CyderInACan

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/exclusive-former-arsenal-england-star-3409789

Former Arsenal, Juventus and England midfielder David Platt is part of a consortium who are interested in buying Bristol Rovers, Bristol Live has learned.
It is understood Platt and English businessman Clive Richardson form a rival group separate to the UK-based consortium revealed in August, and have made initial contact with the club's hierarchy over the availability of the League One side.

Richardson is said to be leading the group, who have emerged over the last seven days amid growing rumours that a takeover of the Gas could be completed as early as this week.

Bristol Live understands that is highly unlikely and stems from personal claims by Richardson to senior figures within Rovers that have since been leaked to parts of the fanbase, and he is yet to formally meet president Wael Al Qadi.
He does have links to Bristol with a son still living in the city, and became acquainted with Platt around his involvement with Italian club Palermo.

Until February this year, Richardson was on the board of Sports Capital Group PLC who purchased Palermo in December 2018 for just €10, and he briefly served as club chairman before stepping down in February this year.

Platt acted in a consultancy role during SCG's takeover of Palermo, appearing at the press conference to unveil the new owners but his involvement ended after that.

Former Wimbledon and Bolton striker Dean Holdsworth was also involved with the group, as he was appointed Director of Football Operations at Palermo, but it is unclear if he has continued his association with Richardson or is part of this Rovers approach.

Despite a series of bold claims when they bought the ailing Serie B club, SCG's ownership of the Sicilian side lasted just over two months as it was soon sold to two Italian businessmen.

Since then Richardson has left the board of SCG, who are no longer involved in football, and is understood to be involved in consultancy work for a variety of sports and technology marketing firms.

Richardson previously said of SCG that they had the intention, "to invest in a portfolio of football clubs in the UK and Europe".

He added: "We felt that Palermo was a very good fit, because being on an island it had a good captive audience in terms of its potential fanbase, but also its potential pool of talent that it can develop over the years."Couple that with the fact that there were plans to build a new stadium and youth and training facilities, we felt that it was a club that really needed investment but had good potential for the future.

"We are actively looking at other clubs. We hope to make probably two further acquisitions in 2019, firstly starting in the UK market and specifically the English league."

For his part, since his last job in football as manager for Pune City in the Indian Super League, Platt has focused on his business interests and is owner of Approach Associates, a management consultancy firm based in Alderney Edge in Cheshire.

Platt was one of the stars of England's run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Italy in 1990 and enjoyed a hugely successful career with Aston Villa, Juventus, Sampdoria and Arsenal, among others, before also serving as player manager at Nottingham Forest and first-team coach at Manchester City under Roberto Mancini.

Fruit Market latest
The emergence of Richardson's consortium is known to the other bidder for Rovers who remain in negotiations with Total Produce over the purchase of the Fruit Market site in St Philip's Marsh.

As previously reported, this consortium, who wish to remain anonymous and have kept their distance from Bristol Rovers throughout the process, want to secure the 11-acre site in central Bristol before buying the club from the Al Qadi family.

Bristol Live understands further meetings are expected to be conducted with Total Produce in the coming days with the Dublin-based food company the majority shareholder of the Fruit Market.

The other smaller shareholders are believed to have now universally accepted the consortium's offer, which is in well in excess of £20m, leaving Total Produce as kingmakers in the deal.

The Al Qadi family remain committed to a sale due to frustration over plans to build a new stadium and training ground, while the club posted losses of £65,000 a week in the accounts for 2018/19.

1 hour ago, elhombrecito said:

Bought my tickets for the Bath game which is still a month and a half away. I thought I would be alright waiting a bit, but already over 20k sold! Apart from the (very expensive) Lansdown Stand there is only one block left where you can get anything other than single seats, so I've had to slum it in the end block in the Atyeo. 

Unbelievable really for a game so far away. Nailed on for a sell out. 

28 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Over 22k sold now. Very impressive given it's still 7 weeks away! 

Yes the curtain raiser will be an electric atmosphere and one I am really looking forward to. Missed last year's as we were on hols - watching on TV not quite the same - so this is hotly anticipated. 

Bit naused off though that they've got rid of the unreserved areas but I guess for most games you'll be able to sit with your mates wherever you want as most crowds will be nowhere near a full-house. So for the Barf game I'll be sat on me todd in the family section as it'll be far too late for the boy to come with me. 

1 minute ago, The Bard said:

Its called the planning process. If the people AG Ltd have employed know their stuff it shouldn't be a problem. 

Did you go to the drop in sessions  at AG re the new plans? They’re very confident of “stuff happening “. I’m not so sure 

@SuperDziek does this mean it’s possible to still miss getting off at Parson St coming back from Burnham? Asking for a friend. 

