont cope over a season. With Duchatelet in control this time next year does anyone really think the likes of Taylor, JFC, Bauer, Fosu and Aribo will be staying.
This is basically why so many people are becoming impatient with this saga. People are worried and with good reason.
@JamesSeed please remember this is a discussion forum, not a court of law.
By nature it’s a vehicle for people to share their thoughts, rational or irrational, like they would chatting in the pub. Of course, there is a line in terms of law that should not be crossed when speaking of individuals, but people people are free to suppose and speculate (within reason) however they wish. Everything does not have to be backed with fact based evidence otherwise social media as whole just doesn’t work.
I'm well aware of that mate, and in the absence of facts or genuine info it's inevitable.
But if people are starting to put out that the Aussies are bent then they have to expect to be challenged as you well know. That is also part of the debate, as is evidence and speculation.
Speculation is the only thing anyone can post, we all know that.
Not really. Someone was saying on here that there was going to be a Roland style player farm, only replacing players from Roland's clubs with Aussies. I wasn't speculating when I challenged them, because I heard the bloke say they wouldn't be doing that. Ok, perhaps he was lying through his teeth, but there are levels of speculation, and that would have been a pretty low one.
But where I do agree 100% is that this takeover is driving us all nuts. I believe I know what the causes are, but I don't know for sure, even with more than one source, (and I get no info from my Aussie source other than denials). So of course its fine to speculate that they might be trying to grab a bargain because RD is losing money, or whatever else people think might be going on. In the absence of real news it's inevitable.
But someone is leaking stuff about the Aussies and about the negotiations that has been proven to be wrong, time and time again. What we have to do is ask who, and why.
Let's face facts here, we are near to the start of a new season and the club is in limbo. We have an owner who doesn't want us and a buyer who can't buy us ( for whatever reason). Basically we are stuffed, feel for all us fans, the remaining players and Bowyer. Nobody knows what the fuck is going on except we all know that the squad is far to thin to compete. Sad state of affairs, fuck off Roland and take the rest of the parasites with you.
A squad of Europhiles? Ffs, this goes from bad to worse.....
Let's face facts here, we are near to the start of a new season and the club is in limbo. We have an owner who doesn't want us and a buyer who can't buy us ( for whatever reason). Basically we are stuffed, feel for all us fans, the remaining players and Bowyer. Nobody knows what the fuck is going on except we all know that the squad is far to thin to compete. Sad state of affairs, fuck off Roland and take the rest of the parasites with you.
A squad of Europhiles? Ffs, this goes from bad to worse.....
; )
Outrageous politicising of this otherwise unsullied thread.
Let's face facts here, we are near to the start of a new season and the club is in limbo. We have an owner who doesn't want us and a buyer who can't buy us ( for whatever reason). Basically we are stuffed, feel for all us fans, the remaining players and Bowyer. Nobody knows what the fuck is going on except we all know that the squad is far to thin to compete. Sad state of affairs, fuck off Roland and take the rest of the parasites with you.
A squad of Europhiles? Ffs, this goes from bad to worse.....
; )
Outrageous politicising of this otherwise unsullied thread.
True, but not the most outrageous thing that's been said on this thread
Why have others walked away and they are still here? I don't have any inside info but it just smells wrong.
I'm not claiming to have a great business mind, but I've been saying it a while, if these are the same outfit who were sniffing round for more investment in the City to even make the initial offer, it should ring alarm bells imo.
I think the Aussies have thought they've had the upper hand all along and basically went along with everything to get to the point where RD was so desperate to offload, that He would agree to a couple of small concessions to get the deal over the line, the £7 million charge being one, but they never took into account what a greedy stubborn old goat he is. Whoever was responsible for paying this £7 million off shoulda / woulda been agreed months ago, surely. So why is it a sticking point now, when the deal is supposedly so close? Someone ain't being honest and I personally don't think its all RD meself.
Queue the LOLs from the sheeple on here who won't have nothing bad said about the Aussies, but look at the bigger picture ffs, even if the deal goes through on Monday, there's still a couple of quite large question marks over certain things that have gone on over the last few months.
