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Regrets, he’s had a few, but then again, too few to mention…
Was yesterday’s column Ken Anderson’s last hurrah? If so, he threw one final dose of obfuscation into the public arena to make sure we would be left guessing until the bitter end about who exactly will be taking over Bolton Wanderers Football Club.
Talking to “several” parties, the owner made it immediately clear that he hoped a deal could be completed by Friday, words which put some pressure on the protagonists, whoever they may be.
Anderson may be constrained by NDAs and confidentiality clauses but that has not stopped information leaking regularly into the public domain. And most of it points towards one group getting to the finishing line first.
The smart money is on Parminder Basran and Sharron Brittan, leading a consortium who have already done due diligence and who have been on the very edge of a deal before.
Another local businessman, who has consistently claimed to be in with a shout of buying the club, met with Paul Aldridge at the Whites Hotel yesterday afternoon. He also currently says he is backed by money from Bahrain – and previously by a London-based Ukrainian – both claims which have been vehemently denied by the owner.
The businessman has not done due diligence, which could represent a significant risk at this stage if he is in with a realistic shout.
The third, and much more exotic idea is Peter Kenyon, the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United chief executive, whose name was thrown into the mix on Tuesday night.
Those in football circles have cast doubt on the 65-year-old’s ability to ready a deal as quickly as Friday, and like the mysterious local businessman mentioned above, he would be walking in blind at this point. The financial deadlines in operation at Wanderers do make this a special case, though, and with Anderson so clearly desperate to sever his ties, there could yet be one final surprise in a three-year reign which has rarely been without incident.
Citing stalled takeovers at Charlton Athletic and Hull City, plus the 18-month ordeal at Wigan Athletic, Anderson distanced himself from blame over pretty much everything, including the current delays – which ultimately resulted in him withholding staff wages last week.
An apology to staff was finally forthcoming, six days after they woke to find money had not been paid into their accounts. But it came with the caveat that the decision had been made because he no longer felt wanted by the club and thus was reluctant to invest £1million of his own money.
Anderson has not been seen at Wanderers since November and claims he has stayed away from home and away games on police advice, after receiving “vile, abusive and insulting” comments on social media towards him and his family.
That things turned so sour is certainly regrettable. Whether it was preventable, only Anderson will really know.
Nestled in between a few jabs at the local and national media coverage of Wanderers’ situation, Anderson also confirmed, rather ironically, that all media privileges were being restored. It is 82 days since the ‘ban’ was initially issued, during which time the team has taken eight points from a possible 42. If nothing else, perhaps my return in the press box can bring some better luck on the pitch?
Anderson reserved his last paragraph – perhaps his last as owner – for the Supporters’ Trust, and claiming that, as far as he is aware, they have not been in contact with the club about helping with the staff wages.
The trust, and staff at the club, claim otherwise.
If indeed that closes the chapter on ‘King Ken’s’ reign at the University of Bolton Stadium then, like so much that has gone before, it remains disputed.
What is not beyond doubt is another of Anderson’s points in yesterday’s sprawling column: “A great deal has and no doubt and will continue to be written and said about my ownership and time at the club.”
While many will be pleased to see the end of this chapter and Wanderers, there is no question he has filled more column inches in this paper than any owner before.
Here’s to bigger headlines and pictures under new ownership.
Source
Was yesterday’s column Ken Anderson’s last hurrah? If so, he threw one final dose of obfuscation into the public arena to make sure we would be left guessing until the bitter end about who exactly will be taking over Bolton Wanderers Football Club.
Talking to “several” parties, the owner made it immediately clear that he hoped a deal could be completed by Friday, words which put some pressure on the protagonists, whoever they may be.
Anderson may be constrained by NDAs and confidentiality clauses but that has not stopped information leaking regularly into the public domain. And most of it points towards one group getting to the finishing line first.
The smart money is on Parminder Basran and Sharron Brittan, leading a consortium who have already done due diligence and who have been on the very edge of a deal before.
Another local businessman, who has consistently claimed to be in with a shout of buying the club, met with Paul Aldridge at the Whites Hotel yesterday afternoon. He also currently says he is backed by money from Bahrain – and previously by a London-based Ukrainian – both claims which have been vehemently denied by the owner.
The businessman has not done due diligence, which could represent a significant risk at this stage if he is in with a realistic shout.
The third, and much more exotic idea is Peter Kenyon, the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United chief executive, whose name was thrown into the mix on Tuesday night.
Those in football circles have cast doubt on the 65-year-old’s ability to ready a deal as quickly as Friday, and like the mysterious local businessman mentioned above, he would be walking in blind at this point. The financial deadlines in operation at Wanderers do make this a special case, though, and with Anderson so clearly desperate to sever his ties, there could yet be one final surprise in a three-year reign which has rarely been without incident.
Citing stalled takeovers at Charlton Athletic and Hull City, plus the 18-month ordeal at Wigan Athletic, Anderson distanced himself from blame over pretty much everything, including the current delays – which ultimately resulted in him withholding staff wages last week.
An apology to staff was finally forthcoming, six days after they woke to find money had not been paid into their accounts. But it came with the caveat that the decision had been made because he no longer felt wanted by the club and thus was reluctant to invest £1million of his own money.
Anderson has not been seen at Wanderers since November and claims he has stayed away from home and away games on police advice, after receiving “vile, abusive and insulting” comments on social media towards him and his family.
That things turned so sour is certainly regrettable. Whether it was preventable, only Anderson will really know.
Nestled in between a few jabs at the local and national media coverage of Wanderers’ situation, Anderson also confirmed, rather ironically, that all media privileges were being restored. It is 82 days since the ‘ban’ was initially issued, during which time the team has taken eight points from a possible 42. If nothing else, perhaps my return in the press box can bring some better luck on the pitch?
Anderson reserved his last paragraph – perhaps his last as owner – for the Supporters’ Trust, and claiming that, as far as he is aware, they have not been in contact with the club about helping with the staff wages.
The trust, and staff at the club, claim otherwise.
If indeed that closes the chapter on ‘King Ken’s’ reign at the University of Bolton Stadium then, like so much that has gone before, it remains disputed.
What is not beyond doubt is another of Anderson’s points in yesterday’s sprawling column: “A great deal has and no doubt and will continue to be written and said about my ownership and time at the club.”
While many will be pleased to see the end of this chapter and Wanderers, there is no question he has filled more column inches in this paper than any owner before.
Here’s to bigger headlines and pictures under new ownership.
Source