AHSAN Ali Syed has announced that he has withdrawn his interest in Blackburn Rovers.
Indian businessman Ali Syed had looked to be in contention to buy Rovers recently when he revealed plans to spend £100m on new players, but Rovers have since confirmed that they hope to agree a takeover deal with poultry giants Venky’s.
Ali Syed said last week that he had still not given up on buying the club, but he has today released a statement confirming he has withdrawn from the race.
Ahsan Ali Syed
In the meantime, Sam Allardyce has stressed the importance of ignoring the ‘money talk’ around Ewood Park as he focuses on getting Rovers out of their immediate Premier League peril.
Rovers’ prospective new owners, Indian brothers Venkatesh and Balaji Rao, were in the crowd to see Chelsea’s fortuitous 2-1 win on Saturday as they close in completing their £46million purchase of the club.
The owners of poultry giants Venky’s, who were joined at the game by agents Jerome Anderson and Philippe Huber from Kentaro, would have been impressed as Rovers more than matched the champions with a display of attacking football.
Sam Allardyce
But, after goals from Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic cancelled out Benjani’s opener and Liverpool’s Sunday win over Bolton left his side in the bottom three, Allardyce was more concerned about their league position than how much money new owners would bring to the transfer kitty.
Allardyce said: “That is down the road – a long way down the road. We are in a dangerous position in the league.
“I don’t want to sound too down hearted but the reality is, which is what I live in, a quarter of the season gone and only nine points out of 10 games.
Meanwhile, despite reports in the national press yesterday, Rovers do not anticipate any hitches in the proposed takeover by Venky’s.
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SAURIN Shah has been approached by several foreign football clubs with regards a potential takeover – but his heart remains set on investing in Blackburn Rovers.
The Mumbai businessman appears to have lost the battle to buy Blackburn Rovers but representatives from his camp insists his lawyers are working hard to get him back in the race.
Shah has accused Indian poultry giants Venky’s of reneging on an agreement to work with his consortium in a joint bid and has sought legal advice.
A source from Shah’s camp, said: “The lawyers are talking and we are seeing if there is a way to restore our confidence in Venky’s. Mistakes happen and we are seeing what can happen.
“There are other football clubs who have approached us though, one is from Spain. We find Blackburn Rovers the most attractive but if that doesn’t happen, we will look elsewhere.”
Ewood Park sources insist Venky’s imminent purchase is still on track.
BLACKBURN Rovers are not anticipating anything derailing Venky’s takeover bid as they continue to prepare themselves for coming under the control of new owners.
The Lancashire Telegraph understands the Indian poultry giants won’t be confirmed as the new owners before the weekend but both parties remain ‘very confident’ the deal will go through in the next couple of weeks.
Interviews with Venky’s owner last week, Anuradha Desai, raised hopes the deal would be signed today but it is believed these claims were too optimistic – with a number of technicalities still to be sorted.
There is not understood to be any problem though with the principle details already sorted and just minor negotiations now to be had.
Venky’s and Rovers are opting to stay tight-lipped now until the deal has been signed, with a number of questions still to be answered about their future vision for the club.
It is understood neither party are concerned about Saurin Shah seeking legal advice over the deal, after the rival bidder claimed he was the one who intitially approached Venky’s to back his own bid.
THE proposed takeover of Blackburn Rovers by the Venky’s Group has now come under legal threat in Asia.
Last night it emerged that Saurin Shah, who was himself in the running over the summer, is taking legal advice.
The Mumbai businessman claimed he approached Venky’s with the intention of the poulty giants backing his bid – and is surprised to see the group make a move on its own.
Mr Shah said he was not looking to ‘break’ the Venky’s deal, but wanted to remain part of any purchase, as he claims was initially discussed.
His uncle, Indian Cricket chief Niranjan Shah, who was head of the consortium, told the Lancashire Telegraph any legal bid would come second to the club’s own wellbeing.
Mr Shah, the vice-president of the Board of Cricket Control in India, said he hoped all parties could reach a satisfactory conclusion to help take Rovers forward.
He said: “We’ve worked very hard to get all of the information about Blackburn Rovers in the first place.
“After getting all of the details Saurin presented us with the opportunity and we approached Venky’s with the idea of working with us.
“We thought we were working with Venky’s.
“It wasn’t only them we approached. We approached two or three other big companies and it was seen as a big opportunity.
“Blackburn Rovers needed money, proper money, and we thought ourselves and Venky’s could achieve that.
“We then read in the newspaper that Venky’s has made a deal with Blackburn Rovers.
“Maybe we are not very good on the legal side but on the moral ground we are very strong.
“We don’t want to fight. Our concern is Blackburn Rovers.
“We will look at it and see what we can do. This is life though.”
Saurin Shah, who works in textiles and shipping, was the first bidder to declare his interest in the club back in June.
Venky’s could not be contacted for comment.