It would definitely be a good investment for MLSE but they'll have to pry the team out of KenBates' cold dead hands. They're a lock for promotion next year and he's going to want redemption after being screwed by the FA this year.
It would definitely be a good investment for MLSE but they'll have to pry the team out of KenBates' cold dead hands. They're a lock for promotion next year and he's going to want redemption after being screwed by the FA this year.
You pretty much summed it up right there.
MLSE likes to buy into things at the ground floor or when an investment is at its lowest possible value. Hell, they bought into MLS for $10 million and now it costs $30-40 million for a franchise (in 3 years).
I think Leeds makes perfect sense for all of Rico Suave's reasons plus the fact that MLSE management are going to want/need a year or so to immerse themselves in the ins/outs of Euro footie. It's a lot easier going through an initiation / education period with a League 1 team that is destined for promotion to CCC than if they jumped right into the EPL.
Best thing about it is maybe our first transfer deal would involve sending Mo to run Leeds....
MLSE brass are heading over to England in August again
BAH I wouldn't support this idea, though it could make things interesting ie. Using TFC as a "farm team" for lack of better words. Maybe we could see some future EPL players in our team before they are 30+
Vitalfootball really messed up their version of the story:
The owners of the NHL team Toronto Maple Leafs and NFL team the Toronto Raptors are believed to be looking into a takeover bid of League One side Leeds United.look what happens when you use wikipedia as your source.Wikipedia states that Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. are worth an estimated $1.75billion. Their current sports portfolio include the crowd-pulling Toronto Maple Leafs Ice Hockey team, their minor league feeder team the Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Raptors American Football team and MLS newcomers Toronto F.C.
http://www.leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk...e.asp?a=110790
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
Oh well so much for that:
Soccer: MLSE not talking with Leeds, Peddie says
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/b...ddie-says.aspx
Upon 1st blush, at best this is all arbitrary thinking as “the Mirror” seems to be the source for the story. So for local comprehension it’s like Kelly Cathal or Marty Yorke breaking a story so very unlikely and poorly researched
A second sober thought is the current Leeds Chairman, Ken Bates and he’s not selling but is seeking an equal or significant partner as an investor. Bates would likely remain in place as part of any package of any change in ownership however a hefty buyout clause will be included for when EPL status is granted
For the unitiated, Ken Bates is a mixture of Harold Ballard Rod Bryden the Gliebermans Murray Pezim and Bruce McNall
And this next point comes to me from a contact within MLSE’s hockey division, MLSE are aware of the questions revolving around the current ownership of Elland Road and until there is confirmation future potential owners will be gun shy as re development of the Elland Road would be key in any deal. The current mystery lease/buy-back agreement doesn’t exactly promote the creation of future income revenues from the facility other than games. Rampant speculation is that Bates through the control of a company in the Virgin Islands is the current beneficial owner. Of course Bates just shrugs this one off as he is well versed with off-shore entities as he himself resides outside of the UK in tax exile
On the other side of the coin Leeds is probably one of the better targets of clubs having financial troubles
*Gary McAllister would remain at the helm as Mgr of a 3rd division club
*27 wins, 91 points 0-1 playoff defeat for promotion in spite of -15 pt deduction
promotion next year could be as close to a certainty as one could hope for
with more $$$
*Elland Road and the Thorp Arch Training Centre
- Elland Road is the 11th largest ground in England and the largest outside of the
EPL
- Thorp Arch is one of the top training facilities in football
*Deep history and knowledgeable passionate supporters
*“upon promotion to the EPL, Hull will enjoy a 60 million pound ($119 mill Cdn)
windfall in TV money, sponsorship and other related revenues” (BBC)
something to look forward to
The magic bullet is severing ties with Ken Bates and his connections
actually Santi is at Madrid right now.. the 3rd installment comes out this year.. lol
Richard Peddie was on the FAN 590 sometime today and took a couple of questions from Sara Buchan about the Leeds story
http://www.fan590.com/media.jsp?cont...526_163811_384
quickly summarized, he says no contact, no discussions with Leeds ever
Everything about MLSE and English football is tied to educating those in MLSE who don't know enough about the game
wow - what a contribution - thanks for wasting server space
from the Leeds United web site, News:
"...
Further to media reports claiming that Leeds United have been in talks with Candian sports firm Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment about possible investment/takeover, the club would like to set the record straight.
The club received a call from Sunday Mirror journalist Rory Smith last week who first enquired about the claims. He was told at the club's pre-Wembley press conference on Friday that the story was untrue and no talks had taken place.
Sadly, despite being informed the story was totally incorrect and untrue, it still appeared on the Sunday Mirror website on the morning of the Play-Off final.
Unfortunately, the claims were repeated in a number of British newspapers on Tuesday.
The club would like to re-iterate that the story is completely untrue and no talks have ever taken place.
MLSE chief executive Richard Peddie also described the story as "pure fiction" in an interview with the Canadian National Post on Tuesday.
"It's pure fiction," he is reported as saying;"I've never met with the Leeds people and never visited them. I didn't see them play."... "
http://www.leedsunited.com/page/News...319424,00.html