Any news from the meeting???

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Probably concentrating on their other businesses as usual.

Maybe you should write another 'emergency blog'.....

I'm sure Si will provide you with some more material before too much longer.

---

:hehe: Have you two had a fall out, or have you had a shit summer?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by North Cardiff Blue

Like I said from day one, there are speculative investors looking to try and buy the club on the cheap because they think Tan is vulnerable and can't risk a promotion bid to increase the price and sell in the Championship or Premier League. He may consider it in a few months if it goes tits up and we look like having no chance of promotion and he decides to cut his losses, although I think unlikely he will want to get as much back as he can and reduce the loss he's made.

---

It seems like nobody understands the question I was asking. If we accept there’s nothing to the bids to take up their time, what have they been doing? Where’s the “root and branch” review into the running of the club?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

It seems like nobody understands the question I was asking. If we accept there’s nothing to the bids to take up their time, what have they been doing? Where’s the “root and branch” review into the running of the club?

---

They appointed the Manager, and not much has happened since. If you believe the Manager, there has been some work on bringing in four quality players to add to the squad. Trott is one, and another one or two are close.

So not a lot really.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

It seems like nobody understands the question I was asking. If we accept there’s nothing to the bids to take up their time, what have they been doing? Where’s the “root and branch” review into the running of the club?

---

When the club said there would be a root and branch review after relegation the implication was that it would happen over the summer.

If Dalman is to be believed, he sees himself as the leader/driver of that review - and for 'personal reasons' he has been out of the picture over the summer. I have no confidence in any review worthy of the name ever happening under this regime, if for no other reason than the one Dalman always throws out that all roads lead to Tan.

Tan used to make decisions, but for at least the last 18 months every single important decision (especially manager dismissals and appointments) has been slow, delayed, postponed and avoided. There is a paralysis at the heart and the top of the club, made worse by an absentee Chair, an absentee Chief Executive, and a board mainly made up of people with no idea how to run a football club and little or no connection to Cardiff.

I suppose something that will be called a review might appear sometime this season (signed off by Dalman) and I suppose some proposals might be put to Tan. Then expect total silence as the dust gathers.

The didn’t have time to do the review for “personal reasons” line sounds like a phoning a sicky on a Monday morning after being on the piss all weekend kind of excuse to me.

I remember being in a house party once and a lad phoned his boss at 6am to say he wouldn’t be in work that morning as he’s got some personal issues. When his boss asked what was the issue he told him “None of your business, it’s personal” :hehe:

Doubt he had a job to go back to on Tuesday.

Some people want news for the sake of news.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I don't think that's what he said.

If the BBC report is accurate, Dalman said there have been a number of informal approaches, but only one they are taking seriously.

He also said there have been no concrete bids.

I don't think that's contradictory.

I find it interesting that some fans seemingly don't want to believe the chairman of the club when he says there have been no formal bids from this alleged South African consortium, but they apparently do want to believe the 'in-the-know' podcasters and message board posters.

I have two questions:

1) Why would Dalman state so clearly that all of this takeoever talk has been nonsense if it wasn't? What does he have to gain by saying such things?

2) Why haven't this alleged South African consortium made a single public pronouncement on the subject?

---

In answer to 2] I would suggest that's normal business practice. With regard to 1] I'm pretty certain all this takeover nonsense is genuinely based on fact - it's not just message board talk, it's the local media who have been reporting it, and the one thing you can say about our local media is that when it comes to Cardiff City they're pretty conservative in making bold statements. Dalman's statement has a strong whiff of petulance and sarcasm. God knows why, it's probably the 1st time we've heard from him or any of the rest of the gang since relegation, and as TOBW says, what the hell have they been going all summer ? He's a liar.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Get you, what brought that on?

---

I thought your 'emergency' blog post of 21st July - the one where you were blowing smoke up Si's backside and endorsing his mind-numbing podcast - was laughable, and a little embarrassing for a writer of your considerable calibre.

