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Gillico director Richard Williams speaks out (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Gillico director Richard Williams speaks out
9:57am Monday 6th July 2009
ENTREPRENEUR Richard Williams has spoken about his company’s multi-million pound negotiations to buy Southampton Football Club.
Mr Williams, 44, from Bradford, is the director of Cleckheaton-based firm Gillico Limited, which is hoping to secure a £12.5 million deal to buy the troubled League One club.
He told the Echo last night his company was facilitating the bid on behalf of a consortium of four British businessmen and he was not investing any of his own money in any deal.
The real investors will remain anonymous until a contract is signed for the club’s acquisition.
As revealed by the Echo at the weekend, former York City FC owner John Batchelor is fronting the bid and acting as negotiator.
Gillico's £12.5m bid was submitted on Friday and the group is now awaiting a response from the administrators.
If successful, it will be one of the biggest deals Mr Williams has ever negotiated.
Brought up in Heaton, married man Mr Williams was educated at St Barnabas’ CE Primary, Frizinghall Middle School and Belle Vue Boys’ School.
He registered Gillico 15 weeks ago as a business acquisition firm.
He said: “We were approached through four individuals to purchase Southampton Football Club. They advised an amount they wanted to pay and we did work to make that fit.
“It was a nice proposition. It’s the first time I’ve done a football club and you get involved with a lot of characters.
“At the moment we are just waiting. We can do nothing more at this stage. It’s now down to the administrators.”
See today's Daily Echo for a special report about John Batchelor and the Gillico bid.
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Your Say YourHampshire
brennothornhill, manchester says...
10:13am Mon 6 Jul 09
chip eater, fair oak says...
10:22am Mon 6 Jul 09
mastershot100, totton says...
10:26am Mon 6 Jul 09
Not John Batchelor.
The asset stripper and club wrecker.
brennothornhill, manchester says...
10:31am Mon 6 Jul 09
mastershot100 wrote:is he the guy that put york up the **** creek?
Ho God no! Not John Batchelor. The asset stripper and club wrecker.
sw mark-lack
Alicesdad, Chandler's Ford says...
10:32am Mon 6 Jul 09
I can accept that all of these negotiations should be confidential and I dont have a problem with that. But like most Saints fans I feel a degree of suspicion about the Gillico group of bidders. Nothing to do with rhyming with Lowe. It seems to involve some "deal makers" who are out of their league, who know little about football, and may well be representing people who have good reason to keep their names out of the public eye.
The Swiss Group however have maintained a very strong confidentiality from day one. They have conducted themselves in a professional fashion and only now are unsubstantiated pieces of information starting to spread.
Like most posts on this site, its all about gut feel... and the gut feel for this Swiss Group seems generally good.
greystonesben, Fareham says...
10:33am Mon 6 Jul 09
Dont want it if they want to remain anonymous unless there is no other option!
w1lkins822, basingstoke says...
10:35am Mon 6 Jul 09
diver-1975, Australia says...
10:45am Mon 6 Jul 09
Jesus_02, Freemantle says...
10:53am Mon 6 Jul 09
"It’s the first time I’ve done a football club"
SaintPaul, says...
10:55am Mon 6 Jul 09
Patrick80's, Southampton says...
10:57am Mon 6 Jul 09
John Gillham, Darwen says...
11:03am Mon 6 Jul 09
Tirau Dan (NZL), Tirau (NZL) says...
11:04am Mon 6 Jul 09
http://www.thepress.
co.uk/sport/yorkcity
fc/4476321.John_Batc
helor_in_bid_to_take
over_at_Southampton/
I just can't see him putting a spanner in the works of the Swiss deal.
Harris with his Swiss backers will run rings around around them.
ben dover, brockenhurst says...
11:05am Mon 6 Jul 09
wonder weasel, southampton says...
11:07am Mon 6 Jul 09
http://www.thepress.
co.uk/sport/yorkcity
fc/4476321.John_Batc
helor_in_bid_to_take
over_at_Southampton/
wonder weasel, southampton says...
11:09am Mon 6 Jul 09
Tirau Dan (NZL) wrote:you beat me to it got to be fast in this game
Batchelor is telling the press he is confident of closing a deal today.
http://www.thepress.
co.uk/sport/yorkcity
fc/4476321.John_Batc
helor_in_bid_to_take
over_at_Southampton/
I just can't see him putting a spanner in the works of the Swiss deal.
Harris with his Swiss backers will run rings around around them.
brennothornhill, manchester says...
11:15am Mon 6 Jul 09
brennothornhill in bid to buy tesco's
Brenno is quoted as saying 'This is an exciting opportunity for me, at this moment I can not name my backers but will say they have 15 years experience stacking shelfs but feel like me that we can handle a multi national company. We have saved our pennies since the days we shared a paper round delivering to the tower blocks of Thornhill, this helped improve our time keeping and gave us an insight on world news as we would sit and read the express on the park in the woods before delivering.
