Tony Fernandes has revelaed just how near he came to owning West Ham in an interview with BBC Sport. He also says he doesn’t think he will invest in the club as he wanted to be the sole owner. Since talks broke down he has been approached by three other clubs asking if he would be interested in buying them.
More HERE. There’s a four minute interview with him on the page. He comes across as a really genuine guy.
Yes, he does come across as genuine. However, if he really does 'love West Ham' then surely a seat on the board and a payment of, say, £30m is not out of the question?
I understand he's got a bruised ego but if he really is loaded then surely he can't pass up this opportunity?
The 2 parties might have differing outlooks on how the club should be run but I cant help but feel they could make a great team. They have different strengths so why can't they work together. If they have the same ultimate goal then its just a question of agreeing on how to do it.
Agree wholeheartedly stevie – in fact now that I've read the article again, if I were Double D I'd be interpreting 'never say never' as a come and get me. They owe it to the club, themselves and indeed all of us to try to get him on board. Imagine being as rich as he is and feeling the way about West Ham as we do. Any deliberation necessary?
I realize this is off topic but has anyone else seen how upset Zola is about the whole Gudjohnson fiasco?
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=733342…
Oliver, Yes mate, I agree Gianfranco's opinion of his so called friend who has stabbed him in the back has gone way down.
Yep, looks like things Eidur isn't quite the man Zola thought he was.
I don't know but I suspect you do not get that rich by not being your own man. I think he will need a lot of persuading to come into a partnership with the two Dave's. However given time and common interest it should be possible for them to work together. However I think he will need time to get used to a partnership rather than ownership . The hope is he feels so strongly for the hammers that he doesn't do what the two Dave's did and go somewhere else. With Karren so actively involved , it might feel a little crowded for Tony.
Disappointed that this is how Tony Fernandes now feels, perhaps understandable, but then again if he Loves Our Club West Ham as I feel he does, then that is even more reason that he should get involved to ensure the club is controlled and governed as he feels fit,
*Tony Fernandes became my first choice originally.
I think we should give it a little time, TF may well want to invest in the longer term, but he won't commit until he has a good idea of how the club will be run. £10M, which seems to be the minimum 'in' fee, is still a very large amount of money (despite the fact we see donkeys traded for more every window).
OK, So Tony Fernandes lost out. His pride is hurt and this is understandable.
It is only 2wks since the takover. However IF TF is a genuine West Ham supporter/fan & he has positive ideas over the future & running of the club, he should come forward and put his plans squarely on the table and talk to Double D
about his vision. It works at Arsenal in a consortium so WHY NOT at West Ham.
NEVER SAY NEVER!!! Time will Tell!
WATCH This SPACE!Lol!!
Looks like we are all pretty much of the same opinion so far anyway. I wasn't too happy about the comment that he would keep his ideas to himself as he might want to apply them if he bought another club though. Hopefully he will resist that opportunity & stay with us, preferably as a substantial investor. The two Daves are both getting on a bit, and TF could position himself to take over when either or both the Daves call it a day that way.
Fernandes bid must have been well short ,why would the banks hold on to half the club,and weight up to four years to get their money,easy to say you were going to do this that and the other,after the doors closed.
The approach taken by the new owners is ruthless, which if Zola does not get the desired results instantly ,you get a feeling Mark Hughes may well be brought in very quickly as they want results!
They say not, and their record supports that. Why on earth would they want Sparkey anyway? What has he ever acheived that would make him a better bet than Zola & Clarke? Now if Paul Peschasolido were to go into management, then maybe Brady Olympic might just swing it for him, but Hughes? No way.
Sorry to go of topic guys:
Believe what you will but i have a friend who's uncle is a football agent and is very close to west ham, i managed to get a chance to speak to him today and he siad that Benni McCarthy will deffinately be joining West Ham and it will be concluded this weekend, he siad that we are also in for a few other players which his friend who is another agent is close to. He said he will ask him about it but said he may not be able to let me know as he is very very busy at the minute, i can also confirm off west ham news that Danny Shittu will be joining Bolton, this is news before SSN get it so i can confirm that to you. I will do my best to keep contact with him but as he is busy it will be tough.
So it is great news on the Benni front, he also said that he felt Eidurs actions towards us was disgraceful as he had agreed to join us but then turned us away. I will do my upmost best to keep you all informed but with 3 days left, agents are extremely busy but i may be able to give you some deals after the transfer window say if we went for a free agent or something. Hope this helps a bit for everyone.
thanks Braderz, Sounds positive. Let us all hope that Benni is not the only new face we see before the end of the season. Keep us posted if you can & lets look to 3points tomorrow. Lol!
