It's happening. 

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17405193.bolton-wanderers-close-to-takeover-from-uk-based-consortium/

Thank fuck

25 minutes ago, MickyD said:

I often wonder about things like that. If a supporter is willing to travel,  say 25 miles to watch his team regularly,  you'd draw a 25 mile radius around the ground. We all know that within Bolton's 25 miles there are a high concentration of other clubs also vying for supporters; some a lot bigger and more successful than others and we live with that but many of the club's without that concentration of other clubs are coastal, including Southampton, and thus around 50% off their 25 mile radius is taken up with fish. Southampton may be fairly remote but it doesn't follow that their circle is fuller than,  say Coventry or similarly geographically placed club.

Southampton has a large catchment area that doesn’t have a lot of top level football clubs; the area West of Reading through to Bristol is severely lacking, as is the area West of Southampton through to Plymouth.

1 minute ago, Howardroark said:

Southampton has a large catchment area that doesn’t have a lot of top level football clubs; the area West of Reading through to Bristol is severely lacking, as is the area West of Southampton through to Plymouth.

Yep. This is the key point here. Forget the stadium or whatever. Its about potential. Invest in Southampton and you have little local competition and can reach a large (and often wealthy) population. 

14 minutes ago, bwfcfan5 said:

Yep. This is the key point here. Forget the stadium or whatever. Its about potential. Invest in Southampton and you have little local competition and can reach a large (and often wealthy) population. 

I agree with the above in the main 

So the question is why would someone  invest in our club even at a reasonable price given our geographical & ecomomic disadvatages?

9 hours ago, Mantra said:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/19/swansea-city-owners-sale-takeover-us-investors

This article valued Swansea at 100 million when the Americans bought them. Would imagine a similar amount for Southampton, they are similar clubs in terms of Geographic factors and general size. Mike Ashley was holding out for 300 million wasn't he? Probably less than that for Saints as Newcastle have a bigger history and fanbase.

If we strike lucky and get some owners that have something about them - they could buy the club/pay off debts for c.30 million. Get us to the Prem within 5-10 years. Then they'll be raking in the cash.

That's best case scenario though. Could be that they throw a load of money at it for 5 years, we're still shite and we're in the same position as now in 2024.

 

According to this article, https://talksport.com/football/376346/how-much-money-each-premier-league-club-earned-tv-and-their-final-position-180518283150/ 

Even the lowly Premier League clubs are getting 100 million from TV Revenue. Of course they probably spend most of that on wages and transfers but, there's a lot of money to be made if you can find the right formula.

I'm between West Stand and Casino, and Howard to some extent. We aren't an attractive club to buy, but we certainly have features that make us more attractive than some.

If Swansea cost £100 million three years ago I reckon that after taking the increased TV payments into account Southampton would likely be valued higher, I can't find anything on the web to back this up though so just speculation on my part.

£25-30 million on the us against maybe £120 million for The Saints may be a gamble that would appeal to some.

1 hour ago, boltondiver said:

It’s Becks, by the way

What's Beck's, the mystery bidder? Beer or Posh's hubby?

6 minutes ago, tkonion said:

If Swansea cost £100 million three years ago I reckon that after taking the increased TV payments into account Southampton would likely be valued higher, I can't find anything on the web to back this up though so just speculation on my part.

£25-30 million on the us against maybe £120 million for The Saints may be a gamble that would appeal to some.

Is there any debt at Southampton? 

Funnily enough just flown right over Southampton stadium and it’s Mickey Mouse compared to Bolton’s not in same class, its similar to stoke. 

Edited March 25, 20197 yr by Mounts Kipper

14 minutes ago, Take Hunt Off said:

I agree with the above in the main 

So the question is why would someone  invest in our club even at a reasonable price given our geographical & ecomomic disadvatages?

Because there is still potential. I guess. I mean its about value. We are in a good location transport wise. Have a very good stadium. So there is commercial potential there. Plus IF we can become successful we can (just about) fill the stadium and that has been demonstrated.

I suspect that the issue is the cost of getting us to that point outweighs any return. But then I guess the return might come from selling when things are up rather than down. 

