The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Louzie0]

...
The Club ceases to be a premiership club today...

Is it today or next week? There's an article about 10 pages back in which that luminary of investigative journalism, Gregg Evans, states we're technically a PL club until 8th June?

It seems we are now in a kind of limbo.
Go onto the premier league website and they have obliterated all records of us, the league table has been reset and we aren't in there.
Go onto the championship website and it still shows the end of last season's table, we dont exist on that site either.
We must be in some sort of twilight zone.

We're still in the BBC Premier League. 

Only if you scroll down far enough.

I don't know about you, but I sort of got used to that around last November.

[Tuscans]

It wasn't Hollis it was Wyness in the photo with the shirts, who about it has gone also very quiet

If you're on about the photo with Xia in the Villa changing room with the names of Wyness, Xia, Cook, Samuelson on the shirts....then Xia wasn't pictured with Wyness. Wyness is a large lump of a man with a slap head. That other guy had a full head of grey hair,  different bloke.

fair enough, I can't remember but you knew the photo I meant so it's all good.

If you're on about the photo with Xia in the Villa changing room with the names of Wyness, Xia, Cook, Samuelson on the shirts....then Xia wasn't pictured with Wyness. Wyness is a large lump of a man with a slap head. That other guy had a full head of grey hair,  different bloke.

[Steve R]

If the purpose of Samuelson's involvement was to take an up front cut as facilitator of the deal that is one thing. I'd be very worried if he had any on-going role in any capacity. He doesn't strike me as a person who would be after a role as paid director - he wouldn't need the salary.

From what I've read about his time at Reading, having found them a buyer he then was responsible for finding a new buyer. Part of the contract he put in place with any potential new owner was that he'd be on the board and paid £40k/week for a minimum of two years.

I haven't read much about his time at Reading other than he gets a lot of blame for bring the club to its knees.

On the face of it, 4 mill for facilitating a transfer of ownership isn't too bad, it's why he would want an on going role rather than an up front lump sum that bothers me.

[b23]

Geld

[The Laughing Policeman]

If Dr.Tony was only using Samuelson and Wyness as facilitators and they are to have no part in the running of the club, why would he have his photo taken with their names on shirts in the background. Also why didn't he do due diligence on the pair before hand if he was going to trust them with a large wedge of his cash?
I just hope we're not going to Babylon By Bus.

[Hookeysmith]

That pic doesn't seem right, the other names on the shirts & why would they do a photo shoot of sorts with last season's relegation shirt. .

The guy next to Tony is not Wyness?

Wyness Wiki page now lists him as Villa CEO

Then who is he in the pic?

[German James]

Geld

Money is the world's trauma
Money: slowly changing the face of the world
Money will break our love - money
Money turns angels into thieves - money

Money rules the world, my friend
Whether we like it or not, my joint(?)
Money means life, money means death
Money can ruin much for us
Money rules the world 2, 3, 4
Whether we like it or not 2, 3
Money makes war and money makes peace
Money, money, money
Money rules the world.
bap bap wa-ooh!

Look at the lovely flowers
Look! The birds are flying

And make love make love make love make love not war
Make love make love make love  not war

Love is love is all you need
So goes an old Beatles song
Love is all you need
All you need
Love is all you need
All you need

But money
Turns friends into enemies - money
Money is the world's dream
Money will break our love
Money forever
Nothing but money, money, money, money, money,

We are only guests on earth
And we can be content
The unemployed, leaders of commerce
(Monkeys, junkies, drunkies, punkies
Ha ha)
Good-for-nothings and leviathans
Money rules the world, my friend
Until the world falls to splinters
Money is nothing and money is everything
Money, money, money,
Money rules the world
bap bap wa-ooh!
May God protect you!

I think that says it all.

[brian green]

I do love a nice serious read first thing in the morning before I check the mousetraps.

[Hookeysmith]

I see the daily mail have suddenly changed their stance on the take over

http://go.villatalk.com/?id=71313X1520027&site=villatalk.com&xs=1&isjs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Farticle-3620728%2FAston-Villa-announce-Roberto-Di-Matteo-new-manager-former-Chelsea-boss-agrees-two-year-deal-relegated-club.html%3FITO%3D1490%26ns_mchannel%3Drss%26ns_campaign%3D1490&xguid=616357f006610cfa8e2508a0b4d69c77&xuuid=0f01484f526a743f8704e14c4f743598&xsessid=a06d7ce75e1d0bb5a87c4ad85fe5ea03&xcreo=0&xed=0&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.villatalk.com%2Ftopic%2F14911-the-2016-takeover-thread%2F%3Fpage%3D249&pref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.villatalk.com%2Fforum%2F16-villa-talk%2F&xtz=-60

[Ads]

This is the guy who did the interview and its a proper article, rather than some two lined nonsense in a gossip column.

[LeeS]

This is the guy who did the interview and its a proper article, rather than some two lined nonsense in a gossip column.

Although both in the Mail - so equally dubious. However, it would be lovely to see RDM appointed today. It would be the first concrete good thing happen to us since the FA Cup semi.

