Bates Buying Sheffield Wednesday?

[prk166]

What does everyone think of the rumor of Ken Bates buying out Wednesday?

http://skysports.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=193157&cpid=11

[basso001]

I don't know what to make of it all.

It's clear that Dave Allen has no chance of reversing the club's slide. He seems to be completely out of ideas. And his behavior recently has been erratic, to say the least. To treat a potential investor in a club as he did KB at the AGM is wrong.

And now he's reported to be banning perceived opponents from Hillsborough. It's all very strange and there's too much rumor flying around to be sure of what exactly is happening.

I think Wednesday need new blood and some vision in the boardroom. But . . . Ken Bates? I keep thinking of Chelsea's debts before the miracle arrived.

I think I support his offer. The club has to go forward somehow. But even if it goes through I'll be holding my breath just a little bit.

b.

[Clan]

I think his best comment of all was when he said " when Bates jumps into the water, the sharks jump out".....flipin hilarious!

[basso001]

:D
Our Dave's a piece of work, eh?

What would you tell Wednesday supporters, Clan?

b.

[Clan]

I'd tell them to take the £10 million and run. :D

Seriously though, he's far too up in years to be trying anything on as grande a scale as that white elephant he built at Stamford bridge and is on an ego trip to still be involved in the game as the head man somewhere.Thats a serious amount of money he's supposed to be willing to invest - and if it all goes to the football team i think the pros would outweight the cons.
Of course thats my view of it looking at it from the outside - what the club is contracted to do in the small print for him to hand over control is what would be of interest.

I believe he's involved in certain chaiman roles for the league as well that require his active involvement with a football club to hold onto.
It may well be that he actually needs this in a worse way than he's leting on.

Still, as ever with Bates, nothing will ever be %100 truthfully known and his endearing charm once again came to the forefront as he mouthed off about keepers winning nothing as managers.

[Clan]

The fight is on.
http://www.thisisbristol.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=127658&command=displayContent&sourceNode=127657&contentPK=9543412

A better article.
http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=59&ArticleID=772235

As it ever is with kuddly 'ol Ken, at least you'll know where you stand, his brash and often offensive language is his hallmark.

If/when he takes over, the programme notes will be of particular interest i'm sure - and, of course, his contempt and shoddy treatment of the media will again have a controlled (by him) outlet.

Interesting times ahead for Owls fans it would seem.

[basso001]

Thanks for the links, Clan. Not surprising, really. We knew that it would be either Allen or Bates -- can't fit two egos like those into one club. And I think that everyone (except Allen, apparently) has already given up on Turner. Today's "result" didn't help at all.

b.

[prk166]

Question - What happens with Wednesday if they don't accept Bates' investment? My understanding is that they're not doing well. And the problem goes beyond paying Julian Jochiam (sp!) premeirship wages.

[basso001]

Well, the season is finally over. 29,000 at Hillsborough.

Ken Bates was one of them. Dave Allen didn't show up.

Says a lot, I think. I'm beginning to think that Bates is going to pull this off.

[Clan]

Perhaps.
But he's not welcome by everyone it would seem.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/3696187.stm

[sinner78]

Well, the season is finally over. 29,000 at Hillsborough.

Ken Bates was one of them. Dave Allen didn't show up.

Says a lot, I think. I'm beginning to think that Bates is going to pull this off.

Ken Bates takeover???
lets face it ,anything is better than this dave allen joker we've got at the moment.
didnt even show up for the last few games..

[prk166]

Perhaps.
But he's not welcome by everyone it would seem.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/3696187.stm

From that article, I took it that the message from the banks - the real owners =- was that they were happy with the current path.

It strikes me that given the potential that Wednesday have, 10 mil isn't much money to put into the club. How much does Bates have to spend? Enough to buy both SheffUtd and Wed? Would he be daft enough to do that?