Millwall's Future: A Billionaire Takeover?

[EVOJM1972]

Fellow Lions & Lionesses,

Despite our well-known antipathy towards the money-grubbing, shitshow that is the Premier League, I wanted to open a discussion on a hypothetical scenario. What if our current owner decided to sell Millwall to a billionaire investor, shady sheik, Bollywood superststar etc.? Something similar that's happened at Goatsville (Wrexscum) even.

We've always prided ourselves on our unique identity and the values that set us apart from the glitz and glamour of the top tier. But with the passing of JB, who was a pillar of stability and integrity for our club (and still is under his son), it's worth considering what the future might hold.

Would a billionaire owner bring the financial muscle needed to push us to new heights, or would it risk eroding the very essence of what makes Millwall special?

Answers on a postcard. Failing that just stick 'em here.

 

[Frank 1960]

I'd dout i would go ever again look what happened to chelsea it took away its identity and all the money in the world would take mine,

 

[rooferboy]

Being a stones throw from the London hub a billionaire would be good, look ar some clubs in the Premiership from London. Brentford not exactly the hub of London. The big boys have always been there, arsenal, Tottenham, Palace aren't massive but still there, its about time we joined the party. Tines are changing and we need to change with it.

 

[High Life Street 2.0]

Right in the heart of London. You can literally walk from the ground to west end etc after a game for a night out.

 

[Edward Alistair]

Unless you can workout that the Berlysons/ Chestnut Hill Ventures can make a profit from the Regen without owning the club then I doubt they would leave anytime soon.
Also FFP puts paid to any extra investment into the club.

 

[zak attack]

Yes, we are the club that's located closest to the City of London, so in that respect we're highly attractive to investors.

But we also have a reputation that will turn many billionaires off, and that might help to avert the fate of other clubs.

 

[Ilderton Wanderer]

If that did happen then within two years at most blokes like us wouldn’t be able to go anymore.

 

[BigPaul]

If that did happen then within two years at most blokes like us wouldn’t be able to go anymore.

And probably wouldn’t want to anyway.
I started to watch Champions league highlights the other night.
They explained how the competition will work this year.
It occurred to me that it s just a series on meaningless matches designed with only one end in mind. To make as much money as possible.
I turned off the telly. I don’t want any part of that, thanks.
Charlton, you’re welcome to it.

 

[Edward Alistair]

And probably wouldn’t want to anyway.
I started to watch Champions league highlights the other night.
They explained how the competition will work this year.
It occurred to me that it s just a series on meaningless matches designed with only one end in mind. To make as much money as possible.
I turned off the telly. I don’t want any part of that, thanks.
Charlton, you’re welcome to it.

Instead of forcing a Euro super duper league on us, they are now doing it in smaller steps, gradual changes that end up with what they originally intended.

 

[Shawmi]

Not for me, stay as we are. Don’t want to lose our identity and become like the rest, fucking fire works and selling popcorn, mercenary players on a weeks wage worth more than the value of a semi detached house, celebrity mates attending games trying to blend in, flat atmosphere and away fans turning up without fear, boring premier shit with stupid ticket prices, tourists constantly getting their phones out and asking for players shirts, if it ever got to that it would be a long walk back to Surrey Docks station for me and to never return!!!

 

[Millwalljohn]

Fellow Lions & Lionesses,

Despite our well-known antipathy towards the money-grubbing, shitshow that is the Premier League, I wanted to open a discussion on a hypothetical scenario. What if our current owner decided to sell Millwall to a billionaire investor, shady sheik, Bollywood superststar etc.? Something similar that's happened at Goatsville (Wrexscum) even.

We've always prided ourselves on our unique identity and the values that set us apart from the glitz and glamour of the top tier. But with the passing of JB, who was a pillar of stability and integrity for our club (and still is under his son), it's worth considering what the future might hold.

Would a billionaire owner bring the financial muscle needed to push us to new heights, or would it risk eroding the very essence of what makes Millwall special?

Answers on a postcard. Failing that just stick 'em here.

I'd be very surprised with the reputation the club and supporters have that anyone with that sort of money would actually 'want' to buy the club with that much 'baggage', they'd want a hefty return on their investment. Maybe if anything like that were to happen it'd be a Millwall supporter who had a mega mega lottery win and the odds on that are astronomical.

