IIRC, China sent out strong signals a while ago that it wanted foreign investment in the west to stop; I think it would prefer the money to be invested within China and their state approved foreign projects (e.g buying Africa lock, stock and barrel)... in line with the geopolitical musings of Halford Mackinder (whoever dominates the 'world island' - Eurasia & Africa - will eventually dominate the world. All the geopolitical developments we are seeing; competition with Russia for influence over ex-Soviet republics and the wish to regain Taiwan for strategic naval dominance, dovetail with this aim).
Apologies for going off on a tangent, but all things are connected and can have consequences way beyond those which we may at first recognise....even relegation from the second tier of English football!
The Grauniad is reporting that: "IEC bought Wigan from the sports and retail magnate Dave Whelan for £15.9m, but despite winning promotion from League One last season, the company said it was dissatisfied with the loss-making finances of the Championship and the UK’s uncertain economic prospects after Brexit. IEC sold to Au Yeung’s consortium for £17.5m, plus repayment of £24.36m the company had invested in the club."
Basically the buyer has enough money but is concerned with the short to medium-term financial prospect of running a Championship football club, so has kicked the club well and truly to the kerb and washed his hands Pontius Pilate style.
I think this means we are at a watershed moment for those looking to invest in a football club. We can expect many other clubs to go to the wall in the next few years. Praying that won't include us.
I was always slightly puzzled by the original HK takeover, as it seemed to take months to complete, and I couldn't see the motives for buying Wigan, who never sold out in the PL and have a small fanbase, being squeezed between Manchester and Liverpool, and not having the history of other clubs that helps generate long term family ties
A lot of this makes me think about a phrase used not long ago by Lyle Taylor which was 'I know my value'. Really? I wonder if he, and footballers generally, can take into account the new realities. And agents too.
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
Do you think there is a chance we could enter administration this season, same as Wigan?
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
I think 1 team will go down with 52, or more points.
Once again efl cover themselves in glory,fit and proper owners,this bunch of duffers have not got a clue,yes it helps us,but I really feel for the club and supporters,they have played brilliantly to get mid table,and now shafted.
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
Do you think there is a chance we could enter administration this season, same as Wigan?
I don't see why, as we are in an odd situation where the owners basically just have to pay the current bills (wages, PAYE etc) and the big money owed is to Roland.
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
Do you think there is a chance we could enter administration this season, same as Wigan?
You would think our owners would want to bank the income from EFL and players sales first. Send the money out as consultancy fees, perhaps agreed payments to former club owners (Nimer / Southall) etc. Then go into admin when Duche comes calling for his 1.5 million.
That's a cynical view if they can't find a legit buyer.
It seems very harsh that the fans are punished because of wannabees and shysters. We haven't gone into administration but it is easy to empathise. It might help us, but I would prefer we stayed up on merit.
I think administration is a very real risk but not before this season is concluded. Don’t believe Elliot has money or a backer willing to pay bills longer than it takes to sell the club again. If that fails to happen I think they’ll put the club into administration.
That email/letter that got leaked the other week with the £90k we owed in legals or whatever it was... that wasn't a genuine threat and just another Southall pointless leak?
Something like that could force club into admin if not paid, could it?
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
Do you think there is a chance we could enter administration this season, same as Wigan?
You would think our owners would want to bank the income from EFL and players sales first. Send the money out as consultancy fees, perhaps agreed payments to former club owners (Nimer / Southall) etc. Then go into admin when Duche comes calling for his 1.5 million.
That's a cynical view if they can't find a legit buyer.
Sorry mate I must've missed this, what £1.5m are you referring to?
Obviously over the last few years us and a number of other clubs have known EFL are not fit and proper for the role they have, and have tried to make this more aware to the surrounding football family.
But I naively believed that what happened to Bury would have woken the EFL up to ensure that all clubs are protected, yet we’re continuing to see clubs struggle at the hands of dishonest ‘businessman’.
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
Do you think there is a chance we could enter administration this season, same as Wigan?
You would think our owners would want to bank the income from EFL and players sales first. Send the money out as consultancy fees, perhaps agreed payments to former club owners (Nimer / Southall) etc. Then go into admin when Duche comes calling for his 1.5 million.
That's a cynical view if they can't find a legit buyer.
Sorry mate I must've missed this, what £1.5m are you referring to?
If we stay up we have to pay Duche 1.5million.
Again anyone please correct me if I have this wrong.
It seems very harsh that the fans are punished because of wannabees and shysters. We haven't gone into administration but it is easy to empathise. It might help us, but I would prefer we stayed up on merit.
The problem, or one of them, is the fans (and players) are more than happy for these wannabees and shysters to pay the bills and inflated wages, keep season ticket costs down etc etc until they pull the plug.
That email/letter that got leaked the other week with the £90k we owed in legals or whatever it was... that wasn't a genuine threat and just another Southall pointless leak?
Something like that could force club into admin if not paid, could it?
I'm honestly not clued up at all on this subject.
They could issue a winding up notice through the high court. Could being the key word.
Take no joy in another club’s demise. We are also edging close to the precipice and need to be vigilant. The government needs to step in as football is part of a community’s identity and history.
How anyone can be happy about this is beyond me. I’ll continue to support the team that I love, but overall I’m really beginning to fall out of love with football in general, and what it has become. Sending nothing but good wishes to Wigan. Those fans don’t deserve to be in this situation.
