Thames Sports Investment

[Friday's Legacy]

Venky's have 'so far' failed on all of their promises. They did the opposite to what TSI are doing. They spoke of CL football, big signings (Ronaldinho?) and a top manager coming in. Instead Venky's arrived, sacked a proven PL manager because he wasn't deemed good enough for their ambitious plans, replaced him with an unproven manager, provided very little money; and as a result they will be getting Championship football next season, not Champions League.

At least TSI talk of doing things in stages, have not mentioned breaking into the top four, as they are aware that will require a whole new budget and level of investment! They have a sensible 5 year plan to stabilise the club in mid-table of the Premier League and then push on for Europa League football; whilst developing the stadium, training ground and youth academy in preparation. When AZ and Samuelson talk, they come across as being very knowledgeable about the game and what is required to achieve their goals. They breed confidence in doing so.

There will however be Reading fans that get carried away, but the majority will see this as a sensible approach and hopefully one that proves patient as well. My biggest concern is putting too much faith in what was a very average Championship squad 6 months ago, losing a few games, confidence dropping and Brian being unable to get the results we need to stay up; and then the new owner hitting the panic button as they so often do and we see a host of new managers walk through the door destabilising the club. I just hope Brian adds to the squad as required and is less loyal than Steve Coppell was; because loyalty can and will bite you in the bum eventually. The players need competition for places and to be kept on their toes. But at the moment it all seems to bode well for the future.

[East End Lady]

We met and spoke to Chris Samuelson on Saturday night.
To paraphrase a saying - if they walk the walk like they talk the talk then the future is looking bright.

[ZacNaloen]

Did he tell you the budget?

[East End Lady]

No but to be fair I didn't ask. I did get the impression tho that they would not chuck silly money at either transfer fees or for wages and that any new faces would have the Reading DNA as it were.

[glenroyal]

Does anyone seriously believe the FA's checks are going to be more thorough than SJM's?

This +1

[Barry the bird boggler]

No but to be fair I didn't ask. I did get the impression tho that they would not chuck silly money at either transfer fees or for wages and that any new faces would have the Reading DNA as it were.

That is the best news on this. To know we have money behind the team and the infrastructure (and we could have some very serious money at that if Boris is involved) yet to continue the with the same methodology should be something to behold as Brian is likely to make some very clever purchases and get a lot out of them.

That said still be nice to see a couple of eye catching names join the fun

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

i think now, more than ever, the FA's checks have to be at least as thorough as SJM's.

What something ought to be doesn't mean it's what it will be.

[Friday's Legacy]

What was the findings of the football league panel before it was confirmed we were promoted? Or did they just wash their hands of it the minute we went up?

29 Apr 2012 22:34

No-one will know what their findings were, but I am aware that the PL requested all of the FL's documents and then conducted their own additional checks. From what I have heard we've given the PL what they asked for and are now just waiting for them to sign this off and we can move on. AZ was advised to be more transparent and that is why we have seen and heard a lot more of him since winning promotion. Also the visit from his father is no coincidence, who at this stage we do not know for certain is an investor, but it would seem a little strange that he just fancied a visit to Berkshire. The club are confident we're there now, so it's just a case of when, and they hope it will be this week.

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport ... ague-club/

Zingarevich hoped his TSI takeover would be completed by the end of March but it is still awaiting approval from the Premier League.

However, Zingarevich says the deal could be concluded before the end of the week.

"It's up to the Premier League now," he explained. "They have the documents and they requested some additional ones which we supplied.

"They were at our stadium on Sunday. We really wanted to get it all done before the trophy presentation but it didn't happen. However, I don't think we're far away, maybe before the end of the week.

"I completely understand why it is taking time. They're doing the right things and it's important for the game that everything is examined.

"Reading has been in existence since 1871, there is a lot of history there. I suppose they want to make sure they are letting the right people in.

"Obviously, we want it to go through as soon as possible but everyone around here has already made me feel part of it, even before the takeover is completed. Now I just want the formalities to be completed so we can continue what we've been doing."


Confirmed we're just waiting for the Premier League's final decision now.

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Zingarevich hoped his TSI takeover would be completed by the end of March but it is still awaiting approval from the Premier League.

However, Zingarevich says the deal could be concluded before the end of the week.

"It's up to the Premier League now," he explained. "They have the documents and they requested some additional ones which we supplied.

"They were at our stadium on Sunday. We really wanted to get it all done before the trophy presentation but it didn't happen. However, I don't think we're far away, maybe before the end of the week.

"I completely understand why it is taking time. They're doing the right things and it's important for the game that everything is examined.

"Reading has been in existence since 1871, there is a lot of history there. I suppose they want to make sure they are letting the right people in.

"Obviously, we want it to go through as soon as possible but everyone around here has already made me feel part of it, even before the takeover is completed. Now I just want the formalities to be completed so we can continue what we've been doing."


Confirmed we're just waiting for the Premier League's final decision now.

Some nice quotes from Anton Zingarevich.

