Russian duo Vladimir Antonov and Roman Dubov are on the verge of taking over Portsmouth FC.
They've completed due diligence and tabled an offer that has been accepted by current owner Balram Chainrai.
Chris Akers, the former chief executive of Leeds, is also involved with the duo as part of the vehicle Conver Sports Initiatives.
The trio are promising to rejuvenate the south coast club and finances should not be a problem, because Antonov and Dubov are each worth upwards of £300m.
They have enlisted the help of Phil Hall, the former editor of the News of the World, to deal with all their PR.
And they are likely to need him, because passing the Football League's Fit and Proper Persons test will now come into focus.
Antonov is the biggest shareholder in the Lithuanian bank Bankas Snoras and in 2008 they were refused a UK licence by the Financial Services Authority after regulators stated that the company had given them "misleading and incomplete answers".
The FSA also added that Antonov's "failures are not an isolated instance but are examples of an ongoing pattern of behaviour by institutions controlled by Mr Antonov."
Watch this space...
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26 comments:
Where did you hear this?
Total Bollox
Heard it from sources close to the deal. They are very reliable but don't wish to be named - sorry.
And you are entitled to your opinion makka, although it's a shame you couldn't have been a little more articulate. All I can say is let's wait and see...
Tom
Tom, Pompey fans have been dicked about for well over a year with stories like this, in addition to the take overs by wannabes and 'businessmen' looking to make money from the club by asset stripping and sucking out the parachute payments etc.
We're all hopeful but extremely sceptical.
You'll have to do better than 'I know something you don't' if you want to be taken seriously on this one.
Just to anonymously echo the thoughts of Anonymous above. ;-)
*** Your article is unwelcome without quotes or sources. ***
We're sick of the half-truths, the lies and the spin. If this is just rubbish from Phil Hall then let's see it for what it is. This article is rubbish imho and will be proven so in good time.
Sorry tom,is this more articulate for you.
What total bollox.
Why don't you admit you made this up,and can you tell me one story you have got right.
Come off it, you've got previous on reporting utter bollocks:
http://undercoversport.blogspot.com/2008/11/keown-to-join-adams-at-pompey.html
http://undercoversport.blogspot.com/2010/04/jose-mourinho-set-for-man-city-job.html
and this is no different.
I hope this goes through then at least we can be realistic about signing Messi and Riquelme.
@ANON who needs a messi when youve got a mokoena??
Thanks for all your comments. I'm always surprised that fans get so shirty when journos write about anything slightly controversial involving their clubs. I haven't made anything up here and am not having a pop at Pompey.
And I know it can be irritating when stories are attributed to 'sources'. But it can't be avoided when people close to a story give you info on condition that they aren't named...
Tom - please could you post a link to one of the rumours/stories/articles you have written that actually came to fruition.
Fans get shirty when the writer has no credibility.
Just did some digging myself - apparently Due Diligence has not yet taken place, so the deal has not been done and signed off as this blogger's sources are saying. Let's just keep holding our breath, shall we?
Chowsie... that's a fair question. Have a look back through my archive - first (in fact only) person to report that Harry Redknapp was on his way to Spurs; interview with Gary Charles about the help Roy Keane has given him with his alcoholism (quoted by Paul Hayward in his Daily Mail column); first person to report that Mihir Bose was leaving the BBC... and others. What are your credentials?
Strange that no-one else, anywhere, not even in Portsmouth, acknowledges any news of this takeover. Is this just website/tabloid spin simply to fill column inches on a slow news day! More than likely!
So, you know Harry Redknapp personally then, if not, your source would know him, so who is your source now that is age old?
The others are hardly earth shattering to be fair.
Long as whatever new owners do take over give two hoots about the club then fine, if not ***k off and stop wasting our money.
Antonov - Dodgy
Dubov - Dodgy
Article writer - ...
Harry leaving was on the cards as soon as the money dried up ... easy peasy. Inside sources had this on messageboards whay before you. Is that your source - there are three hot Pompey messageboards with good inside info - just do a trawl and make a guess.
Russinas with Mafia connections and money-laundering history we can do without. Try this source for size:
http://www.rumafia.com/material.php?id=220
... and don't be so bloody irresponsible.
The fact you are posting anonymously says it all. And you're talking rubbish. If you don't like the blog then go elsewhere and don't get so worked up about it. In fact produce a better one yourself. As for this story, time will tell.
Still waiting 'Smithy'!
They are dragging their heals if they've already done DD.........?!!
Fair play Chownsie.
So Tom,
Appears you may have jumped the gun, but there also might be some truth/basis in what you have said.
Having said that, you have not updated this for a while. So, through your contacts (and now that its in the public domain from Keith Harris) is the time scales being mentioned correct - i.e one week from yesterday?
The mailonline reported this over a month ago.
This is hardly groundbraking news mate
Just reading this back and having a chuckle. Sadly they did take over, as I exclusively revealed. And now the club is going to go into administration again...
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