Sheeple? Bit harsh. To say something bad about the Aussies you need to have some evidence that they’ve done something wrong. If we find out something bad about the Aussies I’m sure opinions will shift. You’ve speculated a lot here, but I’m not sure what it’s based on, is all.
What are these question marks? There’s been lots of speculation about them bidding high, or bidding low, or paying off directors or not paying off directors, when the truth is no one knows what’s going on in the negotiations because they’re between Gerard Murphy and Roland’s money man, and neither are saying a word. If you’re implying something shady is going on, I’d like to see your evidence of that!
GM has said zero to me since our beer, except to deny rumours put out by agitators.
So what is your evidence, or where are you hearing these rumours?
It's taken them well over a year to get their hands on a tin pot league one club.
Alarm bells have pretty much rung themselves out. Something seriously wrong with their plan imo. You can bang their drum all you like. The fact that they still haven't managed to get this over the line at point critical speaks volumes. Any group with proper business savvy would have walked away long ago imo.
Don't tell me. .....They're just trying to help us out and are hanging in there for the good of the club. Total bollox if you ask me.
But for a large part of that time, KM & others were telling us that the club wasn't for sale.
The one thing that has worried be me throughout all of this with the Aussies are why they are so prepared to meet RD asking price. The club is worth so little and that is declining the more we have RD in charge
@JamesSeed please remember this is a discussion forum, not a court of law.
By nature it’s a vehicle for people to share their thoughts, rational or irrational, like they would chatting in the pub. Of course, there is a line in terms of law that should not be crossed when speaking of individuals, but people people are free to suppose and speculate (within reason) however they wish. Everything does not have to be backed with fact based evidence otherwise social media as whole just doesn’t work.
I'm well aware of that mate, and in the absence of facts or genuine info it's inevitable.
But if people are starting to put out that the Aussies are bent then they have to expect to be challenged as you well know. That is also part of the debate, as is evidence and speculation.
Speculation is the only thing anyone can post, we all know that.
Not really. Someone was saying on here that there was going to be a Roland style player farm, only replacing players from Roland's clubs with Aussies. I wasn't speculating when I challenged them, because I heard the bloke say they wouldn't be doing that. Ok, perhaps he was lying through his teeth, but there are levels of speculation, and that would have been a pretty low one. y.
They spoke about doing exactly that on their own website, so yes, I think someone is telling porkies, or The plan has changed, doesnt mean The poster was wrong.
@JamesSeed please remember this is a discussion forum, not a court of law.
By nature it’s a vehicle for people to share their thoughts, rational or irrational, like they would chatting in the pub. Of course, there is a line in terms of law that should not be crossed when speaking of individuals, but people people are free to suppose and speculate (within reason) however they wish. Everything does not have to be backed with fact based evidence otherwise social media as whole just doesn’t work.
I'm well aware of that mate, and in the absence of facts or genuine info it's inevitable.
But if people are starting to put out that the Aussies are bent then they have to expect to be challenged as you well know. That is also part of the debate, as is evidence and speculation.
Speculation is the only thing anyone can post, we all know that.
Not really. Someone was saying on here that there was going to be a Roland style player farm, only replacing players from Roland's clubs with Aussies. I wasn't speculating when I challenged them, because I heard the bloke say they wouldn't be doing that. Ok, perhaps he was lying through his teeth, but there are levels of speculation, and that would have been a pretty low one. y.
They spoke about doing exactly that on their own website, so yes, I think someone is telling porkies, or The plan has changed, doesnt mean The poster was wrong.
The one thing that has worried be me throughout all of this with the Aussies are why they are so prepared to meet RD asking price. The club is worth so little and that is declining the more we have RD in charge
The one thing that has worried be me throughout all of this with the Aussies are why they are so prepared to meet RD asking price. The club is worth so little and that is declining the more we have RD in charge
What is the agreed figure?
So we think/know RD is taking a massive loss? If so surely the deal would grave been concluded a long time ago as you would have thought he would have wanted shot of us
@JamesSeed please remember this is a discussion forum, not a court of law.
By nature it’s a vehicle for people to share their thoughts, rational or irrational, like they would chatting in the pub. Of course, there is a line in terms of law that should not be crossed when speaking of individuals, but people people are free to suppose and speculate (within reason) however they wish. Everything does not have to be backed with fact based evidence otherwise social media as whole just doesn’t work.
