Banter RDT 152 - Name for Sale

[larrikin]

******* hell. Chaos abounds in the EFL. This is a long post but worth the ride.

Wigan, owned for decades by a very decent local businessman and built from League Two up to the Premier League, are sold last year to a Chinese company (registered in the Cayman Islands of course). Said company is run by a bloke who made his money in professional gambling.

The Chinese company owned Wigan for a year, until one month ago when they sold to another Chinese company registered in the Cayman Islands. This company has a surprisingly similar makeup as the first, and it’s very clear that it’s just a shell company. They were founded in January 2020, by the same founder as the first. After some dividing of shares, last week, a new majority owner was appointed, and was ticked off by the league as having enough money to run the club.

Onto the pitch now - it’s Christmas, and Wigan find themselves deep in a relegation battle. It’s clear as day they’ll need a miracle to turn it around. January 1 hits, and suddenly they can’t lose. Like. At all. So much so that this team that was destined for relegation is now top of the form ladder, the best club in the league in 2020. They surge out of relegation and back into the safety of mid table. Too far gone to trouble the playoffs, but definitely safe and ready to keep winning until the season ends.

Back to the board room. Last week, the new majority shareholder took over. This week, despite having been approved just seven days ago, the new owner plunges the club into voluntary administration. They have plenty of valuable players to cover any debts, own their stadium, their training ground and several plots of land in the city. They have assets coming out the ass, and far and away enough to settle any costs of running the club, ignoring of course that the new majority owner also has the money to cover these debts himself. Nonetheless, the owner of one week chooses to put the club into administration for some reason, which carries with it a 12 point deduction for the team as per EFL rules. Wigan are now plummeted to the foot of the table, four points away from safety.

Now comes the newest twist. Footage has today emerged of the league chairman confirming that he has heard a rumour of a very large wager being placed on Wigan to be relegated, a few weeks before the sale went through. Wigan have been flying, were largely safe at the time and in red hot form. There are strong gambling ties all throughout both recent companies involved with the club. The bet was supposedly placed in the Philippines. Wigan’s shirt sponsor is a gambling company based in the Philippines.

The current owner has since done a runner and cannot be reached by the league or the appointed administrators dealing with the clubs debts. Nobody knows where he is, and nobody is in charge of the club. There are reports he may not even exist, as there is no trace of him online outside of his status as Wigan owner. His listed address has turned out to be a department store. This bloke bought the club for £45mil last week, then plunged it into administration seven days later and has disappeared. On top of all of the gambling speculation, Wigan have a recent history of people being thrown out of their stadium for illegally transmitting info to gamblers in Hong Kong.

There’s enough games left that if Wigan stay sh*t hot they may climb out of the hole the points deduction has left them in, but news like this could equally knock them out of their stride.

Tl;dr - The Championship is by far the most interesting league in the world and, if it wasn’t for the ridiculous cash influx that comes with promotion, I would never ever ever want to support a club outside it.

That's some crazy s**t. How on earth did they sign off on the ownership change?

 

[HoneyBadger35]

That's some crazy sh*t. How on earth did they sign off on the ownership change?

The EFL’s ownership test is really poor and has led to some absolute con men getting clubs in recent years, often to disastrous effect. For years the league were run by Shaun Harvey who, before joining the EFL, presided over three administrations whilst running clubs himself.

It’s starting to turn a corner now with his removal, the newest head of the EFL seems quite switched on, but their fit and proper ownership test largely comes down to “do you have the money to buy and operate this club”. I expect all communication was done through lawyers, all proof of funds would be legitimate, so the EFL would have signed it off.

There’s blood on their hands though if this cripples Wigan. Bury have already died this year, 1885-2019, and Bolton needed a miracle to save them from the absolute prick that bought them and sent them plummeting down the divisions. Now that Covid has ended Leagues One and Two, and fans aren’t expected back for some time, there’s plenty of clubs that will be in the gun.

The money in English football is so top heavy, it all goes to the top teams in the top league, even the lower ranked teams in the Premier League are comparatively struggling. We’re talking one week’s wages of one player at Liverpool or Man City being enough to settle all debts for entire clubs further down the pyramid. The disparity is genuinely frightening.

Championship finances are ludicrous, with most clubs spending 100% of their revenue on wages, some as high as 215% wage to turnover. There’s just too much money up top and none of it gets sent back down the pyramid, so clubs constantly find themselves spending what they don’t have because the only way to survive long term outside the Premier League is promotion, or a wealthy benefactor. They need a salary cap but it’s too far gone.

 

[DanWCE]

Its Foxtels streaming service. Basically got most of its content (including HBO) available to stream. Has a fair chunk of movies as well.

