Chindie Posted August 10, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted August 10, 2021 A bloke claiming to be a billionaire turning up in a suit that looked like it was the last on the racks in Matalan that clearly didn't fit was the final moment for me. It was dodgy all along with no record really of who he was, where the money was coming from, what he actually did. But then he rocked up looking like he was wearing his dad's suit at a funeral... A rich man doesn't do that. Even if he doesn't care, he's going to be shopping in places that will do that kind of thing for him. Dodgy as ****. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Scorpio Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 I assume either the government or chines mafia were actually the owners with Xia as the front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 This one from SKY is kinda fun in hindsight. They clearly put a lot of time and their best investigating journalists behind it. Quote Who is Dr Tony Xia? All you need to know about Aston Villa's new owner Aston Villa have a new owner after Randy Lerner agreed to sell the club to the Recon Group, owned by Chinese businessman Dr Tony Jiantong Xia. The deal - worth between £60 and £70m - is for 100 per cent ownership and will go through subject to approval by the Premier League and Football League. But who is Dr Xia? Here is all you need to know about Villa's new owner… After finishing his studies in China, Dr Xia was selected as one of 25 highly rated graduates out of 1,000 sent to study overseas. He spent six years at Harvard and MIT, including a five-month exchange at Oxford University, before returning to China to build Recon Group. One thing that will please the Villa faithful is that Dr Xia loves his football. He played the game, featuring as a striker until he finished at college and his passion for the sport has continued ever since. And according to Aston Villa's official website, Villa has had a place in his life since becoming a fan "many years ago". https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/10287719/who-is-dr-tony-xia-all-you-need-to-know-about-aston-villas-new-owner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 Just now, sne said: This one from SKY is kinda fun in hindsight. They clearly put a lot of time and their best investigating journalists behind it. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/10287719/who-is-dr-tony-xia-all-you-need-to-know-about-aston-villas-new-owner Its a tough read, some Wiki journalism. Surprisingly no mention he went to college at 14 as a child prodigy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob182 Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 One thing that really bugged me around the Xia Era was that people immediately jumped to their conclusion just because of some of the things that are mentioned in that Al Jazeera video: Trusts, Nominee Shareholders, <5% owners that don’t need to be disclosed, companies based in tax havens etc. Admittedly, Samuelson’s presence (and then subsequently Xia’s appearance, manner and the subsequent unravelling of his backstory) made everyone start to believe, or at least question, what they had previously hoped was just rumours - but the opaque ownership structure and use of tax havens and similar things is extremely common in many massive and, seemingly, legitimate businesses. Even massive companies that we all use regularly use these types of arrangements, so that bugged me a bit. The twitter and Facebook wannabe investigators claiming they had the scoop. I specifically remember that ‘KeithVillan’ on twitter telling people to mark his words that Samuelson was going to asset strip us and that we wouldn’t be a club in 2 years time. Admittedly, that almost happened, but it wasn’t Samuelson stripping the club Keith you silly sausage, it was Tony! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidcow Posted August 10, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted August 10, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Chindie said: A bloke claiming to be a billionaire turning up in a suit that looked like it was the last on the racks in Matalan that clearly didn't fit was the final moment for me. It was dodgy all along with no record really of who he was, where the money was coming from, what he actually did. But then he rocked up looking like he was wearing his dad's suit at a funeral... A rich man doesn't do that. Even if he doesn't care, he's going to be shopping in places that will do that kind of thing for him. Dodgy as ****. Not to mention he went to pick up Roberto Di Matteo in a Ford Mondeo. That's when I got suspicious. What kind of Billionaire drives a Mondeo? Edited August 10, 2021 by sidcow 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fun Factory Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 3 hours ago, Pissflaps said: I assume either the government or chines mafia were actually the owners with Xia as the front I think it was more even dodgy than the government. Could have been well in over his head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 1 minute ago, sidcow said: Not to mention he went to pick up Roberto Di Matteo in a Ford Mondeo. That's when I go suspicious. What kind of Billionaire drives a Mondeo? One who cannot afFord anything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 It's not unheard of for exceptionally wealthy people to eschew fancy cars and clothes. Bezos famously continued to drive his Honda Accord while he was the richest man in the world. I think Zuckerberg drives a generic econobox as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 17 hours ago, TheAuthority said: OT, but I've never heard that John Motson commentary of Peter Withe's goal in the final. Where did that come from or which broadcast? I just watched it and I'm pretty sure it was an actor mimicking Motson's voice. They had that for other clubs featured too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 just watching it fully and its repulsive, Wyness is coming out looking a bit better but was either ignorant or very naive EFL wont have the balls to act on this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 2 hours ago, Davkaus said: It's not unheard of for exceptionally wealthy people to eschew fancy cars and clothes. Bezos famously continued to drive his Honda Accord while he was the richest man in the world. I think Zuckerberg drives a generic econobox as well. Warren Buffett drives a standard Cadillac as well and has a McMuffin every morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted August 10, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted August 10, 2021 1 hour ago, Mantis said: I just watched it and I'm pretty sure it was an actor mimicking Motson's voice. They had that for other clubs featured too. Bloody hell it fooled me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob182 Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 2 minutes ago, TheAuthority said: Bloody hell it fooled me! More corruption! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted August 10, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted August 10, 2021 Here's a Vital Villa podcast interview with Keith Wyness. https://anchor.fm/total-villan/episodes/Secrets-of-an-Aston-Villa-CEO-w-Keith-Wyness--Grealish--Bruce-Exclusives-e15eu8s/a-a69ces5 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-vital-villa-podcast-an-aston-villa-podcast/id1533584929?i=1000531045942 TLDR; he blames Xia for everything but doesn't go into any real specifics. Has some interesting stuff to say about McCormack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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