Peter Parker
Global Moderator
Richard Walker
You have been sentenced to DELETION!
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,920
|
Post by Peter Parker on Feb 25, 2016 9:22:45 GMT
don't have the Times, but a snippet/reproduction on the BEP
NEW owner Wael Al-Qadi says he cannot "afford to fail" the people "who love this club so much" as he approaches the end of his first week in charge at Bristol Rovers.
Talking to football journalist Henry Winter in an interview published in The Times newspaper today, Al-Qadi, 46, spoke glowingly about the warm reception he had received from supporters after completing a deal to by 92.7 per cent of the club's shares last Friday.
"It was love at first sight for me," Al-Qadi said. "I got the seal of approval when they sang 'Goodnight, Irene'. I know the words.
"People love this club so much. I cannot afford to make mistakes, I cannot afford to fail — for them."
Al-Qadi also played down speculation over his wealth, when telling the paper: "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."
The Jordanian banker reiterated his commitment to developing home-grown players and once again offered his backing to first-team manager Darrell Clarke after the pair enjoyed a 60-minute meeting at the training ground on Tuesday morning.
"With the manager there was immediate chemistry," Al-Qadi explained. "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."
He talks of requiring a new stadium with a capacity of "21,700 or maybe more", and he added: "The ambition with Bristol Rovers is to reach as high as we can.
"All the ingredients are there. The only way is upward. It's a chance to create history, which would be amazing."
Al-Qadi, meanwhile, is currently in Zurich as part of the team backing Jordanian Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in his bid to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA when voting takes place on Friday.
"Prince Ali is a friend, a compatriot and a fantastic leader," Al-Qadi said. "He is all about integrity and it would be a travesty if he is not elected as president. He's the only candidate who will save and reform FIFA."
|
|
|
Post by bttrsblue on Feb 25, 2016 9:26:33 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 9:49:48 GMT
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.”
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 9:54:14 GMT
Did I ever mention that there were better people about than the ones that were running the club into the ground?
I never thought in my wildest dreams that this man would turn up though.
All most people have ever wanted was the club to be ran the correct way and this man certainly knows that way.
|
|
Peter Parker
Global Moderator
Richard Walker
You have been sentenced to DELETION!
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,920
|
Post by Peter Parker on Feb 25, 2016 10:02:16 GMT
Did I ever mention that there were better people about than the ones that were running the club into the ground? I never thought in my wildest dreams that this man would turn up though. All most people have ever wanted was the club to be ran the correct way and this man certainly knows that way. He certainly comes across very well. Charismatic, seems to actually love football and appears to want to do things the right way.
Who knows what will happen, but he certainly seems like a breath of fresh air.
The decks have been cleared and hopefully we can push forward
|
|
|
Post by Finnish Gas on Feb 25, 2016 10:06:37 GMT
Suggest we all go out and buy a copy of The Times now. A once in a life-time article! Has our new press guru had a role as well?
|
|
strung out
Administrator
Paul Hardyman
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 758
|
Post by strung out on Feb 25, 2016 10:07:19 GMT
Took a picture of the article. I hope people can read the text. Attachments:
|
|
faggotygas
Byron Anthony
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,862
|
Post by faggotygas on Feb 25, 2016 10:08:47 GMT
Sexy fish?!? That London...
|
|
LPGas
Stuart Taylor
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,240
|
Post by LPGas on Feb 25, 2016 10:14:51 GMT
I think it is God, or Karma, call it what you like, 70 odd years of struggle gets rewarded
|
|
|
Post by clockendgas on Feb 25, 2016 11:32:13 GMT
Dont worry about the feds kicking the door in, its the teds hes upset, most of them were just waiting for us lose the appeal and go under, remember you"ll never get rid of the gas!!
