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All the very latest news on the Saints from St Mary's Stadium.

Directors hope takeover is still on
Paul Allen
Paul Allen

SAINTS directors are still hopeful Paul Allen WILL make an official takeover bid for the club.

The Daily Echo understands that some board members are still telling supporters that Allen's interest is by no means over.

That's despite his own spokesman, Michael Nanke, revealing to both the Press Association and the Daily Echo that the Microsoft co-founder won't be bidding for the club.

He told the Daily Echo more than a fortnight ago that Allen was not interested in investing in Saints, but this newspaper decided not to publish at the time because we were told by high-level sources that a deal was still quite likely.

But Nanke made a similar comment to the worldwide Press Association on Thursday night.

Saints yesterday declined to comment on Nanke's statements - either to the Echo, on the club's own website or to the Stock Market.

Some supporters remain hopeful that Nanke's comments are a smokescreen, and that Allen is still very interested.

Despite negotiations starting in January - the Echo believe around five meetings have taken place with Saints officials and English-based intermediaries acting on behalf of Allen.

Full story in today's Daily Echo

6:00am Saturday 16th June 2007

Print   Email this   Comment
Posted by: Andy, great Yarmouth on 7:20am Sat 16 Jun 07
So who are SAINTS directors that maintain the deal is possible previous stories state that they can not comment but the echo seems always to have a inside word
Michael Nanke said no deal was happening 2 weeks ago but the echo kept quiet i guess real facts are imaterial if they are detrimental to keeping the story going
Good old echo thinking of sales and not the truth
"the Echo believe around five meetings have taken place with Saints officials and English-based intermediaries acting on behalf of Allen."
great quote echo i believed in father christmas once


Posted by: shaun, hedge end on 8:22am Sat 16 Jun 07
oh god here we go again. the echo believes, the echo understands that..... and so on and so on.

the levels they sink to sell a paper. i think everyone who brought a copy on the back of yesyerdays sensationalist reporting should have their money back.

so glad chips arent wrapped in newspaper these days otherwise they`d taste of bulls**t
Posted by: Oracle, London on 9:27am Sat 16 Jun 07
If Nanke is telling the truth and SLH board members are telling fans the opposite, how long before the FSA are brought in?
Posted by: Stu, New Forest on 9:38am Sat 16 Jun 07
Basically more drivel from the Echo. The only facts with this rag is that they use rubbish to sell their paper.

The board are not expected to comment anyway. They have informed the Stock Exchange of a potential offer which is all that's required. No point speculating on something that may not happen, besides if they made other comments the Echo would hack it to pieces anyway just to make another years worth of drivel. Poor ol' rag, no one tells them anything....who can blame the club for acting reponsibly and keeping them in the dark.
Posted by: Jannersaint, Plymuff on 9:56am Sat 16 Jun 07
"so glad chips arent wrapped in newspaper these days otherwise they`d taste of bulls**t" LOVE IT! ;-)

If I was a local advisor to Paul Allen the way this has been handled in the local media and the whole public expectation ingeneral would make me feel Saints are the right club. I keep saying in these forums that we should concentrate on what we cdan influence and keep our fingers crossed that this investment will happen. I HATE SPECULATION! There are so many bigger things going on at the moment in the club which are not being covered by this rag. The same story over and over again is getting really boring. Is it just me?
Posted by: Navysaint, terra firma on 10:42am Sat 16 Jun 07
Come on then Katie, The person in the know! Let us know!
Posted by: stan, helmond province on 10:42am Sat 16 Jun 07
As ive said before.this takeover from Mr.Allen was on the assumption saints won the play-offs..ALL SAINTS FANS ASK YOURSELVES ONE QUESTION..WOULD BAIRD/CRANIE/BEST ALL WANT TO LEAVE IF THEY KNEW MR.ALLEN WERE COMMING IN????i dont think so.....some how.....
Posted by: Saintsno7, plymouth on 10:49am Sat 16 Jun 07
I would like to beleive that something is going on but SLH are keeping it very close to their chests.Why the mass exodus of players or is it that they know something is going down and are thinking that if new money buys new players would the likes of Cranie and crew have more trouble getting into the first team and think now would be the best time to go!!!!!! ( good to know i am not alone here in Plymouth)
Posted by: Pops, Shirley Warren on 10:57am Sat 16 Jun 07
It seems crystal clear to me: PAUL ALLEN WILL NOT BE BUYING SAINTS - end of.

I mean why would a man worth £9bn feel the need to put up a "smoke screen". To stop the value of the club soring by a couple of million? I would've thought his credibillity more important, not to mention the embarrassment of having catagorically denied something over and over to then go and do it.

