Just because he was born in Walsall is just about his only affiliation with the town.
He wasn’t educated here and never came back after he left.
I would be amazed, and thrilled, if he purchased WFC. I believe he would have purchased us a long tome ago if he was interested, he certainly knows how to make money.
There are many owners who are ruthless businessmen, they don’t care who they trample over to get to the top, I’m not an advocate of those bullying tactics, but there are times when it’s needed.
At this moment in time, I would say there’s a ZERO chance of this happening.
I think you are missing the point , in a ideal world we would have a unblemished Saint as our chairman / owner
In reality they are in short supply . Not that it’s ever going to happen but as far as I know all Ashley is guilty of is being a hard nosed uncompromising business man .
I get the point completely. Do you get that not everyone shares your view about the man himself, or in my case not wanting any money bags owner that would destroy the type of football club that I want to support?
And do you get that just because people have different views that doesn’t mean that those views don’t make sense?
So if we were a successful Championship side under a owner such as Ashley with a nearly full ground every other week and much better players and a successful academy bringing through good young players you wouldn’t be happy , but you are quite happy with what we have witnessed the last few years, because it’s our "club "
Yep, I’m happy now Bonser has gone (for the reasons stated above) and more than happy if we carry on the way we have previously as a third tier club that has a few seasons either one league above or below, but with more cup runs than of late. I’ve consistently stated that on this site whenever this debate comes up. Last time we were in the second tier we attracted quite a few success hunters, many of which disappeared as quickly as they appeared once the status quo was restored.
It’s the reason I chose to support Walsall in 1971 rather than West Brom who my Dad and most of my family supported.
Why does it have to be a binary choice? As if only dubious characters are the only ones with access to resources? There are plenty of clubs enjoying success with decent owners.
It’s also a matter of personal preference, influenced by the club history and ethos, I wonder what H L Fellows would think of it all, for example.
It’s clearly a moot point anyway, more chance of Dik van Dyke investing, the Saddlers link is beyond tenuous.
But we have evolved in order to maintain our relative status. I’m happy with the club I support and for it continue as it has, but with the bonus of not having Bonser at the helm. I’m very happy with the new owner as he is a proper fan.
Our owner did say he would need outside investment to get us to compete if we ever get to championship, Ashley as a lot of money not saying he would want to own us but maybe he will be willing to invest a bit of cash in the club where he was born ?
Clearly expressed in his business decisions and operations as discussed above. Largely why he was brought before a common’s committee for the House Fraser issue. He’s rich though, so that’s enough for some.
If some posters are looking for a chairman who is a cross between Michael Palin/David Attenborough and Mother Theresa they are going to sadly disappointed.
To be rich and successful in business you have got have the touch of the Bastard about you.
I would rather have the backing of chairman who penalises his workers for spending to much time on the bog, than one that beats journalists to death and ships them off in peices in diplomatic bags.
Ashley has been summoned by common’s committees a few times. The first time he branded them “a joke and a media circus”, invited the committee chairman and some local MP’s to visit his business premises to properly investigate claims about working conditions, and when they refused Ashley said: ‘They clearly don’t care about the people at Sports Direct. In my opinion they are just showboating, they are actually a joke.
‘They don’t care about the people. They care about the business of politics.’
Absolutely on the money there in my opinion.
The second time he was summoned regarding House of Fraser he made several excellent points regarding the future of the High Street that was of course formerly the focal point of our communities.
‘I want to make it crystal clear: the mainstream high street as we think about it today - not the Oxford Streets and the Westfields - are already dead. They can’t survive.’
He later said: ‘Outside of London it’s going to be a ghost town.’
He went on to suggest reforms in business rates, free parking for town centres, and a greater tax on online businesess (including his own) should be used to help revive town centres.
He went on to finish:
‘I know it sounds very socialist, I’m not this crazy capitalist that everybody thinks I am.’
So he used the opportunity to raise some valid points which I very much agree with, and made the MP’s look like a bunch of self-serving hypocrits into the bargain. Is that a BOGOF?
Ashley has spoken his mind on several occasions. Whether rightly or wrongly, people who have the courage to do that get a thumbs up from me.
A lot of people can’t handle the truth and tend to vilify those who tell it like is.
As I said earlier, I would love Ashley to buy the club, it’s not going to happen, but if he did purchase the club, would we be in for a ride!
A moral minefield to be honest. Ashley has been hugely successful by offering customers tremendous value by slashing costs to the absolute bone. One begets the other. No slashing costs, no customer value no business as it would have just been another JJB or JD with no advantage. Of course, the way he slashes costs is pretty ugly. See also Nike, Primark etc etc. In fact, compared to those - he is a paragon of virtue.
It is possible to play and win in retail with integrity and compassion. But not trackies and trainies in physical retail spaces for the masses.
He’s played an ugly game and won because that is the only way to win in that space.
