by Bandini »
17 Oct 2013 10:58
handbags_harris This just smacks completely of alarm bells really. The fact that the full takeover hasn't occurred, and now SJM is to stay on as Chairman for another two years "at AZ's request", well it can only point to one consistent message I keep hearing - TSI doesn't have the money.
With regards the AZ request, well we all know RFC is one massive spin-machine. Pure speculation, and I refuse to hanker on every word the club spouts, but I would suggest that SJM has demanded he stay on as Chairman and has probably legally backed TSI into a corner. After all, if TSI renege on their deal, SJM has their arses over a blue and white hooped barrel.
The problem it seems to me is that:
1. SJM appeared to need the money, given the problems experienced by his other businesses.
2. This keenness to sell is rather highlighted by the reported terms of the deal, namely giving up control over the club but only getting payment for 51% of his shares - this appears to place him in a pretty weak position as he couldn't trade the rump 49% of his shares up to the time for the option to be exercised.
3. Now it appears that either he is unable under the terms of the agreement to compel the purchase of his remaining shares or he is unwilling to rescind the deal because he sees no other buyer on the horizon, and TSI are happy to go on running the club without paying up for the remaining shares.
This is of concern because the more desperate he is (/was) to sell the less rigorous he will have been in deciding to whom he should sell. TSI have done nothing to suggest that they have the long-term interest of the club at heart.