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Fat Pat nearly spat her greasy chip barm out today when she heard the news. Matthew Southall CEO of Birmingham City!
The EFL have just had a MASSIVE headache created today by Paul Richardson's disclosures concerning Matthew Southall. As if they didn't have enough to do!
“We will be adding to the team that we have got, we will assess the team that is here first and add to the team as we see necessary. Probably a CEO and CFO,” Richardson said, confirming that Southall will be coming in and admitting that he has ‘a little bit of history yes'.
Richardson added: “I have known Matt for over ten years, a personal friend, we need someone in this club that has experience in a tough environment, we have got some tough decisions to make as we move forward and we believe, myself and Maxi are right behind him, that he is the right guy to do it. I know all about the history, we have talked about it extensively. Matt, along with the CFO, will be reporting to myself and Maxi.
“We discussed everything, as I say Matt is a personal friend of mine so I know in depth about everything and there is always more than one side to a story at the end of the day. We are very clear and concise with it so no problem at all.”
For those who need a trip down memory lane about Matthew Southall and how he's been involved in football:
We pushed him about the potential of his investment, and the lack of any potential return on that investment. He stated that Morton House had valued the club at £5m, but from his knowledge of football, if the Club could be promoted to League One it would be worth in the region of £6m to 8m. He cited the case of another League One club that he was offered at £10m that didn’t even own its own ground. He said that he’d be looking to sell those shares at a stage to give him a return on his investment. He said any questions about the value of the investment would come down to his judgement.
4. Southall wrote to the club telling them to cancel the EGM
We are happy to enter positive discussions with the Board. We suggest a meeting next week.
Unfortunately, the Board has initiated an EGM with the sole intention of seeking to dilute our shareholding. We have taken legal advice upon that process and the Board will receive correspondence from our Solicitors within the next 24 hours.
The correspondence will insist that the Board sends notice to all shareholders of the cancellation of the EGM on Monday 4 October.
If the Board try to proceed with the EGM, we are advised by the lawyers to start legal proceedings in The High Court to obtain an Injunction on Tuesday to ensure that the meeting does not proceed. We do not want to do that, but if the Board do not cancel the meeting, we will, and will also seek an order that the Directors who initiated the EGM pay the costs.
I stress that this is not a route that we want to take, but if the Board refuse to act in a co-operative manner, we will be left with no choice. The decision to call an EGM was a poorly conceived and unhelpful tactic which individual Directors will be held to account for, if they chose to proceed.
The best starting point for a constructive discussion is for the Board to immediately — this weekend — cancel the EGM. We will see this as a very positive and sensible move; and we can sit down and talk next week to explore all options with the Board. A pre-condition of commercial discussions with the Board, is confidentiality. You will understand that placing commercial discussions into the public domain is very unhelpful.
We are keen to reach a solution as soon as possible. We are sure that positive discussions can take place in the next week or shortly thereafter, so long as we can undertake the discussions without the need to tell the lawyers to commence action on Tuesday and on the basis that we are not going to read what we have discussed in confidence with the Board, half an hour later on the internet.
We look forward to your urgent response.
Regards
Matt Southall
"If the Board try to proceed with the EGM, we are advised by the lawyers to start legal proceedings in The High Court to obtain an Injunction on Tuesday to ensure that the meeting does not proceed. We do not want to do that, but if the Board do not cancel the meeting, we will, and will also seek an order that the Directors who initiated the EGM pay the costs."
I wonder if they discussed Matthew Southall and the instances of dishonesty in the public domain:
(1) A conviction for shoplifting reported by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph:
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5863097.ice-hockey-player-store-theft-team/
(2) A conviction for unlawfully changing Company House records, which led to a fine of £21,000. Southall admitted to the act which was reported by the BBC's Simon Stone.
Former Charlton Athletic chief executive Matt Southall has been told to pay £21,000 costs after he admitted unlawfully changing the status of directors at the club’s parent company, East Street Investments.
