Rumor: Yank Billionaire to buy Leeds United

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by Kool Herc, Jul 12, 2010.

  1. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Going out on a limb here as so many of these rumors are later proven to be bogus but theres a vicious rumor swirling the Leeds message board that Ken Bates and the mystery owners of Leeds United have finally sold the club and rumours have it that its an American buyer with Bates and the new mystery chairman meeting this week either in London or in the States to iron out the complicated details:
    Given the amount of these rumors that have been out before I'll take a "I'll believe it when I see it approach." There is probably better than a 50% chance this is bullshit but people who have been "in the know" about signings and fixture changes etc in the past are saying there's something to it. Even if it is true theres also a good chance that its not a Yank but thats the rumor as of now.

    Does anyone know of any Yank billionaires that have been looking to buy a club? Any potential suitors that have been turned down before?

    (apologies in advance if this turns out to be bullshit, I'll send a PM to a mod/admin to delete if I figure out it is.)
     
  2. Adiaga Two

    Adiaga Two Member+

    Oct 4, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This guy.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Sakatei

    Sakatei Member

    Jun 24, 2007
    Who doesn't?
     
  4. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    :D We'd take him.

    Get the Chelsea out of Leeds is the prevailing sentiment.

    I'm looking for names :)
     
  5. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    I'm almost afraid to ask, but what's the back story with this pic?
     
  6. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There's enough back story there to set your drink on.

    /Mark Curry out
     
  7. SoccerKowboy

    SoccerKowboy BigSoccer Supporter

    Jul 13, 2007
    Virginia, USA
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, yes there is.
     
  8. prowazekii

    prowazekii Member

    Jun 21, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There's enough there to rest a gallon of milk on. :eek:
     
  9. pdid10

    pdid10 Member+

    Aug 8, 2008
    Boulder
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Hahaha...repped, the lot of you.
     
  10. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Yank Billionaires? There are over 300.

    Any with a soccer jones?

    Paul Allen?

    Owner of the Seahawks, Trail Blazers, and the Seattle Sounders........................

    Maybe the Sounders have piqued his interest for the European soccer. In your wet dreams!!!!!!!!!!!

    Didn't the infamous George Soros try to buy Roma last year? I remember something about that.

    If you want even further explosive wet dreams consider Larry Ellison. He's the 6th richest person in the world, and has invested in sports. In particular, BMW Oracle Racing and the America's Cup.

    You know what would be REALLY interesting. Phil Knight. 24th richest American. Owner of Nike...........

    Anyway......I'm just rambling.
     
  11. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    :eek: :eek:

    Anyone of those would do thanks :cool:
     
  12. Jumbalaya

    Jumbalaya Member+

    Apr 27, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Sunderland AFC
    Dear God if Paul Allen were in the mix I'd personally fly out to Seattle to kidnap him and keep his grimy paws off Leeds. In the name of our Lord please let it not be Allen. He's one of the top 5 worst owners in sports.
     
  13. MikeR

    MikeR Member

    Jul 25, 2005
    Indiana
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    George Soros isn't "infamous," unless your name is Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh. Sorry for the politics injection, but couldn't quite let this pass.
     
  14. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This rumor is back with allegedly a new CEO being announced this week -- leading to speculation that a sale might follow that announcement. Still mentions of the newspaper injunctions.

    People mentioning two Americans with serious money. Still no clue on who.
     
  15. Dyvel

    Dyvel Member+

    Jul 24, 1999
    The dog end of a day gone by
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
  16. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  17. johnsemlak

    johnsemlak Member

    Jun 27, 2009
    New York
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  18. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Among other errors but not really an article, that's just a fan summarizing what the Daily Mail was reporting.

    Doesn't look like they ended up buying any club though.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_Leaf_Sports_&_Entertainment
     
  19. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Daniel Snyder (?) :eek:
     
  20. Jacques Strappe

    Mar 24, 2005
    Atlanta, GA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have always thought Mark Cuban might be a good fit for one of these situations. He has a ton of money and he has a good record with sports team ownership. He also definitely takes an interest in the on court performance of his team. Kind of like a Mike Ashley without the drama.
     
  21. Rainer24

    Rainer24 Member

    Jan 6, 2008
    Nashville, TN
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Well, he has made the Redskins outrageously profitable, and has invested plenty of that money back into the team, even if it hasn't paid off in results. Might not be horrible.

    That said, this barely seems like a rumor at this point. I'll believe when I see it.
     
  22. GalacticoX4

    GalacticoX4 Member+

    Jun 2, 2004
    One problem i think you'll always have with American owners, i'm american by the way, is fans in England seem to think buying a club is philanthropy. That you buy the club and give them money to possibly blow then give them more. In American sports typically teams are expected to pay their own way. Not all but most are. Like if they club takes in 20mil it's not spending 50mill on players even if they are a big name team. Now there is a salary cap and revenue sharing to control costs but still nobody in the states freaks out that Jerry Jones may take a salary from the cowboys. Sport in the U.S. is not philanthropy. It's a business that has to be viable. Like Liverpool. Fans by an large want an owner that will buy the club with say, 300 Million, Then fund the clubs transfers for big players at say 50Mill a year, plus build a 700 Mill stadium. And then fork out 50Mill the next year for players to keep up with the big clubs of the world. All of that out of your own pocket, without taking any loans, not taking a salary, and not complaining. I think a lot of americans would think only an idiot or a rich saudi that is so ubsurdly rich that it doesn't matter would fork over that kind of money and expect no return. And in the current situation that doesn't even include the debt.

    Like Liverpool fans are upset that the stadium hasn't gotten build. i understand cause they need it. But i contrast that with say the fans of the san francisco 49ers. They've been trying to get a new stadium for more then 20 years. Theyve won superbowls in that time. Fans are upset but not nearly the same way. Like when owners say it's too expensive and they couldn't get a deal done fans kinda went "yeah everything is expensive in San Francisco, that sucks. oh well. Keep trying." They weren't like "you f'ing liar!" Hell Oakland moved for stadium reasons. Like i just think the different expectations of fans, the way the leagues are run, and this whole idea that the owner should just fork over money at a loss will always be a problem for American owners.
     
  23. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    From SkySports presenter and former Leeds player Chris Kamara:
     
  24. sidefootsitter

    sidefootsitter Member+

    Oct 14, 2004
    And Joe Gibbs is yer new coach.
     
  25. Kool Herc

    Kool Herc Member

    Oct 17, 2008
    Dallas
    Club:
    Leeds United AFC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Takeover rumors are back again, this time confirmed by the BBC and on the Leeds official site. BBC reported today that a Chicago-based group is leading the way to purchase Leeds from Ken Bates, but others including a Saudi billionaire are in the mix. Rumored price to be in the 50 million pound range.

    Can anyone think of who might be behind this Chicago-based group?
     

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