Unless that portmanteau was a definitive I always thought it was an wordplay on the ego of Charlie and Stew, i.e. MethvenAndDonaldRox
Making dosh was his only reason to buy us. Make no mistake. His plan was to make as much money, in as little time possible, then bugger off to buy Oxford with the profit. The fact that we did not go up lasty season messed up his plan and he does not have a plan B.
It's hardly glorification of him. I just refuse to join in the unfounded vilification. I've already expounded my theory on the extra bonuses stuff. The rest of it, I'm afraid, just comes across as conspiracy theories and bitterness because we're not already back in the Championship. How do you know FPP have the expertise? At least Donald had owned a football club before. FPP themselves haven't done anything of the sort. MSD, a different entity, only own 7% of the Miami Marlins. A different sport, in a different market. We have no indications at all that they have the expertise, but don't let that stop your glorification of them.
I'm not getting into the whole thing, but this narrative that he changed the goalposts doesn't stack up. Like I said, they didn't do this deal on Donald's terms, they did it on their own. Nothing we've seen or heard suggests they made a bid for a majority of shares in us at any point, let alone had it accepted and then changed later. Think we have to be careful going down the route of interpreting him negotiating a price as being unreasonable. It sounds an awful lot like he has always had this idea of a bonus in there if he were to sell up immediately. If someone doesn't want to pay it, it doesn't mean that it's Donald being difficult.
Fair points m8, if u look at the marlins they ensured they had the right people to run them, I believe that’s what they would do here, but it’s only my belief, I’ve no evidence to either back that up or refute it, it’s simply my opinion. The same with sd and his ownership of our club, imho he’s been a disaster, he consistently tells us things that then don’t come to pass, he and his partner cm tell us it’s our fault that the club is at is lowest point in its history, the amount he put into the club is a little vague, and the reasons for fpp not going ahead seems to be whatever suits his story at the time. My belief based on his actions and reactions is this club is far bigger than he expected, the fans aren’t idiots and he can’t take the criticism. The abuse of his family, which btw I absolutely condemn, is unacceptable but seems, in some cases, like after the Portsmouth game, conveniently timed. He says he’s a man of his word, which is a great trait to have, if he is he said as soon as the fans told him it was time to go he would do so. They’ve told him it’s time to go, he said he’d be gone in a couple of months, that hasn’t happened, he needs to go imo. What we need is an owner willing, like short did, to have deep pockets and see the potential of this club, and recognise the passion of our support, but unlike short, someone who recognises they need an infrastructure of experienced football people to run the club on their behalf. Whether we get that is not in our gift, but while sd is here, I’m certain it won’t happen.
the original one is correct, Madrid-Oxford. The company involved was Thesan Capital, based in Madrid.
Are these them? The three are members of the board of directors of Thesan Capital, an investment group that in 2011 took over the missing Spanish team HRT, managed by the former Abac Capital adviser. Later they bought the car replacement company Aurgi, of which he was CEO Garrido after leaving Campofrío. They have been accused of tax crimes and money laundering, as Thesan carried out financial operations in 2012 through the Concept Evolution companies, created by Macho Conde, and the English Thornbridge Limited, of Ruiz de Marcos, in favour of a bank account from Switzerland.
Yes, Garrido was the main man albeit the PE house Thesan was basically as big as we could hope for until FPP showed interest. They own Tenerife now, but they specialise in taking over knackered assets and turning them round over a few years. They were massively keen on a UK football investment but because of the amounts involved, didn't want to run it without someone who knew English football. My friend's brother worked for him in Madrid at the time, I got some good bits and pieces and was even asked for an opinion on the playing squad (I was basically the only SAFC season ticket holder they could lay hands on and they wanted to figure out if selling Kone etc would go down badly). Probably would have ignored it anyway. I would have.
Just because Donald has been a little vague about some of the things going on don't make him a bad owner though. He tried being open and accessible and it was abused. He has no obligation to divulge everything that goes on. Some of the remarks that have been made have been unnecessary but they've been pounced on and used to vilify the owners rather than them being seen for what they were, the frustrations of people under increasing pressure and a little out of their depth. For a man of Donald's limited means, he's done remarkably well. We were nearly promoted last season. We have no divine right to be in the Championship but he nearly got us back there. He hasn't got the funds to buy our place in the Premiership back and he is, as you say, a bit out of his depth. It probably is best for all parties if he sells up in the near future. There are more ways to run a successful football club than have a load of billionaires pumping money in. If FPP run the club in the right way, all well and good. Until we see something more concrete from them, though, expecting them to be our saviours is clutching at straws. We've had American billionaires before. Mike Ashley is a billionaire (by US standards). They've both brought staggering amounts of success. West Brom, Stoke, QPR, Barnsley, Bristol City, Portsmouth, Salford City (combined wealth) are all owned by billionaires. It's no guarantee.
Fair enough m8, you think he’s done his best, I think he’s in it for himself and has ****ed up. We both agree he’s out of his depth and needs to go so let’s hope he does so.
Ignoring the rest - the above bit. He's trying to sell the club, so, imo, he's being a man of his word. Do you really expect him to sell to either the first or any bidder just to satisfy 'the fans'? Is he not entitled to consider his options re: purchasers and price for the club?
Imho, sod ownership for now, it can go on the back burner... the run in to the end of the season is all that matters atm. If, (there is a chance, you know) we get promoted I doubt Donald can fund a Championship bid for the Premiership...that is what I see is the problem... could he even if it comes to it fund a 3rd season in the turd division?
The problem as we know Donald lets his mouth run away with him. He should have just said he is actively looking to sell the club and stopped there (which has always been the case) instead of putting a time frame on it. So here we are nearly at the end of Feb with nothing (as far as we know) in the offing. His interview early January was just a knee jerk response to the fanzines tweets, all very unprofessional. Take Ashley, he has always stated that he will sell at the right price and to the right people but no time frame has ever been given. So as we stand there is going to be the usual meltdown (especially over the road) that Hes telling lies and he hasn't sold the club in a couple of months as he stated. Digging himself into a hole when there was no need
We'll probably look back on the 'end of feb' comment as another bit of salesmanship/asset promotion in the guise of honesty.