Given the seasonal all the angst about Radz being ‘penniless’ (in the football-club owning world) then having owners who can compete in the crazy world of football strikes me as a positive. I don’t care that much about being owned by a massive faceless corporate entity etc - I think that boat sailed long ago.
Having said that, I’ll believe it when I see it! Sent from my iPad > On 15 Oct 2019, at 09:17, Richard Naef <[email protected]> > wrote: > > My head disagrees, my heart says Yes! My spleen is undecided > > Sent from my Mobile. > > ________________________________ > From: Leedslist <[email protected]> on behalf of Ian Murray > <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 3:33:36 AM > To: Matt Anderson <[email protected]>; Andy Brown <[email protected]> > Cc: Leeds List <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LU] Times Article > > Nah > > Look Qatar/Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Iran/Saudi whatever, they are always going to be > morally dubious whether they own Leeds or not. Slightly fatalistic but we > can't change it, so if they want to spunk some of their ill gotten gains > making us champions of England/Europe then I for one am all for it. Think > of the joy it will bring to our fans and the despair it will heap on our > rivals. It would be fucking brilliant. > > To be honest, I couldn't give a monkeys about credit from fans of lesser > teams or know-nothing journos. We've never had any, anyway. > > MOT > > ________________________________ > From: Leedslist <[email protected]> on behalf of Matt Anderson > <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, 14 October 2019 11:53 PM > To: Andy Brown <[email protected]> > Cc: Leeds List <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LU] Times Article > > I think I would still rather be shit than have Qatari investment. No one > gives Man City any credit for where they are. > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On 14 Oct 2019, at 16:46, Andy Brown <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> IZZANI INTERVIEW >> Andrea Radrizzani: New Qatar investor ‘can get Leeds up to level of Man City’ >> >> Andrea Radrizzani tells Martyn Ziegler that he is considering three offers >> for stake in club >> >> Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter >> October 14 2019, 12:01am, The Times >> >> Radrizzani insists that whatever happens at Leeds he wants to remain involved >> DANIEL HAMBURY/PA >> Share >> Save >> >> Leeds United celebrate 100 years of existence this week and at this pivotal >> moment their owner has revealed he is considering an offer from Qatar to >> take the club to a level where they could “compete with Manchester City”. >> >> The biggest sleeping giant in English football has already stirred. If >> Andrea Radrizzani, their owner, goes through with the sale of a stake in the >> club to Qatari Sports Investment (QSI) or two other rich investors then it >> could be time to write a new chapter in the giant’s fairytale. >> >> “I’m giving you more information than I ever gave to anyone,” says >> Radrizzani, over coffee in a Leeds hotel. The Italian says he views himself >> as a custodian of the club, and that bringing in a big investor would help >> to achieve his vision of taking Leeds to the very top of the beanstalk. >> >> Qatar looks to be in pole position — QSI is run by Nasser al-Khelaifi, the >> president of Paris Saint-Germain, and a close friend from when Radrizzani’s >> previous firm, MP & Silva, was selling football TV rights and Khelaifi was >> buying them for beIN Sport. He will not reveal the identities of the other >> two under consideration, other than to say that one is a hugely wealthy >> Leeds fan based in the United States and the other the owner of an >> unidentified Italian club. >> >> “I have been approached by more than 20 parties and I have selected these >> three,” Radrizzani says. >> >> >> “The option of Qatar Sports Investment and Nasser — first of all they are >> friends, we have had a good relationship for a long time. Secondly, they >> have the possibility to bring this club to compete with Manchester City, so >> for the fans that could be a fantastic opportunity. >> >> “The second is based in America, he’s a big fan of Leeds United since he was >> a child, and I like that. >> >> “Another one is the owner of an Italian club. With another club you can >> create synergy to be more competitive and to target the Premier League — we >> could maybe get a loan to increase the quality of the team.” >> >> Radrizzani, who bought Leeds in instalments of £20 million in December 2016 >> and £25 million in May 2017, does not rule out selling a majority stake but >> insists that whatever happens he wants to remain involved. >> >> “The most important thing for me is to make this club big again,” he says. >> “When I will open the door to others I don’t know, hopefully when we are in >> the Premier League. The financial support would be more important in the >> Premier League. >> >> “When it will be done, it doesn’t matter which share [I have], it matters >> that I can continue my project and also have the support to build