AVFC Takeover Thread, Rumours, Gossip and Hearsay...all goes here

[Keyser Soze]

Just spotted on twitter

Transfers/Takeover ‏@avfcNextMatch 35m35 minutes ago

Looks like Heat on Monday. #avfc

Could be read 2 ways either referring to Heaton or someone with Heat connections hmmmm

Miami Heat is owned by Arison, Heaton goalkeeper. I don't know.

[kimbo]

Just spotted on twitter

Transfers/Takeover ‏@avfcNextMatch 35m35 minutes ago

Looks like Heat on Monday. #avfc

Could be read 2 ways either referring to Heaton or someone with Heat connections hmmmm

Just looked at the account, he's been going on about Heaton so I think it's probably him that he's referring to (no idea if the account is reliable, mind)

[NARLA24]

Just spotted on twitter

Transfers/Takeover ‏@avfcNextMatch 35m35 minutes ago

Looks like Heat on Monday. #avfc

Could be read 2 ways either referring to Heaton or someone with Heat connections hmmmm

Miami Heat is owned by Arison, Heaton goalkeeper. I don't know.

Haha.

[GadgetMan]

Just spotted on twitter

Transfers/Takeover ‏@avfcNextMatch 35m35 minutes ago

Looks like Heat on Monday. #avfc

Could be read 2 ways either referring to Heaton or someone with Heat connections hmmmm

Miami Heat is owned by Arison, Heaton goalkeeper. I don't know.

First off I don't think this account is by any stretch credible and it's probably referring to the keeper, but also being particularly vague to cover the warm weather we're having too. I'd personally not hold any value in that account.

[villabromsgrove]

From HH to Heat to Ellison we haven't got a clue! Good fun though ain't it.

[HarryAVFC]

Just spotted on twitter

Transfers/Takeover ‏@avfcNextMatch 35m35 minutes ago

Looks like Heat on Monday. #avfc

Could be read 2 ways either referring to Heaton or someone with Heat connections hmmmm

Miami Heat is owned by Arison, Heaton goalkeeper. I don't know.

First off I don't think this account is by any stretch credible and it's probably referring to the keeper, but also being particularly vague to cover the warm weather we're having too. I'd personally not hold any value in that account.

He means Tom Heaton medical on Monday. He's been going on saying someone is booked in for a medical on Monday 

Probably crap. No sure if he'd be a good signing or not

[villabromsgrove]

Guzan is a better keeper than Heaton. I honestly believe this so I'm happy to take the flak.

[Villa_Dan]

I think Heaton is better than Guzan. I really rate him. Having the 2 of them fighting for the #1 seems like a good idea though an Shay can finally be put out to pasture as a coach.

But he's only 6 months younger. I know goalkeepers have a longer lifespan but he still seems old.

[villabromsgrove]

I've opened a Keeper thread so we can discuss it with some continuity.

[AstonThriller]

I think we're gonna have to be patient with this. The common notion is due diligence is in progress and six weeks was mooted as the time frame for which it should be complete. We're two weeks into it so it could be another month before we hear anything.

Realistically "no news" is most likely good news. It's also very interesting to see us being linked with so many decent players..though we've yet to spend a penny so what that means is anyone's guess.

[Trotters]

Signed, sealed , delivered i am yours. Deal done. New owners.
UTV

Let's assume for a moment that this was on the money. What are the reasons for there not being any announcement? Reasons I can think of:

1. The club is waiting to sign a few more players and will officially unveil them, the new kit, new sponsors and new owners all in one press conference.

2. New company runs it's financial year from July 1 (that's a leap unless they're an Australian company although it also ties in with the opening of the transfer window). May also be just a good date to start.....The 1st of a month!

3.new owners have stated that a number of unwanted salary sponges be off the books before they start taking control (again, a leap)

4. They're staying quiet in order to keep transfer costs down.

5. If they're Chinese, they're waiting on pre - arranged paperwork to be cleared from The People's Congress.

6. Waiting for the FA to conduct their very thorough, very purposeful "Fit & Proper" test.

7. Add your own.

--------------------------

Can any business heads let us know the legalities of keeping new ownership out of the public arena? I'd have thought there'd be declarations to stock markets, Companies House, etc and surely someone would be watching those?

Of course, Occam's Razor may apply here and the reason is that the club still isn't sold.

[DaveAV1]

We're a private company so no stock market announcement from the Villa side Trotters, but of course the other side may be a quoted company.

If the deal is done, I'd think it would be difficult to keep it quiet, but I'm not sure it would be breaking any rules to do so. A few people have mentioned the, "keeping transfer prices down" theory, which has a certain logic to it. The only way it could be done I think, is that there is a deal done without the paperwork with some one Randy trusts. They've shaken hands and they'll sort the transfer fees out as a seperate arrangement, but essentially the new guy is giving the nod.

My own personal theory is, I haven't got a bloody clue, but instinct tells me that there's something on the way. Then again I had a similar feeling about 12 months ago!

[clarryblue]

Signed, sealed , delivered i am yours. Deal done. New owners.
UTV

Let's assume for a moment that this was on the money. What are the reasons for there not being any announcement? Reasons I can think of:

1. The club is waiting to sign a few more players and will officially unveil them, the new kit, new sponsors and new owners all in one press conference.

2. New company runs it's financial year from July 1  (that's a leap unless they're an Australian company although it also ties in with the opening of the transfer window). May also be just a good date to start.....The 1st of a month!

