Would promotion help or hinder the current owner spat?

[Sean Thornton]

If they both have backers or someone wanting to buy the club off them - the price looks like going up - a common sense position could be to sell the club jointly. McCabe sells the ground as well and both walk away with tens of millions each. Or one of them next to nothing compared to their investment.

Sadly, big egos probably mean that things have gone to far for that.

 

[BladeInIreland]

The bit about the prince selling up.

Pretty sure he said in interviews he sees us as an investment, and the plan was to get us back in the premier league and sell. Originally his money was more significant at championship level. But we messed about in league one too long and it’s looks like we have managed it anyway. Why would he change his plan now?

 

[Chali 2na]

Pretty sure he said in interviews he sees us as an investment, and the plan was to get us back in the premier league and sell. Originally his money was more significant at championship level. But we messed about in league one too long and it’s looks like we have managed it anyway. Why would he change his plan now?

I don't remeber the prince ever stating that his plan was to sell. I'd love to see the quote.

 

[Addison]

If they both have backers or someone wanting to buy the club off them - the price looks like going up - a common sense position could be to sell the club jointly. McCabe sells the ground as well and both walk away with tens of millions each. Or one of them next to nothing compared to their investment.

Sadly, big egos probably mean that things have gone to far for that.

Without doubt the most sensible solution upwards of £150 mill plus valuation. They will be inundated with backers if we go up. McCabe gets his money back and makes a tidy profit. Prince shed loads in for his investment. Club reputation and profile enhanced as no dirty linen aired in public. CW allowed to get on with building a premiership squad.

Never going to happen as you say its got too personal you only have to look at the exchanges in the e mails referred to at the Disclosure Hearing. They want their day in Court and be damned to common sense. It will end in tears for both. Meanwhile the messiah Chris Wilder sits twiddling his thumbs throughout May and June sat on a £100 mill war chest.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Some parts of the Prince’s interview with James Shield from Oct 2017 that may be relevant...

JS: So why Sheffield United? And how strong is your commitment?

PA: I thought Sheffield United were a big club, a historical club and the more I read, the more I became interested. I want to become more involved now. I will only leave this club two ways I think. If I can’t afford to do it anymore because, unless you are in the Premier League, it really does cost a lot of money. Or if I felt I was standing in the way of the club becoming a much better club. I wouldn’t get out for the money. Only if, say, another Sheikh Mansour arrived, would I go. Even then, I would like to stay involved in some way because I have become a fan.

JS: So supporters can be assured that your goal is reaching the Premier League?

PA: The Premier League is the aim. Because, if you think about it, every year we are in the Championship or God forbid League One, it is just losing money for the owner. Going to the Premier League is the only way. I am really committed to that as much as I can be. People can not compare us to Paris St Germain or Manchester City because these, I think, are owned by states rather than individuals. Most people assume because you are a prince, you are born with a lot of money. Some are like that but I had to work hard for mine. So when I spend it, I want to spend it wisely. Honestly, though, I am really now a fan.

PA: When I bought into the club, I don’t want to lose money of course. I would be open to any idea to get us to the Premier League. When I was appointed to the government, I not only had to quit Sheffield United but also Saudi Paper. I sold all my shares because I thought I would stay in the government for four to eight years. I only wanted to keep Sheffield United and one or two other things. Now, I want to be successful at one or two things and hopefully one is Sheffield United. But, to answer your question, I would never be selfish, I would never stand in the way of Sheffield United being successful. If someone said, we want the club and we will put £100m in, I would be very reasonable.

https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foo...bdulaziz-al-saud-interview-part-one-1-8826052

https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foo...bdulaziz-al-saud-interview-part-two-1-8826088

 

[BladeInIreland]

I don't remeber the prince ever stating that his plan was to sell. I'd love to see the quote.

Just had a quick skim and found nothing. Maybe I imagined it. And not because of the A word.

 

[Topplayersleave]

Both of them will get greedier with the millions on offer. Wilder will work with a mid table championship budget, our fans will whoop it up as we make a £3 million signing and toss Kev off all year for backing us

 

[Bannerman]

I don't remeber the prince ever stating that his plan was to sell. I'd love to see the quote.

