ALK Capital or Farnell/Elkashashy takeover

[scouseclaret]

Does seem a hell of a long time. The optimum time to sell would have been that summer, after we'd just qualfied for Europe.

[Chester Perry]

Thanks CP and DJW. I don’t think I’m any nearer to an answer of my original question really but I appreciate your patience. I suppose we will have to just wait and see what comes out in the wash.

I think that you are - Because a State cannot (should not) give the the Premier League the guarantees it requires, it cannot own a football club - that is part (and only part) of the reason why such guarantees are required in the first place - The Premier League does not not want itself to become the plaything of States - it has a hard enough time dealing with the proxies, but at least it can use the law against those individuals. Interestingly one of the small print features of Project Big Picture was the right of any of the chosen few to block the entry of any prospective owner, without the need for a reason - this is a feature of the American Professional Sports Leagues

[Pstotto]

Cummun, Brand Li.

[Danieljwaterhouse]

75BFB2CD-B301-4A5D-B3FC-233724D421CF.jpeg
Gone up 20 million. Fair play to MG for holding out

There’s no us media company involvement in the current bids, and it was well publicised that we were seeking investment. I recall the chairman posing in Singapore with prospective investors.

You’re getting your wires crossed. They’re may well have been previous intentions. Both these bids are fresh.

[Chester Perry]

I think that you are - Because a State cannot (should not) give the the Premier League the guarantees it requires, it cannot own a football club - that is part (and only part) of the reason why such guarantees are required in the first place - The Premier League does not not want itself to become the plaything of States - it has a hard enough time dealing with the proxies, but at least it can use the law against those individuals. Interestingly one of the small print features of Project Big Picture was the right of any of the chosen few to block the entry of any prospective owner, without the need for a reason - this is a feature of the American Professional Sports Leagues

I should also say that it is not just the Man City/Abu Dhabi or Newcastle/Saudi Arabia deals that have been investigated - there was a close look at Southampton and the Chinese State as their owner has a number of businesses that are part owned by the Chinese State (which is not that unusual over there). For sake of clarity the owners of Wolves and Wrst Brom are more distanced (though no less influenced from the whims) of the Chinese State

[RMutt]

I think that you are - Because a State cannot (should not) give the the Premier League the guarantees it requires, it cannot own a football club - that is part (and only part) of the reason why such guarantees are required in the first place - The Premier League does not not want itself to become the plaything of States - it has a hard enough time dealing with the proxies, but at least it can use the law against those individuals. Interestingly one of the small print features of Project Big Picture was the right of any of the chosen few to block the entry of any prospective owner, without the need for a reason - this is a feature of the American Professional Sports Leagues

Well, I'm not sure I am. My original query was about the contradictions of a preferred bid that seems destined to fail.

[Dodobdobodobo]

There’s no us media company involvement in the current bids, and it was well publicised that we were seeking investment. I recall the chairman posing in Singapore with prospective investors.

You’re getting your wires crossed. They’re may well have been previous intentions. Both these bids are fresh.

Sorry Daniel I’m not saying they are. I was just showing the newspaper article the previous poster mentioned.

[kentonclaret]

I hope that this mega thread has a happier ending than the last transfer window thread.

[Dodobdobodobo]

I hope that this mega thread has a happier ending than the last transfer window thread.

Don’t we all Kenton

[TVC15]

I hope that this mega thread has a happier ending than the last transfer window thread.

If it ends with a takeover which is as underwhelming as buying Dale Stephens then it could mean we have been taken over by Venkys with a view to becoming Blackburn’s feeder club.

[cblantfanclub]

There's an awful lot of similarities

[cblantfanclub]

There's an awful lot of similarities between the old article and the present bids. I'm assuming media maybe being used a little loosely. Who were those bidders and why did it disappear to be replaced by two geographically identical groups? Anyone able to see the rest as it's behind a pay wall?

[Charlton Boy]

On the subject of Farnell, and I know this has been posted on the Charlton thread, but I'm assuming he's the one who has sent that letter demanding that the owner of Charlton departs.

That's what we think

[Paul Waine]

There's an awful lot of similarities between the old article and the present bids. I'm assuming media maybe being used a little loosely. Who were those bidders and why did it disappear to be replaced by two geographically identical groups? Anyone able to see the rest as it's behind a pay wall?

I love you post, cblantfanclub. Who'd have thought there was more than one entity in America interested in owning a Premier League football club? Similarly, who'd have thought there have been an entity in the Middle East interested in owning a Premier League football club. What's the odds on two entities from these two "geographically identical" regions being the two who, we are told, are bidding today to takeover BFC?

