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Pompey Takeover Saga

Fitzhugh Fella

By Fitzhugh Fella,
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aintforever

aintforever

Posted
Posted
You don't need to have a roof on a World Cup Stadium. Then could just add it once the summer and World Cup is over at 36k capacity.

 

I think FA would expect all stadia to at least have a roof, you can't expect to win a World Cup bid if one of your stadiums consists of a half built Fratton Park and a **** off great big temporary scaffolding stand, where people pay £60 a go to get ****ed on by the rain.

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alehouseboys

alehouseboys

Posted
Posted
Ooooh, get you Nick. Handbags eh?

 

"have of ours"?

 

He had a point tho.

 

Anyways, I'm guessing the only way fartton could accommodate these 'temporary seats' would be if they leave the corners open when/if they redevelop and when/if the WC comes south they then erect the 'temps'...with no roof.

 

Can't see how the FA would accept that, especially as they'd have a far better option 17 miles west. :smt023

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Crab Lungs

Crab Lungs

Posted
Posted (edited)
Oh dear Crabby. So, after your post about how far our attendances have dropped in the last two seasons (proven to be completely and utterly wrong) and now this little gem it seems like you're fast turning into a sort of King Midas in reverse figure. Hopefully you're predicing definite relegation for us this season. If so, given your current success rate we might even qualify for Europe. :D

 

Oh, and you've never got anything wrong? :rolleyes::smt100

 

Anyway Corpy, I would LOVE for you to prove how you were 'correct' about our little attendance spat. Please tell me, have we been in a lower division than you in the past four years? Yes we have. Have we had a larger attendances than you? Yes we have. Predominantly, did Saints have higher attendances than you lot for the past, say, thirty years? Yes we did.

 

Your percentages crap means absolutely nothing, and you know it. You could easily apply your ridiculous theory to a club with a 10 person capacity stadium. They might get 9 people there to watch them a week, obviously meaning 90% of their capacity. A club with a 70,000 seater might only get 7,000, meaning only 10% of the capacity... in your warped perception of events, the club with the smaller ground and attendance is bigger than then one who actually receives 6,991 more fans. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight......

 

So please, please, please revise your theory or... actually, don't. I enjoy watching you wriggle and squirm. :D

Edited by Crab Lungs
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Scummer

Scummer

Posted
Posted
I can't open that link from work so could you kindly paraphrase it?

 

The boss of the Saudi FA says he's never heard of him. He messaged all his contacts to see if they knew who he was, but none of them had either. There's a video on the BBC sports page.

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Merovingian

Merovingian

Posted
Posted
The boss of the Saudi FA says he's never heard of him. He messaged all his contacts to see if they knew who he was, but none of them had either. There's a video on the BBC sports page.

 

lol why would he - has our Prem League chairman heard of every rich business man ? doubt it very much. There are a shed load of millionaire/billionaire saudi's why would he of heard of one out of all of them ?

 

another point your all forgetting whch most of us are not, it matters not how much your owner has its how much he willing to spend or put in to the club that matters, so no matter how many billions/millions/pound coins if he only wants to spend 50m then thats that. Most of us are happy we now have a club that can move forward

 

one thing we do know - he has to alledgedly find £16.5M by October 15th to sort pressing debt which I have no doubt he will do - and he has already found this months wages at £1.8M immediately and employed Avram on a 3 year deal which I doubt would have been cheap, so he has done more than The clown did in 6 weeks in 2 days

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dubai_phil

dubai_phil

Posted
Posted
lol why would he - has our Prem League chairman heard of every rich business man ? doubt it very much. There are a shed load of millionaire/billionaire saudi's why would he of heard of one out of all of them ?

 

another point your all forgetting whch most of us are not, it matters not how much your owner has its how much he willing to spend or put in to the club that matters, so no matter how many billions/millions/pound coins if he only wants to spend 50m then thats that. Most of us are happy we now have a club that can move forward

 

one thing we do know - he has to alledgedly find £16.5M by October 15th to sort pressing debt which I have no doubt he will do - and he has already found this months wages at £1.8M immediately and employed Avram on a 3 year deal which I doubt would have been cheap, so he has done more than The clown did in 6 weeks in 2 days

 

Oh dear you were doing so well - Stop using your Britness as a comparison...

 

I can assure you that in a society such as "The Middle East" appointments to office such as Football Asociations or Heads of Motor Racing Federations are political appointments. You guys all forget that 50 odd years ago much of the society here was still highly tribal in nature. As a result, as they developed, the REAL wealth was made in descending order downwards through the more prominent families. The closer to the top of the tree or "The Majlis" the more opportunities arose.

 

The "family" wealth in Saudi is more widepsread that other areas as there are literally 100' of Saudi Princess & Princesses.

