Citeh up the proverbial creek

Invincible

{(-_-)}HeadShoT** wrote: »

corluka not leaving

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3962550,00.html

According to a statement on city's website,Corluka"decided to stay with city after a heart-to-heart with manager Mark Hughes"

eZe^

Hahahaha, imagine how Ronaldinho would feel if he signed for Man City a couple of weeks ago. :pac: The fat f*ck dodged a bullet.

Boggles

PHB wrote: »

Hughes is probably going completely ape****e, and may well beat Ince to the first manager gone streaks.

Hughes as Fergusons Number 2????

Mitch Connor

grenache wrote: »

The season started yesterday. Football in England doesn't begin and end with the Premiership.

yeah - but City don't play in the Championship, or League 1 etc - so their season doesn't start til next week. Nice way to try and be smart though. Kudos to you.

Xavi6

Great news about Corluka staying. He's a top class young player.

Ireland is also apparently going nowhere according to Hughes who will definitely walk if any player transfers are sanctioned behind his back. Fair play to Sparky for standing up to them.

20 Times 20 Times

worrying times indeed , so xavi fill us all in mate.

Daysha

Don't know how reliable this is, but I read it on another forum and thought you all might find it interesting:

from an alleged employee of MCFC -

"I'm sorry to say this, as a life long fan and - for the last few (for me at least) unforgettable months - employee, MCFC as we know it is finished. Here are the FACTS, for those who really want to know. Thaksin is, as of midlnight 10th August, 2008, an international fugitive.

He now has to be found guilty of corruption in Thailand in his absense, offering no defence. Extradition requests will surely follow. The PL will then have to find him short of the fit and proper ownership rules (and believe me, the pressure for that from fellow 'members' has been growing since June).

Thaksin is trying to palm off City onto whoever will now take it, an insolvent mess of a business, completely incapable of sustaining itself. The truth is that the only interested party (until recently) - Wardle - is not now able to bail City out now , he cant come close on his own and no partners have been found. The wage bioll and committments due on the last 2 years' transfers have spiralled out of control.

The Corluka affair is the last straw - I personally worked on the deal and can assure anyone interested that he has already been transferred to Spurs. Spurs have this evening started legal action, and he will be barred from playing for City following an injunction in the courts tomorrow.

Personally I expect Hughes to then resign on principal (he has no choice now, he is on record as saying that he will have final say on all transfers). Many wont believe any of this, but a few will.

I am very close to this situation (readers will never know who I am or how close - a few would know my name but it isnt appropriate to for me to come 'out') - trust me, I am close enough to know what has happeneded in the last fortnight, I am pissed off with it (as a fan, and as someone who has worked hard for the club durinig the ast 18 months or so) and it must be said, a little drunk.

I am posting this message on a few sites - apologies for those that keep reading it, but I want City fans to know what is happening. The sad truth is we are finished, and that as a result, the PL will be facing its biggest challenge since inception within 2 weeks of now."

jesus_thats_gre

grenache wrote: »

The season started yesterday. Football in England doesn't begin and end with the Premiership.

lol at this sh!t!

Xavi6

Lol at "We are finished". We are not 'finished'. We weren't 'finished' ten years ago when we were playing our football in the third tier. This is merely the latest dip on the Manchester City rollercoaster. The fans expect situations like this and once again we will come through it. No one man is bigger than the club, whether it's a dodgy owner, a manager, or a player.

Yes things are looking bad but feck it, we've been through worse than this.

20 Times 20 Times

Xavi6 wrote: »

Lol at "We are finished". We are not 'finished'. We weren't 'finished' ten years ago when we were playing our football in the third tier. This is merely the latest dip on the Manchester City rollercoaster. The fans expect situations like this and once again we will come through it. No one man is bigger than the club, whether it's a dodgy owner, a manager, or a player.

Yes things are looking bad but feck it, we've been through worse than this.

Last season I felt sorry or Sven now relief , out in time .

LuckyLloyd

Xavi6 wrote: »

Fair play to Sparky for standing up to them.

The financial realities will always get the last word in though I'm afraid.

cournioni

Xavi6 wrote: »

And their argument would be pointless. It's not as if it's just United that did it, it's just football in general and its progression. Walking away from your club should be unthinkable if you're a true fan.

How about AFC Wimbledon then?! Do you agree with its formation?

Xavi6

Slightly different sitation considering Wimbledon FC ceased to exist. Manchester United is still there.

cournioni

Xavi6 wrote: »

Slightly different sitation considering Wimbledon FC ceased to exist. Manchester United is still there.

