Do we sell?

[Cricketphilly]

Seeing as we are now allegedly debt free and with the sad demise of our owner, surely we are now a much more attractive propostion with regards to a sale? I fully appreciate that there are are lot of impondorables in this situation, particularly how motivated the Liebherr family will be in the future. Any thoughts?

[hypochondriac]

selling could well be better for us long term. I suppose we shall see

[Toomer]

Yes we are debt free and could be an attractive proposition, I would hope NC and the Liebherr family see the five year plan through, the last thing we need is some chancer who thinks he can make quick buck back in charge. We are on a stable footing lets keep it that way.

[alpine_saint]

If we are attractive to a new owner, why arent we still attractive to the Liebherr family ?

 

Especially as they got us cheaper than a new owner will.

 

This is a total non sequitur to me

[Cricketphilly]

If we are attractive to a new owner, why arent we still attractive to the Liebherr family ?

 

Especially as they got us cheaper than a new owner will.

 

This is a total non sequitur to me

 

Not doubting that it may be attractive to them, but they were not the buyer. Their motivation/interest in the mid long term is unknown.

[mack rill]

Lord Lowe and the reverse take over gang, Hiding around the corner,,,Karma!

[Noodles34]

selling could well be better for us long term. I suppose we shall see

 

was that answer really worth the effort of writing it?

[alpine_saint]

SFC has cost the Liebherr family peanuts. They dont need to recoup the costs.

 

I suspect that as long as NC wants to keep running the show and the club is reasonably self-sufficient, they are happy to continue to the ownership with a certain distant / detached interest.

[alpine_saint]

selling could well be better for us long term.

 

Why ?

 

We could end up being owned by the Simon Jordans of this world.

[Cricketphilly]

SFC has cost the Liebherr family peanuts. They dont need to recoup the costs.

 

I suspect that as long as NC wants to keep running the show and the club is reasonably self-sufficient, they are happy to continue to the ownership with a certain distant / detached interest.

 

As long as results go our way and they are not permanantly hand in pocket?

[alpine_saint]

As long as results go our way and they are not permanantly hand in pocket?

 

Something like that. They may also be very mindful and respectful of Markus's wishes.

 

Remember, they are a German-Catholic family, not shallow self-centred vacuous 21st Century English.

[Noodles34]

SFC has cost the Liebherr family peanuts. They dont need to recoup the costs.

 

I suspect that as long as NC wants to keep running the show and the club is reasonably self-sufficient, they are happy to continue to the ownership with a certain distant / detached interest.

 

how can you 'suspect' that? Can you give more details on your suspicion please? Or is it just your opinion, which is clearly not suspicision.

[Pancake]

I'd laugh my tits off if Chainri from down the road offered xMillion for us abd pulled out of his deal with them.

[Cricketphilly]

Something like that. They may also be very mindful and respectful of Markus's wishes.

 

Remember, they are a German-Catholic family, not shallow self-centred vacuous 21st Century English.

 

I truly hope that this will be the case Alps

[Pancake]

how can you 'suspect' that? Can you give more details on your suspicion please? Or is it just your opinion, which is clearly not suspicision.

 

It's a freaking turn of phrase. Stop "Alpine baiting" you mug.

 

PS. it's suspicion, not "suspicision"

[Toomer]

I'd laugh my tits off if Chainri from down the road offered xMillion for us abd pulled out of his deal with them.

 

As I said we don't want another chancer in charge!

[hypochondriac]

Why ?

 

We could end up being owned by the Simon Jordans of this world.

 

yep. Equally we could not though. We have no idea about the motivation of the new owners in the mid to long term. It COULD be better to sell. People like to concentrate on the negative but we can't say either way

[Noodles34]

It's a freaking turn of phrase. Stop "Alpine baiting" you mug.

 

PS. it's suspicion, not "suspicision"

 

like the 1st one Charlie Boy, sorry for the error.

 

Alpine baiting? No, just clarification on something he is clearly suggesting he knows something about whilst most of everyone else knows nothing about.

[alpine_saint]

like the 1st one Charlie Boy, sorry for the error.

 

Alpine baiting? No, just clarification on something he is clearly suggesting he knows something about whilst most of everyone else knows nothing about.

 

You're not even second-rate in the stalking stakes, do you know that ?

