I ‘ve just been reading reports from KUMB.com that according to an Italian website, Massimo Cellino has beat the other bidders in the race to buy West Ham
If I’m honest, it’s probably my least favoured of the potential bidders – and if it is true, I’d be particularly disappointed I think. After everything that has gone on, all the proposed bids, all the negotiations, for someone to bust in at the last minute with a bid and then win it seems neglectful on our current owners parts. Neglect that is, to the future of West Ham.
Agreed, we don’t know the whole story and can only comment on what we read in the press – but it worries me a little if it is true.
One other thing to consider is that the Italians are notorious for managing the media, particularly politcal. One question that does need to be asked is has this story been ‘leaked’ in an attempt to pre-populate the press with “news” of a takeover in order to put Tony Fernandes, who IS in London tonight, on the backfoot?
Time for a quick poll I think – would you be happy if this story turned out to be true?
Not knowing much about this Italian fellow it,s hard to be negative yet,however Tony Fernandes ,Gold/Sullivan & Intermarket all seem to have strong links to our club & hopefully will be able to pull us out of the situation we find ourselves in.Whoever wins the race lets hope to god they put there money where there mouths are in the transfer window & bring in some great players to help us avoid the drop.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Sounds like he has had some insider info to beat the best bid.
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All i know is that we need a new owner, none of the list of potentials make me excited so if it is the italian who it has been rumored is in it with flavio briatre good luck to them. He is a football man in fact they both are, he knows the manager and should know a few talented footballers so because of this view I have voted YES YES YES!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Just so you know, being associated with Flavio is a bad thing
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Why? QPR dont seem to mind him. and in any case is it any worse than being associated with a man that had been convicted of fraud or with two men who have made millions from porn?
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He was given a lifetime ban my Formula 1 for essentially cheating/fixing a race. And a history of being too close, or the wrong side, to the edge of the rules for his entire 15year involvment in the sport.
The Premier League doesn’t allow mahor shareholders or directors to be people who have been banned from another sport. Like a good conduct requirement.
And let’s face it, it’s seemingly not beyond some people involved in Italian football to fix matches is it?
I’m sorry, the whole thing is very very shady – he’s come, pretty much out of nowhere with his “Miami” money
Is it legit? Is he good for it? Who knows?
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Briatore was given a ban by the FIA which was overturned last year. He is chairman of QPR and above all else a very wealthy man. If he is involved with Cellino and it is a big if so what? most people who have made millions have trodden on toes to get to the top and none are whiter than white. What is important is that Cellino wants to purchase and invest in the club. Which is great news. By the way his money is from exporting cerials, just because he is italian and lives in the sun in Florida doesn’t mean he is mafia or corrupt.
Who would you have run the club? Cliff Richard
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Some other reasons I’m concerned with this.
As mentioned by someone else I know, why would the President of another club want to buy us? The alarm bells a rigning immeditately for me.
We’ve a famous academy, and Tony Carr is a phenomenal coach.
What’s to stop this guy, if he does become our new owner, just creaming off the academy? Get us cheap and bring success to the club he actually cares about. Hysterical? Maybe, but it’s a reality.
From another friend “I hear he was in court in Naples last month about match fixing. His company has been accused of embezzling money out of the EU!”
I don’t think Cliff Richard would suit the club. No.
I’m thinking something a little more serious, stable and structured…oh, maybe like the Intermarket bid.
A 10-year plan, with West Ham’s best interests at heart.
We do not need another scandal to go through.
I don’t know the guy, but based on what I’m hearing and my gut instinct he’s not right for the club.
Some people think that Fernandes was a bit of a joke – but frankly he was getting in amongst the fans, he was talking to us. He was making his intentions known, and clearly wants to best for us – nothing like that from the Italian.
Why also, would they extend the deadline for the bidders only to say yes this quickly – the banks are selling to the person who’s offering the most money and that’s not good for us.
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Here, is another reason why I do not want him at the helm
http://tinyurl.com/yk37kt6
We don’t want destabilising!
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Also, for what it’s worth…
Here’s the list of managers that have been in charge at QPR since Briatore has been there
“Under Briatore, permanent managers John Gregory, Luigi De Canio, Iain Dowie, Paulo Sousa, Magilton and Hart have departed while Harford, Gareth Ainsworth (twice) and youth coaches Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham have had spells in caretaker charge.”
Thats since August 2007 – so just over 2 years.
