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Walsall dismiss sale speculation
Monday 30th March 2009, 11:37AM BST.
Walsall have denied they are set for a £6million takeover despite mounting speculation.
Rumours over the weekend suggested a bid for the Saddlers was imminent, with travel company Arriva heavily linked to a buy-out.
But the club have moved to quash any speculation with chief executive Roy Whalley dismissing the gossip.
He said: “It’s wild speculation. The rumours are just rumours and I’ve no idea where they derived from. It is April Fools Day this week after all.
“If there was some substance in them and things were moving along at pace then I am sure we would say so but they carry no substance.
“I would be the most surprised if they were true.”
But Whalley reiterated the Saddlers, who drew 1-1 with Cheltenham in League One on Saturday, would entertain offers.
Chairman Jeff Bonser replaced Barrie Blower as chairman in 1992 and has sometimes had a difficult relationship with the Saddlers’ fans.
Whalley added the chairman would welcome interest, after over two decades on the Saddlers’ board.
He said: “The chairman would be prepared to talk to interested parties.
“He has made that clear over a number of years that, if there was someone out there or a group of people who wanted to purchase the club for the right reasons, he would be happy to sit down and listen to them.
“He has had a stint on the board for nearly 21 years and would be happy, providing it was for the right reasons, to stand down.”
Whalley refused to confirm whether the £6 million figure is something which would interest the board if a bid materialised.
Rumours went into overdrive over the weekend and could spark a late rush for the Saddlers’ Early Bird season ticket offer, which runs out tomorrow.
Whalley added: “We’ve been very pleased, in difficult financial circumstances, with the response we’ve had.
“They are very comparable to previous years.”
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I can’t see anybody wanting to buy Walsall to be honest, small stadium, small fan base its not a big attraction now is it?
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Don’t they make enough of all the advertising out side that place i mean come on its just one big Advertising stand now.
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would be great if bonser did leave .p.s stuwolf worry about your relegation fight next year not our club
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What a surprise, a Wolves fan with nothing better to do. Got up early to beat the post office que, or visiting after opening hour’s ?
At least we’re not known across the country as a bunch or miserable, moaning old ladies like you Wolves. For a club that are about to buy Marlon Harewood for £3m, I’d keep your mouth shut. Now, how embarrassing a story is that………Silly old lady.
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Anybody else think it was just a ploy to sell some more season tickets?
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I predict that Walsall will be sold for rather more than the £10 (yes – ten whole pounds)that Wolves were sold for recently…
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So StuWolf “can’t see anybody wanting to buy Walsall, not a big attraction” – not long ago, neither was Wigan! Only 16 seasons since they were playing their football at our level in a ground that these days wouldn’t even meet non-league standards. Things change.
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I think Walsall have a similer fan base as the wolves were getting in this division
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I have it on good authority a consortium led by a former player are going to take over. My source has also told me that plans to redevelop the away end are well progressed ( the yellow lines have laready been drawn on the carpark) and that the first major signing of the new consortium will be Walsall favorite Jimmy Walker!
Up the saddlers
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Johnny Dukes, I like your style :-)
You’ll have the journo’s sifting through planning applications all week with that!
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You thought wrong Kev! during the 87/88 season when Wolves were last in that division call league 1, division 2 or division 3 Wolves average attendance was 14,392. The previous year in division 4 it was 9,854.
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4 – Moaning about a club spending 3m on one player. Correct me if i am wrong, but the sales of players of the likes of Dann and Fox didnt fetch anything near that amount. Moaning old ladies, now come on, please. What football club doesnt have fans that moan. No matter what, you cannot please every supporter of a particular club. So please, dont tarnish everyone with the same brush and use pathetic insults about post office queues either.
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Rumour has it (yes another rumour) that it was being discussed by players in the Bonser suit. I also agree with DON H that it might me a season ticket sales ploy.
Johnny Dukes :- are the yellow markings fresh? I saw Whalley on Saturday with yellow paint on his hands haha, this will be his next job if Walsall get bought haha
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wat do the wolves now about football, goin up then comin straight back down. up the saddlers.bring back keates and walker and buckley as next manager.
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stuwolf , i can remember when the wolves were playing in a run down ground in the 4th with gates smaller than walsall are having now !! you must not forget walsall have always been regarded as a selling club , and still are , what it needs is someone who cares about the football side of the club , not just the money making side of the club ,and invest in signing some players i.e buying players and not selling our up and coming young players , just like jack haywood did for you !! im convinced if someone showed the local area that walsall football club was taking the football side forward with some ambition the gates would grow to simular sizes as wolves and our other neighbours !! please let it happen , let someone invest in walsall football club .
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you are right stuwolf we are a small town club,next season you`l known how it feels? but you will be a big attracton every week !!! 3 easy points-make the most of your one season.
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Free the Walsall 1, I think he has drunk too much Lambrini
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