The following Regulations prohibit one Club controlling another and individuals, either alone or with others, having interests in or influence over more than one Club. Associations and dual interests or influence giving rise to actual or perceived conflicts of interest which undermine the integrity of League competitions and the reputation, credibility and image of professional football Clubs and all those who support or have a financial or commercial interest in League football are entitled to the assurance that no such Club or individual(s) can or will influence the outcome of any match or enter into any arrangements which prejudice the interests of other Clubs. In exceptional circumstances the Board may allow an individual to have a dual interest, but this will be subject to conditions to safeguard the interests of The League and its Clubs.
So if Birmingham City appoint Matthew Southall as CEO, does Matthew Southall have a "dual interest" or not?
Bit hard to completely deny that given the Manchester Evening News says he has a 25% stake in the club and is working closely with Morton House.
We know from the Dale Trust account that "Southall began by stating that he was contacted by Alexander Jarvis on behalf of Morton House with a view to a purchase of the shares. He said that he had known Jarvis for a few years and the pair had worked together before including at Charlton. Jarvis had told him that he had a deal that had “gone wrong” that might be of interest Southall."
Alexander Jarvis was the one who also dropped Andrew Curran in it.
"Curran did not respond to requests for comment after the claims against him were put to him via text message.
That followed a bizarre phone call with Telegraph Sport in which he said he had “nothing to do with Rochdale”.
The call nevertheless prompted a WhatsApp message from Alexander Jarvis, who described himself as an adviser to what he admitted was a “hostile takeover” and said that Curran was “a bit of a recluse”.
Jarvis said he himself had been on the “heated” Zoom call and that he could not recall the alleged comments being made by Curran, adding: “I don’t think, if he did say it, that he meant it in the way that it would be perceived.”
Jarvis said he was “waiting for a call from the FA” about Rochdale’s complaint, which could see it take action if Curran was deemed a participant in football."
There would be a massive irony if Captain Sabotage has scuppered two deals with one stone - Curran's "hostile takeover" (credit: Daily Telegraph) and Southall's involvement with Paul Richardson and Maxi Lopez.
The other option is that Matthew Southall is nothing to do with Rochdale now and that would leave him free to take up with another club like Birmingham.
It's going to be interesting watching how the EFL deal with this over the next few weeks. Richardson was on Sky Sports News saying he hoped it would be done in "2 to 3 weeks".
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
Oh dear - apart from all the well documented issues presented in this and previous posts.... another idiot deciding that football clubs are there to provide jobs for their personal friends.
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MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 19:39 - Jul 20 with 7204 views
"Anyone associated with Southall is a charlatan, this Paul Richardson isn’t a money man and won’t be there long as they will be looking to flip the club by agreeing to ridiculous terms to get the keys. "
I wonder if Southall has rung Andrew Curran to see if Taylor Curran is available to play centre half for Birmingham?
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
"Anyone associated with Southall is a charlatan, this Paul Richardson isn’t a money man and won’t be there long as they will be looking to flip the club by agreeing to ridiculous terms to get the keys. "
I wonder if Southall has rung Andrew Curran to see if Taylor Curran is available to play centre half for Birmingham?
Or contacted SDB for some consulting work?
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MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 20:21 - Jul 20 with 7104 views
MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 20:07 - Jul 20 by wozzrafc
Or contacted SDB for some consulting work?
I'm not sure who I would pity Birmingham getting more - Matthew Southall or David Bottomley.
But then again, Bottomley did set up this brand new consultancy company on 4th July 2022 with the help of Grindrod's accountancy firm just after Bassini's bid had failed.
Perhaps Roger is about to join Matthew in the world of "consulting" at a Championship club? Perhaps the stint in National League North working for David Haythornthwaite was just a ruse to lie in wait for a distressed Championship club to be available to utilise.
And what about Denise Valarie Courtnell? She hasn't been active for a while - so slow moving that rigor mortis may be setting in.
Maybe Darrell Rose and LKC Motors Limited can offer a few cars, maybe a nice Range Rover or a Rolls Royce Cullinan?
Someone should call the Birmingham City supporters trust and warn them!
Interestingly, the deal at Birmingham is structured in the same way (albeit the opposite way round) to the Charlton deal.
ESI bought Charlton 'the club' for £1, with a deal to buy the real estate for £50m at a later date.
This consortium (using an unspecified amount of borrowed money) are buying 21%, seemingly including the ground, with the promise to buy the other 79% at a later date.
