AZ's Shortlist

[Ian Royal]

worked for madejski didnt it?

made a profit

Not really, put in what... £20m-£30m over 20 years? Took nothing out during that time and has so far received £12.5m with another £12.5m planned. That, is a piss poor return for an investment.

On BBCRB, Dellor asked McD about this list and he said he'd told AZ not to speak to the press about such stuff and it was disrespectful to the players already here. So, it doesn't seem that McD is too happy about AZ interfering and it certainly doesn't look like Steve Shorey is scouting them on anyone's say-so except AZ.

Reading a lot into that. It's a massive leap to go from what has been said to Anton's going over McDermott, Hammond and Shorey's heads when it comes to signings. When it could easily be that he's just being very naive in what he says to the media about the club's transfer plans. And when I say the club's, I mean McDermott, Hammond and Shorey's.

We always play our cards close to our chest, the only time we didn't was under Rodgers and look how that turned out. Perfectly natural for McDermott to want Anton to keep his gob shut until a deal's done.

[RoyalBlue]

worked for madejski didnt it?

made a profit

Not really, put in what... £20m-£30m over 20 years? Took nothing out during that time and has so far received £12.5m with another £12.5m planned. That, is a piss poor return for an investment.

That's what we were told. But I'm sure any losses were handled in an extremely tax efficient manner, as would a lengthy period spent overseas.

Great, go abroad, save tax, come back donate money to the education system (usually funded by taxes).......arise Sir

Of course, this type of criticism could be levied at many, including some very big corporations.

[Royal Lady]

worked for madejski didnt it?

made a profit

Not really, put in what... £20m-£30m over 20 years? Took nothing out during that time and has so far received £12.5m with another £12.5m planned. That, is a piss poor return for an investment.

On BBCRB, Dellor asked McD about this list and he said he'd told AZ not to speak to the press about such stuff and it was disrespectful to the players already here. So, it doesn't seem that McD is too happy about AZ interfering and it certainly doesn't look like Steve Shorey is scouting them on anyone's say-so except AZ.

Reading a lot into that. It's a massive leap to go from what has been said to Anton's going over McDermott, Hammond and Shorey's heads when it comes to signings. When it could easily be that he's just being very naive in what he says to the media about the club's transfer plans. And when I say the club's, I mean McDermott, Hammond and Shorey's.

We always play our cards close to our chest, the only time we didn't was under Rodgers and look how that turned out. Perfectly natural for McDermott to want Anton to keep his gob shut until a deal's done.

But you said maybe the list of players was Steve Shorey's list - do you think he just decides who to scout without any input from anyone else?

[Ian Royal]

That's what we were told. But I'm sure any losses were handled in an extremely tax efficient manner, as would a lengthy period spent overseas.

Great, go abroad, save tax, come back donate money to the education system (usually funded by taxes).......arise Sir

Of course, this type of criticism could be levied at many, including some very big corporations.

That may (no almost certainly does) apply to his other business interests. But I'm pretty sure the accounts are quite clear that no money has left to go to SJM.

But you said maybe the list of players was Steve Shorey's list - do you think he just decides who to scout without any input from anyone else?

No, I think he works with Hammond, McDermott, Gibbs & Dolan. Oh and his scouting network. But as Chief Scout, it should be Shorey's list. Unless that bloke from Fulham has taken over from him, in which case its his list.

[Reading4eva]

Well if the football is getting naff (ie Norwich game) at least theres something to look at.

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

Agreed. Beautiful isn't it?

I bet it's at least an 80/20 linen blend.

[leon]

I do like a bit of desso grassmaster

[maffff]

Pavel Pogrebnyak hoping Andrey Arshavin will join him at Reading

Pavel Pogrebnyak would like to see fellow countryman Andrey Arshavin secure a January switch from Arsenal to Reading.

Russia international Pogrebnyak linked up with the Royals over the summer after deciding against penning a long-term contract at Fulham.

Reports have suggested that he could soon be joined by Arshavin, with Reading owner Anton Zingarevich admitting to holding an interest in the Arsenal playmaker.

Arshavin has struggled for game time at the Emirates of late and there is a chance that he could be persuaded to join the Royals' efforts to preserve their Premier League status.

"It's Arshavin who has to make the decision," Pogrebnyak told www.rg.ru.

"Anton Zingarevich knows him well enough without listening to my opinion, as he is from St Petersburg.

