He is the 93rd richest man in the World, apparently, and he is ready to buy a 35% stake in the club - well that's according to The News of the World. The only problem with the story is that there has been no contact between Len Blavatik and the Davids thus far. So have TNOTW simply pulled the name of a rich Russian out of a hat and launched an "exclusive"?
The guy does have a home in London, in Kensington Palace Gardens no less. However, he is highly educated and would seem an unlikely fit with Sullivan and Gold. True his money has been made through a business called Access Industries, but I don't think that the access referred to had anything to do with vaginas! And there is no track record of investing in sports teams either - despite building his fortune in the USA.
It would be fantastic if it were true but I'm afraid the story is fantastic, as in the true meaning of the word - conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination!
17 comments:
Why would it be fantastic to turn into a team like Man City?
There is a mid way point surely? Wouldn't it be fantastic to clear the debt and give Grant £30m to spend on players? Wouldn't it be fantastic to compete near the top of the table rather than near the bottom?
i would love this to happen. irons
He's either:
a) Totally corrupt with money that needs to be cleaned
b) Bloody confident OR
c) Plain stupid
to get involved with G&S.
Or
A) It is all bollocks.
B) He has shares in Straumer.
C) He sees it as a way of reducing his tax burden. Why not waste it on West Ham rather than give it to the taxman?
or
D) He thinks we have potential!
Would be fantastic. I'm sure, West Ham would continue their succesful work in the academy. But in addition to that the debt could be reduced and as HF already mentioned there would be much more money to spend. It doesn't mean that the Hammers do a Man City 2.0 if a billionaire gets in. Our two Porn Queens could have thrown their money in - but they didn't so far.
Oh, if only everything the NOTW reported was genuine?!!
Don't get me wrong...I sincerely hope this guy has the inclination to splash some of the copious amounts of cash he has on us, but I'll believe it when I see it confirmed in triplicate!
Stani, I don't think the guy's plain stoopid mate? You don't get a degree from Harvard Business School at the age of 32 and make your merry way to 93rd richest person on the planet being a bit thick!
I've looked at a few of his profiles HF, and it doesn't look like Straumur-Burdaras figures in his portfolio...he's obviously got more sense!
On the subject of the Icelandics, what was slightly alarming in the piece that I read, was the fact that Straumur's creditors are having a 'meeting' this Thursday? As far as I was aware, the current moratorium is in place until September 10th so I don't think there's any need to panic, but it is food for thought.
West Ham is probably the best opportunity for someone with loads of money to invest. The reasons for these are:
1. London club with huge following and tradition
2. The Academy and potential to develop players and make money thereon (2Ds have their eyes on that already).
3. West Ham debts are not huge if additional equity is injected. Arsenal has 3 times the amount of debt we have.
So, if this guy is a smart business man, he would invest in West Ham because he can do a lot worse.
Shaun, not sure it matters now does it? Straumur are a minority investor in the club. If they fold, that doesn't affect us, it simply means that the assets they hold are sold to the highest bidder. It may be an opportunity to bring in somebody who can buy the shares on the cheap, and so commit money to strengthening the squad. Straumur are a chain and ball tied round the ankle of the club. The sooner they are cut adrift the better!
Shaun,
I'm not saying he is mate, just giving it as an option if he were to get involved with them two.
I seriously doubt he would unless he plans to buy them out or have controlling share i.e (b). That I would be delighted with! If it's (a) or (c), then I'm not so happy.
But I too believe like HF, that it is rubbish. Where was he in January when the whole club was going so cheap? How the hell do these papers come out with these stories? I would be stunned if there was anything in it.
Exactly Sav, so he would have done it in Jan no?
Yeah, agreed HF, they are a millstone, but if the current figures are accurate, they still have between 35 and 40%, which is a fair chunk! Should Straumur be wound up, which is looking increasingly likely, their creditors will be looking at all their remaining assets, including West Ham...that said, I'm sure G&S have contingencies in place for that happening?!
Stani...maybe he's just another rich Russian oil tycoon trying to keep up with the Abramovich's??
Shaun,
If he's genuinely interested then I'm happy because rich Russian oil tycoons don't like sharing which means G&S will not last.
I know, in retrospect, it sounds right that he would have been better off doing this is January. But in real life things do not work out like that. There could be a hundred reasons why this was not possible then, but it is now. It could also be that the priorities of the new investor have changed for whatever reason. Also, don't forget, now we know we will be a Premiership club next year. It wasn't so clear last January. Having said that, I also doubt that it is true (main reason being that I cannot imagine him being interested in not taking control of the club). But if it is true, he is the type of investor that can change the fortunes of our club for the better.
Maybe Straumur HAVE to sell so the deal is now a good one? And, as Sav says, our Premiership place is guaranteed for another season, at least, and the increased parachute payments have provided a better safety net.
Yes, some good points. But, if we put ourselves in his shoes and go back to January, I don't think that threat of relegation would have had so much of a influence as it clearly didn't with three other buyers. He would have had the parachute payments too. Also, I would be surprised if he thought let them stay up and then I'll buy it off whoever buys it now. This would have seemed a more difficult option than to buy a club on the cheap that is going to be relegated.
Surely he would find it difficult to wrench it from the firm grasp of the porn kings now?
Then again, money money money! I would love to see him offer G&S a quick profit and then we will see if they are really West Ham fans. They'll probably take it and then come out with some bull about how it was good only for the club that they sold.
For all I know Stani this guy may have bought an an option to buy from the 2Ds at the time they have made their own bid to buy West Ham. We really don't know and it is futile to start speculating. If it is true, and it is a big if, then we all agree it is likely to be very good news. I am quite happy with that thought although it may never happen as the NOTW just had some space to fill and made up the story.
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