Sport Republic

[CSA96]

14 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

We football fans are a strange bunch. Most people on here have been banging on about getting " Sports Republic Out!" #worstownersever  for many months.  There is now rumours of a multi-millionaire business man wanting to buy us and we get "Ooo no......don't want 'im....."

Not that hard to understand, is it? Saints fans don't have to make a binary choice between Option A and Option B on who we'd like to own the club

Edited May 27 by CSA96

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

Sure, they've fucked up. But the key issue they've fucked on is recruitment, they've recently had a recruitment department overhaul that we've yet to see if it works as the window isn't open. A lack of investment is not the issue. We've spent huge amounts. £260m+ in the last two PL seasons. Issue was it was spent badly.

What makes Turki Alalshikh better? Hard to make a case Sport Republic don't have good intentions for the club, or money. They've been incompetent on recruitment and have tried to correct it. A new owner coming in would raise questions not only over recruitment, but also funding and intent.

I actually agree with MLG!

[miserableoldgit]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

Sure, they've fucked up. But the key issue they've fucked on is recruitment, they've recently had a recruitment department overhaul that we've yet to see if it works as the window isn't open. A lack of investment is not the issue. We've spent huge amounts. £260m+ in the last two PL seasons. Issue was it was spent badly.

What makes Turki Alalshikh better? Hard to make a case Sport Republic don't have good intentions for the club, or money. They've been incompetent on recruitment and have tried to correct it. A new owner coming in would raise questions not only over recruitment, but also funding and intent.

Unless the "improvements" (Spors/Still etc) are intended to make the club more "Sellable?"

[Saint86]

The guy is worth barely any more than Solak, his track record in spain isn't remotely impressive (especially given the relative levels of opposition in their 2nd tier), and at least under Solak's more recent tighter control Saints have started to make the right moves? Equally, will he back the club more than Solak has? If the guy had tens of billions i'd be more interested - but is it really a good time to rip everything up and indulge in a load of uncertainty over an increase in owner wealth from £1.5B to £2B?  Could this be as an investor / co-owner perhaps?

Edited May 27 by Saint86

[Master Bates]

Don't fancy a Southampton remake of Pompey cheers 👍🏻

[Convict Colony]

43 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

We football fans are a strange bunch. Most people on here have been banging on about getting " Sports Republic Out!" #worstownersever  for many months.  There is now rumours of a multi-millionaire business man wanting to buy us and we get "Ooo no......don't want 'im....."

I've adopted the rule that 20% of this forum will moan no matter what happens.

 

[Smirking_Saint]

28 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

The guy is worth barely any more than Solak, his track record in spain isn't remotely impressive (especially given the relative levels of opposition in their 2nd tier ), and at least under Solak's more recent tighter control Saints have started to make the right moves? Equally, will he back the club more than Solak has? If the guy had tens of billions i'd be more interested - but is it really a good time to rip everything up and indulge in a load of uncertainty over an increase in owner wealth from £1.5B to £2B?  Could this be as an investor / co-owner perhaps?

I mean… he’s worth double

Which in billionaire terms is a fair amount mate

[Maggie May]

So does this confirm we’re up for sale, then?

[Midfield_General]

Hang on a sec... Turki... @Turkish ... could it be true?

Are we seeing the beginnings of the ultimate CoT coup, with Turki(sh) Al-Sheikh using the exclusive intel gained from his extensive network of contacts to sweep in and buy the club? 

Edited May 27 by Midfield_General

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, miserableoldgit said:

We football fans are a strange bunch. Most people on here have been banging on about getting " Sports Republic Out!" #worstownersever  for many months.  There is now rumours of a multi-millionaire business man wanting to buy us and we get "Ooo no......don't want 'im....."

He’s not just a multi-millionaire business man though is he? Honestly, I kind of understand why people are thick enough to see the obvious red flags but decide ‘lol loads of money is great and social media tells me it’s great so it must be so we will beat everyone haha’ but to just be completely oblivious to them and think he’s just a business man is thick beyond belief. 

[Matthew Le God]

6 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

So does this confirm we’re up for sale, then?

No. Someone possibly wanting something does not mean the owners of that thing have put it up for sale.

[Nolan]

Given both the rumour that we're for sale and this have originated from Simon Jordan's programme, it sounds more as if he's trying to engineer something. 

We've had the season's under Ankerssons and Kraft's Sports Republic.

"Spors Republic" need a season to see how we're progressing before any more changes.

Edited May 27 by Nolan

[LeG]

I think there are a lot more buyers out there with a lot more money than this guy, who will be interested in saints now we have dropped. 

