Potential Waterford United Investment

**Mr A** · 22/09/2016, 1:35 PM

Not much detail, but story is here: http://www.beat102103.com/sport/wate...er-consortium/

An international business consortium is reported to have expressed interest in taking over Waterford United Football Club, which holds the potential to make the club the richest in the Republic.

Interesting times in the LOI, but aren't they always?

**El-Pietro** · 22/09/2016, 1:37 PM

Speaking exclusively to WLR’s Off The Ball, manager Roddy Collins remained tight lipped on the possibility of a takeover, but revealed that the investors had paid a visit to the club last Friday and were “very impressed” by what they saw.

This is how I know Roddy is full of it this time.

**nigel-harps1954** · 22/09/2016, 1:38 PM

I just can't shake the words 'Luton Town' from my head.

**osarusan** · 22/09/2016, 1:42 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

This is how I know Roddy is full of it this time.

This bit?

Roddy Collins remained tight lipped

**El-Pietro** · 22/09/2016, 2:03 PM

Originally Posted by osarusan

This bit?

I was focusing more on the "very impressed by what the saw" bit. Waterford have been atrocious this year!

**sulywaterfordfc** · 22/09/2016, 2:20 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

I was focusing more on the "very impressed by what the saw" bit. Waterford have been atrocious this year!

Presumably that is about the facilities the club has at its disposal. As it's certainly not about the first team. The only positive thing about the club this year had been the excellent U17 team and the emergency of a few youth players in the first team, Dean Walsh and Eoin Wall to name a couple.

**fionnsci** · 22/09/2016, 2:24 PM

I hope this comes to something. Irish football may not be a profitable environment but Dundalk have shown that real money can be made with the right resources and patience. Waterford already have a decent ground (if with an infuriating running track), and twice the urban population of Dundalk, not accounting for County Waterford.

**trevy** · 22/09/2016, 3:21 PM

I hope so too but we heard the same last winter from Roddy Collins and nothing happened. Next year will be our 10th year in first division and interest in the club and crowds are dwindling so it is badly needed.

**El-Pietro** · 22/09/2016, 3:25 PM

He had the same story regarding takeovers of Longford and Carlisle. Like the upgrade of the Brandywell, I'll believe it when I see it.

**legendz** · 22/09/2016, 4:15 PM

I've had reason to spend a lot of time in Waterford. It was a great win for the Kerry League beat them in the league cup in '08. I was there. Not many can say that!

It's been very disappointing to see how the last few years have gone. A few years back after Cork and Derry had been promoted, and Shelbourne and Limerick had gone up, Waterford would have expected to be the next club in line for promotion.

It's a great city and county. Hopefully they will get on a sound footing and there'll be positive developments in their favour.

**wonder88** · 22/09/2016, 4:49 PM

Hope this happens. Interesting that a lot of Chinese funds have come into English clubs for example, apparently expecting public infrastructure contracts in return. Cameron/Osborne pushed this, and as well as Man City; Villa, The Baggies, Wolves and Leeds have all been purchased by Chinese firms. These clubs are all close to the massive High Speed rail line project. The Chinese have already got a piece of the Hinckley Pt nuclear plant contract which many people consider a waste of money but it suited the Tory government agenda.
After all we gave away through NAMA you would think that our government would insist on some quid pro quid in the form of investment from the lucky purchasers in say LoI clubs or other sporting facilities. That 7 million in the Isle of Man account would be a big boast to Waterford, Athlone, Shels etc.

**colonelwest** · 22/09/2016, 5:46 PM

Originally Posted by wonder88

Hope this happens. Interesting that a lot of Chinese funds have come into English clubs for example, apparently expecting public infrastructure contracts in return. Cameron/Osborne pushed this, and as well as Man City; Villa, The Baggies, Wolves and Leeds have all been purchased by Chinese firms. These clubs are all close to the massive High Speed rail line project. The Chinese have already got a piece of the Hinckley Pt nuclear plant contract which many people consider a waste of money but it suited the Tory government agenda.
After all we gave away through NAMA you would think that our government would insist on some quid pro quid in the form of investment from the lucky purchasers in say LoI clubs or other sporting facilities. That 7 million in the Isle of Man account would be a big boast to Waterford, Athlone, Shels etc.

