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Saints confirm takeover bid received
9:27am Friday 27th April 2007
Comments (68)SAINTS this afternoon confirmed they have received a preliminary approach from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen regarding a potential takeover of the club.
The Daily Echo carried a story this morning saying Allen, the 19th richest man in the world with an estimated fortune of £18b, was interested in investing.
A statement issued to the Stock Exchange this afternoon said: "The board notes the recent rise in the Company's share price and confirms that it has received and is considering a preliminary approach which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the Company.
"The board's consideration is at an early stage and there is no guarantee that any offer will be forthcoming.
Allen already owns the Seattle Seahawks American football team and the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team.
He still has an interest in Microsoft, who he co-founded with Bill Gates.
A source close to Allen said he "believes there is long term investment value in UK soccer.
The source added: '"Southampton is a sleeping giant, a family-supported club with traditional values, and we see the value in taking the brand global."
Saints have been fruitlessly searching for new investors even since Michael Wilde replaced Rupert Lowe as chairman last summer.
Wilde's failure to attract any new investors, though, was the reason he resigned back in February.
Saints chief executive Jim Hone and PLC chairman Ken Dulieu have been leading the search for new investors since then.
If Allen was successful in acquiring Saints, he would join the ranks of ultra-wealthy American businessmen snapping up English football clubs.
Manchester United are owned by Malcolm Glazer, George Gillett and Tom Hicks completed their takeover at Liverpool earlier this year, and Randy Lerner took over Aston Villa last year.
In addition, Stan Kroenke has bought a large shareholding at Arsenal.
It is reported that any bid from Allen is likely to be at a significant premium to last night's Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC closing price of 47p.
The shares have risen 20% in recent weeks.
There is speculation that an Allen bid could be worth around £50m.
Analysts suggest it may be worth as much as 65p a share to shareholders.
For more see tonight's city edition of the Daily Echo
Your Say YourDaily Echo
Barry Mung, In my Berlingo says...
10:04am Fri 27 Apr 07
Anon, says...
10:12am Fri 27 Apr 07
mini me, Evil Island says...
10:15am Fri 27 Apr 07
Stoker, Soton says...
10:26am Fri 27 Apr 07
Soton Loyal, says...
10:36am Fri 27 Apr 07
Jonny Linux, Haha says...
10:41am Fri 27 Apr 07
Ain't the Saints already unsettled, what with Wilde's departure, the statue fiasco, the squatting horses and Ball's death?
Jim Bin Jivi, CTR says...
10:42am Fri 27 Apr 07
Soton Loyal wrote:Perhaps that's why Saints wanted the ponies off their land...to provide more growing space?
Are the Daily Echo journalists being given a supply of thecannibis plants from Hants old bill !
HILLBILLY, uk says...
11:05am Fri 27 Apr 07
Nobby Mc Nobb, says...
11:12am Fri 27 Apr 07
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
chris, woolston says...
11:22am Fri 27 Apr 07
HILLBILLY wrote:Is there enough fish available to build 2 stadiums?
Will he build a stadium to match the south coasts premier club Portsmouth - FACT
Steve, Southampton says...
11:26am Fri 27 Apr 07
Mary Hinge, soton says...
11:30am Fri 27 Apr 07
As for the skates why is the stadium gonna cost £600 million? does this include the yuppy flats which is the only reason Manderic was originally interested. when it got awkward he was away on his toes.its got to be good to have the skates near the water!
Fred, Marchwood says...
11:30am Fri 27 Apr 07
Crap Sculpter, Whittling says...
11:34am Fri 27 Apr 07
The Jerv, Fareham says...
11:45am Fri 27 Apr 07
Norman Cheddar, Southampton says...
11:48am Fri 27 Apr 07
It looks like a fecking huge BEDPAN!
Spindoc, SOTON says...
12:01pm Fri 27 Apr 07
I think the source has been on the sauce . Perhaps, it's George?
Mark, says...
12:30pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Peter Moody, Fareham says...
12:35pm Fri 27 Apr 07
malaysian tony, penang says...
12:58pm Fri 27 Apr 07
HAHAHHAHA, HAHAHAHA says...
1:06pm Fri 27 Apr 07
malaysian tony, penang says...
1:09pm Fri 27 Apr 07
dave, marbella says...
1:12pm Fri 27 Apr 07
HILLBILLY wrote:What stadium Hillbilly? NotarfShiite?
Will he build a stadium to match the south coasts premier club Portsmouth - FACT
No wonder you didn't put FACT after that one!
St Steve, Southampton says...
1:14pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Gordon Mockles, Southampton says...
3:02pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Jockster wrote:Brilliant! Jockster, you couldn't have said it better!! SFC are experts at Being tight, greedy or just f*ckin it up so, if anything is to come, dont this time!
Wow - could this be what we all have been waiting for? Message to the board - make the man a cuppa, sit him down, talk to him but don't **** it up if he has a genuine interest! You have been expert at shooting yourselves in the foot as we all have seen over the years, hopefully not this time!