I can't fathom going public with a 'takeover' before completing due diligence, and using a sizeable amount of borrowed cash (unless leveraged against the club a la Burnley) for a 21% minority stake in a basket case football club.
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MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 22:15 - Nov 20 with 5813 views
MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 20:42 - Jul 20 by HullDale
Interestingly, the deal at Birmingham is structured in the same way (albeit the opposite way round) to the Charlton deal.
ESI bought Charlton 'the club' for £1, with a deal to buy the real estate for £50m at a later date.
This consortium (using an unspecified amount of borrowed money) are buying 21%, seemingly including the ground, with the promise to buy the other 79% at a later date.
I can't fathom going public with a 'takeover' before completing due diligence, and using a sizeable amount of borrowed cash (unless leveraged against the club a la Burnley) for a 21% minority stake in a basket case football club.
It's all going a bit wrong at Birmingham for the EFL investigators. According to the press:
Birmingham City could be charged with breaching Football League rules for receiving funding from prospective buyer Paul Richardson without securing approval from the EFL.Â
Sportsmail has learned that Richardson and his business partner Maxi Lopez have been helping Birmingham with their running costs for some time, leading the EFL to investigate whether they are acting as directors of the club, which would constitute a breach of their rulebook and lead to disciplinary charges.
Richardson confirmed to Sportsmail last night that he is providing [b[Birmingham with funding as part of his agreement to buy the club, but it is unclear whether or not he has received approval from the EFL to do so.Â
Seems funny that the EFL are not all over this one, given their focus on ensuring rules are not broken.
After all, they have just handed out some significant bans from football for David Bottomley, Andrew Curran, Darrell Rose for two years and Faical Safouane for eighteen months.
It was openly reported in July that Paul Richardson named Matthew Southall as CEO some weeks ago and there is still no sign of the EFL understanding, confirming or updating Birmingham fans or anyone else for that matter.
He also revealed he intends to add to the management team, with controversial former Charlton chief executive Matt Southall coming in as Blues ’ new CEO.
Relevant Person’ means in respect of any Club any individual Person (and not any Entity) operating the powers that are usually associated with the powers of a director of a company incorporated under the 2006 Act (as a Company limited by shares or by guarantee). Further, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following individuals shall in any event be deemed to qualify as a Relevant Person:
 (a) a director as defined by Section 250 of the 2006 Act;
 (b) a shadow director as defined by Section 251 of the 2006 Act;
 (c) a person registered as a director or secretary of the Club with the Registrar of Companies;
 (d) a person for whom a Form AP01 (to be filed with the Registrar of Companies) has been completed in relation to the Club;
 (e) a person who has been elected to become a director of the Club at a meeting of the board of directors of the Club;
 (f) a person who has been elected to become a director of the Club at a meeting of the members of the Club;
 (g) a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the persons constituting the management of the Club are accustomed to act;
 (h) any Authorised Signatory;
 (i) any duly appointed signatory (as that term is utilised in Regulation 46.1);
 (j) any ‘chief executive’ officer, ‘general manager’, ‘chief operating officer’ or any other person undertaking any duties which would objectively be considered to be equivalent to those roles;
 (k) any person appointed by those with Control over the Club to represent their interests in the management of the Club; and
 (l) a person who has Control over the affairs of the Club,
but the definition of ‘Relevant Person’ expressly excludes any external legal, financial or other professional advisers where they are acting in a capacity regulated by a professional regulatory body and do not hold any interest (in excess of a 5% shareholding) in the Club .
How can those trying to buy Birmingham City go into a transaction at Birmingham in July, play nearly half a season and then still not have been cleared by the EFL?
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
It's all going a bit wrong at Birmingham for the EFL investigators. According to the press:
Birmingham City could be charged with breaching Football League rules for receiving funding from prospective buyer Paul Richardson without securing approval from the EFL.Â
Sportsmail has learned that Richardson and his business partner Maxi Lopez have been helping Birmingham with their running costs for some time, leading the EFL to investigate whether they are acting as directors of the club, which would constitute a breach of their rulebook and lead to disciplinary charges.
Richardson confirmed to Sportsmail last night that he is providing [b[Birmingham with funding as part of his agreement to buy the club, but it is unclear whether or not he has received approval from the EFL to do so.Â
Seems funny that the EFL are not all over this one, given their focus on ensuring rules are not broken.