I'm well aware of that mate, and in the absence of facts or genuine info it's inevitable.
But if people are starting to put out that the Aussies are bent then they have to expect to be challenged as you well know. That is also part of the debate, as is evidence and speculation.
Speculation is the only thing anyone can post, we all know that.
Not really. Someone was saying on here that there was going to be a Roland style player farm, only replacing players from Roland's clubs with Aussies. I wasn't speculating when I challenged them, because I heard the bloke say they wouldn't be doing that. Ok, perhaps he was lying through his teeth, but there are levels of speculation, and that would have been a pretty low one. y.
They spoke about doing exactly that on their own website, so yes, I think someone is telling porkies, or The plan has changed, doesnt mean The poster was wrong.
Fair enough. I haven’t actually seen the website.
Then perhaps stop giving people such a hard time for simply disagreeing with you about your mate.
@JamesSeed please remember this is a discussion forum, not a court of law.
By nature it’s a vehicle for people to share their thoughts, rational or irrational, like they would chatting in the pub. Of course, there is a line in terms of law that should not be crossed when speaking of individuals, but people people are free to suppose and speculate (within reason) however they wish. Everything does not have to be backed with fact based evidence otherwise social media as whole just doesn’t work.
I'm well aware of that mate, and in the absence of facts or genuine info it's inevitable.
But if people are starting to put out that the Aussies are bent then they have to expect to be challenged as you well know. That is also part of the debate, as is evidence and speculation.
Speculation is the only thing anyone can post, we all know that.
Not really. Someone was saying on here that there was going to be a Roland style player farm, only replacing players from Roland's clubs with Aussies. I wasn't speculating when I challenged them, because I heard the bloke say they wouldn't be doing that. Ok, perhaps he was lying through his teeth, but there are levels of speculation, and that would have been a pretty low one. y.
They spoke about doing exactly that on their own website, so yes, I think someone is telling porkies, or The plan has changed, doesnt mean The poster was wrong.
Fair enough. I haven’t actually seen the website.
Then perhaps stop giving people such a hard time for simply disagreeing with you about your mate.
It’s not about that Stu.
And actually, it’s a debate. I’m not giving anyone a hard time. People should expect to be challenged, just as you challenged me about the website. It’s fine, I didn’t take it personally.
The one thing that has worried be me throughout all of this with the Aussies are why they are so prepared to meet RD asking price. The club is worth so little and that is declining the more we have RD in charge
What is the agreed figure?
So we think/know RD is taking a massive loss? If so surely the deal would grave been concluded a long time ago as you would have thought he would have wanted shot of us
I don’t know if he’s taking a loss. It’d be great if he was though. ;-)
The one thing that has worried be me throughout all of this with the Aussies are why they are so prepared to meet RD asking price. The club is worth so little and that is declining the more we have RD in charge
What is the agreed figure?
So we think/know RD is taking a massive loss? If so surely the deal would grave been concluded a long time ago as you would have thought he would have wanted shot of us
I don’t know if he’s taking a loss. It’d be great if he was though. ;-)
So if he is not taking a loss then it's a lot of money to pay for our club in its current state
The one thing that has worried be me throughout all of this with the Aussies are why they are so prepared to meet RD asking price. The club is worth so little and that is declining the more we have RD in charge
What is the agreed figure?
So we think/know RD is taking a massive loss? If so surely the deal would grave been concluded a long time ago as you would have thought he would have wanted shot of us
I don’t know if he’s taking a loss. It’d be great if he was though. ;-)
So if he is not taking a loss then it's a lot of money to pay for our club in its current state
I don’t know if he’s taking a loss. I guess something is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.
@JamesSeed please remember this is a discussion forum, not a court of law.
By nature it’s a vehicle for people to share their thoughts, rational or irrational, like they would chatting in the pub. Of course, there is a line in terms of law that should not be crossed when speaking of individuals, but people people are free to suppose and speculate (within reason) however they wish. Everything does not have to be backed with fact based evidence otherwise social media as whole just doesn’t work.
@JamesSeed please remember this is a discussion forum, not a court of law.
