trousers Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 Don't know if this came out at the time but have just spotted that Hoddle's Academy last week secured significant middle-east funding shortly after his academy team (supposedly) played a 'behind closed doors' game with Saints. Any conspiracy mileage in this one? http://www.arabianbusiness.com/537360-uae-bank-launches-football-investment-fund UAE bank launches football investment fund by Andy Sambidge on Thursday, 06 November 2008 Banking giant Emirates NBD on Thursday became the latest Middle East institution to target the global football industry with the launch a new investment fund. The Hero Global Football Fund, which has former football stars Alan Hanson and Glenn Hoddle on board, will recruit mainly young players from around the world but especially from Africa, South America and the Far East. It will then seek to make a profit by selling players’ registrations and other economic benefits, such as image rights, to professional clubs. The Fund, which is planning to raise $100 million, has been set up by Emirates Investment Services Ltd, a subsidiary company of Emirates NBD, and will have a life of five years. Rick Pudner, CEO of Emirates NBD, said: “Middle East investors are seeing the value of the sports industry, in general and the football sector in particular, and we’re excited to build on that. "Now, through the Hero Global Football Fund, Emirates NBD can show its clients that you don’t have to be a billionaire to invest in this booming industry and, at low minimums, you too can participate in the transfer market which has shown itself to be a huge growth area of the game.” The minimum individual investment into the fund will be $100,000. The fund targets a minimum internal rate of return (IRR) of 10 percent, and, although returns are likely to fluctuate, Jamal Bin Ghalaita, general manager for Consumer and Wealth Management at ENBD, stressed that the success of the Fund is not linked to finding a star player. “The business model is realistic, assuming that two thirds of players will not become professionals. Of those that do make it, many will join second-tier clubs," he said. "The financial success of the fund does not depend on finding the next David Beckham: rather, on producing a steady flow of competent, professional footballers,” he added. The fund aims to attract and recruit players from across the world and will also deal with clubs worldwide, although a prime focus is likely to be European clubs which are keen to recruit promising young players from Africa, South America and the Far East. Deon Vernooy, Head of Asset Management at EIS, says: “We believe we can generate above average returns from a fast-growing sector with little or no correlation to the wider economic climate.” The fund has also made a private investment into the Glenn Hoddle Academy, a specialist academy set up by the former England player and manager for young players who have been released by their clubs. Hoddle and his team of full-time coaches will nurture and develop their talents before releasing the players to clubs around the globe. Also on board with the initiative is David Davies, OBE, the former executive director of the FA, and David Elleray, the former top-flight referee. In addition, as part of its commitment to invest in the development of football in the UAE, the fund has reached an agreement with the Al Ahli Club to identify promising players for further training and development through the Fund and its associates. Alan Hansen, who is a member of the advisory board to the fund added: “In the current financial climate, it (the fund) will provide a vital source of funding for clubs worldwide to keep and develop their talent. "As well as this, the Fund’s partnership with the Glenn Hoddle Academy will make a huge contribution to nurturing young players and give them a second chance to pursue their football careers.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danbert Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 no Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverback Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 yes. 1 off us is correct but which 1????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 There was nothing supposed about it. Hoddle's academy players did play our academy players. We won. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 Hmm and I've been bending my golf buddy's ear for 18 months about academy opportunities..... Who works in a bank..... Who showed me how I could have done a leveraged takeover 18 months ago and loaded 30mil of extra debt onto the club like Hicks & Gillett did... No wonder he cried off golf for the next 10 days, he'd have gone for an involuntary swim on the 2nd hole.... :smt076 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 13 November, 2008 Author Share Posted 13 November, 2008 There was nothing supposed about it. Hoddle's academy players did play our academy players. We won. Sorry...I meant "supposed" as in there was nothing specifically mentioned about it on the OS (or any other 'official' bugle)....it was only 'reported' as such on here (as far as I'm aware) Not that I'm suggesting for one cotton pickin' moment that this forum isn't a rich vein of corroborated information of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickmick Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 There was nothing supposed about it. Hoddle's academy players did play our academy players. We won. Thought we drew :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 13 November, 2008 Author Share Posted 13 November, 2008 Thought we drew :confused: I wonder if Drew thought we drew too or if Drew thought we won? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouchie's Lawyer Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 Christ Trousers you like clinging to a bit of hope, not matter how small and insignificant it is and holding on for dear life dont you? Saints are not going to be taken over, deal with it. The rest of us have and people who mention rumours about takeovers are just attention seeking. Yes it is a coincidence, nothing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 13 November, 2008 Author Share Posted 13 November, 2008 Christ Trousers you like clinging to a bit of hope, not matter how small and insignificant it is and holding on for dear life dont you? Saints are not going to be taken over, deal with it. The rest of us have and people who mention rumours about takeovers are just attention seeking. Yes it is a coincidence, nothing more. So it's safe to take off my strait-jacket then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 13 November, 2008 Author Share Posted 13 November, 2008 Christ Trousers you like clinging to a bit of hope, not matter how small and insignificant it is and holding on for dear life dont you? p.s. I thought you were starting to describe your average Saints supporter there.....clinging onto the hope of back-to-back victories....yeah, you're right....will never happen.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Bates Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 Fairly conclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Right sider Posted 13 November, 2008 Share Posted 13 November, 2008 Quite funny how the Os has a section entitled 'Investors'. It is quite a read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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