Our record attendance is 69,912 something only Southampton could dream about. With the size of modern stadia it will stay that way.

2 minutes ago, Popeye doyle said:

Our record attendance is 69,912 something only Southampton could dream about. With the size of modern stadia it will stay that way.

Quite right and there record is 30 odd thousand.  The history behind BWFC has a price, Southampton cannot even compare in terms of history, glory and fame. 

Edited March 25, 20197 yr by Mounts Kipper

2 minutes ago, Popeye doyle said:

Our record attendance is 69,912 something only Southampton could dream about. With the size of modern stadia it will stay that way.

Which club is more likely to fill their stadium though next season? Or in 5 seasons time - if both receive moderate investment from their owners?

Edited March 25, 20197 yr by bwfcfan5

It depends on whether Southampton are heading for the 3rd division and we're in the the premiership. The point is though you have to take history into consideration otherwise all football clubs are equal, aren't they?

Just now, Popeye doyle said:

It depends on whether Southampton are heading for the 3rd division and we're in the the premiership. The point is though you have to take history into consideration otherwise all football clubs are equal, aren't they?

An investor cares about future, not history. And an indicator of future potential would be recent history.....

Late August 2016 Sheffield United were playing their 6th season on the trot in L1 and had one point from 4 games.

Late August 2019 they could easily, the way things are going, be playing In the PL.

So maybe shows why it's worth a punt?

Correct Any investor wants to know the club can put bums on seats 

16 minutes ago, Popeye doyle said:

Our record attendance is 69,912 something only Southampton could dream about. With the size of modern stadia it will stay that way.

I don't think comparing an attendance figure from 50+ years ago in a stadium which is now a car park and shopping area is helpful in this instance.

6 minutes ago, radcliffewhite1 said:

Correct Any investor wants to know the club can put bums on seats 

Bums on seats not as important as TV money. 

8 minutes ago, SatanGreavsie said:

Late August 2016 Sheffield United were playing their 6th season on the trot in L1 and had one point from 4 games.

Late August 2019 they could easily, the way things are going, be playing In the PL.

So maybe shows why it's worth a punt?

And without spending much. By our standards they've spent fortunes but by Wolves standards a pittance.....

I agree that bums on seats is important outside the premiership.

19 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Quite right and there record is 30 odd thousand.  The history behind BWFC has a price, Southampton cannot even compare in terms of history, glory and fame. 

Does history have a price though? I'm not sure how an investor would value FA Cup winners three times 9 decades ago.

Somewhere between an extra fiver or tenner maybe?

Unless the new investor is into cock waving.

From an investors point of view the infrastructure around the stadium, car parks, hotel and the stadium is better at Bolton, the potential crowds not that different in the grand scheme of things.

Southampton are close to full potential where we are below true potential, where do you go with Southampton from where they are? Southampton probably cost 5-10 times more to purchase than Bolton would. 

3 minutes ago, MickyD said:

I don't think comparing an attendance figure from 50+ years ago in a stadium which is now a car park and shopping area is helpful in this instance.

Eh! Man City won the league at Maine road 40 years ago at what is now a housing estate.

1 minute ago, Mounts Kipper said:

From an investors point of view the infrastructure around the stadium, car parks, hotel and the stadium is better at Bolton, the potential crowds not that different in the grand scheme of things.

Southampton are close to full potential where we are below true potential, where do you go with Southampton from where they are? Southampton probably cost 5-10 times more to purchase than Bolton would. 

A serious investor would have a tilt at champions league football within 2/3 years at Southampton and filling the ground every week. With right manager and decent investment that isn't impossible. 

Whereas the same might be said of our chances of merely getting into the top flight.....

 

2 minutes ago, MickyD said:

Does history have a price though? I'm not sure how an investor would value FA Cup winners three times 9 decades ago.

Somewhere between an extra fiver or tenner maybe?

Unless the new investor is into cock waving.

It’s not just that we’ve a recent European record and 12 plus years in the premier league that proves it can be done. And for me the club have under utilised the proud history and something new investors could actually focus attention and promote the clubs heritage. So for me there is a value in history. 

The thing is any club can get to the premiership, irrespective of size or history. Bournemouth, Bradford, Wigan etc.