Deadbat
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2022/23 SUFC SEASON REVIEW / SCHOOL REPORT
Staff report
Board / Club
Prince HRH Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud A year ago there was the first real signs that the Prince might not be here much longer and was not in it for the long haul. Not long after I wrote the end of season review reports came out that businessman Henry Mauriss was in talks to acquire the club from Abdullah. Concerns around whom Mauriss was and his bona fides emerged soon after with the Californian having already failed to buy Newcastle United previously. Mauriss was jailed for fraud earlier this year. It set the wheels in motion that Prince Abdullah wanted out. We were still part of the United World Group but issues with Beerschot in Belgium (who were also relegated and facing financial issues) and others not quite having the impact in their respective countries and leagues – meant even this much ballyhooed operation was not really having an impact both in terms of their impact on their own and as a collective group.
We have barely heard or seen from Abdullah over the last few years. There is the odd post on social media but it is rarely ever about United but then he did pop up with a few tweets near the end of the season and resurfaced at Wembley and then strode across the Bramall Lane pitch and in front of the fans. I thought this was incredible that he came out of the woodwork when he has left it to Heckingbottom and Bettis to face the press and tricky questions (re on and off the field stuff). He turned up suddenly when we have the sniff of glory. Poor look for me. Said nothing for a long time and then is facing the press and discussing things – seemed to be a bit too little, too late. Maybe that is harsh but how I feel? He left Bettis and Hecky to deal with the embargo and admin questions and only came back when it was positive stuff going on.
However, it is clear he now wants to recoup what money he can from United and move on. Maybe he is bored of it all? Maybe he recognises he lacks the finances to really push us on? Maybe the Newcastle takeover has had an impact on him in his homeland? Whatever the reason – it seems his lack of interest and recent investment in the club means the end is coming soon. Some will argue he has put a fair bit in to keep us going – although until the accounts come out then that is debatable – and he has not sold our main assets but we also have been run shambolically in the last few months. Going into a transfer embargo, bills not been paid and suppliers demands ignored is a really bad look for the club. There is a lot of debate about why we are in a mess and blame being apportioned. Clubs that come down do struggle as the parachute payments start to come to an end (ours were already accounted for anyway) and we have not sold any players outside of Ramsdale. Others will point to the money spent (and arguably wasted) on Brewster, Berge and others when Wilder was manager. However, it still seems inconceivable that we are scrimping and saving and there seems to have been real mismanagement of the finances.
His board members are never here (till that last week when we saw Yusuf and co again!) and the whole interest and desire to be involved from the Saudi contingent seems almost non-existent. You would expect when/if we are bought out that the United World is effectively broken up – I do not see the new owner wanting to take on all the other clubs and expect them to be taken over too.
The Mauriss takeover collapsed and never seemed particularly serious, although Prince Abdullah is allegedly still seeking costs from Mauriss that any would be buyer would have to fit in terms of entering an initial agreement but there was a great deal of speculation over who would be next? There were rumours of Turkish links, then Chinese and then other parties in the Middle East. When the name Dozy Mmobuosi was linked it was therefore somewhat out of the blue and a complete surprise. Like with Mauriss, everybody of course researched this new name. The Nigerian founder and group chief executive officer of IT service management company Tingo Inc, the parent company of Tingo Mobile, also has involvement in a number of other subsidiaries. However, like with Mauriss doubts have emerged throughout. After his interview with Rio Ferdinand, it was revealed he met Prince Abdullah over a pint of Guinness in a pub in Sheffield and suddenly became interested. There were then concerns of various law suits and issues with his finances. He allegedly owed rent on a simple semi-detached house in St Albans and there were more alarmingly several county court judgements outstanding against him in the States. An alleged airline company had literally never got off the ground. The fact was there were lots of questions but he seemed determined to be try and get United. He was seen at Reading in the flesh and then he continued to state he would prove to the EFL he had the funds to meet the financial checks they were undergoing. The first new of a possible takeover came early in 2023 and we are now over 4 months down the line and the fact it has not been completed has to raise concerns. If he had the money/funds and could prove it (had Deloitte involved) then surely it would have been completed? I know EFL have tightened things up but surely if he, and his companies, had that much money, it would not be hard to prove his finances to satisfy them and take over.
Reports came out it was off around the day of the West Brom game and it seemed doubtful from the rumours and then Prince’s interview. Dozy was steadfast in that he still wanted to buy us and said he was still in talks. There was then talk of new possible owners and there was rumours of groups in North America and the Far East as promotion meant maybe new interest? The Prince said he could sell within four weeks (after almost a year of messing around with two-time wasters – he would sell in a month?) and then said he might not do. It was really mixed messages. Hecky rightly said it needed sorting now for clarity on contracts and budgets and it was worrying despite getting promoted early, we could be playing catch up and not in a secure position to build a squad to have a chance next season at the top level.
