Sport Republic

[Nolan]

2 minutes ago, Dark Munster said:

Kraft, yes. But Ankersen? See @SaintNewForest's post above.

Like herpes I suspect that charlatan will hang around and stink the place up, albeit quietly in the background. I fear his Titanic-sized ego won't allow him to take a back seat, let alone resign. And wasn't Juric another of his genius picks?

 

All comes down to the business structure

Dragon Solak placed himself as the chaiman of Saints, that neuters Ankersson completely with regards to Southampton. 

Rasmus' decisions at Göztepe have worked currently so he remains there.

 

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

He is a director of the parent company. Turning up to a game doesn't mean he is doing Spors' job.

He doesn’t need to actually do his job to interfere with it. If Spors wants some data for transfer options, ok, or wants to send an unwanted player to one of his brother’s transfer dating sessions, yep, but Dragan needs to ensure Spors has the operating space he needs. And the parent company has failed abysmally with regard to Southampton FC, those results in the PL are the worst of any club over that sample size. Directors need to know where to keep distance where it’s failed for them.

Edited April 6 by Gloucester Saint

[Mboto Gorge]

6 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Why?

Why don’t you stop trying to be such a fucking patronising smart arse all the time, it’s tiring. You’re one of the biggest attention seekers I’ve ever seen , always looking to play devils advocate and ask questions you fucking full well know the answers to. The fact you don’t even appear to be that bothered about the shit show that’s happened on SR’s watch says it all, you’re just on here to disagree with everyone because you’re oh so much smarter than everyone else and one step ahead of the common fan aren’t you? Give it a fucking rest, your presence here actually ruins the forum at times and just drags most topics into back and forth tit for tat needling. 

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

Bunch of fucking clowns.

[Gloucester Saint]

Blackmore interesting comments on the Solent BBC Sounds piece. Saying Jason Wilcox didn’t have full autonomy, has it at Man U. Urging SR to let Spors to get on with reporting direct to Solak on football and Parsons on business. Implication that Rasmus interfering and fear he will carry on doing so, creating layers of reporting. Given Rasmus was at the Spurs game I’d say he hasn’t given up the ‘recruitment by committee’ Blackmore refers to. 

[Badger]

18 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Blackmore interesting comments on the Solent BBC Sounds piece. Saying Jason Wilcox didn’t have full autonomy, has it at Man U. Urging SR to let Spors to get on with reporting direct to Solak on football and Parsons on business. Implication that Rasmus interfering and fear he will carry on doing so, creating layers of reporting. Given Rasmus was at the Spurs game I’d say he hasn’t given up the ‘recruitment by committee’ Blackmore refers to. 

You’d have hoped that with Kraft going, Rasmus would have had his wings clipped at the same time.
 

Would be surprised if Dragan only half did the job in sorting tweedledum out but leaving tweedledee to carry on his buffoonery. 

[Badger]

21 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Blackmore interesting comments on the Solent BBC Sounds piece. Saying Jason Wilcox didn’t have full autonomy, has it at Man U. Urging SR to let Spors to get on with reporting direct to Solak on football and Parsons on business. Implication that Rasmus interfering and fear he will carry on doing so, creating layers of reporting. Given Rasmus was at the Spurs game I’d say he hasn’t given up the ‘recruitment by committee’ Blackmore refers to. 

Saw some bloke that looked like Rasmus W in the queue at Seven Sisters tube station after the game yesterday. Couldn’t have been could it ? Thought he’d have been chauffeur driven. 

[Wade Garrett]

30 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Blackmore interesting comments on the Solent BBC Sounds piece. Saying Jason Wilcox didn’t have full autonomy, has it at Man U. Urging SR to let Spors to get on with reporting direct to Solak on football and Parsons on business. Implication that Rasmus interfering and fear he will carry on doing so, creating layers of reporting. Given Rasmus was at the Spurs game I’d say he hasn’t given up the ‘recruitment by committee’ Blackmore refers to. 

If Dragan had any sense, he would have a quiet word with Rasmus and tell him to fuck right  off.

[Andrew Watson]

If Ankerson has any thing to do with the decision we are totally screwed, surely Mr Solak realizes that .

[saintant]

If Rasmus is still pulling some of the strings we are well and truly stuffed.

