Wael Al-Qadi interviewed by big hitter

Henry Winter meets Wael al-Qadi, ally of Fifa presidential hopeful Prince Ali and owner of the League Two club
A wealthy man last seen kissing the Bristol Rovers badge on that famous quartered shirt flew into Zurich yesterday to lobby on behalf of Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in the Fifa presidential race. Rovers fans could be forgiven some surprise at finding that they have a presence at the centre of football power but their new owner, Wael al-Qadi, is a character full of surprises.
Educated in London in the Eighties, when he followed the Chelsea of Kerry Dixon and Pat Nevin home and away, Qadi has been involved with the Jordanian FA and the Asian Development Football Foundation and is no stranger to Fifa-ville. The Jordanian businessman deplored the venal behaviour staining the world governing body on Sepp Blatter’s watch, leading to highprofile dignitaries being dragged away from Zurich’s Baur Au Lac hotel by FBI investigators in May.
“I’m going to sleep well in Zurich,’’ the 46-year-old says with a smile. “I’m very confident the Feds won’t be breaking down my door. But there will be a lot of people who probably won’t turn up.” Fear of the Feds ripples through Zurich, as Fifa representatives gather to vote on Blatter’s successor tomorrow.
“Prince Ali is Fifa’s last hope,’’ says Qadi of the third favourite. “He’s the only person who can save Fifa. I know his character, integrity, transparency and leadership skills. Fifa will struggle to survive if he is not voted in. It would mean Fifa as an organisation doesn’t want to reform. Just imagine if someone else is elected and two weeks down the road something comes up with this guy, what do you think will happen with Fifa then? With Prince Ali, I can guarantee you he has nothing [dodgy]. That’s part of his upbringing being part of the royal family, being a prince. He’s very humble.
“I met Blatter: very charismatic but overextended his stay. Fifa has been led by Europeans. There is a perception, especially in Africa, that Uefa [runs Fifa] and it does not treat the rest of the world in a fair way. The trust is not there. With the amount of revenues Fifa generate, they should have done more for African countries.”
Qadi was born in Qatar but worries about the World Cup there in 2022. “Qatar will be challenging. How many games will there be? 64? After that what is there to do? Imagine a World Cup in one city,” he says. “You can watch a game, drive ten minutes and watch another. It would have been nice to have spread the World Cup around the region with the majority of games in Qatar.
“I’ve been to five World Cups as a fan and loved every one. It was nice seeing Zinédine Zidane score in France [in 1998]. I love Zidane. Japan [2002] was an incredible experience, a different culture. In Cape Town [2010], I saw England against Algeria, an anticlimax. I’m an England fan but because England don’t do well I revert to Italy in the later stages. I can’t support Germany. But I was there when Germany beat Brazil 7-1 [in 2014]. That was an experience!
“I grew up in Qatar and when I was 12-13, we moved to London. Being a football fanatic, Chelsea were the closest. I was going home and away. I used to love Kerry Dixon: No 9, scored a lot. I loved Pat Nevin: beautiful, light movement, used to beat people.
“I saw the bad side of football, all the problems in the 1980s with crowd trouble. I was nearly electrocuted by Mr Ken Bates when he wanted to electrify the fence [at Stamford Bridge].
“I still go to Chelsea. I went to Sexy Fish last week and John Obi Mikel was two tables away. I said: ‘I’m a big Chelsea fan, can I have a picture?’ He said: ‘Come over.’ I sat next to him, but when I stood up, I caught the table cloth and all the glass, plates and cutlery started falling one by one, crash, crash, crash. The whole restaurant was looking at me and thinking, ‘you idiot’.
“It was so embarrassing. John Obi was so nice. He said: ‘Don’t worry, breaking a glass brings good luck!’ I said: ‘Well I have a ton of good luck coming your way, because I want to give it you.’ A couple of days later he scored in Paris [against Paris Saint-Germain], an away goal that could be priceless.
“Myself, I’ve always played twice or three times a week with friends until three years ago when I tore my ACL. It was a bad pass, I overstretched and it just ripped. It’s hanging by a thread. So no more football.”
Instead he poured his love of the game into buying a club, first scouring Belgium, then a check on Gillingham before settling on Rovers and completing the deal giving the al-Qadi family 92 per cent of the club’s shares last week.
“The place felt right. Bristol Rovers has a fantastic heritage, a very strong fanbase,” he says. “Just imagine if we get a bit of success! People love this club so much. I cannot afford to make mistakes, I cannot afford to fail — for them. I’m a strong believer in heritage. There will be none of this changing of colour, or badges. The quarters are here to stay. Rovers are going on a pre-season tour of Spain to a club [Sabadell] that has the same quarters as us. Tradition is vital.”
On being introduced to the crowd at half-time of last Saturday’s game against Morecambe, Qadi kissed the Rovers badge on his shirt, a slightly over-the-top act for a first date. “It was love at first sight for me. I got the seal of approval when they sang Goodnight, Irene [the club’s anthem]. I know the words,” he says. “When I started the process of acquisition, I watched a lot of videos, saw what the chants were and it grew on me. I never expected the reaction would be like this. In our [Gulf] region, it’s huge news. That’s what English football does to you.”
He’s not flash. “This ‘billionaire’ tag I have is a misunderstanding. Somebody just labelled me that. I am an owner of a club that I believe I can build up properly, step by step, and make sustainable,” he says. “Home-grown players are essential for the soul of the club and for financial [reasons]. There’s a bond between fans and such home-grown players which you won’t get by buying a player in from another place.
“The ambition with Bristol Rovers is to reach as high as we can. All the ingredients are there. With the manager [Darrell Clarke] there was immediate chemistry. There’s total understanding and agreement between us. On [recruitment] plans for next season, I told him, he’s the manager, he decides. I’m here to support him.”
Qadi wants to develop the Sky Bet League Two club on and off the field. “We require a new stadium with a capacity of 21,700, maybe more,” he says. “The only way is upward. It’s a chance to create history, which would be amazing.”
He follows stories higher up the pyramid. “It would be beautiful to see Leicester win the league,” he says. “Look guys, it’s happening to Leicester. Look at Jamie Vardy; he was non-League and look at him. That fairytale would be such an inspiration for us.”

Took a picture of the article. I hope people can read the text.

I think it is God, or Karma, call it what you like, 70 odd years of struggle gets rewarded

I just hope he doesn't bring Ray Wilkins here

No that might just be the most bizarre moment of this whole business!

He really does seem to be that special kind of man that understands, not just the way of real football but also the Robers way. I have heard it said that he is a PR mans dream but I hear some cynicism in some of those comments. I have heard enough to be genuinely believing that he is tailor made for us. I have not felt such real excitement in many years and that can be said about all facets of my life. Maybe I have just become a grumpy and cynical old fart but this old fart can't stop smiling and all because of what has happened to the club. 
I have said, on a fair few occasions, that I feel my love of the club had died to just a single and very weak ember but who am I kidding ? I was and still am, on cloud nine 

I had an exchange with Doug Shields via private messages but I didn't ask if he will still be working with the club. 

KP - don't think he is!!! A mate of mine received confirmation on the day of the takeover.