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Administrator receives 19 inquiries about buying Southampton Football Club (From This is Hampshire)
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Administrator receives 19 inquiries about buying Southampton Football Club
1:20pm Saturday 4th April 2009
inquiries AN incredible 19 different approaches were made to administrators of Saints’ parent firm about buying the company, the Daily Echo can reveal.
At least two are known to be from serious potential buyers, leading administrators to be optimistic about securing the club’s future.
None of the possible buyers has been identified, but a huge range of local businessmen and figures connected with Saints have been tipped as possible purchasers.
If a buyer is not found within the month, the club could be shut down.
Since the Daily Echo broke the story on Wednesday, administrators called in to tackle a £30m debt mountain have had a lengthy queue of interested inquiries from well-heeled fans.
The club could also now appeal to football investors. Creditors such as Norwich Union, which is owed £24m on the loan on the ground, are understood to be keen to cut their losses, meaning St Mary’s might be available for a fraction of the debt. It means a new owner could have a debt free club complete with a Premiership standard ground for a sum dwarfed by the £50m valuation attached to Saints just a couple of seasons ago.
Administrator Mark Fry said: “There have been 19 inquiries now but to say how many of them are serious is difficult. But at least two are serious, so that’s encouraging and there may be more than two. It’s difficult to be sure at this stage.”
One approach that is a matter of public record was before the administration had even officially begun. Former chairman Rupert Lowe was at St Mary’s on Thursday as an 11th hour deal to buy the club and keep it out of administration was being brokered on Wednesday. In the end the people concerned could not provide proof of funds in time and administration was officially confirmed
Don't miss the special "Save Our Saints" poster which comes with every copy of the Daily Echo bought outside St. Mary's Stadium today.
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Your Say YourHampshire
suttonsaint, Cheam says...
10:35am Sat 4 Apr 09
If it was to happen and we are saved, the club MUST learn from their mistakes.
IF on Tuesday we have ten points taken away... so what? The main focus must be the saving of 57 years of my life. The club comes first, relegation would not be a total disaster because we really would make St Marys a place where we scared the hell out of Division 1 and bounced straight back.
Good luck this afternoon, COYR.
Ciaran, Southampton says...
10:44am Sat 4 Apr 09
goard, Southampton says...
11:06am Sat 4 Apr 09
camac
RAndyVee, says...
11:06am Sat 4 Apr 09
neworder wrote:Not all of us can read loads of websites and fora, and so rely on local papers to do the job of consolidating key points from multiple sources. It's what they do, and it's why I value them and read them both on line and in print.
"The Echo can reveal" lol ! i.e. Gareth Lewis has just woken up and trawled a few websites to "reveal" what has been discussed for the last few hours ! Saints forum had this hours ago ! It must be easy being a local hack. I know you are going to delete this but still 100s will stil read it.
milton road, cambridge says...
11:08am Sat 4 Apr 09
A year ago the club was worth 40 million now if cretitors are prepared to cut their loses it could be well under twenty million. With the two grounds and the farm the parent club could well worth buying. Remember whilst these are difficult times many shrewd business men switch their finances and actually hold steady or make money by switching funds. There is money for a good deal and at that price this is a good sensible investment that will possibly double in four to five years.
RNsaint, Totton says...
11:28am Sat 4 Apr 09
midcheshire saint, Northwich says...
11:49am Sat 4 Apr 09
COYR
Fides, Southampton says...
11:50am Sat 4 Apr 09
RNsaint wrote:I'm glad we've got a fresh start too. Would be nice to hear the fans get behind the manager as well as the team today.
19 enquires,Only 2 which are good and solid.Where have these people been for the last few years.Southampton FC is a potential goldmine for anyone who is willing to save our beloved team now those other two have buggered off,Good ridance.I am sure that they have been skimming off of our club to save there other financial interests and this has got us it to this unbelievable position.Today is a bright sunny day,Good attendance this afternoon and fans who must now unite to show what a fantastic club this is.I as always will be there biting my finger nails to the stump.COYR.
Don't forget the laws of libel extend to the blogosphere and whatever you think of the previous board accusing them of theft and corruption isn't the brightest thing I've seen on this board. Still they've never read these posts before so hopefully they aren't now.
Stafford Saint, Southampton says...
11:55am Sat 4 Apr 09
Where was everybody in the winter!
I hope that this goodwill in the wider fanbase is for the long term. The banks & administrators will be looking to predict our future business. The mortgage is under review but there are factors in play. How many fans will we have on a cold midweek evening in 9 months when all the big earning players have gone and it is youth football? We need to convey to these people that hold our club's fate that we will be more supportive than we have been. (That is putting aside the whys & wherefors, I think it is fair to say we have not been fully supportive to date.) That is not easy to convey.
RNsaint, Totton says...
