Now the dust has settled, I thought I would make a few comments relating to the takeover.
Firstly there has been some excellent commentry so far with blogs by Tatts and Almajir. Also Tom Wagner did an interview which filled me with a lot of hope.
We can now put the period of the Chinese owners behind us. To be fair it started well enough. When Carson Yeung took over, things did improve. There seemed to be better fan interaction, certainly in the beginning, and we had a decent spell in the top flight with a Carling Cup victory.
The following season wasn’t too bad, despite being relegated, we almost qualified out of the group in the Europa competition. However things started to unravel with Yeung’s conviction. The people who took over seemed utterly clueless.
As they sacked manager after manager, we couldn’t get a settled side. We flirted again and again with relegation, and to this day – I have no idea how we stayed up. It certainly wasn’t thanks to the owners! Last season there was some hope, the rumour of a takeover started doing the rounds and there was talk of different groups being interested. Then with Laurence Bassini’s name popped up. There was then that utterly bizarre interview with Talksport, for your amusement – it’s below.
Whether he was able to buy the club or not – however can’t help feeling it was good miss for us, especially after what happened at Watford.
Then in the summer of 2022, Lopez, Richardson and Matthew Southall were linked. However that ended up not very well, especially for them – with them all breaching the EFL rules around directors and owners regulations. The story can be found here. Another narrow escape, and let’s be honest – typical Blues!
Then the story that a US businessman was looking at the club. This time things seem to progress properly and the HKSE approved the deal and the EFL approved the new owners. On Thursday of last week, we got the confirmation. Happy days!
No while all of this is great news, in reality the work starts here. In his interview above, Tom Wagner talks about fundamentally changing the club. Let’s be honest, that needs to happen. The club has been virtually bought to it’s knees by the previous owners.
However we need to be realistic that it will take time. We have had a good transfer window, and work on the ground seems to be progressing well – and we have been told what the plan is. It’s important that we get behind the club now. It’s clear that things are heading that way with the improved season ticket sales, and the positivity seen on social media.
I, like I’m sure many, have been fed up with the way things have been over the last few years, and haven’t really felt like doing much on the blog. However I am now feeling positive – so hopefully will be able to get a new “oomph!”
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After so many false dawns we seem to have found our way again. These new owners in Tom and Ara have a good track record in tuning a sinking ship around towards safety. We will be patient if we see stability and investment. I feel that it will take a couple of years to get this ship to port. It has been fighting off huge waves for the past five years. Surely we are due a little luck.
Hopefully the return of the joys after 12 years of sorrows
A couple of years of security before a real push for promotion would be a great target. Realism.
Keep Right On ?
I hope that View from the South may deliver a few more positive results. I’m more optimistic than I have been for a while but the realist in me expects a steady as she goes type of season. I don’t believe it’s going to be play off bound and back to where we should be for a couple of years yet. Steady progress will do me.
Agree with you all, especially Bazza. A finish of middle of the table will do me this season, hopefully we can strengthen further for the following season. However it’s vital that the club is run correctly with the opportunity of investment. I like what Tom Wagner said, I believe it will be – we can then look to push on.
Cautious optimism I can understand, but this new regime will be relentless in their targeted plan for success. Steady as we go for the immediate start to the season and then should we be in with a sniff of top six by January- TW will go for it.