I will be p*ssed off if Lowe gets richer but, such was his slyness, hes bound to benefit further since he still has his talons in the clubs nuts! I dont care anymore, as long as good happens to our club and Messrs Lowe, Askham, esp. F*ck right off and have no further links to the club!!! They've done nothing but hold the club back for their own gain, Cowen too!!
Lets hope this isnt a red herring and some long overdue prosperity comes to our forsaken club!
John England, Southampton says...
3:48pm Fri 27 Apr 07
The security will be outsourced to a 3rd party and will only work for the evaluation period, before jus sitting there doing nothing on match days.
Still, if licenincing it like other MS products, we can just all chip in for one season ticket and then just make copies for our friends and no one pays again!
Download your beta copy at www.leedsafc.co.uk
tone, Vista stadium St Marys says...
3:49pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Ravin_Saint, SOUTHAMPTON says...
3:57pm Fri 27 Apr 07
HILLBILLY wrote:Why would he possibly want to build a stadium like Fratton Park? That is Portsmouth's ground isn't it? F A C T
Will he build a stadium to match the south coasts premier club Portsmouth - FACT
Ash, Southampton- Pride of Hampshire says...
4:04pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Ravin_Saint, Southampton says...
4:15pm Fri 27 Apr 07
saintjoe, southampton says...
4:15pm Fri 27 Apr 07
saintjoe, southampton says...
4:25pm Fri 27 Apr 07
O say, can you see, by the dawns early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
Oer the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Erick, Portland, OR, USA says...
4:31pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Ravin_Saint, SOUTHAMPTON says...
4:36pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Erick wrote:I'm not getting annoyed that American's keep buying our teams. The Yanks are putting their money where their mouths are instead of burying their sorry arse's in the sand, keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best. As long as he doesn't unveil Mr. Woooopert Lowe as his new Chairman, then all should be good. BUT it is all a big, big IF!
If you all knew the way Paul Allen loused up the Portland TrailBlazers (my home-town basketball team), you wouldn't be so keen to have him buy your club. And aren't you all getting annoyed that Americans keep buying your footy teams? At any rate, good luck if PA does buy the team.
Erick, Portland, OR, USA says...
4:54pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Matt Oliver, Valley Park says...
5:08pm Fri 27 Apr 07
In my bed.
POMOPY SUCK
Theres only one team in the south.
WINCHESTER
Thomas Fisher (Fish), Valley Park says...
5:12pm Fri 27 Apr 07
in my bed.
ARSENAL SUCK
Theres only one team in the south
SOUTHAMPTON!
True Saint, The Dell says...
5:20pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Paul, Warsash says...
5:25pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Fish **** Park!
paul, says...
5:26pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Paul wrote:Fish p i s s park!
Hmm, i was just wondering if pompey build that big bed pan how we gonna get the new carriers in the dockyard? Maybe it'll be a raising bed pan with flood gates or summat!
Fish **** Park!
Don Thomas, Coxford says...
6:04pm Fri 27 Apr 07
the bishops son, thornhill says...
6:18pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Mac rill, fratton says...
7:30pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Southampton person, Southampton says...
7:37pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Thank you
Bye :-))
Crouchie, Tenerife says...
9:39pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Gazbo Laaarge, Hants says...
10:18pm Fri 27 Apr 07
PA obviously has seen what we already know that Soton is a decent club capable of great things. Obviously Microsoft doesn't want to be associated with a bunch of thugs, but with the "quality" end of the football fan market!
He's noticed that Soton fans are peaceful, family orientated fans. Indeed, you could take your grandmother to a Soton match safe in the knowledge that she'd come to no harm.
Contrast this with Pompey who seem **** bent on having a fight at every match. Heck, they even smash their OWN town up when they lose, such is the mentality of the 657/Pompey lot.
Gazbo Laaarge, Hants says...
10:18pm Fri 27 Apr 07
PA obviously has seen what we already know that Soton is a decent club capable of great things. Obviously Microsoft doesn't want to be associated with a bunch of thugs, but with the "quality" end of the football fan market!
He's noticed that Soton fans are peaceful, family orientated fans. Indeed, you could take your grandmother to a Soton match safe in the knowledge that she'd come to no harm.
Contrast this with Pompey who seem **** bent on having a fight at every match. Heck, they even smash their OWN town up when they lose, such is the mentality of the 657/Pompey lot.
FISHFACE, says...
10:50pm Fri 27 Apr 07
FISHFACE, says...
10:54pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Ces Houghton, Tenerife says...
11:06pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Good Luck
quote
Bill Gates, US says...
11:18pm Fri 27 Apr 07
Joseph Dolan, Seattle, USA says...
12:53am Sat 28 Apr 07
Saint4life, Soton says...
1:42am Sat 28 Apr 07
Andrew, Bracknell says...
1:58am Sat 28 Apr 07
Andrew, Bracknell says...