Not really, AFC Wimbledon were there long before Wimbledon FC changed to MK Dons.

Xavi6

Yeah that's a fair point. In that case then no I don't agree with AFC Wimbledon for the same reasons.

If it was a case of MK Dons or nothing for the fans then I would be ok with it but that wasn't the scenario.

PHB

The problem City have is that they don't have any tangilbe assets. They don't own their stadium. Do they even own Carrington? If they are having debt issues, and its spiraling, they could be in serious serious trouble, govenrment bail out trouble. Luckily the city council has always been pro-City so maybe that'll happen.

Fratton Fred

That post by an alleged employee is doing the rounds, I have read it on Pompey boards as well.

Initially there was a fair bit of mirth at City's plight, but I think it would be fair to sau that most fans are sympathetic.

I know its an oft used term, but if all this doom and gloom does come to fruition, City are simply too big to disappear, they may struggle again, but they'll be back.

anyway, lets hope its not all doom and gloom.

I still want Dunne though:D

mike65

I wonder if the UK government will be asked to extradite Shinawatra?

Mike.

therecklessone

deise59 wrote: »

Don't know how reliable this is, but I read it on another forum and thought you all might find it interesting:

from an alleged employee of MCFC -

The legal action from Spurs is very probable, I heard that the deal was effectively done subject the granting of a work permit and that City are on very dodgy ground pulling out. Corluka himself had signed all the paperwork, and completed his medical.

I know the bloke who posts on Spurs boards (BEN) personally, and I trust his info. He has a contact very high up at Spurs, and works in sports betting so hears a hell of a lot more than just Spurs news. He went so far as to say he talked to Corluka over the weekend, and that Corluka was now looking for a place to buy near north London.

leninbenjamin

was away for a week there. missed all this drama. All i can really say is this was inevitable under Shinawatra. the only surprising factor has been the timeframe, i thought it would be two or a three years before he had to bail out.

Necronomicon

therecklessone wrote: »

The legal action from Spurs is very probable, I heard that the deal was effectively done subject the granting of a work permit and that City are on very dodgy ground pulling out. Corluka himself had signed all the paperwork, and completed his medical.

One thing that hasn't been explained is why City are trying to pull out of the deal. Are they worried about Hughes walking?

Xavi6

Necronomicon wrote: »

One thing that hasn't been explained is why City are trying to pull out of the deal. Are they worried about Hughes walking?

Pretty much.

Corluka was told by Hughes weeks back that he was a to play a major part in City's future. The transfer came out of the blue for both parties. Hughes said he'll walk if Corluka goes. That's how highly he rates him.

SuprSi

I wonder if that will still be the case if Corluka, as his agent intimates, wants to play for Spurs?

Im_No_Superman

Absolutly sureal stuff altogether, wouldnt wish it on any club tbh.

The big question now Xavi is are you going to go ahead and get your new City jersey with Corluka on the back now that he is supposidly staying!?

Xavi6

SuprSi wrote: »

I wonder if that will still be the case if Corluka, as his agent intimates, wants to play for Spurs?

The only reason Corluka would want to go to Spurs is because of how he was treated by one or two board members in this fiasco. That aside, he gets on well with Hughes, is loved by the fans, and has stated previously that he's happy to be here.

Plus we all know agents get a nice little fee out of big transfers.

Xavi6

Im_No_Superman wrote: »

Absolutly sureal stuff altogether, wouldnt wish it on any club tbh.

The big question now Xavi is are you going to go ahead and get your new City jersey with Corluka on the back now that he is supposidly staying!?

Heh, well we'll see who's still around by August 31!

Currently contemplating Richards and Bojinov as alternatives.

PHB

Richards is a dodgy one If City really are in trouble, and they need to raise cash quickly, Richards will be the player who can raise close to 20 million in a week.

Xavi6

True, which is why I'm gonna wait til August 31.

Sure even if I get the shirt printed and someone gets sold in January we'll probably have another new shirt come May anyway :rolleyes:

therecklessone

Xavi can shed more light on this than I can I suspect, but what I've picked up from a couple of sources:

1. Due to Shinawatra's current problems back home City are very short of cash right now, at a time when they need quite a bit to make the next installments on many of last season's transfer in. That is what has prompted the proposed transfer of Corluka to Spurs, as we were prepared to pay the whole transfer fee up front (at a knock down price I'll add, certainly on City's valuation of the player)

2. Shinawatra and his people are responsible for the "move" of Corluka to Spurs, the transfer was arranged without Mark Hughes' input (or Executive Chairman Gary Cook).