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, LeG said:

I think there are a lot more buyers out there with a lot more money than this guy, who will be interested in saints now we have dropped. 

Doesn't relegation make Sport Republic less likely to sell? The price would be lower, meaning they'd be making a loss on the money spent purchasing the club plus all the extra money they have put into it. Giving things a year or two to see if we get promoted would return club value back up so they dont make a big loss. 

Plus Saints are the keystone club to the whole SR group, without Saints the whole project falls apart unless they are sold as a group or they find a new keystone club but they might as well stick with the one they have.

[LeG]

2 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Doesn't relegation make Sport Republic less likely to sell? The price would be lower, meaning they'd be making a loss on the money spent purchasing the club plus all the extra money they have put into it. Giving things a year or two to see if we get promoted would return club value back up so they dont make a big loss. 

Plus Saints are the keystone club to the whole SR group, without Saints the whole project falls apart unless they are sold as a group or they find a new keystone club but they might as well stick with the one they have.

It lowers our value so it makes us a more attractive acquisition. Good for the buyer.

Seller may want to try getting promoted first before selling. 
 

All depends on how much money Solak will get back and how much he’s currently losing! 

[Sparkkyy]

4 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Doesn't relegation make Sport Republic less likely to sell? The price would be lower, meaning they'd be making a loss on the money spent purchasing the club plus all the extra money they have put into it. Giving things a year or two to see if we get promoted would return club value back up so they dont make a big loss. 

Plus Saints are the keystone club to the whole SR group, without Saints the whole project falls apart unless they are sold as a group or they find a new keystone club but they might as well stick with the one they have.

I guess it would be the first time a selling ownership would have lost out on their investment. Ever heard the phrase “Cutting Their Losses”? 

[Matthew Le God]

12 minutes ago, Sparkkyy said:

I guess it would be the first time a selling ownership would have lost out on their investment. Ever heard the phrase “Cutting Their Losses”? 

Which is why I included this bit...

"Giving things a year or two to see if we get promoted would return club value back up so they dont make a big loss"

They wouldn't need to invest any money and they'd have a decent chance of promotion in the next two years with parachute payments and a few player sales. They might as well wait one/two years to see if they get back up and see a big rise in value and then sell.

But selling also destroys the whole idea of the group of clubs. As Saints are the keystone club. So it would be a pretty significant move for SR.

Edited May 27 by Matthew Le God

[Smirking_Saint]

23 minutes ago, Nolan said:

Given both the rumour that we're for sale and this have originated from Simon Jordan's programme, it sounds more as if he's trying to engineer something. 

We've had the season's under Ankerssons and Kraft's Sports Republic.

"Spors Republic" need a season to see how we're progressing before any more changes.

The rumour was around a week before it broke on talksport

[die Mannyschaft]

23 minutes ago, Nolan said:

Given both the rumour that we're for sale and this have originated from Simon Jordan's programme, it sounds more as if he's trying to engineer something. 

We've had the season's under Ankerssons and Kraft's Sports Republic.

"Spors Republic" need a season to see how we're progressing before any more changes.

If the rumor is good enough it can increase share price and interest. I think they will sell as must have made a big chunk of money. Or at least big director dividend. 

[Sparkkyy]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Which is why I included this bit...

"Giving things a year or two to see if we get promoted would return club value back up so they dont make a big loss"

They wouldn't need to invest any money and they'd have a decent chance of promotion in the next two years with parachute payments and a few player sales. They might as well wait one/two years to see if they get back up and see a big rise in value and then sale.

But selling also destroys the whole idea of the group of clubs. As Saints are the keystone club. So it would be a pretty significant move for SR.

Dearest apologies forum overlord 

[Convict Colony]

26 minutes ago, Nolan said:

Given both the rumour that we're for sale and this have originated from Simon Jordan's programme, it sounds more as if he's trying to engineer something. 

We've had the season's under Ankerssons and Kraft's Sports Republic.

"Spors Republic" need a season to see how we're progressing before any more changes.

It does tie in with him a few weeks back talking about he had heard we are up for sale, trying to create a narrative maybe who knows.

Anyway I look forward to our first forum members from there, maybe MBSSaint, RiyadhSaint, Turkisasaint etc etc.

[Saint NL]

[Maggie May]

45 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

No. Someone possibly wanting something does not mean the owners of that thing have put it up for sale.

Sounds like you’re naive, mate. 

[AlexLaw76]

48 minutes ago, Nolan said:

Given both the rumour that we're for sale and this have originated from Simon Jordan's programme, it sounds more as if he's trying to engineer something. 