BINGE streaming service: Price, features and content

Everything you need to know about Foxtel's BINGE TV streaming service and app. Is it better than Netflix, Stan, Disney Plus and Prime Video?

www.finder.com.au

I've got Foxtel Now which is also their streaming service. But I'm just wondering if I'm wasting my money now if there's a better option available

 

[happy_eagle]

I've got Foxtel Now which is also their streaming service. But I'm just wondering if I'm wasting my money now if there's a better option available

I reckon they will transition away from Foxtel Now if Binge continues to be a success.
Binge has some live Channels as well including Showcase.
Binge + Kayo is around $35 a month for the basic packages of both.

 

[DanWCE]

I reckon they will transition away from Foxtel Now if Binge continues to be a success.
Binge has some live Channels as well including Showcase.
Binge + Kayo is around $35 a month for the basic packages of both.

I'm paying $44/month now for essentially the same thing, and now that they've taken all my temporarily free channels away I realise how little the basics actually has on it. We also have Netflix and Stan, and I can't remember the last time I watched something on Stan.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Thanks Ben.

 

[RookiePick]

View attachment 905920

Thanks Ben.

That Sanchez bloke is obviously NOJAF

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

That Sanchez bloke is obviously NOJAF

Have it on good authority that he’s AONJAF.

 

[Quinz]

Goss is a great Twitter troll

 

[Godfather32]

Goss is a great Twitter troll

More likely those are the guys who don't want to hub so they're making up injuries to save them the embarrassment of being labelled giant sooks

 

[ashley12]

Any photos?

Not really the photo type of person. But I really recommend the Dryandra Barna Mia experience. Basically you get to be within a couple feet of the nocturnal animals (boodies, bandicoots, possums etc...) while they eat cut up fruit etc... Very affordable as well at only $22 a head for 2hrs of entertainment.

Wave Rock stuff, well thats all over the internet. Need to make sure you head out there when it has rained a bit because the colours of the rock really stand out.



You can also see my family when out in that area, but the enjoyment of that experience is volatile and your experience may differ.

******* hell. Chaos abounds in the EFL. This is a long post but worth the ride.

Wigan, owned for decades by a very decent local businessman and built from League Two up to the Premier League, are sold last year to a Chinese company (registered in the Cayman Islands of course). Said company is run by a bloke who made his money in professional gambling.

The Chinese company owned Wigan for a year, until one month ago when they sold to another Chinese company registered in the Cayman Islands. This company has a surprisingly similar makeup as the first, and it’s very clear that it’s just a shell company. They were founded in January 2020, by the same founder as the first. After some dividing of shares, last week, a new majority owner was appointed, and was ticked off by the league as having enough money to run the club.

Onto the pitch now - it’s Christmas, and Wigan find themselves deep in a relegation battle. It’s clear as day they’ll need a miracle to turn it around. January 1 hits, and suddenly they can’t lose. Like. At all. So much so that this team that was destined for relegation is now top of the form ladder, the best club in the league in 2020. They surge out of relegation and back into the safety of mid table. Too far gone to trouble the playoffs, but definitely safe and ready to keep winning until the season ends.

Back to the board room. Last week, the new majority shareholder took over. This week, despite having been approved just seven days ago, the new owner plunges the club into voluntary administration. They have plenty of valuable players to cover any debts, own their stadium, their training ground and several plots of land in the city. They have assets coming out the ass, and far and away enough to settle any costs of running the club, ignoring of course that the new majority owner also has the money to cover these debts himself. Nonetheless, the owner of one week chooses to put the club into administration for some reason, which carries with it a 12 point deduction for the team as per EFL rules. Wigan are now plummeted to the foot of the table, four points away from safety.

Now comes the newest twist. Footage has today emerged of the league chairman confirming that he has heard a rumour of a very large wager being placed on Wigan to be relegated, a few weeks before the sale went through. Wigan have been flying, were largely safe at the time and in red hot form. There are strong gambling ties all throughout both recent companies involved with the club. The bet was supposedly placed in the Philippines. Wigan’s shirt sponsor is a gambling company based in the Philippines.

The current owner has since done a runner and cannot be reached by the league or the appointed administrators dealing with the clubs debts. Nobody knows where he is, and nobody is in charge of the club. There are reports he may not even exist, as there is no trace of him online outside of his status as Wigan owner. His listed address has turned out to be a department store. This bloke bought the club for £45mil last week, then plunged it into administration seven days later and has disappeared. On top of all of the gambling speculation, Wigan have a recent history of people being thrown out of their stadium for illegally transmitting info to gamblers in Hong Kong.

There’s enough games left that if Wigan stay sh*t hot they may climb out of the hole the points deduction has left them in, but news like this could equally knock them out of their stride.

Tl;dr - The Championship is by far the most interesting league in the world and, if it wasn’t for the ridiculous cash influx that comes with promotion, I would never ever ever want to support a club outside it.

