Thetownend.com

OK, bit sleepy this morning listening to BBC RS so please don't quote me on any of this but I think I heard Jim Little say.....

- the takeover is complete.
- We are appointing a new Genral manager to the board, Jose ???  who used to hold a similar position at Benfica
- He will oversee all football decisions along with Brevett,..and the manager and coaching staff.

I guess we need the official statement to clarfy/confirm all this!

Interesting twists and turns all the time, never a dull time supporting Swindon!

The general manager thing is interesting though.

And glad its all complete now wether we agree with it or not.

Jose Veiga.

BBC RS airing an interview with him on the 10am bulletin.

You can listen to it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/swindon.shtml

You want the Sue Davis show and it's around the 25 min mark so forward to that.

Hmm that doesn't really say much. Wait for 10am I guess  :D

Not the ex-Benfica, now Tamwoth keeper then? About as qualified as Brevett:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Veiga

What a joke, another needless wage and something else to piss PS off

Seems Mr Veiga was being investigated over receiving money for the Joao Pinto transfer. I can't find what the outcome was (if there was).

Great  :-))(

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439687

 :?

Little just confirmed we WILL be 'finding a new ground, building a new stadium' and they have 'spoken to real estate advisers'.

New ground talks (where?) and Veiga confirmed as general manager - thats all

As long as it's in Swindon this is a good thing.

One crook out in Diamandis, another in with Veiga it appears

I'm praying it'll be in Swindon.

  Aaaaaaaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh.   Out of the frying pan into the fire.

   Couldn't the buggers allowed us at least one match day without  the shit flying our way?

so has diamandis gone?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/swindon/aod.shtml?swindon/sue_davies_wilts_sun

1hr 45mins in.

Sounds like we're staying within the Borough and have the investment secured already  :shock:

You can tell 'real estate' is Little Jim's game, sounds very shrewd compared to what we're used to.

yeah jim did appear to know what he was talking about...instead of tickling people like carson.

The Yanks know what they're doing when it comes to this kind of thing :nod:

That sounds promising to me.  :)

blimey, this is a bit weird. we have someone in charge of our football club that seems to know what they are doing.

One for the ladies, anyway:

http://www.wireimage.com/gallerylisting.asp?navtyp=gls====246343&source=rss&nbc=1

Hang on, though, this can't be true - after all Brunel FM are "always first with all the Swindon Town news" and they've not uttered a word about it  :D

I know its innocent, until proved guilty, but you really couldn't make this up.

   I'm going to start calling us Swindle Town....

I liked the comment, the old board spoke to the council with "mixed results" !
Stiil sounds ok to me, But please please get rid of Diamandis & co !?

my thoughts exactly. jose veiga sounds a little odd but one assumes he will hold the same sort of role diamandis had, with everyone reporting to him outside of board meetings.

wouldn't be surprised to see brevett go now, perhaps he was just an interim go-between?

they would however have to be extremely stupid to upset sturrock and i genuinely believe that they won't be doing that.

most important of all, what's the structure of the new board? please say it's goodbye mike d, james wills, ssw et al...

sounds like jim is going to get his hands dirty with the stadium development - goodbye mike bowden?

"The supporters are the most important thing to me"

Blimey you couldn't get further from the old board's viewpoint.

Perhaps they'd consider allowing the BBC to do commentaries again, then!

You never know Chris.  Think we're stuck with Brunel for a season at least though.

Yeah, I know. Sucks, though. I've not listened to a single game yet this season because of this fiasco. In fact, because of holidays/weddings/christenings I've not *been* to a single game this season if you don't count pre-season. Suckfest.

i take it you'll be able to see today's game no problem though mate.

Except for the fact that the old board regularly uttered the same kind of platitudes. Talk's cheap.

i doubt jon paul mcgovern was cheap though...

Maybe they did make that kind of statement, I syuppose with them though you knew it was bs.  At this stage I think it's only fair to give JL the benefit of the doubt.

I assume Jose will be introduced to the Swindon supporters today??  No?

at least give them a chance before slating them.

Yes, absolutely, but they need to make some progress on turning "benefit of the doubt" into "OK, this does look like a good thing". For starters now the takeover is apparently complete, one assumes they will come good on getting the CVA paid this week (wouldn't seem to be any reason why not) - that would be a good first step for me to prove there's some substance behind the slick words.

I didn't. FFS.

what does "talk's cheap" mean then? sounds like a cheap shot to me.

Well - believe it or not - I'm working! Got a telly, though, so will be able to watch.

