RR EXCLUSIVE: Charlie Methven discusses Sunderland’s investment, transfer window & scouting plans

[West_Winger]

"I'd ask the question to those people who step the line over to unpleasantness - if you do want someone new to come buy the club, do you think that they will be attracted by the thought of being spoken to and written about in this way?"

How can anyone sit and read that and think ‘fair enough?’

He’s making a mountain out of a molehill. There’s been barely any vitriolic criticism of this owenershp until recently. Any abusive stuff has been the minority.

This can easily be dealt with by saying to investors that you’re always going a get a few morons about the place, but the vast majority buy in to things if you give them something to get hold of.

Instead the minority is being shoved in the faces of investors as an actual common example of our supporter base. Stop telling everyone we’re a bunch of arseholes and investors won’t think we’re a bunch of arseholes.

The only value of this being said is to scare people into submission. If you keep saying things we don’t like then we won’t be able to sell the club. It’s rancid.

It’s hilarious. The mags have had a fair few offers to buy them over the years regardless of how many of them stand outside the restaurant where Ashley is eating, how many of them suggest protesting at Ashley’s house or stand shouting at his shops - it’s widely claimed in the press the main thing stopping investors buying the mags is he’s asking too much money for them.

For methven to claim the reason they may not be able to sell is because of a couple of arseholes on Twitter who’ve allegedly slagged off the owner is disingenuous beyond belief and shows how little he thinks of the fan base.

 

[fyl2u]

Why does he keep saying it ? Did you support his post Charlton fan comments ? probably you did ! People are passionate about their club he isn't ! We are simply a business vehicle for them to make personal gain !

Do I agree that our fans were quiet compared with Charlton's? Yes I do. Do you not?

 

[West_Winger]

In what way isn't he acting on it? What would you want from him that you're not getting at the moment?


A tiny minority of the fans, while praising the other 98%.

Yet he’s claiming this 2% is the reason they can’t sell. It’s bollocks. Unmitigated bollocks.

 

[samaistonsrightfoot]

“Fans should remember we’re competing with premier league teams who can spend £5m plus on youth players”

Half of the team in our u23 division are in the championship, Charlie.

You f***ing dick.

The RR spenks can fuck off anarl, mind.

'We can't offer them for sale because we don't own them'

Doesn't stop you touting them around for the compo payments though does it?

 

[Fetch Fletch]

It’s hilarious. The mags have had a fair few offers to buy them over the years regardless of how many of them stand outside the restaurant where Ashley is eating, how many of them suggest protesting at Ashley’s house or stand shouting at his shops - it’s widely claimed in the press the main thing stopping investors buying the mags is he’s asking too much money for them.

For methven to claim the reason they may not be able to sell is because of a couple of arseholes on Twitter who’ve allegedly slagged off the owner is disingenuous beyond belief and shows how little he thinks of the fan base.

create division amongst the fans and whilst we’re all arguing over this and that they can do what they want unquestioned.

 

[fyl2u]

Yet he’s claiming this 2% is the reason they can’t sell. It’s bollocks. Unmitigated bollocks.

Not exactly. You're twisting his words there a bit.

 

[Fetch Fletch]

Not exactly. You're twisting his words there a bit.

you’re taking hisWORDS as fact despite all evidence to the contrary.

 

[fyl2u]

you’re taking hisWORDS as fact despite all evidence to the contrary.

There's no evidence to the contrary. Except what has been invented by presumably the 2%.

 

[seanwharton]

He might just be meaning that any further involvement, up to and including a full takeover, will be them investing in Madrox. I don't see any way a one off investment makes sense tbh. They obviously looked at a takeover, or at least taking shares (as they set up a holding company which is specifically for that purpose). They might have looked at it and now decided not to bother, but if that was the case I imagine they'd walk away if there's something they don't like. Seems unlikely they'd say "fuck that, we aren't going through with it, but how about a £9m loan for the crack". Donald and co could have got a £9m loan from plenty of other sources, FPP aren't exactly a bank so don't see what their motivation would be for it (especially loaning to a business that they presumably don't have confidence in if they've decided not to get involved with officially at all at any stage). I wouldn't read too much into what Methven says, it can be interpreted a number of ways. I'll be amazed if this investment helps us go up in the next couple of seasons and is then repaid by the owners and we never see FPP again, especially when it's well known they're looking for a European football club to invest in, we've got the infrastructure, the loan is being spent on strengthening that and we're at a low cost compared to how much we'd be worth it back in the PL.

I’m not sure 9m loans are easy to come by mind

 

[West_Winger]

Not exactly. You're twisting his words there a bit.

