Reply With QuoteThanks, ESR, really helpful!
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As Barnsley FC welcome new owners, here’s a few things you need to know about the new people at Oakwell.
1. Chien Lee
After failed attempts to buy both Brentford and Hull, Chien Lee is finally able to take charge of an English team.
The Chinese billionaire earned his money as a co-founder of the Plateno Group, one of the largest providers of budget hotels in the Far East, and then later the New City Capital, an investment group that focuses on “opportunities across the hospitality and sports industries.”
2. Billy Beane trades Oakland for Oakwell
Also part of the new consortium is Billy Beane, who became famous following the release of Moneyball, where he was played by Brad Pitt in the film adaptation.
While Beane started out as a first round MLB draft pick, he became much more famous for his work off the field. As General Manager of the Oakland Athletics, he pioneered the use of statistics to find undervalued players and turned the side into one of the most competitive and cost-effective in the league. He has always had a long standing interest in getting involved with football though.
He’s already held meetings with Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, and has worked as an advisor for the Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
3. Barnsley becomes Chien Lee and Paul Conway’s second club
This won’t be Chien Lee and Paul Conway’s first time working together. Lee is currently chairman of OGC Nice in Ligue 1, with Conway working as a Director for the French side.
Barnsley fans will be hoping that the owners can bring success as quickly as they managed in France, where the team qualified for the Champions League for the first time within their first year of ownership.
Conway has already promised investment for Paul Heckingbottom’s side, saying “we expect to further enhance the academy, playing squad, commercial operations and fan experience.”
4. Who is Neerav Parekh?
Like Beane, Neerav’s Parekh also has a history of studying data and analytics. The Mumbai-based businessman founded vPhrase, an “AI platform that helps companies communicate insights in their data.”
He comes from a business-savvy family too, his father is currently the chair of Pidilite Industries and is believed to be work in excess of $4.8 billion.
5. What’s the Pacific Media Group?
Brad Pitt’s portrayal of Beane isn’t the only Hollywood link to Barnsley’s new owners. Grace Hung and Paul Conway have made their money through the Pacific Media Group.
The Hong-Kong based company distributes Western sport, film and TV shows across Asia, while also working with partners to acquire media companies across the continent, with deals often surpassing nine-digit figures.
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Thanks, ESR, really helpful!
Hall Of Fame
bring success as quickly as they managed in France, where the team qualified for the Champions League for the first time within their first year of ownership .
Wow , we are going to have a record breaking second half to this season and get promoted and then have the PL won by xmas next year .
January window could be interesting then .
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I reckon Mr Parekh could end up being the most active after listening to them . He’s the only one who seems Football mad , he’s also in charge of his family’s investments so may want to move forward quicker
Hall Of Fame
Talk about a league of nations , if somebody had told you this was going to happen to us anytime before August of this year tha'd have thought they were cuckoo .
I can't believe it missen to be honest , I sincerely hope this gold glitters .
Gone through some tough times which still continues today in this town , hopefully we can have a bit of sugar for once and really prosper .
Hall Of Fame
The PR handout neglected to mention that the team that qualified for the Champions League during their first season was already largely in place before they arrived in the preceding summer and in their second season 2017/18 they were dumped out of the Champions League at the group stage into the Europa League where they have squeezed through the group stage in second place of four. Fair play in Lg1 where wins against fellow strugglers has seen them rise from the relegation places, still only a few points off the drop zone however.Originally Posted by animallittle3
They haven't spent a penny of their own brass on transfers or wages during the two years. All money spent has been from outgoing transfers or club income.
Last edited by SBRed48; 20-12-2017 at 03:54 PM.
Hall Of Fame
Neerav Parakeet say's he love's football you would have thought Cricket being Indian he sounds a nice bloke I think like ESR he'll have a more hands on the rest.
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Press conference if it works
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=...&v=jnrCTGNy-l4
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Good to see young James involved
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Good to see young James involved
Thought PC had said a few weeks ago that James didn't want to be involved with the club?
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