The closest the LOI will come to a Chinese influx is being able to get a 4 in 1 in the Sing Lee in Oriel Park!

**ToberonaTornado** · 22/09/2016, 7:16 PM

Went to look for more details on this story on the Waterford United web page

http://www.waterford-united.ie/cgi-s...pendedpage.cgi

**FrOsTy** · 22/09/2016, 8:26 PM

Thankfully, this has absolutely nothing to do with Roddy Collins.

The club have been working on this the last few weeks, but Roddy had to go and open his big mouth about it.

Very very early in proceedings but from what I gather this is the most lucrative "rumour" to pop up about investment in our club.

Allegedly an international consortium contacted our club about potential take over and came over last Friday to check out the facilities eg. RSC, WIT Training Facility, Whitfield Medical Centre etc etc. They will do up a report and hopefully take it to the next step over the coming weeks.

They could very well have contacted 5/6 other clubs as well, so I for one wont be getting excited yet.

**EatYerGreens** · 23/09/2016, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by wonder88

Hope this happens. Interesting that a lot of Chinese funds have come into English clubs for example, apparently expecting public infrastructure contracts in return. Cameron/Osborne pushed this, and as well as Man City; Villa, The Baggies, Wolves and Leeds have all been purchased by Chinese firms. These clubs are all close to the massive High Speed rail line project. The Chinese have already got a piece of the Hinckley Pt nuclear plant contract which many people consider a waste of money but it suited the Tory government agenda.
After all we gave away through NAMA you would think that our government would insist on some quid pro quid in the form of investment from the lucky purchasers in say LoI clubs or other sporting facilities. That 7 million in the Isle of Man account would be a big boast to Waterford, Athlone, Shels etc.

You're deluded if you think the Chinese money attracted to English football has anything to do with fishing for public sector contracts. You just have to look at the sectors that some of the investors are involved in to realise that.

The Chinese influx is primarily those long-standing factors of foreign investors buying instant kudos/status via a high profile investment, and rich people looking for playthings. Buying West Bromwich Albion would have ni bearing on your ability to land government contracts. The Conservative government in England haven't a feckin' clue about football or who owns what in it.

**trevy** · 23/09/2016, 8:53 AM

Originally Posted by ToberonaTornado

Went to look for more details on this story on the Waterford United web page

http://www.waterford-united.ie/cgi-s...pendedpage.cgi

The official website has been down for months a sign of the way things have gone at the club lately

**Dodge** · 23/09/2016, 9:37 AM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

You're deluded if you think the Chinese money attracted to English football has anything to do with fishing for public sector contracts. You just have to look at the sectors that some of the investors are involved in to realise that.

The Chinese influx is primarily those long-standing factors of foreign investors buying instant kudos/status via a high profile investment, and rich people looking for playthings. Buying West Bromwich Albion would have ni bearing on your ability to land government contracts. The Conservative government in England haven't a feckin' clue about football or who owns what in it.

It's more about hiding their money/assets in English football clubs before it's all taken from them/they lose it on the markets

**wonder88** · 23/09/2016, 5:26 PM

I see that Jim O Neill(now Lord) today has resign from the Britsih Treasury due to the PM snubbing of China. O Neill was appointed to the government and Lords by Osborne and given responsibility for the "northern Powerhouse" conservative policy. People may recall him as a member of the "red knights" who had proposals to buy Man Utd before the Glaser family and during the height of the fans unhappiness with the American ownership, green and red shirts,scarfs and formation of FC Utd.
Another opportunity perhaps for Irish business/LoI clubs due to the changing nature of British politics.

**Martinho II** · 23/09/2016, 7:10 PM

no offence to Roddy but there was the same talk eight years ago when him and his buddy were goin to take over us and it never happened so I would take it with a pinch of salt!

**trevy** · 24/09/2016, 1:39 PM

Waterford United general manager Paul Cleary was on local radio this morning and said there had been some preliminary interest a few times this season and a visitor on behalf of Chinese consortium was checking out the club recently but he played it down so I won't be getting my hopes up until something is announced. A report on the club by Ned O'Connor on behalf of FAI is coming out in next few weeks and there will be an open meeting at WIT to discuss the clubs future plans then.