11:57am Sat 4 Apr 09
Never listen to fans before so why should the selfish sods start now.The future is bright the future is RED AND WHITE..
Reality-man, Southampton says...
12:22pm Sat 4 Apr 09
Dazzz, Southampton says...
12:24pm Sat 4 Apr 09
RNsaint wrote:One of them was interested a while back, i understand that they were put off because a certain "wupes" would only sell his shares and his proxied shares at a premium thus overvaluing the club
19 enquires,Only 2 which are good and solid.Where have these people been for the last few years.Southampton FC is a potential goldmine for anyone who is willing to save our beloved team now those other two have buggered off,Good ridance.I am sure that they have been skimming off of our club to save there other financial interests and this has got us it to this unbelievable position.Today is a bright sunny day,Good attendance this afternoon and fans who must now unite to show what a fantastic club this is.I as always will be there biting my finger nails to the stump.COYR.
Stafford Saint, Southampton says...
12:33pm Sat 4 Apr 09
goard, Southampton says...
12:49pm Sat 4 Apr 09
camac
Tobeblunt, Southampton says...
1:45pm Sat 4 Apr 09
SaintPaul, says...
1:52pm Sat 4 Apr 09
SF76, says...
2:53pm Sat 4 Apr 09
freemantlegirl2, Southampton says...
3:14pm Sat 4 Apr 09
Traceyf, Southampton says...
3:18pm Sat 4 Apr 09
RNsaint wrote:Administration allows for debt to be restructured, can make a company in such trouble as Saints to be come attractive to potential buyers.
19 enquires,Only 2 which are good and solid.Where have these people been for the last few years.Southampton FC is a potential goldmine for anyone who is willing to save our beloved team now those other two have buggered off,Good ridance.I am sure that they have been skimming off of our club to save there other financial interests and this has got us it to this unbelievable position.Today is a bright sunny day,Good attendance this afternoon and fans who must now unite to show what a fantastic club this is.I as always will be there biting my finger nails to the stump.COYR.
voiceof thepeople, Bitterne says...
5:13pm Sat 4 Apr 09
RNsaint wrote:"Potential Golmine" the only connection with that is "Going Down"
19 enquires,Only 2 which are good and solid.Where have these people been for the last few years.Southampton FC is a potential goldmine for anyone who is willing to save our beloved team now those other two have buggered off,Good ridance.I am sure that they have been skimming off of our club to save there other financial interests and this has got us it to this unbelievable position.Today is a bright sunny day,Good attendance this afternoon and fans who must now unite to show what a fantastic club this is.I as always will be there biting my finger nails to the stump.COYR.
Ian24, Sholing says...
6:49pm Sat 4 Apr 09
I wonder how many of these 19 see the stadium as beeing useful for football over other uses they may have in mind?
TottonScrutineer, Totton says...
7:01pm Sat 4 Apr 09
RNsaint wrote:Quite right if Lowe and Wilde could not get investors how can we expect the Administrators to to so in 4weeks.Less than 20 million is still alot of dosh when there is a credit crunch.Where did the 19 come from obviously not the administrators imagination or he this his way of making a few come out of the woodwork.Let's hope it works but I'm not at all hopefull
19 enquires,Only 2 which are good and solid.Where have these people been for the last few years.Southampton FC is a potential goldmine for anyone who is willing to save our beloved team now those other two have buggered off,Good ridance.I am sure that they have been skimming off of our club to save there other financial interests and this has got us it to this unbelievable position.Today is a bright sunny day,Good attendance this afternoon and fans who must now unite to show what a fantastic club this is.I as always will be there biting my finger nails to the stump.COYR.
jaspm7, Totton says...
8:56pm Sat 4 Apr 09
Reality-man, Southampton says...
10:05pm Sat 4 Apr 09
jaspm7 wrote:Why are you laughing at your mum?
HA HA HA HO HO HO HA HA HA HO HO HO HA HA HA HO HO HO
jaspm7, Totton says...
10:12pm Sat 4 Apr 09
There are 2 types of people in football
MANIPULATORS AND MANIPULATED
While you lot are gnashing your teeth over a life-changing ordeal, the players, directors and other MANIPULATORS are doing very well thank you.
melsm57, burlington, ontario says...
2:11am Sun 5 Apr 09
pitbull, norwich says...
7:56am Sun 5 Apr 09
Can you imagine the comments if RL had bought the club for himself.Perhaps thats why he was chairman of the PLC and he put MW as chairman of the club,possibly a legal loophole to clear the way for RL to own the club outright.
Lets just hope there's a better offer from another party.Doesn't bear thinking about
Saint Rob, Southampton, Freemantle says...
1:23pm Mon 6 Apr 09
Nineteen inquiries to buy the Saints
Mark Fry
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neworder, says...
10:34am Sat 4 Apr 09