3.new owners have stated that a number of unwanted salary sponges be off the books before they start taking control (again, a leap)

4. They're staying quiet in order to keep transfer costs down.

5. If they're Chinese, they're waiting on pre - arranged paperwork to be cleared from The People's Congress.

6. Waiting for the FA to conduct their very thorough, very purposeful "Fit & Proper" test.

7. Add your own.

--------------------------

Can any business heads let us know the legalities of keeping new ownership out of the public arena? I'd have thought there'd be declarations to stock markets, Companies House, etc and surely someone would be watching those?

Of course, Occam's Razor may apply here and the reason is that the club still isn't sold.

7. Relaxation of FFP rules due to be discussed and voted on 29/30 June...with possible spending limits removed for new owners from say July 1st?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/manchester-city-transfer-news-city-could-still-suffer-if-uefa-relax-ffp-merely-to-suit-new-owners-10333147.html

[Trotters]

Ah yes, that was the big one I forgot about.

[clarryblue]

in my opinion...the whole deal is dependent on it...if a relaxation of FFP goes through then the takeover will go through...if it doesn't then it will fall through

if i'm right (that would be unusual!!)...we better pray for the former

[Trotters]

The outcome of that meeting will certainly be interesting although if the takeover reports are accurate - IF - the buyers want in regardless of FFP changes. Maybe UEFA have handed the a bonus they'd not previously considered?

It's certainly worth holding off signing on the dotted line for a week or so.

But if that is the case, then nothing is signed, nothing is sealed and there's certainly nothing delivered other than, perhaps, an agreement in principle.

[clarryblue]

if its that..

then the few days between 1 - 6 july might be interesting

[gdav]

I really thought it was all done & no announcement was being made to save a few quid on transfers. Now though the more I think about it the less I think something that big would be able to be kept quiet from people in the right circles.
I keep flipping from its all done to nothing's gonna happen, largely due to what mood I'm in & what I've read on TBAR.

[villabromsgrove]

If our prospective new owners are waiting for a possible FFP relaxation announcement it means they're minted.

On the other hand it may be that our prospective new owners are a group of investors looking to turn a profit, and may well see existing FFP rules as a tool to manage fan's expectations.

I haven't got a clue!

[AVFClee]

The reason i believe the takeover deal has nothing at all to do with FFP meeting and relaxation in rules is why would a company/buyer go into exclusivity which actually costs them money during this period then wait around for a UEFA announcement?? Nope not going to happen imo, this deal is either sorted and paperwork being finalised or there is no deal imo.

[Kakacroom]

I'd say most at the top chain of football proberly have an idea what's going to happen with the fair play rules

[tbarrules]

I'm Hoping we hear Something this week.

I know 6 weeks has been mentioned But I can't be only the one that thinks We probably will Start the season with our current Owner.

[GadgetMan]

I've said it may come down to waiting on the FFP announcement a few times now. It makes a lot of sense. Certainly a lot more than a deal being done but not announced to get cheaper transfer deals (I'm pretty certain that wouldn't be legal in many ways) for me (and it's a complete guess) we are at the latter stages of an agreement, hence the exclusivity agreement (as its progressed beyond all other deals and is the preferred bid) I'd say the price is agreed and DD is at an advanced stage, with a few i's to dot and t's to cross. Anyway with a few weeks to go until we know more on the FFP, why rush the last stage now? When the two parties can take their time, plan together (with the assumption a deal will close) and await the FFP announcement which could significantly alter what a new owner could spend over the next 4 years.

For me this is the most realistic scenario given what we 'know' thus far. So no secret, let's kid the rest of the EPL and save a few million, no parting gift of 30 million being spent (as RL wouldn't even spend in January to ensure survival) and no other reason for us not hearing anything except it takes time and considering the above it may well go into July (safe in the knowledge the transfer window doesn't properly start until 1st July)

It feels like nothing is happening as we all want it so badly and are hitting refresh every 5 mins. In reality it will happen in good time and I'm confident those involved will do it at a time that will benefit the club in the mid to long term.

So let's be patient for a few more weeks before it really hots up!!! UTV

[keithj]

TS had a bet that we would not have new owners by the 6th July when the team resumes training, if we have new Chinese owners this makes sense as 8 is regarded as a very lucky number in China so it must be the 8th
8)

[Trotters]

What would be involved in Due Diligence of a (sadly run-of-the-mill) football club? I can't imagine there are issues of intellectual property or complex asset ownership. I'd have thought - and I admit I know next to sod-all about such things - that DD of a business like Aston Villa would be very straight forward. The accounts, land ownership, player contracts, sponsorship deals and so on surely shouldn't take 6 weeks plus!

Just thinking out loud, if a bidder was granted exclusivity then that was based on an offer that, in turn, was based on facts and figures supplied by the club. Deal done in principle provided DD doesn't turn up anything not disclosed during the bidding process. Once those facts and figures have been verified then we should hear something.

We had so many reports - from the Telegraph on June 8th through to people who knew people - that stated that one bidder had been granted exclusivity. If it blame known on June 8th then it's likely that exclusivity was given a good couple of weeks prior to that. So let's say the last week of May. 6 weeks from then puts us in the first week of July.

By then UEFA should have sorted their shit out as well.

So, add on a couple of days for the Chinese (gut feeling) to play last minute silly-buggers with price and I think I'll go along with Keith above and put my money on the 8th.

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