Don't remember him saying that, but I do remember him saying that his intention was to make money. The simplist way to do that would be to sell once the Premier Division was achieved. The rumour is that a Chinese billionaire is interested. Having said which that's all it is, a rumour and even if it were true it doesn't mean it would necessarily turn out right for the club, plenty of evidence of owners with no knowledge or emotional attachment to a club coming in and buggering things up.

It's being so cheerful keeps me going

 

[Sean Thornton]

Both of them will get greedier with the millions on offer. Wilder will work with a mid table championship budget, our fans will whoop it up as we make a £3 million signing and toss Kev off all year for backing us

Didn't someone tell you to fuck off ?

 

[Topplayersleave]

Didn't someone tell you to fuck off ?

Yes, all the time, but you know you like my sarcasm

 

[Chali 2na]

Just had a quick skim and found nothing. Maybe I imagined it. And not because of the A word.

Fair enough. Not saying its not the case; you might be right, just can't imagine him publicly saying he wants to sell - until he needs to sell.

 

[Chali 2na]

Don't remember him saying that, but I do remember him saying that his intention was to make money. The simplist way to do that would be to sell once the Premier Division was achieved. The rumour is that a Chinese billionaire is interested. Having said which that's all it is, a rumour and even if it were true it doesn't mean it would necessarily turn out right for the club, plenty of evidence of owners with no knowledge or emotional attachment to a club coming in and buggering things up.

It's being so cheerful keeps me going

I try not to get too worried by rumours or conjecture to be honest.

 

[Bannerman]

I try not to get too worried by rumours or conjecture to be honest.

And you are wise to do that, but as this is a forum devoted to discussing all things Sheffield United rumours and conjecture are bound to be part of it.

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/spo...oney-from-an-oil-well-i-work-for-it-1-6028668

There are a couple of quotes in that article which are interesting, make of them what you will.

" But I am an investor, I don't have money to throw away - I will not make any money unless the team gets promoted " The Prince

" We are value investors, Prince Abdullah believes in the old adage of buy cheap and sell dear. Here, there is no intention to ever sell, the intention is to succeed." Jim Phipps.

It could be inferred from the princes quote that getting to the Premier and selling is the plan, but Jim Phipps says not, even though he also states that that is the princes usual tactic.

Given the amount of money swilling around in the Premier and the dominance of the big clubs I'm not sure how money is going to be made long term out of running a club the size of ours and trying to compete.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

If we go up they will kiss and make up otherwise the real gaffer (CW) will transfer list them.

 

[Harrisblade]

It's a cash cow neither will want to walk away from without a fight (guaranteed £190M is the latest figure I've seen), unless the court rules one way or the other. I've no idea whether legally or contractually, either could pay the other off with club funds i.e the Prem money.

Didn't the Glazers (?) buy Man Utd with Man Utd own future income?

 

[BLADES1988]

Can I be first to say Weeeeeerzpremierleaguemunnehgone?

 

[Champagneblade]

I think there needs to be an increased level of maturity shown by our fanbase too in the handling of these matters on social media.

Somehow the Prince seems to have been set up as the villain of the peace.

Without any prior affiliation to the club, he's come from nowhere and invested around 16m into the club. A figure you have to assume McCabe was not looking to invest in addition to what he already has put in during the same period.

Running a non-PL club is a loss making business so without him we would have been either taking on more debt or selling more players.

I personally find it embarrassing that a Saudi Royal who has put 8 figures into the club should post words of encouragement for the team's results only to receive messages of abuse back. If nothing else, it's bad manners and disrespectful.

It is the nature of social media but people really have to engage their brains before responding negatively to such postings.

I feel for the girl for instance who was removed from the box because the Prince could only be served by males. But this isn't have been male chauvinist, it's him respecting the decree of his religion. You can't have it both ways - we'll take your 16m generated under an Islamic regime, but just leave the customs that go with that at the airport, we're little Englanders here after all.

It's dangerous to confuse what he is with who he is.

Whatever way this goes, I hope whichever one comes out on top is allowed a fair crack. Just because the Prince hasn't courted local media, it doesn't mean he cannot be a power for good. Either one of them would be better than an ownership duo at war.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Didn't the Glazers (?) buy Man Utd with Man Utd own future income?