By nature it’s a vehicle for people to share their thoughts, rational or irrational, like they would chatting in the pub. Of course, there is a line in terms of law that should not be crossed when speaking of individuals, but people people are free to suppose and speculate (within reason) however they wish. Everything does not have to be backed with fact based evidence otherwise social media as whole just doesn’t work.
I'm well aware of that mate, and in the absence of facts or genuine info it's inevitable.
But if people are starting to put out that the Aussies are bent then they have to expect to be challenged as you well know. That is also part of the debate, as is evidence and speculation.
Where has anyone said they are bent???
'There's a smell in the air' was one recent comment. 'Dodgy' would be a more commonly used word rather than bent... read through the thread and there are comments here and there that are designed to undermine their bid and make it look like theyre up to something.
All part of the debate though of course, but they're going to be challenged, and they are being, and not just by me.
I, like many others have been suspicious of the Australian bid for a while now.
If some of the rumours are true then I find their business sense a little bit bewildering. I also believe now they are short of ‘available funds’if you like.
It takes two to do the deal and we can’t doubt Roland’s part in this but I am not convinced the Aussies are the best thing for us right now, albeit they can’t be worse than Roland.
What is it about the Australian consortium that makes you think they're not "the best thing for us now"?
Is it because they're diligent, unlike Roland? Or because they don't want to chuck away millions without proper consideration, unlike Roland?
I personally don’t like the idea of having a number of investors, I fear it could get messy. I also don’t believe they have the funds to make us contenders to reach the Premiership unless further funding is found as they go along, again very messy.
I also found it surprising they went to the EFL knowing a couple of investors had conflicting interest in other clubs (if true).
Like others I am not convinced it is the right move for the club. Bottom line really is that there’s not enough knowledge to completely gauge one way for the other, it’s just my gut saying this isn’t the right deal for the club.
@JamesSeed please remember this is a discussion forum, not a court of law.
By nature it’s a vehicle for people to share their thoughts, rational or irrational, like they would chatting in the pub. Of course, there is a line in terms of law that should not be crossed when speaking of individuals, but people people are free to suppose and speculate (within reason) however they wish. Everything does not have to be backed with fact based evidence otherwise social media as whole just doesn’t work.
Silence in court, where were we?
Where we always were, where we may be for some time....or not as the case may be:
There may, or may not be a takeover going on There may be potential buyers or it may be just a wind up that’s morphed into a life of it’s own There is a club There is the Valley There is a team There is the start of a new season looming
Duchatelet: 'Use success of the Rode Duivels to reinvent Belgium.
Of all times it is during the World Cup Football, that he downsizes his fooballimperium. Because he rather invests in society problems. Breakfast with De Tijd.
What is a human being? Only an upgraded animal. So people make mistakes. I, like everybody. That is why you have to shield yourself emotionally when people write or say something to hurt you. How? I just wonder what their problem is.
Breakfast with De Tijd
Sint-Truiden, 8 am, in Grand Café Stayen.
PART2 TO FOLLOW
Conservative
But then there is "the system". As a politician you have to have enough votes. Which you don't get if you say things that insult people. (laughing) That is what I always did. And you are certainly not allowed to say anything innovative, because people in essence are conservative. Take the basic income. You cannot sell it politically, because it would make the people independant of political services rendered and that is the politicians' nightmare. People themselves would only realise how good it is, when it is there. So that is the paradox.
'If you do not innovate in business, you die. If you do not innovate in politics, you survive. That was frustrating sometimes, yes. An example: normally all those youngsters who are in Werchter (place in Belgium, where also 4 day pop festivals are organized. That was going on at the time) today, should have been in Brustem near Sint-Truiden. That deal was done, Herman Schueremans wanted that too, but the then sp.a-mayor (Ludwig Vandenhove, red.) stopped it because he feared I would come out there as a winner. That has been shot down purely for polical reasons. The socialists have got their pawns everywhere, also at De Lijn and at Wegen en Verkeer (equivalent of Highway services). So yes, it is correct that the sossen (socialists) work against many things. But the N-VA unfortunately is not the solution. Because you will get the aged fighter planes, without social security and a divided country. Which is silly. The opportunity that offers the success of the Rode Duivels, should be used now to reinvent Belgium. Make English the official language and let everybody as well use their own language without concern.