Surely any period of exclusivity has now elapsed but are there any would be rich businessmen/women who want to come in? If there was, then surely the Prince would have sold us by now. I feel like he has wasted a year on Mauriss and now Mmobuosi. Although recent times we have heard he has upped his bid or maybe that the sale price had to go up anyway? He was still being mentioned as being interested but you do wonder if a lot of it was around him and his companies getting media traction.
We now face more uncertainty which is affecting the club and threaten to waste another great chance to build something – we need to be thinking of the first team, the academy, the training ground, the hotel and the ground but none of these will be any further along than last time we were here without a takeover happening and to someone of repute, financially.
The Premier League money and status is huge. Maybe others may want a piece of us now but know we have a lot of debt to sort using said Premier League money so it’s not like we are exactly settled and could easily be back in the Championship in 12 months. The embargo for now has been lifted but there are so many questions and uncertainty and this makes it very hard for the manager and CEO to play in terms of contracts and budgets. The fact we are saying we may have to keep many of the old guard is a concern to me and we face another race against time when we should have sorted this out a long time ago.
----
The rest of the board as it stands are officially (according to the latest programme):
Yusuf Giansiracusa Was told he was acting chairman when the Prince’s son stepped down but has been chairman for over 2 years! A lawyer by trade – he is most well-known for his press conference after Jokanovic was fired. He said after that we would not hear from him or see him (or the rest of the below) and to be fair he was right as the overall day to day stuff been left to Bettis and Heckingbottom. He came back to hand the medals out – but that was it. Not great really.
Princess Reem I believe is the chairman’s wife and the Prince’s daughter in law? We don’t hear much from her or what her role is? Apparently, she is involved with the women’s team but we do not hear anything from her? She remains on the board but she will move on when Abdullah does sell up.
Abdullah Alghamadi – works for a company called Amos holdings and is group CEO where Abdullah’s son also has a role. Alghamadi is Group CEO. He is listed also as a Financial and Investment Advisor as well as being a Sheffield United Board member and a Beerschot board member.
Of course, you would expect all the above to leave and a new board to be assembled whenever any takeover is completed.
Staff report
Board / Club
Prince HRH Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud A year ago there was the first real signs that the Prince might not be here much longer and was not in it for the long haul. Not long after I wrote the end of season review reports came out that businessman Henry Mauriss was in talks to acquire the club from Abdullah. Concerns around whom Mauriss was and his bona fides emerged soon after with the Californian having already failed to buy Newcastle United previously. Mauriss was jailed for fraud earlier this year. It set the wheels in motion that Prince Abdullah wanted out. We were still part of the United World Group but issues with Beerschot in Belgium (who were also relegated and facing financial issues) and others not quite having the impact in their respective countries and leagues – meant even this much ballyhooed operation was not really having an impact both in terms of their impact on their own and as a collective group.
We have barely heard or seen from Abdullah over the last few years. There is the odd post on social media but it is rarely ever about United but then he did pop up with a few tweets near the end of the season and resurfaced at Wembley and then strode across the Bramall Lane pitch and in front of the fans. I thought this was incredible that he came out of the woodwork when he has left it to Heckingbottom and Bettis to face the press and tricky questions (re on and off the field stuff). He turned up suddenly when we have the sniff of glory. Poor look for me. Said nothing for a long time and then is facing the press and discussing things – seemed to be a bit too little, too late. Maybe that is harsh but how I feel? He left Bettis and Hecky to deal with the embargo and admin questions and only came back when it was positive stuff going on.
However, it is clear he now wants to recoup what money he can from United and move on. Maybe he is bored of it all? Maybe he recognises he lacks the finances to really push us on? Maybe the Newcastle takeover has had an impact on him in his homeland? Whatever the reason – it seems his lack of interest and recent investment in the club means the end is coming soon. Some will argue he has put a fair bit in to keep us going – although until the accounts come out then that is debatable – and he has not sold our main assets but we also have been run shambolically in the last few months. Going into a transfer embargo, bills not been paid and suppliers demands ignored is a really bad look for the club. There is a lot of debate about why we are in a mess and blame being apportioned. Clubs that come down do struggle as the parachute payments start to come to an end (ours were already accounted for anyway) and we have not sold any players outside of Ramsdale. Others will point to the money spent (and arguably wasted) on Brewster, Berge and others when Wilder was manager. However, it still seems inconceivable that we are scrimping and saving and there seems to have been real mismanagement of the finances.
