Rayvin

Um... no... I said it would be a stupid move, same as you. So if I'm 'reacting to it', then you've done the same thing since our position is...the same! The only mitigation on that point is that I consider that the low offer would actually make sense if it was a take it or leave it kind of deal. If it's not, then I would just consider it derisory if I were Ashley.

I did not suggest that... that might be where your mind went, but I didn't say anything of the sort Ashley would never 'bin off' Rafa if it meant paying him compensation man. I suggested that if Rafa walks, we could end up with Pulis.

True, if the reports are false, then fine. But the rest of your post appears to back up the claim that your first line rejects. I agree with you, if you intend the negotiation to keep going then making a take it or leave it offer right off the bat is stupid. That was my point.

That's like going all in right at the start though. If he calls her bluff and she goes back with another offer, why won't he just think he can do it again and get an even higher one third time around?

The proposed bid appears to cover original value plus loan though. Also, there's no way in hell he would accept that. There's no way in hell he would accept any of this

How can anyone in politics support a position that is 'staunchly against the GFA'... ? I assume he doesn't actually want a return to war But yeah, this sounds problematic for the government. Glad I don't have to work it out.

This isn't happening.

What...? As in it's lower or higher?

So still a profit at least. Depends how badly he wants out, at the end of the day.

Has anyone actually tabled a workable, non-hard border solution?

If that's true, we're fucked. Although it would make sense given how low the offer is.

Does £300m at least cover what he spent on the club and the debt? If it does, then I suppose it would give him something to think about.

I thought there was growing acknowledgement that it would have to be a hard border. I appreciate that this is no solution at all in pragmatic terms, but I struggle to see what else they can do.

Well we'll see. I've not been involved in any negotiations that involve pointlessly lowballed opening bids, but maybe Stavely likes wasting her time, who knows.

The bid is just too low to make sense IMO. We have known they value the club at around £300m, and that Ashley values it at nearer £400m, for weeks. What use does formally recognising their position in a bid of the same value offer? Why not just continue talking with Ashley until a figure is agreed and then bid that? Making a bid they know will be rejected public, whoever is responsible for revealing it, probably has less to do with any actual attempt to buy the club, and more to do with some kind of brinkmanship. It could be Ashley revealing it to keep fans on side. It could be Stavely trying to turn fans against Ashley when he rejects, and therefore increasing the pressure on him to accept the next bid (though she doesn't know him well if that is the strategy). It's not likely to be "this bid has a realistic chance of being accepted" though.

Suspect this could be true. It's nowhere near what Ashley was looking for. Can't see any realistic chance of it being accepted.

Believe it when it actually goes through.

FFS

Meant more if Rafa leaves.

Always makes me a bit nervous when Pulis is 'available' though. He's exactly the sort of manager Ashley loves.

Wow. Actually kind of surprised by that one. Pulis is a fucking painful manager but they weren't going to get relegated with him.

Aye but you're assuming the kid hasn't had an unfortunate upbringing.

Not even slightly having a dig my friend. Just an observation

He's just slightly off kilter with the rest of the forum on humour It'll come in the end like, but yeah..