Re: ***LIVE*** Discussion and comments thread BBC Panorama tonight 25th April 7.30pm

[nomendelta]

This forum is starting to concern me. Whatever your aspect on the the case we have to take the rough with the smooth.

It seems to me that both the UK and the Portuguese Governments could look silly, whatever is the truth of the case.

If it pans out it was an abductor, we have only the PJ to go by.

You have to understand that all most of us want here is the truth and justice for Maddie. Something stinks very badly about this case and the treatment-with-kid-gloves enjoyed by the McCanns. The SY review was something many of us hoped would lead to the truth and, eventually, justice for Maddie. It seems, certainly if Redwood is any kind of indicator as to the review, that the McCanns are still enjoying their special treatment so that's the frustration for most of us.

I'd LOVE to think that this is all some kind of clever ploy by SY/Redwood to lull the McCanns into a false sense of security. Alas I just can't get to grips with that notion simply because Redwood didn't have to comment at all and certainly not with specifics discussing his belief that she is still alive. It plays straight into Team McCanns hands and I think the only reason it does is simply that the review is to be a whitewash. If I'm wrong, great. I just don't think I am.

[IAmNotMerylStreep]

If it hadn't been for the dogs...........

[russiandoll]

Monkeymind your posts are so well thought out and written it was a shock to hear you being so abrupt with another member, I saw where you were coming from you know.. for the leader of this investigation to be deemed to have used a throwaway remark in a case of such gravity and for it not be seen as disgraceful is awful, I think though that the word was used by the poster without a lot of thought...I understood the wider point he was making.
As for a slap......not really. let us just admit we are all exasperated and concerned and wondering what the hell is going on.
It is saddening, infuriating and profoundly depressing.

[friedtomatoes]

This forum is starting to concern me. Whatever your aspect on the the case we have to take the rough with the smooth.

It seems to me that both the UK and the Portuguese Governments could look silly, whatever is the truth of the case.

If it pans out it was an abductor, we have only the PJ to go by.

You have to understand that all most of us want here is the truth and justice for Maddie. Something stinks very badly about this case and the treatment-with-kid-gloves enjoyed by the McCanns. The SY review was something many of us hoped would lead to the truth and, eventually, justice for Maddie. It seems, certainly if Redwood is any kind of indicator as to the review, that the McCanns are still enjoying their special treatment so that's the frustration for most of us.

I'd LOVE to think that this is all some kind of clever ploy by SY/Redwood to lull the McCanns into a false sense of security. Alas I just can't get to grips with that notion simply because Redwood didn't have to comment at all and certainly not with specifics discussing his belief that she is still alive. It plays straight into Team McCanns hands and I think the only reason it does is simply that the review is to be a whitewash. If I'm wrong, great. I just don't think I am.

who has power over sy
iirc they report to the queen

[monkey mind]

thus exonerating entirely the T9.

err no he has not Monkeymind.

and don't be so rude to fellow members please. Not that friedtomatoes will be too upset at your disapproval

Ah thank you for the slap Russian doll.

Perhaps I was rude, perhaps not. It will be seen by all differently. If I offended friedtomatoes, or you who profess to know her mind, or anyone, I apologise. Sincerely I do, simply trying to help, fit of exasperation I suppose.

One thing I have absolutely no desire to get involved in is sniping and/or subterfuge. I simply, genuinely don't have the time nor the will for it. Seems to be quite the thing though eh?

My comment about 'exonerating the T9, well, it is my tendency to think ahead, to what would happen in a court of law rather than a forum, and that, is exactly how defending counsel would portray it. I'm not going to argue with you on that for two reasons....1) genuinely, without wishing to cause offence, I really have no desire to......2) quite simply, it is almost certainly true.

I admire your tenacity, you and the other long standing members.

