Ranson ends Villa interest

September 01, 2005

FORMER Blues defender Ray Ranson has ended his interest in taking over Aston Villa.

Ranson, a successful businessman since ending his football career, has been courting the midlands outfit for some time but after a proposal was submitted to the Villa plc board and rejected, the ex-City player has ended his pursuit.

"Mr Ray Ranson confirms that he recently submitted a proposal to the board of Aston Villa plc subject to due diligence," a statement to the Stock Exchange said.

"Unfortunately the board of Aston Villa plc have decided that the price indicated was inadequate. Mr Ranson has therefore decided not to pursue his interest in making an offer."

Would you like to see Ranson take over City? Have your say.

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JS, Town (01/09/2005 at 10:10)

Not neccesarily take over but wouldn't mind seeing him invest some of the cash he's obviously got spare. Saw him in the hospitality lounge at the U2 gig at COMSTAD so you never know.

Mad Mart, Torrevieja (01/09/2005 at 10:17)

I am sure that I am not the only one that has been continually scouring the net fot City transfer news (hourly!). I waited with baited breath this morning when Sky Sports News went thro' the deadline transfers.
I am so, so disappointed this morning - were 2nd in the league, have a dream of a mananger - yet I can't help think that us loyal Blues have been stung by Wardle & Co.!
For ever an optimist I now conclude that the SWP sale has settled the Wardle loan & they are preparing for a take-over. Lets hope Ranson makes us an offer we can't refuse - brings back Bernstein as Chairman and we live happily ever after!
CTID.

Ferrari, Stockport (01/09/2005 at 10:22)

Stupid question MuEN, stupid question! My dads got more money than him. Do your investigative journalists really get paid for coming up with such tosh?

a blue neville, somewhere in yorkshire (01/09/2005 at 10:33)

Is this why SP has not been given funds so that City might be a more attractive option to buy with a reduced debt? If anyone is going to take over the club, I'm sure most of us would rather it be an ex-blue rather than a foreign businessman with questionable motives.

Inme Bacardi, Glossop (01/09/2005 at 10:35)

No, because I don't think Ranson could muster the really big bucks required. We'd be out of the frying pan into the fire!

fredtheblue, derbyshire (01/09/2005 at 10:36)

SO WHAT ??????????

Dave, Croydon (01/09/2005 at 10:38)

Ex City player cant he look at doing something with city!

Hereford Blue, hereford (01/09/2005 at 10:41)

Ray u can give us some cash if u want to.

Ian, MIDDLEWICH Blue (01/09/2005 at 10:55)

If he is prepared to get his hands in his pockets to buy a couple of players, then YES PLEASE. It broke my heart to see smaller teams like Porstmouth, Villa, Blackburn, Charlton, Everton all doing good business on the final day. Why were we not interested in Bentley, Curtis, and Rasiak and where was the bid for Gerimi? The board seem content to let the money sit in the bank and not support the fine start SP has made to the season. Short arms and deep pockets syndrome. Why not just admit we were never going to buy anyone, and all the SWP money would be paying off the debts we have to certain directors. Still its the rags next, lets hope the current squad can pull something out of the bag. CTID

Sheralyn Moran, Blackley (01/09/2005 at 11:10)

Don't think B#45Mil is enough to take over and make a success. Wouldn't mind him buy into the Club thought and putting his hand in his pocket for a few players in January unlike some of the current directors Eh Denis!

Dave, croydon (01/09/2005 at 11:26)

I for one thought it would be ok if we did'nt buy anyone and keep the money untill Jan but is it that sp just does,nt have the pulling power or has the money from swp been used else where. Surely sp must see that if you take 3-4 players out of the squad through injury we are going to struggle. If we are struggling in Jan will good players want to come?

FREDTHEBLUE, DERBYSHIRE (01/09/2005 at 11:30)

YES !!! WE NEED DIRECTORS WITH MONEY, LOTS OF IT....NOT HANGERS-ON WHO JUST LIKE TO SEE THEIR NAMES IN PRINT AND REMENISCE (?) ABOUT THE OLD DAYS, TUEART, SUMMERBEE, ETC.....

Mike T, London Blue (01/09/2005 at 11:36)

On the talk of takeover and debt does anyone know or have any idea if City have reduced the B#62m debt we hear so much about?

We get B#30m in transfer fees in the last two transfer windows and basically spent nothing.

Would be interesting to know.

