The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Chris Smith]

....
That's how I am looking at it but would say conflicting speculation rather than information I would say.

There's plenty of hard information out there regarding Samuelson's previous deals in football, and it doesn't make good reading. There's little conflict either. I have yet to read any article - whether it's about his dealings in football or the FBI - that shows him in a good light.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/financier-behind-ill-fated-everton-fc-3356079

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/zingarevich-dream-ticket-who-turned-7207377

http://www.gudavadze.com/court.news.christopher-samuelson-denies-money-laundering-allegations.html

Fair enough, Steve, but the extent of his involvement in the the future running of the club can only be speculation. Now it might be that he is fully hands on and a total disaster for us but, for now, I am prepared to keep an open mind.

[nick harper]

....
That's how I am looking at it but would say conflicting speculation rather than information I would say.

There's plenty of hard information out there regarding Samuelson's previous deals in football, and it doesn't make good reading. There's little conflict either. I have yet to read any article - whether it's about his dealings in football or the FBI - that shows him in a good light.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/financier-behind-ill-fated-everton-fc-3356079

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/zingarevich-dream-ticket-who-turned-7207377

http://www.gudavadze.com/court.news.christopher-samuelson-denies-money-laundering-allegations.html

This is where I am with this. I do believe the Dr has the best intentions for the club although there's no way of knowing, at the moment, how significant and secure his finances are.

My concern is the people who seem to be associated with the deal and their likely involvement post takeover. Everything I've read suggests we shouldn't want them anywhere near us. The thought of looking back in two years time at a club that's been asset stripped and languishing in a lower league is a nightmare scenario.

That may seem over dramatic, but at the moment the lack of hard facts makes it as much a possibility as promotion at the first attempt.

[passport1]

....
That's how I am looking at it but would say conflicting speculation rather than information I would say.

There's plenty of hard information out there regarding Samuelson's previous deals in football, and it doesn't make good reading. There's little conflict either. I have yet to read any article - whether it's about his dealings in football or the FBI - that shows him in a good light.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/financier-behind-ill-fated-everton-fc-3356079

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/zingarevich-dream-ticket-who-turned-7207377

http://www.gudavadze.com/court.news.christopher-samuelson-denies-money-laundering-allegations.html

It doesn't make good reading.This guy clearly has form.

[ChicagoLion]

We don't know if he has any future involvement in Villa though.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We don't know if he has any future involvement in Villa though.

Other than the Mail reference to him as 'Deputy Chairman in-waiting'.

[Zouch Villa]

Now I'm prepared to be shot down in flames, but what would an investor gain from asset stripping the club. I doubt we have liquidatable assets of the value needed to make that a viable option. These guys may be ruthless businessmen with questionable financing, but they aren't stupid.

The only financially viable investment I can see is by getting the team back in the premier league and then maybe to look at selling the club on at a more appropriate valuation, rather than the self imposed fire sale price that Randy settled for.

[pauliewalnuts]

We don't know if he has any future involvement in Villa though.

Other than the Mail reference to him as 'Deputy Chairman in-waiting'.

And him being a director of Recon Sports Ltd, the company set up to hold Villa.

[pauliewalnuts]

Now I'm prepared to be shot down in flames, but what would an investor gain from asset stripping the club. I doubt we have liquidatable assets of the value needed to make that a viable option. These guys may be ruthless businessmen with questionable financing, but they aren't stupid.

The only financially viable investment I can see is by getting the team back in the premier league and then maybe to look at selling the club on at a more appropriate valuation, rather than the self imposed fire sale price that Randy settled for.

Why does it have to be anything to do with asset stripping?

There are lots of other ways to cripple a club through greed.

[Zouch Villa]

Now I'm prepared to be shot down in flames, but what would an investor gain from asset stripping the club. I doubt we have liquidatable assets of the value needed to make that a viable option. These guys may be ruthless businessmen with questionable financing, but they aren't stupid.

The only financially viable investment I can see is by getting the team back in the premier league and then maybe to look at selling the club on at a more appropriate valuation, rather than the self imposed fire sale price that Randy settled for.

Why does it have to be anything to do with asset stripping?

There are lots of other ways to cripple a club through greed.

I was saying that I don't accept the asset stripping theory (in response to I think Nick's post earlier, I should have made that clearer).

I do agree that there are many other ways to ruin a football club, but struggle to see what they would gain from doing so.

[pauliewalnuts]

Now I'm prepared to be shot down in flames, but what would an investor gain from asset stripping the club. I doubt we have liquidatable assets of the value needed to make that a viable option. These guys may be ruthless businessmen with questionable financing, but they aren't stupid.

The only financially viable investment I can see is by getting the team back in the premier league and then maybe to look at selling the club on at a more appropriate valuation, rather than the self imposed fire sale price that Randy settled for.

Why does it have to be anything to do with asset stripping?

There are lots of other ways to cripple a club through greed.

I was saying that I don't accept the asset stripping theory (in response to I think Nick's post earlier, I should have made that clearer).

I do agree that there are many other ways to ruin a football club, but struggle to see what they would gain from doing so.

Ah, see what you mean.

For me it's not the fact that these iffy characters are involved that bothers me in terms of what they could do to the club, it's why Dr Xia needs them if he's so rich?

[john e]

Now I'm prepared to be shot down in flames, but what would an investor gain from asset stripping the club. I doubt we have liquidatable assets of the value needed to make that a viable option. These guys may be ruthless businessmen with questionable financing, but they aren't stupid.

The only financially viable investment I can see is by getting the team back in the premier league and then maybe to look at selling the club on at a more appropriate valuation, rather than the self imposed fire sale price that Randy settled for.

Why does it have to be anything to do with asset stripping?

There are lots of other ways to cripple a club through greed.

I was saying that I don't accept the asset stripping theory (in response to I think Nick's post earlier, I should have made that clearer).

I do agree that there are many other ways to ruin a football club, but struggle to see what they would gain from doing so.

Ah, see what you mean.

For me it's not the fact that these iffy characters are involved that bothers me in terms of what they could do to the club, it's why Dr Xia needs them if he's so rich?

Exactly,
I keep banging on about this, he says he's got 430 million in the bank, he says he owns another 80 companies,
there is no need for iffy people to be involved with the deal or the set up of the new board or whatever unless they are their to bring in funding from other areas because the good doctor isn't what he says he is, this is my fear

there's nothing we can do either way to be honest just moan on message boards like we did about Randy

[Ads]

I thought he was some sort of broker for football acquisitions. Greases wheels and brings folk in. Could well be he has contacted Xia rather than the other way round and that's were the takeover came from.

[Ian.]

Hopefully the clue is in "Chairman in Waiting".

[Ads]

Xia is to be the chairman.

[Toronto Villa]

Xia is to be the chairman.

I thought that's what he said and that he wanted to spend a lot of time at the club. It's hard to know what to believe. I'll keep my faith in the process that was put in place by Hollis to identify Xia from the list of potential buyers and ultimately choose him from the final 4. Let's hope all of the most obvious questions have been answered to their satisfaction.