You didnt offend me, I was just surprised that you tried to make out I was some kind of imposter, I am not, I firmly 100% believe the Mccanns have lied through their teeth, it is plain to see and read theyhave done so, the only partthat confuses me is if they are acting alone and if not why

It's not my intention to offend anybody, never has nor ever will be. Thank you for not being offended at my exasperation. You have my genuine apologies, I often forget people do not think the same way I do. Great last question.

[Trigger1985]

thus exonerating entirely the T9.

err no he has not Monkeymind.

and don't be so rude to fellow members please. Not that friedtomatoes will be too upset at your disapproval

Ah thank you for the slap Russian doll.

Perhaps I was rude, perhaps not. It will be seen by all differently. If I offended friedtomatoes, or you who profess to know her mind, or anyone, I apologise. Sincerely I do, simply trying to help, fit of exasperation I suppose.

One thing I have absolutely no desire to get involved in is sniping and/or subterfuge. I simply, genuinely don't have the time nor the will for it. Seems to be quite the thing though eh?

My comment about 'exonerating the T9, well, it is my tendency to think ahead, to what would happen in a court of law rather than a forum, and that, is exactly how defending counsel would portray it. I'm not going to argue with you on that for two reasons....1) genuinely, without wishing to cause offence, I really have no desire to......2) quite simply, it is almost certainly true.

I admire your tenacity, you and the other long standing members.

You didnt offend me, I was just surprised that you tried to make out I was some kind of imposter, I am not, I firmly 100% believe the Mccanns have lied through their teeth, it is plain to see and read theyhave done so, the only partthat confuses me is if they are acting alone and if not why

You are confused as to whether they are acting alone? And you say you have followed this tragedy for years? I'm sorry but you make no sense at all, sorry for any offence. A child's life is at stake here, and clearly the McCann family have had heeps of help from many many connected people, some at the highest levels. May I ask why you are confused?

[Trigger1985]

thus exonerating entirely the T9.

err no he has not Monkeymind.

and don't be so rude to fellow members please. Not that friedtomatoes will be too upset at your disapproval

Ah thank you for the slap Russian doll.

Perhaps I was rude, perhaps not. It will be seen by all differently. If I offended friedtomatoes, or you who profess to know her mind, or anyone, I apologise. Sincerely I do, simply trying to help, fit of exasperation I suppose.

One thing I have absolutely no desire to get involved in is sniping and/or subterfuge. I simply, genuinely don't have the time nor the will for it. Seems to be quite the thing though eh?

My comment about 'exonerating the T9, well, it is my tendency to think ahead, to what would happen in a court of law rather than a forum, and that, is exactly how defending counsel would portray it. I'm not going to argue with you on that for two reasons....1) genuinely, without wishing to cause offence, I really have no desire to......2) quite simply, it is almost certainly true.

I admire your tenacity, you and the other long standing members.

You didnt offend me, I was just surprised that you tried to make out I was some kind of imposter, I am not, I firmly 100% believe the Mccanns have lied through their teeth, it is plain to see and read theyhave done so, the only partthat confuses me is if they are acting alone and if not why

It's not my intention to offend anybody, never has nor ever will be. Thank you for not being offended at my exasperation. You have my genuine apologies, I often forget people do not think the same way I do. Great last question.

The answer to the last question is obvious. It is self-preservation. There is clearly something going on that the powers that be do not want to be made public. Take a detailed look at the Dutroux affair in Belgium and you may get somewhere. Not you Monkeymind, but concerned people in general. Take a look at the Casa case in Portugal, the Haute case in Jersey, Kincora, North Wales, Dunblane. All have been expertly covered up. This tragedy is no different.

[friedtomatoes]

thus exonerating entirely the T9.

err no he has not Monkeymind.

and don't be so rude to fellow members please. Not that friedtomatoes will be too upset at your disapproval

Ah thank you for the slap Russian doll.

Perhaps I was rude, perhaps not. It will be seen by all differently. If I offended friedtomatoes, or you who profess to know her mind, or anyone, I apologise. Sincerely I do, simply trying to help, fit of exasperation I suppose.

