Was there really no alternative to handing it all over to a gambler?

[Man of Harveys]

I just can't believe these threads. Tony Bloom is a businessman, a much more succesful businessman than Dick Knight. Yes your shining Knight has gone, get over it. He was never the man to take us to the next stage, but Bloom is. All this gambler nonsense is just plain crap. Every entrepreneur is a gamber of sorts. But this man is a businessman first and foremost. Stop trying to muddy the waters of what is great news for all Albion fans.

I know for a fact, there were plenty of apologists coming out with similar reams of welcoming drivel when Archer and Bellotti took over. So some of us with memories longer than a particularly retarded species of goldfish are damn right to be slightly cautious about this and to ask questions about it before bowing down and unzipping before Tony Bloom quite so acceptingly.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

A professional gambler who has pumped 90m into the club to deliver that stadium that YOU ALL WANT but your previous chairman COULD NOT DELIVER

Hey - listen - I am grateful. I do not fully understand the motivation (other than love of our club) and I would be happier if he made his money from helping old ladies across the road. But this is where we are.

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

On the official site Dick is quoted as saying "Tony's investment will mean no need for external funding, which is absolutely superb news for the club and its fans."

This is actually excellent news.

If we had borrowed from the banks and if things had gone tits up the banks would have foreclosed.

But now, Tony Bloom will be the guy we owe money to. A fan first, a creditor second.

OK so no doubt the rules will be changed to allow someone to own more than 49% of the club but (a) any investor putting that amount of dosh in would want control and (b) to repeat, Tony Bloom is a fan.

Tony Bloom = Dick Knight with more money?

Time will tell, let's hope so

 

[Da Man Clay]

I just can't believe these threads. Tony Bloom is a businessman, a much more succesful businessman than Dick Knight. Yes your shining Knight has gone, get over it. He was never the man to take us to the next stage, but Bloom is. All this gambler nonsense is just plain crap. Every entrepreneur is a gamber of sorts. But this man is a businessman first and foremost. Stop trying to muddy the waters of what is great news for all Albion fans.

I think everyone is aware that DK wasn't going to take us any further forward, that said just accepting this new investment without question is a dangerous way to look at things.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I'll give another less exciting explanation minute.

We had a choice of funding

1. Banks -which we are all agreed would be hard in the current climate, but i agree with others, not impossible. Although it is likely that the terms of the loan wouldn't be as favourable as a few months back.

2. Private investor with Albion History. Interest free loan. Downside means allowing investor majority shareholding.

Now just suppose these discussions took place months ago and the board decided on option 2. They would then present this funding to the relevant parties (Buckingham Group, Council etc) sign contracts, and begin building 7-8 months ago.

The only thing left is the timing of the announcement. In my experience, the majority of major business transactions are boringly planned, assessed and put in place without the slightest hint of panic, underhand dealings and last minute panics.



PS - I have concerns about it, but given the choice and the people who were involved in the decision I hope and believe the right decision was made

Sorry to interupt the Binfest

Carry on ...........................

 

[Herne Hill Seagull]

To those having a pop at those of us expressing a note of caution; we're fans too, remember. We desperately want this to be a great thing, for Bloom to be all the things we're told he will be. But I for one will not accept wholesale change without at the very least asking the question. I'd be entirely happy for my concerns to be completely groundless but I'd be entirely stupid to not even have those concerns in the first place.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

To those having a pop at those of us expressing a note of caution; we're fans too, remember. We desperately want this to be a great thing, for Bloom to be all the things we're told he will be. But I for one will not accept wholesale change without at the very least asking the question. I'd be entirely happy for my concerns to be completely groundless but I'd be entirely stupid to not even have those concerns in the first place.

Word.

 

[Giraffe]

I know for a fact, there were plenty of apologists coming out with similar reams of welcoming drivel when Archer and Bellotti took over. So some of us with memories longer than a particularly retarded species of goldfish are damn right to be slightly cautious about this and to ask questions about it before bowing down and unzipping before Tony Bloom quite so acceptingly.

Well that is just ridiculous. A man who is a lifelong Albion fan comes in and effectively gives the club a significant amount of money and you compare them to a man from Blackburn who bought the club for £56.25!!

Unbelievable!!!

What is he going to do asset strip away the portakabins at Withdean in return for his £90million??

Get a sense of proportion people. This is good news.

 

[portslade seagull]

Also he will never be able to flog Falmer so what is the problem ffs

 

[Man of Harveys]

Well that is just ridiculous. A man comes in and effectively gives the club a significant amount of money and you compare them to a man who bought the club for £56.25!!

If you think he's donating this money out of the kindness of his own heart, like some kindly benefactor, then that's truly

Unbelievable!!!

. And if you think he can't just change his mind just as quickly if he decides to scupper the whole thing, then you've led a very sheltered life.

Get a sense of proportion people. This is good news.

Ah, ok, I'm entirely convinced. If you say so often enough then I guess it must be true.

 

[The Large One]

Also he will never be able to flog Falmer so what is the problem ffs

I don't think anyone has any problems with the fact that he is footing the bill for Falmer. It's great news.

People's concerns are with who he is, how he intends to run the club, and what that means for the fans. These are legitimate questions.

