24 Nov 2022 11:23:39
Good morning Ed,
Hope you are well.

Very exciting times ahead re: the potential sale of the club. Do you have any confirmed interest in the club and if so, are you able to share who the people/ companies are showing an interest? Apple has been mentioned!

{Ed002's Note - I am aware that the Raine Group have said that they will now be providing oversight of the sale (as they did with Chelsea) and that there have been numerous "broad" declarations of interest - which means people are asking for details. You can then expect some consortia to come forward and make an offer, most likely from the USA. A state-backed investment fund might be interested but that could cause significant delays in getting approval and embarrassment for the club who have been publicly against such investment. There are consortia who failed to buy Chelsea who may be interested. Obviously I can name many of those who could be interested in forming consortia but all will care about the return in investment. I would not totally rule out Muhsin Bayrak being interested nor Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and Teipai family Tsai. Others are already looking at Liverpool. I would discount Chinese investors but from other parts of Asia and the Far East perhaps not. I am not aware of where the Apple story comes from but it makes no sense at all.}

1.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 12:09:14
Ed, this may or may not be obvious but does the sale of the club lie completely with the Glazers in terms of who they sell it to or will the board of directors etc have any influence in who the sale goes to? I appreciate the Glazers make up a good number of the board but was wondering if the likes of Arnold, Baty, Leitao, Sawhney, Hooks will have a say or any committee members? Or is it as simple as the Glazers will dictate who the sale is to?

{Ed002's Note - The owners will be presented with a shortlist including a preferred bidder by the Raine Group. It is nothing to do with the board but the owners could look to the highest bid.}

2.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 12:20:19
Carlos Slim ed? Just chucking that name out there, he's got a few bob and I thought I saw years ago that he was a Manchester United supporter but I might be wrong.

{Ed002's Note - No. If you want to go down thr route of the Liverpool supporters and simply ask about the wealthiest people the posts will all end up being deleted.}

3.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 12:54:31
Thanks for the info ed and I hope the club gets sold asap and i'd probably prefer Jim Radcliffe or one of Teipai family or Muhsin buying the club.

{Ed002's Note - Jim Ratcliffe is a really nice guy and was by a long way my preferred choice new owner for Chelsea.}

4.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 13:02:45
Ed, thanks so much for the reply as ever. Never a boring week as a United fan!

5.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 13:10:14
Ed, if you can please. With the Raine Group, do you have any knowledge on what factors they decide would be the preferred bidder?

I guess there has to be an element of passing the 'Owners' and Directors' test' set by the Premier League but are there any other particular areas they look at because as we saw with the Newcastle sale, their new owners were under a lot of scrutiny but came through the tests and essentially, it could just come down to the highest bidder but I assume, you wouldn't need the Raine Group to just find the highest bidder.

{Ed002's Note - I know what they were asked to do by the previous owner of Chelsea. For Manchester United it will be different, there will be proposals and presentations made to Raine and then shortlists, another round, shortlists, presentation to the owners and they will have to be suitable for passing the PL and Government tests.}

6.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 13:46:26
Thanks Ed. Regardless of what we all think about what surrounded Abramovich, from an outside perspective it certainly appeared he wanted to make sure the club was sold to someone with the right intentions for Chelsea and not completely dictated by his pocket.

I have no doubt the Glazers instructions to Raine will be very different.

7.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 13:58:40
ED002,

What do the government and the PL tests look for in an owner/ consortium?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - It is too much to inclde here.}

8.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 14:08:04
Ports,

It's all about the money, the money, the money.

9.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 14:25:09
Ed002,

Thanks. Enjoy your day?

{Ed002's Note - Thanks - and you have a good one.}

10.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 15:21:48
Thanks for more concrete info Ed002: so many names being thrown around by click-hungry media.

I’m hoping SJR/ Ineos puts together a bid as he seems a genuine supporter of the club and will be able to see through the lens of a fan as well as an astute businessman.

If successful, hope then he’d overhaul the amateurish management and become a more professionally run club like City, Chelsea and Liverpool (among most of the others) .

{Ed002's Note - The bid would be from Jim and not Ineos. Whilst he is a fan he is a season ticket holder at Chelsea but he would be a good owner.}

11.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 17:58:26
That’s useful to know Ed, thank you.

I get the feeling you know Sir Jim pretty well! Given that he’s a Chelsea season ticket holder (and not United) is this maybe indicative of where his true loyalty lies?! Either way, really appreciate the reassurance that’s he’s a decent guy - fingers crossed he’s a successful bidder and brings some professionalism to our creaking club.

{Ed002's Note - I know Jim Radcliffe reasonably well and he is from Manchester and a Manchester United supporter but he does have a Chelsea season ticket and he has previously tried and faild to buy the club. The issue this past summer was largely timing else he could of completed a deal for Chelsea. Like other bidders ownership of other football clubs means he has to commit to the rules regarding ownership of more than one side in UEFA competition (meaning the lower ranked side would need to withdraw or the ownership would need to be restructered like RBL has done. This impacts a couple of other potential bidders - and why it needs to be kept separate to Ineos.}

12.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 18:35:05
Hi Ed,

With your comments on the interview/ selection process would you ha e any idea of likely time frames if it is to happen. Are we talking a year to years as opposed to months?

Also, is all the bid process hidden or as people/ companies bid will it be Public Knowledge.

Thanks for your time.

Phil.

{Ed002's Note - If reasonable dealines are set it could be done by the summer. The process is private but some will declare their intention to bid publicly - which will lead to speculation of course.}

13.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 18:36:46
ED002,

Would JR be the best choice, or is it too early to say?

{Ed002's Note - It depends who wishes to push ahead with making a bid.}

14.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 20:55:23
Thanks as always for your detailed insights Ed002 - very much appreciated as us fans try to sift through the haze of speculation presented as news elsewhere.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}

15.) 24 Nov 2022
24 Nov 2022 21:24:08
With regards to the Saudi take over of Newcastle, they was a also a rumour that the Saudis would stop funding and eventually pull petrochemical sites from the UK.

I only know this as my friend works in Sabic and said he was told by one of the managers. Sounds a bit like i was told by the neighbours dog type of stuff i know, but stuff like that wouldn't surprise me. as actually after the takeover they invested more money and jobs after.