Channel 4 NOW! (how to buy a football club)

mike65

Bryan Robson not looking too clever here....

WesternZulu

Not at all...wonder can he hold his job as Manchester United Global Ambassador after this?

Kiwi_knock

Is he still a global ambassador for Utd, if he still is I doubt he will be for much longer.

WesternZulu

'Arry has been mentioned

**Shock**

:pac:

20 Times 20 Times

This starting to get good :-)

TheTownie

Who the fúck is Sim ?? :pac:

Kiwi_knock

Ferguson will not be giving interviews to Channel 4 now. They are making Ferguson out to be some sort of mafia figure who controls English football.

mike65

Josh_Landy Josh Landy
If British TV keeps going at this rate Channel 5 will soon be the only terrestrial channel that fergie will speak to. #ForSaleFC

Paully D

The most damning findings are yet to be revealed:

Dont be at yourself

Sim and Fergie seem very cosy, eh?

Guy:Incognito

So when does the "bloody scummy journos causeing trouble and putting words in innocent peoples mouths etc etc etc " start, A la the john higgins stuff and others?

flahavaj

The programme promised much but ultimately delivered little of note.

CrackisWhack

what was robbo saying?

mike65

Fergie is not corrupt I'm sure but he does wield rather too much influence just by being the father figure to so many current managers.

Oh and now we know when he's going to retire

Kiwi_knock

Sim had a serious man crush on Ferguson, I doubt Ferguson is responding to any of his calls or texts now. Interesting to see some of the clubs they mentioned as up for sale, the fa should investigate the ownership of Leicester and Cardiff after this.

Cantona's Collars

flahavaj wrote: »

The programme promised much but ultimately delivered little of note.

True,nothing in it that we didn't already know.

Gavin "shels"

Can anyone sum up what happened in the first 30 mins? Missed it and by the time I starting watching I was a bit lost.

mike65

flahavaj wrote: »

The programme promised much but ultimately delivered little of note.

zerks wrote: »

True,nothing in it that we didn't already know.

So you were both aware that Robbo was interested being a party to circumventing FA rules about club ownership?

Paully D

flahavaj wrote: »

The programme promised much but ultimately delivered little of note.

It should have been called ''Asian Man Likes To Name Drop''.

Basically Robson (who is taking the piss out of his friendship with Fergie by using his name to get richer) just mentioned Fergie and any one who had worked under him, or who he is friends with. Football is an old pals act and always has been, nothing new there.

flahavaj

mike65 wrote: »

So you were both aware that Robbo was interested being a party to circumventing FA rules about club ownership?

There was lots of big talk but no action. Its embarrassing for Robbo for sure, but thats about it. I expected something more concrete tbh.

Cantona's Collars

mike65 wrote: »

So you were both aware that Robbo was interested being a party to circumventing FA rules about club ownership?

I signed the cheques:D

Seriously though,this scenario has been played out before with clubs being taken over under dubious circumstances,that's what I was intimating at.

jesus_thats_gre

Bryan Robson, eh!

everdead.ie

mike65 wrote: »

Fergie is not corrupt I'm sure but he does wield rather too much influence just by being the father figure to so many current managers.

Oh and now we know when he's going to retire

When did they say?

mike65

everdead.ie 3 years time

flahavaj wrote: »

There was lots of big talk but no action. Its embarrassing for Robbo for sure, but thats about it. I expected something more concrete tbh.

Er the reason that there was no action was because it was a Channel 4 Despatches set-up. Had it been real then the deal would have gone ahead one presumes.

Interesting to see Peter Lim get a mention, as I said at the time

Some buyout/takeovers are more opportunist than others its fair to say, Mr Peter Lim clearly reckoned that as he can't have Manchester Utd he'd buy Liverpool instead and then open a chain of LFC themed bars.

flahavaj

mike65 wrote: »

everdead.ie 3 years time



Er the reason that there was no action was because it was a Channel 4 Despatches set-up. Had it been real then the deal would have gone ahead one presumes.

Interesting to see Peter Lim get a mention, as I said at the time

One presumes no less. You are scrabbling hard to find a foothold for a bit of moral indignation here, when in reality the show was a bit of a let down in terms of producing anything concrete.

mike65

I'd say you were just playing things down.