[AV82EC]

This is the guy who did the interview and its a proper article, rather than some two lined nonsense in a gossip column.

Yep Charlie Sale, the Nigel Dempster of sports journalism. Though that gives him far too much credit.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If Dr.Tony was only using Samuelson and Wyness as facilitators and they are to have no part in the running of the club, why would he have his photo taken with their names on shirts in the background. Also why didn't he do due diligence on the pair before hand if he was going to trust them with a large wedge of his cash?
I just hope we're not going to Babylon By Bus.

Wyness is to be CEO and Samuelson I've seen mentioned as Deputy Chairman. No mention of a role for the extremely low profile Jamie Banfill.

Why he didn't do due diligence on the three I have no idea.

[paul_e]

There's still errors in that article:

The authorities also want proof of Xia’s other credentials - such as studying at Harvard - and are being provided with them.

The Premier League are taking the lead in vetting Xia as a ‘fit and proper’ person because Villa could theoretically be back among the elite by next Spring and the League don’t want a ‘nightmare scenario’ of ‘dodgy owner’ to deal with later.

The documentation for the test is here - http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2015-16/030owners-and-directors.ashx

If you go to page 310 (it starts at 305 so it's not that long) you can see all the declarations that have to be made:

I hereby declare that:
(i) I am not either directly or indirectly involved in or have power to determine or influence the management or administration of another Football Club;

(ii) I am not subject to a disqualification order as a director of a UK registered company under the Company Directors’ Disqualification Act 1986 (as amended);

(iii) I have not been convicted of any of the following offences, or where I have, this conviction is now considered spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974;
(a) an offence involving a Dishonest Act;
(b) corruption;
(c) perverting the course of justice;
(d) committing a serious breach of any requirement under the Companies Act 1985 or 2006 or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof;
(e) dishonestly receiving a programme broadcast from within the UK with intent to avoid payment under Section 297 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
(f) admitting spectators to watch a football match at unlicensed premises under Section 9 of the Football Spectators Act 1989;
(g) ticket touting under Section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1964;
(h) conspiracy to commit any of the offences set out in paragraphs (a) to (g) above;
(i) any conviction for a like offence to any of the above offences by a competent court having jurisdiction outside England and Wales.
(j) I am not currently the subject of any current criminal proceedings for any of the offences detailed at items (a) to (i) above;

(iv) I am not a Registered Offender and am not required to notify personal information pursuant to Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003;

(v) I am not subject to a banning order in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 2000;

(vi) I have not breached or admitted breaching (irrespective of any sanction actually imposed on me or whether any disciplinary proceedings were brought) at any time:
(a) Rule E5 of The Association in relation to bribes, gifts or rewards or other matters in relation to matches;
(b) Rule E8 of The Association in relation to betting;
(c) Rule E9 of The Association in relation to attempts and agreements to breach Rules E5(a) or E8 of The Association;
(d) Any other rule in force from time to time in relation to the prohibition on betting on football matches played in England and Wales;
(e) Any rule of any other ruling body of football in relation to the prohibition of betting on football (whether in England or Wales or elsewhere)

(vii) I am not currently banned or suspended by a Sports Governing Body from involvement in the administration of, or participation in, that sport;

(viii) I am not subject to a Bankruptcy Order, Interim Bankruptcy Restriction Order, Bankruptcy Restriction Order or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or any other formal compromise arrangement with my creditors recognised under law;

(ix) I am not subject to any form of disqualification or striking-off by a professional body, including, by way of example and without limitation, The Law Society, Bar Council or The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales;

(x) I have not been an Officer of a Football Club that has been expelled from either the Premier League, Football League, National League, Isthmian League, Northern Premier League or Southern Football League whilst I have been an Officer of that Football Club or in the 30 days immediately following me having resigned as an Officer of that Football Club;

(xi) Since 1 August 2010 I have not been an Officer of:
•    two or more Football Clubs or Parent Undertaking of a Football Club that have entered into an Insolvency Event and in respect of which a sporting sanction was applied either:
- whilst I have been an Officer of those companies; or
- in the 30 days immediately following me having resigned as an Officer of those companies; or
•    one Football Club or Parent Undertaking of a Football Club that have entered into two separate Insolvency Events and in respect of which a sporting sanction was applied either:
- whilst I have been an Officer of that Football Club or Parent Undertaking of a Football Club; or
- in the 30 days immediately following me having resigned as an Officer of that Football Club or Parent Undertaking of a Football Club

Can you see anything there where his educational background is going to need to be checked? If you look through the rest of it can you find anything suggesting they're allowed to apply extra scrutiny because they're worried he might be 'dodgy'?

[pauliewalnuts]

At the top of that document, it says:

Regulations for the Owners’ and Directors’ Test For Clubs Competing in The Football Conference Limited, The Southern Football League Limited, The Isthmian Football League Limited and The Northern Premier League Limited (“The Leagues”)

Although I tend to agree in that I doubt any test undertaken is going to involve chasing down peoples' educational qualifications.