We've had the season's under Ankerssons and Kraft's Sports Republic.

"Spors Republic" need a season to see how we're progressing before any more changes.

It was reported that the rumours pre-date Simon Jordan saying it

[Saint86]

No smoke without fire. But I wouldn't be surprised if we're after an investor more than a full sale.

Edited May 27 by Saint86

[Matthew Le God]

20 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

Sounds like you’re naive, mate. 

That isn't naive. I did not say the club isn't for sale, I said someone wanting something does not mean it is for sale. That is demonstrably factual.

[Tamesaint]

2 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

I've adopted the rule that 20% of this forum will moan no matter what happens.

 

Have you ever read a match thread? 20%?? More like 90%.

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Hang on a sec... Turki... @Turkish ... could it be true?

Are we seeing the beginnings of the ultimate CoT coup, with Turki(sh) Al-Sheikh using the exclusive intel gained from his extensive network of contacts to sweep in and buy the club? 

 

Ecclesiastes 7:12

 

English Standard Version

 

 

¹² For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
    and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
 

make of that what you will

[The Kraken]

Turkish the Sheik 😳

I bow down to our new overlord (please don’t behead me).

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

No smoke without fire. 

And a poster I hadn’t noted before called Sparkkyy put a laughing emoji on that - made me smile 😀 

[Turkish]

52 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

Turkish the Sheik 😳

I bow down to our new overlord (please don’t behead me).

Maybe the Sheik is part of wider network……

[saint michael]

Good job we didn’t get Rohl as mgr. we would have had sheikh rabble and Rohl 

[bpsaint]

If this was a bloke that was really going to take us to the next level then I’d be all for it, however judging by his stewardship at Almeria that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Assuming it’s not all bollocks of course.

Anyone on Yacht watch yet? 

[Ekelund]

14 minutes ago, saint michael said:

Good job we didn’t get Rohl as mgr. we would have had sheikh rabble and Rohl 

👏

[gio1saints]

13 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Which is why I included this bit...

"Giving things a year or two to see if we get promoted would return club value back up so they dont make a big loss"

They wouldn't need to invest any money and they'd have a decent chance of promotion in the next two years with parachute payments and a few player sales. They might as well wait one/two years to see if they get back up and see a big rise in value and then sell.

 

It’s true that SR may consider they have two years grace to get back up and “regain” all that lost value plus perhaps some profit. Keep reinvesting. Hold until the end in Cryptospeak. That’s one option. 
 

There’s another pov that says these are economically uncertain times and that an asset stripping sale to realise some value is the best option - for SR - and let’s see if Saints can still get promoted with what’s left. 
 

It’s a complicated gamble. 

Against all that if a “fair“ cash offer for the entire club comes in - that takes all the risk of that gamble into account and prices it in - it may give a clean break to SR. SR can find another “Flagstone club” I’m sure. 

Im not so certain a clean break fair price offer would be declined by SR right now despite recruiting Still- some may argue it’s more likely because of recruiting Still. I’d say 60/40 currently ( 60% offer to sell declined). If it’s a bad start that goes to 50-50. 

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

15 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

It’s true that SR may consider they have two years grace to get back up and “regain” all that lost value plus perhaps some profit. Keep reinvesting. Hold until the end in Cryptospeak. That’s one option. 
 

There’s another pov that says these are economically uncertain times and that an asset stripping sale to realise some value is the best option - for SR - and let’s see if Saints can still get promoted with what’s left. 
 

It’s a complicated gamble. 

Against all that if a “fair“ cash offer for the entire club comes in - that takes all the risk of that gamble into account and prices it in - it may give a clean break to SR. SR can find another “Flagstone club” I’m sure. 

Im not so certain a clean break fair price offer would be declined by SR right now despite recruiting Still- some may argue it’s more likely because of recruiting Still. I’d say 60/40 currently ( 60% offer to sell declined). If it’s a bad start that goes to 50-50. 

 

From interviews with people who are involved, there are always "far more clubs than you would think" looking to sell and more seeking investors. I'd not rule anything out, regardless of the backroom restructuring we see.

Likewise, after 2 relegations, and plenty of wrong turns, I'd not rule out a number of reasons for Solak selling up. It's a big plus, whatever happens, that he is presently engaged in trying to turn it round. Hopefully, that continues into the summer window, and for however long he stays with us.

[gio1saints]

To add to that Holmes  I’d say that the appointment of Will Still has added value to SFC not taken away. The new price for SFC just went up with that appointment. 
Whatever the asking price was two weeks ago it went up. 

