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Post by alanrg on Feb 19, 2021 10:06:38 GMT
5 years today WAEL & co purchased the club has the time not flown
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Wael
Feb 19, 2021 10:23:47 GMT
via mobile
wsmjohn likes this
Post by BrightonGas on Feb 19, 2021 10:23:47 GMT
It's one of those moments where you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news, I was standing in a car park near Brighton station!
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Post by bovrilsorters on Feb 19, 2021 11:10:17 GMT
Remember the excitement levels and taken in by all the fake news about their crazy wealth by the media! Think on the day they had our owners as the 3rd richest in the country. Soon became apparent that the club was going to be run frugally and no big money signings made. As much as the initial hopes when they took over haven't been met, the club has come some way in the 5 years, up a division, training ground close to completion and a big wedge of the debt accrued over the years cleared (appreciate a lot of this was built up under his stewardship). We are in a far better state than before he took over so thanks to Wael for all the work, he's a top man who clearly loves the club, just think he has been let down by some of the people around him he has appointed and trusted.
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Post by Gassy on Feb 19, 2021 11:14:45 GMT
Remember being at work and I couldn’t concentrate at all. Basically just kept clicking refresh on the forum for the last few hours.
Remember even calling my dad saying “I can’t believe it’s happened to us, you see this stuff at other clubs but not ours”.
I guess I wasn’t wrong?
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Post by gulfofaden on Feb 19, 2021 11:17:54 GMT
It's one of those moments where you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news, I was standing in a car park near Brighton station! [br Thank you for that valuable insight. Did the car park feature chip and pin functionality or just a coin based system?
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Post by allgasandgaiters on Feb 19, 2021 11:18:58 GMT
And yesterday League 1 Sunderland were taken over by a 23 year old billionaire, so it's a tough old world out there still.
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Wael
Feb 19, 2021 11:26:47 GMT
via mobile
Post by gillygas07 on Feb 19, 2021 11:26:47 GMT
It's one of those moments where you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news, I was standing in a car park near Brighton station! [br Thank you for that valuable insight. Did the car park feature chip and pin functionality or just a coin based system?
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Wael
Feb 19, 2021 11:27:06 GMT
via mobile
Post by gillygas07 on Feb 19, 2021 11:27:06 GMT
It's one of those moments where you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news, I was standing in a car park near Brighton station! [br Thank you for that valuable insight. Did the car park feature chip and pin functionality or just a coin based system?
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pirate
Forum Legend
Posts: 19,380
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Post by pirate on Feb 19, 2021 11:28:40 GMT
Had a Wael of a time.
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Post by Gastafari on Feb 19, 2021 11:37:51 GMT
It has flown by.
I really like Wael, think he's a good bloke and you can tell he cares unlike a lot of owners out there.
The training ground and the money he has put in are very much appreciated and he's done well on that front.
I don't think we have improved on the pitch since he took over though. The promotion had nothing to do with him, despite him being carried down Gloucester Rd, like some messiah!
He's only had full reigns for a short time though, and he's proved how ruthless he can be by getting rid of managers, he's seen how that seems to work at Chelsea, and is following suit here!
I think the next few years will prove whether Wael really has been a success, can we now appoint the right manager? Can we get to The Championship? And of course can we get a new Stadium?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2021 11:39:14 GMT
It's one of those moments where you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news, I was standing in a car park near Brighton station! I don’t think I would have been too far away from you- in an office in Tower Point in fact. My naturally sceptical/cynical nature meant I didn’t get carried away with the tales of billions in wealth so it wasn’t a total surprise when things largely remained as they were bar greater spending on ancillary posts around the first team. 5 years on I’m possibly a bit under-whelmed how we have spent the best part of 18 million in that time to stand still, having not even mounted a promotion charge at the back end of a season. I agree with the poster above that Wael has maybe not surrounded himself with the right people to maximise the money he spent in that time. The building of the training ground is the one day of light that one day we could yet kick on and become something more than an average to relegation threatened league one club.
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Post by rememberhalifax on Feb 19, 2021 11:46:29 GMT
I remember having conflicting emotions at the time, on the one hand excited that it seemed we had some financial security and that any doubt about stadium funding had disappeared, i had little faith in the then board and it seemed we would be put on a more 'professional' footing. On the other hand i had seen what this kind of 'ownership' had done to other clubs and was a little concerned that we would lose our identity, and sell our sole to the devil! There was a lot of media hype and worrying expectation( generated by the fans i might add, not by Wael) and some were upset when it became clear that the new regime were not going to have an open cheque book to chase the rainbow. I like every one else was devastated when UWE collapsed but soon realised it was the right decision for the club and the project did not benefit the club enough to justify the investment. I did not like 'The Dwayne Sports' structure and was delighted , if i understand rightly' that Wael now has full control. My concerns have evaporated as I think we now have an owner who is a Gas ed like the rest of us, and is not just here to play with a new toy, I think Wael is a fantastic owner and long may he continue to work towards what all Rovers Fans long for, but please hurry up Wael as I'm knocking on a bit and i want that season ticket in the new stadium ! Up the Rovers!
