Saturday, September 02, 2006
BBC: Bid talks underway
C+P from BBC
West Ham in takeover discussions
West Ham are having "exploratory discussions" over a possible takeover.
The move comes hot on the heels of the club luring Argentine pair Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the club.
"Discussions are at an early stage and there can be no certainty that an offer for West Ham will be forthcoming," said a club statement to the Stock Exchange.
"The board also confirms that there is no contractual link between the signing of the players (Tevez and Mascherano) and the bid discussions."
Georgian businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili said on Friday he was considering investing in the club with Kia Joorabchian.
Iranian-born Joorabchian was president of Media Sports Investment (MSI), who owned the rights to the Argentine stars who signed from Corinthians on transfer deadline day.
Joorabchian reportedly resigned as president of MSI in June but retained an investment in Tevez and Mascherano.
And a spokesman for Patarkatsishvili said on his client's behalf on Friday: "It is true that Kia Joorabchian is my friend and we have done business together in the past.
"At this time I am not involved in any possible bid for West Ham but I am thinking about it and cannot exclude such a possibility in the future."
Patarkatsishvili is Georgia's largest private investor and chairman of the Georgian Business Federation.
But Russian Boris Berezovsky is not interested in any bid to take over at Upton Park.
A statement issued on his behalf said: "Mr Berezovsky wishes to make it clear that he has absolutely no involvement financial or otherwise in any possible bid for West Ham."
MSI have a stake in Brazilian club Corinthians and pulled out of a potential takeover of the Hammers in November 2005 after failing to agree a price with the club's directors.
West Ham would not be drawn on revealing who they were in discussions with about the possible takeover.
But Joorabchian told BBC Radio Five Live on Thursday: "MSI is a company that will not invest in European football as such by investing in a club, so that speculation is out for sure."
Joorabchian did admit that potential takeover talks last year between MSI and West Ham, served as helping build the relationship which led to the Hammers signing Tevez and Mascherano.
"Last year we spoke a lot with West Ham because we were looking at making potential investments which we never did," he added.
"We had a very good relationship with the chairman Terry Brown and Paul Aldridge.
"That relationship continued like a friendship and when this came about we started to speak and here you have it.
"You have two of the best players in the world playing in a big fantastic club."
West Ham in takeover discussions
West Ham are having "exploratory discussions" over a possible takeover.
The move comes hot on the heels of the club luring Argentine pair Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the club.
"Discussions are at an early stage and there can be no certainty that an offer for West Ham will be forthcoming," said a club statement to the Stock Exchange.
"The board also confirms that there is no contractual link between the signing of the players (Tevez and Mascherano) and the bid discussions."
Georgian businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili said on Friday he was considering investing in the club with Kia Joorabchian.
Iranian-born Joorabchian was president of Media Sports Investment (MSI), who owned the rights to the Argentine stars who signed from Corinthians on transfer deadline day.
Joorabchian reportedly resigned as president of MSI in June but retained an investment in Tevez and Mascherano.
And a spokesman for Patarkatsishvili said on his client's behalf on Friday: "It is true that Kia Joorabchian is my friend and we have done business together in the past.
"At this time I am not involved in any possible bid for West Ham but I am thinking about it and cannot exclude such a possibility in the future."
Patarkatsishvili is Georgia's largest private investor and chairman of the Georgian Business Federation.
But Russian Boris Berezovsky is not interested in any bid to take over at Upton Park.
A statement issued on his behalf said: "Mr Berezovsky wishes to make it clear that he has absolutely no involvement financial or otherwise in any possible bid for West Ham."
MSI have a stake in Brazilian club Corinthians and pulled out of a potential takeover of the Hammers in November 2005 after failing to agree a price with the club's directors.
West Ham would not be drawn on revealing who they were in discussions with about the possible takeover.
But Joorabchian told BBC Radio Five Live on Thursday: "MSI is a company that will not invest in European football as such by investing in a club, so that speculation is out for sure."
Joorabchian did admit that potential takeover talks last year between MSI and West Ham, served as helping build the relationship which led to the Hammers signing Tevez and Mascherano.
"Last year we spoke a lot with West Ham because we were looking at making potential investments which we never did," he added.
"We had a very good relationship with the chairman Terry Brown and Paul Aldridge.
"That relationship continued like a friendship and when this came about we started to speak and here you have it.
"You have two of the best players in the world playing in a big fantastic club."
Posted by whubris at 8:59 am
whubris said...
Tim Vickery, a respected football pundit in Brazil, has put forward an interesting theory about - well, you know exactly what it's about: Tevez and Mascherano.
Basically, Kia Joorabchian has put the two young Argentinians in the shop window at West Ham but has retained their rights. The aim is that they will be sold on after a season or two, with most or all of the profit going to Joorabchian.
As a well respected English club, who play proper football and are in the UEFA Cup, West Ham are well placed to display the qualities of these two footballers. In return, of course, they get the two players for however long it takes for their value to rise.
norven munky said...
This is from Feb 2005 just after Tevez had transferred to Corinthians but is worth the read :-
http://www.sigames.com/the_bootroom.php?type=view&article_id=1091
"Shortly before the Tevez deal was announced, a London-based investment group, Media Sports Investments (MSI), announced that they were giving £20m (and future cash injections) to Corinthians in exchange for 51% of future profits. So far, so sugar daddy. But MSI are headed up by an Iranian business man Kia Joorabchain, and is believed to represent a group of English and Russian investors. One month before the Tevez deal, Abramovich was seen to be dining with Boca Juniors chairman Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires, along with Tevez’s agent. Yet Abramovich’s press office says that he was in Moscow at the time!
