Pace/ALK set to buy Espanyol?

[123EasyasBFC]

Would be great if espanyol could buy

Delcroix
Massengo
Churlinov
Obafemi

[FCBurnley]

Didn’t AP daughter get married in Barcelona ? Seem to remember it clashing with a Burnley game ?

[ClaretTony]

Didn’t AP daughter get married in Barcelona ? Seem to remember it clashing with a Burnley game ?

She did, not the 'Free Nathan Mandela' daughter so either L or K. It was when we played Huddersfield on opening game of 2022/23. Pace lived in Barcelona and always said it was where he got his interest in football.

[Cooclaret]

Shameful that there’s so much bashing. It was sadly expected.

The clubs in a much better place commercially, professionally, and potentially financially (accounts pending) than we have ever been.

Clubs need to exist in the current climate not harken back to the good old days. Multi club ownership is a positive development for us imo.

[Jakubclaret]

Would be great if espanyol could buy

Delcroix
Massengo
Churlinov
Obafemi

You can add MT to that list if he can be found.

[Stockbrokerbelt]

I’m waiting for JJ Watt in the Espanyol colours drinking Patxaran with a parrot on his shoulder singing “ Espanyol till I die” before I get too concerned.

If JJ Watt knows anything about beer he will be drinking Estrella export gold tops, 8.5 & a stunning beer, my local sends punters home with a wobble after 4 glasses of that!

[Spike]

Does that mean there will be plenty of empty seats in the directors box if Espanyol are at home on the same weekend we are playing at the Turf?

Will J.J. Watt now start wearing Esapanyol baseball caps

Pace wearing a Burnley FC would be a start instead of that “ B “ monstrosity

[BurnleyFC]

Can we persuade CJ to join Espanyol instead then?

[CoolClaret]

Més de dos clubs

[pureclaret]

Iguala

is that not a city in Mexico?

[Spijed]

Espanyol hosted the recent Andorra v England game.

With a capacity of 40,000.

[jlup1980]

I'm not a fan of multi-club ownership, but this is modern football. Only yesterday I was thinking CJ had been drawn in by the potential Strasbourg / Chelsea link, and that didn't sit easy with me. It feels like an underhand way of paying less for players cross-countries and manipulating the transfer market to your benefit.

Having said all this there's the old adage "if you can't beat them, join them" argument. If it makes us stronger then we shouldn't moan. There are plenty of clubs struggling in the EFL and given our size we're fortunate to not be one of them. The PL is already stacked against us, this might give us an edge on player recruitment from Spain that we don't currently have.

[elwaclaret]

While I’m not a fan of multi-club ownership, I can see the attraction of Espanyol and see the potential to dove-tail it with Burnley. How it would work in practice would be interesting. I can see those on the perifery of the Burnley setup (that want deeper involvement) moving to Barcelona. We have heard of Pace’s personal interest in the city and if there is a new church opening the high fliers of the CLS will all be visiting further raising ALK’s profile within that community. Sitting in Barcelona’s shadow it is a club I have often felt faced similar issues to the Clarets and could make strong potential partners.

[Targetman]

With a capacity of 40,000.

The attendance was just under 9,000, England sold 7,500 tickets.

Andorra have had a new stadium built with a capacity of around 5-6000 but couldn't get it signed off in time for this game.

FIFA gave them permission to play the game in Barcelona.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Dont forget, with brexit and other visa related challenges - this could work for us as much as against us. Players from markets that we couldnt get due to work permits etc all of a sudden become an option if we can loan them (or buy them from) Espanyol or Espanyol B.

We would have a bigger network in a footballing hot bed - Cataluña, and access to talent and our brand (yuk) growing in a major European city!

[Row x]

Espanyol are not a big club

I visited their old ground, the biggest thing there was a Barcelona FC club shop

[KlyBfc]

The day we exist to solely feed a parent club, will be the day i give up my season ticket and watching professional football. I understand we need to develop and sell m, but that should be for us to grow not for another team to profit from our hardwork.