We would all absolutely love to have some mega rich bloke come in and provide the club with unlimited funds, and as far as I can see that is what the Echo are playing on by desperatly trying to keep the story alive at all costs!
Posted by: darren, soton on 11:22am Sat 16 Jun 07
i dont think paul allen will take over our club BUT i was listning to saints playing on the radio cant remember what match it was when pompy was playing liverpool and one of the comentators at the pompy game said he was talking to the new major share holders of liverpool he said he knows paul allen has been looking to buy an english club for long time now he has no reason to lie so i think what paul allens people have said is a lie
Posted by: Jesus, Bevious Valley on 1:10pm Sat 16 Jun 07
Pops wrote:
It seems crystal clear to me: PAUL ALLEN WILL NOT BE BUYING SAINTS - end of. I mean why would a man worth £9bn feel the need to put up a "smoke screen". To stop the value of the club soring by a couple of million? I would've thought his credibillity more important, not to mention the embarrassment of having catagorically denied something over and over to then go and do it. We would all absolutely love to have some mega rich bloke come in and provide the club with unlimited funds, and as far as I can see that is what the Echo are playing on by desperatly trying to keep the story alive at all costs!
The chances are that Paul Allen will not buy the club.

The chances are that the club will be sold however. With Michael Wilde leaving a massive gap has been left. The problem is now that the board are business men to the bone.

Allen may have made an offer. However unless all parties agree(are paid off) it is going to be ifficult for any one to buy the club.

Paul Allen is rich, not stupid, or a saints fan. He will not pay aver the odds.

With regard to crainie i would not be suprised if he moved with his roomey (Best) to Notts Forrest to join Prutts and now Neil Lennon. This is attractive to a 20 year old as forrest are likely to win div3. Unless we have new money he is very likley to get a cance at saints.
Posted by: Kev T, Southampton on 2:54pm Sat 16 Jun 07
If The Echo has not been printing Nanke's comment for more than 2 weeks because high-level sources at Saints have been repeatedly saying a deal with Allen was not dead, why have they been printing speculative articles about Russian Billionnaires, etc. Don't you feel you owe the fans you have been misleading an appology? Again, what The Echo claims just does not add up.

Yes, Nanke's statement may be posturing, but has The Echo considered a third option... that like The Echo, Nanke just doesn't know.

If The Echo's high level sources have been repeatedly saying a deal with Allen was not dead, can we take this as confirmation that the interested party has been Allen all along? Why won't you quote your sources directly?
Posted by: Rob, Reading on 3:57pm Sat 16 Jun 07
I'll be glad when this whole sorry **** affair is over,this is getting quite boring now,all this somebody knows this and nobody knows that,all we need is anybody with a bit of wedge.
Somebody,nobody,anyb

ody for f**k sake.

Anyway do you think this seasons away shirts will be a better quality than p**s poor fall apart shi*y shirts they sold us last year "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"
Posted by: lewis boyce, southampton, midanbury on 6:24pm Sat 16 Jun 07
paul allen is not going to buy saints uve got more ov a chance of ronald mcdonald buyinge club!
Posted by: Bridgwater Saint, Bridgwater, Somerset on 6:25pm Sat 16 Jun 07
Most of you are right - the chance are that he prefer to buy a Premiership club like Manchester City or Newcastle United!

This is because he gets more money from Premiership clubs than from Championship clubs!!!