|
|
|
Post by chelt_gas on Feb 25, 2016 11:35:57 GMT
I just hope he doesn't bring Ray Wilkins here
|
|
eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,200
|
Post by eppinggas on Feb 25, 2016 11:42:02 GMT
I am still coming to terms with all this! Wael Al-Qadi is a very polished, articulate and educated man. He obviously knows his football. This chap ticks all the boxes. There is no way he is here to asset strip or flip the Club for a profit and run. 100% get behind him. Through slightly gritted teeth - I have to say a big "thank you" to Nick Higgs for engineering this. Nick is the past. Wael Al-Qadi is the future. Let's enjoy it. Just waiting for delivery of my Jordanian badge so I can add then to my Rovers shirt for the Wycombe game. Up The Gas. Yasil Alghaz.
|
|
irishrover
Global Moderator
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,372
|
Post by irishrover on Feb 25, 2016 11:43:38 GMT
Suggest we all go out and buy a copy of The Times now. A once in a life-time article! Has our new press guru had a role as well? No that might just be the most bizarre moment of this whole business!
|
|
Alveston Gas
Brucie Bannister
Once a Gashead always a Gashead
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 746
|
Post by Alveston Gas on Feb 25, 2016 12:42:29 GMT
Is this really happening to us.....hold on tight and enjoy the ride!
Headline says what we have known all along - "The role of Bristol Rovers in deciding the future of football around the world".
It was always meant to be.....!!
|
|
kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,278
|
Post by kingswood Polak on Feb 25, 2016 12:45:19 GMT
Did I ever mention that there were better people about than the ones that were running the club into the ground? I never thought in my wildest dreams that this man would turn up though. All most people have ever wanted was the club to be ran the correct way and this man certainly knows that way. 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
|
|
|
Post by Cosmic Pasty on Feb 25, 2016 12:47:55 GMT
I loved the tale of the incident with the table cloth. It's the sort of daft thing that could happen to any of us and makes him seem more human. Telling it is miles away from the approach of the old guard, who would probably have been running round red-faced insisting that any embarrassing incident did not happen and trying to bury the story with the publication of a table showing how it takes twice as long to get there and back from an away fixture as it does just to get there
|
|
kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,278
|
Post by kingswood Polak on Feb 25, 2016 12:47:56 GMT
Suggest we all go out and buy a copy of The Times now. A once in a life-time article! Has our new press guru had a role as well? I had an exchange with Doug Shields via private messages but I didn't ask if he will still be working with the club.
|
|
Alveston Gas
Brucie Bannister
Once a Gashead always a Gashead
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 746
|
Post by Alveston Gas on Feb 25, 2016 12:48:38 GMT
Did I ever mention that there were better people about than the ones that were running the club into the ground? I never thought in my wildest dreams that this man would turn up though. All most people have ever wanted was the club to be ran the correct way and this man certainly knows that way. 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 Summed it up brilliantly for most of us older cynical Gas KP
|
|
mjhgas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 277
|
Post by mjhgas on Feb 25, 2016 13:28:32 GMT
Suggest we all go out and buy a copy of The Times now. A once in a life-time article! Has our new press guru had a role as well? 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.
|
|
warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,451
|
Post by warehamgas on Feb 25, 2016 14:23:48 GMT
Have read article in the Times. First and foremost it is about him as a person and he comes over really well. Seems to be very grounded, I like the Chelsea link as it shows that who he supported as a youngster is still important to him. Henry Winter is the best football writer IMO and comes over well when on TV and Wael has obviously impressed him. The first half of the article is about the FIFA elections and world football, it seems incredible that our owner is involved at the top of world football. Although third favourite Prince Ali, were he elected, would mean our own Wael would have the ear of the world chief! (Wake me up someone!!). The longer this week has gone on and as I've read more about him the more optimistic I feel about the future. No extravagant claims, no claims about splashing the cash, it's all about sustaining a long term improvement. In the article even Henry Winter acknowledged the "famous quartered shirt" and we can all be reassured that no colour changes or badge changes will be happening. He even knew about the Spanish pre-season friendly. This guy seems seriously prepared, with a business plan and has started to plan for merchandising improvements and infrastructure already. He is well prepared, appears to know a lot about us and is going to do things in a steady, incremental way. Biggest problem might well be managing our (the fans) expectations and remaining patient. UTG!
|
|