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Millionaire Milan
Mandaric can’t wait to bring Pompey fans the success he
says they deserve
MANDARIC TELLS WHY HE BOUGHT POMPEY
Pompey’s new owner Milan Mandaric today stepped from
the shadows to reveal that he wanted to give the Fratton
faithful the success they deserve.
Talking for the first time since his £4.5m bid was
agreed by a committee of club creditors, Mandaric confessed
how he had been amazed by the passion of Pompey supporters
on three trips to watch Alan Ball’s side.
The 60-year-old millionaire will be providing the financial
muscle behind a new era at Fratton Park.
He will be installed as the club’s new owner providing
administrator Tom Burton can strike agreements with the rest
of the creditors, plus the Football League.
Former Pompey vice-chairman David Deacon and one-time
Arsenal double winner Bob McNab form part of the
consortium.
Contracts were likely to be signed today and the deal will
be formally announced at a press conference at Fratton Park
on Monday.
The 60-year–old relaxed over a cup of coffee in the
lobby of the Brussels Hilton hotel to tell The News how he
believed the Pompey support was so incredible.
He said: ‘I was at the game against Bolton and when I
saw 16,000 people getting behind a team that was not doing
as well as it might and showing that kind of loyalty, it
told me a lot.
‘I have been involved in football for many years but I
think this is some of the greatest support I have ever seen.
I think one should feel very good being able to give
something back to these people.’
Mandaric revealed he plans to meet Alan Ball and his staff
in the next couple of days if his takeover is
successful.
The Serbian explained why he was looking to invest in the
English game with Pompey: ‘You cannot ignore English
football. I think it is the best and I personally am very
excited about it, especially because of my potential
involvement now.
‘I like exciting football on the pitch and a good
business sense off it.’
Mandaric was in Brussels for talks about his purchase of
soccer club Sport de Charleroi before heading off for more
business meetings in Cologne.
He was optimistic about the way the Pompey deal was being
put together adding: ‘Things are progressing and in the
next day or two we will know a lot more.
‘We do have a tremendous interest in the club, but we
can’t say anything at the moment because that would be
misleading the public.’
Administrator Tom Burton met Football League chiefs
yesterday who insisted on a number of details to the deal be
ironed out before they would approve it.
A full meeting of creditors was expected to be held at
Fratton on June 10 but the hitch with the league means it
may now be put back a few days.
That meeting is expected to rubber-stamp the
committee’s decision and Pompey will then attempt to
win their High Court financial dispute with the Gregory
family on July 5.
Burton said the High Court hearing could not present an
obstacle to the deal going through.
(story from
www.thenews.co.uk)