Very proffesional feeback to the media.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

...I'd assume that until such time that this is signed,sealed and delivered, that the club will not be able to progress with any transfer targets ..?

[TFF]

Of course they can.

As long as Anton is prepared to loan the money and RFC is prepared to pay it back if the deal fails.

[Terminal Boardom]

Considering how long the investigations have been going, I would be gobsmacked if the PL pulled the plug on the takeover.

[Tilehurst End]

...I'd assume that until such time that this is signed,sealed and delivered, that the club will not be able to progress with any transfer targets ..?

If we are to continue with a realistic wage structure and sensible transfer targets there's no reason why not, given the cash input we will get for going up.

[BR2]

Does anybody know if ALL teams that are promoted to the Premier League are subject now to this scrutiny?
If so I can understand the delay in that they had to wait to see who got promoted first before doing their own form of due diligence on promoted clubs.
If it doesn't apply to all promoted teams I wonder why all parties didn't push on with the process while we were a football league club knowing that the process would have to be done (presumably at some significant cost)again by the Premier League.
I do hope it will be completed soon as I have to confess to getting a bit nervous that the plug might suddenly be pulled,Brian would go to West Brom with his son Shane and we would be back in the "we will go with what we have got" world.

[Royal Lady]

Does anybody know if ALL teams that are promoted to the Premier League are subject now to this scrutiny?
If so I can understand the delay in that they had to wait to see who got promoted first before doing their own form of due diligence on promoted clubs.
If it doesn't apply to all promoted teams I wonder why all parties didn't push on with the process while we were a football league club knowing that the process would have to be done (presumably at some significant cost)again by the Premier League.
I do hope it will be completed soon as I have to confess to getting a bit nervous that the plug might suddenly be pulled,Brian would go to West Brom with his son Shane and we would be back in the "we will go with what we have got" world.

They don't know who else is coming up with us and Southampton yet though. And they couldn't get the PL to do their bit until we knew we were PL shirley - and as soon as we did know, the PL got involved didn't they?

[ZacNaloen]

^ yes, as soon as we were promoted all the checking needed to be done by the premier league. We were no longer the FL's responsibility. Who knows what is taking so long atm, but what we have to remember is that we have been fully aware of what is going on pretty much from the beginning, because the papers somehow got wind of what was going on. Most of the time you don't find out about take overs until all the paper work has been handed over to the league or at least things are looking a done deal. When we found out it was anything but, due diligence hadn't even started.

This is how it usually happens, so trying to judge delays based on our experience compared to others seems disingenuous to me. Personally.

[Friday's Legacy]

Does anybody know if ALL teams that are promoted to the Premier League are subject now to this scrutiny?
If so I can understand the delay in that they had to wait to see who got promoted first before doing their own form of due diligence on promoted clubs.
If it doesn't apply to all promoted teams I wonder why all parties didn't push on with the process while we were a football league club knowing that the process would have to be done (presumably at some significant cost)again by the Premier League.
I do hope it will be completed soon as I have to confess to getting a bit nervous that the plug might suddenly be pulled,Brian would go to West Brom with his son Shane and we would be back in the "we will go with what we have got" world.

They don't know who else is coming up with us and Southampton yet though. And they couldn't get the PL to do their bit until we knew we were PL shirley - and as soon as we did know, the PL got involved didn't they?

As previously explained, as soon as we were promoted the PL were in contact with the FL and requested all of their findings from their checks that they carried out. The PL their findings and subsequently requested further information, of which the club has provided.

The PL were all at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday as part of the take-over and we are now waiting on a final decision. It's anyone's guess when that will be made but the club are very happy with what they have provided the Premier League and expect it to all go through shortly.

[BR2]

Does anybody know if ALL teams that are promoted to the Premier League are subject now to this scrutiny?
If so I can understand the delay in that they had to wait to see who got promoted first before doing their own form of due diligence on promoted clubs.
If it doesn't apply to all promoted teams I wonder why all parties didn't push on with the process while we were a football league club knowing that the process would have to be done (presumably at some significant cost)again by the Premier League.
I do hope it will be completed soon as I have to confess to getting a bit nervous that the plug might suddenly be pulled,Brian would go to West Brom with his son Shane and we would be back in the "we will go with what we have got" world.

They don't know who else is coming up with us and Southampton yet though. And they couldn't get the PL to do their bit until we knew we were PL shirley - and as soon as we did know, the PL got involved didn't they?

My point though was to ask if anybody knew (and I doubt if they do know)if ALL promoted clubs have to go through a process.
Obviously when football really was football and the football league governed all divisions the process was that a member would automatically be accepted at the higher level when promoted.
Now,since football was reinvented with the advent of the Premier League and different governance do clubs have to be ratified whether or not a takeover is due to take place?

[Friday's Legacy]

Not a FAPP test, no. That only comes into play when a club is being bought by a new owner.

[Victor Meldrew]

Did I read that the chairman expected everything to be sorted by the end of the week?
It's the end of the week or at least the working week.