runetune

Oh right - Mind you, the OS doesn't always publish the information from all the papers anyway - it could simply be that one report in the mail and the Independent isn't enough for them to consider at this stage.

By the laws of the LSE, we cannot be given details of any bids that even come in for consideration. Then if a formal bid is made (as Lerner did) then they (AVFC) have to inform the LSE before announcing it publically. So if AV06, Neville and Still are all still in the hunt, we wouldn't know until a formal bid is made. Then we would get far more infomation about their bid. And we have to remember, the bid doesn't have to be accepted by the board of AVFC either. But it does have to be given due consideration.

Straggler = My sentiments exactly. I was prepared to look at the Padfield bid. Still am, but whatever happens AV06 and Padfield has lost credibility for me and thats something no amount of money can buy.

There are two separate deadlines. The first is for a 10 calander day - Which is the timescale allowing other bidders to place a bid that must be at least 5% greater than the initial bid. The second timescale is the 21 days - this allows all shareholders to sort out what they want to do as individuals or any businesses that might own shares.

Have just caught up - and reading Damiens comments one thing struck me. If, as he says he was in contact with Padfield, why hasn't he commented on one aspect of the supposed AV06's report......... The merging of clubs - which he (Damien) in his own blog said was rubbish. So if, according to Damien, Padfield is saying the right things, why hasn't he pulled him up over the inaccurate statements coming out on their behalf. So far, I've not read anything other than unsubstantiated comments about the AV06 plans since hearing Padfield when he gave the radio interview, and it appeared as if they were, as a consortia, well behind anyway. I will happily read any substantiated bids that might now also come in, and are confident that the only way Lerner is going to lose out on this deal is because someone else has bettered it, which for the overall bid is not going to be an easy task - Not impossible, and if they manage it I can only believe its got to improve the clubs chances more.

SSN have also just shown The Mails report. No comments from them on it though it appears.

SSN just said the documents for the takeover will arrive for Shareholders in the next 24 hours.

but they can npot slow it down, it is a defined process by now ... They can though try and achieve a fan unrest against Lerner and his bid if this report is accurate. At the moment I am not entirely sure this is an accurate report from Howell.... but even if it is, its the only thing I can see them thinking they can gain by it.

No the bid does not have to be accepted by Petchey, Doug or the Board at AVFC even if it is above the 5% limit is my understanding. I will happily stand corrected if I have misunderstood this.

Nah I reckon this is just Bill Howell feeling impotent again instead of Randy!

And thats a good point. If reports are accurate, Lerner has been in discussion over the possible TO for a couple of months, carefully assessing for some time now. AV06 by their own admission is well behind in the timescale of events..... and I wouldn't want cut corners from them simply to achieve a goal of buying the club. I don't have a problem with any counter bid that might better what Lerner is offering in all areas, but like the attempts Neville has made, there are some areas of the AV06 bid and procedure I am not at all happy with.

And lets face it - The Glazers didn't exactly endear themselves even with a huge PR attempt behind them. Fans didn't like the direction they were taking the club and many still don't........ and no amount of decent PR could change that. So The Glazers went on the offensive and won. But ultimately are they the best bet for the club? I guess only time will tell but at the moment they still have a mountain of debt hanging over them and some fans still unhappy about the way it was handled. The total amount being paid to loans for their purchase is £660 million, on which interest payments has been reduced to £62 million a year! And to think, Lerner has offered basically that amount for Villa.

Padfield was on holiday. Was he? I knew he was when he did the 5 live interview, but it sounded as if it was only for that week?

The 21 days is there to allow the shareholders to approve (or decline) a bid. The 10 calander days is separate to that and it allows someone to place an increased 5% or more bid.

Absolutely - and we have to remember there is the consideration of the payment to Lerner that would have to be made were another bid accepted against his (around £600,000 as I understand it) - okay in the whole scheme of things, peanuts, but another blow against Ellis who surely wouldn't want his last hours at AVFC being shrouded with these sorts of problems. Surely he would want a smooth transition without issue to allow him to milk continued praise about how and what he has achieved.