[Miltonaggro]

Considering the above, I tend to agree with Alpine on this matter. The Leibherrs are old school, and there may in fact be another family member who moves to become the family's Saints figurehead after the dust has settled. It would not make any financial sense to sell whilst we are in Division 3, a proposition far to risky for many 'potential' investors...

[alpine_saint]

Considering the above, I tend to agree with Alpine on this matter. The Leibherrs are old school, and there may in fact be another family member who moves to become the family's Saints figurehead after the dust has settled. It would not make any financial sense to sell whilst we are in Division 3, a proposition far to risky for many 'potential' investors...

 

I live in Austria, therefore feel I have a greater insight into the thinking of these people than many of you in the UK.

 

I am not in the slightest bit concerned over the committment of the Liebherrs to Saints.

[eastleighhalo]

Who can be sure that Markus would have sold up once we are back in the premiership.. its been stated that he loved the club and wanted to see it perform on the finest stages but within the bounds of respectable outlay ..my opinion is that he wouldnt have sold it at all regardless ... he chose us ..and grew to love us .. making a fast buck out of Southampton Football Club had disappeared from his intitial agenda IMHO .

[alpine_saint]

Who can be sure that Markus would have sold up once we are back in the premiership.. its been stated that he loved the club and wanted to see it perform on the finest stages but within the bounds of respectable outlay ..my opinion is that he wouldnt have sold it at all regardless ... he chose us ..and grew to love us .. making a fast buck out of Southampton Football Club had disappeared from his intitial agenda IMHO .

 

Absolutely agree on this. The German-speaking world is much more conservative (little "c") and longer-term thinking than the type of people who agree to sell off the best and oldest chocolate company in Britain when a bunch of tw*ts up the share price by a few pennies.

[Pedro]

NC brought Markus to the table so I would think NC has loads of billionaire contacts in an around Switzerland. Despite a lot of fans not liking NC he is now the single most important man at the club.

[Cricketphilly]

NC brought Markus to the table so I would think NC has loads of billionaire contacts in an around Switzerland. Despite a lot of fans not liking NC he is now the single most important man at the club.

 

Disagree, sorry. He is an employee of the Liebherrs.

[alpine_saint]

Disagree, sorry. He is an employee of the Liebherrs.

 

But Markus was very hands-off, and I think it is reasonable to expect the family will remain the same.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

yep. Equally we could not though. We have no idea about the motivation of the new owners in the mid to long term. It COULD be better to sell. People like to concentrate on the negative but we can't say either way

 

This board 'could' be better if you stopped posting. In fact it would. You seen to like playing devils advocate, but on infinite possibilities. For instance, your comments on this thread ate pointless. Yes they could be better, but of course, they may not be better. So what is your point?

[david in sweden]

If we are attractive to a new owner, why arent we still attractive to the Liebherr family ?

Especially as they got us cheaper than a new owner will. This is a total non sequitur to me

 

here I am agreeing with you AGAIN, Alpine.

I think their ethical standards about ownership and future planning are way above the money-grabbing, asset-stripping mindset of some " so-called British entreprenuers." As long as the club is run well fiscally and scandal-free they will stick by us.

[John B]

His point is that we dont know what is going to happen

 

Nothing can be assummed the Liebhiers may continue but they may not the family may not be interested in SFC only time will tell

[Secret Site Agent]

Got to agree with Alps. I really don't believe they would sell. First it wouldn't make good business sense. When we are in the Prem we would be a more inviting proposition, and they would make a good times more. Also, as Alps points out, they are more of a conservative culture and are happy with the small acorns into oak trees way of developing an asset. Thirdly, with regard to it being a Marcus' baby, based on experience, a child close to a parent is MORE driven to fulfilment of the Parents dream than the original parent. Marcus could have changed his mind, or decided that he was happy where we are, or he couldn't devote time to us anymore and that wasn't fair on us so pass us to soemone who could, but, guessing here only and no basis on her, Katherine would bend over backwards to see Marcus' dream come to fruition. And not just us, also for the Mali group as well. Also with regard to the Liebherrs being hand off, they are of the business class that enploys the expertise to do the job, so that they don't have to. They just to have an oversight brief.

[wild-saint]

I hope they dont sell even if they just want to run it as a self sustaining business.

 

Do we really want somebody with no real wealth / disposable income that secures a £15million loan against the clubs assetts to leverage control of SFC. They would be gambleing that the current squad is capable of moving up the leagues and increasing the sell on value at a later date. Is this not why the Mancs are getting restless.

