Portsmouth News 24/7
Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Tuesday January 26 2010
Time: 8:31AM
UK time is: 12:18:37
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Yet ANOTHER takeover?!?
Word on the street for the past week or so has been that ANOTHER takeover at Pompey could be on the cards?
Late in the evening on Monday this talk reached boiling point...
As I was on my way to a Prodigy gig in Plymouth I got a text through asking if I knew anything about a possible Libyan investor/takeover and/or another potential Arabian investor - with it 'said' that the premier league were sounded out by journo's asking the premier league if 'fit and proper persons tests' were being explored, something not confirmed or denied.
After the gig, which was awesome by the way - if you have a chance to see The Prodigy I suggest you do it, I have been lucky enough to see them twice now! - I tried to dig around a bit more and it seems 'something is going on but all will be believed if/when it happens'...
Well, today the media is going into overdrive on this issue with Saadi Gaddafi 'thought' to be very much in the frame!
Saadi is the son of Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi...
A 'Pompey source' apparently told The Mirror that a deal is '95% done' as Ali Al Faraj has finally admitted defeat with us and does not want to be known as the man that sees us go 'bankrupt' under his charge: 'Colonel Gaddafi's son Saadi first expressed an interest in taking over from Al Faraj at the end of last year.
'That has gathered pace since the Revenue issued their winding-up order and the deal is 95 per cent done.
'Al Faraj is keen to sell because he knows he cannot afford to finance the debts and does not want his reputation in the Middle East to suffer by presiding over a club that goes bankrupt.
'Saadi is a big football fan and loves the thought of owning a Premier League team.'
You could not write the script for Pompey these days could you?
A former owner with a father who has probably been responsible for God knows what due to his arms dealing, a playboy skint Arabian owner who thought it would be easy (even if he had the best intentions to be fair), another skint Arabian who is seeing us on the verge of extinction and now 'maybe' connections to a dictator who is shrouded with controversy and has a 'murky' past...
To be fair to Saadi Gaddafi he IS a footballing man!
He 'played' - not much though! - as a striker for Italian clubs, I remember this as well, and is a former Libyan international - maybe he could play up font! - with it also said that he is/was a shareholder in Juventus by all accounts.
The News has billionaire John Magnier 'Ireland's leading thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside of the horse breeding industry,' with an estimated net wealth of €4 billion in 'the running' (pardon the pun) too?
As the saying goes, the plot thickens...
Oh, and regarding the transfer ban I was told last night that this 'should' be lifted today - then again this has been 'said/thought' before!
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Your Comments
Good article RUG, Prodigy are good, bet you had a ball!!! As for the rumour regarding Gaddafi, Ill beleive that when I see it, I might have put some more credence into the story, but as it seems to have been started by the Mirror, Im not sure wether to beleive it or not!!! Quite frankly it couldnt really be a bad thing could it? I mean, we need investment quick, so bring it on, I just wonder wether the premier league would have the balls to pass him as fit n proper given whats known about his old man, (I suppose they let Sacha with his ol man being a supposed gun runner) Anything that benefits the club will be fine by me, I like many others just dont want to see our club go up in a puff of smoke!!! Fingers crossed...PUP
NZ_Portsmuff
Couple of other papers running the story now, who knows?????
NZ_Portsmuff
Another day and more rumours. Please not Gaddafi another excuse for us to be the laughing stock of English Football. As for Magnier that sounds more like it.
bluedr
Me and Plymouth Graham have discussed this on the match preview. We have both looked him up on Wiki and at Udinese his career spanned the whole of 10 mins and Sampdoria never played! Still, like you said Rug, he is a football man and if check him out on wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Saadi_al-Gaddafi
you will definitely see he is ambitious!
Glad you enjoyed Prod, I remember the last time when we went Prod when you were 18 I think, you lost your ring n was there after train to find it ha!
dazza0410
Gaddafi that is!
dazza0410
From Wiki: "He signed for Italian Serie A team Perugia in 2003, playing only one match before failing a drug test. He was formerly on the board of the Italian team Juventus, of which 7.5 % is owned by a Libyan consortium but stepped down to join Perugia.
He was also captain of the Libya national football team, captain of his home club in Tripoli, and president of the Libyan Football Federation.
Al-Saadi joined UEFA Champions League qualifiers Udinese Calcio in 2005-2006, playing only ten minutes in an end of season league match against Cagliari Calcio.
He joined U.C. Sampdoria during season 2006-2007, without playing a single match."
Sounds like a bit of a butterfly!
PFCblue
You beat me to it Dazza!
PFCblue
We can't be fussy & we don't mind as long as the money & heart is there. Just please get someone in.
storagematt
I've said it before and I'll say it again...WHAT EVER NEXT?
Squee
Would you rather be wound up or owned by the son of Colonel Gadafi? Man that's a moral minefield...
jim4pompey
I don't want us wound up or owned by him. As for any other answer, i'm afraid I don't have that.
pentonpompey
In fairness to the guy its his old man who has the dubious history, as with Sacha, if he has his own money the who are we to not allow him to spend it on us. Magnier would suit the profile better for the PL I guess, but stuff what suits them. They have all but kicked us out of the league, so assuming they would sanction his 'fit and proper' test then who know's we may just have a glimmer of light at the end of a very long black tunnel.
blarmy
Faraj said he would sell PFC. after six months!!!. Rug, re your suggestion that Gaddafi Jnr could play up front, I am sure that if he bought PFC, he would play anywhere he wants!!! Regarding Gaddafi Snr, he has been courted at length by our government which could help perhaps!!! Finally John Magnier, did he not have a "Up and down" with Alex Ferguson some time ago, over a race horse? Play back time!!!
007
He did indeed Mr Bond; over the Bloodstock rights of Rock of Gibraltar...Got quite feisty too...
pentonpompey
Pompey told sky & ESPN no takeover by Gaddafi jnr.
russellm
Great article Rug. Magnier could be the man from what I heard on Sunday evening - just a whispered rumour then but now seems to be taking on more credibility. Storagematt - we CAN be fussy - there's "good" money and "bad" money and, given that the fit & proper person test is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike, I think we should be fussy - not that the fans get any say at all; our current owners, whover they may ACTUALLY be, will grab the arm off anyone with the dosh.
ninjatim
Gaddaffi Jnr taking us over is a lot to take in....... Hope you are right Russell!
gandor1
So do I hope your right Russell
pentonpompey
hell i hope the News is right and its the Irish guy lol, either way ESPN are reporting from 'source's' saying we've been in talks with 2 or 3 potential investors so sounds like something will happen... lets hope before friday shall we, otherwise the players might be gone
pompeym@
I heard it was a consortium of **********,Ian Paisley and the pope taking over :) (according to Tribal Football)
yellowcheesemonkey
The News being right about something, now that would be a first:-)
blarmy
Wow! I can't believe it! You saw Prodigy???
Lysimachus
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