Soccer
James not buying Portsmouth
2008-11-11 17:34
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Cape Town - “Greg James, chief executive of Central Rand Gold, is not buying English Premiership club Portsmouth, but that is not to say that there is not someone else interested in buying the club – but it is not him.”
These are the words of Bobby Morse, of Buchanan Communications Limited, a London-based firm advising Rand Gold.
While Pompey have refused to comment on any stories about speculation of a takeover, Morse insisted that although James had held talks with Portsmouth officials, the mining boss was not interested in making a bid himself.
“The link between Greg James and Portsmouth Football Club is that he was meeting with Pompey heads this weekend as an advisor of Prosports International.”
He added that the talks were related to the upcoming transfer window.
“Prosports International is involved in various sports including football and he (James) often to-and-fros between London and South Africa,” said Morse.
“I can't stress enough that Central Rand Gold is a mining company and has nothing to do with it.”
Managing Director of Prosport International’s soccer division Mike Makaab has been involved in the sport for over 30 years as a player, coach, manager and as South Africa’s first licensed Fifa Agent.
Among his coaching highlights are winning both the National Soccer League and African Club Champions titles with Orlando Pirates of South Africa in 1994/1995 and being Technical Advisor to the victorious Bafana Bafana side which won the African Cup of Nations in 1996.
Earlier today Portsmouth’s chief executive Peter Storrie said: “I’m bored, bored, bored with talking about this,” and refused to make any further comment.
It is reported that Pini Zahavi, the influential Israeli agent, is assisting James in negotiations, and that any bid to takeover Pompey, which is valued at around £70m, would see the club’s £30m debts wiped out.
Zahavi, who played a role in helping Gaydamak to buy the club in January 2006, was linked with a takeover bid for the club himself earlier this month.