I don’t care what division we are in as long as there is hope and ambition to grow Burnley FC. Should that go i will be done.

Multi club ownership is an absolute stain on the game.

[equinox]

She did, not the 'Free Nathan Mandela' daughter so either L or K. It was when we played Huddersfield on opening game of 2022/23. Pace lived in Barcelona and always said it was where he got his interest in football.

Knowing that information is weird, creepy even.

[Quickenthetempo]

Knowing that information is weird, creepy even.

Alan Pace lives a lot of his personal life on social media or on videos/series the club release.

[TsarBomba]

Or be positive and consider our chances of loaning a better quality of player. Or some skilful movement of players between the two clubs. A stronger Espanyol could mean a stronger Burnley, and vice versa.
I think we would link very well, Catalonia and East Lancashire.
It's Burnley, not Barcelona or Espanyol.

Skilful movement of players?

Take a look at the transactions between Udinese and Watford, even recently after the rules had been tightened around loan players. It is still an absolute farce and open to abuse.

Watford sold a player called Hassane Kamara to Udinese for a hugely inflated fee of 16M in 2022, before Udinese immediately gave him back on loan.

If this is what you mean by skilful then I want nothing to do with it.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sport ... inese.html

[ArmchairDetective]

Knowing that information is weird, creepy even.

Is it? It's all public info.

[dsr]

Shameful that there’s so much bashing. It was sadly expected.

The clubs in a much better place commercially, professionally, and potentially financially (accounts pending) than we have ever been.

Clubs need to exist in the current climate not harken back to the good old days. Multi club ownership is a positive development for us imo.

Financially, the club paid £20m in interest in year end 2024, on loans that were entirely for the benefit of Pace and friends. Accounts pending or not, that hasn't gone away.

Professionally, have you seen the season ticket direct debit thread?

Commercially, do you count the sponsorship deal with a dodgy, and now banned, bookmaker as a commercial success?

[jrgbfc]

I'm not a fan of the multi club model, whether its us or anybody else. Look at the mess with Palace and Lyon both qualifying for the Europa league.

[TsarBomba]

Shameful that there’s so much bashing. It was sadly expected.

The clubs in a much better place commercially, professionally, and potentially financially (accounts pending) than we have ever been.

Clubs need to exist in the current climate not harken back to the good old days. Multi club ownership is a positive development for us imo.

Shameful?

ALK buy Espanyol who have been relegated twice from La Liga in the past five years, similar to us.

Who is going to bail Espanyol out when they face another relegation in the not too distant future, because it’s not going to be ALK putting in a cash injection. It’ll be us, with loans or dodgy transactions.

Similarly if we’re cut adrift in the PL then it’ll be Espanyol helping us out.

I don’t know how anyone can not have concerns around this. There are plenty of precedents to indicate that this is not remotely a good thing.

[ClaretPete001]

Shameful that there’s so much bashing. It was sadly expected.

The clubs in a much better place commercially, professionally, and potentially financially (accounts pending) than we have ever been.

Clubs need to exist in the current climate not harken back to the good old days. Multi club ownership is a positive development for us imo.

That's an absolutely shocking statement CoolClaret.

In 2017/18, we finished 7th in the league with tens of millions in the bank and a squad that would finish 10th two seasons later.

I know we have the odd Lord Haw Haw on here but seriously? Not even going to pass comment on the Espanyol move tbh...! We've been here before and nothing has come of it.

[It Is What It Is]

I was totally against the Pace/ALK takeover initially cos of major financial doubts that could ruin BFC.
I am now more than satisfied as to how everything has worked out and have complete trust in Alan Pace and the board to move Burnley FC forwards.
AP's reactions during each and every game he attends is just the same as any Clarets fans. His constant grip on his wife's and daughters hands and goal celebrations are through pure natural tension and joy of Burnley FC and not the ALK bank balance although that has to obviously work as well.
AP for me has Claret in his blood and nothing will change that
So Espanyol to me is a good business model for ALK but their true devotion and loyalty is to BFC....or am I being very naive.....