Now that most of the so-called information from his 'exquisite' sources have been demonstrated to be bollocks (as Keith had previously suggested on this message board), perhaps you should pen a retraction of some sort?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by A Quiet Monkfish

In answer to 2] I would suggest that's normal business practice. With regard to 1] I'm pretty certain all this takeover nonsense is genuinely based on fact - it's not just message board talk, it's the local media who have been reporting it, and the one thing you can say about our local media is that when it comes to Cardiff City they're pretty conservative in making bold statements. Dalman's statement has a strong whiff of petulance and sarcasm. God knows why, it's probably the 1st time we've heard from him or any of the rest of the gang since relegation, and as TOBW says, what the hell have they been going all summer ? He's a liar.

---

The local media (ie: Walesonline) have mostly copied stuff in relation to the alleged South African bid from social media. That's what they do these days. The quality of their journalism is dreadful.

To my knowledge, there have been no reports about this alleged bid on the BBC website. That speaks volumes.

So, you think Dalman's a liar with regard to this story. My question remains: what would he possibly have to gain by stating there hasn't been a bid if there has, and why deny these alleged meetings have taken place if they have?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I thought your 'emergency' blog post of 21st July - the one where you were blowing smoke up Si's backside and endorsing his mind-numbing podcast - was laughable, and a little embarrassing for a writer of your considerable calibre.

Now that most of the so-called information from his 'exquisite' sources have been demonstrated to be bollocks (as Keith had previously suggested on this message board), perhaps you should pen a retraction of some sort?

---

No, I won’t be doing that. I will be interested in how some of those, including Si, who were at the forefront of spreading the takeover speculation respond to yesterday’s meeting though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

No, I won’t be doing that. I will be interested in how some of those, including Si, who were at the forefront of spreading the takeover speculation respond to yesterday’s meeting though.

---

Unfortunately, you can include yourself in that particular bracket as you were highlighting his podcast and endorsing it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jon1959

When the club said there would be a root and branch review after relegation the implication was that it would happen over the summer.

If Dalman is to be believed, he sees himself as the leader/driver of that review - and for 'personal reasons' he has been out of the picture over the summer. I have no confidence in any review worthy of the name ever happening under this regime, if for no other reason than the one Dalman always throws out that all roads lead to Tan.

Tan used to make decisions, but for at least the last 18 months every single important decision (especially manager dismissals and appointments) has been slow, delayed, postponed and avoided. There is a paralysis at the heart and the top of the club, made worse by an absentee Chair, an absentee Chief Executive, and a board mainly made up of people with no idea how to run a football club and little or no connection to Cardiff.

I suppose something that will be called a review might appear sometime this season (signed off by Dalman) and I suppose some proposals might be put to Tan. Then expect total silence as the dust gathers.

---

Let’s say that Mehmet Dalman’s “personal reasons” were genuine ones that made him unavailable for most of the summer, you would have thought that at most clubs in the EFL there would have been one or two others, at least, in place with the expertise needed to carry out the review with the ability to keep the club Chairman aware of how it was going.

At Vincent Tan’s Cardiff City though, I’d have to reluctantly accept that there probably wasn’t anyone else with the requisite knowledge to make the review thorough enough to reach the level needed to make it worthwhile. That tells you exactly why such a review is needed sooner rather than later at City.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Unfortunately, you can include yourself in that particular bracket as you were highlighting his podcast and endorsing it.

---

I think you need to take a step back, as I probably needed to about a fortnight ago. Do you really think this is a purely black and white matter which the club have now put to bed because of what Mehmet Dalman said yesterday? There’s plenty of room for grey areas in between what’s being claimed on either side and that’s where the truth probably lies.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

I think you need to take a step back, as I probably needed to about a fortnight ago. Do you really think this is a purely black and white matter which the club have now put to bed because of what Mehmet Dalman said yesterday? There’s plenty of room for grey areas in between what’s being claimed on either side and that’s where the truth probably lies.