 

If the wrong buyer is selected we would only be marginally better off than before the great man saved. All IMO of course.

[Lets B Avenue]

no basis on her, Katherine would bend over backwards to see Marcus' dream come to fruition.

 

Rule 1?

[dubai_phil]

Dear oh dear, you Brits are supposed to be totally Politically Correct and hence understand all other races and cultures

 

But clearly only Alps & DiS seem to come close to understanding the Swiss Corporate Business mentality.

 

The only person who may wish to push for a sale will be NC so he can earn his bonus quicker. Swiss business is planned, efficient and methodical and long term.

 

One of the most critical things that the company will have done during ML's tenure is Succession Planning.

 

SFC are not incurring huge losses, we already carried out a "Headcount Reduction" (the "redundant squad players") and we only need a few tweaks on the rudder.

 

The extra cost of a couple of squad players this season would be less than a few weeks of a Corporate Marketing & PR budget. The Liebherr group is getting more positive publicity (see newsnow.co.uk) than any PR agency could.

 

Chill. It's NC & his motivation that we should worry about.

[ART]

Such fitting discussion on Marcus Liebherr's Memorial Day. Even the club had the decency to close shop for the day. We have lost our benefactor in the midst of division and whinging, just how long is this all going to go on? Can't people just refrain out of respect for 1 day, even one morning or an hour of two to show how much Marcus's acts meant to us all.

[thorpie the sinner]

Dear oh dear, you Brits are supposed to be totally Politically Correct and hence understand all other races and cultures

 

But clearly only Alps & DiS seem to come close to understanding the Swiss Corporate Business mentality.

 

The only person who may wish to push for a sale will be NC so he can earn his bonus quicker. Swiss business is planned, efficient and methodical and long term.

 

One of the most critical things that the company will have done during ML's tenure is Succession Planning.

 

SFC are not incurring huge losses, we already carried out a "Headcount Reduction" (the "redundant squad players") and we only need a few tweaks on the rudder.

 

The extra cost of a couple of squad players this season would be less than a few weeks of a Corporate Marketing & PR budget. The Liebherr group is getting more positive publicity (see newsnow.co.uk) than any PR agency could.

 

Chill. It's NC & his motivation that we should worry about.

 

If NC walks, it may even be better in long term if the Liebherrs retain control and employ a true football man to take over day to day running! Only a minor thing, but maybe we could do with some good press for a change.

[alpine_saint]

Such fitting discussion on Marcus Liebherr's Memorial Day. Even the club had the decency to close shop for the day. We have lost our benefactor in the midst of division and whinging, just how long is this all going to go on? Can't people just refrain out of respect for 1 day, even one morning or an hour of two to show how much Marcus's acts meant to us all.

 

I thought the same thing, ART. I felt discussion of selling today a little distasteful, which is why I did my best to dismiss it.

[hypochondriac]

This board 'could' be better if you stopped posting. In fact it would. You seen to like playing devils advocate, but on infinite possibilities. For instance, your comments on this thread ate pointless. Yes they could be better, but of course, they may not be better. So what is your point?

 

I could say the same thing about you and your tiresome assertion that I am a troll, despite having posted on here for a lot longer than you. On this issue, I am simply suggesting that selling could actually be a good thing for us. Most people talk as if us being sold would be an utter disaster when we don't know if it would be (and I suspect it would not be considering our financial health and the fact that Liebherr would not sell us to just anyone.) We have no actual FACTS on this issue but I am giving my comment on the original post. If we want to deal in FACTS then this messageboard would not be posted on at all. You seem to have difficulty accepting an opinion which runs contrary to your own. Please respect my right to an opinion as I respect yours.

[Barry the Badger]

On this issue, I am simply suggesting that selling could actually be a good thing for us..

 

The grass is always greener.

 

Except, it usually isn't.

[hypochondriac]

The grass is always greener.

 

Except, it usually isn't.

Blackburn takeover looks pretty good, Man City are in a better state on the pitch since their takeover. QPR could go up this year finally, Leicester since their admin? Wolves? I'm sure there are plenty of examples. People takeover football clubs all the time. Sometimes things get worse and sometimes things get better. I definitely would not have swapped Markus when he was alive, but now he is dead the situation has been complicated somewhat. Perhaps he has this five year plan and then was going to look to sell. In which case, once we get to the prem, getting in an owner who has the motivation and finance to take us to "the next level" could be better than being owned by the family of our deceased former owner.

