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Author Topic: The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL  (Read 2836480 times)

Offline DeeBoy1

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11130 on: February 09, 2016, 01:54:58 PM »
Garde is the right man, sadly he's been let down by a fucking atrocious board.
I'd like to think he is in touch with Sir Graham Taylor, Brian Little, Ron Atkinson and John Gregory.
They are my favourite Villa managers of the last 30 years.

...despite his flaws I'd add O'Neil and go so far as to say they are the ONLY Villa managers of the last 30 years

Offline Risso

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11131 on: February 09, 2016, 04:01:16 PM »
For those who are interested, looking up accounts at Companies House is now free, and there's some interesting stuff if you look up Aston Villa Limited.  It was incorporated as a company on 18 Jan 1896, and the original incorporation documents are available to view as a PDF.  A lot if it is illegible, but you can see the list of original shareholders, i.e. Frederick Rinder, William McGregor, James Lees, Charles Johnstone, Joshua Margoschis, Frederick Lloyd and Isaac Whitehouse.

Also, the original name of the company was "The Aston Villa Football Club Limited" so the makers of the Wembley Sex Pistols-inspired flag were historically accurate if nothing else.  The 'The' was only dropped from the name of the company in 1997.

Then after that, there are some random years of accounts from 1975 onwards, which are worth a look at for the review of the year bits.  The 1982 accounts obviously have a glowing review of the successful European Cup campaign, but then something I've never heard about before, or indeed seen in a set of accounts, are a note about a criminal investigation by West Midlands Police into building works at Villa Park.  What was all that about?

There are also other interesting snippets like the share offer document in 97, which shows that the then Reebok kit deal was worth more than the current Macron one,

Apologies if all this is well-known already.

Online Holte L2

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11132 on: February 09, 2016, 04:03:55 PM »
For those who are interested, looking up accounts at Companies House is now free, and there's some interesting stuff if you look up Aston Villa Limited.  It was incorporated as a company on 18 Jan 1896, and the original incorporation documents are available to view as a PDF.  A lot if it is illegible, but you can see the list of original shareholders, i.e. Frederick Rinder, William McGregor, James Lees, Charles Johnstone, Joshua Margoschis, Frederick Lloyd and Isaac Whitehouse.

Also, the original name of the company was "The Aston Villa Football Club Limited" so the makers of the Wembley Sex Pistols-inspired flag were historically accurate if nothing else.  The 'The' was only dropped from the name of the company in 1997.

Then after that, there are some random years of accounts from 1975 onwards, which are worth a look at for the review of the year bits.  The 1982 accounts obviously have a glowing review of the successful European Cup campaign, but then something I've never heard about before, or indeed seen in a set of accounts, are a note about a criminal investigation by West Midlands Police into building works at Villa Park.  What was all that about?

There are also other interesting snippets like the share offer document in 97, which shows that the then Reebok kit deal was worth more than the current Macron one,

Apologies if all this is well-known already.

Interesting post Riso.

Offline cdbearsfan

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11133 on: February 09, 2016, 04:13:09 PM »
Fascinating stuff.

Re: the building work, I'm sure there was a massive overspend on the North Stand, maybe just through incompetence but maybe through something more sinister. I've heard it cited as a possible reason why Bendall chose to sell back to Ellis but that may be bollocks.

Offline Chico Hamilton III

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11134 on: February 09, 2016, 04:13:40 PM »
For those who are interested, looking up accounts at Companies House is now free, and there's some interesting stuff if you look up Aston Villa Limited.  It was incorporated as a company on 18 Jan 1896, and the original incorporation documents are available to view as a PDF.  A lot if it is illegible, but you can see the list of original shareholders, i.e. Frederick Rinder, William McGregor, James Lees, Charles Johnstone, Joshua Margoschis, Frederick Lloyd and Isaac Whitehouse.

Also, the original name of the company was "The Aston Villa Football Club Limited" so the makers of the Wembley Sex Pistols-inspired flag were historically accurate if nothing else.  The 'The' was only dropped from the name of the company in 1997.