South American football journalists believe that the Russian oligarch is trying to set up a network of feeder clubs around the globe, so that he can buy and allocate players around the world until needed, and then move them onto Chelsea. "
beggers said...
Bit to 'Bourne Supremicy..ish' for me. I'm just looking forward to this season!
Whatever happens we'll still be WEST HAM and we ALWAYS will be. I'm not worried.
whubris said...
This puts an interesting spin on things. I'd be very surprised if the Red Army had anything at all to do with this if ManU were offered the players. Maybe it's all clean after all - or at least, relatively clean?
Man Utd rejected Mascherano offer
Manchester United turned down the opportunity to sign Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano on two occasions during the summer.
On Thursday Mascherano, 22, along with striker Carlos Tevez, 22, signed for West Ham from Corinthians of Brazil on permanent deals for undisclosed fees.
"We were never interested in Tevez," United chief executive David Gill told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"We were also offered Mascherano, but we didn't want to go for him."
Gill added: "We were offered Mascherano for a significant sum at the start of the summer and also last week on a loan deal.
"We had watched him last season, but the manager and his staff didn't want to pursue him.
"While he is clearly a very good player it was decided he wasn't required at the club."
Meanwhile Gill was upbeat over a new contract for striker Wayne Rooney.
England international Rooney, 20, wants to extend the six-season deal he signed when he joined United in August 2004.
"His eagerness to sign a long-term deal is great," said Gill. "I think there will be developments over the next few months.
"We want to tie him down to the club."
said...
I hope hype and expectation doesn’t sabotage our season. The team we were relegated with should have been a top 5 team, so to claim a CL place as a given is a bit much this early in the season. There are many other benefits to be gained on a weekly basis before worrying about where we’ll ultimately finish this season. For me, it’s about taking the club the next level and making us real contenders, year in year out. These signings are a great start.
beggers said...
Agree Anon. It should be cosidered a first step only. My expectations have not changed, even with the arrival of the Argies. My hopes are for a solid, competitive season with a decent UEFA and domestic Cup run. CL, not even thinking about it. Oh and beating Spuds, the Arse and Chelscum would be nice!
whubris said...
Good post Anon. I'd like a top 10 finish and a decent run in one of the cups. It's all about making a firm foundation.
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whubris said...Tim Vickery, a respected football pundit in Brazil, has put forward an interesting theory about - well, you know exactly what it's about: Tevez and Mascherano.
Basically, Kia Joorabchian has put the two young Argentinians in the shop window at West Ham but has retained their rights. The aim is that they will be sold on after a season or two, with most or all of the profit going to Joorabchian.
As a well respected English club, who play proper football and are in the UEFA Cup, West Ham are well placed to display the qualities of these two footballers. In return, of course, they get the two players for however long it takes for their value to rise.
norven munky said...This is from Feb 2005 just after Tevez had transferred to Corinthians but is worth the read :-
http://www.sigames.com/the_bootroom.php?type=view&article_id=1091
"Shortly before the Tevez deal was announced, a London-based investment group, Media Sports Investments (MSI), announced that they were giving £20m (and future cash injections) to Corinthians in exchange for 51% of future profits. So far, so sugar daddy. But MSI are headed up by an Iranian business man Kia Joorabchain, and is believed to represent a group of English and Russian investors. One month before the Tevez deal, Abramovich was seen to be dining with Boca Juniors chairman Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires, along with Tevez’s agent. Yet Abramovich’s press office says that he was in Moscow at the time!
South American football journalists believe that the Russian oligarch is trying to set up a network of feeder clubs around the globe, so that he can buy and allocate players around the world until needed, and then move them onto Chelsea. "
beggers said...Bit to 'Bourne Supremicy..ish' for me. I'm just looking forward to this season!
Whatever happens we'll still be WEST HAM and we ALWAYS will be. I'm not worried.
whubris said...This puts an interesting spin on things. I'd be very surprised if the Red Army had anything at all to do with this if ManU were offered the players. Maybe it's all clean after all - or at least, relatively clean?
Man Utd rejected Mascherano offer
Manchester United turned down the opportunity to sign Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano on two occasions during the summer.
On Thursday Mascherano, 22, along with striker Carlos Tevez, 22, signed for West Ham from Corinthians of Brazil on permanent deals for undisclosed fees.
"We were never interested in Tevez," United chief executive David Gill told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"We were also offered Mascherano, but we didn't want to go for him."
Gill added: "We were offered Mascherano for a significant sum at the start of the summer and also last week on a loan deal.
"We had watched him last season, but the manager and his staff didn't want to pursue him.
"While he is clearly a very good player it was decided he wasn't required at the club."
Meanwhile Gill was upbeat over a new contract for striker Wayne Rooney.
England international Rooney, 20, wants to extend the six-season deal he signed when he joined United in August 2004.
"His eagerness to sign a long-term deal is great," said Gill. "I think there will be developments over the next few months.
"We want to tie him down to the club."
said...I hope hype and expectation doesn’t sabotage our season. The team we were relegated with should have been a top 5 team, so to claim a CL place as a given is a bit much this early in the season. There are many other benefits to be gained on a weekly basis before worrying about where we’ll ultimately finish this season. For me, it’s about taking the club the next level and making us real contenders, year in year out. These signings are a great start.
beggers said...Agree Anon. It should be cosidered a first step only. My expectations have not changed, even with the arrival of the Argies. My hopes are for a solid, competitive season with a decent UEFA and domestic Cup run. CL, not even thinking about it. Oh and beating Spuds, the Arse and Chelscum would be nice!
whubris said...Good post Anon. I'd like a top 10 finish and a decent run in one of the cups. It's all about making a firm foundation.