I will do my very best m8 but it will be very difficult at a late stage in jan as deals start flying all over the place, I think we should look at it as a positive if we only sign Benni though because we will manage t oretain all KEY players to the squad and also add which we didn't expect to be able to do so anything else will be a great bonus. But i will be happy if only Benni joins but as i have said we are linked with a few other players acording to his mate who is also an agent and has told me he will try and find out but might not be able to give me the news straight away, il keep my phone off silent lol and whatever news i reciver i will post to you and everyone immediately, im off to the bookies lol to now bet that Shittu will join Bolton as SSN hasn't recieved this news yet but he has told me that Shittu will be joining Bolton. i fancy my chances now, i might actaully win something for once from betting lol.
Received & Understood, Mate. Let's hope you are right and make a few quid.Lol.
Well i am glad i am not going to bet on him signing for Bolton lol because he is leaving Bolton, i made an error their lol. But Fishy mate as i have mentioned now a few times, McCarthy will 100% be a hammer i can tell you that now as i have been given this direct information, Deal expected to be announced either later tommorrow or Sunday, I also have heard that he was in the Bolyn Pub yesterday talking to west ham fans and confirming to them that he is joining us, wether their is truth in that i do not know but he has been in London for a while now waiting for deal to be finalised so it could well be true.
Macarthy has been training with west ham since wednesday he is a at least three quarters of a stone over weight and probally will not be considered for two weeks. He didnt say why he hasnt completed signing yet but defo before deadline Monday. He stayed after all the other players left for extra training with Clark and Keen and is really happy to be with us. I think he will be a great foil for Cole and certainly put pressure on all srikers for starting place.
Thankyou for further update, how do you know this by the way?
Braderz i could never post that answer on any site belive me unimpeachable source. Buy me a beer in the East Ham working mans club tomorrow and i will tell you.
Fair enough you got a deal lol
Sorry guys i stand miscorrected, Dan Shittu will be leaving Bolton not signing for them, i do apologize but i must have listened wrong to the news that he gave me, do apologize. But as mentioned I have been told that Benni will 100% be a hammer.
So i can confirm to you that Danny Shittu will be leaving Bolton not that any off you will really care lol We want some more west ham news.
Brad mate no matter about your info I think you are 100% correct. If we only sign Benni then I think considering how we started the month I would be trilled to only lose Quashie and Jiminez from the team. . . . considering it could have been most of the players gone. . . .obviously more would be nice but lets not get too greedy and get enough points to stay up and go get players in the summer. Look at this team on paper looks v good
………………………….Green……………………
Behrami…..Upson….Tompkins……Illunga
…………………………Noble……………………
Diamanti………….Parker…………..Collison
……………….Cole……….McCarthy
Subs: Stech, Faubert, Gabbidon, Kovac, Dyer, Nouble, Stanislas
Yes I know injuries and players like Dyer and Gabbidon worst than glass but outside these are Deprela, Spector, Sears etc . . always look on bright side!!!!
That does look like a very healthy looking side and a team i would very much like to see, I would have franco on the bench though as he has been brilliant for us this season, and like you say m8, we can't be too greedy, heck i am over the moon to be talking about players coming in for a change instead of worrying about loosing the likes of Green, Cole, Upson, Behrami and Parker. So we musn't get carried away and i think that we should all be more realistic aswel, as much as i have aid i would love for Huntelaar to join or Baloteli, it is not very likely to happen, i think McCarthy is the player we needed to come in as i believe he will form a super partnership with Cole and instead of having a superstar doing everything we could actually have the whole team involved if that makes sense, it is great to have your Ronaldo's and what not but i would much rather a team very everyone works together and we don't have to play around one particular player like they wanted to with jimenez and look what happened their, i would love players like that to join but i think we need to be relaistic and be happy with what we get.
Benni will be a west ham player at 16:45 tomorrow. No way fat Sam will sell him before we play them.
Hold my hands up forgot about Franco (how could I!!!!) 100% right on the kind of player we need to win so while it would have been nice for us to have Ruud or Badjohnson in the jersey parading around UP to give us a lift but I think they aren't the players or the attitudes we need!!! Illunga, Parker and Cole are back tomorrow and those are exactly the players we need!!! Big game players .. big game time . . me in the East Stand Upper tomorrow!!! Drinking in the Duke beforehand just to get the atmosphere . . . God I love West Ham . . COYI!!!!
I am obsessed with our club at the minute lol, always checking up on news about the club, With Benni in the team it will be great as he wants t owear our jersey and we are his 'dream club' so i am delighted that he will be joining us. Great to have Cole, Parker and Ilunga back for tomorrow but i feel Ilunga needs t ostep it up and get back to how he was last season as this year he hasn't been as good. Brighter future ahead i think.
It's not entirely Illunga's fault. He has had no help from the (many) people who have played in front of him.