By "media" do you think it includes persons in the film industry, so perhaps actors, as well as other participants in the "loosely media" sector? Maybe the "media" guys from 2 years back are the same two who are today reported to be buying Wrexham? Or, maybe ALK, led by Alan Pace, an investment banker and former american soccer team guy, can be "a little loosely" be considered a "media" guy?

UTC

[Danieljwaterhouse]

I love you post, cblantfanclub. Who'd have thought there was more than one entity in America interested in owning a Premier League football club? Similarly, who'd have thought there have been an entity in the Middle East interested in owning a Premier League football club. What's the odds on two entities from these two "geographically identical" regions being the two who, we are told, are bidding today to takeover BFC?

By "media" do you think it includes persons in the film industry, so perhaps actors, as well as other participants in the "loosely media" sector? Maybe the "media" guys from 2 years back are the same two who are today reported to be buying Wrexham? Or, maybe ALK, led by Alan Pace, an investment banker and former american soccer team guy, can be "a little loosely" be considered a "media" guy?

UTC

No need for the ribbing

[Dark Cloud]

That's what we think

So Farnell finding yet ANOTHER way to show himself up. He really is a chump imo!

[Grumps]

So Farnell finding yet ANOTHER way to show himself up. He really is a chump imo!

Is he? Definitely?

[ClaretTony]

So Farnell finding yet ANOTHER way to show himself up. He really is a chump imo!

I’ve got serious concerns over anything he might be involved in.

[mybloodisclaret]

And yet.... we are cryptically being told that his bid was meeting with the Premier League today. Doesn't bode well really.

[Dark Cloud]

I’ve got serious concerns over anything he might be involved in.

Same here. To put it mildly!!

[boatshed bill]

So Farnell finding yet ANOTHER way to show himself up. He really is a chump imo!

Probably a very well off chump.

[Dark Cloud]

Probably a very well off chump.

I agree, but then again it depends what you class as well off. He'll undoubtedly have a damn site more than me since he's been "lawyer to the stars"!! But I'll bet me house he hasn't got enough to buy basically ANY football club, so quite what his role is in all the shenanigans around these deals I don't really know. He apparently puts himself up there as some kind of middle man, bringing the real money people to the table, but just seems to end up looking a rather well off con man and quite frankly..... a chump! (IMO)

[Paul Waine]

Jordan North has just upped the takeover price by a few million. Turf Moor is his "happy place" - and mentioned I don't know how many times on "I'm a Celebrity."

UTC

[boatshed bill]

I agree, but then again it depends what you class as well off. He'll undoubtedly have a damn site more than me since he's been "lawyer to the stars"!! But I'll bet me house he hasn't got enough to buy basically ANY football club, so quite what his role is in all the shenanigans around these deals I don't really know. He apparently puts himself up there as some kind of middle man, bringing the real money people to the table, but just seems to end up looking a rather well off con man and quite frankly..... a chump! (IMO)

I get the feeling that he won't be unduly concerned at your (IMO accurate) assessment, Mr Cloud

[lrac]

Still fubar

[gandhisflipflop]

When and where will we find out how the meeting went yesterday with the PL?

[NewClaret]

Sorry if I have missed something but why do we think there was a meeting with the Premier League this week?

[THEWELLERNUT70]

Farnell causing a stink at Charlton this morning. Apparently he's issued Thomas Sangaard with a legal writ

[Murger]

I'd rather not have this chancer anywhere near the club.

[boyyanno]

For all the posters on here who have questioned what Charlton fans and others have been saying about Farnell, please just do a bit of digging online.

It's not hard to find evidence to support what I've been reading on here. The man sounds like an absolute bandit.

I would prefer no takeover to the one he is involved in.

[JohnDearyMe]

For all the posters on here who have questioned what Charlton fans and others have been saying about Farnell, please just do a bit of digging online.

It's not hard to find evidence to support what I've been reading on here. The man sounds like an absolute bandit.

I would prefer no takeover to the one he is involved in.

Yet we are led to believe by some that he is the man chosen by the Dubai state be the frontman for the deal...

[ewanrob]

Just stumbled across Talksport interview with new Charlton owner in America....damning of Farnell.

[Danieljwaterhouse]

Yet we are led to believe by some that he is the man chosen by the Dubai state be the frontman for the deal...

I'm still unclear as to why any credible bid would want to have him involved

There’s a presumption that Farnell is involved in much more than the legal wranglings. The hysteria of the Charlton fans is whipping this up.

Let’s be frank, your club was in a mess prior to his involvement. Let’s also acknowledge that any new owner will obviously win an easy PR battle by speaking out against the previous owners. Disgruntled is often heard more than satisfied.

We are very different to a Charlton, Bolton, Bury et al, and yes you’ll say that we want to remain so.