this club >> back again. >> >> >> Radrizzani said Bielsa’s rigorous methods were just what were needed to sort >> Leeds out >> ARRON GENT/JMP/REX >> “L’appetito vien mangiando, as we say in Italy — appetite comes while you >> are eating. I don’t need to sell but it is important to listen because I >> always remember I am a custodian of the club. If it was my own business I >> would treat it a bit differently.” >> >> Many figures from Leeds’s past, including from the glory days of the 1970s, >> will be invited back to Elland Road to celebrate the centenary on Saturday, >> when Birmingham City visit. Talk of the 1970s prompts Radrizzani to say >> “Dirty Leeds!” before adding: “We try to clean up the image of the club and >> I think that’s the right approach for the next generation. At the same time >> we need to keep the graft and passion of that team.” >> >> There have been mighty changes at Leeds in the 2½ years since he took full >> control. He bought the stadium back in 2017, 13 years after it had been sold >> to reduce debt, and the next step is a new training base and academy, a >> stone’s throw from Elland Road. In 2017, there were only two academy players >> playing for national teams at youth level; now there are 14. >> >> Appointing Marcelo Bielsa, the talismanic Argentine manager — and persuading >> him to stay after promotion proved elusive — was also a declaration of >> intent. >> >> Radrizzani is open about the financial implications, saying: “It is very >> expensive, I invested over £90 million — with this level of money you could >> own a Europa League club in most of the European leagues, including Italy. >> >> “The club makes losses, in this league it is impossible not to. We are still >> paying the consequences of my first year because I was inexperienced and we >> made some expensive mistakes with players. >> >> “But we haven’t stopped investing. Bielsa and his staff cost £6 million [a >> year], we bought many other players and I think we have a squad to be >> promoted. It’s financially not sustainable to keep this level of salary >> which is now over £30 million, probably £33 million with Marcelo and closer >> to £40 million with the coaches.” >> >> To get Bielsa, 64, was a coup — he is vastly experienced, including lengthy >> spells in charge of the Argentina and Chile national teams. His rigorous >> coaching methods, says Radrizzani, were just what were needed to sort Leeds >> out. >> >> >> After starting the season unbeaten in seven matches, Leeds wobbled going >> into the international break with defeats away to Millwall and Charlton >> Athletic on successive Saturdays, but they remain just two points off top >> spot. >> >> “We needed to set a culture of work ethic, when I arrived we were living in >> mediocrity,” Radrizzani added. “Finding a man like him [Bielsa], who some >> people might say is fixed in the methodology of 20 years ago, was needed. He >> was fascinated by the challenge, as I was.” >> >> Radrizzani has been a fierce critic of the Football League for allowing >> owners of other Championship clubs to buy their own stadiums via another >> company to get past financial fair play [FFP] rules, and he reveals that he >> was approached by Middlesbrough to take part in their legal action against >> the league on the issue. >> >> “The rules were not written in a way to avoid a conflict of interest and to >> shortcut FFP — 100 per cent it should change, it needs to be clear for the >> future,” he says. “Middlesbrough approached us to sue about the other clubs. >> In principle I agreed with them but decided not to do it because I wanted to >> focus on the football.” >> >> Instead, it was Leeds who found themselves in breach of rules last season >> over the Spygate scandal, which led to a £200,000 fine after Bielsa sent an >> employee to watch Derby County training. That is now in the past, says >> Radrizzani, and has brought Leeds closer together. “We have a lot of haters, >> and that was a great occasion to come against us. It made us stronger and we >> are very proud to have haters.” >> >> As to Leeds being a sleeping giant, Radrizzani says the slumber is over: >> “He’s awake. Now he has to make more noise.” >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On 14 Oct 2019, at 16:13, Tim Leslie <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Just followed a tweet about a Times interview with AR claiming he has three >>> offers on the table for a stake in the club, including a (The originally >>> muted?) Qatar one that "Could transform us into the next Man City" - It's a >>> subscription service (Which I don't have) Anyone read it? Got a copy? >>> >>> Ta >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leedslist mailing list >>> Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist >>> To unsubscribe, email [email protected] >>> >>> Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ >>> >>> RIP Jimmy WAC-COE >> _______________________________________________ >> Leedslist mailing list >> Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist >> To unsubscribe, email [email protected] >> >> Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ >> >> RIP Jimmy WAC-COE > > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ > > RIP Jimmy WAC-COE > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ > > RIP Jimmy WAC-COE > > Sent from my Mobile. > ________________________________ > From: Leedslist <[email protected]> on behalf of Ian Murray > <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 3:33:36 AM > To: Matt Anderson <[email protected]>; Andy Brown <[email protected]> > Cc: Leeds List <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LU] Times Article > > Nah > > Look Qatar/Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Iran/Saudi whatever, they are always going to be > morally dubious whether they own Leeds or not. Slightly fatalistic but we > can't change it, so if they want to spunk some of their ill gotten gains > making us champions of England/Europe then I for one am all for it. Think > of the joy it will bring to our fans and the despair it will heap on our > rivals. It would be fucking brilliant. > > To be honest, I couldn't give a monkeys about credit from fans of lesser > teams or know-nothing journos. We've never had any, anyway. > > MOT > > ________________________________ > From: Leedslist <[email protected]> on behalf of Matt Anderson > <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, 14 October 2019 11:53 PM > To: Andy Brown <[email protected]> > Cc: Leeds List <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LU] Times Article > > I think I would still rather be shit than have Qatari investment. No one > gives Man City any credit for where they are. > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On 14 Oct 2019, at 16:46, Andy Brown <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> IZZANI INTERVIEW >> Andrea Radrizzani: New Qatar investor ‘can get Leeds up to level of Man City’ >> >> Andrea Radrizzani tells Martyn Ziegler that he is considering three offers >> for stake in club >> >> Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter >> October 14 2019, 12:01am, The Times >> >> Radrizzani insists that whatever happens at Leeds he wants to remain involved >> DANIEL HAMBURY/PA >> Share >> Save >> >> Leeds United celebrate 100 years of existence this week and at this pivotal >> moment their owner has revealed he is considering an offer from Qatar to >> take the club to a level where they could “compete with Manchester City”. >> >> The biggest sleeping giant in English football has already stirred. If >> Andrea Radrizzani, their owner, goes through with the sale of a stake in the >> club to Qatari Sports Investment (QSI) or two other rich investors then it >> could be time to write a new chapter in the giant’s fairytale. >> >> “I’m giving you more information than I ever gave to anyone,” says >> Radrizzani, over coffee in a Leeds hotel. The Italian says he views himself >> as a custodian of the club, and that bringing in a big investor would help >> to achieve his vision of taking Leeds to the very top of the beanstalk. >> >> Qatar looks to be in pole position — QSI is run by Nasser al-Khelaifi, the >> president of Paris Saint-Germain, and a close friend from when Radrizzani’s >> previous firm, MP & Silva, was selling football TV rights and Khelaifi was >> buying them for beIN Sport. He will not reveal the identities of the other >> two under consideration, other than to say that one is a hugely wealthy >> Leeds fan based in the United States and the other the owner of an >> unidentified Italian club. >> >> “I have been approached by more than 20 parties and I have selected these >> three,” Radrizzani says. >> >> >> “The option of Qatar Sports Investment and Nasser — first of all they are >> friends, we have had a good relationship for a long time. Secondly, they >> have the possibility to bring this club to compete with Manchester City, so >> for the fans that could be a fantastic opportunity. >> >> “The second is based in America, he’s a big fan of Leeds United since he was >> a child, and I like that. >> >> “Another one is the owner of an Italian club. With another club you can >> create synergy to be more competitive and to target the Premier League — we >> could maybe get a loan to increase the quality of the team.” >> >> Radrizzani, who bought Leeds in instalments of £20 million in December 2016 >> and £25 million in May 2017, does not rule out selling a majority stake but >> insists that whatever happens he wants to remain involved. >> >> “The most important thing for me is to make this club big again,” he says. >> “When I will open the door to others I don’t know, hopefully when we are in >> the Premier League. The financial support would be more important in the >> Premier League. >> >> “When it will be done, it doesn’t matter which share [I have], it matters >> that I can continue my project and also have the support to build this club >> back again. >> >> >> Radrizzani said Bielsa’s rigorous methods were just what were needed to sort >> Leeds out >> ARRON GENT/JMP/REX >> “L’appetito vien mangiando, as we say in Italy — appetite comes while you >> are eating. I don’t need to sell but it is important to listen because I >> always remember I am a custodian