[overseas baggie]

Certain stake % would make it mandatory for them to make a full ownership offer.
Blues have been purchased in a similar way and I believe that’s how the villa owners may have come in when the Dr was in charge.

I don’t think that’s right. We are not a public company

[Sted1990]

I don’t think that’s right. We are not a public company

Oh ok! Even stranger that they want a small stake then

[hardtobeat]

Oh ok! Even stranger that they want a small stake then

Possibly because they think Lai will renege on the loan and the American loan company will sell on the cheap to recover the debt !?

[Jack Thrust]

Is there no nice people with money? They all seem like a right bunch of c u next Tuesday's.

If it makes you feel any better this pair don't have any money 

[zac]

The only slight positive i am taking out of all of this is that at least it looks like he is open to selling us, which is something i thought he wouldn't be doing any time soon. Having read up on the two involved in this minority takeover, i hope we don't touch their "money" but i would think if someone was serious about buying any percentage of a football club i don't think they would necessarily leak the information.

[BalisPen]

No idea about the Egyptian guy but that Farnell chap sounds like an absolute snake.

I think the phrase "better the devil you know" was coined for this exact kind of situation

It shocking how the parasitic "middlemen" have created an industry to find clubs to seek and destroy for a quick profit.

I really hope a football regulator has some teeth to ban these charlatans for life.

[Standaman]

Slow to this but as soon as I saw Farnell's name alarm bells went off. He is an absolute bottom feeder. We are in desperate straits but this is bad. If anything that could be worse than Lai this is it.

These clowns don't have a pot to urine in are trying to get a minority stake on the cheap in the hope we get a promotion and they can leverage their stake for a fast buck.

No the worst of all possible worlds.

[Maresca Was A Baggie]

Lai will care even less than JP about who he sells to, as long as he recoups money against his failed investment, without having to give away too big a %

[baggies_24]

Sorry if this has already been asked if Farnell and this Egyptian chap were to buy a minority stake would they still have to go through the fit & proper test? By the looks of it Farnell failed the fit & proper test at Charlton so I can’t imagine much would have changed especially with them tightening up the rules, im just wondering if they have seen a way of skirting round the fit & proper test by purchasing a minority share in the club.

After what I’ve read about Farnell he should be no-where near football, the bloke is a complete crook. The only thing I’m hoping as it’s out in the press with names it’s not a credible bid. Generally transactions of football clubs are done under nda’s so serious bids aren’t found out until it’s all signed & sealed.

[Nickwba1]

Sorry if this has already been asked if Farnell and this Egyptian chap were to buy a minority stake would they still have to go through the fit & proper test? By the looks of it Farnell failed the fit & proper test at Charlton so I can’t imagine much would have changed especially with them tightening up the rules, im just wondering if they have seen a way of skirting round the fit & proper test by purchasing a minority share in the club.

After what I’ve read about Farnell he should be no-where near football, the bloke is a complete crook. The only thing I’m hoping as it’s out in the press with names it’s not a credible bid. Generally transactions of football clubs are done under nda’s so serious bids aren’t found out until it’s all signed & sealed.

My assumption would be no they wouldn't as it's only a minority share.

[Standaman]

The EFl owners and directors test.

https://www.efl.com/-more/governance/efl-rules--regulations/efl-regulations/appendix-3-owners-and-directors-test/

If anybody from the consortium was a director they would be subject to the test. I can't imagine that if they would make a significant investment without being able to nominate at least one director.

Equally they will be subject to money laundering checks if the stake is significant even if it is not a controlling one.

The rules are tougher than they used to be but it doesn't mean that the investors have noble intentions.

[Bleeding Gums Murphy]

Farnell is not someone you want near a football club.

https://thecharltondossier.com/chris-farnell/

[baggie82]

Lai will care even less than JP about who he sells to, as long as he recoups money against his failed investment, without having to give away too big a %

Not possible as JP didn't give a dam about the club when it was sold, his only interest was to maximise his return. Lai will be the same.