Chris, Chorlton (01/09/2005 at 11:43)

Debt under Ranson or debt under Wardle - it makes no difference. He would not just give money to City to buy players ! Ransom is aiming to make money out of any club he can get his hands on (ex City / Birmingham .... player or not). Wardle is a TRUE City fan and an accomplished business man, so give him some trust. The only way in for Ransom is if someone wants out (they would be keen to minimise debt!). That could be any number of investors (Lee, Bowler family etc). Either way it would not benefit the club === SP will use the money available in the New Year Window, when requirements are clearer, prospective players are proven and fit, and there is less of a sellers market === Lets just get behind everyone at City to ensure we maintain a top 6 position, and then strengthen in the New Year, before older players start to get weary, and injuries/squad depth becomes a problem.

nick, bradford blue (01/09/2005 at 12:30)

WARDLE OUT WARDLE OUT WARDLE OUT

Bluey, Manchester (01/09/2005 at 12:34)

Ranson takeover City, after he's been prostituting himself around other clubs - NO. Take your money Ray and your silly little consortium and go away.

OB1, Oxford (01/09/2005 at 12:38)

Someone needs to buy the club: whilst improvements have been made since the Swales era, the standard of stewardship at board level has still not been what City's support deserves; we remain the most underachieving club of the last thirty years. I am appalled that we have not seen additions to squad so lacking in height, pace and creativity. We need new owners with real financial clout, which probably excludes RR. Also all those people who keep saying bring back Bernstein should remember that the excessive amounts spent on Anelka (good though he was), Macken, Vuoso and Fowler (despite DB's reservations) occurred on his watch, as did the farrago surrounded Royle's departure, so he is far from fallible. I believe we have a new manager of tremendous potential but he would obviously be helped by a better financial and general management situation.

Andy, North Stand (01/09/2005 at 12:50)

He's not exactly a billionaire is he? I dont think he could bring anything to City to improve the situation, but if he wants to throw his money at the club then by all means, feel free. Poor Ray doesn't have much fun with Villa's does he? First Ricky skins him to win the cup then Aston reject his takeover bid. Ever thought about toilette paper, did Franny the world of good........

sanks, Stockport (01/09/2005 at 12:55)

Chris Chorlton, fair comment about Ranson but as for giving Wardle some trust!! Was it not him who sanctioned the spending in the 1st place? How much money has come into this club over the last few months? So why the deliberate reluctance to spend more than the 1.5 mil on Vassell? Anyone who thinks we have a squad capable of staying in the top 6 is deluding themselves unless we have NO injuries at all. Pearce is going to have to work miracles with the current crop and whilst I would like to think he is probably capable of doing something remarkable I am utterly devastated that we haven't signed anyone. Mike T London Blue's request about the debt is also relevant. I, like so many others, think the financial state of the club was much worse than we were ever led to believe.

Mike, Stockport (01/09/2005 at 13:01)

Yet another juvenile contribution from some ill-informed half-wit having a needless pop at the paper. Mr Ferrari, your dad must be seriously rich. For your information, Ranson has made millions in the insurance world since packing in playing. But seeing as your dad is worth more than Ranson, why can't he put his hand in his pocket and bail us out?

Blue Tiger, Virginia (01/09/2005 at 13:35)

John Wardle is a big CITY Supporter, Ranson he wants ANY club he can get his hands on, Go away Mr Ranson unless you want to just invest some of your money in MCFC.
The Chairman of MCFC is John Wardle and he should stay.

Sponge Bob Square Pants, Manchester (01/09/2005 at 13:38)

Totally surreal this one !

James MacLachlan, Manchester (01/09/2005 at 13:54)

If Mr Ranson has so much money to invest in a club then why isnt he looking to invest in his old club, City???????

Ferrari, Stockport (01/09/2005 at 14:17)

Mike (unfortunately) in Stockport, figure of speech MUPPET! I suppose you're one of these so called blues who think the whole world is caving in because we didn't waste valuable money on "panic buys". I'm sick and tired of the muen putting worthless tripe on here, if we had of made a couple of signings this story wouldn't have got a mention. So before you "have a pop" at me, "have a word"!

ted knott, droylsden (01/09/2005 at 14:29)

MCFC do need an investor to come in otherwise I fear they will slip back into the dark days, they are hanging on a financial thread and people could argue a B#45M investment would be great,however how much of that sum would be a clear total for investment because our present dubious and apparently happless board would want paying off? Ray Ranson is one of our ex players but I clearly dont see how anyway a bid from him for City could be accepted other than for self greed and capitalising on making a quick buck.We need a similar or maybe slightly smaller investor than Abronovitch which would not only pay off the debts but put money in the coffers,in my opinion the present financial structure will only succeeed if success is achieved on the park but SPs failure to strengthen the squad during the recent transfer window will hinder any progress,the problem is for me would our management invite an investor on board knowing that their GRAVY train could end up hitting the buffers? I honestly believe this is dragging the club down but then again its just an opinion.

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