Kiwi_knock

Well they said Sim was connected to the people that took over Leicester and Cardiff, those deals and the owners of those clubs should be investigated.

TheTownie

They were basically investigating how to buy/invest into multiple clubs which is illegal.

Problem is with the money going through funds and different entities its very possible it technically isn't an illegal act. You would have to an expert and know all the details to know for sure.

Its up to the authorities to eliminate all the possible loopholes.

flahavaj

mike65 wrote: »

I'd say you were just playing things down.

And rightly so. Robbo will no doubt be embarrassed but he has other things on his mind at he moment.

everdead.ie

mike65 wrote: »

everdead.ie 3 years time



Er the reason that there was no action was because it was a Channel 4 Despatches set-up. Had it been real then the deal would have gone ahead one presumes.

Interesting to see Peter Lim get a mention, as I said at the time

I'm going to hold a parade that day!

TheRedDevil10

anyone who missed it, you can watch it here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od#3212204

mike65

Here's an article for anyone wondering

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/8643816/Bryan-Robson-caught-up-in-foreign-ownership-scandal.html

starbelgrade

Holy crap, that program was poor - gutter journalism at it's worst. I'm sure there is some truth behind the circumventing of rules in order to but football clubs, but the only thing that tonight's programme actually proves is that Dispatches appears to have taken over the television role of The News of The World.

It told us nothing at all, but seemed to thrive on suggestions of corruption aimed at many people & many clubs in England, but were merely suggestions that were backed up by hearsay from a fat bloke who had his photo taken with Alex Ferguson a few times.

The "investigation" set out to highlight one thing, but only really highlighted how poor the level of the investigation actually was. The part that made me laugh the most was their suggestion that they had some part in the loaning of players from United to Preston (eh??? !! WTF?!?!).

Apart from showing Bryan Robson up as being involved in some type of dodgy circle of people, it really wasn't worth the film it was taped on.

acquiescefc

Blunts are 57 million pounds in debt.

Thats the best headline that came out of this.

Mccabes trying to offload for 15 mill.

sad

Guy:Incognito

Quite funny really. Lift out Fergie and drop Harry in there and people would be in overdrive about how dodgy he is and the dodgy mates he has.

He's probably not corrupt or dodgy but he hangs around with some dodgy people.

jesus_thats_gre

starbelgrade wrote: »

Holy crap, that program was poor - gutter journalism at it's worst. I'm sure there is some truth behind the circumventing of rules in order to but football clubs, but the only thing that tonight's programme actually proves is that Dispatches appears to have taken over the television role of The News of The World.

It told us nothing at all, but seemed to thrive on suggestions of corruption aimed at many people & many clubs in England, but were merely suggestions that were backed up by hearsay from a fat bloke who had his photo taken with Alex Ferguson a few times.

The "investigation" set out to highlight one thing, but only really highlighted how poor the level of the investigation actually was. The part that made me laugh the most was their suggestion that they had some part in the loaning of players from United to Preston (eh??? !! WTF?!?!).

Apart from showing Bryan Robson up as being involved in some type of dodgy circle of people, it really wasn't worth the film it was taped on.

It wasn't top journalism by any means but your criticism of it seems to be over the top.

The point about Harry Redknapp is a good one to be honest.

I wasn't overly angered by Bryan Robson until he said that they wouldn't allow the asset stripping of clubs as he "couldn't have his name associated with such a thing".

KeithAFC

Just makes you think what other dodgy deals are going on behind football. Makes you think about huge business men too. Very dodgy.

daithijjj

starbelgrade wrote: »

Holy crap, that program was poor - gutter journalism at it's worst. I'm sure there is some truth behind the circumventing of rules in order to but football clubs, but the only thing that tonight's programme actually proves is that Dispatches appears to have taken over the television role of The News of The World.

It told us nothing at all, but seemed to thrive on suggestions of corruption aimed at many people & many clubs in England, but were merely suggestions that were backed up by hearsay from a fat bloke who had his photo taken with Alex Ferguson a few times.

The "investigation" set out to highlight one thing, but only really highlighted how poor the level of the investigation actually was. The part that made me laugh the most was their suggestion that they had some part in the loaning of players from United to Preston (eh??? !! WTF?!?!).

