The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[The_ads]

They have a bank statement and no doubt the 74.5m in the bank account earmarked for Lerner and to erase the clubs 24m debt will have been checked out. I think if there is conclusive proof that he has 400 million set aside then great, but lets see it first. Interesting the promotion payment is in the first 3 years, with an extra 10m if we stay up for a further 3 years. Seems a fairly sensible sale deal from Lerner who would see essentially 90m by the end and the sale price hit 115m with the bank payment.

Still think he is either real but being backed by money from elsewhere too, or simply living in a fantasy world.

I've been very sceptical, but information is starting to emerge now and the guy is clearly very articulate. If this 'I've got loads of private companies I could sell at the drop of a hat' thing is true then I think there is genuine cause for excitement

[wozwebs]

That article had made me a lot more reassured, especially as it's come from the Daily Heil

[Toronto Villa]

I'm hoping like everyone else I imagine that the accounts portrayed by the Daily Mail are accurate. Because I have a semi in my pants at the mere thought that is worth what this bloke could be worth. Lets hope its true and we are all united in our happiness at this new owner.

[old man villa fan]

I had no idea so many posters on H and V were even vaguely familiar with the ins and outs of Far East business intricacies let alone experts...

When the Financial Times and the Telegraph start raising these issues, you have to listen.

I can't believe how many of us are looking at all these questions and just refusing to think about how this could turn out if it really turns out that this bloke is nowhere near as rich as we've been told he is.

I also suggest a casual googling of Chris Samuelson and Reading, what with him being involved in the deal.

And finally - the person selecting Xia as the winning bidder is Randy Lerner, a man who has elevated misjudging idiots to an artform.

Come on Paulie, it's hardly investigative journalism, is it.  The FT checked the owners of 5 companies on the stock exchange public information and made a phone call to a member of staff.  I would have thought a respected newspaper like the FT would have dug into his past, if they had been interested.  As for the Telegraph, they were just repeating what others had said earlier and threw in the bit about the PL and Championship looking into the affairs of Xia as there were doubts, as if it was something new.  Call me cynical if you like but don't newspapers write stories to sell newspapers and advertisement space.

It could turn out bad or it could turn out good, we will not find out until the sale goes through.  We are at a bad place at the moment with few saleable assets and in the Championship (well not quite as this does not happen until June 1 apparently).

What has Samuelson's role in this been to date and what is it going forward?

Lerner has got everything wrong in the past, perhaps he might have got this one right with the help of professionals.

[PaulWinch again]

This is a real roller coaster!

[Villafirst]

Recon Holdings alone has current assets of 2bn. I wish people would give the guy a chance. He's way more open than Lerner. I think he'll engage with the fans, which is great if he's hands-on; good news that he's going to live over here as well.

[Monty]

Quite the change of topic, but I always thought the best way for China to get better at football would be to follow the European model - that is, a focus on provincial leagues with a sort of Chinese Champions League as the Big Cup. It means more teams and therefore more players having more to play for - fuck knows they have the population to sustain it!

[old man villa fan]

If this does happen, people are going to have to get used to the cultural differences between China and the West.

[saunders_heroes]

This is the first time the Daily Mail has ever made me feel a bit better about anything.

[Toronto Villa]

This is the first time the Daily Mail has ever made me feel a bit better about anything.

I certainly liked that he showed them a cheque or whatever it is worth 430m. I said earlier in my dealings with the Chinese community that they are very secretive or protective (a better word). This is a country that in many ways has gone out of its way to isolate itself from how the western world does business. Yet they are and have been incredibly successful at buying land, property, anything of value really, very quietly. In 2015 it was estimated that China owned something like $1.2 trillion in US debt. It's staggering really. This is the first real foray of any significance of a Chinese businessman into football. We'll just have to see how determined he is to succeed and importantly the intentions of those behind the scenes. Football, as it is for the Mansoor's and Abramavich's of the world is just vehicle to get access to different social circles and business interests.

[Villafirst]

If he's as open to the DM on finances, he must have disclosed a lot more financial detail to Lerner and Steve Hollis? Just think if he bought Blose, Wolves or West Brom......I think we'd be jealous?

[Matt C]

That piece is a little more encouraging.

The bigger concern is I just read the scribe of The Daily Hate of my own free will.

[Edvard Remberg]

Ffs not all assets are known to the public.  Let us have a rich guy for once - and not a poor billionaire

[Billy Walker]

It wouldn't be the London media if they didn't imply that the Chelsea owner is richer and that the Doctor loved Henry-era Arsenal.  I mean, how on earth could a club from Brum possibly have foreign fans or attract an owner who is richer than all the clubs in the capital?  The very thought of it!

The journalist forgets that it is Recon, not Tony who is buying the Club, so the Doctor's wealth is immaterial.  If it's true that Recon are about to splurge over 3 billion dollars on a US investment then I would hazard a guess that they have access to far more cash than the likes of Abramovitch (whose fortune seems to be dropping year on year.) 

I remain cautiously optimistic and look forward very much to Dr. Tony's first Villa Park press conference. 

[Edvard Remberg]

So? We might have an excellent owner? But the devil in ourselves will say he is bad - we haven't had much positives lately