Takeover rollercoaster ride

The rollercoaster ride of being a Charlton Athletic supporter eh? Yesterday morning we awoke to news that serial football club killer Peter Risdale was bidding for the club (later denied), then early this morning BBC journalist know-it-all Dan Roan tweets that an announcement is imminent and then Richard Murray responds via the Official Site stating that nothing is imminent at all!

So what can we make of these latest developments on a saga that has been a constant in our minds for a couple of years now, and who are the key characters involved in these latest rumours.

Firstly it was the BBC’s Dan Roan who while we were up in arms about Parky, tweeted out of the blue on October 18th that news of a Charlton takeover was due soon. For a journo who from what I can see has only ever been interested in the ups and downs of Manchester United, Liverpool and England’s national team it sure was a perplexing outpouring of a maximum of 140 characters. Why us? What is his connection and frankly why does the ex-Setanta presenter give a toss?

Since the original tweet, Roan offered up a couple of more along the lines of ‘I know something you don’t but all will be revealed’ format. Er, thanks for nothing.

To many Addicks following this on the internet it now seems obvious that he was Sebastien Sainsbury’s glove puppet. When Peter Risdale denied the News of the World story that he was a potential bidder, it was to Dan Roan that he called to categorically dismiss the story. A red herring to hurry Richard Murray along? Or perhaps by throwing Risdale into the frame, Sainsbury thought it would give his proposition a more positive fuzzy feeling amongst Addicks. I mean anyone other than Risdale was probably what a lot of us were saying yesterday morning over our weetabix.

So who is Sebastien Sainsbury and what does he want? He is in fact the great grandson of supermarket founder John Sainsbury, but has probably never been in there with a trolley in his life. Instead he has lived off his inheritence and played the socialite field. He has invested in property, art and films and is generally known as being a ‘hedge fund manager.’ In fact he has had a number of recent jobs and according to my friend New York Addick, is not an actual hedge fund manager at all but someone who develops and courts wealthy individuals to the company.

Clearly the 48-year old Sainsbury is well connected, or at least connected. He tried to buy Leeds in 2004 but didn’t have the readies but was then responsible for putting Ken Bates in the frame. Obviously he feels that football could be his next hobby-horse even though there is no evidence he is a football fan. It was also Sainsbury that set up a new company earlier in the year just before Richard Murray took 100% control called Charlton Athletic 2010 Limited. It remains, registered in Leeds. You and I could do the same if you so wish for a insignificent sum of money.

Sainsbury does not have the cash though and wanted to only cough up £3m, with the rest one would assume leveraged against The Valley and Sparrows Lane. Some have said that Sainsbury has dreams of building a new sports stadium next to the 02. I often dream of Heidi Klum. Risdale’s offer, not true remember, was for £11m.

Finally to make (most of) us raise our eyebrows to the skies, a simple Google of Sebastien Sainsbury will tell you that he is heavily involved with the Church of Scientology, and regularly has wacky meetings with Tom Cruise, John Travolta et al down at their headquarters in East Grinstead. Yes, I know but these things only ever happen to Charlton don’t they?

The BBC report today by Dan Roan, proving that when he puts his mind to it, he is able to type more than 140 characters also brings into the picture the name of Bradley Rangell, the managing director of Citibank’s sports finance unit. Rangell it says is advising a rival US bid as has been the influential American’s modus operandi in many sports’ team deals in the past including Cardiff and Hull City.

Like Risdale, who apparently is more interested in Oldham, Plymouth and Morecombe, Dennis Wise is a frequent visitor to The Valley.

And finally we come back to Richard Murray, who along with his son and daughter hold the family silver. The success and travails of Murray’s reign are well worn but what we do know is that he cares, and that he has supported the club emotionally and financially for a very long time. The board has engaged Tim Fisher from advisors Calimere Point on any future investment. No mention of Peter Varney unfortunately, I wish there was.