There are plenty of ideas, but the politics is history. Question is: would a succesful entrepreneur put all those ideas and energy - and may be his own money - into a NGO (non-government organisation)?
'Most people with great wealth who I know, also have a social side. I support some people who are struggling. But too many people think that a rich guy can replace social security and has time to learn about their problems. That is not so. But there are three projects I am helping forward. One: Wikipedia. Because free spreading of knowledge in the world is extremely important. Two: Transparency International, an organisation that fights corruption. And three: BIEN, that stands for Basic Income European Network.'
We were with five children at home, he then says. My father was an officer with the Military Police and my parents found it important that we would know about it. My brother Alain, who passed away six months ago, became a colonel in the Military Police. One sister taught all her life, one brother went in private and another became military. Especially sense of responsibility were found important by my parents. I am trying to teach that to my six children.
Somebody who is 71, could be thinking of retirement. He doesn't do that. "Stopping is not as easy for an entrepreneur. My added value is, that I understand rather well how the world economy works. Not many people do that, and you cannot just pass that knowledge on.
Somebody who is 71, can also look back. Far even. Were his realizations and his activities, until today, at amongst others Melexis, X-FAB and in the horeca (hotels, restaurants, cafés) around Stayen a dream of his youth? Not at all, he says. I wanted to play and have friends. My only ambition was to be happy. And that is still the case.
I really don’t get any of the negative stuff about the Aussies. At the moment they are the only people in the game that RD is playing. Where are all the other parties queuing up to buy us? The Scottish mob walked away, the Arabs walked away, the British group is just a figure of some weirdos imagination. KM drove away Varney’s group and poisoned Roland against them. The Aussies are our only chance to get rid of Roland. They have told James Seed they have the funding in place to purchase the Club and fund it for five years. Are they lying? Maybe, but I’d suggest not. The alternative is Roland and we know he’s lied and he has run the Club into the ground into the process. Of the two options I am 100% behind the Aussies.
Roland famously didn’t do due diligence and yet some are now questioning the Aussies business savvy. Really? At least they have done everything properly and in doing so have uncovered stuff that Roland wasn’t even aware of. Stuff that wasn’t of Roland’s making but his stuff now. Quite rightly it’s his mess to sort out.
People bemoan the fact they have been in the picture for over a year but can’t get a deal done but it’s obviously much more complicated than anyone ever imagined and it’s unearthed problems and maybe even illegal irregularities. Don’t forget in the recent Jiminez/Slater/Cash court case the judge couldn’t get to the bottom which, if any of them, owned the Club. Yet this is the fault of the Aussies.
I am surprised that like many others they haven’t walked away but I’m very glad they haven’t and that fact endears them to me even more. Let’s hope this nightmare ends soon.
I really don’t get any of the negative stuff about the Aussies. At the moment they are the only people in the game that RD is playing. Where are all the other parties queuing up to buy us? The Scottish mob walked away, the Arabs walked away, the British group is just a figure of some weirdos imagination. KM drove away Varney’s group and poisoned Roland against them. The Aussies are our only chance to get rid of Roland. They have told James Seed they have the funding in place to purchase the Club and fund it for five years. Are they lying? Maybe, but I’d suggest not. The alternative is Roland and we know he’s lied and he has run the Club into the ground into the process. Of the two options I am 100% behind the Aussies.
Roland famously didn’t do due diligence and yet some are now questioning the Aussies business savvy. Really? At least they have done everything properly and in doing so have uncovered stuff that Roland wasn’t even aware of. Stuff that wasn’t of Roland’s making but his stuff now. Quite rightly it’s his mess to sort out.
People bemoan the fact they have been in the picture for over a year but can’t get a deal done but it’s obviously much more complicated than anyone ever imagined and it’s unearthed problems and maybe even illegal irregularities. Don’t forget in the recent Jiminez/Slater/Cash court case the judge couldn’t get to the bottom which, if any of them, owned the Club. Yet this is the fault of the Aussies.