This should be the biggest story in world sport and it is amazing how little of it has become known. Stories of the lower divisions are always fun, Leeds under the Italian guy were always a fun story to follow.

I am honestly surprised that the big European clubs haven't made more of an effort to get the "EuroSuper League"off the ground. Running a super league would be incredible from a pure fan living in Australia POV but I obviously understand why others would be loathe for it to happen.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

More likely those are the guys who don't want to hub so they're making up injuries to save them the embarrassment of being labelled giant sooks

They actually went off injured during the game.

Edwards and Houli are the two (fit) guys not going to the hub.

 

[Godfather32]

They actually went off injured during the game.

Edwards and Houli are the two (fit) guys not going to the hub.

Playing the long game, it's suss.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

This should be the biggest story in world sport and it is amazing how little of it has become known. Stories of the lower divisions are always fun, Leeds under the Italian guy were always a fun story to follow.

I am honestly surprised that the big European clubs haven't made more of an effort to get the "EuroSuper League"off the ground. Running a super league would be incredible from a pure fan living in Australia POV but I obviously understand why others would be loathe for it to happen.

I’m sure “the Italian guy” was fun for everybody else, but Massimo Cellino was a fraudulent, petulant and all around horrible person that I wouldn’t wish on any club in the world. Did some zany s**t though, can’t deny that.

The big super league idea is the stick that the big clubs wield to get their way in Premier League discussions. I was actually only talking about this last night - people ask why can’t they just redistribute the money, why can’t they put a salary cap in? If the big six don’t want it, they’ll just say don’t do this and if you do we’re all off to play Barca, Real Madrid, Juventus, BVB and all the other big clubs in our own league. That would financially cripple the Premier League, as the TV rights would collapse if the big six clubs left.

Premier League owe Sky some money because of the Covid shutdown impacting broadcasts. Who’s paying it? The winners? The top three? The top six? Nah mate, the promoted clubs who weren’t even in the Premier League during the season are being charged 8mil each to help make up the shortfall owed to Sky.

Money has ruined football, and it’s such that being in the Premier League is the only way to find true financial stability, but if it wasn’t for the overwhelming financial incentive I would definitely rather watch and follow the Championship. Way more even matches, last can beat first at any given time, different clubs challenge every year, unpredictable, proper fans who are invested not just there to take a photo for Insta. A phenomenal league. Glad we’re stuck there forever.

 

[ep2018]

Second burst pipe this year, both happening early morning Sunday. I'd just wing it until monday to avoid weekend call out fees but my sis complains constantly for showers and the ability to cook dinner.

 

[MrKK]

I would love the big clubs that are killing every European domestic league to * off to their own Super League. It would make the domestic comps far more enjoyable for the majority of fans who don't support those clubs.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

I would love the big clubs that are killing every European domestic league to fu** off to their own Super League. It would make the domestic comps far more enjoyable for the majority of fans who don't support those clubs.

Would also lessen the ridiculous financial arms race that is hurtling most clubs to the brink. Championship clubs spending 215% wage to turnover, or Premier League clubs that make 100s of millions a year not being able to survive two months without income is farcical.

Might lessen the quality somewhat but would probably save a lot of clubs from a lot of long term pain.

 

[Ochre]

Most sports are socialist, whereas everything wrong with soccer is capitalist and this is why I believe liking soccer is akin to voting Trump. Thank you for coming to my TED talk

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Most sports are socialist, whereas everything wrong with soccer is capitalist and this is why I believe liking soccer is akin to voting Trump. Thank you for coming to my TED talk

If most sports are socialist, and soccer is like voting for Trump, then I suppose on the political spectrum that makes cricket akin to accidentally slicing your sack open in a shaving accident and stamping on your balls as they fall helplessly out.

 

[RookiePick]

If most sports are socialist, and soccer is like voting for Trump, then I suppose on the political spectrum that makes cricket akin to accidentally slicing your sack open in a shaving accident and stamping on your balls as they fall helplessly out.

It's no accident.

 

[Ochre]

If most sports are socialist, and soccer is like voting for Trump, then I suppose on the political spectrum that makes cricket akin to accidentally slicing your sack open in a shaving accident and stamping on your balls as they fall helplessly out.

England West Indies tests start on Wednesday

 

[Dazzler9]

If most sports are socialist, and soccer is like voting for Trump, then I suppose on the political spectrum that makes cricket akin to accidentally slicing your sack open in a shaving accident and stamping on your balls as they fall helplessly out.

I didn't realise shaving one's sack was an indicator of where one sat on the political spectrum.

 

[ashley12]

Freo having a laugh with derby ticket pricing.

$105 for fifth tier adults right at the back.

 

[ashley12]

I understand the economics of it but yeah...

 

[MrKK]

Eagles win!
Southampton win at home!!
Che Adams scores!!!

Has 2020 turned the corner?