 

The closest comparison would be between Noveau Rich in England and "Old Money" except that development of old money has happened in a far shorter timeline.

 

So the Head of the FA would know people who know people who know THE people. In fact that is how business works down here at EVERY level. When this guy says he has talked to "his contacts" that means your man is not on the radar of the senior business community.

 

Doesn't stop him being wealthy, but it does raise questions as I've said elsewhere that should be addressed, because otherwise this story will run and run

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Merovingian

Merovingian

Posted
Posted (edited)

why does it raise questions - as long as he has enough money / or can obtain the money to run the club as a going concern why does it matter if he is billionaire or just a multi millionaire ? I don't see the fascination of needing to know this ?

 

say if he was worth £300-500M - there must be loads more saudi's worth more than this ?

Edited by Merovingian
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hypochondriac

hypochondriac

Posted
Posted
why does it raise questions - as long as he has enough money / or can obtain the money to run the club as a going concern why does it matter if he is billionaire or just a multi millionaire ? I don't see the fascination of needing to know this ?

 

say if he was worth £300-500M - there must be loads more saudi's worth more than this ?

 

Ifhe's wort that much then he won't be putting much in the club...

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Scummer

Scummer

Posted
Posted
and what's your point ? I repeat as long as he has enough money / or can obtain the money to run the club as a going concern why does it matter if he is billionaire or just a multi millionaire ?

 

Because Pompey is a money pit. Your last two chairmen, and possible even Milan, have all gone because they ran out of money. Are you seriously not interested in finding out a little more about the man who owns your club?

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miserableoldgit

miserableoldgit

Posted
Posted
I am not really fussed to be honest - if he delivers what he says - training ground, stadium etc I couldn't care if he comes from timbucktoo

 

Your forgetting 7 days ago we had 1 week maybe 2 before we were the first ever premiership club to go into admin

As I posted before, this is all stuff that SAF promised. What makes you think that your "International Man of Mystery" is any different?

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Clapham Saint

Clapham Saint

Posted
Posted
I am not really fussed to be honest - if he delivers what he says - training ground, stadium etc I couldn't care if he comes from timbucktoo

 

Your forgetting 7 days ago we had 1 week maybe 2 before we were the first ever premiership club to go into admin

 

I think the point being made is that Pompey fans are (understandably) getting very excited.

 

This is something that has happened before, just a month or two ago in fact.

 

Nobody is saying that he doesn't have anymoney or that he won't be willing to put any into the club but these promises are exactly what was promised last time.

 

What they are saying is that this guy's emergance seems very strange. I think that Phil knows what he's talking about in these matters.

 

I would assume that you would prefer that this new chap doesn't turn out to be the same as the last one. In order to establish that this in not the case, as Phil says, there are questions to be answered.

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CB Fry

CB Fry

Posted
Posted
lol why would he - has our Prem League chairman heard of every rich business man ? doubt it very much. There are a shed load of millionaire/billionaire saudi's why would he of heard of one out of all of them ?

 

 

 

Well, yeah, actually he would. Richard Scudamore would probably be maximum three telephone calls away from finding out the background of any British based Millionaire. Easy. Probably three phone calls from finding out the background of any European based millionaire.

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Merovingian

Merovingian

Posted
Posted
As I posted before, this is all stuff that SAF promised. What makes you think that your "International Man of Mystery" is any different?

 

Because for a start he paid out £1.8M for wages immediatlely and appointed Grant on a 3 year contract, something SAF did not even come close to doing in his 6 week tenure.

 

Also knowing that he has to find around £16.5M by Oct 15th - can you really see him doing what SAF has done and winging it, getting to Oct 15th not being able to pay up and then the club going into admin ? Personally I cannot see that although nothing would surprise me.

 

Most sensible pompey fans are happy to wait and see whats delivered before getting over excited, proof will be in the pudding and the January transfer window

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Corporate Ho

Corporate Ho

Posted
Posted
"But at least we fill out stadium" (this argument no longer applies - see last 2-3 years of FP attendances for proof)

 

Your percentages crap means absolutely nothing, and you know it. You could easily apply your ridiculous theory to a club with a 10 person capacity stadium. They might get 9 people there to watch them a week, obviously meaning 90% of their capacity. A club with a 70,000 seater might only get 7,000, meaning only 10% of the capacity... in your warped perception of events, the club with the smaller ground and attendance is bigger than then one who actually receives 6,991 more fans. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight......