I am surprised that like many others they haven’t walked away but I’m very glad they haven’t and that fact endears them to me even more. Let’s hope this nightmare ends soon.
This. I am very happy that the Aussies are persistent and not caving in to probable unreasonable demands from RD. In fact I am so happy with them that I will bung them £500 on purchase of the club, with my first season ticket for 3 years.
This discussion may be the epicentre of Addicks' football world, but could we not pause for a few moments to think about the Thai lads' team stuck in their cave - today the rescuers will try to bring them out. Incredibly brave young guys. Hopefully they should all be coming home (sadly one rescuer already died the other day).
But what's this nonsense about football coming home? As far as I'm concerned it's never been away - we've just lent it out from time to time.
There are legitimate questions to be asked about the Aussie and doubts about them exist well beyond people posting on message boards, but it’s also worth remembering they are the only interested party which has made any attempt to communicate and engage with fans, via mainstream media, as well as @Jamesseed. That of itself gives people more to pick apart.
Suppose the “British bidder” turns out to be an underfunded Murray renting The Valley from Duchatelet - contradicting his own words. Wouldn’t there be questions about that? Or about Saudis, with all the baggage attached to that country? Yet because those interests have never fronted up - in the way most serious buyers of football clubs do actually show themselves - people are heavily focused on picking the Aussies apart, not the possible alternatives.
I have no idea if the Aussies are “right for the club” but we’re not judges at a beauty parade. The owner is a nutcase and his fellow director is a self-serving egotist who alienated many of those who sat round the boardroom table with him for years to the point where they despise him. He has since shown himself willing to collude with dishonest and delusional successors even after the point where suspected criminality was alleged directly to him by fellow board members and the club is pushed to the point of potential destruction by crazy decision-making.
Comments
I genuinely believe this season is already a write off. The squad just wont cope over a season. With Duchatelet in control this time next year does anyone really think the likes of Taylor, JFC, Bauer, Fosu and Aribo will be staying.
This is basically why so many people are becoming impatient with this saga. People are worried and with good reason.
But where I do agree 100% is that this takeover is driving us all nuts. I believe I know what the causes are, but I don't know for sure, even with more than one source, (and I get no info from my Aussie source other than denials). So of course its fine to speculate that they might be trying to grab a bargain because RD is losing money, or whatever else people think might be going on. In the absence of real news it's inevitable.
But someone is leaking stuff about the Aussies and about the negotiations that has been proven to be wrong, time and time again. What we have to do is ask who, and why.
; )
And actually, it’s a debate. I’m not giving anyone a hard time.
People should expect to be challenged, just as you challenged me about the website. It’s fine, I didn’t take it personally.
I also found it surprising they went to the EFL knowing a couple of investors had conflicting interest in other clubs (if true).
Like others I am not convinced it is the right move for the club. Bottom line really is that there’s not enough knowledge to completely gauge one way for the other, it’s just my gut saying this isn’t the right deal for the club.
There may, or may not be a takeover going on
There may be potential buyers or it may be just a wind up that’s morphed into a life of it’s own
There is a club
There is the Valley
There is a team
There is the start of a new season looming
But then there is "the system". As a politician you have to have enough votes. Which you don't get if you say things that insult people. (laughing) That is what I always did. And you are certainly not allowed to say anything innovative, because people in essence are conservative. Take the basic income. You cannot sell it politically, because it would make the people independant of political services rendered and that is the politicians' nightmare. People themselves would only realise how good it is, when it is there. So that is the paradox.
'If you do not innovate in business, you die. If you do not innovate in politics, you survive. That was frustrating sometimes, yes. An example: normally all those youngsters who are in Werchter (place in Belgium, where also 4 day pop festivals are organized. That was going on at the time) today, should have been in Brustem near Sint-Truiden. That deal was done, Herman Schueremans wanted that too, but the then sp.a-mayor (Ludwig Vandenhove, red.) stopped it because he feared I would come out there as a winner. That has been shot down purely for polical reasons.
The socialists have got their pawns everywhere, also at De Lijn and at Wegen en Verkeer (equivalent of Highway services). So yes, it is correct that the sossen (socialists) work against many things. But the N-VA unfortunately is not the solution. Because you will get the aged fighter planes, without social security and a divided country. Which is silly. The opportunity that offers the success of the Rode Duivels, should be used now to reinvent Belgium. Make English the official language and let everybody as well use their own language without concern.
