John

Agreed Denis the problem is always our chairman and will be until we have another one.

In the "Sunday Mercury" today, "one source close to the takeover" confirmed to Graham Hill that the deal, "was in good shape". He added that despite reports suggesting that the scheme was close to collapse, growing fears for the future of the bid and the chairman's concerns that financial assurances had not been met, it is understood that the consortium have not pulled out of the proposed takeover despite the amount of time it is taking to make real progress. It's good news that they are still willing to try to do a deal with a man who is so difficult to deal with, "despite the amount of time it is taking to make real progress" and does that suggest to anyone that they are the ones who are delaying things rather than you know who?

But, Denis are there any "football persons" who would have the money to pay him what he wants for his shares and that would also want to buy our club? Ray Ranson was a football person, but it seems the money now on offer and the status he will enjoy at the club after any deal has more impact on whether a deal happens than whether the person with the money has ever kicked a football.

How true & how sad Denis.

Ian, if ( was the case why did he not try to attract the Russian who has joined Portsmouth to pump some money into the club and allowed their chairman to stay. If it was (a) why would he have gone so far as he has if the money was not what he had wanted? Of course, it may be that the Russian was unwilling to work with our chairman (might he have been part of the Russian consortium that were looking at us?) and that our chairman is trying to string this out until the transfer window closes. I think he probably wants both A & B and even then he would be reluctant. Has he reached the point where his mind is not capable of making a final decision or was that point reached some years ago? The deal is still in place, he just has to say yes and sign the agreement that he could have signed weeks ago.

Thanks Jimzk5 & Ian. If only we were Wigan! :roll: And took it back shortly afterwards and we have paid you millions since. And in 1982 you came to a club that had just won the European Cup. Show us your medals then! Or that the Kaiser would say anything to get rid of you. :winkold: And we have been hurt by what you have done to our football club, it is however nice to know we have had some impact. I can think of millions of reasons why you should have a Happy Birthday on Tuesday, give us one and take the cash!

Anything in the press today (Irish or English) about this today folks?

To continue the earlier Simpsons line: In the episode "Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk" Homer learns he owns stock in the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and sells his 1,000 shares for 25 cents apiece, netting $25. Seconds after the sale, the value of the stock skyrockets to $52 per share, and while Homer misses out on the windfall – he could have made $5,200, after all – all the other employees clean up. The reason for the stock's inflated value is because a depressed Mr. Burns wants to sell the plant to pursue other interests. The sale is completed at a value of $100 million to two German businessmen, Horst and Fritz. They immediately begin a thorough evaluation of the plant and its employees. When they interview Homer, he is unable to intelligently answer their questions and begins slipping into a dream about cavorting through "The Land of Chocolate." It isn't long before Homer is fired. A depressed Homer mopes around the house, insisting he is a competent safety-minded worker. Meanwhile, Burns is not having a good time in retirement and decides to go to Moe's Tavern to have a drink. There, Homer and the other bar patrons laugh scornfully at Burns. Burns realizes his job as owner of a nuclear plant gives him power and is resolved to buy back the plant. The German investors are more than willing to sell the plant back to Burns (for only $50 million), particularly since it will cost about as much as it did to buy the plant to correct all the safety violations. Homer is re-hired, and Burns plots his revenge at some unspecified point in the future. For Homer use Abdul Rashid or Mark Ansell? For Mr Burns replace with our very own chairman. For the plant replace Villa Park. For the Germans try the Irish. $100m is quite close to the chairman's original sale price. Solution don't ever allow our CEO & Abdul/Mark to get together over a pint of Duff at the local after the deal has been done! :winkold: Out with the old & in with the new - the hour draws closer with each day!

That would be a change to what happened in 1982. Pity the chairman & CEO does not see fit to keep his manager informed.

Who is "Mini-Me" then Lee?

It takes us a step back & another one forward Dukes because the "major shareholders" don't want to be seen to be being rushed by the new boys who have now set up something that will have the affect of doing just that.

This seems further good news in that the consortium are still clearly in the race and are still placing pressure (albeit more tentatively) on "the major shareholders" to go through with the deal. Is the last bit something that they felt they needed to add as the feathers of those "major shareholders" had been ruffled by Neville's previous statement as it had raised expectations and placed what they considered to be undue pressure on them for an early decision? Better to wait a couple of days than see the whole thing blown out of the water by these "major shareholders" getting a touch upset. :roll: But, it really needs doing before the January window passes us by and I think the only ones who do not realise this or don't care enough to sort it out before then are these or should it read the "major shareholder"? Out with the old and in with the new a.s.a.p.

I think he is well aware that they have the money and that he should not expect to see it until the deal is done and dusted. But, he follows the X-Files and "trusts no one" until he sees the colour of their money. I think he may be using this as a reason to delay doing the deal when there is none. :cry:

Yes and with good reason. He has let this drag on and on and has kept moving the goalposts. This bid is serious and I think the consortium wanted the fans to know that they were still there and wanting to do something before the window. Only one man can stand in the way of this going through and by saying nothing it would have made it easier for him to do so as he has done with other past bids. Out with the old and in with the new on 31/12!

He does David.

Drat, Talksport have said that Mark & JPA have given their backing as players to the takeover.

Nice to see Mark & JPA talking up the takeover (the chairman will be choking on his Corn Flakes!

Chief wrote: I have not talked to him one to one myself Chief, but he has said publicly: "The deal won't be completed before Christmas but there is a possibility it could be completed by the New Year." They have met him and discussed a whole range of things. I am still very upbeat about completion of the transaction. It has taken longer than we thought because of the complexities of due diligence. But Mr Ellis has been most charming and most accommodating and things are progressing well. Everything is very cordial and on track. I have got no view of anything which would hinder this deal."

And the plus may be that it shows the new owners that we do have some real potential Pelle.

Because that is what Mr Neville told us Chief. :winkold:

Yes. I hope by Sunday if not, very shortly after that.

"I think in 12 months time many fans will be talking of the good old days of doug ellis" - Many Bloose fans possibly. But, this can't be a quote from one as he claims to have developed the ability to think and Bloose fans have yet to evolve that far. By the way as far as the takeover is concerned only one man can stand in the way of what has been agreed so have you had a word with him Denis?

Exactly Ian. Why would they want to take any heat of our departing chairman? News was anticipated before Christmas and I think this is their way of telling us that they are still active and ready to takeover and this news also serves to make it more difficult for the old man to pull out as he did with Ranson. The talk of showing the money is rubbish, the money is there. When you sell a property for example the money does not turn up until the completion date, so why all the talk about wanting to see that it is there? This deal will happen and only one old man can stop it and this news will make it more difficult for him to stand in the way of this bid. Out with the old and in with the new on 31/12/05!

He's behind you Mr Neville! They won't find it hard to put in more than the departing chairman did villaboy. :winkold: I'm glad that this is all out in the open now. Surely our soon to be departed chairman can't stop this now? Out with the old & in with the new on 31/12/05!

I expect Baros to start every game if he signs. JPA on the form of 2 seasons ago would line up alongside him but Phillips on current form does not deserve to make way for him on Saturday. I think given Phillips age he would not have been signed in the expectation of his starting every game and playing the whole 90 minutes and I suspect both him and JPA will get plenty of time on the park over the season, as I hope will Luke. It will also offer some much needed competition up front.