News of the screws are sugesting that Lamuar Hunt, the American owner of Kansas Chiefs Baseball and Grid Iron team is considering buying the Hall's remaining share in the club. I would have thought that someone like him would not want a share of a club, but the whole clb, which would mean buying out the public shares and returning it to private ownership.

Surey we want this to happen , how do we encourge him to buy Halls and the PLC out?

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

Answers

Sorry Rik, but that story is tagged as an exclusive by my favourite twat reporter Ray Ryan.

Personally if he told me that we played in black and white I wouldn't trust him without checking with someone else first.

Believe his story at your peril.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

If it is true, it can only be good news.

Look at what people like Al Fayed have done for Fulham and imagine what this man could do for us. We could again afford to buy the star players, instead of up and coming players with nothing but "potential"

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

Totally agree Paul, if it is true then I'm sure it can only be good for the club, anything that gets rid of DH has got to be a good thing. I just wouldn't trust Ryan as far as I could throw him.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

It sounds to me like he is trying to get on the 'suspecting fans' side, by balancing out with positive alongside negative reporting. Which in the future will give him some stretch to assasinate the club again - watch out! Freddie get your lawyers watching!

P.S. 30million that is an absolute bargain for the club with the second highest natural turnover, anyone got a spare 30 mill????

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

A question for Mr Clarke or other finantial genious'

How much woulkd you have to win on the lottery to buy Cameron Halls / Sir John hall trust shares in the club and also what amount of shares are owned by who?

Question 2, how do you revert it back from a PLC, to a private owned club

Answers in 'Thick Rik' terms please

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

Football websites are reporting that negotiations are already under way to flog us off to Hunt. This man is a scumbag but a very rich scumbag. I'd be worried if he got a majority holding. Better get used to mascots dressed as giant Coke cans and those big foam pointy hands. Still we'd be out of the frying pan......

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

sat here listening to 'running with the devil' by van halen...

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

I've posted this information before Rik - I'll try again from memory.
The Halls/CHD still own about 48% of the 145 million shares. Shepherd owns about 16% - therefore between them they control about 64%, ie. a clear majority. NTL own 9.8%, Legal & General about 3.6%, and some blerk called L. Hatton owns another 3.6%.

With the share price at about 35p, the shares not owned by Hall/Shepherd have a market value of just under £20 million. So it seems probable that they could successfully make a 'general offer' for those shares, and effectively take the Club private again for say £25-30 million.

For someone else to take control, I'm not absolutely certain on this, but I don't believe they could simply buy a controlling interest from Hall/Shepherd. I think they would need to make a general offer for all the outstanding shares.

Naturally, this would be much more costly. The market value of all the shares is around £50million, so if I'm right it is unlikely that Mr. Hunt could take control for less than say £60 million. I'd also be rather surprised if the Halls would be prepared sell out at such a low price, but of course it's possible.

Hope this helps.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001