One thing I have absolutely no desire to get involved in is sniping and/or subterfuge. I simply, genuinely don't have the time nor the will for it. Seems to be quite the thing though eh?

My comment about 'exonerating the T9, well, it is my tendency to think ahead, to what would happen in a court of law rather than a forum, and that, is exactly how defending counsel would portray it. I'm not going to argue with you on that for two reasons....1) genuinely, without wishing to cause offence, I really have no desire to......2) quite simply, it is almost certainly true.

I admire your tenacity, you and the other long standing members.

You didnt offend me, I was just surprised that you tried to make out I was some kind of imposter, I am not, I firmly 100% believe the Mccanns have lied through their teeth, it is plain to see and read theyhave done so, the only partthat confuses me is if they are acting alone and if not why

You are confused as to whether they are acting alone? And you say you have followed this tragedy for years? I'm sorry but you make no sense at all, sorry for any offence. A child's life is at stake here, and clearly the McCann family have had heeps of help from many many connected people, some at the highest levels. May I ask why you are confused?

i dont know is that ok?

[Trigger1985]

This forum is starting to concern me. Whatever your aspect on the the case we have to take the rough with the smooth.

It seems to me that both the UK and the Portuguese Governments could look silly, whatever is the truth of the case.

If it pans out it was an abductor, we have only the PJ to go by.

You have to understand that all most of us want here is the truth and justice for Maddie. Something stinks very badly about this case and the treatment-with-kid-gloves enjoyed by the McCanns. The SY review was something many of us hoped would lead to the truth and, eventually, justice for Maddie. It seems, certainly if Redwood is any kind of indicator as to the review, that the McCanns are still enjoying their special treatment so that's the frustration for most of us.

I'd LOVE to think that this is all some kind of clever ploy by SY/Redwood to lull the McCanns into a false sense of security. Alas I just can't get to grips with that notion simply because Redwood didn't have to comment at all and certainly not with specifics discussing his belief that she is still alive. It plays straight into Team McCanns hands and I think the only reason it does is simply that the review is to be a whitewash. If I'm wrong, great. I just don't think I am.

who has power over sy
iirc they report to the queen

They were commissioned by David Cameron. Therefore they report to the British Government. The Queen is just a figurehead, with no real power. The Queen spoke of Dark Forces after the public demanded she return from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace following Diana's death. It is a great pity the public are not throwing hundreds of thousands of flowers at Rothley.

[friedtomatoes]

no tirgger u will find the police do NOT report to the government

[Trigger1985]

thus exonerating entirely the T9.

err no he has not Monkeymind.

and don't be so rude to fellow members please. Not that friedtomatoes will be too upset at your disapproval

Ah thank you for the slap Russian doll.

Perhaps I was rude, perhaps not. It will be seen by all differently. If I offended friedtomatoes, or you who profess to know her mind, or anyone, I apologise. Sincerely I do, simply trying to help, fit of exasperation I suppose.

One thing I have absolutely no desire to get involved in is sniping and/or subterfuge. I simply, genuinely don't have the time nor the will for it. Seems to be quite the thing though eh?

My comment about 'exonerating the T9, well, it is my tendency to think ahead, to what would happen in a court of law rather than a forum, and that, is exactly how defending counsel would portray it. I'm not going to argue with you on that for two reasons....1) genuinely, without wishing to cause offence, I really have no desire to......2) quite simply, it is almost certainly true.

I admire your tenacity, you and the other long standing members.

You didnt offend me, I was just surprised that you tried to make out I was some kind of imposter, I am not, I firmly 100% believe the Mccanns have lied through their teeth, it is plain to see and read theyhave done so, the only partthat confuses me is if they are acting alone and if not why

You are confused as to whether they are acting alone? And you say you have followed this tragedy for years? I'm sorry but you make no sense at all, sorry for any offence. A child's life is at stake here, and clearly the McCann family have had heeps of help from many many connected people, some at the highest levels. May I ask why you are confused?

i dont know is that ok?

