Microsoft Billionaire to buy Southampton F.C.

Kizzak · 08-07-2007, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Bartlet: You know what you are? You are the Charlie Brown of missile defense. The Pentagon is Lucy.
Leo: I'm not familiar with the reference.
Bartlet: Peanuts. Charlie Brown.
Leo: I've heard of them. I'm just not conversant in them.
Bartlet: Why?
Leo: I've never read the comics.
Bartlet: Leo, were you born at age 55?
Leo: I know there's a dog...
Bartlet: Charlie Brown wanted to kick a football and Lucy would hold it, except she'd pull it away at the last minute and Charlie Brown would fall on his butt.
Leo: That's funny?
Bartlet: No, but each time Lucy would find a way to convince Charlie Brown that this time she wouldn't pull the ball away. But she would, and once again, Charlie Brown would fall on his butt.
Leo: And that's funny?
Bartlet: It's satirical.
Leo: What's it satirizing?
Bartlet: The DOD bringing you to the Situation Room every time they run a new missile test so that you'll come to me and tell me how great it works so I'll put money in the NMD system.

Ratinho · 08-07-2007, 03:39 AM

Marian Pahars?

Matthew Le God · 08-07-2007, 03:46 AM

would be a good source if he hadn't left the club ages ago

Gregg Carter · 08-07-2007, 08:27 AM

So if he's on the board and is resigning from that position too, it couldn't possibly be because he's cutting down on his commitments and involvements could it.

andyinuk · 08-07-2007, 09:28 AM

is this still going on???

Matthew Le God · 08-08-2007, 11:22 PM

the club had a fans forum the evening

from a very well respected of the main saints forum. if it was some unknown i wouldn't bother posting it here as it would be unlikely to be true, but this guy is to be trusted

Quote:

Right just got back and had a highly interesting conversation with Jim Hone for about an hour following the forum. I wrote down as much as I could to pass it on to you guys! Firstly can I just say that Hone has allayed most of my fears and I believe he is working for the good of the club (although Oldknow came accross as a smug bastard). The information I have isn't in order but I'll do the best I can.

Hone was highly critical of the original make up of the board from last year. He said that investors have been looking at the board and wondering what they should be doing with all these directors. He said that Wilde appointed this many for a number of reasons. Wilde gave some people a place on the board in return for their shares. People like Crouch and Trant were because he hoped they would bring investment and Corbett and McMenemy was to win the popular vote.

Hone seemed genuinely upset that investment promises were broken, mainly by Wilde. His actualy words were that he was genuinely gutted. He said he was shocked that confidential boardroom details had been leaked to the press and seemed to have a genuine dislike of Crouch (although he said he felt sorry that Crouch was let down by Wilde and he believed that Crouch would have matched any investment by Wilde.)

Hone said he was most definitely not stopping investment so that he can keep hold of his job. He basically said he didn't care much about Southampton and that he wasjust there to do his job. He also said it was untrue with reports that there are 6 bidders which have been narrowed down to three. He said this is really unhelpful as it sends a message to bidders that there is a big queue as is an example of the papers doing something called "spook the bidder." Other examples of this are recent reports with headlines like "saints in meltdown." Which he said was frankly ridiculous and Oldknow said we are in a much better shape than reported.

Oldknow said that he has been slated massively for joining the board but that he and Lee did not want to be on it but it was a necessary action under the circumstances. Hone spoke of the lack of expertise that many of the directors had at running a PLC. He said that they got in the way, making a fuss about selling players even though it was what GB wanted. He said that if you had worked all your life to get money and buy shares in your local club and then you become chairman you wouldn't want someone to come in and take it all away from you. He said that Lowe and his group would be the ones most likely to sell their shares as they are businessmen first.

The two most positive things he said was that the musical chairs in the boardroom have made not harmed chances of investment and his exact words at one point were:

WE ARE TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVES OF ALLEN

He ended by saying there will definitely be at least one more player in before the start of the season.

Macca_SAFC · 08-08-2007, 11:24 PM

Your youths tore us apart last night btw

Matthew Le God · 08-08-2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Macca_SAFC:
Your youths tore us apart last night btw

it wasn't completely our youth side but pretty much. would you say it was a strong woking side?

Matthew Le God · 09-11-2007, 07:12 PM

http://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/Mark...d=1575023&source=RNS

this appeared within the last hour. something is about to happen at last

Matthew Le God · 10-22-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

RNS Number:1310G
Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC
22 October 2007

22 October 2007

Southampton Leisure Holdings Plc

Offer Update and Proposed Investment

The Board is delighted to announce that it has agreed in principle to proceed
with indicative proposals from a major UK-based investment company (the
'Investor') under which, subject to shareholder approval, the Investor will
become the majority shareholder in Southampton Leisure Holdings Plc (the
'Company') with a total shareholding of not less than 55% of the Company.

The Investor proposes to become the majority shareholder by injecting a
substantial sum directly into the Company by means of a placing of new shares
and to commit additional funds in order to acquire a tranche of pre-existing
equity from current shareholders by means of a partial tender offer.

The proposed placing of new shares would be at a discount to the current share
price and conditional on the grant of a Rule 9 waiver by the Takeover Panel and
approval of that waiver by independent shareholders, which would otherwise
require the Investor to make a takeover offer for the Company's existing share
capital.

The Investor has stated that the above proposals represent the beginning of a
proposed long-term commitment on its part as a strong and supportive shareholder
whose interests would be closely aligned with those of current shareholders and
supporters of Southampton Football Club (the 'Club') and other stakeholders in
the Company. In particular, the Investor has indicated it will undertake a
review of the Club's financial structure. In addition to the significant equity
investment proposed, the Investor has confirmed that it has the financial
capacity and intention to support the ongoing development of the Club and its
Youth Academy and to strengthen its first team squad and prospects of promotion
into the Barclays Premier League.

The proposed investment is subject to, inter alia, financial and other due
diligence and there is therefore no certainty that it will proceed in the above
or indeed any other form.

Further announcements will be made as necessary.

yes at last!!!

announced on the london stock exchange. don't know who it is yet

doubt it is anyone as rich as paul allen though

you never know it could be him but probably ray ranson

Microsoft Billionaire to buy Southampton F.C.

Grab a beer, sit back and relax.

Microsoft Billionaire to buy Southampton F.C.