The EPL are highly protective of its product and therefore by proxy the owners. Chester has explained this at length...

[Charlton Boy]

.

[Charlton Boy]

There’s a presumption that Farnell is involved in much more than the legal wranglings. The hysteria of the Charlton fans is whipping this up.

Let’s be frank, your club was in a mess prior to his involvement. Let’s also acknowledge that any new owner will obviously win an easy PR battle by speaking out against the previous owners. Disgruntled is often heard more than satisfied.

We are very different to a Charlton, Bolton, Bury et al, and yes you’ll say that we want to remain so.

The EPL are highly protective of its product and therefore by proxy the owners. Chester has explained this at length...

Get the blinkers off fella

[Grumps]

Get the blinkers off fella

Good advice, perhaps you need to take it on board as well...

[aggi]

There’s a presumption that Farnell is involved in much more than the legal wranglings. The hysteria of the Charlton fans is whipping this up.

Let’s be frank, your club was in a mess prior to his involvement. Let’s also acknowledge that any new owner will obviously win an easy PR battle by speaking out against the previous owners. Disgruntled is often heard more than satisfied.

We are very different to a Charlton, Bolton, Bury et al, and yes you’ll say that we want to remain so.

The EPL are highly protective of its product and therefore by proxy the owners. Chester has explained this at length...

Well, also the fact that he is a 50% shareholder in Staunch Partners which has been mooted as the takeover vehicle. That suggests more than just involvement in legal wranglings.

[boyyanno]

There’s a presumption that Farnell is involved in much more than the legal wranglings. The hysteria of the Charlton fans is whipping this up.

Let’s be frank, your club was in a mess prior to his involvement. Let’s also acknowledge that any new owner will obviously win an easy PR battle by speaking out against the previous owners. Disgruntled is often heard more than satisfied.

We are very different to a Charlton, Bolton, Bury et al, and yes you’ll say that we want to remain so.

The EPL are highly protective of its product and therefore by proxy the owners. Chester has explained this at length...

So Farnell and that Paul Elliott not dodgy at all then?

Come on man, I wouldn't want him taking money at the turnstiles let alone anything to do with any legal wrangling's at the club. To make out that the noise is purely down to Charlton fans making a deal out of nothing is pretty low, especially when they came on here to offer an olive branch.

[Boss Hogg]

Don’t like the sound of Farnell at all. Why would a group that could probably use any lawyer choose him ?

[Grumps]

I'd love to see the 'facts' people are using to reach all these assumptions, I see plenty of.. Mooted.. Thought to be... Rumoured to be etc etc, but in reality we don't know if, or how he is or isn't involved in a possible bid for burnley....

[Chester Perry]

Don’t like the sound of Farnell at all. Why would a group that could probably use any lawyer choose him ?

he has experience in the field and knows a lot of people - been involved in attempted takeovers at Birmingham City and Charlton, in successful takeovers (in terms of the deal actually happening not what ensued) at Leeds and Swansea, rumoured to be involved in the current Spanish bid for Wigan and also involved in the Egyptian fronted bid for Burnley.

In all of these bids the common theme appears to be he is fronting for people most wouldn't want at their club and there are numerous reports of distasteful (to be polite) actions by Farnell with club employees.

[ewanrob]

From Thomas Sandgaard Talksport interview...love the "certain characters and direct reference bit

“Any letter from an attorney should be taken seriously and Chris Farnell (the club’s former lawyer) is an attorney, as I’m aware, and will treat it accordingly.

“Anybody can claim anything and it’s always a question on whether it can be proven in a court of law and we are done with all that.”

“I’m learning so much about football and would really like to be involved in having dialogue between the clubs and EFL about how certain types of characters should not be allowed in English football.

“I’m not going to make any direct references to individuals but I think English football deserves a lot better than what a club like Charlton has gone through in the first half of 2020. 

[Danieljwaterhouse]

Well, also the fact that he is a 50% shareholder in Staunch Partners which has been mooted as the takeover vehicle. That suggests more than just involvement in legal wranglings.

Mooted, not factual, mooted.

[Danieljwaterhouse]

Get the blinkers off fella

No blinkers, bring me evidence that’s shows his actions are illegal?

You’re swimming in a world where you don’t have any experience or expertise. This world is different to what you may perceive to be acceptable, normal, or justifiable.

[aggi]

Mooted, not factual, mooted.

True. But it's still pretty unusual for such a relationship to exist if all Farnell is is a legal adviser. If I was doing KYC on this I'd be asking more questions.

[arise_sir_charge]

Let's just hope that the bloke now in charge of Charlton is someone their fans are actually happy with.