No it is not ok. You are swaying opinion, whether you know it or not. I wouldn't mind if the arguments were cogent and wise. They are not.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

Abraham Lincoln

[Guest]

The Home Secretary is their boss isn't she?

[Trigger1985]

no tirgger u will find the police do NOT report to the government

You will find endless explanations on wiki and elsewhere, the fact is that the British Government asked Scotland Yard to do a review, and they budgeted several million pounds for it. I hardly think the Queen is behind all this, and/or is crossing the Ts and dotting the Is.

[friedtomatoes]

thus exonerating entirely the T9.

err no he has not Monkeymind.

and don't be so rude to fellow members please. Not that friedtomatoes will be too upset at your disapproval

Ah thank you for the slap Russian doll.

Perhaps I was rude, perhaps not. It will be seen by all differently. If I offended friedtomatoes, or you who profess to know her mind, or anyone, I apologise. Sincerely I do, simply trying to help, fit of exasperation I suppose.

One thing I have absolutely no desire to get involved in is sniping and/or subterfuge. I simply, genuinely don't have the time nor the will for it. Seems to be quite the thing though eh?

My comment about 'exonerating the T9, well, it is my tendency to think ahead, to what would happen in a court of law rather than a forum, and that, is exactly how defending counsel would portray it. I'm not going to argue with you on that for two reasons....1) genuinely, without wishing to cause offence, I really have no desire to......2) quite simply, it is almost certainly true.

I admire your tenacity, you and the other long standing members.

You didnt offend me, I was just surprised that you tried to make out I was some kind of imposter, I am not, I firmly 100% believe the Mccanns have lied through their teeth, it is plain to see and read theyhave done so, the only partthat confuses me is if they are acting alone and if not why

You are confused as to whether they are acting alone? And you say you have followed this tragedy for years? I'm sorry but you make no sense at all, sorry for any offence. A child's life is at stake here, and clearly the McCann family have had heeps of help from many many connected people, some at the highest levels. May I ask why you are confused?

i dont know is that ok?

No it is not ok. You are swaying opinion, whether you know it or not. I wouldn't mind if the arguments were cogent and wise. They are not.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

Abraham Lincoln

erm how am I swaying any opinions? LOL and how were my posts not cogent or wise, im at a loss here

[Guest]

Please can members stop using multi-quotes, it is very hard to read, and takes up so much room. 3 to 4 should be maximum, and if long posts only 1 or 2. It makes for better reading. You can always start your post with @ soandso. Thank you.

[tigger]

David Cameron bypassed protocol in this case. It's the job of the Home Office I believe.

[TheTruthWillOut]

Theresa May is the Home Secretary and wasn't she against a review? Didn't the Sun/ McCann's go over her head with the open letter to DC?

I'd love to know if she was personally against a review or if she was just passing on the view that the police didn't want to do it.

[Pershing36]

There is a time when you have to close the book. You have to choose yourselves when that will be, maybe at the end of the SY review maybe not.

There is no point in people destroying their own lives seeking something that maybe the authorities want buried. It sucks big time but how far can anybody take it? There are crimes and will be in the future that will never be solved.

Maybe/maybe not this will be one of them. But the fact remains there are some that will never be solved.

[Trigger1985]

David Cameron bypassed protocol in this case. It's the job of the Home Office I believe.

Indeed he is associated with the Murdoch/Brooks/Clarkson et al clan, in Chipping, and it seems the Leveson inquiry has uncovered that said incestuous cabal pressured Mr Cameron to bring down the Iron Curtain. One wonders why hundreds of other disposable children do not also enjoy an X million pounds windfall for their discovery?

[Trigger1985]

Theresa May is the Home Secretary and wasn't she against a review? Didn't the Sun/ McCann's go over her head with the open letter to DC?

I'd love to know if she was personally against a review or if she was just passing on the view that the police didn't want to do it.

