Takeover imminent? (from The Mirror)

Please, please, please - don't sell my beloved club to a bloody Russian!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/03/spurs-takeover-bid-89520-20195379/

Spurs takeover bid
Exclusive
By John Cross 03/12/2007
Tottenham are the latest club set to fall into foreign hands after becoming the target of a £400million takeover bid.

Two consortia have shown interest in trying to buy out Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and his fellow shareholders, and hope to put a deal forward that will be announced to the London Stock Exchange within the next fortnight.

Oil tycoon Vagit Alekperov, 57, born in Azerbaijan and president of Russian oil company Lukoil, is believed to be keen and has the resources as he is rated by Forbes magazine as the 48th richest man in the world with an £8billion fortune.

A Far Eastern consortium is also keen while ex-vice chairman Paul Kemsley has been linked with a return after resigning from the football club's board.

But Mirror Sport understands that Tottenham are now braced for a full takeover bid and Levy could be tempted to sell to allow huge foreign investment to be ploughed into the club. City experts value the club at £400m and Spurs' financial position is strong despite a disappointing start to the season. Tottenham announced last week a turnover of £103.1m and operating profit of £32m, which were both records. The club is also believed to have bought up property near the ground to allow White Hart Lane to be expanded from 36,000 seats to 52,000.

It means foreign investors see Tottenham as ripe for a takeover as it is a sleeping giant that would be cheaper than north London rivals Arsenal, whose value is estimated at £1billion. Levy recently increased the stake of parent company ENIC, which he owns, to 82 per cent by buying the remaining shares of former owner Alan Sugar. Levy's billionaire business partner in ENIC, Bahamas-based Joe Lewis, is believed not to oppose a sale as he does not share his colleague's passion for football or Tottenham.

Lifelong-Spurs fan Levy turned around the club financially, but new investment may allow the club to grow and he is considering his future. Tottenham last night insisted they are not aware of, and have not had, any formal offer for the club.

Just do it!!!

Janek wrote:

Please, please, please - don't sell my beloved club to a bloody Russian!

It worked for the blue boys up the road

twiglet wrote:

Janek wrote:

Please, please, please - don't sell my beloved club to a bloody Russian!

It worked for the blue boys up the road

But then we can't sing to them that they sold their arse to a Russian!