I would like my colleagues to remain hidden from the public eye as they are scared of the spot light. But me brenno from thornhill is relishing the media attention I am getting at the moment and since this story broke I have been paid £73.25 for the story which has boosted my coffers no end.'
'Please dont expect the sale to go through there is a lot of complications at this moment in time and I am here to slow down proceedings.'
Yours truly Brenno
Tirau Dan (NZL), Tirau (NZL) says...
11:17am Mon 6 Jul 09
SW11_Saint, London says...
11:21am Mon 6 Jul 09
Wonder why it took them so long to enter the race? A tactic by someone involved who had inside information perhaps?
Come on the Swiss!
brennothornhill, manchester says...
11:21am Mon 6 Jul 09
surely he should **** off and die?
The Exiled Saint, NEWPORT/Salop says...
11:51am Mon 6 Jul 09
If you can't do that at least redirect the towrds the Yorksghire Evening Press website.
You are both share the publisher!
Give Saints Supporters a fair chance.
They can then make up their own minds!
If these guys ever get hold of our club you will be on your kness begging for Lowe to come back!
I am NOT joking!
The Exiled Saint, NEWPORT/Salop says...
11:53am Mon 6 Jul 09
brennothornhill, manchester says...
11:55am Mon 6 Jul 09
The Exiled Saint wrote:my thoughts as well, there is nothing good about them as far as I can see, its been dodgy from day one, really need the swiss now to force this through
Come On Daily Echo, you have a journalist's duty to provide information to all Saints supprters what you know about this group of businessmen. If you can't do that at least redirect the towrds the Yorksghire Evening Press website. You are both share the publisher! Give Saints Supporters a fair chance. They can then make up their own minds! If these guys ever get hold of our club you will be on your kness begging for Lowe to come back! I am NOT joking!
Shotgunjohn72, Lincoln says...
11:57am Mon 6 Jul 09
co.uk/sport/yorkcity
fc/4476321.John_Batc
helor_in_bid_to_take
over_at_Southampton/
Look at the comments from the York Fans !!! just as I thought that there was some light at the end of the tunnel !
Charismatic Andrew, Patcham says...
12:06pm Mon 6 Jul 09
co.uk/sport/yorkcity
fc/4476321.John_Batc
helor_in_bid_to_take
over_at_Southampton/
No one seems to have picked up on these comments from York City fans.
Brizo J, York says...
12:22pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Saint_John, Bassett says...
12:24pm Mon 6 Jul 09
I just hope all the paries who are "talking" about buying Saints understands one simple rule, that is :-
The fans will ONLY return if lowe and his evil friends ARE NOT PART of any consortium.
And without the fans on their side they will be wasting their money.
Wotte OUT !
Alicesdad, Chandler's Ford says...
12:33pm Mon 6 Jul 09
We shouldn't forget though that it's not just Mr Fry who has to agree to the new buyers, the biggest interest is from the creditors. Unless they are paid out in full (unlikely but not impossible)they are likely to retain an interest in the club going forward (under a CVA).
I feel sure they would be happier with the Swiss group than the other bidders.
Some of the so called "issues" are probably to do with how much of a hit the creditors are prepared to bear. It's easy to forget that with all the news items flying around.
born1990, Thornhill says...
12:37pm Mon 6 Jul 09
brennothornhill wrote:Yeah he is, according to the papers he put them into administration and almost made them bust, them walked away with £300k, that is wot the mail on sunday reported yesterday,
mastershot100 wrote: Ho God no! Not John Batchelor. The asset stripper and club wrecker.is he the guy that put york up the **** creek? sw mark-lack
forever a saint, southampton says...
1:11pm Mon 6 Jul 09
C O Y R
brennothornhill, manchester says...
1:20pm Mon 6 Jul 09
jezza, Impartiality Town says...
1:49pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Ciaran, Southampton says...
2:23pm Mon 6 Jul 09
The Exiled Saint wrote:The Echo have a huge bit about Batchelor in today's print edition, but they haven't put the story online yet.
Come On Daily Echo, you have a journalist's duty to provide information to all Saints supprters what you know about this group of businessmen. If you can't do that at least redirect the towrds the Yorksghire Evening Press website. You are both share the publisher! Give Saints Supporters a fair chance. They can then make up their own minds! If these guys ever get hold of our club you will be on your kness begging for Lowe to come back! I am NOT joking!
BertCatt, Flatholme Nr Steepholme says...
2:40pm Mon 6 Jul 09
No my 'source ' tells me it will not happen this week either. In the end F/L will have to say either put up or shiut up, Still we could always play Farsley celtic, they've no league to play in, and maybe soon Salisbury as well. Mini league of three non league teams!!!
The Exiled Saint, NEWPORT/Salop says...
2:54pm Mon 6 Jul 09
10:48am Monday 6th July 2009
"Former York City owner John Batchelor in bid to takeover at Southampton Football Club
FORMER York City owner John Batchelor is fronting an audacious £12.5 million bid to takeover at ailing Southampton.