[DT]

13 hours ago, saint michael said:

Good job we didn’t get Rohl as mgr. we would have had sheikh rabble and Rohl 

Quite possibly the best post on this forum ever

[Saint Fan CaM]

I can’t see SR selling now. The club was valued at what - £200m ish which sounds slightly conservative even after relegation given the infrastructure and potential.  Add to that the investment of roughly £250m made by Dragan over the last few windows (largely wasted of course) and I would imagine the price SR put on the purchase of the club outright would not be an attractive proposition at the moment. 

The only possible thought might be Kat selling her share and SR offering up a minority of shares so that any new investor has no more than 49%. A sound reason to do that is obviously to inject substantial funding into the club but I don’t think that’s needed right now, so it’s about timing and whether Dragan has been advised to de-invest asap for what might a variety of possible reasons.

[Saint_clark]

14 hours ago, saint michael said:

Good job we didn’t get Rohl as mgr. we would have had sheikh rabble and Rohl 

Have a beer on me. The bartender knows to give it to you. 

[Saint86]

14 hours ago, bpsaint said:

If this was a bloke that was really going to take us to the next level then I’d be all for it, however judging by his stewardship at Almeria that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Assuming it’s not all bollocks of course.

Anyone on Yacht watch yet? 

The CoT were a couple of weeks ago 👀

[franniesTache]

20 hours ago, EBS1980 said:

Sounds like SJ is trying to get him an in at a club. First he leaks about us being for sale and then a month later says about this guy looking at us as an option to buy. 
 

All probably true but in Southampton and Millwall they are two very different clubs with different price points. Whether he’ll follow up him interest or if we’d sell if a serious offer came in who knows. 
 

SJ is almost certainly hearing about this stuff from the same source i did i'd imagine.

16 hours ago, Turkish said:

Maybe the Sheik is part of wider network……

A consortium you say? But who would be interested in leading a consortium of a club by the sea  

Edited Wednesday at 12:46 by franniesTache

[hypochondriac]

15 minutes ago, franniesTache said:

SJ is almost certainly hearing about this stuff from the same source i did i'd imagine.

A consortium you say? But who would be interested in leading a consortium of a club by the sea  

Paul Allen and his yacht. @trousersstart checking earlobes. Who did the flight logs? @Pilchardshas the trees around the training ground covered. I'll make myself available for itk phonecalls from Saint David. We are so back lads. 

[Saint_clark]

Reading through the thread seems like the consensus is we don't want Saudi money anywhere near our club, which I'm pleasantly surprised at. Hopefully it doesn't happen. 

 

*Edit - pleasantly surprised, not presently 🤦🏼‍♂️

Edited Wednesday at 13:52 by Saint_clark

[Matthew Le God]

18 minutes ago, franniesTache said:

A consortium you say? But who would be interested in leading a consortium of a club by the sea  

[capitalsaint]

33 minutes ago, franniesTache said:

SJ is almost certainly hearing about this stuff from the same source i did i'd imagine.

A consortium you say? But who would be interested in leading a consortium of a club by the sea  

A Portuguese chap?

[sockeye]

13 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Reading through the thread seems like the consensus is we don't want Saudi money anywhere near our club, which I'm presently surprised at. Hopefully it doesn't happen. 

For me it’s a combination of that and also that it’s not like, a Newcastle or Man City situation. This prospective owner is “just some guy” without much wealth than SR. Would just be another massive upheaval for little benefit in a critical period. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I don’t think there’s much in this Saudi talk, Simon Jordan loves filling up a segment talking about Saints recently, with no real source other than his mouth - which spouts off at all times with a variety of nonsense.

[Willo of Whiteley]

I do find it funny those that are saying “Yeah go on then, let’s have the Saudi guy”.

Sport Republic, namely Dragan Solak has had no problem putting his hand in his pocket.
He has spent over £250m and invested significantly in other areas too.
He’s recently reinstated he is here for the long haul.
The issue has been that the numpties in the group (Ankerson, Kraft etc) had no footballing knowledge and hired nobody with experience. Dragan has pushed them to the side and suddenly we have a technical director with experience, an up and coming head coach, and also a widely redeveloped scouting network.

There is no gain in changing ownership now. Nor do I think Will Still still would’ve come here had there been.

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, franniesTache said:

SJ is almost certainly hearing about this stuff from the same source i did i'd imagine.

A consortium you say? But who would be interested in leading a consortium of a club by the sea  

Brett Andersen?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1YwFLt6VUxo

 

Edited Wednesday at 15:36 by Turkish