2:09am Sat 28 Apr 07
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Abramovich
Not forgetting that Paul Allen is into yachting, which makes So'ton an ideal location to consider.
Andp Pearce, Bucharest says...
7:46am Sat 28 Apr 07
Paul wrote:Nothing to do with King Tony's shrinking Navy then???
Hmm, i was just wondering if pompey build that big bed pan how we gonna get the new carriers in the dockyard? Maybe it'll be a raising bed pan with flood gates or summat! Fish **** Park!
If Tone closes Pompey and ships them all off to Plymouth no problem?
s mahoney, guernsey says...
10:54am Sat 28 Apr 07
skatehater, Totton says...
10:55am Sat 28 Apr 07
Portsmuff are to build a £600 milion squid stadium that will include guppy flats packed in like sardines , "i dolphin so!" The big question on their pouting lips is will saints get Paul Allen taking over? They must be whiting on baited breth perched on the edge of their seats, it will be sole destroying for them when saint rise to the premiership like a salmon leaping & they serpently wont be doing the conga when thier anenomes are back up.
when we play them next sea son the urchins can see a proper stadium built with porpoise & can limpit up the frog & toad back to skatesvile.No worming out of it you pikies youve haddock! They have been in the top flight long enough & if they are to suvive another sea son they will have mussel together & clam up thier back roe to stop endless tides of balls hitting the back of their nets. I dolphin they are burley enough to put too many fins together & soon they will be hammering their heads againts the walls. most weeks they are sure to get well & truly battered, just for the halibut I will put a few squid on them going back under, I trout very much they will beat the mancs or chel sea. they will be back with the minnows & will know their rightfull plaice & when the chips are down saints wont let them of the hook. we wont here them ringing that bell or banging on the bass drum playing their only tuna & when they hit rock bottom it will be dificult to crab many points & will be skating on thin ice sitting on the bottom without any porpoise. they will be crying & whaling when saints give them them a good grilling at st marys & fratton skate park.orf they go they dont belong with the big fish, they wont recieve any oscars for their dab performences. saints will seal their fate & send them spinning & reeling to the lower depthes faster than a lead fishing weight & we know they call us scummers but we will float to the top of the big pond.harry redsnapper will be crying in his fish soap & the scales will be ballanced in our flavour. lets face it they havent the salt & vinegar to match the feast of football saints will serve up to them. they will be in for a good roasting. The suns rays will shine on the saints fans & if the skates plaice any betts on staying afloat next term the bookies will have them hook line & sinker.no pot of golden orf at the end of thier rainbow trout, they might have had a good sea son this year riding on the grest of a wave near the tope of the table but next sea son they will be floundering at the bottom & saints fans will be breaming from ear to ear and cant kelp laughing. soon after they depart to the lower leagues they will disappear like hermits and it will be proof that they are truly clowns...
Andrew, Bracknell says...
11:24am Sat 28 Apr 07
http://www.ananova.com/sport/story/sm_2308267.html
It is likely this denial is normal practice anyway, but let's not get too optimistic just yet.
Alex Turner, Southampton says...
3:27pm Sat 28 Apr 07
Suck off that you skate **** !
Southampton FC are coming onto you with leaps & bounds ! =]
Will, Southampton says...
7:33pm Sat 28 Apr 07
http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_SOCCER/idUKL2732067820070427
=/
nuclearted, Totton says...
12:01pm Sun 29 Apr 07
I'm not saying that its a foregone conclusion but there is a takeover bid on going all be it preliminary & very strong rumours that its Paul Allen
best case scenario: Paul Allen takes over & buys us the premiership title Champions league & euro vision song contest
worst case scenario: we carry on as we are
either way its got the people at the funny end of the M27 panicking
P.S. I was at the AFC Totton V Gosport game yesterday & have to ask what is it with people from down that way & bells?
it maybe cutting edge technology down there but its pretty old hat to us
STEWART, The Villages! says...
10:32pm Sun 29 Apr 07
Mr Allen, you are very, very welcome!
SOTON, says...
4:02pm Mon 30 Apr 07
Sooner than later, the Saints shirt WILL have MICROSOFT written across the front of their shirts and Stadium.
kev, southampton says...
1:11pm Sun 20 May 07
there is to be a press conference tomorrow
(21-05-07) regarding the buy out from paul allen. estimated £45m apparently.
fingers crossed this is the case, exactly what we need after the hard luck in the playoffs.
goldrich, soton says...
2:21pm Sat 25 Aug 07
evilestmatt, isle of wight says...
12:13am Mon 11 Feb 08
You need to learn to spell you skate retard.
Get back to taking it up the **** like fat harry.
Paul Allen
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Jockster, says...
9:40am Fri 27 Apr 07
Message to the board - make the man a cuppa, sit him down, talk to him but don't **** it up if he has a genuine interest!
You have been expert at shooting yourselves in the foot as we all have seen over the years, hopefully not this time!