Then after that, there are some random years of accounts from 1975 onwards, which are worth a look at for the review of the year bits.  The 1982 accounts obviously have a glowing review of the successful European Cup campaign, but then something I've never heard about before, or indeed seen in a set of accounts, are a note about a criminal investigation by West Midlands Police into building works at Villa Park.  What was all that about?

There are also other interesting snippets like the share offer document in 97, which shows that the then Reebok kit deal was worth more than the current Macron one,

Apologies if all this is well-known already.


United Press International


September 27, 1982, Monday

SECTION: Sports News

DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, England



European champion Aston Villa of England is to be involved in a police investigation following ''possible criminal activities'' during the building recently of a new office block at the club.

Villa released the following statement Monday, ''The directors have been informed by Detective Superintendant Harry West, head of West Midlands Police Commercial Branch, that, following legal advice, the Chief Constable has authorized a further investigation into certain matters in respect of which there is prima facie evidence of possible criminal activities.
''No details have been disclosed to the board, who have confirmed their earlier assurance of total cooperation with the police.''

A preliminary report on the matter was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution last month.

Offline Risso

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11135 on: February 09, 2016, 04:17:27 PM »
That's the one Chico.  Unfortunately the 1983 accounts aren't on the website, so can't see if they made mention of them.  I wonder if it was anything to do with Ellmanton being used to get round the director pay restrictions?

Offline Chico Hamilton III

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11136 on: February 09, 2016, 04:35:15 PM »
That's the one Chico.  Unfortunately the 1983 accounts aren't on the website, so can't see if they made mention of them.  I wonder if it was anything to do with Ellmanton being used to get round the director pay restrictions?

I've checked a couple of sources and the 1983 accounts are unavailable. Their filing record jumps from 1982 straight to 1984. Interesting - was this gap when Doug took over again?

Also interesting that Duran Duran, Austin Maestro, the satellite coverage of the the Moscow Spartak game and the signing of "Stephen" Foster all get mentions in the accounts, along with the Billy Graham gig which led to a pitch invasion of God botherers


A Guardian article from 9 years ago:

So in the first two years after Ellis's return he was not paid a salary - but Ellmanton Construction, of which he owned 70%, was paid "administration fees": £20,500 in 1983 and £27,500 in 1984. No further clarification was offered, and a club spokesman this week was not able to recall what the payments were for.

The club's constitution was changed in 1985 to allow one paid full-time director and Ellis became that man, his first salary £10,000. Ellmanton was also paid £30,000, again in administration fees. Ellis was paid £20,000 in 1986 and £30,000 the following year, while Ellmanton received £20,000 and then £10,000 in 1987, the last time the company was paid by Villa
.
« Last Edit: February 09, 2016, 04:41:13 PM by Chico Hamilton III »

Offline Risso

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11137 on: February 09, 2016, 04:38:40 PM »
PS.  Only 20 days until the 31 May 2015 accounts are due, accounts fans.

Offline oldhill_avfc

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11138 on: February 09, 2016, 04:38:47 PM »
For those who are interested, looking up accounts at Companies House is now free, and there's some interesting stuff if you look up Aston Villa Limited.  It was incorporated as a company on 18 Jan 1896, and the original incorporation documents are available to view as a PDF.  A lot if it is illegible, but you can see the list of original shareholders, i.e. Frederick Rinder, William McGregor, James Lees, Charles Johnstone, Joshua Margoschis, Frederick Lloyd and Isaac Whitehouse.

Also, the original name of the company was "The Aston Villa Football Club Limited" so the makers of the Wembley Sex Pistols-inspired flag were historically accurate if nothing else.  The 'The' was only dropped from the name of the company in 1997.

Then after that, there are some random years of accounts from 1975 onwards, which are worth a look at for the review of the year bits.  The 1982 accounts obviously have a glowing review of the successful European Cup campaign, but then something I've never heard about before, or indeed seen in a set of accounts, are a note about a criminal investigation by West Midlands Police into building works at Villa Park.  What was all that about?

