"If you want some accessible but informative insight into football then I suggest you couldn't do better than the Political Economy of Football website, which is not only intelligible but comes with the added bonus of being written by Addicks fan Wyn Grant." Ben Hayes - Charlton Athletic programme
Articles on football club takeovers and related issues
Peter Ridsdale has admitted that he would love to get back into football. He reckons that he did a decent job at Cardiff, although his tenure there was not without controversy. His period at Leeds earned him a black mark in the eyes of many fans.
Newcastle United have denied reports that they are engaged in discussions about a takeover bid by former chairman Freddy Shepherd. Of course what they have said is that they have had no contact or talks with Shepherd which is not to say that they wouldn’t talk if an approach was made. Shepherd has not confirmed the stories, but he has not totally denied them.
A number of supporters groups at Sheffield Wednesday have banded together in a ‘Save our Owls’ campaign. They hope to raise money towards paying off the club’s £600,000 tax debt which has led it to face a winding up order in the High Court on November 17th.
A lawyer has written a useful and informed overview of the end game at Liverpool. It’s not weighed down with little jargon. It may be useful to students, but could also be of interest to Liverpool fans.
Five distinct groups of investors have expressed an interest in taking over Conference club Kidderminster Harriers which is more than I expected in the current economic climate. Of course, as always, the question is how credible and well funded these potential bidders are.
The club has admitted that it is in dispute with the tax authorities, but is querying the amount involved.
Blackburn Rovers are set to be the first Premier League club to be owned by an Indian firm as the bid by chicken industry and pharmaceuticals giant VH Group nears completion. The Rovers chairman John Williams told the club’s website, ‘Both parties are hopeful that the transaction will be completed in November.’ The process of due diligence has begun.
Following anxieties expressed over the weekend, Sheffield Wednesday chairman Howard Wilkinson has moved to reassure Owls fans that the £15m takeover of the club is still on course. Former Wednesday manager Chris Turner is representing Kevin Mundie, the managing director of Dubai-based company Certified Oilfield Rentals. The company rents out oilfield equipment. Wilkinson is ‘cautiously optimistic’ that a takeover will occur, but talks with other potential investors are also continuing.
Former director Giovanni di Stefano is interested in owning Dundee. The flamboyant Italian lawyer was last on the board in 2003 and thinks he has unfinished business at Dens Park. He thinks that £300,000 to £500,000 could see the club through the season.
Takeover talks at Hull City have resumed. They involve father-and-son Assem and Ehab Allam. Egyptian born, they have lived in the area for 42 years and have a diesel generating manufacturung business. They are motivated by wanting to give something back to the city in which they prospered. They are hoping for an early conclusion to the negotiations.