 

So please, please, please revise your theory or... actually, don't. I enjoy watching you wriggle and squirm. :D

 

Who's the one wriggling Crabby? Your first post said to look at our attendances for the last three years as proof we don't fill our ground. Since we came up, our average attendances have been:

20,108

20,072

19,840

19,862

19,914

19,830

 

http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/england.htm

 

That's an average of 96-97% capacity. The average has declined by less than 300 since our first season. Therefore your post about "seing our last two to three seasons attendances for proof is rubbish. Percentages might mean nothing if it's a ground holding 400 but you keep saying our attendances are declining markedly. They're not. You're now trying to twist the argument to relate to your crowds. That wasn't your original point. You've changed your argument because you've been shown, once again, to be wrong. Just admit it :D

 

On Meridan, that bastion of everything Pooopey. They said it was going to redeveloped to a 30,000 seater not 36,000! :rolleyes:

They obviously know they're true support! :smt040

 

How many times have you sold out your 32,000 seater since it was built?

 

Oh dear you were doing so well - Stop using your Britness as a comparison...

 

I can assure you that in a society such as "The Middle East" appointments to office such as Football Asociations or Heads of Motor Racing Federations are political appointments. You guys all forget that 50 odd years ago much of the society here was still highly tribal in nature. As a result, as they developed, the REAL wealth was made in descending order downwards through the more prominent families. The closer to the top of the tree or "The Majlis" the more opportunities arose.

 

The "family" wealth in Saudi is more widepsread that other areas as there are literally 100' of Saudi Princess & Princesses.

 

The closest comparison would be between Noveau Rich in England and "Old Money" except that development of old money has happened in a far shorter timeline.

 

So the Head of the FA would know people who know people who know THE people. In fact that is how business works down here at EVERY level. When this guy says he has talked to "his contacts" that means your man is not on the radar of the senior business community.

 

Doesn't stop him being wealthy, but it does raise questions as I've said elsewhere that should be addressed, because otherwise this story will run and run

 

Phil, quick question. Would the head of the Saudi FA definitely know/ know of al Faraj or his family even if he was nothing to do with football and he and his family were extremely private individuals who like to keep out of the limelight?

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dubai_phil

dubai_phil

Posted
Posted

Phil, quick question. Would the head of the Saudi FA definitely know/ know of al Faraj or his family even if he was nothing to do with football and he and his family were extremely private individuals who like to keep out of the limelight?

 

No he would not, but re-read the article, he expressly included the phrase "His Contacts" did not know him.

 

That is a different kettle of fish completely.

 

The way this area works is that a substantial businessman would be known by other businessmen who would be known by "The Elders" shall we say. The Head of the FA will know the Elders or he would never have got his job. He won't have been elected in the way you guys see it. So what he is saying is that nobody who has contacts in the Upper Echelons of Saudi Business or Royalty has ever heard of him.

 

The other point - "Family Trust" that is highly unusual, family wealth maybe but a TRUST? Remember back in the 50's this area was basically desert with some tribes doing deals with oil companies (Read From Sand to Silicon about Dubai)

 

A TRUST fund is way too American or European....

 

He could well be the son of a political or (worse) Religious exile or deportee who has grown up in UK or US (sort of an Abu Mousa) or a New York Cab Driver.

 

Too many questions still, is he an exile who made money? Is he a very undercover businessman? Is he a front man for a contact with money or is he another middleman.

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OldNick

OldNick

Posted
Posted
"But at least we fill out stadium" (this argument no longer applies - see last 2-3 years of FP attendances for proof)

 

 

 

Who's the one wriggling Crabby? Your first post said to look at our attendances for the last three years as proof we don't fill our ground. Since we came up, our average attendances have been:

20,108

20,072

19,840

19,862

19,914

19,830

 

http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/england.htm

 

That's an average of 96-97% capacity. The average has declined by less than 300 since our first season. Therefore your post about "seing our last two to three seasons attendances for proof is rubbish. Percentages might mean nothing if it's a ground holding 400 but you keep saying our attendances are declining markedly. They're not. You're now trying to twist the argument to relate to your crowds. That wasn't your original point. You've changed your argument because you've been shown, once again, to be wrong. Just admit it :D

 

 

 

How many times have you sold out your 32,000 seater since it was built?

 

 

 

Phil, quick question. Would the head of the Saudi FA definitely know/ know of al Faraj or his family even if he was nothing to do with football and he and his family were extremely private individuals who like to keep out of the limelight?

How many s/ts have you sold, the 13.5k that would get to 16k doesnt seem quite correct.Your mate at the club can surely give you an update
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Merovingian

Merovingian

Posted
Posted

 

I would assume that you would prefer that this new chap doesn't turn out to be the same as the last one. In order to establish that this in not the case, as Phil says, there are questions to be answered.