Apart from showing Bryan Robson up as being involved in some type of dodgy circle of people, it really wasn't worth the film it was taped on.

The role of the programme was pretty much a propaganda exercise and that's what it should be taken as. The waters are far too murky to pin stuff on any individuals and the sole purpose was to get a message across about the finances behind clubs. There's absolutely no harm in digging, I mean at the moment Barnsley is owned by a dead man (literally).

I found the crux of the whole programme directed as a finger waving type thing at people who regulate the game in England and to shape up with regard to looking after these clubs that mean so much to the average man in the street who goes every week in terms of fit and proper owners.

Everything else was just padding out for TV.

jesus_thats_gre

KeithAFC wrote: »

Just makes you think what other dodgy deals are going on behind football. Makes you think about huge business men too. Very dodgy.

I reckon it would make Bertie/Charlie look good to be honest.

KeithAFC

Harry Redknapp is always brought up in these programmes for some reason. I don't know if that is because he is an easy target or what, but he really needs to stay out of the media.

Mr Alan

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

I wasn't overly angered by Bryan Robson until he said that they wouldn't allow the asset stripping of clubs as he "couldn't have his name associated with such a thing".

In fairness, you're being too kind, he actively encouraged asset stripping-just said that he couldn't afford to have his name attached to a group that sold a stadium & would up a club altogether.

Guy:Incognito

KeithAFC wrote: »

Harry Redknapp is always brought up in these programmes for some reason. I don't know if that is because he is an easy target or what, but he really needs to stay out of the media.

He was briefly mentioned in a list by Bryan Robson of people he knew in football that are managers, hardly incriminating stuff.

everdead.ie

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

He was briefly mentioned in a list by Bryan Robson of people he knew in football that are managers, hardly incriminating stuff.

To do with getting players in on loan through contacts he knew wasn't it?
Thats pretty openly going on as it is nothing illegal di canio already said hes talked to Redknapp about getting players in on loan.

KeithAFC

True but then again, it came from a dodgy person if this programme is to be believed.

Guy:Incognito

everdead.ie wrote: »

To do with getting players in on loan through contacts he knew wasn't it?
Thats pretty openly going on as it is nothing illegal di canio already said hes talked to Redknapp about getting players in on loan.

Theres no proof that Robson has any pull at all with him or any of the others he mentioned though. He dropped Dalglish in in the same context too. Dont think anyoen would have him down as dodgey.

everdead.ie

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Theres no proof that Robson has any pull at all with him or any of the others he mentioned though. He dropped Dalglish in in the same context too. Dont think anyoen would have him down as dodgey.

Well he is scottish

Kiwi_knock

The managers they mentioned are not linked in anything dodgy, it is just that they are friendly with Robson and would be more willing to loan players to a club if they knew he was involved in it.

It happens the whole time in football, so nothing dodgy in it.

Paully D

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

I wasn't overly angered by Bryan Robson until he said that they wouldn't allow the asset stripping of clubs as he "couldn't have his name associated with such a thing".

So basically all they were proposing to do is buy the club for a small amount, take advantage of the loan system through various contacts in the game which they hoped would end up with them getting promoted, and then sell the club on for a profit when they got to the Premier League, and Robson refused to let them do something that would harm or damage the said club.

I'm really struggling to see how that made you angry.

Mr Alan

I'm guessing people who aren't grasping the severity of Robson's role in this haven't watched the documentary.

5live

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

The managers they mentioned are not linked in anything dodgy, it is just that they are friendly with Robson and would be more willing to loan players to a club if they knew he was involved in it.

It happens the whole time in football, so nothing dodgy in it.

The programme also dealt a little with ferguson recalling the players manchester united loaned to preston north end as soon as pne sacked their manager, fergusons son, darren.

If they were loaned just for the experience of day to day involvement of playing for a club surely a change of manager would be good experience too? Not to mention a change of style and possible escape from relegation?

But the speed of recall ,to my eyes anyway, intimates that they were sent for the (almost) sole purpose of beneffiting darren ferguson and not the players themselves or manchester united.

Smells dodgy to me;)

dfx-

flahavaj wrote: »

One presumes no less. You are scrabbling hard to find a foothold for a bit of moral indignation here, when in reality the show was a bit of a let down in terms of producing anything concrete.

What would be concrete?