Forget him!
Posted by: Ken, southampton on 7:58pm Sat 16 Jun 07
I never believed for a moment that someone like Paul Allen would have any interest in the Saints; I don't suppose that he's ever even heard of them. but a great publicity gimmick by the directors. Who knows, it might actually get somebody else interested.
Posted by: Ray Terris, AUSTRALIA on 3:40am Sun 17 Jun 07
It's fine with me that most of you are slaging of the "Echo" but is the club keeping this bullshit going to sell season tickets?? more than likely it is ! with a good number of players wanting away,what the **** are you going to get for your your money next season? a relegation battle!!?
Posted by: Craig Smith, Southampton on 12:38pm Sun 17 Jun 07
I dont think that Mr Allen was ever going to buy the club,i dont certainly think that its him,because if it was the deal would have gone through by now.
Personally i think its going to be someone like Tom Scott.
My reasons for this are that he started buying shares in Jan,thats when the 1st approach was,hes very good friends with Mike Richards(ex director),who in turn is very good friends with Mr Lowe,and i think that is where the delay is coming from,because they know that if he takes over the club then Lowe would be involved somewhere along the line.
Is that why two of the non excective directors have poo pood the deal because of lowe.Think about it Lawrie does'nt get on with him,The Corbett family dont get on with him,theres two who might not like the deal.
Posted by: james williams, bitterne on 3:01pm Sun 17 Jun 07
Lets face it no-one is going to invest that kind of money in a washed up coca-cola league team
Posted by: Jannersaint, Plymuff on 3:54pm Sun 17 Jun 07
A big investor would be interested in a Championship club with Premiership potential. Saints are potentially a top ten club in the Premiership that could as a Championship club be bought on the cheap. If I was a big investor looking to invest I would look at the bigger Championship clubs first.
Posted by: lewis boyce, home on 4:02pm Sun 17 Jun 07
i fear 4 the club if an invester dosen't come in 4 the club and we may go bust
Posted by: Craig Smith, Southampton on 4:19pm Sun 17 Jun 07
james williams wrote:
Lets face it no-one is going to invest that kind of money in a washed up coca-cola league team
James you obvisoly know nout about football and Southampton football club,as your comments about being washed up are so far off the mark its untrue.........oh and you must have personal inside info about a takeover if its going to happen.sad little man
Posted by: ST MARYS SID, GOSPORT on 10:41pm Sun 17 Jun 07
WE NEED SOMEONE WITH SOME DOSH QUICK, JUST HOPE THE SKATES GET CRUCIFIED IN THE BUNG INQUIRY AND H.R. PUT INSIDE FOR A WHILE, MIND YOU WITH HIS LUCK HE,D PROBABLY BE ABLE TO SELECT A TEAM FROM THE CELL.
Posted by: dean on 3:05am Mon 18 Jun 07
i think its all rubbish.we only have ourselves to blame for playing rubbish.time to jump a sinking ship.
Posted by: Messenger on 5:20am Mon 18 Jun 07
Andy Oldknow's policy. Rumour about a takeover 2 get as many season ticket holders as possible and just then they'll say the takeover won't happen. Saints have been awful on the commercial side this season. Allen has confirmed no interest at all!!!
Posted by: Katie, Southampton on 10:46am Mon 18 Jun 07
Sorry guys - I jumped the gun a little, unfortunately Paul Allen is not taking over, it would appear the board members (one of whom is a very close friend of my sister) are trying very hard to dupe us all - and I have to admit I got tricked in to believing the hype about Paul Allen.

Lets just hope a real investor does come forward because I think one thing we can all agree on is that we really need it.
Posted by: Katie, Southampton on 1:58pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Sorry, I meant he is still interested and is going to take us over, very soon.....
Posted by: jameschadwick, london on 2:39pm Mon 18 Jun 07
katie, it is clear that you have no idea what you are talking about.
Posted by: Tracey on 2:47pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Katie, will you please make up your mind.
Posted by: Tracey, Southampton on 2:52pm Mon 18 Jun 07
jameschadwick,

No one posting here has any idea about what is happening, the only people who do know are the board and the person who may be bidding. Until anything is definately confirmed then it is just rumour and speculation.

The facts are this,

1. Paul Allen may or may not be bidding
2. Someone else may or may not be bidding.
Posted by: Sharon, Southampton on 3:17pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Tracey, what a rubbish posting -
"The facts are this,

11. Paul Allen may or may not be bidding
2. Someone else may or may not be bidding."

I suppose Saints will come 1st-24th next year and will score betwenn 0 and an infinate amount of goals.

Have an opinion and say something interesting for Christ's sake - or just don't bother posting. You sound like that boring pillock Kev T.

PS No way in a million years will Paul Allen takeover.
Posted by: Vidal "takeover&quo t; Toosoon on 3:33pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Sharon,Tracey,Katie. Anymore dopey hairdressers out there who are experts on football and finances? Stick to doing the highlights girlies!
Posted by: jameschadwick, london on 4:09pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Tracy,Katie....
some infinate words of wisdom!!!! not
the only fact here is that you also clearly have no idea what you are talking about.
The next words of wisdom to come from you or katie may as well be that saints are merging with portsmouth.
Yes everything is speculation, we dont need to state the obvious do we, and at the same time we also do not need to behave or act like we know what we are talking about: ie... who is or not intersted or who is or isnt taking over.
FACT: Your comments are useless as are all other comments that you post on this site.

why dont we just get behind the team act like true supporters and look forward to next season.
thank you
Posted by: Tracey, Southampton on 4:35pm Mon 18 Jun 07
jameschadwick

Hey all I said was a take over may or may not happen. I have no isside knowledge so I don't know what is actually happening. There are 2 camps of people posting here and each is stating their case as fact when neither actually know so don't go telling me I don't know what I am talking about when I have not claimed a takeover will happen or wont happen.
Posted by: Tracey, Southampton on 4:36pm Mon 18 Jun 07
jameschadwick

Hey all I said was a take over may or may not happen. I have no isside knowledge so I don't know what is actually happening. There are 2 camps of people posting here and each is stating their case as fact when neither actually know so don't go telling me I don't know what I am talking about when I have not claimed a takeover will happen or wont happen.
Posted by: Tracey, Southampton on 4:41pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Vidal

Hey I am not an expert on football or finances and have not claimed to be. I bet most people posting here are not experts either!

