The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[cheltenhamlion]

I wonder if Pelty will still pop up now Lerner has gone.

[old man villa fan]

Erm...I wouldn't be massively upset if the Football League do a thorough job on their fit and proper persons test.

That's what we all want.  Not just a rubber-stamping exercise.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Well it was a fun couple of days. Sure would be nice to have some good news about the club for a change. Sigh.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I wonder if Pelty will still pop up now Lerner has gone.

He's online.

*waves at pelty*

Come on, let us have both barrels!

[Ian.]

I'm still edging on the side of positive. I suppose it's a case of trusting Hollis and not any of the ramblings in the press and Internet. Next week we're supposed to have a new manager so that might shed some light. Unless the same spell has been cast over the incoming manager as Hollis?

Time will tell.

[Matt C]

Apologies if already posted but excerpt from Wall St Journal piece in the US:

“Asked if he thinks such deals are a way of pandering to President Xi, Mr. Xia said, “If President Xi likes this sport, I don’t think it is a bad thing that people make efforts to boost the game,” he said. “To be frank, if investments are not for that reason, it seems strange to me.”
But he emphasized that his purchase of Aston Villa was part of a business strategy. “We are investing because we think soccer is the future of China’s sports-culture industry, and we want to help Chinese soccer,” Mr. Xia said.

Shares in a company in which Mr. Xia is the biggest shareholder, Lotus Health Group, rose 5.1% in Shanghai trading Thursday after news of the Aston Villa deal.

The company, also known as Lianhua Jiankang, drew headlines last year when it said in a filing it had nominated as an independent director Xi Yinping described by Lotus Health as having been a vice director for a research foundation named after President Xi’s father, revolutionary hero Xi Zhongxun. Local media say Xi Yinping is a relative of the president, with the two sharing a great-grandfather. Those reports couldn’t be independently confirmed.

Lotus Health’s shares soared in response to the nomination, which was revoked the next day, and the shares gave back those gains.

Asked about the nomination, Mr. Xia and a Recon Group spokesman declined to comment.

In a briefing at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hong Lei, a spokesman, said the Aston Villa deal made good business sense and that China hopes it will “play a positive role in boosting Chinese soccer.”

Mr. Xia said he hopes to take advantage of Villa’s youth camps to train promising young Chinese players. He said he would run it as a business, not burn through money.”

 

[Ger Regan]

I think that the only thing that can now be said with certainty is that straight answers to the fans will not be a priority of the new owners.

[old man villa fan]

I think that the only thing that can now be said with certainty is that straight answers to the fans will not be a priority of the new owners.

Were they with the last one.  When he did speak, I couldn't understand what he was saying.

[ChicagoLion]

So what has been shown to Hollis, a man the Birmingham Post has referenced as having

"a CV awash with high-profile roles for KPMG in the Middle East, the Far East, the USA and Europe demonstrates that it’s been professionally challenging – and equally rewarding, that has convinced him to say

 "You start putting the bits together and it all looks exciting. I genuinely think it will be transformational for Aston Villa and the city of Birmingham."

1. Hollis is right to be impressed and we will all be content.
2. Hollis has been bamboozled. Has happened to better men than him.
3. Hollis is under no illusions but priority is to fulfil the remit of his employer.

Number 2 made me chuckle Scott. China is awash with the skeletons of westerners who went into business with Chinese partners. Have you read Mark Kitto's book or Mr China?

Fantastic book Pat Mc , I read it on my first trip over there.

[kippaxvilla2]

This is a front for the Government isn't it.

[cdbearsfan]

I hope so. Chinese Government = loadsamoney.

[Jimbo]

This is a front for the Government isn't it.

It sounds like a wild conspiracy doesn't it, but it looks like it might be the case. There's clearly some financial clout behind Dr X, if not belonging directly to him.

[aj2k77]

If they are running it as a business, it's a positive.
If they are using improved methods of sports science, it's a positive.
If they are moving over here to keep a close eye on things, it's a positive.
If they are employing Di Matteo or Moyes, it's a positive.
If they stick to their word about summer investment, it's a positive.

I've said it before that I don't believe they have mega bucks, just some initial outlay. After that, if we are in the Premier League and ran properly then it should take care of itself financially. If we don't get promoted, then I'm no so sure.

[olaftab]

Fine. If the Chinese government is behind this we have no worries.

[UK Redsox]

At least Doctor X has a a Wiki page now