Jesus, it's a throwaway comment. Apologies if after six years of being fed bs by the current bunch, I'm a little wary of falling head over heels on the back of some easy words in radio interview

I've had a listen and does he actually say that the takeover is complete?  And that we have x amount to invest in the club now?

I hear him saying "we haven't completed in the real estate investment yet" (when Shaun questions him about what sites are being looked at 1hr 47min).

I can just see the backpage of the Adver now

"Trust label Little cheap trailor park trash"

Paul Davis yesterday launched a blistering tirade against Swindon Town's new chairman Jim Little.  In a moment of madness Davis said "This yank's doing my head in, he's a little bitch who needs his cheap tushy put into place", Andy Ratcliffe was unavailable for comment, although Brian Howard (an ex Town player of a few years ago who really has nothing to do with this story) responded "I do not give a flying fuck about Swindon, I play for Barnsley, please stop ringing me".

fucking busybodies.

not directed specifically at you but i can't seem to shake the feeling that some will never be happy regardless of what happens. how on earth is this going to be a fresh start / new beginning for the club if people treat them with the same disdain and distrust that ssw and co were treated with?

I do agree with Sonic in a way, after years of crap we need to be able to know when to moan about things and know when to give the club a break.

It seems a lot of fans are stuck in the "Judean People's front" (or was it the People's Front of Judea?) attitude where no matter what the romans do they're not happy.

I think there's a lot of people waiting for the words to be matched by actions. Like paying the CVA off for a start. And some openness about what's actually going on - e.g. who owns the club? After six years of the crap we've had, I don't think that's unreasonable. And actually the current board were not treated with "disdain and distrust" throughout that time - it's really only been the last year or so that the majority have started to look at them in that way. If you remember there was considerable goodwill and willingness to give them a fresh start etc when they first took over. I very much hope the Jim Little/Jose Viega/Whoever the hell else regime will prove to be fresh start and all that, and the ball's in their court to back the words with actions. What's wrong with that?

The reporter says earlier in the show "He says the new owners investment is complete."

I guess there is probably other stuff in other parts of the programme, but damned if I'm going to find them.

Nothing at all, I'm not saying we should be rejoicing that we have new owners well not at least until all details are known.  It's a wait and see state of affairs for me at present.

Ah fair enough, I only listened to the 1hr 45 bit.

I just think if it is now finally sorted, I'd rather have heard via a story confirming it all on the OS, rather than a bit of a radio interview.

It's all a bit wishy washy.

of course they have to prove themselves, that goes without saying but nevertheless, people still jump on every little bit of detail and hunt for the negatives as though this is the worst thing that could possibly happen at stfc.

i'm just sick and tired of negativity. for once there's something slightly positive at the club and although it could all go tits up, let's at least enjoy the possibility of a fresh start.

I agree with that totally. Whilst maintaining a healthy level of objectivity, I think that right now, there is plenty to be pretty optimistic about.

FWIW, when Little Jim talks about the importance of the fans I think he genuinely means it. American businesses do tend to have a different outlook towards their customers i.e they really do put them first. It's a difficult concept for us to grasp this side of The Pond but it is true.

Secondly, contrary to popular opinion, all Americans are not dumb by any means and I suspect Jimbo is most defintely not stupid. Not even close in fact. I reckon he knows that pissing Sturrock off would be a very bad thing.

Yes, I agree that talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words, a stitch in time saves nine and a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. All in all though, my mood at this time is one of cautious optimism and I just cannot wait for 4.00pm 8)

Great post. I agree with every word.

It's about time people stopped being so negative, i think people are so 'comfortable' with being negative, making mountains out of mole-hills and looking for something underhanded or riddled with conspiracy they now fail to see the wood for the trees.

It's a shame, but negative opinion or positive opinion - whichever is in the majority - will continue to fuel the debate. Unfortunately, more often then not, it's negative and not helped by those that embrace all the conspiracy attached (justifiably) with our board.

Having met him, no he categorically is not. Jim Little is an extremely sharp guy and that in and of itself will be welcome - to have someone with a bit of nouse running the place.

 Bob Holt been at you again....it seems to me, that all that has happened is that Diamond Mike, has dragged in another bunch of property developers in cahoots with some dodgy Portugeezers.

  These are to have a crack, where St Modwen and Bowden failed, to milk the potential cash cow of development in Swindon, for Newbury's profit.

   The Portugeezers, we must assume are looking to profit from some players or other deals....which is why Veiga is under scrutiny from the Portuguese authorities.

  Yeah happy fucking days.....Little might seem very plausible, you bought any snake oil off of him yet?

I really want to be positive about this because, frankly, I'm fed up with feeling negative about my football club.  Maybe this is the start of a new beginning for the club.  I hope it is.