[BurnleyFC]

Espanyol are not a big club

I visited their old ground, the biggest thing there was a Barcelona FC club shop

Because Barcelona were using it as their home ground.

[Orangebernard]

I was totally against the Pace/ALK takeover initially cos of major financial doubts that could ruin BFC.
I am now more than satisfied as to how everything has worked out and have complete trust in Alan Pace and the board to move Burnley FC forwards.
AP's reactions during each and every game he attends is just the same as any Clarets fans. His constant grip on his wife's and daughters hands and goal celebrations are through pure natural tension and joy of Burnley FC and not the ALK bank balance although that has to obviously work as well.
AP for me has Claret in his blood and nothing will change that
So Espanyol to me is a good business model for ALK but their true devotion and loyalty is to BFC....or am I being very naive.....

I think you are being very positive which is great but you are being very naive as to ALK’s motivations. Their only real motivation is for profit for ALK and those few people who have invested in their various group companies. That is it, there is no other truth. Yes of course they feel the emotion and joy of success and the heartache of defeat and relegation but if things get really tough on the field the drive for money will overcome all other disappointments.

[Row x]

I was totally against the Pace/ALK takeover initially cos of major financial doubts that could ruin BFC.
I am now more than satisfied as to how everything has worked out and have complete trust in Alan Pace and the board to move Burnley FC forwards.
AP's reactions during each and every game he attends is just the same as any Clarets fans. His constant grip on his wife's and daughters hands and goal celebrations are through pure natural tension and joy of Burnley FC and not the ALK bank balance although that has to obviously work as well.
AP for me has Claret in his blood and nothing will change that
So Espanyol to me is a good business model for ALK but their true devotion and loyalty is to BFC....or am I being very naive.....

It's pretty much the way I see it.
Nobody else was buying the club other than the shady guy from Charlton
Everything Pace has done is trying to better the club, not all have been successful granted.
Has any other foreign owner of a club moved his family, lock stock and barrel into the area of their club?
I have seen nothing to suggest he wants anything but the best for Burnley football club.
Even Pace's bitterest critics admit Garlick was failing the club towards the end, so what was the alternative?

[Casper2]

AP for me has Claret in his blood and nothing will change that

Wow .

[fidelcastro]

AP for me has Claret in his blood and nothing will change that

Wow .

It's the slang term for blood, to be fair!

[Cooclaret]

Pace loves BFC and he’s done a bloody brilliant job so far.

He’s put some noses out of joint, well good, they needed it. Welcome to the world outside of the two feet in front of your noses!

If you want BFC to survive and thrive, a Chairman like AP is essential.

The top table is getting smaller, I want us to be at it when the music stops.

A team abroad, playing in La Liga and below can only support the player model we need to compete. It’s brilliant news for the academy!

I grew up riding in Europe, it’s BRILLIANT!

[Cooclaret]

That's an absolutely shocking statement CoolClaret.

In 2017/18, we finished 7th in the league with tens of millions in the bank and a squad that would finish 10th two seasons later.

I know we have the odd Lord Haw Haw on here but seriously? Not even going to pass comment on the Espanyol move tbh...! We've been here before and nothing has come of it.

Coo not Cool.

Cool gets very upset when we get mixed up.

[Cooclaret]

Shameful?

ALK buy Espanyol who have been relegated twice from La Liga in the past five years, similar to us.

Who is going to bail Espanyol out when they face another relegation in the not too distant future, because it’s not going to be ALK putting in a cash injection. It’ll be us, with loans or dodgy transactions.

Similarly if we’re cut adrift in the PL then it’ll be Espanyol helping us out.

I don’t know how anyone can not have concerns around this. There are plenty of precedents to indicate that this is not remotely a good thing.

And there are others that prove it is!

Cheer up and smile.