Another way is that if they rebuilt the stadium to a new 'super' stadium and renamed it 'The London Stadium' which would have more appeal to the non wall clientele when there is a concert etc, this way they could re-brand the marketing ... the only thing that would be in favour for a takeover is location ("A stadium at the heart of London" etc)... I think the club is safe for now!

 

[Ilderton Wanderer]

I think people are making too much of the reputation thing, it doesn’t ring true nowadays anyway and I don’t think it would put off anyone looking for a billion dollar plaything, if anything it could attract someone to invest. That is probably why you see quite a few hipsters down there nowadays looking to cosplay being a working class cheeky chappie just to impress Olivia and Benjamin in their next get together in the East Dulwich tavern.

 

[Peckham Lion]

I tend to cover every angle and look at the bigger picture when making decisions with regards to running my/ a business. I'd be more interested and sceptical about what's in it for a businessman- long term?. The stadium is limited capacity wise. What's in it for us? The people here that have been coming since young boys- Overpriced and sanitised until our money no longer smells nice?

It's nearly 40 notes per ticket now on matchdays. How much would that increase by if we had to double/ treble players wages? Two adults and a youths tickets is already creeping up to a longun so what will that be in the tarts league? Just shy of one and half plus? Hmmn. The club would hold back a lot of seats for general sale to draw the money in. That will come at the expense of a season ticket holder and quite possibly a family.

I hear a lot of people say it would be fun and we'd take the piss everywhere we went. I think that's unlikely to happen cause we'd be followed from door to door. filmed, spied on and treated like lepers. Football wise, again- oh it'd only be fro one season!! If we couldn't compete i think it'd be miserable. There's only many times you can watch in awe whilst being taken apart by the likes of Man city, Liverpool and kings of Europe- Charltonlona. So as a spectacle and unless we were competitive- no thanks. I actually like the championship and i think it's a pretty decent standard of football anyway.

So- If it was to happen under the Berylsons then yes i wouldn't mind even though that means i'd be putting up with everything that i hate about football and what's ruined the game. Another yes purely for our younger fans- Mine and your boys/ girls/ grandkids cause i think they'd deserve at least a few seasons in the top tier. Most of us have done that so the desire and yearning for premier football may be on a lesser scale to those that want to experience even once. Of course i want what's best for my club in a financial sense

. I also want Wall to be here for my grandkids and beyond that. I want it here for every person that gets blessed with the privilege of becoming one of us. It would change us no doubt- even short term if the experience was brief but we are changing anyway and that's just evolution and life. We can't fight that.

We're different than our forefathers albeit slight. Many of our supporters aren't even London based anymore. Many of our younger supporters aren't Londoners full stop. They won't be defined as working class like we were/ still are.

They may not be plum in throat posh cunts reared on council estates in South London or your hipster types but they'll be well educated, earn a good crust, have a nice lifestyle. An extension of us and most importantly they'll be Wall. So there you have the change is inevitable. Unless gentrification and the social and class based cleansing of London comes to a halt that change won't stop and if me, you or Millwall don't move with the times you'll be left behind.

So after this short and brief post* you can put me down as undecided

 

[new cross wall]

our identity is fading by the season yes their are some old school left but less and less . i would love to win a cup or maybe Europe but i would like to do it with a team that had been built not bought successes comes at what cost
the price of tickets or being unable to get tickets for away game shit kick off times for every game to watch a team who only care about money
football has turned to shit over the last 30 years i remember as a kid looking at the jocks league and thinking what's the point and now look its the same for us now

 

[Peckham Lion]

I'd be very surprised with the reputation the club and supporters have that anyone with that sort of money would actually 'want' to buy the club with that much 'baggage', they'd want a hefty return on their investment.

Like the Berylsons you mean!!! Not a dig but i presume with you being overseas you don't get to see us and the manor in the flesh anymore? Our rep is fuck all now. If needed we can pull a mob together but that is at in comparison to what you and me grew up around. Not a dig but a fact of life. It hasn't stopped the demographic our crowds and type of fan from changing.

I've spoke to many a Rupert that have sat in and around us. When they arrive they can look nervy, on edge and often completely out of their comfort zone. You'll see some of them look shocked when a bit of industrial language is flying about. I once see a bloke nearly turd himself when i started a monks chant right next to him. They have learnt a perception from al the inflated articles and downright lies that have been typed about us. But they soon settle in once they realise it ain't how they read it would be and nobody is going rip their peanut off and sling it onto the pitch.

