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Building a good dialogue
Birmingham City’s head honcho Panos Pavlakis has recently given an interview to Brian Dick of the Birmingham Mail, answering some of the questions posed by Blues fans (including myself) recently – such as if the club are planning to give Gary Rowett a more lucrative contract, what the spending plans are and what plans Trillion Trophy Asia have for BCFC.
If you’ve not read the interviews, you can read part one here and part two here.
Brian deserves much kudos for the interviews – I know for a fact that Panos wouldn’t talk to me in the same manner and in an era when local press seems to be happy with inane things like tracking a their new manager’s plane to England it’s a breath of fresh air to see a journalist being allowed to do their job and get the story that matters.
I’m sure Panos wouldn’t mind me saying that he would make a fine politician – he says the right things without really giving much away – there was nothing to confirm or deny Rowett getting a new deal, or that Dimmy Gray has a clause in his contract – or even who Trillion Trophy Asia are. I understand he’s under strictures as to what he can say and as such I have no problem with it – but I did want to pick up on one or two things.
The analogy about the sale of the club being like a toothache in that rather than just patching the tooth up the dentist has to drill away the rotten core (that bit are my words not Panos’s) causing some pain before fixing it properly is a clever one and I think bang on the money. Many people have wanted a quick fix of a sale but from what I saw of some of the people involved wanting to buy it would have only postponed and prolonged misery. BIH is now in a much better shape and as it moves towards being relisted there are less hurdles for Trillion Trophy Asia (or anyone else for that matter) to deal with the club.
Panos didn’t comment on individuals feeling pain as it wasn’t his place to. Apropos of nothing whatsoever, I should mention that Carson is back in court on October 12 to file his defence in the writ filed against him by BIH – and that Pannu should be added to the writ then as well.
I think it was also warming that Panos is quick to reassure that there are funds to be spent if needed. I know I’m guilty of being overly-cautious at times, that I want Blues to sign players because I cannot see how we can keep a challenge up with such a small squad but Panos is right – players are such a huge investment in fees and wages it’s worth waiting for the right one.
I’ve seen comments from people on forums who are convinced because Gary Rowett has said he’s keeping his powder dry that the money isn’t there and in truth I don’t blame them after the last few years of Blues’ history. I think that this is one of those things where the proof of the pudding will be in the eating – that in the unfortunate even Blues do suffer an injury to a key player that they can move quickly to bring in cover/a replacement.
The important thing is the dialogue is there. Let’s hope this kind of dialogue is maintained and Blues fans can continue to feel that the club is once again on the up.
Tags: Panos Pavlakis
29 Responses to “Building a good dialogue”
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I think you summed it up perfectly – he says the right things without giving too much away. There was very little clarity on anything. I can fully understand that he would not want to divulge contractual details as far as the manager and players are concerned or reveal how much money the club has to spend on players, but he must understand that the continued smoke screen around TTA and their intentions creates suspicion and mistrust amongst supporters. I for one don’t buy this stuff about them being interested in the team – for me, all they’re about is sorting out a distressed company and making as much money as possible when they sell it. And the 8% interest rate they’re charging on the loans they’ve made to BIHL is a nice little earner for them in the current financial environment.
Yes, imo BIHL & BCFC paying far too much for this loan at 8% when Chinese interest rates are 4.85% and saving rates are about 2%.
The interview was enlightening. Good to know money is there so that, for example, if Donaldson gets injured medium-long term we can afford to potentially get a replacement. Reassuring also that PP2 stipulated that just because money is there we needn’t go out and spend it unnecessarily. Look at Bristol City, they spent a fair bit and are propping up the table.
The way I see it is if you have an infected wound and the doctors gets paid for curing the infection , then good luck to them , we benefit they benefit , we all move forward , we must be thankful that the doctors are there for us in the first place …….kro
Yes it is a pleasing article- but let us not get too carried away. On the back of two away wins we are in ‘good mood’. Had we lost on the back of Rotherham- perhaps our thoughts would be less generous. We are like most supporters a fickle lot and our mood swings alter weekly depending on our last result. TTA , PP and to a lesser extent EY are coming out with the right statements which gives life to us weary battered fans of BCFC. Our thanks as always goes to Daniel without whom our only outlet would be local radio- usually resulting in doom and gloom.
Local radio are hopeless.
Ok WM had Gary Rowett on this week, but usually it’s all Small Hill Vile Porkers and Wolves and 1152 or Free Radio or whatever they are now called are useless and Tom Ross should leave them.
They don’t do any commentaries or post match phone-ins anymore, so much for Birmingham becoming a great City when it’s radio stations are not representing sport in the City like they do in London or Manchester.
Tom Ross even spends most of Friday’s programme talking to hopeless side kick the ex wolves goalie and stupid quiz questions, i thought it was a phone-in?
The part that interested me most in the whole interview, was this:
“There is this constant communication with them (TTA,) they like the whole project. Even during games I exchange emails with them, they follow the games. It looks like they are interested in the team.”
