Vincent Tan has declared that Cardiff City is for sale – but only at the right price.
The club’s owner has issued a statement after two days of speculation, claim, and counter-claim that also involved club chairman Mehmet Dalman.
Now, Tan has tried to clear up the confusion by stating that he will consider selling the club he purchased seven years ago if someone makes him a good enough offer.
On Tuesday, New York-based financial media company Bloomberg reported that Tan was planning to sell all his interests in football – in Wales, the USA, Belgium and Bosnia – and suggested Cardiff’s asking price was £50m.
That led to Dalman to issue a strong denial that Tan was planning to sell the Bluebirds and said selling was “absolutely off the table.”
But now the Malaysian billionaire has issued a statement that appears to be an invitation to serious bidders.
Tan says: “For the record, I have no plans to sell any of the clubs but if I am offered the right price, I will certainly consider.”
He goes on to suggest those with the money and plans to take the club forward should get in touch.
“I am in no rush to sell CCFC, but if I am offered the right price by the right person who I believe will be able to take the club to a higher level, I will certainly consider selling. I have said before that if I leave CCFC, I want to leave it in good hands.”
The full statement reads:
I refer to the article “Embattled Millionaire Plans to Sell Football Teams” that was published on line by Bloomberg on February 28th, 2017.
The article states that I am looking to sell my interests in Cardiff City Football Club (CCFC), as well as Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC (LAFC), Bosnia’s FC Sarajevo and Belgium’s Kortrijk Voetbalt CVBA (KVK).
The article further quoted Mehmet Dalman, Chairman of CCFC, as saying: “We would entertain an offer but we’re in no rush to sell, nor do we need to sell.” What Mehmet said is true. In fact, I have always publicly said that except for my family, all my businesses are for sale at the right price. I do not fall in love with my businesses.
For the record, I have no plans to sell any of the clubs but if I am offered the right price, I will certainly consider.
I have been approached on numerous occasions by parties wanting to buy CCFC but the prices offered have not been right. CCFC has gone through a rough patch as a result of the actions of a previous manager which are now the subject matter of several legal suits initiated by CCFC. However, CCFC is turning around now in the good hands of Neil Warnock, who I think is a great manager, and I believe it stands a good chance bf being promoted again to the Premier League in the next season.
I am in no rush to sell CCFC, but if I am offered the right price by the right person who I believe will be able to take the club to a higher level, I will certainly consider selling. I have said before that if I leave CCFC, I want to leave it in good hands.
It is still early days for LAFC, and as rightly stated in the article, valuations of MLS clubs are on the rise. I definitely see LAFC as a great long term investment.
As for FC Sarajevo and KVK, the investments are not substantial in comparison to CCFC and LAFC, and there is no reason to sell unless I am made an attractive offer.
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun
March 1st, 2017