[paulosull]

Not possible as JP didn't give a dam about the club when it was sold, his only interest was to maximise his return. Lai will be the same.

Ebenezer didn’t invest in club got club to buy his shares for him and then didn’t he dilute shares?

[overseas baggie]

Ebenezer didn’t invest in club got club to buy his shares for him and then didn’t he dilute shares?

He certainly never invested funds into the club.  His money (or the money he borrowed) got paid to vendor shareholders and he then sold to Yunyai.  In reality he never had any money to invest into the club as his wealth was merely paper wealth until the sale to Yunyai

[paulosull]

Anyone know if this Farnell character is the same English based lawyer that was involved in American consortium that bid for club?

[tambag]

Anyone know if this Farnell character is the same English based lawyer that was involved in American consortium that bid for club?

I didn't know but this guy has been involved in more than one failed attempt at purchasing a football club, big Alarm bells for me - could be worse than Lai ?

[overseas baggie]

I didn't know but this guy has been involved in more than one failed attempt at purchasing a football club, big Alarm bells for me - could be worse than Lai ?

Farnell is not actually a lawyer.  Calls himself one but isn’t one. 

[baggiejohn]

A number of comentators are saying we're "up for sale", the buying combination identified by the Athletic doesn't look very attractive.

On the other hand, relationships beteween the Chinese & Arab nations are really good at the moment, so it wouldn't be surprising if new investment came from the Arab world.

There's a rumour that Periera is coming back, I wonder if there's a connection?

[Atomic]

I didn't know but this guy has been involved in more than one failed attempt at purchasing a football club, big Alarm bells for me - could be worse than Lai ?

How?

Its a serious question. We are heading for administration unless things turn around quite dramatically. How much worse can any other owner be?

[WBArgo]

A number of comentators are saying we're "up for sale", the buying combination identified by the Athletic doesn't look very attractive.

On the other hand, relationships beteween the Chinese & Arab nations are really good at the moment, so it wouldn't be surprising if new investment came from the Arab world.

There's a rumour that Periera is coming back, I wonder if there's a connection?

We can only dream 
I still think Lai will milk us a bit more before (if) he sells us and expect at least 1-2 more seasons of selling our best players before he calls it quits.

I'm also very skeptical of 'commentators'. Often they parrot each other and are more confident than they should be. I would love some wealthy Arabs at B71 though!

[Atomic]

We can only dream 
I still think Lai will milk us a bit more before (if) he sells us and expect at least 1-2 more seasons of selling our best players before he calls it quits.

I'm also very skeptical of 'commentators'. Often they parrot each other and are more confident than they should be. I would love some wealthy Arabs at B71 though!

Wouldn't we all? It's a sad state of affairs, not right, not fair BUT it's the modern world.

Look at Vile. Practically at administration only around 5 years ago. Get taken over by money men, look at them now. Gone are 27,000 gates, loads of money spent and they need a stadium size bigger than when they were top flight runners up in the early 90's.

That won't happen to us. Some clubs just luck out constantly. We never, ever do.

[skyclad99]

Ebenezer didn’t invest in club got club to buy his shares for him and then didn’t he dilute shares?

There is no evidence to confirm that he used club funds to buy shares, but it is a popular theory.
When he was chairman he did a ‘share consolidation scheme’ which basically meant that for every 10 shares you had, you would have one ‘new’ share. Most shareholders had 1 or 2 so were virtually forced to sell them back to the club, or business boy in particular. He then acquired many shares to get him to 88% and the rest is history. Basically he forced genuine Albion fans to sell up for his own greed. He then held the next AGM in London and would not take any questions about the share consolidation scheme. The scheme was very divisive but apparently legal.

[tambag]

How?

Its a serious question. We are heading for administration unless things turn around quite dramatically. How much worse can any other owner be?

The guy was deemed not fit to run a football club and was banned (he won back that status on appeal).  Remember EFL & EPL neither think Lai is a problem !

[baggie82]

Farnell is not actually a lawyer.  Calls himself one but isn’t one.

He is a Solicitor registered by the SRA.