[ally_uk]

Tell Rasmus to fcuk off to Goztepe sharpish! 

[Wade Garrett]

I get the impression that Ankersen’s involvement here is to just make money for his brother’s player trading business.  Surely the owner can see through that.

[Gloucester Saint]

23 hours ago, Badger said:

Saw some bloke that looked like Rasmus W in the queue at Seven Sisters tube station after the game yesterday. Couldn’t have been could it ? Thought he’d have been chauffeur driven. 

Possible, he was at the game apparently. Probably easier to be incognito on the Tube as our fans wouldn’t expect him to be on there nor would many probably recognise him in person. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

He’s a chancer. Nothing more. He’s been found out.

[SteveGc]

See Brighton have announced 200 mill stadium upgrade plans expand to 38k

[Matthew Le God]

3 hours ago, SteveGc said:

See Brighton have announced 200 mill stadium upgrade plans expand to 38k

Where have you got that from?

[miserableoldgit]

[Master Bates]

As I said last summer, the club didn't want us to go up straight away, they knew we'd go down again.

[miserableoldgit]

6 minutes ago, Master Bates said:

As I said last summer, the club didn't want us to go up straight away, they knew we'd go down again.

....but did they expect it to be the complete sh1tshow that it turned out to be? Did they expect us to at least be competitive?

[Master Bates]

5 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

....but did they expect it to be the complete sh1tshow that it turned out to be? Did they expect us to at least be competitive?

Obviously no and yes.

I have no links available for my answer though.

Edited April 9 by Master Bates

[Matthew Le God]

1 hour ago, Master Bates said:

As I said last summer, the club didn't want us to go up straight away, they knew we'd go down again.

That makes little sense, as the longer you stay in the Championship the harder it is to come up again as revenue decreases significantly each season you stay down. Had we not gone up, we'd be in the Championship with a lower income and would have sold some of the best players.

[Weston Super Saint]

47 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

That makes little sense, as the longer you stay in the Championship the harder it is to come up again as revenue decreases significantly each season you stay down. Had we not gone up, we'd be in the Championship with a lower income and would have sold some of the best players.

Not sure why you'd be questioning an idea from SR that doesn't make sense. Perhaps you missed literally every other one they've had since buying us.

[Matthew Le God]

15 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Not sure why you'd be questioning an idea from SR that doesn't make sense. Perhaps you missed literally every other one they've had since buying us.

I did not say or comment on if it wasn't true or not. I outlined why it doesn't make sense. Not the same thing!

[pimpin4rizeal]

6 hours ago, miserableoldgit said:

Sums up everything wrong with this club prioritise making money on young players over actually competing 

[Matthew Le God]

12 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Sums up everything wrong with this club prioritise making money on young players over actually competing 

Hardly a bad decision to play Dibling and Fernandes. They have been our standout players this season!

[SuperSAINT]

50 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Hardly a bad decision to play Dibling and Fernandes. They have been our standout players this season!

When I read that snippet, re: Dibling & Fernandes, I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be angled as positive or negative.

[Willo of Whiteley]

The Athletic has always had it in for Saints, it’s never been one to report the club in a good light.

Saints could end all wars and the Athletic would still talk about how the club failed to stop world hunger.

Om the flip side…
Sport Republic have been as shoddy as they come. Not weary to put money in but absolutely reckless in the thinking of how to run a football club. Utter Incompetence.

[pimpin4rizeal]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

Hardly a bad decision to play Dibling and Fernandes. They have been our standout players this season!

Seems weird to me they didn’t do the same with Sam amo if this is really the case .. I mean it doesn’t take a lot for a young kid to get a ton of hype . SAA could have potentially been worth a lot more if we had given him the game time 

[SteveGc]

16 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Where have you got that from?

Saw it yesterday also had a link with it. Unless I’m much mistaken sure it was real 

I can’t find it now seems I may have jumped the gun, apologies 

Edited April 10 by SteveGc

[Matthew Le God]

On 09/04/2025 at 04:39, SteveGc said:

See Brighton have announced 200 mill stadium upgrade plans expand to 38k

 

On 09/04/2025 at 08:33, Matthew Le God said:

Where have you got that from?