1 hour ago, cityal said:

I have a feeling its more likely to be along the lines of - "Lunch was great! poached quail eggs salad, roast venison with sauteed red cabbage and parmentier potatoes all washed down with a nice Chataeu Latour at £600 per bottle."

By the time that bottle had been bought and sold to each other several times it would be worth millions! All counting towards turnover for FFP purposes, of course 

Football. Best game in the world. 

Football. Worst business in the world. 

47 minutes ago, bcfcredandwhite said:

Weren’t Dagenham and Redbridge local rivals who didn’t really like each other, but merged so they could pool resources and have a shot at getting into the football league? It does happen. 

Can you imagine the scenes if Streatham Rovers and Dynamo Catford were ever forced to merge. 

13 minutes ago, RedLionLad said:

How many of those are single men living alone......with  their computers?

If they have a computer they're not alone 

8 minutes ago, Judda said:

In fairness I get the tribal shit. It's inbuilt from caveman days. No one intends to scar an already anxious child, they get caught up in a moment. It's just gutting for me and her... she'll recover but it'll be months or possibly years... hopefully the former!

Or you could save her a lifetime of pain by not taking her again! 

1 hour ago, Judda said:

Me and my daughter will be going. She's an 11 year old, season ticket holder of 4 years, but got scared at the Swansea game nonsense and has panic attacks now and struggling to get back... could be perfect for her.

️

According to some on here the Swansea stuff was just banter and no harm done. Just goes to show doesn’t it. Hope your daughter is ok mate and that the morons don’t put her off. 

If it's women's football I presume the concourse will only sell women's drinks like Dark Fruits Cider and Lambrini. No chips, either. Maybe some nice light scones though. 

@77 punk is your man

14 hours ago, Vincent Vega said:

I grew up in Knowle West and we always called it drop back goalies. 

Whitchurch. Either Rush-Back (anyone could be the goalie) or Drop-Back (the goalie could play wherever they wanted but was the goalie nonetheless) 

Well. That's how I remember it anyway! Don't forget good old next goal wins too mind! 

4 hours ago, bcfcredandwhite said:

This is one of the drawbacks to living in a modern democracy. 

When I was in China 2 years ago, our guide in Shanghai was quite ‘political’ and he said ‘you westerners value your democratic system where everyone has a say, but we built Shanghai into a huge metropolis in 30 years with fully functional everything. In your west you would still be arguing over where the first stone should be laid.’

although I wouldn’t swop his regime for ours quite yet (getting close recently) he has a point. 

At what human cost was Shanghai built up though. Nowadays you only have to look at their treatment of the Euighurs (sp?) to realise they are a million miles from any sort of accountability. 

All things considered I way prefer friday night games anyway! Great start to the weekend (although not always a great start to saturday mornings) 

1 hour ago, phantom said:

 

Last season seemed like an expirement and for whatever reason they have gone back to their former days

I thought at the time it was allegedly due to fan feedback 

53 minutes ago, phantom said:

Interesting only two Saturday games for the rugby, getting back to how they used to be

This should improve attendances so that combination players (which Bristol's fanbase has been historically well supported by) can now attend more games again

And backtracking on last season's preferred timing of 3pm on a Saturday. The obvious knock-on affect though is that people who have bought STs for their younger kids (my lad is 6) will have a lot less games that they'll be able to take them to - which seeing as the Family Area was moved to cope with demand and be nearer the Community Corner does seems a tad counter-productive for the younger fans. 

Bath (h) curtain raiser for Bris again! Friday night game - 18th October 

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/201920-gallagher-premiership-fixtures-revealed/

16 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

That could effect ability to host summer concerts at AG?

Yeah Mark Jellly has prepared for the longer season including the playoffs and said it could only be 2 gigs but they’d be big ones rather than just having the for the sake of it. I’m really hoping for Metallica 

21 minutes ago, DerbyFan said:

I'm not saying anything that's not public knowledge - because I don't have any inside information

Quite the opposite of some of our alleged ITKs then in other posts on here! 

6 minutes ago, phantom said:

@CyderInACan the league Premiership is scheduled to be from 20th October to 20th June when the final will be at Twickenham.

The other leagues will start on 21st September

The odd thing with rugby is that the fixtures get released from the lowest leagues upwards, not like football where it is the top league down

Cheers mate nice one 

Anybody know when the season starts seeing as it;s the World Cup in Autumn isn't it? Is there a break?

2 hours ago, CotswoldRed said:

My comment relates to anyone who wants to be involved in football disorder. The CSF have a history that is well documented.

Lovely sandwiches. 

2 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

He did start off well before becoming insufferable.  A bit like Cotts.  

Classic early stand up stuff was ace though - as well as his input in Blackadder. As 'er indoors is off to the Muse gig later I might try and find some of his old stuff on youtube etc

1 minute ago, Red-Robbo said:

Used to love Ben Elton as a stand up back in the day.