As the 'imminent takeover' thread on Charlton Life passes 16,000 comments and approaches 2,000,000 views, I suddenly realise the glaringly obvious....
This is a Roland Duchatelet takeover we are talking about - of course it's going to drag on and be an absolute car crash because that's what the bloke's whole ownership of Charlton Athletic has been. I find myself wondering whether Meire has really left his employment or perhaps she's a double-agent at Wednesday.
Whilst the word "imminent" was clearly the excited hopes of the initial poster in the month of April, year of our Lord, 2017, a moment spent reflecting on everything we have learnt from the absent, ill-informed, arrogant and stubborn Belgian fossil would surely have brought more wisdom to the choice of this word and we might have had something more appropriate like 'eventual' or 'glacial takeover.'
I also see a recent comment from Airman Brown who has heard word that the Aussies were not best pleased to hear that Roly had now accepted two bids on price. I'll bet they are not pleased. Having been in the running longest and having finally met the doddering Belgian's inflated asking price, after the 'Scottish' consortium had thrown the towel in on price, he's now stringing them along with a supposed second bidder?
Uncle Dickie told us it was now just about crossing the i's and dotting the t's. Really? After all this time why we are still on word-smithing of the contract? Why is it taking so long? In my experience, once the price and the shape of a deal is agreed, you lock the respective legal teams in a room and they bottom it out quickly when they can't face any more pizza. But then again, this is a Roland Duchatelet takeover we are talking about. What next? Maybe they will both finalise the contract at the same time? Does Duchatelet have two legal teams so they negotiate in parallel? Is it really a beauty parade or is it a last lame attempt to force something more from the Aussies?
I would applaud the Aussies all day long if they announced they were pulling out and made it clear why at this stage. I'd laugh my tits off, too, if there was no second bidder or, if there really is, they too pulled stumps and the absent idiot was left to lose another half-a-million before starting off all over again. Of course, I can probably say this and increasingly mean it because I care far less than I did when I was suffering it every other week.
This is a Roland Duchatelet takeover we are talking about - of course it's going to drag on and be an absolute car crash because that's what the bloke's whole ownership of Charlton Athletic has been. I find myself wondering whether Meire has really left his employment or perhaps she's a double-agent at Wednesday.
Whilst the word "imminent" was clearly the excited hopes of the initial poster in the month of April, year of our Lord, 2017, a moment spent reflecting on everything we have learnt from the absent, ill-informed, arrogant and stubborn Belgian fossil would surely have brought more wisdom to the choice of this word and we might have had something more appropriate like 'eventual' or 'glacial takeover.'
I also see a recent comment from Airman Brown who has heard word that the Aussies were not best pleased to hear that Roly had now accepted two bids on price. I'll bet they are not pleased. Having been in the running longest and having finally met the doddering Belgian's inflated asking price, after the 'Scottish' consortium had thrown the towel in on price, he's now stringing them along with a supposed second bidder?
Uncle Dickie told us it was now just about crossing the i's and dotting the t's. Really? After all this time why we are still on word-smithing of the contract? Why is it taking so long? In my experience, once the price and the shape of a deal is agreed, you lock the respective legal teams in a room and they bottom it out quickly when they can't face any more pizza. But then again, this is a Roland Duchatelet takeover we are talking about. What next? Maybe they will both finalise the contract at the same time? Does Duchatelet have two legal teams so they negotiate in parallel? Is it really a beauty parade or is it a last lame attempt to force something more from the Aussies?
I would applaud the Aussies all day long if they announced they were pulling out and made it clear why at this stage. I'd laugh my tits off, too, if there was no second bidder or, if there really is, they too pulled stumps and the absent idiot was left to lose another half-a-million before starting off all over again. Of course, I can probably say this and increasingly mean it because I care far less than I did when I was suffering it every other week.
Do you ever think that if it was a decent buyer coming in they would probably not be bothered about half a million or whatever? Work on the training ground already stopped - Hopefully the new owners will be better than Roland - But I doubt it - I wish people like Rick Everett would put his money where his mouth is and put a bid in - But he won't - Because he speaks complete bollocks.
ReplyDeleteAnon/Fustymaccrank - it's not just half-a-million though is it, it's another half-a-million on top of a fee that has already been heavily negotiated. Just because someone is wealthy, it doesn't mean they throw millions around - otherwise they wouldn't be wealthy long. These people have egos and principles too, and it looks very much like Duchatelet may be sailing very close to the wind. Of course work on the training ground has stopped, Duchatelet is cutting his losses! The argument that anyone should put their money where their mouth is, is a lame one. Are only those with money entitled to an opinion? As for "bollocks", Rick Everett is in a fairly unique position from experience in terms of what he knows and who he knows. He has been proven to be far more accurate on this and all other things Charlton in our recent history than anyone else. I know he's not everyone's cup-of-tea but he has proven to be correct far more often than not and his judgement comes from the centre of what he believes to be best for the club and, in my opinion, he is usually right.
ReplyDeleteI think you've summed up our feelings on Roland, the takeover and Rick pretty well Dave. And you made me laugh!
ReplyDeletecheers
Pembury Addick
Ever considered two owners one for the Team and one for the Stands/ Ground (capital) hence 2 parties>>??
ReplyDeleteConor - can't say I have or that I have heard that proposed before. Logic suggests if the buyer of the football club can't afford the asking price for the whole club, then Duchatelet might hold try to cut a deal to hold onto the real estate. Not sure why he would sell it in that situation but it's possible I suppose.
ReplyDelete