Is this what we want at our club? No
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Annnd, he’s a convicted criminal
For grain fraud
Using EU finance to acquire low quality grain (for his cereal) and profiting from the difference
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-hams-italian-suitor-faces-scrutiny-1868379.html
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most Italian papers state Cellino put his offer in before christmas.
And speculate that hes offer was seen as the best and was called in yesterday to close the deal.
I voted yes,also.
A deal needs to be done fast.
apart from G&S,Cellino is the only proven bidder who can run a succesfull footbal club.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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He may be able to succesffuly run a football club, but he doesn’t run a successful football club
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well,when i say run a sucsessful club,i meant as in a business.
Which he has more than proven,with continous profits made from his club since his takeover.
It all depends as fans what we want.
money chucked at the club(we saw what happend there)
or a steady gain through small investmant over time.
everyone i have asked says cellino is a brilliant bussiness man.
from Hercules Cel
I mean
Marc.
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28 managers in the last 18 years at Cagliari! a yoyo team with him getting involved selecting players for the team sheet.
He is a toby of the highest order according to Italian friends.
A big fat NO to Massimo Cellino!
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That report was lifted off westhamonline and some on there have given the story some credibility.
But who knows?
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If the italian has purchased the club and gives the manager the funds to buy a new striker then great whats the problem? Its all well and good saying you would prefere an owner with a link to the club but in all honesty we no nothing about Intermarket all be it a collective of wh fans, whos CEO has just pegged it and G & S only link is that one of them lived opposite the ground as a kid and they had a few shares years ago, hardly inspirational! Fernandes seems to be a bit of a joker to me he certainly tweets a good game!
We have been an anglo italian club for a few years nowand if he does sack zola after a bad run then my money is on Di Canio to be the next manager in!!
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i live in italy and this guy is a joke! he loves only to be the centre of attention,and reports show in the past of corruption!! with what we have passed in the last few years its the last thing we need. i have questions also about the amount of hard cash this guy has? it’s not as if he’s ever spent heavily on his current club. he buys cheap to sell on at a profit.Thats not the way to go forward,but back to our past,and present.. please no no no no!!
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Very interestingn point mate – I’m personally not happy with it at all. The last thing we need at our club is more controversy and hassle.
We need someone in who will back the side, invest money, but most of be stable and secure. Nothing fancy, just someone with West Ham’s interest (not his pocket’s interest) at heart
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I read today one of the leading figures on the intermaket team died (Jim Bowne) if I remember rightly. This might be the reason their bid is being held up. Also says they plan to be at the club for at least 10 years. Stability and security we need.
Defo no to the Italian though
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thanks for the quote Sam.
I am concerned if this does indeed turn out to be true, some sceptical concerns and some serious ones.
first off the comment about West Ham ending up a feeder club for me is the biggest one when one person/group ends up owning two teams in the same sport there will always be questions.
He took over Cagliari in 1992, now forgive me if I am wrong but they are a mid table obscurity team who haven’t exactly done much over the years(a bit like our good selves in all honesty)so why hasn’t he invested his fortunes in them instead of picking up another team? West Ham are known for it’s academy and has one of the most respected youth team development people in the world, namely Tony Carr so what is to stop Cellini feeding young Italian kids into the system but not for the benefit of West Ham but his other team?
Secondly, this guy has been under investigation in Italian courts for embezzlement etc and linked with match fixing scandals. What’s to stop us thinking that the only way he can clean any alleged financial wrong doings is by “buying” another club and filtering his money through it? a bit fantasy? maybe but it has happened in the past.
Its just all a bit sudden and the great point above about Rothschilds extending the deadline but then boom deal done just doesn’t add up.
At the end of the day we are being sold down a river by Bankers and the club has no say in it this time and we all know how greedy the banks are so they will just feed off the hand that waves the biggest pile of grubby fivers (or was that Arry Spud and the Taxman?)
anyway COYI WHTID and all that, I will try and stay positive and hey it could all turn out to be a good thing but the past couple of season have taught me to be very wary and the needle on my oh shit meter is reading high at the moment
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That right there, in a nutshell, is why I’m worried.
Any promises of invesment from him? Any quotes of bringing in players, wanting the club to succeed? I’ve not heard any, correct me if I’m wrong.
To him I believe this is either a get-out of sorts or it’s an opportunity for him to pump money back into his home club.
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I’m hearing it’s Sullivan!
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..and now it isn’t.
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