There are plenty of ideas, but the politics is history. Question is: would a succesful entrepreneur put all those ideas and energy - and may be his own money - into a NGO (non-government organisation)?
'Most people with great wealth who I know, also have a social side. I support some people who are struggling. But too many people think that a rich guy can replace social security and has time to learn about their problems. That is not so. But there are three projects I am helping forward. One: Wikipedia. Because free spreading of knowledge in the world is extremely important. Two: Transparency International, an organisation that fights corruption. And three: BIEN, that stands for Basic Income European Network.'
We were with five children at home, he then says. My father was an officer with the Military Police and my parents found it important that we would know about it. My brother Alain, who passed away six months ago, became a colonel in the Military Police. One sister taught all her life, one brother went in private and another became military. Especially sense of responsibility were found important by my parents. I am trying to teach that to my six children.
Somebody who is 71, could be thinking of retirement. He doesn't do that. "Stopping is not as easy for an entrepreneur. My added value is, that I understand rather well how the world economy works. Not many people do that, and you cannot just pass that knowledge on.
Somebody who is 71, can also look back. Far even. Were his realizations and his activities, until today, at amongst others Melexis, X-FAB and in the horeca (hotels, restaurants, cafés) around Stayen a dream of his youth? Not at all, he says. I wanted to play and have friends. My only ambition was to be happy. And that is still the case.
The coffee has gone cold.
Roland famously didn’t do due diligence and yet some are now questioning the Aussies business savvy. Really? At least they have done everything properly and in doing so have uncovered stuff that Roland wasn’t even aware of. Stuff that wasn’t of Roland’s making but his stuff now. Quite rightly it’s his mess to sort out.
People bemoan the fact they have been in the picture for over a year but can’t get a deal done but it’s obviously much more complicated than anyone ever imagined and it’s unearthed problems and maybe even illegal irregularities. Don’t forget in the recent Jiminez/Slater/Cash court case the judge couldn’t get to the bottom which, if any of them, owned the Club. Yet this is the fault of the Aussies.
I am surprised that like many others they haven’t walked away but I’m very glad they haven’t and that fact endears them to me even more. Let’s hope this nightmare ends soon.
This discussion may be the epicentre of Addicks' football world, but could we not pause for a few moments to think about the Thai lads' team stuck in their cave - today the rescuers will try to bring them out. Incredibly brave young guys. Hopefully they should all be coming home (sadly one rescuer already died the other day).
But what's this nonsense about football coming home? As far as I'm concerned it's never been away - we've just lent it out from time to time.
Sorry - time-out over. Takeover talk may resume.
We are in the World Cup semi final
We have endured as Charlton fans a huge decline in footballing enjoyment
As an England fan it has mirrored that pain but for even longer
Fuck Roland
Fuck the take over
Fuck the Aussies
To a degree fuck Charlton
Enjoy the next 4 days till kick off then in 7 days time let’s all talk about how unreal it is that we are in the World Cup final
Then for the next 52 years let’s talk about where we were when we won the World Cup
Take that in for a moment think about it your all football fans the pinnacle is not Charlton it is England being world champions
The take over has consumed too many words too many pages on this forum
Fuck it off for a week Dan close the bastd thing
Suppose the “British bidder” turns out to be an underfunded Murray renting The Valley from Duchatelet - contradicting his own words. Wouldn’t there be questions about that? Or about Saudis, with all the baggage attached to that country? Yet because those interests have never fronted up - in the way most serious buyers of football clubs do actually show themselves - people are heavily focused on picking the Aussies apart, not the possible alternatives.
I have no idea if the Aussies are “right for the club” but we’re not judges at a beauty parade. The owner is a nutcase and his fellow director is a self-serving egotist who alienated many of those who sat round the boardroom table with him for years to the point where they despise him. He has since shown himself willing to collude with dishonest and delusional successors even after the point where suspected criminality was alleged directly to him by fellow board members and the club is pushed to the point of potential destruction by crazy decision-making.
The Australians are not the issue.