---

I believed at the time and still believe now that much of what was being claimed on those podcasts and on the message boards regarding this alleged South African bid was fanciful rubbish. I can't understand why anyone with any intelligence who has followed this club for any length of time and knows some of the personalities who were wilfully spreading these rumours would take them seriously. I think those who swallowed it hook, line and sinker caught a cold and are now licking their wounds to some degree.

You would think with any review of the club they could have done what they apparently did with the manager selection process - bring in outside and impartial parties

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

Here's the Trust's summary (also mentions the structural review, training ground and new signings):

Meeting with Cardiff City FC Chair Mehmet Dalman 2 August, 2025

Representatives of the SupportersÂ’ Trust together with those of the SupportersÂ’ Club, Disabled SupportersÂ’ Association and Fans Advisory Board (FAB) plus members of the Travel Group were invited to meeting prior to kick off by Mehmet Dalman. Also in attendance were Steve Borley and heads of department from the club together with Chris Nott, the clubÂ’s legal advisor.

This report of the meeting has been agreed by the four supporters groups recognised by the club.

The first topic discussed was the question of a takeover of the club. Mehmet Dalman stated that

There have been NO formal bids received and those approaches that have been made were not considered to be worthy of discussion at board level. He described the approaches as people trying to get the club on the cheap and the rumours as a deliberate attempt to undermine the valuation of the club.
There have been NO visits to the stadium by interested parties
He has NOT been visited at his home in Monaco by interested parties
Vincent Tan has NOT been visited in Malaysia by interested parties
The EFL has confirmed that there have been NO approaches to them regarding a potential takeover
There have been NO meetings with the FAW and Cardiff Council to discuss a potential takeover
All the recent claims relating to the above made on message boards and social media are FICTITIOUS.

In respect of the ClubÂ’s undertaking to review the way the club is run. Fans present expressed their disappointment that there was no apparent progress on this issue. The question was raised about the appointment of a Director of Football. Mehmet Dalman said that such an appointment would always be problematical in the context of one majority shareholder but the question would be considered as part of the review. He also said that the review had been delayed somewhat as his time at the club in recent months had been limited for personal reasons. However, he is now able to commit far more time to the club.

When questioned, Director Steve Borley stated that the development of the major new training ground in the Vale is likely to put in hold for a year. However, discussions have taken place with the FAW to extend the current lease at the Vale.

Chris Nott was asked about progress in the Sala legal case. Additional documentation has been recovered from Willie McKay and will be submitted to the court in the coming week. He stated that both he andthe French lawyers remain confident that the club will be successful.

In terms of incoming players, it was stated by both the Chair and the Finance Director that funds are available to support the manager in his search for new players. Negotiations to bring in the Head CoachÂ’s targets are underway.

Cardiff City SupportersÂ’ Trust

Cardiff City Supporters Club

Disabled Supporters Association

Fans Advisory Board (FAB)

---

I like the big NO and NOT in capital letters finished of by FICTITIOUS, That's the poison arrow straight to the bullshitter and is mods hearts :hehe::hehe:

I suppose it's no surprise that, for the first game of the season in a new league, our permanently absent and otherwise employed Chief Executive, Ken Choo, was not even at the game let alone the meeting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hilts

So in short more utter bollox spouted elsewhere.

I wonder where that poster is who said hes never looking on here again after it was suggested that " The Interview" and an imminent takeover was likely rubbish.😂

---

Classic, Egg all over his face, but there were lots on the other board who got fooled and sucked in. There still seems a few left who don't seem to accept the statement , maybe the few are made-up accounts

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

No, I won’t be doing that. I will be interested in how some of those, including Si, who were at the forefront of spreading the takeover speculation respond to yesterday’s meeting though.

---

Who is Si? I have looked at his things, just seems like a bloke playing with his hair talking ifs & ands & pots & pans. Whoever the wind up merchant is who’s feeding him and others the fanciful information must be pissing themselves laughing at the sombre, seriousness with which they project ‘the truth’.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I don't think that's what he said.

