Article Taxonomy: Takeovers

Articles on football club takeovers and related issues

Americans won’t give up on Forest

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The US-based consortium interested in buying Nottingham Forest have said that they are going to persist with their efforts to acquire the club despite another setback.

They made a renewed effort to buy the club this week after they revealed they had lent the club funds to cover wages in November and December.  John Jay Moores and Charles Noell made an improved offer to buy 100 per cent of Forest from owner Fawaz-al-Hasawi.   However, the offer was rejected by the Kuwaiti businessman who took over in 2012.

Red Bull and Coventry rumours surface again

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Rumours that energy drinks giant Red Bull might be interested in taking over troubled Coventry City have surfaced again.

These have to be regarded as highly speculative.   Without their own ground, Coventry City are not a very attractive investment.     Hedge fund Sisu have never shiown any sign of selling an investment they have managed badly.

Leeds deal sealed

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After several months of rumour and negotiation, 50 per cent of Leeds United has been sold to Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani.   

Massimo Cellino’s stake reduces to 30 per cent.  It may in time reduce further.  Radrizzani is understood to have an option to buy the rest of the club in the summer.

Football in resorts: the case of Torquay

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Ar first sight Torbay might seem to fit into Type 2 of our resorts categorisation.  Type 1 covered small, select up market resorts.   Type 3 were towns highly dependent on tourism that had fallen on hard times like Skegness.    Type 2 were towns which had diverisified economies in which the resort function sat alongside many others such as Bournemouth.

Morecambe FC plunged into crisis

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Morecambe FC has been plunged into crisis after majority shareholder Mr Diego Lemos failed to deliver on promises of investment.  Ali Abdulrahman Al Hasemi has resigned as co-chairman and director.

Mr Lemos has not been in the country since mid-November and has been difficult to contact.   The Brazilian businessman took over at the club at the beginning of September.

Notts County deal sealed

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It has been a long drawn out saga which started in February but Notts County have been sold by owner Ray Trew to local businessman Alan Hardy.    Trew put the club up for sale after being subjected to what he called ‘mindless abuse’ by fans.  They are the oldest professional football club in the world, having been founded in 1862.

Could Abramovich sell up?

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There is increasing speculation in the Russian business community that Roman Abramovich may sell Chelsea.   Many of his fellow oligarchs are loosening their ties to London.

Bolton deny Saudi takeover reports

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Bolton Wanderers have denied reports that they are in talks with a Saudi-based group about a takeover. In September chairman Ken Anderson did say that he was looking for more investment from abroad.

Before the takeover deal by a consortium in March the club had accumulated debts of £170m, although these were cleared as part of the settlement.   The club are currently under a transfer embargo for failing to comply with Financial Fair Play obligations.