I just worry that other teams around us seem to be strengthening. Benni is a great buy but I still worry about our depth. Our strongest team can hold up against any team in the Prem, its just we never get to see it. A fair few players that could really help us are being courted at a snip and we appear to be sitting back and watching them go by. Its gonna be a real push to the end and if players are continued to be played out of position due our thin squad I can't see it helping our cause.
it may be that some players have not excelled as last year is due to the uncertainty in the club over takeover etc.
Now that is all settled we should see a new revitalised team tomorrow,Lol!
We need a decent back up keeper, I have faith in Stech still but he isn't ready and Begovic who halted us will be of the Spurs for 1m. Anyone with a bit of vision can see that Moses is going to be a bit special and if he goes to a Championship side for 2m on a 4 year contract for 20k then shame on us. Still no news on a RB and with the fragile situation with Spurs I can't see us going for Hutton and Young will need more convincing than a last ditch attempt.
Could be in for a rollercoaster ride in the next few days whoever is signed good luck but what is it about Iceland and their people why have they all systematically set out to try and ruin a great club like ours.
Eidur the spider has gone to the the bottom of Zola,s christmas card list ,they say like attracts like, you and Hairy, 2 spivs who have both been found out hope it is a fatal attraction!COYI
Looks like a a full squad tomorrow sans Franco
Parker, Illunga, Cole. 3 points will do us wonders. COYI!!!!
Shame he didn't own us this time around. Time to move on now.
Chuffed with Benni. He'll get a warm welcome as it seems he hasn't forgotten the fact that he was so close to joining us years before, and I'm not sure if it's just me, but I think he stayed disappointed that the move from Parma didn't come off. I'm not saying he'd rather play for West Ham than anyone, but I do think he genuinely wants to play for us and if he stays clear of injuries and loses a few pounds I think he could be an absolute steal.
As for Fernandes, he sounds like a gent. Just hope he doesn't waste his millions on anyone else. If you are a true Hammer Tony, and I'm sure you are, then sit down with the DD's, and thrash it out, and my God, we could really have an exiting future! COYI
I think to many people are putting their faith in the legs of an almost 33 over weight striker,I know we at least bought someone,but this fella's game was all about legs,unlike franco of the same age whos a brains player like sheringham.
I understand where you are coming from but i think Benni is the type of player we need at the minute as we havn't got that much pace going forwatd and i bleieve Benni will offer us this.
Blackburn game…..must be 4 4 2, Collison noble parker behrami….Diamanti Cole…I'm beginning to believe Colly is the only player capable of playing down the left…waste really,Can't stand Faubert but no other option.
Can't see the point of Kovac at home unless
………..Cole.. Nouble……….
…………..Diamanti…….
collison…Kovac…..Parker…
Behrami rightback
My team vs Blackburn for today:
……………………….Green………………….
Faubert…..Tomkins…..Upson…..Ilunga
……………………….Noble…………………..
Behrami……………………………..Collison
……………………..Diamanti…………………
……………Nouble……………Cole…………
I would start Parker on the bench and bring him in the 2nd half, Midfield is very tough to pick though as Kovac is doing very well lately. I can't see this side being put out to start as i think we will go with a similar team against pompey but maybe use diamanti as an effective sub and start Cole, we will see. COYI!!!!!!
Today we are linked with Mido.
When Sullivan and Gold came in, one of the first statements was an intent to gain quality purchases in order to guarantee our status.
So far, Benni McCarthy. It is hard not to feel thoroughly underwhelmed and incredibly disappointed. We have to temper this with the fact that importantly, their tenure at the club has enabled the club to keep our best players and remove uncertainty. This is the most important thing. For this we should be thankful.
So, I am thankful that we are holding on to our best players, I am breathing a lot easier than I would be normally in a transfer window, and it is refreshing to not read about all our important players that will be leaving the club. This is wonderful. In fact, all we are reading in the press is our intent on bringing in additions.
But, and there is a but. Gold and Sullivan did say that they feel it of the utmost importance to get 'quality strikers who scores goals.' Will the transfer of Benni McCarthy really fit that bill?
For £2.5M he is a decent purchase- but is he the type of player to guarantee our Premiership status. No. I'm sure Gold and Sullivan know this.
The problem is, our best forward, by a mile is Carlton Cole. If he gets injured we have massive problems. Benni McCarthy and the likes of Diamanti(who isn't a strike anyway) and quicker, moblle players(Benni needs to lose a bit of weight to be mobile..but you get my point).
Franco is the nearest we have to a replacement but he is 35 and lacks the legs to play our counter-attacking game we are so good at away from home, when Cole is in the team.
I am concerned that we are not being linked with a "quality striker who scores goals"
Sullivan and Gold are essentially looking for a Carlton cole replacement- but who is good enough to play alongside Carlton.
Can any of the following be classes as"quality striker who scores goals"
Mido. When he was hot at Wigan, he was very hot. Unfortunately his flame burned brightly for a while and then extinguished. He is overweight and suffers from inflated ego. He is a problem player. Could Zola remove the weight off him quickly and remove his ego- and turn him into the dangerous player he could be.