If memory serves, they took out a loan to buy the club using the club as collateral or something similar. Genius.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I think there needs to be an increased level of maturity shown by our fanbase too in the handling of these matters on social media.

Somehow the Prince seems to have been set up as the villain of the peace.

Without any prior affiliation to the club, he's come from nowhere and invested around 16m into the club. A figure you have to assume McCabe was not looking to invest in addition to what he already has put in during the same period.

Running a non-PL club is a loss making business so without him we would have been either taking on more debt or selling more players.

I personally find it embarrassing that a Saudi Royal who has put 8 figures into the club should post words of encouragement for the team's results only to receive messages of abuse back. If nothing else, it's bad manners and disrespectful.

It is the nature of social media but people really have to engage their brains before responding negatively to such postings.

I feel for the girl for instance who was removed from the box because the Prince could only be served by males. But this isn't have been male chauvinist, it's him respecting the decree of his religion. You can't have it both ways - we'll take your 16m generated under an Islamic regime, but just leave the customs that go with that at the airport, we're little Englanders here after all.

It's dangerous to confuse what he is with who he is.

Whatever way this goes, I hope whichever one comes out on top is allowed a fair crack. Just because the Prince hasn't courted local media, it doesn't mean he cannot be a power for good. Either one of them would be better than an ownership duo at war.

You're right Champers but can you imagine the reverse, a Yorkshireman buying a share of one of their clubs and insisting all the women in the club dressed as we do, he wouldn't get out alive, probably literally. It is a whole package and you have to respect what he is and who he is as you say, but it also works both ways, he should also accept that everything won't be 100% to his liking.

Social media, enough said.

 

[BushBlade]

Didn't the Glazers (?) buy Man Utd with Man Utd own future income?

Yes. It was a ‘leveraged purchase’.

 

[Dkc]

I feel for the girl for instance who was removed from the box because the Prince could only be served by males. But this isn't have been male chauvinist, it's him respecting the decree of his religion. You can't have it both ways - we'll take your 16m generated under an Islamic regime, but just leave the customs that go with that at the airport, we're little Englanders here after all.
.

It's the Prince who can't have it both ways. If he invests in a British club he's got to respect British law, including employment legislation. He doesn't get to choose who's serving him food and drinks. It could be a straight man, a gay man or a woman. There may be religious exemptions in a mosque but not at a football club.

 

[Dkc]

I think there needs to be an increased level of maturity shown by our fanbase too in the handling of these matters on social media.

Somehow the Prince seems to have been set up as the villain of the peace.

Without any prior affiliation to the club, he's come from nowhere and invested around 16m.

He's not been seen at the Lane all season and not communicated with fans at all. When he showed up v Forest he was protected by security staff who wouldn't even let others ride in the lift with him. It's like he doesn't give a shit about the fans.

McCabe on the other hand gets on trains with fans, goes in bars with them and yes, shares lifts too. On the evidence so far BRP is aloof and unapproachable

 

[Sean Thornton]

He's not been seen at the Lane all season and not communicated with fans at all. When he showed up v Forest he was protected by security staff who wouldn't even let others ride in the lift with him. It's like he doesn't give a shit about the fans.

McCabe on the other hand gets on trains with fans, goes in bars with them and yes, shares lifts too. On the evidence so far BRP is aloof and unapproachable

To be fair, HRH doesn’t know how it works. He won’t realise that all those calling him a **** on social media will happily shake his hand posing for photo with him whilst smiling.

 

[Champagneblade]

It's the Prince who can't have it both ways. If he invests in a British club he's got to respect British law, including employment legislation. He doesn't get to choose who's serving him food and drinks. It could be a straight man, a gay man or a woman. There may be religious exemptions in a mosque but not at a football club.

But it's a football club of which he owns half.

Anyone doing business with foreign dignatories would be sensitive to their enforced beliefs. It's not like they sacked her for being female, she just got moved to serve another area. It's not exactly cause for constructive dismissal case at an employment tribunal.

May sound harsh but upset the serving lass or upset the owner who puts in 16m? No brainier. Though I do sympathize with her feeling put out.