 

[pork pie]

I know for a fact, there were plenty of apologists coming out with similar reams of welcoming drivel when Archer and Bellotti took over. So some of us with memories longer than a particularly retarded species of goldfish are damn right to be slightly cautious about this and to ask questions about it before bowing down and unzipping before Tony Bloom quite so acceptingly.

That is totally unfair.

Archer had no relationship with the Albion prior to taking control. The Bloom family have a long association with the Club. As Tony Bloom has said, he wants to get back to the glory days of the 70's WHEN HIS GRANDFATHER was a Director of the Club. I can fully understand that sentiment.

I think that the best thing is that the Club now has some money to grow, and it is from someone with a long-standing family association with the Club, rather than a Russian or Arab.

Thing may go wrong - but that is in the future. Let's all enjoy the good times to come. Supporting the Albion over the last 15 or so years has been like supporting a Conference team.

Over the next few years, hopefully, we can get back to being a similar sized club to the likes of Palarse, Portsmouth and all the other bottom of Premiership/top of the Championship clubs. I don't expect us to ever win the Champions League, but I would like to think that we could put out a team capable of a shock result against the Manures, Chelseas and Liverpools of this world if we play them.

Right now, I am just so happy that the beggings bowls and anorack supporters of the last few years can become a thing of the past.

To be fair, Dick Knight has cocked-up many times - but has taken us a long way down the road to a return to the glory days, thanks to Tony Bloom bailing him out of the shit at the last moment!

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I don't think anyone has any problems with the fact that he is footing the bill for Falmer. It's great news.

People's concerns are with who he is, how he intends to run the club, and what that means for the fans. These are legitimate questions.

... and ones we won't know the answer to for quite some time.

Still, glass is half-full today !

 

[Da Man Clay]

Well that is just ridiculous. A man who is a lifelong Albion fan comes in and effectively gives the club a significant amount of money and you compare them to a man from Blackburn who bought the club for £56.25!!

Unbelievable!!!

What is he going to do asset strip away the portakabins at Withdean in return for his £90million??

Get a sense of proportion people. This is good news.

I'm not worried about him assest stripping the place, I'm worried what happens if hedecides he doesn't want to throw money at a loising business any more. As has been said he's a shrewed business man. There's only so much you can throw down a black hole.

 

[pork pie]

To those having a pop at those of us expressing a note of caution; we're fans too, remember. We desperately want this to be a great thing, for Bloom to be all the things we're told he will be. But I for one will not accept wholesale change without at the very least asking the question. I'd be entirely happy for my concerns to be completely groundless but I'd be entirely stupid to not even have those concerns in the first place.

Right, so you would rather have potless Knight in charge, who keeps having to ask others to pay the bills? So what happens if noboby will? It was never a long-term business model for the Club.

 

[Hunting 784561]

A bank that wanted it's money back would be a far nastier animal to deal with than a benevolent investor.

I have seen well run and established businesses go under from one day to the next, because their 'friendly ethical ' bank decided to foreclose.

Under the circumstances, and in the current climate, this method of funding was exactly the right way to go, and I for one will not be looking any gift horses in their gobs - not yet anyway.

 

[pork pie]

I don't think anyone has any problems with the fact that he is footing the bill for Falmer. It's great news.

People's concerns are with who he is, how he intends to run the club, and what that means for the fans. These are legitimate questions.

Yes they are - and time will show us the answers. In the meantime - let's all look forward to playing in a real football ground with decent players for a change!

My two sons have gone through their childhood and teenage years being dragged to watch the Albion at shit grounds playing shit teams with our own regularly shit players, whilst their friends watch Chelsea, Manure, or even the likes of Leicester and Forest. Some of the best years of my life were watching the Albion when I was their age, now hopefully they can soon enjoy supporting a good team for a change.

 

[pork pie]

A bank that wanted it's money back would be a far nastier animal to deal with than a benevolent investor.

I have seen well run and established businesses go under from one day to the next, because their 'friendly ethical ' bank decided to foreclose.

Under the circumstances, and in the current climate, this method of funding was exactly the right way to go, and I for one will not be looking any gift horses in their gobs - not yet anyway.

 

[bhaexpress]

And you can't work out that being one person's plaything isn't necessarily a better situation? "We" are effectively in debt to Tony Bloom; if he changes his mind - and there's a lot of rich people who aren't quite as rich as they were at the moment - we're not necessarily in a better position than having borrowed money from people who lend it out professionally.

I do agree though that it's infinitely better to have a club person doing this than an outsider looking for a quick return: better the dodgy spiv you know than the one you don't.

I have to admit I tend to share your sentiments. My former wife worked as a Pit Boss in a London Casino and no matter how good a gambler somebody is very few come out ahead. Having said that it appears that Mr Bloom makes his money from property which could be construed as a more reliable source of income except that we have this little credit crunch right now.....

When you look at the number of clubs who were bought by one man wonders you have to have a few reservations. Remember that the soon to be relegated Hull City nearly went bust when David Lloyd took them over and that was barely ten years ago.

 

[Chicken Run]

I'm glad for you that you have such unqualified unquestioning faith in Tony Bloom.

While it is great to know that the future of the club is secure, and in the hands of a fellow supporter, we as fans are still entitled to know his background, his intentions, and how he is going to carry them out. We asked it of Dick when he came along, and to ask it of Tony is, I think, in order.

Yep it wont be long till you're ligging it up again pretending to be in the know lol