Like Paul and a number of others, I'm not going to break open the champagne just yet though, as there are still questions to answer.  Who are the new owners?  What is the business plan?  When will the CVA to be paid?  Will the new ground be built in Swindon?  All fairly fundamental questions for me.  If we get satisfactory answers to these questions, I'll be as happy as anyone.  The fan on the board, as proposed by Bill Power, would have been a great initiative, but that chapter now looks like history - and I suppose I'll be happy enough without the fan on the board if everything else turns out for the best and we have a successful team to support.

And why am I in the flaming 'Youth Team'?!  I find that demeaning.

Don't I remember hearing somewhere (may have been the meeting he had with the Trust) that Little Jim said when they first arrived that a new ground / stadium redev was not what they was here for and talked about just tarting up the CG.

So can I take it that he was not honest to begin with ?

I assume Brevett will look after the football side and Veiga will look after the off the field with Little Jim handling the real estate.

Let's hope the are prepared to call a fan's forum to let supporters know who they all are and what their future plans are for our football club.

Hi guys

Most of the 20 minute interview with Jim Little will be played out from just after 3.30 on Radio Swindon/Radio Wiltshire this afternoon (103.6FM, 103.5FM, 104.3FM and 104.9FM), before the Yeovil game.

It'll all go up on the website by about 9 tomorrow morning, sorry it can't be sooner.

Sorry I can't stay on to chat, but I've got to edit the piece!

I should be back briefly after the match if there any questions I can answer.

Cheers.

Ed.

I find it amazing anyone can actually be over optimistic or over pessimistic at this stage. All we can do is wait and watch, because nothing has actually happened yet one way or the other (good or bad).

Personally, I remain cautious of anything that seems to be handled in secrecy. We'll see.

So signing two players for (albeit undesclosed) fees and on three year deals on deadline day is 'nothing'? I would defintely call that 'something'!

i'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for those signings OST. there is absolutely no way on god's green earth that this board, the previous one, or the one coming next, would ever do anything right!!!

Spot on.

Nice one Ed, shall keep an ear out for it.

Sturrock been interviewed just now on sky, didnt look happy at all.
Oh dear.

Sturrock never does though to be fair.

Absolutely nothing Paul, my sentiments exactly to a tee.

Jose Viega apparently used to be the GM of Benfica :shock:  How the mighty have fallen :?

Oh yes. And he looks like George Hamilton IV:

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPH/263231~George-Hamilton-Posters.jpg

And you know the new owners funded that rather than the existing player budget because???? If they did and this was the prime beef they OK'd, long may it continue.

It's impossible to hold something against someone I know nothing about. Time will tell one way or t'other but it's far too early to draw a judgement.
---
On the plus side PS sounded a little brighter on BBC RS today about the whole deal, though he wouldn't be drawn on whether he was happy personally - just it was a good thing for the club and the 'current' owners.

Found this on MOS :José Veiga  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, some of you may recall that I used to do the Bristol City Rivals site for a number of years when the two clubs were in the same divisions. I grew up as a Benfica fan in Portugal.

I knew you had some Portuguese investors but watching the Yeovil game on Sky I couldn't believe my eyes - José Veiga, who is very well known in Portugal, was the guy on the right of the trio.

He will be the person you mention in your message. He had a very high profile but controversial time at Benfica although it did coincide with our only league title in a decade.

He was famous enough to have his own Spitting Image equivalent puppet on national TV. He was and continues to be an agent and once owned part of Estoril, a second tier club outside Lisbon.

But most people know him as someone dogged by controversy, his name never been too far from allegations in Portugal of corruption and financial irregularity and dubious business interests.

He started out working for Pinto Da Costa, the notorious FC Porto President, but working as agent for Figo and many top Portuguese players, he became less attached to and fell out with Porto.

About 5 years ago he started working his way into Benfica, as a director of football more recently, credited with doing good work in the transfer market, despite concerns of personal interests.

A lot of people consider him self-serving and accuse him of being nothing short of a criminal who misappropriates money through an ever growing number of conflicts of interests and double dealing.

Last November he was arrested over irregularities in a transfer fifteen years earlier (of the Portuguese international Joao Pinto to Benfica) and he's been under concerned scrutiny ever since.

He was actually supposed to post half a million euros bail after his arrest in November but later said he couldn't afford to do so, which made the murky nature of his finances even more mysterious.

He left Benfica in sudden, never fully revealed circumstances this season (not altogether unsurprising either) claiming to want to 'pursue other interests'. He still works on some transfers though.