That’s probably the opposite to what people thought.
Agreed – this stuck me too!
didnt expect it tbh
i’m quietly encouraged :)
What a refreshing interview, PP answered everything that needed answering without adding any unneccessary b/s. I hope TTA have the sence to keep him on when they do eventually take over. Also it was good to see that TTA are footie fans & have taken close interest into how the blues are doing on the pitch even exchanging e-mails with PP during games!!.
It also looks like TTA will be starting off with a club that is in a very good financial situation thanks largely to the fantastic wrok E&Y have been doing. I don’t know about anyone else but i’m feeling pretty excited about the future. KRO
Can’t really see the point of the interview apart from the fact that it’s well timed because we are 4th. Learned nothing but I suppose there’s some communication there now when before there was none.
As Oscar Wilde said “There is one thing worse than being asked and that is it being asked”
Julian …should that end “not be asked”?
Quite right (or not right) :-)
If we gain promotion this season, (before all the responses of jumping the gun, this is a rhetorical question) If we gain promotion this season, before Bihl changes hands, then surely Bihl’s value will increase, as such so will the value of Carson’s shares, which will make it harder to loosen his grip, or am I wrong? Kro
I think you me hyperthetical
Trading is suspended on the stock market so the value of the shares can never increase until trading recommences. If we did get promoted & trading hadn’t recommenced then that would be quite amusing & massively ironic. The previous regime would not get their ‘true’ value then which would be a direct result of their own actions which has resulted in the shares being suspended in the first place. Value of shares can only change if the company is actively trading on the stock market. Kind of ironic, right?
Atko, the value of a business is what a buyer or seller deems it to be. Whether it’s listed or not is only relevant for a sale to be processed. It is therefore logical for the value to reflect the club’s proximity to Premier League football. I’d be surprised if TTA and BIH haven’t got the basis for an agreed valuation
I was referring to this point, Julian – ” as such so will the value of Carson’s shares…”. The value of shares cannot change as long as trading is suspended. The shares are in BIHL which has nothing to do with the value of the club. The club isn’t listed on the stock market, it’s BIHL that is. Two different valuations.
The value of BIH be influenced by the value of its subsidiaries so a Premier League BCFC will push up the value of BIH.
Without wanting to mix your analogies up too much Daniel, let’s hope the pudding’s not too sweet or BCFC will be back in the dentist’s chair….
Panos gave as detailed answers as you could reasonably expect without betraying employer / employee confidences.
I said after reading his CV Panos was no mug and should not be treated parri passu alongside the then current BIH board
There is obvious mutual trust and aligned plans and objectives between him and Gary which is very good news for the development of whole football side of the club
I think the interview tells us more about Panos himself than the situation with the club in my opinion. I think that has a lot to do largely with silly questions being asked which is typical of the media but what we have learned about Panos so far has all been good in my opinion. The questions never really related to anything that we already don’t know so we never really learned anything. The only thing we really learned was that Trillion Trophy Asia DO have an interest in the football club.
Many people who realize that football is now a business rather than a sport will think, it makes sense they have an interest given that the club is their only business interest but we know as football supporters that isn’t always the case. How long it will last remains to be seen. My thoughts are they are leaning towards proceeding with the deal as the preferred bidder given that they have committed more money according to the latest accounts.
Hopefully their interest in the club & the team’s performances on the pitch reach beyond a business interest & they genuinely are interested in the football as Panos suggests & this is the start of a long term relationship that can benefit everyone involved.
Paul Suen (TTA) has an ongoing relationship with E&Y and helps them restructure distressed stock with some finance. After which he sells the company on at a profit according to what Dan tells us. He has no football background whatsoever so if he does have an interest in the football side of things may I suggest that it is only to see if he can enhance his potential profit (ie promotion) when it comes to selling us on.
Have to agree with this. Panos is not going to say Trillion have no interested in football and are just going to sell once the club is profitable. I would be amazed if Trillion have any interest in football whatsoever.
Think GR & Panos are spot on, we are not a wealthy club so you have to use the money wisely.
Each week that goes by we are saving on unnecessary wages and loan/transfer fees, saving what money we have and slowly adding to it for when the money is really needed to replace an injured player or to push us forward in Feb/March.
I know he says HE hasn’t talked to TTA about BIHL’s listing but surely BIHL must have and he must be aware of their opinions/plans on the listing.
Also, i would have thought if TTA had put money into BIHL secured on our ground the the useless Football League should have some statement to make on how this affects BCFC.
Also, i notice this interview (part one) made no mention of this hold on our ground.
Maybe the people you are emailing Panos are from the new owners because they are part of TTA
Dan, excuse my ignorance but is it today or the 15th that something is going on with Pannu? and his claim for the distress caused by E&R.
Nope, he’s not in court for a while. Carson is on the 20th.
Carson is in court on the 20th because he is being sued by E&Y, Pannu is sueing E&Y for causing him distress ext, two different cases.