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Wael
Feb 19, 2021 11:59:49 GMT
via mobile
Post by gillygas07 on Feb 19, 2021 11:59:49 GMT
When Wael and the Al Quadi family took over I remember either Points west or HTV reporting that Bristol Rovers would now have similar spending power to Man City and Chelsea ! Why has no subsequent manager since not decided to spend the millions allocated ??
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Wael
Feb 19, 2021 12:16:01 GMT
Post by gassa on Feb 19, 2021 12:16:01 GMT
I just thought of the other Rovers at Blackburn and the Venkys. I was a bit disappointed that we had sold out to foreign ownership but it's not been quite as farcical as the Ewood Park Epistles. Nowhere near it, in fact. Wael has established himself as a very personable gentleman. It can't be easy running 'the best team the world has ever seen'. PS Is his name really 'Wae' but he stuck an 'L' on the end to identify more deeply with us all?!
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Wael
Feb 19, 2021 12:28:00 GMT
via mobile
Post by baggins on Feb 19, 2021 12:28:00 GMT
What has he ever done for us?
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Wael
Feb 19, 2021 12:29:27 GMT
Post by Kingswood Polak on Feb 19, 2021 12:29:27 GMT
I remember having conflicting emotions at the time, on the one hand excited that it seemed we had some financial security and that any doubt about stadium funding had disappeared, i had little faith in the then board and it seemed we would be put on a more 'professional' footing. On the other hand i had seen what this kind of 'ownership' had done to other clubs and was a little concerned that we would lose our identity, and sell our sole to the devil! There was a lot of media hype and worrying expectation( generated by the fans i might add, not by Wael) and some were upset when it became clear that the new regime were not going to have an open cheque book to chase the rainbow. I like every one else was devastated when UWE collapsed but soon realised it was the right decision for the club and the project did not benefit the club enough to justify the investment. I did not like 'The Dwayne Sports' structure and was delighted , if i understand rightly' that Wael now has full control. My concerns have evaporated as I think we now have an owner who is a Gas ed like the rest of us, and is not just here to play with a new toy, I think Wael is a fantastic owner and long may he continue to work towards what all Rovers Fans long for, but please hurry up Wael as I'm knocking on a bit and i want that season ticket in the new stadium ! Up the Rovers! Not meaning to be a grammar snob but it’s DWANE. On another note have you seen AJIB figures ? Makes you wonder how Wael can finance us, does me in anycase.
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Post by stuart1974 on Feb 19, 2021 12:44:46 GMT
I remember having conflicting emotions at the time, on the one hand excited that it seemed we had some financial security and that any doubt about stadium funding had disappeared, i had little faith in the then board and it seemed we would be put on a more 'professional' footing. On the other hand i had seen what this kind of 'ownership' had done to other clubs and was a little concerned that we would lose our identity, and sell our sole to the devil! There was a lot of media hype and worrying expectation( generated by the fans i might add, not by Wael) and some were upset when it became clear that the new regime were not going to have an open cheque book to chase the rainbow. I like every one else was devastated when UWE collapsed but soon realised it was the right decision for the club and the project did not benefit the club enough to justify the investment. I did not like 'The Dwayne Sports' structure and was delighted , if i understand rightly' that Wael now has full control. My concerns have evaporated as I think we now have an owner who is a Gas ed like the rest of us, and is not just here to play with a new toy, I think Wael is a fantastic owner and long may he continue to work towards what all Rovers Fans long for, but please hurry up Wael as I'm knocking on a bit and i want that season ticket in the new stadium ! Up the Rovers! Not meaning to be a grammar snob but it’s DWANE. On another note have you seen AJIB figures ? Makes you wonder how Wael can finance us, does me in anycase. We don't really know how much Wael is worth, how he is funded or what his plans are. The funds are through DS so for all we know there are other sources of income or plans afoot. Agree about the spelling though.
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Wael
Feb 19, 2021 12:45:59 GMT
via mobile
Post by miltongas on Feb 19, 2021 12:45:59 GMT
When Wael and the Al Quadi family took over I remember either Points west or HTV reporting that Bristol Rovers would now have similar spending power to Man City and Chelsea ! Why has no subsequent manager since not decided to spend the millions allocated ?? It’s all being spent paying up manager’s contracts. 😂😂😂
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Post by madgas on Feb 19, 2021 12:47:50 GMT
God knows where we be without him.
Some would have you believe a new stadium and seasons in the champ.
I think its much more likely- taking on another high interest loan to cover the short "month or two" that stops fans attending games...
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Post by purdownpoacher1 on Feb 19, 2021 13:02:28 GMT
I think poor wael took on a hopeless cause 😫
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