3. Hughes is understandably furious at this, and has threatened (or at least suggested he will) to walk as a result. Hughes was assured when he took the job that there would be no more transfer in/out without his say so.

4. From a Spurs perspective, the deal for Corluka was effectively concluded subject the granting of a work permit, and we are now understandably pissed off at City for them attempting to renege on the deal. Who exactly at City is pulling the strings on that move I'm not certain.

For what it's worth, here's my 2c:

Gary Cook is backing Hughes as he knows if Hughes walks then City will struggle to attract anyone of similar quality to the club, and there is a real chance the club will be stripped bare of players if he does go (Dunne is one I could see putting in a transfer request) Cook also knows that Shinawatra needs to sell the club quickly, and so is hoping to hold on to the clubs best players (and manager) just long enough to allow a buyer take control of the club.

I wouldn't describe it as a power struggle as such, as Shinawatra can simply chuck Cook out and sell Corluka is he wants, but I imagine the Thai has enough on his plate right now and Cook is gambling on that allowing him enough breathing space to do the necessary until Frank sells up.

Its a dangerous game to play, but might be the only course of action open to those at the club who want it to survive in a reasonable healthy state (as opposed to the corrupt ex-Thai PM)

If Corluka is sold, I can see Hughes walking away and the club being a whole lot more of a mess than they appear to be right now.

therecklessone

PHB wrote: »

Richards is a dodgy one If City really are in trouble, and they need to raise cash quickly, Richards will be the player who can raise close to 20 million in a week.

If they are in trouble, City might find they'll have to sell at knock-down prices.

Xavi6

therecklessone wrote: »

If they are in trouble, City might find they'll have to sell at knock-down prices.

Just on that point, we aren't actually in THAT much trouble. Apparently we would only need to sell one of two players at decent prices to be sorted.

We also just signed Ben Haim so if Corluka does go he's already adequately been replaced.

PHB

As always the transfer fees would be determined by interest. To buy Richards off City mid way through last season would have cost 20+ no doubt, but if City said tomorrow, Richards is availible to the highest bidder, I'd imagine enough clubs would get involved that the transfer price would rise to around the 20 mill mark anyway. Spurs would even put in a bid knowing them Arsenal and United always meant to be interested. Chelsea can always do with more players, or more accurately, stop Arsenal and United from getting players.

therecklessone

Xavi6 wrote: »

Just on that point, we aren't actually in THAT much trouble. Apparently we would only need to sell one of two players at decent prices to be sorted.

For the moment...

It all seems to be hinging on whether Shinawatra manages to find a buyer or not, doesn't it? I can't see him having any ready cash anytime soon, so will you not have the same problems this time next year?

LostinBlanch

Have City missed any payments on players yet?

Are wages still being paid?

Does Administration beckon?

If Corluka is a Spurs player, does Hughes walk, or is it posturing?

Paddy Power now has City at 14 - 1 for relegation, from 25 - 1 last night.

therecklessone

PHB wrote: »

As always the transfer fees would be determined by interest. To buy Richards off City mid way through last season would have cost 20+ no doubt, but if City said tomorrow, Richards is availible to the highest bidder, I'd imagine enough clubs would get involved that the transfer price would rise to around the 20 mill mark anyway. Spurs would even put in a bid knowing them Arsenal and United always meant to be interested. Chelsea can always do with more players, or more accurately, stop Arsenal and United from getting players.

If the problem at City is cash flow, and the require as much money up front as possible then I can see the number of potential bidders shrinking considerably.

I'd be very surprised if either Spurs or Arsenal were prepared to hand £20m over in one go, would United do the same (even if it was a good price?)

Xavi6

therecklessone wrote: »

For the moment...

It all seems to be hinging on whether Shinawatra manages to find a buyer or not, doesn't it? I can't see him having any ready cash anytime soon, so will you not have the same problems this time next year?

That's the million dollar question. Right now we don't know.

LostinBlanch wrote: »

Have City missed any payments on players yet?

No

Are wages still being paid?

Yes

Does Administration beckon?

Beckon? Lol no

If Corluka is a Spurs player, does Hughes walk, or is it posturing?

I'm 70/30 in the 'He'll walk' camp

Paddy Power now has City at 14 - 1 for relegation, from 25 - 1 last night.

Meh, we could put out all our youngsters and still beat the three promoted clubs.

It's all one big terrible mess. Really feel for anyone that has anything to do with City & I hope they get through it.

