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Bit of a Chat GPT copy and paste but with our current structure, at least there is a head where decisions can be attributed to whether you like them or not, and a point of protest.
There are load of positive examples where it has worked well, but a faceless consortium can not always work positively.
I have more faith with Gareth Bale but that itself is blind optimism
⸻🏴 Portsmouth (2009–2010)
• Background: Portsmouth went through multiple consortium-led takeovers in quick succession.
• What failed:
• Sulaiman Al-Fahim consortium (2009): Took over promising major investment, but the money never materialised.
• Ali Al-Faraj & Falcondrone consortium: Took over next but were effectively a front for financing that never arrived.
• Result: Club went into administration twice, huge debts, and suffered successive relegations.
⸻🏴 Leeds United (2004 and later)
• Background: The post-Peter Ridsdale era saw Leeds sold to a consortium led by Gerald Krasner.
• What failed:
• Krasner’s group lacked real financial strength; it was more of an attempt to stabilise the club short-term.
• Couldn’t stop the slide: the club was relegated, forced into administration in 2007.
• Later ownership attempts (e.g., GFH Capital, a Dubai-based investment bank consortium, 2012–2014) also failed to deliver promised funds, leading to more turmoil before Massimo Cellino took over.
⸻🏴 Hull City (2007–2010)
• Background: Owned by a consortium led by Paul Duffen and Russell Bartlett.
• What failed:
• Initially successful (promotion to Premier League).
• Financial mismanagement, failed funding promises, and internal disagreements led to significant debt and near administration after relegation.
⸻🏴 Notts County (2009)
• Background: Purchased by Munto Finance, supposedly backed by wealthy investors, as part of a consortium.
• What failed:
• Turned out to be smoke and mirrors; the consortium didn’t have the money they claimed.
• Club was left with big debts, saved only by local businessman Ray Trew.
⸻🏴 Charlton Athletic (2014–2020)
• Background: Belgian owner Roland Duchâtelet initially led a wider network of clubs; then sold to East Street Investments (ESI), a consortium led by Matt Southall and Tahnoon Nimer.
• What failed:
• ESI were plagued by internal conflicts and allegations of mismanagement.
• The takeover collapsed; ownership disputes rumbled through courts.
🏴 Derby County (2020–2022)
• Background: Owner Mel Morris sold the club to a series of would-be consortiums.
• What failed:
• Spanish businessman Erik Alonso’s consortium never provided proof of funds.
• Club went into administration and suffered points deductions.
No-one is going is going to buy the club, and take on that massive debt. Unless Tan agrees to write off the debt (or a very big part of it) he’ll never sell it. The club is worth £25m tops - the stadium is our only true asset. Someone might be prepared to pay a bit over the odds, say £35m, and take on a small part of the debt (maybe Dalman’s share), but nobody in their right mind is going to pay over £100m for a League One club, no matter who they are.
The debt to Dalman is largely irrelevant to the takeover. He's a minority stakeholder now and his position wouldn't change if tan sells up to Bale's consortium.
It only becomes an issue to any prospective new owners if they want the debt and interest payments owed to Dalman off the books.
Or Dalman could be part of one of the consortiums and then that offers the possibility of the debt owed to him being written off as part of any purchase of the club.
This is pure speculation, but that’s what people will do when the club offers no information to supporters about what’s happening.
Whatever the truth, the only ways Tan can get a good portion of the money he is currently owed back is either if we get back in the Premier League and we’re going have to spend big to do that -as it is, all we’ve done so far this summer is hire a Head Coach and a couple of other coaches.
The other possibility is the club wins the Sala case and is given the full amount of money being claimed, but is the club really likely to be awarded full damages if the Court finds in their favour?
Seems to me that Tan, and Dalman, have virtually no chance of getting their money back and are going to have to accept that they’re not going to get any potential new owner come along who will be willing to pay over what a League One club is worth in the current market.
Do we know who Bale is a front for. He could be a front for Dalman for all anybody knows.