If the BBC report is accurate, Dalman said there have been a number of informal approaches, but only one they are taking seriously.

He also said there have been no concrete bids.

I don't think that's contradictory.

I find it interesting that some fans seemingly don't want to believe the chairman of the club when he says there have been no formal bids from this alleged South African consortium, but they apparently do want to believe the 'in-the-know' podcasters and message board posters.

I have two questions:

1) Why would Dalman state so clearly that all of this takeoever talk has been nonsense if it wasn't? What does he have to gain by saying such things?

2) Why haven't this alleged South African consortium made a single public pronouncement on the subject?

---

Those Podcast , They're going to haunt them for the rest of their lives

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

The local media (ie: Walesonline) have mostly copied stuff in relation to the alleged South African bid from social media. That's what they do these days. The quality of their journalism is dreadful.

To my knowledge, there have been no reports about this alleged bid on the BBC website. That speaks volumes.

So, you think Dalman's a liar with regard to this story. My question remains: what would he possibly have to gain by stating there hasn't been a bid if there has, and why deny these alleged meetings have taken place if they have?

---

Dalman has pretty much confirmed there has been a 'bid' -

Dalman admitted there had been informal approaches from potential suitors – only one, unnamed, which they are taking "seriously" – but said club owner Vincent Tan was not interested in selling

"There is an attempt by a number of groups to try to buy this club on the cheap so they're pulling these stories out. We just need to kill them [the stories].

Former Wales and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has publicly stated that a consortium he is fronting has made offers to buy the Bluebirds,

When is a bid not a bid ? When is an offer not an offer ? How has Gary Otto's name appeared all over the place, surely he would have denied it a long time ago considering he was involved in another EFL club at the time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by A Quiet Monkfish

Dalman has pretty much confirmed there has been a 'bid' -

Dalman admitted there had been informal approaches from potential suitors – only one, unnamed, which they are taking "seriously" – but said club owner Vincent Tan was not interested in selling

"There is an attempt by a number of groups to try to buy this club on the cheap so they're pulling these stories out. We just need to kill them [the stories].

Former Wales and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has publicly stated that a consortium he is fronting has made offers to buy the Bluebirds,

When is a bid not a bid ? When is an offer not an offer ? How has Gary Otto's name appeared all over the place, surely he would have denied it a long time ago considering he was involved in another EFL club at the time.

---

A bid isn't a bid when it's an EOI. You're not going into a shop to purchase something that's on sale, you're making enquiries about a business that might be for sale and asking if there's prices the owner might consider acceptable. That's a long long way from a bid!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by A Quiet Monkfish

Dalman has pretty much confirmed there has been a 'bid’…

---

Dalman has stated emphatically there has been no formal bid. I’m not sure what’s difficult to understand about that assertion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Dalman has stated emphatically there has been no formal bid. I’m not sure what’s difficult to understand about that assertion.

---

What a shame to see one long-standing poster on this board having such a personal go at another one, somebody who has been an optimistic Cardiff City supporter for years, and has put many hours into match reports and attempts to set out what he understands to be the club's position.

It's easy to verbally attack somebody.

I expect TLG was just say he was asking questions. That's what he does. He never gives any answers of his own.

Keep it up, TOBW.

:ayatollah:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rich munn

I expect TLG was just say he was asking questions. That's what he does. He never gives any answers of his own.

---

That’s a new one. What question would you like me to answer, Richard? Fire away…

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

That’s a new one. What question would you like me to answer, Richard? Fire away…

---

How optimistic are you for the coming season?

Did you see anything encouraging in yesterday's performance?

:hehe::hehe:

:ayatollah:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wayne

Those Podcast , They're going to haunt them for the rest of their lives

---

Really? The people who spread baseless gossip make money out of it. They rely on gullible believers who want to be early adopters of itk to spread the word. After that its a milking machine because no-one wants to admit that they were duped. So you end up showing loyalty t the cascade that duped you in the first place because it is easier than accepting you've been suckered.