Theresa May was my MP when I lived in maidenhead. I had a problem with some street vermin and spoke with her. She approached the Chief Constable immediately, and a day later I had a knock on the door from the local constabulary, a sergeant no less, asking how they could help. All previous 999 calls were black holes. I have a very high regard for her, despite the few mistakes she has made recently. Her stilletos are a plus. But I do think at that level, ministers go along with pressure from, shall we say, influencers.

[Smokeandmirrors]

100% LadyHeather. The McCanns are being protected, but only to take the heat off a bigger picture IMO. Dots join, they may be on the periphery but my money is on another 2 elements within the group connected outwards to the bigger picture, too many coincidences.

Can you flesh this out a bit? The Mccanns are being protected from what exactly and for what reason? And they are going along with a lie because?

Well two people within the group have been more prominent in the discussions, Payne and Tanner. You'll be aware of a lot of the background that's out there in the public domain, there are many co-incidences and correspondences which are mind boggling when listed. I don't "do" all the cross referencing back and forth, bad enough keeping up with the main topics of the day, so I normally don't involve myself in in-depth analysis on here, leave it to those better at it!! But, if you look at the Bergau thread, look up Exeter connections, Gaspar statements which media ignored and so forth, Yvonne Martin statement, then look at other co-incidences like Murats girlfriend being a Jehovahs Witness, as is the McCann funder, Brian Kennedy, discussions around Smethurst .....it just goes on. I think there is a picture that can be developed, a theory to be purported. If the whole crony network that appears to have developed around this case gets dissected and examined as a result of, maybe the McCanns being investigated, well who knows.........I'll say no more on the matter, it's all just speculation, myth a rumour

[tigger]

There is a time when you have to close the book. You have to choose yourselves when that will be, maybe at the end of the SY review maybe not.

There is no point in people destroying their own lives seeking something that maybe the authorities want buried. It sucks big time but how far can anybody take it? There are crimes and will be in the future that will never be solved.

Maybe/maybe not this will be one of them. But the fact remains there are some that will never be solved.

This whole SY affair is a puzzle. It is highly unlikely to further the search for Maddie and the way everything is presented, soundbites, Panorama, dates switched at the last moment and then the content which made little sense. Following that a DCI parked on a breakfast show. In the middle of an investigation - not part of the remit or information given when the review started.

I just see this as a stage in the process of arriving at a conclusion. Most of us here realize that the McCanns are unlikely ever to go to prison for this. Personally, I hope that some realisation will take hold with the public that all is not well with the story they are told. That the Fund will be closed down and the McCanns will shut up. In twenty years time it may all come out. Perhaps sooner.

As for destroying my own life because authorities wish this case to be buried.? No, it is enhancing my life because I feel I'm helping to fight a just cause.

This is just a temporary setback, we'll see how it plays out.

[Woofer]

Theresa May is the Home Secretary and wasn't she against a review? Didn't the Sun/ McCann's go over her head with the open letter to DC?

I'd love to know if she was personally against a review or if she was just passing on the view that the police didn't want to do it.

IIRC the McCanns went over her head. I also remember Sir Paul Stephenson saying it was his decision to take the case on after the Home Secretary asked him, as if he was saying he didn`t have to but decided, as the murder rate was down, they might as well. But I think a couple of directors on the MET committee were against SPS doing so.

Though I believe the MET is answerable to the Home Secretary and always has been since the MET was created by Sir Robert Peel. I could be wrong though.

[Trigger1985]

100% LadyHeather. The McCanns are being protected, but only to take the heat off a bigger picture IMO. Dots join, they may be on the periphery but my money is on another 2 elements within the group connected outwards to the bigger picture, too many coincidences.

Can you flesh this out a bit? The Mccanns are being protected from what exactly and for what reason? And they are going along with a lie because?