Batchelor, who was thwarted in his attempts to take control of City’s Blue Square Premier rivals Mansfield Town last April, has shown an interest in the Saints since the collapse of a deal involving the Pinnacle consortium led by legendary former player Matthew le Tissier.
A consortium fronted by Batchelor is reported to be confident of completing a deal today.
The former Minstermen chairman has insisted he is merely a negotiator and not one of the investors in the deal, believed to involve Yorkshire- registered firm Gillico.
“I have been talking to a group in relation to acquiring a football club for a long time and it was a case of getting the right entrepreneurial individuals around to do it,” said Batchelor.
Former touring car driver Batchelor arrived at Bootham Crescent early in 2002 and presided over a disastrous period in City’s history, with the club on the brink of extinction when he left later that year.
He made a £120,000 profit out of his time at the club and, when he was negotiating to buy Mansfield, admitted to The Press that he “asset-stripped” the Minstermen.
Since leaving the club he has launched failed bids to buy Stockport County, Mansfield Town and Carlisle United.
Mansfield supporters raised an online petition in an attempt to prevent Batchelor seizing control and Southampton fans are angry at the prospect that he may win control of the Coca-Cola League One outfit."
I've been a Saints supporter since I left York to live in Southampton area in the eighties. Untill the end of last season, I have remained true to SFC, but if those who were vociferous
in denouncing Rupert Lowe (rightly or wrongly) and meekly aquiesce if Batchelor succeeds, especially after what the Carisle Utd, Mansfield and York City fans have told; well, frankly the Saint's dont deserve saving.
Why are those with so much to say about how badly the Saints was being run in both Lowe/Wilde or the Crouch/MacMenemy regimes so silent now?
I have no information about the Harris bid or that of the "front runner, the Swiss, but I do know about John Batchelor.
You don't want him or his like anywhere near any football club, anywhere!
brennothornhill, manchester says...
3:51pm Mon 6 Jul 09
The Exiled Saint wrote:My first thoughts were just anyone buy the club, they have changed dramatically over the past few days. This guy is a snake and worse than Lowe, although I am a Lowe hater I do beleive he did not exactly asset strip us. His biggest error was deviding the fan base and big mistakes at crucial times
In which case here is what it says. 10:48am Monday 6th July 2009 "Former York City owner John Batchelor in bid to takeover at Southampton Football Club FORMER York City owner John Batchelor is fronting an audacious £12.5 million bid to takeover at ailing Southampton. Batchelor, who was thwarted in his attempts to take control of City’s Blue Square Premier rivals Mansfield Town last April, has shown an interest in the Saints since the collapse of a deal involving the Pinnacle consortium led by legendary former player Matthew le Tissier. A consortium fronted by Batchelor is reported to be confident of completing a deal today. The former Minstermen chairman has insisted he is merely a negotiator and not one of the investors in the deal, believed to involve Yorkshire- registered firm Gillico. “I have been talking to a group in relation to acquiring a football club for a long time and it was a case of getting the right entrepreneurial individuals around to do it,” said Batchelor. Former touring car driver Batchelor arrived at Bootham Crescent early in 2002 and presided over a disastrous period in City’s history, with the club on the brink of extinction when he left later that year. He made a £120,000 profit out of his time at the club and, when he was negotiating to buy Mansfield, admitted to The Press that he “asset-stripped” the Minstermen. Since leaving the club he has launched failed bids to buy Stockport County, Mansfield Town and Carlisle United. Mansfield supporters raised an online petition in an attempt to prevent Batchelor seizing control and Southampton fans are angry at the prospect that he may win control of the Coca-Cola League One outfit." I've been a Saints supporter since I left York to live in Southampton area in the eighties. Untill the end of last season, I have remained true to SFC, but if those who were vociferous in denouncing Rupert Lowe (rightly or wrongly) and meekly aquiesce if Batchelor succeeds, especially after what the Carisle Utd, Mansfield and York City fans have told; well, frankly the Saint's dont deserve saving. Why are those with so much to say about how badly the Saints was being run in both Lowe/Wilde or the Crouch/MacMenemy regimes so silent now? I have no information about the Harris bid or that of the "front runner, the Swiss, but I do know about John Batchelor. You don't want him or his like anywhere near any football club, anywhere!
BertCatt, Flatholme Nr Steepholme says...
2:46am Tue 7 Jul 09
Alicesdad, Chandler's Ford says...
8:02am Tue 7 Jul 09
Sniping at him is as relevant as the discussion about where Abba come from.
Fry is not the problem and neither is the Football League now, the problem is with the creditors settlement.
Its very straightforward. They have to agree to the terms of the deal. When you are owed millions you are not going to give in lightly. So look to Barclays Bank, Norwich Union and other creditors for the reasons behind the delays. They have kept a very low profile indeed, quite rightly, however they are the ones that Fry has to satisfy.
Gillico director Richard Williams speaks out
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bekki0405, Totton says...
10:05am Mon 6 Jul 09