Yeah, well on the mend, I was already fatigued when I caught the virus after travelling so much trying to get back into the country, it was all a bit scary with not knowing how bad I was going to get but thankfully didn't need to go into hospital just took me three weeks of bed rest to get rid of it. Cheers.
Been a while since I posted, I won't bore you with the details but it's been a combination of being out of the country, catching the virus and work commitments which are only now easing off. A lot has happened in that time and it feels like I have missed a great deal, I had other more pressing matters on mind like trying to breath hence didn't pay attention to rugby concerns.
However, I sat in the garden yesterday enjoying a visit from my brother sitting at an agreeable distance drinking a beer, when he happened to ask what I thought of the Ospreys selling the majority of their shares; Well ! 😮my gabber has never been so flabbered ?
Thinking on it and using hindsight, has this been in the pipeline since Rob Davies took over after the failed merger with Scarlets etc. The signs were there, removing the media and marketing team, getting rid of the old forum plus revamping the website all window dressing but along with bringing in Ruddock, a new coach, investing in key players, clearly a re-branding to attract new investors.
The result, (hinted at by one or two on this thread), there appears to have been a mutual agreement to swap shares and consolidate the structure of a new partnership. As a supporter I am invigorated by all that has happened and hope that it sets a new standard on the field, if the ownership and management are on solid ground then everyone can focus on the squad and players.
The only weak point is that leading the management are two people that to are so clearly out of their depth and immersed in all that was wrong with the Ospreys over the past two -three years that withing this new multinational organisation that it beggars belief they are still there. I honestly do not see how Millward and Dan Griffiths have any apparent role or responsibilities other than added their names to quotes in the media and website. Especially since Ruddock has been the main orchestrator overseeing events that have brought about a new order to the squad and organisation.
Surely the new owners would want use their new brush to make a completely fresh start; possibly when things get back to normal, whatever that is?
@MD Milldew The rumour was Flood as player coach. Is the other 10 nwq and a player coach option or just a player? I imagine quite a few contracted players are now going to become available due to financial issues Hope we are keeping an eye on Sam Lewis. Worcester just signed Kvesic
@Uplands9 Yep aware of that but so did Flood so did Faletau, Finances are not great at Worcester. Players under contract could find themselves unloaded or free to go, We desperately need a back up 7 and if Sam is not possible even the likes of Nic Cudd on a cheap short term deal would be worth looking at
There’s certainly a lot of chatter on scarlet fever about this...some seem convinced it’s a desperate act of a region near to death. I bet some are nervous though.
They should be worried judging by Bloomfield Alexander's financial report of 2018. The £2.6m loan from Carmarthen CC is due to be paid in 2023. I don't want any region to be in trouble, but many down there (not all) can't see further east than the Loughor bridge.
The rhetoric sounds encouraging, but there’s not much detail in there. i guess time will tell, but I don’t know the wealth of the new directors, the amount they want to put into the region, or what their views are. Not sure if I’m looking st the wrong profile online, but Mr Tang appears to be an American financier who has executive producer credits in a number of movies.
I suggest you keep an eye on companies house. If an issue of shares is filed then they will have subscribed into the company which is great If not the shareholders will have pocketed the money which is poor.
Edit just noticed the new holding company that owns Ospreys is now a BVI company which will not be on public record. Maybe existing shareholders took shares in this and cash went in there and loaned down so may be Companies House will not tell us what exactly has gone on.
@MD Milldew Do you know which Keith Harris? I think there may be two. One was/is an international banker with big contacts in Premier League football who got involved in the days of Ninth Floor and the start of the Liberty Stadium project. The other made an investment in the Ospreys a few years ago I recall. Do you know which one you refer to above. I don't think they are the same person.
Llandarcy academy of sport field hospital is being dismantled so I wonder if the Ospreys will return there or stay at St Helens?
Good article here about the new owners' perspective on the Ospreys - https://www.dai-sport.com/new-ospreys-owner-insists-region-was-best-fit-in-europe-and-rugby-is-about-to-boom/
Where did you get the Parrise thing from Fiddler?
Found this earlier: https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/3085465/ospreys-new-asia-based-owner-james-davies-yandle-y11-sports
Hope your feeling better. I wonder if MD Milldew has anymore information regarding your other points?
Been a while since I posted, I won't bore you with the details but it's been a combination of being out of the country, catching the virus and work commitments which are only now easing off. A lot has happened in that time and it feels like I have missed a great deal, I had other more pressing matters on mind like trying to breath hence didn't pay attention to rugby concerns.
However, I sat in the garden yesterday enjoying a visit from my brother sitting at an agreeable distance drinking a beer, when he happened to ask what I thought of the Ospreys selling the majority of their shares; Well ! 😮my gabber has never been so flabbered ?
Thinking on it and using hindsight, has this been in the pipeline since Rob Davies took over after the failed merger with Scarlets etc. The signs were there, removing the media and marketing team, getting rid of the old forum plus revamping the website all window dressing but along with bringing in Ruddock, a new coach, investing in key players, clearly a re-branding to attract new investors.
The result, (hinted at by one or two on this thread), there appears to have been a mutual agreement to swap shares and consolidate the structure of a new partnership. As a supporter I am invigorated by all that has happened and hope that it sets a new standard on the field, if the ownership and management are on solid ground then everyone can focus on the squad and players.
The only weak point is that leading the management are two people that to are so clearly out of their depth and immersed in all that was wrong with the Ospreys over the past two -three years that withing this new multinational organisation that it beggars belief they are still there. I honestly do not see how Millward and Dan Griffiths have any apparent role or responsibilities other than added their names to quotes in the media and website. Especially since Ruddock has been the main orchestrator overseeing events that have brought about a new order to the squad and organisation.
Surely the new owners would want use their new brush to make a completely fresh start; possibly when things get back to normal, whatever that is?
My god SF is into its 4th page on this, it’s definetly got them interested.
There’s certainly a lot of chatter on scarlet fever about this...some seem convinced it’s a desperate act of a region near to death. I bet some are nervous though.
The rhetoric sounds encouraging, but there’s not much detail in there. i guess time will tell, but I don’t know the wealth of the new directors, the amount they want to put into the region, or what their views are. Not sure if I’m looking st the wrong profile online, but Mr Tang appears to be an American financier who has executive producer credits in a number of movies.
This sounds Fantastic news, does anyone know aything about this.
Apologies. I posted this on a new thread. Pretty sure someone who knows what they are doing can merge them. The way of the future?
Not sure it was from nowhere. didn't somebody post a while back that Davies had asked Keith Harris to seek out a buyer?
Was literally coming in to post the same thing as news has been somewhat scarce.
This is good news?