[hypochondriac]

And on that point, once the memorial is over it would be good to hear a statement from whoever the new owner(s) are to clarify how things will be for the future. No specifics if they don't want but something from the OS rather than the Echo or another paper.

[Scudamore]

I'm desperate to get some shady arab businessman to take us over so we'll have something to talk about

[hypochondriac]

I'm desperate to get some shady arab businessman to take us over so we'll have something to talk about

 

I think you have entirely missed my point.

[Barry the Badger]

Blackburn takeover looks pretty good, Man City are in a better state on the pitch since their takeover. QPR could go up this year finally, Leicester since their admin? Wolves? I'm sure there are plenty of examples. People takeover football clubs all the time. Sometimes things get worse and sometimes things get better.

 

I suppose at the end of the day this is all academic as we just don't know yet what the Liebherrs have planned.

 

All I will say, and to an extent you've alluded to it anyway, is that for every club you can mention that's had a positive takeover, I could come back and name another who've had either an asset stripping shark (York City), a financial numpty (Leeds/Cardiff/Southampton), or just an away with the fairies type (Darlington) take over.

 

If the Liebherrs want to run Saints as a business, on sound financial principles, that's fine by me and I don't want to be thinking about Saints getting sold.

 

To be honest I would rather be a sustainable club built on strong foundations playing in the Championship, than be the play thing of some egotistical billionaire in the Prem. (Clearly Markus appeared to be the best of both worlds being both wealthy but also down to earth and building the club professionally, but he was something of a one off in my opinion).

[alpine_saint]

I'm desperate to get some shady arab businessman to take us over so we'll have something to talk about

 

No, no, no. I think a Russian gun-runner / money-launderer is better...

[alpine_saint]

I suppose at the end of the day this is all academic as we just don't know yet what the Liebherrs have planned.

 

All I will say, and to an extent you've alluded to it anyway, is that for every club you can mention that's had a positive takeover, I could come back and name another who've had either an asset stripping shark (York City), a financial numpty (Leeds/Cardiff/Southampton), or just an away with the fairies type (Darlington) take over.

 

If the Liebherrs want to run Saints as a business, on sound financial principles, that's fine by me and I don't want to be thinking about Saints getting sold.

 

To be honest I would rather be a sustainable club built on strong foundations playing in the Championship, than be the play thing of some egotistical billionaire in the Prem. (Clearly Markus appeared to be the best of both worlds being both wealthy but also down to earth and building the club professionally, but he was something of a one off in my opinion).

 

Yes. Yes, he was. We were damned lucky he came along.

 

I think some people dont realise how lucky.

[hypochondriac]

I suppose at the end of the day this is all academic as we just don't know yet what the Liebherrs have planned.

 

All I will say, and to an extent you've alluded to it anyway, is that for every club you can mention that's had a positive takeover, I could come back and name another who've had either an asset stripping shark (York City), a financial numpty (Leeds/Cardiff/Southampton), or just an away with the fairies type (Darlington) take over.

 

If the Liebherrs want to run Saints as a business, on sound financial principles, that's fine by me and I don't want to be thinking about Saints getting sold.

 

To be honest I would rather be a sustainable club built on strong foundations playing in the Championship, than be the play thing of some egotistical billionaire in the Prem. (Clearly Markus appeared to be the best of both worlds being both wealthy but also down to earth and building the club professionally, but he was something of a one off in my opinion).

 

Good reply and I think that too. I think if anything it highlights the need for some clarification on the ownership situation in the next couple of weeks. It would be good to know where we stand going forward.

[hypochondriac]

Yes. Yes, he was. We were damned lucky he came along.

 

I think some people dont realise how lucky.

 

I think everyone is fully aware of our good fortune alps.

[Scudamore]

I think you have entirely missed my point.

I didn't read your point.

 

I was answering the original post and an assumption on what would have followed.

 

Your somewhat erratic posting style of late has become rather tiresome however i must say.

[alpine_saint]

I think everyone is fully aware of our good fortune alps.

 

Thats why you are moaning non-stop, is it ?

[alpine_saint]

I didn't read your point.

 

I was answering the original post and an assumption on what would have followed.

 

Your somewhat erratic posting style of late has become rather tiresome however i must say.

 

Is "erratic" polite code for "trolling" ?