Dummy Hoy said:http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27680392
It looks like I may be getting my dream of Eastern European oil money taking over at Wednesday. Hafiz Mammadov, an Azerbaijani businessman (a shady one at that it seems), looks primed to take over from Milan Mandaric at some point in the near future. Mandaric bought Wednesday at a terrible time for the team, covering all of the club's substantial debt and keeping them afloat. He's seen the club promoted to the Championship, but hasn't / won't invest the kind of money necessary to make the next step up. He has also said, and been true to his word thus far, that he would only sell the club to someone who would invest. Some Wednesdayites have been pissy at him and his frugal ways, but we owe him big time, and will even more if he sells to a capable (read rich and extravagant) owner.
From what I can read Mammadov has been the very successful owner of FK Baku (2 league titles, 3 cup titles, and a champions league appearance in 9 years under his helm), has taken over FC Lens, and has his hands in Atletico and Porto. I hope he isn't stretched too thin, but I would love to see what could happen at Wednesday with some real investment. It's a club ripe for opportunity- large world class stadium, good history, substantial fan base, eye catching name...I'll gladly throw open the tailgate and invite everyone on the bandwagon.
Worst case, we at least know that we'll join the list of "Azerbaijan- Land of Fire" sponsored clubs.
Dummy Hoy said:https://twitter.com/NewYorkOwls/status/476380409383489536
Love it. Apparently the plan is to use Lens as a feeder for Wednesday, which is delightful. I haven't felt this confident in seeing Wednesday back in the top flight since they left.
Okay.
So not long after this was posted, Milan Mandaric pulled Wednesday out of the bid- apparently Mammadov was playing with funny money and wasn't going to be able to provide the necessary funds. At least we get the Land of Fire shirts for a year.
A new bid and takeover has been expected at some point, and it looks like it just went down, with some dude named Dejphon Chansiri leading a Thai consortium. His family owns Thai Union Frozen Group- he's a Thai Tuna Tycoon. Apparently he was responsible for backing the loans of Lew Baker and Wil Keane, so he's already had an impact. It may be too late for a serious push this season (although the Championship is bananas), but I like where the club is, especially at the defensive end, and with a few creative attacking players, we may be ready for a push up the league next year.
I'd also like to see a fuckload of $$ dumped into Hillsbrough and the Academy.