Let me take you back to June 8, 2009 when I blogged the following:
"Ok, now the positive spin is that we have been sold to Straumur. But that, I'm afraid, is straight out of the "New Labour Book Of Lies, Correction Spin"! What has, in fact, happened, is that Straumur have taken control of West Ham in the same way as a bank takes ownership of your house if you default on your mortgage.
All very well you might say, until you appreciate that Straumur are themselves a bankrupt bank, operating from the base of a bankrupt nation which, itself, is clinging on to the coat-tails of a bankrupt World economy. Somewhere in that great sea of debt, the Not So Good Ship West Ham is bobbing around in the midst of a perfect storm. Remember that scene from the film when they all smile, thinking the worst is over - then comes the wall of water?
What worries me most is that term "Asset Management Group". Now, what do "Asset Management Groups" specialise in? Asset stripping. Show me an Asset Management Group that cares for anything other than realising the greatest possible profit in the shortest possible time and I will show you a pot in Newcastle's trophy cabinet! From now on, the West Ham project is going to be about maximising the return on selling the club. And the problem with that? If more money can be made by closing down "the brand", then the "brand" will cease to exist.
So if anybody sees a helicopter flying over Upton Park in the next few weeks, blow it out of the sky; because it might just be Barratt assessing the value of the land for future residential development.
Faustus sold his soul for an extension of his youth. The pact we signed for our tilt at Champions League qualification may yet carry the heaviest price of all. And we were worried about Tevez!"
At the time, of course, I was subjected to the usual knee jerk vitriol but recent news stories are suggesting that I may have hit the nail squarely on the head. I hope to God that I was wrong but with Upson talking about the financial mess we are in and about the possibility of leaving and Zola quoted as saying he "hopes" to keep hold of the present captain, these are very worrying times. I hope the Mirror story is journalistic bullshit and take comfort from the absence of names in the report but my money would be on Upson being either an Unreal City or Everton player by the end of August, with Parker wearing the claret and blue of Villa. Bankers are bastards but Asset Management Groups are bigger bastards still.
4 comments:
OUCH! still they do say the truth hurts
I will add one thing though there is some hope. Terry Brown asset stripped the club for years and the club survived thanks to mugs like us that'll be there in Blue Square Premier if thats what it means
Can i ask that we just bloody wait and see what happens. The papers are never going to leave out West Hams finances and specialise in getting people panicky. How many times does the club have to come out and say "we are not selling our best players" before people believe them. I certainly do, and wouldn't expect anyone else but upson to leave. Why else would we be buying Kovac and looking to add to the wage bill by looking at strikers?
Maybe Kovac frees up Parker Edz? As for the strikers, looking at them costs nothing, as does putting in bids below the figure that Arsenal have already offered and had rejected. I keep flagging that Duxbury is a spin merchant. I notice the way the recent story aligns him with Zola and Clarke. I would not be surprised if he is behind this rumour, paving the way for the sale of Upson and Parker whilst presenting himself as the knight in shining armour at the same time. If we then land Eider for £4m and a no mark like Tristan or Di Michele, Duxbury will come out smelling like roses, with the temporary board taking any crap from the fans.
Here is my predicted statement from Mr Duxbury after the sales of Upson and Parker. "Our priority was a striker or two and the sale of Upson and Parker were necessary to finance the purchase of Eider and to meet the demands of our creditors. The two key priorities were to ensure the survival of the club and to provide Zola with a balanced squad. Fans can feel reassured that no further sales are planned UNLESS the manager wishes to finance future purchases."
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