[TVC15]

There’s a presumption that Farnell is involved in much more than the legal wranglings. The hysteria of the Charlton fans is whipping this up.

Let’s be frank, your club was in a mess prior to his involvement. Let’s also acknowledge that any new owner will obviously win an easy PR battle by speaking out against the previous owners. Disgruntled is often heard more than satisfied.

We are very different to a Charlton, Bolton, Bury et al, and yes you’ll say that we want to remain so.

The EPL are highly protective of its product and therefore by proxy the owners. Chester has explained this at length...

There seems to be a lot of giving Farnell the benefit of the doubt coming from yourself.
I accept that you may be party to more information about any prospective deal than some of us and there may even some detail that you have which is leading to you being seemingly a lot more comfortable with Farnell than the majority of other Burnley fans seem to be.....
.....but surely you must see that Charlton fans are not ‘whipping up hysteria’ just for the sake of it ?
The state of Charlton, Bury, Bolton etc was as you say very different to our club - but I’m not really sure as to why this is relevant to the fans of these clubs being very critical of his dealings with their clubs.
If he has been unscrupulous with clubs who are on their knees then it’s not a crazy assumption to believe that he would not be acting in the best interest of a club he was dealing with who were not on their knees....so to speak.

I’ve had plenty of dealings with owners and chairmen of football clubs far bigger than Burnley - some of which were in big financial trouble - and to say that this is a murky world would be a massive understatement. I won’t go into detail but meeting Ken Bates was one experience I will never forget !

I know little about Farnell - but I am not surprised that there are a lot of fans who are expressing concerns about his involvement. The only detail they have on Farnell is pretty much what they read in reports or hear from other clubs fans - the fact that some of these may not be accurate or biased or that they may not have all the facts about him is pretty irrelevant too...they can only go off what information they read or are told.

[arise_sir_charge]

There seems to be a lot of giving Farnell the benefit of the doubt coming from yourself.
I accept that you may be party to more information about any prospective deal than some of us and there may even some detail that you have which is leading to you being seemingly a lot more comfortable with Farnell than the majority of other Burnley fans seem to be.....
.....but surely you must see that Charlton fans are not ‘whipping up hysteria’ just for the sake of it ?
The state of Charlton, Bury, Bolton etc was as you say very different to our club - but I’m not really sure as to why this is relevant to the fans of these clubs being very critical of his dealings with their clubs.
If he has been unscrupulous with clubs who are on their knees then it’s not a crazy assumption to believe that he would not be acting in the best interest of a club he was dealing with who were not on their knees....so to speak.

I’ve had plenty of dealings with owners and chairmen of football clubs far bigger than Burnley - some of which were in big financial trouble - and to say that this is a murky world would be a massive understatement. I won’t go into detail but meeting Ken Bates was one experience I will never forget !

I know little about Farnell - but I am not surprised that there are a lot of fans who are expressing concerns about his involvement. The only detail they have on Farnell is pretty much what they read in reports or hear from other clubs fans - the fact that some of these may not be accurate or biased or that they may not have all the facts about him is pretty irrelevant too...they can only go off what information they read or are told.

TVC, it's a fair point other than the fact he or his associates would need £200m to get through our doors. That's the single biggest difference.

[JohnDearyMe]

There’s a presumption that Farnell is involved in much more than the legal wranglings. The hysteria of the Charlton fans is whipping this up.

Let’s be frank, your club was in a mess prior to his involvement. Let’s also acknowledge that any new owner will obviously win an easy PR battle by speaking out against the previous owners. Disgruntled is often heard more than satisfied.

We are very different to a Charlton, Bolton, Bury et al, and yes you’ll say that we want to remain so.

The EPL are highly protective of its product and therefore by proxy the owners. Chester has explained this at length...

I'm a Burnley fan but nevermind that. I suppose my next question would be given that taking over a football club is such an emotive exercise for the fans why would any prospective new owner choose to work with someone like Farnell? We've seen a number of Burnlet fans on here (some with access to more info than others), that most would view as being sensible, expressing serious reservations about his involvement.

Is there a shortage of football related lawyers out there for some reason that means he is the only viable candidate? As TVC15 says above, football is a murky business and it is natural that fans are worried.

[Grumps]

I'm a Burnley fan but nevermind that. I suppose my next question would be given that taking over a football club is such an emotive exercise for the fans why would any prospective new owner choose to work with someone like Farnell? We've seen a number of Burnlet fans on here (some with access to more info than others), that most would view as being sensible, expressing serious reservations about his involvement.

Is there a shortage of football related lawyers out there for some reason that means he is the only viable candidate? As TVC15 says above, football is a murky business and it is natural that fans are worried.

Simple question.... What's his involvement in any possible takeover at Burnley?