After all, they have just handed out some significant bans from football for David Bottomley, Andrew Curran, Darrell Rose for two years and Faical Safouane for eighteen months.
It was openly reported in July that Paul Richardson named Matthew Southall as CEO some weeks ago and there is still no sign of the EFL understanding, confirming or updating Birmingham fans or anyone else for that matter.
He also revealed he intends to add to the management team, with controversial former Charlton chief executive Matt Southall coming in as Blues ’ new CEO.
Relevant Person’ means in respect of any Club any individual Person (and not any Entity) operating the powers that are usually associated with the powers of a director of a company incorporated under the 2006 Act (as a Company limited by shares or by guarantee). Further, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following individuals shall in any event be deemed to qualify as a Relevant Person:
 (a) a director as defined by Section 250 of the 2006 Act;
 (b) a shadow director as defined by Section 251 of the 2006 Act;
 (c) a person registered as a director or secretary of the Club with the Registrar of Companies;
 (d) a person for whom a Form AP01 (to be filed with the Registrar of Companies) has been completed in relation to the Club;
 (e) a person who has been elected to become a director of the Club at a meeting of the board of directors of the Club;
 (f) a person who has been elected to become a director of the Club at a meeting of the members of the Club;
 (g) a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the persons constituting the management of the Club are accustomed to act;
 (h) any Authorised Signatory;
 (i) any duly appointed signatory (as that term is utilised in Regulation 46.1);
 (j) any ‘chief executive’ officer, ‘general manager’, ‘chief operating officer’ or any other person undertaking any duties which would objectively be considered to be equivalent to those roles;
 (k) any person appointed by those with Control over the Club to represent their interests in the management of the Club; and
 (l) a person who has Control over the affairs of the Club,
but the definition of ‘Relevant Person’ expressly excludes any external legal, financial or other professional advisers where they are acting in a capacity regulated by a professional regulatory body and do not hold any interest (in excess of a 5% shareholding) in the Club .
How can those trying to buy Birmingham City go into a transaction at Birmingham in July, play nearly half a season and then still not have been cleared by the EFL?
Because the EFL are shite, time-serving gravy-training has beens
You know that, i know that, the Dale Trust know that, the Dale Board know that, i suspect the EFL know that too
But we all (well, not quite) have to pretend to play ball with them
MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 22:20 - Nov 20 by D_Alien
Because the EFL are shite, time-serving gravy-training has beens
You know that, i know that, the Dale Trust know that, the Dale Board know that, i suspect the EFL know that too
But we all (well, not quite) have to pretend to play ball with them
It's a massive potential embarrassment coming for them though as I see it.
Who is providing these funds for Birmingham? What is their source? Are they sufficient? Who is really behind the takeover of Birmingham?
These are the basic questions that are supposed to be dealt with by the EFL as a regulator.
During June 2022 they made all clubs in the EFL change their rules to include some mandatory pieces that allowed the EFL to sign off (or not) on a takeover bid.
What the EFL has done with its new mandatory ruling is allow clubs to refuse to register the transfer of any share unless the the EFL has:
confirmed consent confirmed that the recipient isn’t liable to be disqualified, and if doing so would breach the rules of the Football Association or Premier League.
The EFL haven't actually managed to sign a takeover off since that rule change yet!
And when they do, if that club then has difficulties it will show the EFL up that they are not fit for purpose. Hopefully that never happens!
But Matt Southall is there - Paul Richardson told us!
The EFL must have cleared Southall in July 2022 mustn't they as a "Relevant Person"? I hope the forms were sent in a timely way - Bottomley was banned for 2 years for forgetting to do that.
[Post edited 20 Nov 2022 22:50]
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
Birmingham City’s protracted takeover is yet to complete with just a week to go until the long-stop date of November 30.
Blues have been the subject of a potential buyout since the end of last season. Some have even claimed that moves were starting to be made as long ago as March.
BirminghamLive understands the latest deadline for a deal is next week but that it could once again be extended — as it has been previously - and that meetings have been held with the EFL this week.
Reading that and remembering our timeline I do hope that Matt Southall wasn't double dipping in two football takeovers at once.