He has undoubted connections and administrative ability having brought a new degree of professionalism to Benfica, but equally he's never fully earnt anyone's trust wherever he has been.

This is a guy who has ended up falling out with a lot of people - dumped by Figo and others from acting as their representative. It may be in part as it's hard to tell whose interests he works for.

There's nothing surprising about him having a financial interest in Swindon but I'm very surprised at the idea he could fulfil a GM role as he has plenty of interests in Portugal he's involved in.

My guess would be that he wants a controlling interest somewhere that he can shop window players in the English game that he holds a financial interest in - and then transfer for personal gain.

So he has contacts to produce short-term gain for Swindon but as always potential for conflict of interests pervades, particularly as a GM whose primary incentive is personal and not the club.

That kind of innuendo dogged him at a club as massive as Benfica so to expect anything more genuine or long term about his interest in Swindon is I'm afraid a bit pie in the sky.

His name is not hard to research on Google and I'm sure a proper journalist could do a more insightful piece for Swindon fans on this guy and his suitability and reliability to take over.

Either way I'm sure the FA or someone should do, this is a guy who has been fired by Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma among others as an agent, as well as investigated by the police.

Hope this helps.

http://boards.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=1019&p=16&style=1&forumId=3486&action=1&replytoid=528187901

Uh-oh

i didnm't clap them at half time.they will have to earn my applause

that's a shame, i think figo could do a job here.

Agreed, flipping the Burgers at half time.

Let's face it, what's been offered so far is just as good as what the FC offered in a financial sense. I know we don't get our fan rep on board, but that's something that should be worked on, in my opinon.

The lack of info regarding who owns/will own the club and the seemingly shady Jose Veiga is a cause for my concern, but if these promises come to fruition, then at least we're better off than before.

Watched the game on sky today - they mentioned something about the takeover being around the 10 million pound mark. Since when was that the case?!

That's probably how much debt we're in, so that's always been the case as they said they were going to pay off all debts

ah right

nice try. i thought better of you.

Why?

of all the people on here who would try to fish for a response from me, i thought reg would be one of the last.

i'm deeply hurt.

i might have to ban everyone in order to come to terms with this betrayal

The way sky put it jim little has bought swindon :?

bastards interrupted my fag break outside the winners yesterday to interview me and ralphy, cunts never played the clip  :evil:  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Fucking hell tans you cant even smoke outside now :x

Ralphy wasn't smoking was he ?

I'm amazed that anybody can be totally positive about the takeover., let alone moan about other supporters concerns. I assume that the deal was done by Mikey D, so that gives me cause for concern straight away.
We, STILL don't know, who is behind the deal, but it's becoming apparent that it's all about portugal & football agents. Hardly inspiring.
We have yet to say goodbye to the old regime, we have been told most will be staying.
WE have now seen the appointment of two people to oversee palyers besides Paul Sturrock. This concerns me. Particularly as it seems that we now have TWO general managers with a colourful past.
Ok, some aspects are encouraging, Mr Little seems to want the fans support, & we have some new players, & they are looking at a new stadium. It is even probable that the CVA may be paid, but I still see the negatives outweighing the postives at present.
I just hope that my fears are NOT justified.

lets face it seems we are heading for some sort of foreign style of management who will without doubt want to change our style of play. the last guy that did that was ardiles and that was the best football ever played at the town. cant see us going into the championship the way we play. just hope its not brevett if sturrock goes.

Unfortunately not.

Interesting in the adver that Little says "We've been talking a lot about redevelopment. My investment is with the FC. But certainly there are other compaines that we work with that will be looking into development. I'm sure the council will excercise a lot of leadership in helping us grow with the town".

I really do hope that they are not looking into this as another money making scheme for themselves, but as a money making scheme for the FC the new stadium needs to be owned by the FC.

I wonder how many more people are going to arrive at the FC with a link as agents..so far Sturrock has a GM & DOF both "helping" with player recruitment, I bet he's happy about that.

Sadly, that isn't how private equity firms tend to operate.

I'm still very worried that weeks down the line the new owners still don't think the club's fans have a right to know who is controlling the club.  If there is another example of a football takeover that has been conducted in secrecy like this, I'd like to hear where it happened.  This seems unprecedented to me.

Actually, scrub that.  Rufus Brevett (whoever the fuck he is) assures us that the new owners are 'football people'.  That's clearly all we need to know, so I'm happy with that.

Agreed, though I don't care if they get rich(er) on the back of a new development as long as they don't Kassam us. Like you say, who owns the stadium/revenew stream from that is key!

Totally agree.

I'd be happy for the new owners to make fucking millions out of Swindon.

As long as the Club got their share........................