There are also other interesting snippets like the share offer document in 97, which shows that the then Reebok kit deal was worth more than the current Macron one,

Apologies if all this is well-known already.

I think the investigation was related to the building contracts for the North Stand.  From memory, it cost an awful lot more than might have been expected and the inference was that it was conduit for corrupt payments.

DW will remeber the detail I'm sure.

Online Clampy

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11139 on: February 09, 2016, 05:19:46 PM »
For those who are interested, looking up accounts at Companies House is now free, and there's some interesting stuff if you look up Aston Villa Limited.  It was incorporated as a company on 18 Jan 1896, and the original incorporation documents are available to view as a PDF.  A lot if it is illegible, but you can see the list of original shareholders, i.e. Frederick Rinder, William McGregor, James Lees, Charles Johnstone, Joshua Margoschis, Frederick Lloyd and Isaac Whitehouse.

Also, the original name of the company was "The Aston Villa Football Club Limited" so the makers of the Wembley Sex Pistols-inspired flag were historically accurate if nothing else.  The 'The' was only dropped from the name of the company in 1997.

Then after that, there are some random years of accounts from 1975 onwards, which are worth a look at for the review of the year bits.  The 1982 accounts obviously have a glowing review of the successful European Cup campaign, but then something I've never heard about before, or indeed seen in a set of accounts, are a note about a criminal investigation by West Midlands Police into building works at Villa Park.  What was all that about?

There are also other interesting snippets like the share offer document in 97, which shows that the then Reebok kit deal was worth more than the current Macron one,

Apologies if all this is well-known already.


United Press International


September 27, 1982, Monday

SECTION: Sports News

DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, England



European champion Aston Villa of England is to be involved in a police investigation following ''possible criminal activities'' during the building recently of a new office block at the club.

Villa released the following statement Monday, ''The directors have been informed by Detective Superintendant Harry West, head of West Midlands Police Commercial Branch, that, following legal advice, the Chief Constable has authorized a further investigation into certain matters in respect of which there is prima facie evidence of possible criminal activities.
''No details have been disclosed to the board, who have confirmed their earlier assurance of total cooperation with the police.''

A preliminary report on the matter was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution last month.



That's James Nursey's article sorted for tomorrow then.

Offline Billy Walker

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11140 on: February 09, 2016, 05:27:29 PM »
I might be wrong on this but I always took it to be that one of the reasons why we weren't able to kick on after 81-82 was because of the debt the club was in due to the North Stand shenanigans?

Offline PeterWithe

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11141 on: February 09, 2016, 05:29:44 PM »
Wasn't one of Ellis' companies involved with building the WL stand without doing an asbestos survey, it closed soon after opening didn't it?

Offline brian green

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11142 on: February 09, 2016, 05:47:01 PM »
As I heard it, it was one particular component of the North Stand contract that was more than a tad Derek Trotter. I expect it will all be revealed one day, or maybe not.

Offline conman

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11143 on: February 09, 2016, 06:24:28 PM »
In the late 1970s, as Villa began to re-establish themselves back among the top clubs after a lengthy spell in the lower divisions, plans were laid for the next major development of the ground, with the building of the North Stand at the Witton Lane end. The new stand was to be an impressive feature and after completion Villa Park was completely under cover for the first time ever. However, although the North Stand was much admired, the manner in which it was paid for caused an enormous amount of publicity and left the club deep in debt for a number of years. Never before had the construction of a sporting arena caused such a scandal as a police investigation and an internal inquiry found that around three-quarters of a million pounds of work had been unaccounted for. The heads of two directors rolled but this could not prevent the club's relationships with their supporters being irretrievably damaged.
 
http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/astonvilla/a_villa_vp.htm

Offline cheltenhamlion

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Re: The Still Current Lack of an Imminent Takeover Thread WITH CHILDISH POLL
« Reply #11144 on: February 09, 2016, 07:02:22 PM »
Look on the bright side, there are always hookers....

 


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