Assem Allam speaks

It may well be a lie. But it may not. I found the stuff about the attempted sale interesting. I don't think the Duffen purchase was ever likely now - more of a stalking horse - but it's interesting to see him semi-belittled like this. The stuff about the relationship with the council, the attitude towards the HCST, potential buyers, what price they are looking for, all interesting. Yes, it may all be bull**** but I still found it interesting. Judging by the amount of heat it is generating, so did several others.

 

Unfortunately that wouldn't pack a extra few listeners to his "award winning" morning show, so won't ever happen

 

Like I say, I think you have too high an expectation of journalists, especially local ones. There's not a journalist with any interest in anything Hull-related would turn down an interview with Assem Allam, given the level of interest he generates and the length of time it's been since his last interview. Allam isn't a publicly accountable figure like a politician. He can just walk off if you get stuck into him with no repercussions.

 

He needs to get out more

 

It wasn’t an interview it was staged propaganda.

I have limited hope that journalists may aspire to producing honest work. I understand that many don’t give a ****.

 

As was previously written, Burns isn't a journalist he is a radio presenter. Not that any of the supposed journalists on the HDM are any good at investigative journalism a la David Conn.

 

Agreed.

Burns is no fool despite what many media professionals on here think.

He is astute enough to realise that AA usually condemns himself with his own words: his contradictions, revisions of history, bizarre opinions, exaggerations and petty grudges.

The more he talks, the worse he looks.

Keep him talking, let him feel at ease, and the damaging bullshit flow out of his mouth.

The public are discerning enough to identify the truth.

 

Staged propaganda is correct. He only does stuff to benefit himself. I did email Burnsy and asked about the ulterior motive of the invitation to talk football. No response of course.

 

Hopefully most are discerning. Some never will see the truth.

 

Journalism can be about extracting information too. I don't know many journalists who don't give a **** about producing 'honest' work (though evidently there are a number of them around) but I know of many who accept the limitations they frequently have to work within. It's easy to talk about about what you'd do on a football forum but the reality of the situation would dictate otherwise. Sorry! It goes on all the time (ask anyone who's ever had to interview Jimmy Page, for example). No matter what you ask Assem Allam, he'll give the answer he was always going to give anyway, for what it's worth.

 

One question I wish Burns had asked is

"Given that you're an astute business man why have you historically let go valuable assets (players) for free and will probably repeat
that again this summer ?"

 

Some silly ****s were texting in about ungrateful fans etc

No doubt these are people who always have an opinion even if they have no real interest or knowledge of the subject.

I'm afraid Hull, like the rest of the country, has a percentage of know nowt ****s.

 

AA: Yes, but I don’t look forward to that as it’s not only the loan. It’s a hard life for Ehab and I over eight years without any remuneration. The council pay not £1 for Ehab or myself. How many clubs will do that? Ehab is chief executive, free of charge, for eight and a half years.

****ing must be, poncing around Europe, buying cars and playing polo.

FFS

 

I’ve not mentioned what I’d do.

Burns has given Allam a platform to spout **** rather than challenge him. For this he appears weak, ill advised, unprincipled & inadequate.

For the record I’d have agreed to all Allams requests to get the meet, turned on the recorders & asked as many relevant questions as I could before he ****ed off. I’d have then sold the interview as “Allam being a lying **** again”

 

Burns was given the questions to ask.

 

He said 'the council' but he meant 'the accounts'

 

And when you're then denied access to the club? When your boss asks you why you've just alienated the biggest sporting team in the region you'd have said what? When your listening figures plummet and your budget is cut and staff are laid off? And when any other borderline contentious interviewees refuse to speak to you because you've employed these tactics in the past? Well, yes, you'd have your credibility I suppose. Local journalists have to work within certain parameters. It's frustrating, I get that, but it is what it is.

 

I fully agree, there are things David Burns would probably like to have pulled him up on, but he knows that in doing that he will lose any further contact with the Allam's and jeopardise BBC's right to the commentaries.

 

He should have challenged every answer...Piss poor journalist

 

None of that would happen.

I’d use being banned from the stadium as a stick to beat them with. As they should be doing already with those that actually have been banned.

I don’t suck arse, never have. I’ve got by. As long as you tell the truth you’re doing nothing wrong. Burns’ wages are paid by his listeners he, and his bosses, have a duty to produce honest work rather than give dishonest, bullying local businessmen a platform to spout their propaganda unchallenged.