Jimzk5 link

Meant to also add in to this comment - so many questions about Lerner remain unanswered? Like what? We have been told that non core assets won't be sold. We have been told that investment is guaranteed in all aspects of the club. We know MON is their manager of choice. We know the bid isn't being funded via loans but through Lerner's own assets. What do we know about AV06's bid as yet? I want to hear about them - to make a choice over whether they can compete with Lerner or even better it. But those sorts of comments from them don't endear them to me at this stage unfortunately. Playing Devil's Advocate, we know all this information because the bid has been forwarded and the details of the bid have been released to the SE. True - which is why I am asking why AV06 have to say they have unanswered questions about Lerners bid? Like what? The fundemental questions all appear to have been answered. So why the need to ask the question in the first place? None I can see apart from trying to undermine fans belief in Lerner's bid?

Meant to also add in to this comment - so many questions about Lerner remain unanswered? Like what? We have been told that non core assets won't be sold. We have been told that investment is guaranteed in all aspects of the club. We know MON is their manager of choice. We know the bid isn't being funded via loans but through Lerner's own assets. What do we know about AV06's bid as yet? I want to hear about them - to make a choice over whether they can compete with Lerner or even better it. But those sorts of comments from them don't endear them to me at this stage unfortunately.

Nice! Fair enough! Ha! Never mind Padfield, old bean.... £50M + MON + An amazing board = Jackpot Lerner! Interesting to read these quotes from AV06 - as well as the following which again I can't see any reason unless you want to try and "scare" fans away from Lerner: Two players with 30 million? Surely you would be looking at more than 2 players with that sort of transfer budget? Something just doesn't sit right there for me. Again, just pure conjecture with absolutely no proof from any quarter that this is going to happen and what does this comment serve except to try and undermine fans confidence behind the Lerner bid. Certainly listening to Keith Harris and others yesterday, they give the exact opposite comments - that non core assets are safe for a start. While I am more than happy to accept another bid could be good for us - I am reading more of this and now wondering if their intentions really do have the best interests of the club at heart. Comments just don't quite sit right with me at the moment from the report.

Absolutely. And of course what we do have this week, which we didn't have - is absolute confirmation that Doug Ellis is selling. Whatever happens, we have a great offer in place..... far more than we had 48/72 hours ago and a sale will happen. If this bid is so much better that it can't be ignored, is it really such a bad thing? Ultimately we know the fortunes of AVFC have improved beyond many of our dreams of a month or so ago. Thats plenty enough for me to keep smiling.

All depends where the £70 million comes from. If its a loan, no thanks. Good point. We know Lerner isn't going to borrow against this bid but if there is heavy borrowing from another consortia I wouldn't like that idea at all if the alternative is someone who can fund without having to borrow.

I admit, as I posted my previous reply - that thought went through my head.

If I remember rightly, Keith Harris did comment yesterday while being interviewed that it wasn't just about the money involved. Its about what is right for AVFC right the way through the infastructure. Ultimately, while a bid for a larger amount might be considered and delay things, I really do think that Lerner is the preferred bidder for other reasons. If this is a genuine bid attempt, it will be interesting to see what the offer is but I reckon it would have to be pretty impressive in all areas to compete with Lerners bid.

Makes me wonder with the comments below if accurate if AV06 are as interested in AVFC as they might be leading us to believe or is it simply they know they are too far behind the other bidders to really be in the race despite saying they are close? If you are that close surely you would want to see the books? Also, why would bidding for AVFC stop you from possibly bidding for other clubs if you fail in this bid? Sure it might enable you to compare figures with another club, but if you've signed an agreement for confidentiality then its surely only a comparison you can then make and you can't use one set of figures to try and gain advantage over a possible bid of another club?

Taken from my earlier post: This comes from a friend who is a coporate barrister, who basically was trying to say that once a bid is decided as being of interest to the club, can meet the requirements set down by the club, and is recommended as being accepted (likely from Rothschilds) then you get an announcement. Until then they cannot - by law - allow anyone else to know what is happening except those who are on a strict need to know basis. Its just the way LSE rules work to stop unfair trading going on and we have to be patient and hope that they are well into the bidding process (which I also believe they are).