As others have said, I take no pleasure in this helping us. I’d like us to stay up on merit. The whole system is wrong. Crap owners don’t care a bit about administration. It’s the fans and community who suffer.
Ridiculous in a way that relegation from the Championship this season could actually be decided by points deductions rather than anything on the field
Sheffield Wednesday | Wigan will probably get them whilst we may join them based on our owners
Add Bolton into the mix and Macclesfield in League Two then you've got nearly all Divisions (of course the last mentioned didnt get relegated) that have been decided this way
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
I think 1 team will go down with 52, or more points.
With Wigan heading for safety before this, they’ve now effectively got 38 points.
Sky Sports News speaking to one of the administrators. He said it's a well run club, on the pitch and off. They were taken over 4 weeks ago and are now in administration because "the new owner has decided he doesn't want to continue funding the business".
WTF. How the f*ck?! So EFL approves the deal, new owner loses interest/has a change of heart - 88 year old club's future in jeopardy, jobs in jeopardy, probably going to be relegated. Unbelievable.
Why are we even going through the charade of this Fit and proper Persons Test? So angry hearing this. And we all know this could so easily be our club next. Absolutely farcical.
I really feel for Wigan and this is a bit of a bolt from the blue.
If it helps us to stay up then we have to see it as a bonus - as harsh as that may sound
As long as Mr Elliott continues to pay the bills and we stay solvent then that has to be seen as good news. For now. But The Famous Dodger tellling him we don't want him here would likely mean only one thing right now...this would be us too.
Having said that if we go into administration it would be interesting to see what that does to Roland's demands...does he lose out on much of what he wants? I dare say the vultures are circling because we would be a massive proposition if we could be picked up for peanuts albeit with a points deduction.
Sad that is has all come to this to be honest. There will be quite a few clubs starting from a points deficit next season I suspect
The problem for Wigan if I understand how it works is not only are they now adrift at the bottom, but if they save themselves, which they are capable of doing, they get deducted the points next season. Is that correct?
Horrible for any club and goes to show it can happen to any club below the Premier League completely out of the blue.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
That means if we get to 52, that should be enough. That’s a hell of an ask for teams below us to get more than that, and for Wigan to get more 64 or more points.
I think 1 team will go down with 52, or more points.
With Wigan heading for safety before this, they’ve now effectively got 38 points.
Comments
Apologies for going off on a tangent, but all things are connected and can have consequences way beyond those which we may at first recognise....even relegation from the second tier of English football!
Really?
I wonder if he, and footballers generally, can take into account the new realities.
And agents too.
We have to be so careful that this doesn’t happen to us, as we all know it’s a very real possibility.
In terms of survival hopes, it does make it seem as though if we get to 52 points, that will surely be enough now.
Wigan’s form has been incredible, luckily for them it has, otherwise they’d be gone now. However, I don’t believe they’ll carry on this form as good as they have been. They may still do well, but they’ll drop points along the way, especially with the quick turnaround in games.
Maybe we can make it through the season.
That's a cynical view if they can't find a legit buyer.
That email/letter that got leaked the other week with the £90k we owed in legals or whatever it was... that wasn't a genuine threat and just another Southall pointless leak?
Something like that could force club into admin if not paid, could it?
I'm honestly not clued up at all on this subject.
Sorry mate I must've missed this, what £1.5m are you referring to?
Again anyone please correct me if I have this wrong.
The whole system is wrong. Crap owners don’t care a bit about administration. It’s the fans and community who suffer.
Sheffield Wednesday | Wigan will probably get them whilst we may join them based on our owners
Add Bolton into the mix and Macclesfield in League Two then you've got nearly all Divisions (of course the last mentioned didnt get relegated) that have been decided this way
EFL WAKE THE HELL UP!!!
Bottom 6 is therefore:
Stoke 43
Hull 42
Huddersfield 42
Barnsley 41
Luton 40
Wigan 38
Therefore, you’re saying that 4 of them, plus Middlesbrough on 44 and us on 46, will get more than 52 points? That’s a hell of an ask.
That’s why I believe 52 now will be enough.
WTF. How the f*ck?! So EFL approves the deal, new owner loses interest/has a change of heart - 88 year old club's future in jeopardy, jobs in jeopardy, probably going to be relegated. Unbelievable.
Why are we even going through the charade of this Fit and proper Persons Test? So angry hearing this. And we all know this could so easily be our club next. Absolutely farcical.
If it helps us to stay up then we have to see it as a bonus - as harsh as that may sound
As long as Mr Elliott continues to pay the bills and we stay solvent then that has to be seen as good news. For now. But The Famous Dodger tellling him we don't want him here would likely mean only one thing right now...this would be us too.
Having said that if we go into administration it would be interesting to see what that does to Roland's demands...does he lose out on much of what he wants? I dare say the vultures are circling because we would be a massive proposition if we could be picked up for peanuts albeit with a points deduction.
Sad that is has all come to this to be honest. There will be quite a few clubs starting from a points deficit next season I suspect
If Birmingham loose tonight but win at the weekend they won't be safe yet. Win tonight and loose at the weekend however they probably will be.
Do you think 2 wins will make us safe? I don't.
Points will be deducted this season, unless they finish in the bottom three and are relegated without the points deduction.
If that's the case they start next season in League 1 on -12