They see families of three generations sitting together. They see blokes with their mates, birds, wives. They see white, black, mixed race, many denominations but all mixed together and they see and hear passion and pride. Most of all they see real life, warts and all. No bollox, airs and graces, no racism or violence. Just decent people doing and being something that these incomers have never ever witnessed or been.

If those types can buy into coming here i can promise you that it won't stop some rich fucker doing the same at a business level. Morals don't even come into to with those type of money men.

 

[Millwalljohn]

Like the Berylsons you mean!!! Not a dig but i presume with you being overseas you don't get to see us and the manor in the flesh anymore? Our rep is fuck all now. If needed we can pull a mob together but that is at in comparison to what you and me grew up around. Not a dig but a fact of life. It hasn't stopped the demographic our crowds and type of fan from changing.

I've spoke to many a Rupert that have sat in and around us. When they arrive they can look nervy, on edge and often completely out of their comfort zone. You'll see some of them look shocked when a bit of industrial language is flying about. I once see a bloke nearly turd himself when i started a monks chant right next to him. They have learnt a perception from al the inflated articles and downright lies that have been typed about us. But they soon settle in once they realise it ain't how they read it would be and nobody is going rip their peanut off and sling it onto the pitch.

They see families of three generations sitting together. They see blokes with their mates, birds, wives. They see white, black, mixed race, many denominations but all mixed together and they see and hear passion and pride. Most of all they see real life, warts and all. No bollox, airs and graces, no racism or violence. Just decent people doing and being something that these incomers have never ever witnessed or been.

If those types can buy into coming here i can promise you that it won't stop some rich fucker doing the same at a business level. Morals don't even come into to with those type of money men.

True, unfortunately I don't see us anymore 'live' but the sad fact is that mud sticks. I know Millwall have done a fantastic job on trying to elevate the clubs image and have been successful to a point but that never stops the dirty media dragging us down the road of yesteryear and every given opportunity and that can't do us any good with prospective buyers. The issue I see is that we probably wouldn't get a buyer to keep running the club 'as is'... 'the way of the wall', but I fear the only type of buyer we would get would be to distort the club in such a way that it wouldn't be the club that we love anymore... like a 'Chelski' or Man Shieky'! I could accept the former but the latter would just be appeasing to the young glory seeking fans and I can't see that as a good thing.. just look at Man City.. can't help but feel they're about to implode... who knows at this point?

 

[Peckham Lion]

i remember as a kid looking at the jocks league and thinking what's the point and now look its the same for us now

Our existence and being defined by Millwall is still worth every moment to me. I don't care what division we're in. It's still a way of life and my manor. The football and our position in the football pyramid ain't bad either considering out history. Fuck the Ruperts league.

 

[Frank 1960]

Not for me, stay as we are. Don’t want to lose our identity and become like the rest, fucking fire works and selling popcorn, mercenary players on a weeks wage worth more than the value of a semi detached house, celebrity mates attending games trying to blend in, flat atmosphere and away fans turning up without fear, boring premier shit with stupid ticket prices, tourists constantly getting their phones out and asking for players shirts, if it ever got to that it would be a long walk back to Surrey Docks station for me and to never return!!!

Puts a lump in my throat reading this What i've grown up with and the friends i've made over 50 years who would properly have your back would be out priced and players you can't pronounce there names not for me too much the sausage in batter and chips in the millwall cafe and the crack watching the away fans go by ...

 

[Peckham Lion]

looking to cosplay being a working class cheeky chappie just to impress Olivia and Benjamin in their next get together in the East Dulwich tavern.

I walk past that boozer on a regular basis. Absolute wanker magnet, mate. They get the Dulwich hamlet crowd once a fortnight too. Red corduroy and Carhartt turn out Every cunt seems to be called Rory. Fuck off.

 

[4evaLions]

I walk past that boozer on a regular basis. Absolute wanker magnet, mate. They get the Dulwich hamlet crowd once a fortnight too. Red corduroy and Carhartt turn out Every cunt seems to be called Rory. Fuck off.

Had my first pint of bitter there in 1960! All of 15 yrs old with a group of 6 schoolmates! Last day of term before Christmas. We all ripped our school badges off our blazers so we would look less like piss taking kids.Bar staff couldn’t give a fuck, just took our dosh! I think I threw up 3 times staggering home to Fenwick Rd