TOPIC: Billionaire still a 'live option' according to AJ!

CARLISLE United chairman Andrew Jenkins has insisted a mystery overseas billionaire investor remains a "live option" for the club - despite 277 days having now passed since an initial approach.

The Brunton Park supremo uses his programme notes today to claim that, while he has demanded to know "where we stand" with the unnamed person, Carlisle are still not giving up on the idea.

United have been ridiculed by many fans for persisting with the idea that a mega-rich foreign suitor remains interested despite nine months without a formal offer.

Jenkins conceded that "things have gone quiet from their end" but Carlisle's owners are not yet ready to dismiss the mystery person.

Jenkins said: "I have recently spoken to the person representing the overseas investor who approached us last year.

"Things have gone quiet from their end, even though the option is still live at this moment in time.

"But I've told them that we're in a position where we need to know where we stand as a club."

Jenkins insisted he would name the person "when the time is right" but said Carlisle wanted to ensure they had done "everything we were asked" by the overseas party.

He added: "It was, we believe, a genuine approach and we have treated it as such every step of the way.

"They asked for confidentiality and we have adhered to that, but there will come a point when we will need to draw a line and tell our fans where that interest came from."

The "genuine and firm" interest of the overseas party, later described as a "billionaire" was first announced on May 19 last year.

Jenkins also today comments for the first time on United's response to a recent £2 million investment proposal from local businessmen and the Carlisle United Official Supporters' Club.

Those behind the proposal last week said their approach had been knocked back by Carlisle's owners.

The 79-year-old Jenkins said he was "surprised" that the offer "indicated" he would have to write off £1.6 million worth of loans that he and his firm Pioneer had made to United.

He also said the business/CUOSC plan gave "no indication" how other loans - £20,000 to fellow owner John Nixon and £10,000 to director Lord Clark - would be repaid.

Jenkins said those behind the proposal refused to name investors, despite also claiming that some of the potential names had already been named by the club in its own investment proposals.

Jenkins adding that "verbal commitment" of funds was different to receiving the pledged investment, and said the club "awaited detail" on how CUOSC planned to raise £500,000 that formed their part of the proposal.

The Blues chairman said the bidders' plan to appoint a managing director at £100,000 a year was "not needed", while claiming they also wanted to sign "better players for smaller wages".

The chairman, meanwhile, claimed United have been "financially secure for a good number of years" despite the club having suffered about £2m of operating losses in four seasons before this year.

He added: "We are always looking for new investment and will continue to do so.

"I think the way forward is for those investors who are interested in investing in Carlisle United to come forward and meet with us.

"We have a complete understanding that we need to have a succession plan and we will continue to prepare for that, but it has to be done through the correct processes of the boardroom."

CUOSC are holding a members' meeting next Friday where their board members, plus businessmen Robin Brown and Graham Mossop, will answer questions on their £2m proposal.

According to Claire Winder...

"Rather surprised by the AJ programme comments as I was told along with other 1921 Board Members that as of end of Jan HC were moving on."

Fred writes his debt off.

Jenkins, reading between the lines, wants all of his back.

Holding Company mate.

Dtr wrote:
Thanks, i was right that in thinking its because im a bit of a thicko

@bbccumbriasport CARLISLE: Andrew Jenkins says 'billionaire' is still a 'live option' 277 days on from the initial approach

@bbccumbriasport CARLISLE: Andrew Jenkins says 'billionaire' is still a 'live option' 277 days on from the initial approach

I think the key bit is him saying hes been a director for 56 years. He isnt giving that up until hes carried out. As for Nixons loan i bet if he was given a cheque for it tomorrow he'd rip it up.

Full text of Jenkins' comments....

boards.footymad.net/carlisleunited-mad/2...#mQPRG7WpBP7ubGvY.97

If Jenkins was that bothered about getting his money back or at least some return he would have accepted the share offer but he rejected it with little (more?) than a polite acknowledgement of the offer, so to use that as an excuse is piss poor.

Now Claire is saying she was told something completely different in the meeting to what was publicised by Jenkins, you couldn't make it up.

Really crazy - I was against the trust's deal and still am but seriously anybody is better than those 3.

Found it rather funny when story "waivered" his loan AJ and JN said right thing to do thanks but now AJ and JN are expecting their loans to be paid in full, in it for themselves!

Mullen103 wrote:
I found it rather funny that you are pulling up others for spelling and grammatical errors. I've corrected and highlighted a couple of really obvious ones for you

Sorry Mullen, nothing personal. Just needed to empty my sack, so to speak, with this board closing in 9 days time.

I'd offer to run it, but I'd never pass the fit and proper person's test

If I ruled the board, every day would be swearie-filter free
Every poster could post whatever he wanted
As long as he took full responsibility,
Sorry, I'm getting carried away.

thebadger wrote:
The board aint closing mate, a few have come to its rescue.