After the rumoured bids of corporate top guns Mukesh and Anil Ambani, as well as the Sahara group, for clubs in the English Premier League (EPL), a little-known Mumbai firm is getting linked to a similar attempt. And, this time, the chances of Indian presence in the EPL look bright.
Sources in Mumbai and reports from England say the firm, Qubic Sports and Entertainment, is in the running for the takeover of Blackburn Rovers. According to reports, Anil Ambani was eyeing Newcastle, while Mukesh and the Sahara group were keen on Liverpool.
“We’re serious. We’re in negotiations,” said Saurin Shah, a Mumbai-based businessman. “We’ve acquired the right of due diligence.”
It effectively means Shah’s lawyers will be going through the papers of the club in the next 45 days. “We have the right of first refusal,” he said. The arrangement allows Shah to say no if the papers are not in order.”
Initial English media reports said ‘two mystery bidders’ are in the race to buy the club which is currently managed by a trust. The other bidder is a Thai group “with links to ex-Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra”. But it is learnt that Shah has pipped the Thai bid and has emerged as the front-runner. The Indian bid is being managed by London-based NVA Entertainment and its owner Chris Nathaniel.
Shah, 35, who has shipping and investment business, says the interest for Blackburn is because of large Indian and Asian communities in the area. “There are many Indian and Pakistani people in Lancashire. So the interest is natural,” he said promising to give more details on Friday. Rovers, captained by Ryan Nelson, finished a creditable 10th last season.
The fact that Rovers are currently run by a trust has actually attracted the Indian interest. Sources close to the entrepreneur say they have targeted Rovers because it is easy to negotiate with a trust than with an owner. The club is being run by the trust since the death of its owner Jack Walker 10 years ago.
According to English media reports, Shah is an Indian cricket entrepreneur. This fact, however, could not be confirmed but is known to be close to an important member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