 

why should he answer anything to the press or us, its nothing to do with me where he gets his money from, he only has to satisfy the premier league of that

 

the best way he can answer any questions is to do what he says he is going to and spend the money to do what he has stated. Verbally why should he explain anything just to satisfy the english press or people desperate to know his ins and outs.

 

As far as I a concerned there is nothing to answer but there is alot to do !!

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Gingeletiss

Gingeletiss

Posted
Posted
why should he answer anything to the press or us, its nothing to do with me where he gets his money from, he only has to satisfy the premier league of that

 

the best way he can answer any questions is to do what he says he is going to and spend the money to do what he has stated. Verbally why should he explain anything just to satisfy the english press or people desperate to know his ins and outs.

 

As far as I a concerned there is nothing to answer but there is alot to do !!

 

Best direct that at the PL, they have asked him, via PFC, to explain his position, and that of his 'company'......as I said last week, there is a lot of milage in this yet;);)

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Merovingian

Merovingian

Posted
Posted

err did you not note I said he only has to satisfy the premier league of that

 

they cannot be that worried - they passed him as fit and proper, as I understand it under the new regs they also seek the information on where the money is coming from. So thats nothing new and it's new standard procedure for all new takeovers. Next....

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Clapham Saint

Clapham Saint

Posted
Posted
why should he answer anything to the press or us, its nothing to do with me where he gets his money from, he only has to satisfy the premier league of that

 

the best way he can answer any questions is to do what he says he is going to and spend the money to do what he has stated. Verbally why should he explain anything just to satisfy the english press or people desperate to know his ins and outs.

 

As far as I a concerned there is nothing to answer but there is alot to do !!

 

Was that not also the case with Dr. Al?

 

If our positions were reversed, although obviously excited at the prospect that this might finally be the real deal these... um... ambiguities... following Dr. Al's tenure, would cause me a bit of concern until put to bed.

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Saint_John

Saint_John

Posted
Posted
According to Radio Solent this morning, neither Hart or the Storrie-Teller were consulted about Grants appointment. They were just informed that it was happening. Make of that what you will.

 

They also said on Sky Sports that Grant turned down the DoF job at Chelsea earlier this year because he WANTED TO BE MANAGER of a Football Club.

 

Taxi for Hart in the coming weeks I think.

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Merovingian

Merovingian

Posted
Posted

its no different than when Gaydamak took over, no one knew who he was or how much money he had, he turned the club around. I am not going to sweat over the integrity of the new owners, like I said they have done more in 2-3 days than SAF did in 6 weeks, thats a start. There is nothing I can do to alter the situation or influence/change it and I still have a club to support which I would not have without Al Faraj, so whichever way you look at it times are better than they were

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Evil Monkey

Evil Monkey

Posted
Posted
err did you not note I said he only has to satisfy the premier league of that

 

they cannot be that worried - they passed him as fit and proper, as I understand it under the new regs they also seek the information on where the money is coming from. So thats nothing new and it's new standard procedure for all new takeovers. Next....

 

As they did with the gun runner and Dr 'can I pay that off in kidney stones' Al Fahim.

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View From The Top

View From The Top

Posted
Posted
err did you not note I said he only has to satisfy the premier league of that

 

they cannot be that worried - they passed him as fit and proper, as I understand it under the new regs they also seek the information on where the money is coming from. So thats nothing new and it's new standard procedure for all new takeovers. Next....

 

As they did with "The Doc".

 

He also passed the F&P, before the new regs kicked in.

 

Next.

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Merovingian

Merovingian

Posted
Posted

My argument is he does not have to tell anyone anything bar the premier league about his financial backing or clout. The premier league state their new regs ( starting from July I believe ) ensure everything is above board - so where's the big news ?

 

Are you summising that because the doc was a fool Al Faraj automatically is and because no one knows who he is - he is also immediatley dodgy ?

 

I don't see what your getting at ? This is all now standard procedure for any club - Birminghams new owner went through it

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View From The Top

View From The Top

Posted
Posted
My argument is he does not have to tell anyone anything bar the premier league about his financial backing or clout. The premier league state there new regs ( starting from July I believe ) ensure everything is above board - so where's the big news ?

 

Are you summising that because the doc was a fool Al Faraj automatically is and because no one knows who he is - he is also immediatley dodgy ?

 

I don't see what your getting at ? This is all standard proceudre for any club - Birminghams new owner went through it

 

Your new owner went through the same F&P as "Doc". The changes happened afterwards.

 

Therefore, he hasn't had to prove his worth.

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Merovingian

Merovingian

Posted
Posted (edited)

No - I believe the changes went through in July - anyone with over a 10% shareholding had to undergo strict financial scrutiny - therefore as a 90% owner he will have to do the same - whats changed since July ? the premier league has to investigate his background anyway as stated with their new ownership rules

Edited by Merovingian
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