I had a quick scan and can't see this subject on here. Apologies if this subject has been broached before.
One of my students (French guy) informed me this morning of Duchatelet's current interest in buying RC Lens. This is apparently at an advanced stage; and he's talking seriously with the authorities about this. Lens are currently stuck in Ligue 2, with an owner on the run with an international warrant for his arrest, no wages being paid yet the club still pull in over 35'000 fans per game.
At first I was filled with hope; hope that it could mean an imminent sale of Charlton. Then the pessimist in me decided that it would probably be just another network addition.
Don't shoot the messenger but my student, a guy in his late 40s, loves his football (happy as Larry as his local club, Toulouse, saved themselves from the drop this weekend) and knows his stuff aplenty. He knows a lot about us as well, which is always good.
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Now we'll be able to off loan all our rejects to Lens
I must say, if the owner of RC Lens is currently on the run - and Roland had a previous interest in the club - it would be a good time to capitalise on the mess and purchase it for a cheaper price. No doubt something Roland would try.
BTW good luck on 30 months of misery and your forthcoming relegation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Moore
There is a week RC Lens announced having received " two takeover proposals " and would give details " in the coming days" . But since then, nothing. Hafiz Mammadov, the current owner, it is still resistance? The Azerbaijani yet risk being stripped of the club.
YFPublished on April 21, 2016 at 19:45, Updated May 6, 2016 at 19:48
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Hafiz Mammadov still has a say in the conciliation procedure. But a bankruptcy of the holding company could dispossess the club. © MaxPPP
© MaxPPP Hafiz Mammadov still has a say in the conciliation procedure. But a bankruptcy of the holding company could dispossess the club.
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If conciliation is to find a buyer for the conciliation procedure and the criteria for a finding or approval of conciliation are not met, the sale may also take place in fashion " prepack assignment " "explained Mr Laurent Assaya , who coordinates the practice" Restructuring and reorganization of companies "for the Paris office of Jones Day. " In this case, it is the court that decides in the end that is the right buyer and no matter what says the majority shareholder . There is an amicable conciliation phase (research of the buyer by the conciliator) and a phase judicial receivership (final choice of buyer by the court). the judicial phase can be very short if the work in conciliation identified the best buyer. This is the method used successfully in NextiraOne and FRAM . " The lawyer, however, that " the shareholder may appeal if necessary against the court decision ."
"Prepack Assignment"
The "prepack assignment" was recently introduced into French law by an Order of 12 March 2014 on the reform of the insolvency law. However, it requires that the company is insolvent and files for bankruptcy . " We will tell the court when filing the report, we already have the solution ," summarizes Mr. Philippe Hameau , a lawyer at the Paris office of Norton Rose Fulbright, who worked on the first "prepack assignment" made in France Autodistribution now. " The court must ensure that the candidate has taken all the required capabilities based on the conciliation of work. At the hearing, there may be several competing projects but one which is foreseen during the conciliation will often be privileged. the price is not necessarily the determining factor. the main criteria are primarily the job protection and sustainability of the company . " According to Mr. Hamlet, the time between filing for bankruptcy and the court judgment may take about a month when "prepack assignment". This "prepack assignment" is very similar to the solution that Gervais Martel was outlined in a press conference on 28 February . The president had lensois particularly recognized that the bankruptcy of the holding company , which is no longer funded by Mammadov for over a year was possible. " It can be done relatively easily ," he declared. " It's one of the possibilities on which we discussed and a number of operations have already been put in place . (...) If the holding company is in receivership or files for bankruptcy, it must immediately that there is a buyer who is present on the day to resume SASP ". The maneuver would also, he said, to avoid relegation to the lower level. " The holding company owns shares of SASP, but SASP is completely differentiated from holding ", he assured.
Ligue 1 as the ultimate lifeline?
The President of RC Lens has worked hard for two years to overcome the difficulties and the absence of its majority shareholder, pushing some particular payment deadlines or getting the smoothing of certain expenses. But he said it no longer enough to convince the DNCG. " It will be important that we have brought a solution which is a solution of continuity" , he insisted on his last press conference. "We will not even fault we going to do wonders in the 2016/2017 season. It's just impossible. we will have to happen with a file that is concrete . " A possible rise in Ligue 1, however, could change that with TV rights significantly revised upwards. " EUR 3 million more per club fixed ", reminded the president lensois late February. Moreover, the odds of some young players like Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Wylan Cyprien or Benjamin Bourigeaud have surely risen in recent weeks with the fine performances of Blood and Gold. What hope maybe one or a few good sales during the next transfer window. " There's a lot of clubs who have made mistakes because they will be worth much more expensive next season ," warned Gervais Martel after not having received any interesting offer at the winter market. At the same press conference, President lensois had said, to general surprise, that " this year the club will earn between 3 and 3.5 million ." What pay dividends to the holding company and avoid debt default?
forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/comment/2173636/#Comment_2173636
I've been to a few more Lens games since then and am even more convinced that the RC Lens supporters will eat Roly alive. If he thinks he has been getting aggro from CAFC fans, its nothing compared to what their "Ultras" will get up to.