It's there now.... http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/8260131.Cherries__Jackson_linked_with_Russian_bid/
Cherries: Jackson linked with Russian bid
7:00am Thursday 8th July 2010
FORMER Cherries bidder Marc Jackson is linked with the mystery Russian offer to buy Cherries, the Echo can reveal.
Jackson, who now spells his name Mark, is a director of IBASE Ltd, which, according to documents seen by the Echo, has been instructed by Russian duo Vladimir Antonov and Roman Dubov to purchase the Dean Court club.
However, Jackson’s apparent involvement only came to light yesterday after the Echo and other media had previously been leaked emails from an agent by the name of Steve Henstridge, claiming to be acting on behalf of Antonov and Dubov’s company Convers Group Holdings.
Convers’ bid, understood to have been submitted by Henstridge to the Cherries board via email, was based around a £1.2million offer for the club, but the group’s overall proposal also included buying back Dean Court. It is understood the £6million package would have also boasted a transfer kitty for boss Eddie Howe.
Convers Group’s business portfolio includes the banks Bankas Snoras, Latvijas Krajbanka, Banco Trasatlantico, as well as Dutch car firm Spyker.
The group has taken on sports sponsorship within motorsport, including the Le Mans Endurance Series and Rally Dakar.
Jackson, meanwhile, is best known for his ill-fated attempts to take Cherries out of administration in 2008.
The businessman was initially involved in a consortium, which gained preferred bidder status from administrator Gerald Krasner and was fronted by then chairman Jeff Mostyn.
But relations within the group turned sour at the beginning of April 2008, leaving Mostyn and business partner Steve Sly to go it alone in their bid to regain control at Dean Court.
Jackson, however, emerged just days later fronting a bid from EU UK Limited and was subsequently named preferred bidder by Krasner’s firm Begbies Traynor, alongside EU UK directors John Frost, Ian Mathison, Simon Jordan and Gary Oates.
By the following weekend, however, Jackson and EU UK had apparently split, with Jackson threatening legal action against his former allies.
EU UK’s bid eventually collapsed, with Sport-6, fronted by Alastair Saverimutto and Paul Baker, bringing to an end the protracted takeover saga in July 2008.
The Echo was last night unable to contact Jackson.
Henstridge, however, confirmed he did not work for IBASE and when asked about Jackson’s involvement, added: “Mark is a colleague I have been talking to with regards to some advice. That’s all.
“It’s me fronting the bid. I work for Roman and Vladimir. He is a contact I have used.
“There may be some further developments but I won’t say, at this stage, what they are.”
Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell, meanwhile, has declined repeated requests from the Echo to comment on the Russian bid.
In a statement, Dubov told the Echo: “Convers Group Holdings, through representatives (IBASE Ltd), have, for the past seven weeks, been attempting to engage with Eddie Mitchell and his board with regard to purchasing AFC Bournemouth and all its assets.
“Three offers have been made varying between a gross sum to buy all the assets and 100 per cent ownership, to an equity investment leaving the current shareholders as partners and protecting their share value.
“Unfortunately, each of these offers has been rejected, as have requests for a meeting to discuss a way forward. Indeed, a planned meeting with the board was cancelled at short notice.
“Therefore, Convers Group, from Wednesday next week if no further progress is made, will have to wish AFC Bournemouth good luck for the coming season and Mr Mitchell every success in the future.”