As Xavi pointed out though, even if they have to sell 3-4 good players they should still be capable of beating the 3 promoted clubs.

aidan24326

According to SSN, Shinawatra was due to appear in court in Thailand today on corruption charges. He didn't attend and has flown back to England instead. The judges are expected to issue a warrant for his arrest. I don't think there's any extradition between UK and Thailand so he's effectively in exile now if he refuses to go back and attend court.

City should never have allowed this guy anywhere near the club in the first place.

LostinBlanch

Deleted User wrote: »

It's all one big terrible mess. Really feel for anyone that has anything to do with City & I hope they get through it.

As Xavi pointed out though, even if they have to sell 3-4 good players they should still be capable of beating the 3 promoted clubs.

It's not about putting out their youngsters and being able to beat the 3 promoted clubs though. If they miss payments on their only assets i.e. the players then they could get put into administration with all the penalties that brings. Could they get 20 or more points more than the newly promoted teams? Especially if Hughes has gone, and then Dunne and other players start looking for the exit?

LuckyLloyd

Is anyone here up on the administrative procedures behind transfers? If the Corluka deal was pending work permit wouldn't that mean that the deal had been agreed in full and an application of some sort on behalf of Corluka submitted to the Home Office? Ergo, stuff is signed and sealed and City can't pull out at this point?

BaZmO*

LostinBlanch wrote: »

Paddy Power now has City at 14 - 1 for relegation, from 25 - 1 last night.

And Hughes is down to 4-1 to be the first Manager gone in the PL.
Looked at it last night and he was 10-1. Should've put something on it then.

LostinBlanch

BaZmO* wrote: »

And Hughes is down to 4-1 to be the first Manager gone in the PL.
Looked at it last night and he was 10-1. Should've put something on it then.

I stuck a few quid on last night at 25 - 1. What with all that's been going on it's worth a punt IMO.

Third_Echelon

Got this today in an email. Part of it was already posted before, but some interesting info:

Hughes on the way out??

"Let me start by saying that I am neither City or Spurs, but I do know a little about what is happening with Corluka due to a 'business' interest.

When Spurs first made contact, it was Shinawatra's people that agreed a fee with Spurs and told Corluka he was free to leave. They did that without Mark Hughes' knowledge or consent.

Corluka was suprised to say the least. When Hughes took over he told Corluka he was one of the mainstays in his future plan for MCFC. Nevertheless, Corluka travelled to London to meet with Spurs' people.

Hughes then found out about the deal, and basically vetoed it - which was something the Thai's people had agreed he could do with any transfer activity when he took over. That's when Corluka was summoned back to Manchester to go up to Glasgow for the Celtic friendly.

Behind the scenes a real row started between Hughes and certain elements of the board; Hughes furious that they had gone behind his back to sell Corluka to Spurs, and the board enraged that Hughes had effectively recalled him from London for the Celtic game.

Shinawatra's people told Hughes that evening that the deal was 'too good to turn down', largely due to Shinawatra's financial problems. So, immediately after the Celtic game, Corluka flew back to London to resume talks with Spurs.

When Spurs' initial offer was accepted, Corluka had no real desire to leave City. That wasn't anything against Spurs, more the vision for the future of MCFC he had been sold by Hughes and Cook. However, after meeting with Spurs and talking with Modric, Corluka was sold on Tottenham and agreed terms. He went through a two-day medical, which he passed without problem. He's been holed up in a London since early Friday morning - hence why he missed the club photo.

Spurs agreed the final details for the transfer with City yesterday morning, and Corluka put pen to paper on his player registration.

Then City's people accepted the offer from Sunderland for Stephen Ireland, and Hughes went properly mental. Twice in 48 hours he felt he was having players he wanted sold from under him. In a rage, it was Hughes who called Ireland and told him he was expected to report to the CoMS to report for the Milan game. Hughes putting him on for a couple of minutes was a big statement on his part.

Here comes the really interesting part.

Hughes last night told Cook he was through with City and wants out, the sale of Corluka and Ireland being the straw that broke the camel's back. He said if the Corluka deal went through particularly, he would be on his way out of City too.

At that point City have tried to derail the Corluka and Ireland deals.

BUT, Spurs claim to have completed the paper work for the transfer which has already been lodged with the FA and signed by someone from City with authorisation to do so. City say they agreed a sale in principle with Spurs, but that no final transfer documents had been signed.

As such Corluka, who was expecting to be paraded at White Hart Lane this afternoon, is in limbo. However, he has now set his heart on Spurs and linking up with Modric and has told City he will not return to the CoMS under any circumstances. He has been sold on Tottenham, and become frustrated with the background stuff taking place at City.