 

12 hours ago, SteveGc said:

Saw it yesterday also had a link with it. Unless I’m much mistaken sure it was real 

Nothing about it on Brighton's website, the Brighton paper, the council planning website or Brighton's main fan forum. Maybe it was a dream! 😁

[Toussaint]

19 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

The Athletic has always had it in for Saints, it’s never been one to report the club in a good light.

Saints could end all wars and the Athletic would still talk about how the club failed to stop world hunger.

Om the flip side…
Sport Republic have been as shoddy as they come. Not weary to put money in but absolutely reckless in the thinking of how to run a football club. Utter Incompetence.

To be fair, from the outside, what is there to like? All of the attributes that held is in good favour wit neutrals have long since evaporated. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

Who’s the leak from? My money is on Rasmus. 😂

[Master Bates]

On 10/04/2025 at 01:24, SteveGc said:

Saw it yesterday also had a link with it. Unless I’m much mistaken sure it was real 

I can’t find it now seems I may have jumped the gun, apologies 

£40m upgrade, increasing to 32,500

[Turkish]

On 09/04/2025 at 12:13, Master Bates said:

As I said last summer, the club didn't want us to go up straight away, they knew we'd go down again.

that would make sense with the signings of championship ready players like Wood, Edwards, Archer etc get them in now so we can get repromotion next season

[Convict Colony]

Don't know what the score is tonight but SR have to throw some money at Valenciennes this summer, they are the peasants in this multi club model. Think they've got a good manager at last he now needs some players to attack the league next season. 5-10m would make a massive difference I that league and prepare them for the next.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

31 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Don't know what the score is tonight but SR have to throw some money at Valenciennes this summer, they are the peasants in this multi club model. Think they've got a good manager at last he now needs some players to attack the league next season. 5-10m would make a massive difference I that league and prepare them for the next.

0-0 draw.

One header went in, but got ruled out for a foul. And... that was about it.

Obviously, there will be a certain amount of investment that should prove to just be too strong for anyone else.

In parallel with us, SR's best intentions for implementing their goals has been found to be ineffective. So, they're saying positive things, while being a bit clueless.

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

Don't know what the score is tonight but SR have to throw some money at Valenciennes this summer, they are the peasants in this multi club model. Think they've got a good manager at last he now needs some players to attack the league next season. 5-10m would make a massive difference I that league and prepare them for the next.

Ditto Saints as well, get both clubs as assured of promotion as you can be, building a spine that prepares them for the next level.

Not a season for ‘balancing the books’.

[Willo of Whiteley]

1 hour ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

0-0 draw.

One header went in, but got ruled out for a foul. And... that was about it.

Obviously, there will be a certain amount of investment that should prove to just be too strong for anyone else.

In parallel with us, SR's best intentions for implementing their goals has been found to be ineffective. So, they're saying positive things, while being a bit clueless.

Sport Republic are all talk and no end product.

[FredVaFC59100]

7 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

Don't know what the score is tonight but SR have to throw some money at Valenciennes this summer, they are the peasants in this multi club model. Think they've got a good manager at last he now needs some players to attack the league next season. 5-10m would make a massive difference I that league and prepare them for the next.

We don't need no money, we don't need no fame; we've got Ben Chorley and this goes a long way.

[ChristopheVAFC]

11 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

Don't know what the score is tonight but SR have to throw some money at Valenciennes this summer, they are the peasants in this multi club model. Think they've got a good manager at last he now needs some players to attack the league next season. 5-10m would make a massive difference I that league and prepare them for the next.

SR is going to have a lot of work to do this summer because a lot of players are going to leave the club (end of contracts, end of loans, players who are not kept because they are not good enough)...

What reassures me is that our coach will be there next season, and he'll be able to build his team with peace of mind and choose reliable, serious players.

And indeed, I think that the investment of a few million euros will make all the difference next year.

[Saint Gifford]

It’s always been the same question for owner's of football clubs. 
 

How do you make 100 million out of Football ?

Start with 500 million……..

[FredVaFC59100]

7 hours ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

SR is going to have a lot of work to do this summer because a lot of players are going to leave the club (end of contracts, end of loans, players who are not kept because they are not good enough)...

What reassures me is that our coach will be there next season, and he'll be able to build his team with peace of mind and choose reliable, serious players.