Rinse and repeat!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

Dalman has stated emphatically there has been no formal bid. I’m not sure what’s difficult to understand about that assertion.

---

I'm not really sure what Dalman's statement was designed to do. He seems genuinely angry that 1] two or three parties have declared an interest in buying the club - he admits there has been 'dialogue', and 2],he seems equally angry about the 'rumours' circulating, presumably on message boards and possibly in the media. What an absolute tw*t. The vacuum that is Cardiff City was bound to generate 'noise' when there's a deafening silence from the club for months on end.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rich munn

It's easy to verbally attack somebody.
:

---

I’m not a fan of TLG but this beauty of a statement coming from you is ****ing hilarious.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by A Quiet Monkfish

I'm not really sure what Dalman's statement was designed to do. He seems genuinely angry that 1] two or three parties have declared an interest in buying the club - he admits there has been 'dialogue', and 2],he seems equally angry about the 'rumours' circulating, presumably on message boards and possibly in the media. What an absolute tw*t. The vacuum that is Cardiff City was bound to generate 'noise' when there's a deafening silence from the club for months on end.

---

HereÂ’s my take.


If someone knocked on your door and asked you to sell your house for a 1/5 or less of what you thought it was worth told all your neighbours who donÂ’t particularly like you for some reason that theyÂ’ve given a great offer to get you gone.

Then said neighbours are clamouring for news when youÂ’re going and quite vocal about making sure itÂ’s accepted.

WouldnÂ’t you be at least the slightest bit pissed even if you did want to go?

Of course IÂ’m guessing but I donÂ’t think itÂ’s far off the mark.

I remember the days of the winding up orders. IÂ’m thankful for everything that the owner has done. Others want their cake and eat it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WJ99mobile

HereÂ’s my take.


If someone knocked on your door and asked you to sell your house for a 1/5 or less of what you thought it was worth told all your neighbours who donÂ’t particularly like you for some reason that theyÂ’ve given a great offer to get you gone.

Then said neighbours are clamouring for news when youÂ’re going and quite vocal about making sure itÂ’s accepted.

WouldnÂ’t you be at least the slightest bit pissed even if you did want to go?

Of course IÂ’m guessing but I donÂ’t think itÂ’s far off the mark.

I remember the days of the winding up orders. IÂ’m thankful for everything that the owner has done. Others want their cake and eat it.

---

You’re grateful for the owner who made this club one of ridicule in the entire football league by changing the colour of the home kit dividing the fan base and after 15 years and £150mio debt now sees us in a league lower than when he took over?

A Quiet Monkfish is right in that because there was so little communication from the club on a new manager or retained list or any speculation on incomings and outgoings that a vacuum of noise was created so that people could stick out these nonsensical claims about knowing intimate details of offers for the club and they gained traction.

I can understand Dalman’s annoyance but the club didn’t help itself with so little communication.

Your analogy above doesn’t work as this is a unique business case where communicating with your customer base is fundamentally quite important !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WJ99mobile

I remember the days of the winding up orders. IÂ’m thankful for everything that the owner has done. Others want their cake and eat it.

---

Tan has taken us down, we've changed kits, alienated the fanbase, are in hundreds of millions of debt and have the lowest attendances since the early 00s. Jesus Christ, what will it take :hehe:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J R Hartley

I’m not a fan of TLG but this beauty of a statement coming from you is ****ing hilarious.

---

:hehe::hehe:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by splott parker

Who is Si? I have looked at his things, just seems like a bloke playing with his hair talking ifs & ands & pots & pans. Whoever the wind up merchant is who’s feeding him and others the fanciful information must be pissing themselves laughing at the sombre, seriousness with which they project ‘the truth’.

---

Well, I would say that what Si and Tony Rivers have been saying is quite a bit different from what Steve Day and he who we cannot name on here have been claiming. For example, Si has denied the claims regarding meetings with the likes of the EFL, FAW and local Council etc.

