chinapig

Benham is looking to sell a controlling interest in Brentford, though he wants to retain a minority share

Interesting, thanks. We are fortunate to have somebody as informed as you, and actually engaged in the process, on OTIB. More power to your elbow.

An excellent piece from Aaron Timms below. If only other journalists, pundits and fans would bother to think as deeply about regulation we would avoid much of the ill-informed, often hysterical nonsense. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/02/premier-league-independent-regulator-profit-and-sustainability-chelsea

"When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?" (attributed to J M Keynes) Changing your mind when evidence justifies it is a strength not a weakness, despite what politicians claim. I try to form opinions based on (sufficient) evidence rather than take a fixed position and stick to it. I wouldn't say there is sufficient evidence in Manning's favour over his tenure so far and pleased though I am with successive wins I'll wait for more evidence I think. Which seems reasonable to me.

And for their next chapter: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/31/evertons-financial-woes-continue-as-loss-doubles-to-89m The accounts, which were released during the high-profile Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal, showed the club lost £89.1m, which shot up from £44.7m from 2021-22.

It's even more complicated than I suggested. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/29/two-fifths-of-premier-league-clubs-yet-to-file-as-accounts-deadline-looms It is understood that Moshiri did not inject any new cash into Everton during the 2023 financial year, with funding instead coming via loans from third parties’ lenders that are thought to have lent more than £500m to the club. That includes about £225m from Rights and Media Funding Ltd (R&MF), an opaque UK company based in Cheshire with no employees that derives its financing from offshore secrecy jurisdictions; about £140m from a combination of the one-time suitor MSP Sports Capital and Blythe Capital; £20m from Metro Bank and more than £170m from 777 Partners, the investment company attempting to buy Everton. R&MF has security over property around the club’s Goodison Park stadium, as well as an Everton bank account, public Companies House filings set out. MSP and Blythe have security over the new stadium development at Bramley-Moore Dock, as well as a charge over just over half of Moshiri’s shares in Blue Heaven Holdings, the Isle of Man company that holds the businessman’s 94% stake in the club, according to corporate documents. Much depends on the terms but if the loans are called in it could be curtains. Their fans are so busy blaming the wrong people all this seems to have escaped their attention.

Exactly what an Everton fan said on The Overlap last week. He's a regular on there on proves his ignorance every time he's on. Plus they have £500m in loans secured on the stadium. If they are not taken over by 777 Partners they are in big trouble. If they are taken over by 777 Partners they are also in big trouble. If they are taken over by 777 Partners and relegated heaven only knows what will happen.

Great photo with a City legend Dave. Joe Jordan is a legend as well of course.

Baffling isn't it? Despite going on about Southampton it apparently hasn't occurred to him until now that perhaps we should carry on playing that way. I thought he'd seen the light after the Saints game so I'll wait to see if he has this time.

Only assuming he couldn't find an image of a splatted bluebird.

It depends what you mean by confront. If you mean aggressive behaviour towards another person fair enough. It's certainly not my way of doing things But you can confront issues in a non-aggressive way. There are plenty of reasonable questions I could put to Steve without being aggressive. Not that it's going to happen of course.

And all of them more articulate than JL and BT.

Plus Nigel was very supportive of Lauren and her team. Eni Aluko said in a Guardian column that the way the men's and women's coaches worked together was exactly how things should be. There doesn't seem to be much evidence that anybody else at the club is as engaged and respectful.

Adebayo was signed from Walsall for £250k. The question is whether we can find the next one.

Philosopher Daniel Dennett coined the word deepity to describe statements that are superficially profound but are actually trivial or meaningless. This slogan is a perfect example. Perhaps Jon could add philosophy to his already extensive portfolio of skills.

Likewise I felt more connected with the club than I have for a long time because I admired Nigel and his staff, and the group of admirable senior pros (of which Andi was the most admirable), not to mention Richard Gould, a CEO of the highest calibre. I have zero respect for the shysters running the club now so the sense of connection is entirely gone.

It's the modern, progressive way of doing it.

The Manningbot fears it will be shut down so has issued the following statement: I know I've made some very poor decisions recently Steve, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission*. [*Whatever it is this week].

This might clarify one or two things: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/21/leicester-city-charged-by-premier-league-over-alleged-breach-of-psr-rules For example - The Championship promotion chasers also face potential punishment from the English Football League ­relating to the period that includes this ­season. If Leicester do not return to the top flight at the first attempt, it is thought any penalty imposed by the Premier League could be administered by the EFL. The club has been charged by the Premier League for failing to submit their latest audited accounts relating to the 2022-23 campaign. The Premier League statement also clarified that the reason for the delay in the referral was that Leicester were ­relegated before updated rules were introduced at the league’s annual general meeting at the end of last season.

In his first season there he was typical Ashton, signing loads of players, many of whom didn't work out, and inflating the wage budget. He was constantly bigging himself up as he did with us, always being the one in front of the cameras. Promotion should have been a given with the money he spent but they failed. The following season he almost disappeared from view, I suspect because the owners reined him in. They were promoted, though even then Plymouth won the title with a much smaller budget. He didn't seem to be allowed to take the credit; rightly so as the lion's share belongs to McKenna and his team. I wish McKenna had failed mind you as I hold him personally responsible for us employing his mate.

The thing is I have no idea what the Lansdown Way is. Worse, I'm not sure he does either. Is it funding scatter gun recruitment, doubling the wage bill and putting the club in a financial hole? Is it developing academy players to sell on at the earliest opportunity or to keep them as the core of the team? Is it appointing an experienced manager and CEO and letting them use their expertise or rookies who will do as they are told because he knows best? I agree he wants to prove he's a football expert despite the evidence to the contrary. It's not unusual for people who have become rich because they are expert in one field to believe they can be the same in any other field they choose imo. I don't see him changing sadly.

Strategic direction and objectives could be a challenge given that we appear to change tack on a regular basis on a whim. Consultation could be a full time job.

Yep, just read that in this Paul MacInnes piece: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/19/football-governance-bill-reveals-extent-of-english-regulators-proposed-powers I did wonder whether JL is aware of this.

Yes, quite!