[ClaretLoup]

Article in the Grauniad about Burnley's attempted buyout, at the end of which, they claim nearly 400 teams are now involved in multi-club ownership.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... n-espanyol

[Steddyman]

I have nothing against it ethically, and I can see how it could be used to offset PSR losses by inflating sales.

My big concern would be splitting the focus of the leadership group. Today Alan is 100% focussed on running BFC, and that would all change with this deal.

[Buxtonclaret]

Can someone kindly do me a favour and post the article on here? That website works terribly on my phone.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/642212 ... -espanyol/

A New York Times article

[Chester Perry]

I have nothing against it ethically, and I can see how it could be used to offset PSR losses by inflating sales.

My big concern would be splitting the focus of the leadership group. Today Alan is 100% focussed on running BFC, and that would all change with this deal.

apparently not - according to the Guardian he has been talking to a number of Spanish clubs in recent months and thee have been similar discussions elsewhere previously, not to mention that ALK Capital LLC has still to keep up and running in it's day to day activities- though it does also say he owned Real Salt Lake which is complete nonsense

[Chester Perry]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/642212 ... -espanyol/

A New York Times article

for those who are requested to sign in

Burnley owners ALK Capital in talks over buying Espanyol stake
https://archive.ph/wip/k0a64

[MrTopTier]

Remember when we nearly became a feeder club for Colne Dynamoes.
This is a definite upgrade.

[Rileybobs]

I have nothing against it ethically, and I can see how it could be used to offset PSR losses by inflating sales.

You don’t have any ethical problems with doing something as unethical as offsetting PSR losses by inflating player sales?

[boyyanno]

Shameful that there’s so much bashing. It was sadly expected.

The clubs in a much better place commercially, professionally, and potentially financially (accounts pending) than we have ever been.

Clubs need to exist in the current climate not harken back to the good old days. Multi club ownership is a positive development for us imo.

This is up there with some of the most fantastical stuff I've ever read on here.

To be fair we're potentially going to win the Prem next season (Results pending).

[Steddyman]

You don’t have any ethical problems with doing something as unethical as offsetting PSR losses by inflating player sales?

Nope. If everyone else is doing it and we are not, then we are at a financial disadvantage. We have to do what works.

[dougcollins]

You can add MT to that list if he can be found.

This will be his year.

As a wise man never said, trust me.

[Claretnick]

Remember when we nearly became a feeder club for Colne Dynamoes.
This is a definite upgrade.

You made me smile with this

[Jakubclaret]

This will be his year.

As a wise man never said, trust me.

I'm sure it will be if carlsberg did illnesses the recovery couldn't have come at a better time

[Cooclaret]

This is up there with some of the most fantastical stuff I've ever read on here.

To be fair we're potentially going to win the Prem next season (Results pending).

How? Do you know the accounts? Have you seen them?

The club is in a much better place. This adds value and opportunity to the club. It’s a positive thing.

But hey any opportunity to bash the chairman.

[Stevebfc40]

Booked to watch my German team Union Berlin for a pre-season game Saturday 2nd August. When i booked, opposition were unknown, it is Espanyol. If they are our hi-profile opposition at Turf, i will drop off my scouting report.

[ClaretPete001]

How? Do you know the accounts? Have you seen them?

The club is in a much better place. This adds value and opportunity to the club. It’s a positive thing.

But hey any opportunity to bash the chairman.

Apologies to Cool - I was surprised he would say such things...! Or not say them as the case turned out.

Anyway, Alan is that you...! Hot diggedy dawg, it is isn't it. Dos Cervezas and a bag of Donkey droppings por favor...!

[boyyanno]

How? Do you know the accounts? Have you seen them?

The club is in a much better place. This adds value and opportunity to the club. It’s a positive thing.

But hey any opportunity to bash the chairman.

I've seen the most recent set that has been published yes, they don't give any indication that we are in a better financial position than we have ever been. If you're asking what my opinion is on a set of accounts that has yet to be published then its obviously a trick/stupid question.

Maybe you can enlighten us and explain why any of what you said is true as opposed to just trolling?