I believe that it’s possible for, say, informal talks to have taken place in the first half of this year between the club and the consortium that they do not seem to be dismissing out of hand without it reaching the stage where a proper bid was submitted - something like that would enable both sides to claim their version of events was not false. Our relegation would also have a big effect on things if, as has been claimed, the Otto group first made contact with City around Christmas last year because the value of the club would have dropped pretty substantially since then.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

:hehe:

That's pretty definitive.

Hopefully, this will be a lesson for those who take as gospel the word of those self-appointed 'in-the-know' experts on their podcasts.

---

i don't have a podcast. :biggrin:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J R Hartley

I expect the lemmings on his forum to blow smoke up his arse but I’m surprised so many on this forum seem to be buying into his bullshit and that of Si on the podcasts. He’s another Adam Brown that fella.

---

This whole takeover has pushed Si ( who I find the most depressing podcaster ever ) right into Cardiff fame, when he says " my contacts have told me " and quoting terms of the takeover etc etc, its laughable Im guess Adam Brown is Brownie , honestly, very similar with the amount of " expert crap " they spout

you are right, people on here who normally know better have jumped on it hook line and sinker

Funny looking at all the back peddling though. Now it's been a while and I'd forgotten how informative it was reading "proper " info by TLG, TOBW plus some others, keep it going please.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blue matt

This whole takeover has pushed Si ( who I find the most depressing podcaster ever ) right into Cardiff fame, when he says " my contacts have told me " and quoting terms of the takeover etc etc, its laughable Im guess Adam Brown is Brownie , honestly, very similar with the amount of " expert crap " they spout

you are right, people on here who normally know better have jumped on it hook line and sinker

---

It was Si and the others who stretched the story, exaggerating the level of interest in the club to chase a big scoop. That’s what stirred everything up and led to the club making the announcement we already expected. There are a few parties trying to snap up the club on the cheap after the relegation, but Tan isn’t entertaining any of it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blue matt

This whole takeover has pushed Si ( who I find the most depressing podcaster ever ) right into Cardiff fame, when he says " my contacts have told me " and quoting terms of the takeover etc etc, its laughable Im guess Adam Brown is Brownie , honestly, very similar with the amount of " expert crap " they spout

you are right, people on here who normally know better have jumped on it hook line and sinker

---

His tactical analysis is so funny, but I think it's supposed to be a serious piece?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rich munn

How optimistic are you for the coming season?

Did you see anything encouraging in yesterday's performance?

---

As regards the new season, as I posted in the predictions thread on 30/07:

When last season ended I was reasonably confident that City would have a good campaign this time around provided the right kind of reinforcements were brought in, as League One is definitely a fair bit weaker than the Championship. I didn't think we needed anything particularly spectacular in terms of new signings, but it was blatantly obvious we need a lot more steel in the side and some genuine on-field leaders throughout the team.

As it stands, we have the same players who were relegated with a whimper last season, and we've lost Goutas, O'Dowda and Rinomhota. None of those players were great by Championship standards, but they would undoubtedly have been useful in League One. If they'd been replaced adequately then no worries, but they haven't been replaced at all.

I'm genuinely amazed the club hasn't signed anyone yet. On the whole, this lot lacked backbone and leadership throughout last season. League One is a considerable drop in standard, no doubt about that, but has the current squad got the necessary qualities to battle their way to promotion? I'd say that's extremely doubtful.

As regards Saturday's performance, as I posted yesterday in the Man of the Match thread:

There were some very encouraging performances and it was an enjoyable game to watch, but I have a feeling that Peterborough at home was an ideal fixture for a young and somewhat experimental City side to begin with and there will be much stiffer tests to come.

I would add the following to those observations:

There are undoubtedly some very promising young players with a good deal of natural ability in the squad now, but if the club doesn't bring in any experienced, battle-hardened on-field and dressing room leaders, I fear the season could be a wasted opportunity to bounce straight back to the Championship.