Trying to buy Rochdale AND Birmingham at the same time - surely that is against the EFL's rules and would have to result in a ban?
Just 7 days for the EFL to tell the world that all is fine and dandy and that Southall, Lopez and Richardson have passed all of the required tests to become involved in a Championship club.
Let's hope that haven't borrowed the money - interest rates are on the up.
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
Lopez claimed in July that his consortium had paid a deposit and exchanged contracts to buy a 21% stake. The indication was that they were already at the club, making decisions.
But the proposed takeover remained under investigation by the English Football League (EFL).
"Following several months of due diligence at Birmingham City Football Club, Maxco has decided not to proceed with the purchase of the shareholding and stadium of BCFC at this time," the statement said.
"In light of the due diligence we attempted to renegotiate the terms of the original agreements to reflect our understanding of the current business status, but we could not agree revised terms with the current owners."
So: (1) Did a deal (2) Didn't like the deal and tried to change it (3) Didn't have the money to see it through (4) Ran away
Hopefully the EFL are watching closely and that Charlton's CODE RED experiences mean that Birmingham won't go through a CODE BLUENOSE in the second half of 2022/23.
9/2 on Birmingham getting relegated currently. Taylor Curran's senses are twitching at value in that faster than Fat Pat's nostrils do which she feels the stench of possible corruption.
I wonder who the next target on the merry-go-round is?
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
Lopez claimed in July that his consortium had paid a deposit and exchanged contracts to buy a 21% stake. The indication was that they were already at the club, making decisions.
But the proposed takeover remained under investigation by the English Football League (EFL).
"Following several months of due diligence at Birmingham City Football Club, Maxco has decided not to proceed with the purchase of the shareholding and stadium of BCFC at this time," the statement said.
"In light of the due diligence we attempted to renegotiate the terms of the original agreements to reflect our understanding of the current business status, but we could not agree revised terms with the current owners."
So: (1) Did a deal (2) Didn't like the deal and tried to change it (3) Didn't have the money to see it through (4) Ran away
Hopefully the EFL are watching closely and that Charlton's CODE RED experiences mean that Birmingham won't go through a CODE BLUENOSE in the second half of 2022/23.
9/2 on Birmingham getting relegated currently. Taylor Curran's senses are twitching at value in that faster than Fat Pat's nostrils do which she feels the stench of possible corruption.
I wonder who the next target on the merry-go-round is?
BBM and ... no, he's been banned as a relevant person for two years.
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MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 22:36 - Dec 2 with 4503 views
"Maxco Capital was only formed in January 2022 by law firm Gateley and has £2 worth of share capital."
Wasn't that the law firm Jarvis said held £1m of funds (legitimate??) to pay Dale shareholders for their shares? They do seem to be tied up in some risky business. The "go to" lawyers of dodgy football deals? Surely not!
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MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 07:59 - Dec 3 with 4347 views
By all accounts Matt Southall was heavily, heavily involved in Birmingham's summer transfer window.
All three of them have been photographed multiple times in the director's box at Birmingham this season. I wonder if he was being paid a 'consultancy fee' for his work there.
I'm pleased for Birmingham fans that Southall didn't get his mits on them, gutted for them that they are still under shocking ownership, but most of all I'm pleased that his foray into the Championship distracted Southall enough from us so we could get our situation wrapped up with Morton House.
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MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 14:25 - Dec 4 with 4004 views
MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 14:53 - Dec 4 by judd
Mark Farrugia perhaps?
Maybe a combination of names! What was the name of the Maltese woman who had an arranged marriage with one of the associates? I think he was done for bigamy.
Or it could just be a figment of my imagination (last night I dreamt that we had the worst team in 50 years & lost 1-4 at home to an awful team of fellow relegation strugglers....)
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MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 17:11 - Dec 4 with 3868 views
MORTON HOUSE / Southall and Birmingham City on 16:38 - Dec 4 by DorkingDale
Maybe a combination of names! What was the name of the Maltese woman who had an arranged marriage with one of the associates? I think he was done for bigamy.
Or it could just be a figment of my imagination (last night I dreamt that we had the worst team in 50 years & lost 1-4 at home to an awful team of fellow relegation strugglers....)
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