"I'd ask the question to those people who step the line over to unpleasantness - if you do want someone new to come buy the club, do you think that they will be attracted by the thought of being spoken to and written about in this way?"”

His words.

“Fans should remember we’re competing with premier league teams who can spend £5m plus on youth players”

Half of the team in our u23 division are in the championship, Charlie.

You f***ing dick.

The RR spenks can fuck off anarl, mind.

The season before they rocked up our U23s finished above Man U.

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

I’m not sure 9m loans are easy to come by mind

Depends what you're prepared to put up as security tbf. If you put up a business worth £15m it's probably easier than you'd think as long as they see the business is in good shape.

 

[phillips10]

"I'd ask the question to those people who step the line over to unpleasantness - if you do want someone new to come buy the club, do you think that they will be attracted by the thought of being spoken to and written about in this way?"

How can anyone sit and read that and think ‘fair enough?’

He’s making a mountain out of a molehill. There’s been barely any vitriolic criticism of this owenershp until recently. Any abusive stuff has been the minority.

This can easily be dealt with by saying to investors that you’re always going a get a few morons about the place, but the vast majority buy in to things if you give them something to get hold of.

Instead the minority is being shoved in the faces of investors as an actual common example of our supporter base. Stop telling everyone we’re a bunch of arseholes and investors won’t think we’re a bunch of arseholes.

The only value of this being said is to scare people into submission. If you keep saying things we don’t like then we won’t be able to sell the club. It’s rancid.

Disagree, he says on the Pod that the vast majority of Sunderland supporters have been fantastic, then lists off numerous examples.

He’s quite right to single out the minority of arseholes and there is nothing to suggest he has shoved these cretins in the face of potential investors as a common example of the fan base.

 

[fyl2u]

"I'd ask the question to those people who step the line over to unpleasantness - if you do want someone new to come buy the club, do you think that they will be attracted by the thought of being spoken to and written about in this way?"”

His words.

He's asking a valid question IMO. And it's not exactly how you put it in your previous post.

 

[Tin Soldier]

Do I agree that our fans were quiet compared with Charlton's? Yes I do. Do you not?

I am not giving any more ammunition to your love in of the owners at the detriment of our fans. His comments were f***ing crass in the light of the whole scenario of two Wembley visits and the fact that 50% of their support that day hadn't been all season and probably not since ! But aye fuck that Charlie and the fact they backed your team for the whole season home and away just give them a kick when they were down just like you are now !

 

[samaistonsrightfoot]

Worst RR podcast I've listened to so far.

'are results at u18 and u23 important? '

'winning is important and development is important but we need to make sure winning isn't our prime objective but when they are out on the pitch they should be focusing on winning but we will put an u14 in the under u16's and devalue the u14' s.'

'Totally agree'

Wtf? I've turned it off. Can't be arsed with it.

 

[shepherd88]

Do I agree that our fans were quiet compared with Charlton's? Yes I do. Do you not?

He also mentioned them selling more tickets. It was and still is a ridiculous comment to make.

 

[fyl2u]

I am not giving any more ammunition to your love in of the owners at the detriment of our fans. His comments were f***ing crass in the light of the whole scenario of two Wembley visits and the fact that 50% of their support that day hadn't been all season and probably not since ! But aye fuck that Charlie and the fact they backed your team for the whole season home and away just give them a kick when they were down just like you are now !

It's not a love-in, it's a distaste for the hate-in.

His comment were ill-advised to be sure, but who here hasn't said something in the spur of the moment that they later regret?

I'm not kicking anyone, I'm trying to help people relax a bit rather than be angry. My motives are pure.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Depends what you're prepared to put up as security tbf. If you put up a business worth £15m it's probably easier than you'd think as long as they see the business is in good shape.

Lending to a gearing of 60% (probably more once you knock out the goodwill element of the valuation)? - not going to happen.

 

[Tin Soldier]

It's not a love-in, it's a distaste for the hate-in.

His comment were ill-advised to be sure, but who here hasn't said something in the spur of the moment that they later regret?

I'm not kicking anyone, I'm trying to help people relax a bit rather than be angry. My motives are pure.

Ill advised ? You agreed with them. You are kicking any fan who isn't towing the official line man ! The f***ing situation at our club isn't anything to relax about but like him you are using the hate card to dampen criticism !

 

[samaistonsrightfoot]

It's not a love-in, it's a distaste for the hate-in.

His comment were ill-advised to be sure, but who here hasn't said something in the spur of the moment that they later regret?

I'm not kicking anyone, I'm trying to help people relax a bit rather than be angry. My motives are pure.

Who on here is a PR guru who's career is based on making people think and believe what they want them to think and believe?