And indeed, I think that the investment of a few million euros will make all the difference next year.

Isn't this what I've heard from you guys last summer ? "SR has no excuses, they had one year to prepare, we must go up this year, etc..." even my favorite Wizard, Ben Chorley said on record in April 2024 : "we will go back to Ligue 2 next year"

Now, let me tell you, my real name is Fredodamus, and I predicted on August 12th 2024 on this forum that VA FC would finish mid table ranking, and that's exactly what it is going to be !

Now let me look at VA FC future under SR "leadership", hum..., hold on...,oh I see it clear now ! : "NOT GOOD"

 

Edited April 12 by FredVaFC59100

[ChristopheVAFC]

45 minutes ago, FredVaFC59100 said:

Isn't this what I've heard from you guys last summer ? "SR has no excuses, they had one year to prepare, we must go up this year, etc..." even my favorite Wizard, Ben Chorley said on record in April 2024 : "we will go back to Ligue 2 next year"

Now, let me tell you, my real name is Fredodamus, and I predicted on August 12th 2024 on this forum that VA FC would finish mid table ranking, and that's exactly what it is going to be !

Now let me look at VA FC future under SR "leadership", hum..., hold on...,oh I see it clear now ! : "NOT GOOD"

 

That's what I said a few months ago on this forum. As far as I'm concerned, the first mistake was keeping Ahmed Kantari as head coach after the club went down to the National League. He shouldn't have been kept on in the summer of 2024.

If you compare the budgets of National League clubs, we're in the top 3 and logic would have had us at the top of the table, but sport is the most complicated area to stabilise and put in place.

The arrival of Vincent Hognon has done the team a lot of good and has helped us climb back up the table, but unfortunately the last few games have been fatal for our club.

I'm not at all sure that Ben Chorley will stay on next year because he's had 18 months of complicated sporting management and I think that Sport Republic has a duty to take decisions against him.

Valenciennes' season is over and we know that the National Championship isn't easy with teams that don't give up and we're going to have the same thing next year.

I've been a Valenciennes fan for 21 years now, and I'm not going to be afraid of this season or next.

I will always be there for my beloved club.

Edited April 12 by ChristopheVAFC

[Harry_SFC]

Simon Jordan just mentioned on Talksport that we are up for sale. 

Given Jim White (Talksport) is friends with Dragan I wonder if there's some truth to that. 

 

[sockeye]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

Simon Jordan just mentioned on Talksport that we are up for sale. 

Given Jim White (Talksport) is friends with Dragan I wonder if there's some truth to that. 

I've heard Dai Yongge is looking for a new asset to strip.

[coalman]

8 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Simon Jordan just mentioned on Talksport that we are up for sale. 

Given Jim White (Talksport) is friends with Dragan I wonder if there's some truth to that. 

 

You have to think that Dragan is getting increasingly less willing to throw more cash into the Rasmus money pit without getting anything back.

If Dragan selling Saints results in Rasmus no longer making football decisions then it may be no bad thing. Though saying that I wouldn't put it past Sport Republic to fuck that up and make things worse as well.

[CSA96]

31 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Simon Jordan just mentioned on Talksport that we are up for sale. 

Given Jim White (Talksport) is friends with Dragan I wonder if there's some truth to that. 

 

Equally, could've heard it from his other TS colleague Alex Crook...

[Matthew Le God]

30 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Simon Jordan just mentioned on Talksport that we are up for sale. 

Given Jim White (Talksport) is friends with Dragan I wonder if there's some truth to that. 

 

 

Selling now when the club value drops due to relegation would be a strange time and makes little sense. They'd be better off waiting to see if they can quickly return to the Premier League and value return to the club value.

A sale now would sell them make a loss on all the money put into the club. Plus as the club is the keystone club of the group, the group falls apart without Saints.

The club have denied it according to the Echo.

 

[Disco Stu]

43 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Simon Jordan just mentioned on Talksport that we are up for sale. 

Given Jim White (Talksport) is friends with Dragan I wonder if there's some truth to that. 

 

I hope so.

[Saint Mikey]

Just like players, every club is for sale - at the right price. Depends if Dragan is willing to admit defeat and take a haircut.