As to him having security guards, McCabe is a local business man. The Prince is a member of a ruling Royal family. Of course he will be expected to have protection. It's a different world to what the likes of you and I live in.

 

[Dkc]

But it's a football club of which he owns half.

Anyone doing business with foreign dignatories would be sensitive to their enforced beliefs. It's not like they sacked her for being female, she just got moved to serve another area. It's not exactly cause for constructive dismissal case at an employment tribunal.
.

Doesn't matter, the law is the law. If she were to be sacked for that Tweet she'd have a very strong case for unfair dismissal and compensation.

Imagine if Mike Ashley demanded that only women work with him in his Sports Direct corporate office. That would be just as illegal.

You can't demand that you only be served by someone of a certain gender, colour or sexual preference, even if you own half the company.

 

[Champagneblade]

Doesn't matter, the law is the law.

Imagine if Mike Ashley demanded that only women work with him in his Sports Direct corporate office. That would be just as illegal.

You can't demand that you only be served by someone of a certain gender, colour or sexual preference, even if you own half the company.

But he's not a customer. He's the owner.

He's quite entitled to ask for a male staff to replace a female staff in respect of his beliefs. Under certain circumstances the club could have refused but as he owns half if it that was very unlikely. If Mike Ashley decided he only wanted males to look after the male clothing section and women the women's section he could. If I owned a company and decided that I didn't want the gobby Wednesday fan to sit next to me, I could arrange for it, as long as I don't detrimentally impact his working conditions.

He's not broken any law. As I understand it, she was just moved to serve elsewhere. She wasn't sacked or given a job of lesser value.

 

[Yewsman]

It is a while since I read the court papers that were published for the shareholders meeting but my understanding is that the Prince may have shot himself in the foot by trying to circumvent the shareholders agreement to avoid having to buy the ground and other real estate. I do not think he could now turn round and seek to get KMs shares and the property as he has not exercised his right to buy in accordance with the shareholders agreement. Let’s hope I am right and we can get rid of him and keep KM as owner. I know he wants to sell but I would much prefer him to choose the next owner with the interests of the club going forward (despite his past record in choosing the Prince and various managers!)

 

[BushBlade]

It is a while since I read the court papers that were published for the shareholders meeting but my understanding is that the Prince may have shot himself in the foot by trying to circumvent the shareholders agreement to avoid having to buy the ground and other real estate. I do not think he could now turn round and seek to get KMs shares and the property as he has not exercised his right to buy in accordance with the shareholders agreement. Let’s hope I am right and we can get rid of him and keep KM as owner. I know he wants to sell but I would much prefer him to choose the next owner with the interests of the club going forward (despite his past record in choosing the Prince and various managers!)

I’ve been wondering the same. What if the judge says Andrex has denied himself the opportunity to buy the shares that should have been triggered by McCabe’s offer, but McCabe’s offer, being made in good faith still stands. So Andrex has to sell his share for £5m.

 

[Dkc]

But he's not a customer. He's the owner.

He's quite entitled to ask for a male staff to replace a female staff in respect of his beliefs. Under certain circumstances the club could have refused but as he owns half if it that was very unlikely. If Mike Ashley decided he only wanted males to look after the male clothing section and women the women's section he could. If I owned a company and decided that I didn't want the gobby Wednesday fan to sit next to me, I could arrange for it, as long as I don't detrimentally impact his working conditions.

He's not broken any law. As I understand it, she was just moved to serve elsewhere. She wasn't sacked or given a job of lesser value.

Yes he has broken the law. By specifying that he doesn't want women working in certain work positions he's broken the 2010 Equality Act. Gender discrimination in the workplace is illegal in the UK.

 

[Champagneblade]

Yes he has broken the law. By specifying that he doesn't want women working in certain work positions he's broken the 2010 Equality Act. Gender discrimination in the workplace is illegal in the UK.

I don't see how he has. He's simply said"not on my table because I have to adhere to there beliefs". I don't see how he has changed her working conditions. Happy to stand corrected but she was just ask to wait on tables that weren't his table. She hasn't been dismissed. She hasn't been asked to clean the bins instead of waiting on tables.