Oh BTW I am not hairdresser so stop making stupid claims about things you know nothing about.
Posted by: Kev T, Southampton on 5:06pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Thanks Sharon. What a charming young lady you are not. I wasn't aware I had to entertain you! Maybe its you who shouldn't bother posting if all you can do is be abusive.
Posted by: Tracey, Southampton on 5:19pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Sharon,

"Have an opinion and say something interesting for Christ's sake - or just don't bother posting. You sound like that boring pillock Kev T"

I have stated my opinion and you know that because you responded to my post. Now stop resorting to childish name calling.
Posted by: Craig Smith, Southampton on 7:44pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Katie wrote:
Sorry, I meant he is still interested and is going to take us over, very soon.....
So in other words Katie you know about absolute nothing about it......and know as much as we do and thats nothing.
Posted by: shaun, hedge end on 7:46pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Tracey wrote:
Vidal Hey I am not an expert on football or finances and have not claimed to be. I bet most people posting here are not experts either! Oh BTW I am not hairdresser so stop making stupid claims about things you know nothing about.
Yeah she`s top checkout girl at tescos so leave off lol
Posted by: the challenger, totton on 8:54pm Mon 18 Jun 07
for goodness sake people

this will not go away unless we hear the dreaded words form the man himself

not from some geezer whose close to him
Posted by: Tracey, Southampton on 9:28pm Mon 18 Jun 07
Actually Shaun I am a stock controller and not for tescos.
Posted by: HSAINTY30, southampton on 1:39pm Tue 19 Jun 07
This matter is getting as laughable as portsmouth getting into europe.
We need something to be said from Saints otherwise I can't see us improving as the players and managerial staff wont be able to put Saints first.
Posted by: hsainty30, southampton on 1:41pm Tue 19 Jun 07
Just read it back and meant us NOT improving
Posted by: chicago on 2:11am Wed 20 Jun 07
jameschadwick wrote:
Tracy,Katie.... some infinate words of wisdom!!!! not the only fact here is that you also clearly have no idea what you are talking about. The next words of wisdom to come from you or katie may as well be that saints are merging with portsmouth. Yes everything is speculation, we dont need to state the obvious do we, and at the same time we also do not need to behave or act like we know what we are talking about: ie... who is or not intersted or who is or isnt taking over. FACT: Your comments are useless as are all other comments that you post on this site. why dont we just get behind the team act like true supporters and look forward to next season. thank you
whats up bro!!!!!

so this is the best way to get hold of you in blighty!!!!

drop me an email chadwicknick@yahoo.c
o.uk
Posted by: Steven Roberts, Southampton on 9:25pm Wed 20 Jun 07
I would like to state that there are further talks between a current interested buyer and the board of southampton. Talks are on going and a deal is close to being agreed with all parties. It is not in the best of interest to the potential investers and the board to add further fuel to the flames of speculation. If the current deal is completed then we could see an exciting new era to the club. But it will be a sensible building program and a marathon to what the club can achieve, not overnight.
Posted by: hopefulsaint, fareham on 1:02pm Thu 21 Jun 07
Steven Roberts wrote:
I would like to state that there are further talks between a current interested buyer and the board of southampton. Talks are on going and a deal is close to being agreed with all parties. It is not in the best of interest to the potential investers and the board to add further fuel to the flames of speculation. If the current deal is completed then we could see an exciting new era to the club. But it will be a sensible building program and a marathon to what the club can achieve, not overnight.
Where are the facts??????Are you Katies friend? More never ending speculation!
Posted by: jason, stubbington on 2:53pm Sun 24 Jun 07
why is it that other takeovers at other clubs, the person or persons come out straight away.Yet at saints this does'nt happen, reason the other takeovers actually happen. Enough said
Posted by: Craig Smith, Southampton on 8:12pm Mon 25 Jun 07
Because there is'nt going to be one!!!
Posted by: hsainty30 on 9:01am Wed 27 Jun 07
oh well looks like were in **** street again. rupert lowe is a to**er but a least we seemed more finacially stable (i cant believe i just said that). come on saint sort it out.
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