I am hoping that our owners have a deal lined up that the press are not aware of. A hidden gem- otherwise, we could be in a situation where we are playing the remaining games of the season without Cole who is suffering from injury this year, without Franco who has an injury and is 35 and should not be expected to carry the team, and with just Benni McCarthy. JUST Benni McCarthy.
I temper this by the realization that the owners are doing everything they can. I don't blame them. We are competing with the likes of Tottenham and Harry Redknapp who play dirty. Harry, we won't forgive you – but we think you have done us a favour with Eidur.
What I hope the owners do is not miss a trick here. Victor Moses is available for the region of £3Million. He is good enough to play left midfield (enabling Collison to play his best position in centre midfield) and can even play up front. He is good enough now. He will be brilliant for the future. Let's not miss a trick here- Sullivan, Gold, please buy him. We will be happy believe me, if we buy Benni McCarthy and Moses. Why try to buy a left winger next summer, when we can get a decent English player for knockdown price right now!!!
What hurts right now is seeing all the other competing Premiership clubs buying up quality players, and we are not buying anyone of any note…when we are the team in need.
If it is true that Everton have signed Beckford from Leeds, then I would say we have not done our job properly. I hope this is not true. I think Carlton Cole and Jermaine Beckford, potentially could be a potent attacking force.
SO, please Gold and Sullivan, we know it is tough during the January window, but there are a couple of Gems here that we need to take the gamble on.
Les Ferdinand, Stuart Pearce, Ian Wright. All young English players snatched from the lower leagues, whose became invaluable to England and their clubs.
I think the same could be said for Victor Moses and Jermaine Beckford.
If I hear that Victor Moses has been signed by Newcastle or West Brom for £3Million- I would be disappointed in the extreme. What message would that send to us fans when we are bringing in flabby disaffected players like Mido???
A young, skilful, hungry, English player MUST be bought now!!!!
Benni McCarthy
Jermaine Beckford
Victor Moses
These three would make me a very happy chap indeed
Benni McCarthy
Mido
Hmmmm.
Scott McDonald is also another player on the supposed list.
One other point that we must take into account is that the January TW, is a very difficult time to find the right players at right prices. we hope that apart from Benni 1or2 other players will also join us by Mondays deadline.
Yes Fishy agreed. But there are a few players of quality, not many, but a few, and Moses is available at an excellent price. Also, so is beckford. We could get both – I suspect we won't even try to get either.
Scott McDonald is rubbish. I'm concerned we are being linked with players like him
This is an excerpt from the Independent. Hardly lifts your heart when you read it. I can only assume that the stories, linking us with Mido are false. I really hope they are. Scott McDonald, Mido….Good grief.
The bit that most concerns me in this article is the fact that Mido, has only scored 1 GOAL IN 11 IN THE EGYPTIAN LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WEST HAM- TAKE A PUNT ON BECKFORD AND MOSES!
West Ham United are attempting to sign Egyptian striker Mido, having missed out on Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eidur Gudjohnsen. The courting of Mido, who was dropped by Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations, demonstrates how desperate West Ham have become with only three days left until the transfer window closes.
Mido, 26, who had trouble keeping his weight down during his time at Tottenham Hotspur, has only scored one goal in 11 league appearance for Zamalek in the Egyptian league this season.
Andy. Whilst I share your concern about having the firepower needed to stave off the R Word, I do not see that any club has significantly strengthened their line up during January. Looking at SSN done deals there is precious little change and of those the only name we would have wanted was Jack Wilshire. As Fishy says, January is a poor time for buying and, it would appear, to get loan striker. But be warmed by the improving availability of players from the Physio's clutches, because although we have a thin squad there is enough quality to lead us out of trouble.
good point
Julian Dicks interview in todays Express is very supportive of the new regime & says that the "FANS" now have West Ham back. He is very scathing about the Icelandic owners tenure. Dicksy nicknamed "The Terminator" now plys his trade down at Grays Athletic & it appears as though we now have a mini West Ham down in the non-league side, With a number of ex Hammers players from Chairman to Managerial staff.
With so many young players in and around the team I'm not sure we need a Moses or a Beckford. Benni really fits the bill for me, experience, desire to play for the Hammers and yes he does score goals. With Cole back, Franco on the way, Benni on board and Nouble on the scene, the key focus should be a right back.
I agree with you…..we have Hines although injured and Nouble so Moses and Beckford are probably the same level. We do need experience and I think McCarthy is a good buy….he knows where the net is and thats what we need.
Yes and a right back and centre back should still be a priority….without Tomkins we have Gabbidon who is always injured so we need back up…..we also only really have one creative midfielder Diamanti…the others are all workers and not creaters….e.g Collison, Noble, Parker, Kovac, Behrami