His board members are never here (till that last week when we saw Yusuf and co again!) and the whole interest and desire to be involved from the Saudi contingent seems almost non-existent. You would expect when/if we are bought out that the United World is effectively broken up – I do not see the new owner wanting to take on all the other clubs and expect them to be taken over too.
The Mauriss takeover collapsed and never seemed particularly serious, although Prince Abdullah is allegedly still seeking costs from Mauriss that any would be buyer would have to fit in terms of entering an initial agreement but there was a great deal of speculation over who would be next? There were rumours of Turkish links, then Chinese and then other parties in the Middle East. When the name Dozy Mmobuosi was linked it was therefore somewhat out of the blue and a complete surprise. Like with Mauriss, everybody of course researched this new name. The Nigerian founder and group chief executive officer of IT service management company Tingo Inc, the parent company of Tingo Mobile, also has involvement in a number of other subsidiaries. However, like with Mauriss doubts have emerged throughout. After his interview with Rio Ferdinand, it was revealed he met Prince Abdullah over a pint of Guinness in a pub in Sheffield and suddenly became interested. There were then concerns of various law suits and issues with his finances. He allegedly owed rent on a simple semi-detached house in St Albans and there were more alarmingly several county court judgements outstanding against him in the States. An alleged airline company had literally never got off the ground. The fact was there were lots of questions but he seemed determined to be try and get United. He was seen at Reading in the flesh and then he continued to state he would prove to the EFL he had the funds to meet the financial checks they were undergoing. The first new of a possible takeover came early in 2023 and we are now over 4 months down the line and the fact it has not been completed has to raise concerns. If he had the money/funds and could prove it (had Deloitte involved) then surely it would have been completed? I know EFL have tightened things up but surely if he, and his companies, had that much money, it would not be hard to prove his finances to satisfy them and take over.
Reports came out it was off around the day of the West Brom game and it seemed doubtful from the rumours and then Prince’s interview. Dozy was steadfast in that he still wanted to buy us and said he was still in talks. There was then talk of new possible owners and there was rumours of groups in North America and the Far East as promotion meant maybe new interest? The Prince said he could sell within four weeks (after almost a year of messing around with two-time wasters – he would sell in a month?) and then said he might not do. It was really mixed messages. Hecky rightly said it needed sorting now for clarity on contracts and budgets and it was worrying despite getting promoted early, we could be playing catch up and not in a secure position to build a squad to have a chance next season at the top level.
Surely any period of exclusivity has now elapsed but are there any would be rich businessmen/women who want to come in? If there was, then surely the Prince would have sold us by now. I feel like he has wasted a year on Mauriss and now Mmobuosi. Although recent times we have heard he has upped his bid or maybe that the sale price had to go up anyway? He was still being mentioned as being interested but you do wonder if a lot of it was around him and his companies getting media traction.
We now face more uncertainty which is affecting the club and threaten to waste another great chance to build something – we need to be thinking of the first team, the academy, the training ground, the hotel and the ground but none of these will be any further along than last time we were here without a takeover happening and to someone of repute, financially.
The Premier League money and status is huge. Maybe others may want a piece of us now but know we have a lot of debt to sort using said Premier League money so it’s not like we are exactly settled and could easily be back in the Championship in 12 months. The embargo for now has been lifted but there are so many questions and uncertainty and this makes it very hard for the manager and CEO to play in terms of contracts and budgets. The fact we are saying we may have to keep many of the old guard is a concern to me and we face another race against time when we should have sorted this out a long time ago.
----
The rest of the board as it stands are officially (according to the latest programme):
- Yusuf Giansiracusa (Chairman)
- Princess Reem Bint
- Abdullah Al Saud (who is the owner)
- Abdullah Alghamdi
Yusuf Giansiracusa Was told he was acting chairman when the Prince’s son stepped down but has been chairman for over 2 years! A lawyer by trade – he is most well-known for his press conference after Jokanovic was fired. He said after that we would not hear from him or see him (or the rest of the below) and to be fair he was right as the overall day to day stuff been left to Bettis and Heckingbottom. He came back to hand the medals out – but that was it. Not great really.
Princess Reem I believe is the chairman’s wife and the Prince’s daughter in law? We don’t hear much from her or what her role is? Apparently, she is involved with the women’s team but we do not hear anything from her? She remains on the board but she will move on when Abdullah does sell up.
Abdullah Alghamadi – works for a company called Amos holdings and is group CEO where Abdullah’s son also has a role. Alghamadi is Group CEO. He is listed also as a Financial and Investment Advisor as well as being a Sheffield United Board member and a Beerschot board member.
Of course, you would expect all the above to leave and a new board to be assembled whenever any takeover is completed.