of the club. If it was my own business I >> would treat it a bit differently.” >> >> Many figures from Leeds’s past, including from the glory days of the 1970s, >> will be invited back to Elland Road to celebrate the centenary on Saturday, >> when Birmingham City visit. Talk of the 1970s prompts Radrizzani to say >> “Dirty Leeds!” before adding: “We try to clean up the image of the club and >> I think that’s the right approach for the next generation. At the same time >> we need to keep the graft and passion of that team.” >> >> There have been mighty changes at Leeds in the 2½ years since he took full >> control. He bought the stadium back in 2017, 13 years after it had been sold >> to reduce debt, and the next step is a new training base and academy, a >> stone’s throw from Elland Road. In 2017, there were only two academy players >> playing for national teams at youth level; now there are 14. >> >> Appointing Marcelo Bielsa, the talismanic Argentine manager — and persuading >> him to stay after promotion proved elusive — was also a declaration of >> intent. >> >> Radrizzani is open about the financial implications, saying: “It is very >> expensive, I invested over £90 million — with this level of money you could >> own a Europa League club in most of the European leagues, including Italy. >> >> “The club makes losses, in this league it is impossible not to. We are still >> paying the consequences of my first year because I was inexperienced and we >> made some expensive mistakes with players. >> >> “But we haven’t stopped investing. Bielsa and his staff cost £6 million [a >> year], we bought many other players and I think we have a squad to be >> promoted. It’s financially not sustainable to keep this level of salary >> which is now over £30 million, probably £33 million with Marcelo and closer >> to £40 million with the coaches.” >> >> To get Bielsa, 64, was a coup — he is vastly experienced, including lengthy >> spells in charge of the Argentina and Chile national teams. His rigorous >> coaching methods, says Radrizzani, were just what were needed to sort Leeds >> out. >> >> >> After starting the season unbeaten in seven matches, Leeds wobbled going >> into the international break with defeats away to Millwall and Charlton >> Athletic on successive Saturdays, but they remain just two points off top >> spot. >> >> “We needed to set a culture of work ethic, when I arrived we were living in >> mediocrity,” Radrizzani added. “Finding a man like him [Bielsa], who some >> people might say is fixed in the methodology of 20 years ago, was needed. He >> was fascinated by the challenge, as I was.” >> >> Radrizzani has been a fierce critic of the Football League for allowing >> owners of other Championship clubs to buy their own stadiums via another >> company to get past financial fair play [FFP] rules, and he reveals that he >> was approached by Middlesbrough to take part in their legal action against >> the league on the issue. >> >> “The rules were not written in a way to avoid a conflict of interest and to >> shortcut FFP — 100 per cent it should change, it needs to be clear for the >> future,” he says. “Middlesbrough approached us to sue about the other clubs. >> In principle I agreed with them but decided not to do it because I wanted to >> focus on the football.” >> >> Instead, it was Leeds who found themselves in breach of rules last season >> over the Spygate scandal, which led to a £200,000 fine after Bielsa sent an >> employee to watch Derby County training. That is now in the past, says >> Radrizzani, and has brought Leeds closer together. “We have a lot of haters, >> and that was a great occasion to come against us. It made us stronger and we >> are very proud to have haters.” >> >> As to Leeds being a sleeping giant, Radrizzani says the slumber is over: >> “He’s awake. Now he has to make more noise.” >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On 14 Oct 2019, at 16:13, Tim Leslie <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Just followed a tweet about a Times interview with AR claiming he has three >>> offers on the table for a stake in the club, including a (The originally >>> muted?) Qatar one that "Could transform us into the next Man City" - It's a >>> subscription service (Which I don't have) Anyone read it? Got a copy? >>> >>> Ta >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leedslist mailing list >>> Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist >>> To unsubscribe, email [email protected] >>> >>> Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ >>> >>> RIP Jimmy WAC-COE >> _______________________________________________ >> Leedslist mailing list >> Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist >> To unsubscribe, email [email protected] >> >> Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ >> >> RIP Jimmy WAC-COE > > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ > > RIP Jimmy WAC-COE > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ > > RIP Jimmy WAC-COE > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ > > RIP Jimmy WAC-COE _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ RIP Jimmy WAC-COE