Spurs and City are maintaining their respective positions, but Spurs have basically told City that they are willing to see the issue go to court. They believe they have signed Corluka, and Corluka wants to play for them.

What a mess."

---

from an alleged employee of MCFC -

"I'm sorry to say this, as a life long fan and - for the last few (for me at least) unforgettable months - employee, MCFC as we know it is finished. Here are the FACTS, for those who really want to know. Thaksin is, as of midlnight 10th August, 2008, an international fugitive.

He now has to be found guilty of corruption in Thailand in his absense, offering no defence. Extradition requests will surely follow. The PL will then have to find him short of the fit and proper ownership rules (and believe me, the pressure for that from fellow 'members' has been growing since June).

Thaksin is trying to palm off City onto whoever will now take it, an insolvent mess of a business, completely incapable of sustaining itself. The truth is that the only interested party (until recently) - Wardle - is not now able to bail City out now , he cant come close on his own and no partners have been found. The wage bioll and committments due on the last 2 years' transfers have spiralled out of control.

The Corluka affair is the last straw - I personally worked on the deal and can assure anyone interested that he has already been transferred to Spurs. Spurs have this evening started legal action, and he will be barred from playing for City following an injunction in the courts tomorrow.

Personally I expect Hughes to then resign on principal (he has no choice now, he is on record as saying that he will have final say on all transfers). Many wont believe any of this, but a few will.

I am very close to this situation (readers will never know who I am or how close - a few would know my name but it isnt appropriate to for me to come 'out') - trust me, I am close enough to know what has happeneded in the last fortnight, I am pissed off with it (as a fan, and as someone who has worked hard for the club durinig the ast 18 months or so) and it must be said, a little drunk.

LuckyLloyd

Sounds like it will go to court then. I can imagine the key point of debate is whether the signatory on the City side of things has the necessary authority to sanction transfers or not. That's what I would have assumed anyway - that once a work permit application has been lodged all of the official work between the two clubs (and the player and his new club) has been finalized.

All of that being said, City would look pretty stupid if they lost such a court case - so they must have confidence in their position and believe that they can pull out at this advanced stage. Interesting.

PHB

All of that being said, City would look pretty stupid if they lost such a court case - so they must have confidence in their position and believe that they can pull out at this advanced stage. Interesting.

So would Spurs to be honest. That said, one of them is just being silly. Sure Liverpools/Heinzes lawyers thought that they had an iron clad transfer deal, which in reality meant nothing.

LuckyLloyd

PHB wrote: »

So would Spurs to be honest. That said, one of them is just being silly. Sure Liverpools/Heinzes lawyers thought that they had an iron clad transfer deal, which in reality meant nothing.

Yup, yup - but the silly party could be City. We'll see.

santosubito

This whole affair has taught me two things:

1: Clubs need to communicate with their fans better. If they don't the vacuum is filled with rumour and gossip, and

2: 99.99 per cent of what is written on the internet is pure crap.

So let's look at what Gary Cook has said in the Manchetsre Evenin News, and ignore the rest of it.

He said: "Mr Thaksin was believed to be seeking legal advice last night after claiming in a handwritten note that `dictatorship' in Thai politics led to `interference' in the justice system. But Garry Cook, City's executive chairman, denied the shock developments would destabilise the club. He claimed Mr Thaksin - who has seen £800m of assets frozen as a result of the case against him - remained committed to his '10-year vision' for the club.

"City's future is not in jeopardy," Mr Cook told the M.E.N. "In the short term, it is business as usual. We don't rely on Dr Thaksin's money.

"When Mark Hughes makes a decision we go through the normal process, which can include banks, finance, or a whole bunch of different things just like any other club."

Motivated

Mr Cook admitted the club was no longer running on its original strategy of 'over- investment.'

And he said Mr Thaksin - who denies all charges against him and claims they are politically motivated - might look in the long term to get extra investment in through `partnership' deals.

"He is willing to look at whatever it takes to make City a great football club," said Mr Cook. "This is a guy who loves City."




link: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1062149_ban_threat_for_thaksin

Xavi6

Read that earlier myself.

So who do we believe, Gary Cook or the Sun? Hmmm tough call....

leninbenjamin

Xavi6 wrote: »

So who do we believe, Gary Cook or the Sun? Hmmm tough call....

well, technically the Sun has a higher percentage of accuracy

Mitch Connor

The Sun might be blowing it out of proportion - though they are not the only media outlet carrying this story, but to believe that the club is completely fine might also be folly.