"Andrey is a master and there is no doubt that it would be great to see him at Reading."

Gloomy
Meanwhile, Pogrebnyak insists he has no regrets at having snubbed the opportunity to remain at Fulham over the summer in favour of joining a fight for survival at the Madejski Stadium.

"My former team Fulham are doing better than Reading at the moment, but I wouldn't say that I am sorry I left them," he added.

"I would say that I feel gloomy. I make no secret of the fact that it was difficult for me to leave Martin Jol's team.

"I had the desire to stay, but this is football and I signed for another team. I am still in touch with Jol and he is a strong coach."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8246028/?

[MouldyRoyal]

That's what we were told. But I'm sure any losses were handled in an extremely tax efficient manner, as would a lengthy period spent overseas.

I'm struggling to work out what this means.

The football club, as an incorporated company, has generally loss making. This is true of most football clubs. To stay afloat SJM put cash into the club in the form of loans. Repayment of loans is not taxable on SJM as an individual as no profit is made. If SJM were charging interest (which he wasn't) that would be a different matter. SJM hasn't himself made a loss on his investment. He hasn't made much of a gain. The company made trading losses for several periods which meant that in the 2 seasons it did make a profit it would be unlikely to be taxpaying. This isn't some complex tax planning strategy or avoidance scheme. It's just how corporation tax works. What SJM does with the money he makes from selling the company to AZ is irrelevant for the club itself.

[melonhead]

worked for madejski didnt it?

made a profit

Not really, put in what... £20m-£30m over 20 years? Took nothing out during that time and has so far received £12.5m with another £12.5m planned. That, is a piss poor return for an investment.

.

40 odd million i thought, thought the total sale was for 25 million for half the club

and i thought we were still paying back those 40% loans

but i could be wrong on both those counts

probably wrong

[Ian Royal]

worked for madejski didnt it?

made a profit

Not really, put in what... £20m-£30m over 20 years? Took nothing out during that time and has so far received £12.5m with another £12.5m planned. That, is a piss poor return for an investment.

.

40 odd million i thought, thought the total sale was for 25 million for half the club

and i thought we were still paying back those 40% loans

but i could be wrong on both those counts

probably wrong

I deliberately low-balled his investment because it's harder to shoot down as not realistic. I'm positive the deal went through as £25m for the whole lot, paid in two stages, with half the club going with each. Although I've been wrong before.

Can't recall on the loans front.

[melonhead]

Dirk!

[Alexander Litvinenko]

You called, sire!

The most definitive sale price I have is TSI buying 51% of the club for £12.7m, with an option to buy the other 49% for £12.3m. I have heard that this includes an extra "£5M bonus for promotion".

The £40M sale price which was initially mentioned in early interviews by Sir John Madejski was later corrected down to £25m by overseas-tax avoidance specialist Chris Samuelson.

[_royal]

Pavel Pogrebnyak hoping Andrey Arshavin will join him at Reading

Pavel Pogrebnyak would like to see fellow countryman Andrey Arshavin secure a January switch from Arsenal to Reading.

Russia international Pogrebnyak linked up with the Royals over the summer after deciding against penning a long-term contract at Fulham.

Reports have suggested that he could soon be joined by Arshavin, with Reading owner Anton Zingarevich admitting to holding an interest in the Arsenal playmaker.

Arshavin has struggled for game time at the Emirates of late and there is a chance that he could be persuaded to join the Royals' efforts to preserve their Premier League status.

"It's Arshavin who has to make the decision," Pogrebnyak told http://www.rg.ru.

"Anton Zingarevich knows him well enough without listening to my opinion, as he is from St Petersburg.

"Andrey is a master and there is no doubt that it would be great to see him at Reading."

Gloomy
Meanwhile, Pogrebnyak insists he has no regrets at having snubbed the opportunity to remain at Fulham over the summer in favour of joining a fight for survival at the Madejski Stadium.

"My former team Fulham are doing better than Reading at the moment, but I wouldn't say that I am sorry I left them," he added.

"I would say that I feel gloomy. I make no secret of the fact that it was difficult for me to leave Martin Jol's team.

"I had the desire to stay, but this is football and I signed for another team. I am still in touch with Jol and he is a strong coach."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8246028/?

Maybe that's a bit harsh on our current squad - But I can't disagree with it