Well two people within the group have been more prominent in the discussions, Payne and Tanner. You'll be aware of a lot of the background that's out there in the public domain, there are many co-incidences and correspondences which are mind boggling when listed. I don't "do" all the cross referencing back and forth, bad enough keeping up with the main topics of the day, so I normally don't involve myself in in-depth analysis on here, leave it to those better at it!! But, if you look at the Bergau thread, look up Exeter connections, Gaspar statements which media ignored and so forth, Yvonne Martin statement, then look at other co-incidences like Murats girlfriend being a Jehovahs Witness, as is the McCann funder, Brian Kennedy, discussions around Smethurst .....it just goes on. I think there is a picture that can be developed, a theory to be purported. If the whole crony network that appears to have developed around this case gets dissected and examined as a result of, maybe the McCanns being investigated, well who knows.........I'll say no more on the matter, it's all just speculation, myth a rumour

I am completely on your wavelength. It beggar's belief that Scotland Yard are unaware of all these connections. Certainly, the security services are. But then they are defending Britain's national interest.

What is a mere disposable infant?

As an aside, and I have not checked yet on the wonderful interweb, I hear that a certain Mr Brian Kennedy is heading a "consortium" to buy up the bankrupt Rangers club in Bonnie Scotland.

If true, ask yourself exactly why Rangers were so mismanaged that they are almost bankrupt, and are available to buy for pennies on the dollar.

If this is the same man, it all falls into place.

[Guest]

from John Blacksmith, The Blacksmith Bureau - good read......

Saturday, 28 April 2012

Benny Hill's Alive Too

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[Woofer]

There is a time when you have to close the book. You have to choose yourselves when that will be, maybe at the end of the SY review maybe not.

There is no point in people destroying their own lives seeking something that maybe the authorities want buried. It sucks big time but how far can anybody take it? There are crimes and will be in the future that will never be solved.

Maybe/maybe not this will be one of them. But the fact remains there are some that will never be solved.

Fair enough if the book has to be closed - a sad shame, but that`s life - but what will not be tolerated is TMs continual badgering for money and celebrity.

[Trigger1985]

Sorry candyfloss for the long post, but this is very important, bearing in mind all the Scottish links to the Madeleine tragedy - e.g. Gordon Brown, Tony Blair educated at Fettes, John Reid, Lord Falconer et al - there is a definite Scottish Mafia in Westminster. Add In the Scottish Free Rite Masonic cabal, and their circles within circles ultra group, we have hit some more paydirt.

One more piece of research after this:

"I play to win" Rugby, business and the life of Brian insidermedia
 
Michael Taylor finds out why Brian Kennedy continues to build his home improvement empire and what it feels like to taste sporting success
 
Michael Taylor
Undated
 
Brian Kennedy doesn't need to work. He's amassed a £3250m fortune, owns houses, planes, boats, even a title-winning rugby team. But here he is, launching a £360m takeover bid for the ailing conservatories business Ultraframe to bolster his home improvement businesses.
 
But before we get to the detail of the deal, here's the question for BK - as colleagues call him - and he gets asked it all the time. By his family, his friends and no doubt by many successful people who have made less money than he has and yet have chosen a life of retirement and leisure. Why do you do it?
 
"I play the game; it's like playing rugby. You want to play, so you want to win. So when the opportunity comes up then I make the moves for the good of the business. I don't want to be on the touchline," he says.
 
"I did semi-retire; I lived in Majorca. It drove my kids nuts and it drove me nuts. I would travel, I would see seriously monied people in these executive lounges and exclusive hotels and they all had one thing in common: they looked miserable, absolutely bloody miserable. They look for the next big high, the next big stimulus. But what they are trying to replace is what all of us want and need: a job.
 
"I need a job, I need this. Otherwise I'd get bored stiff."
 
So that answers the question about his motivation as well as anyone could have hoped. Some whisperers throw in the anecdote that he's a Jehovah's Witness, as if that would draw a streak of eccentricity across his character. The truth is he is driven by a faith in God, and was indeed raised in that religion, but he's not a strict adherent and is driven by the same gods as many entrepreneurs.
 
And so for a serial deal-doer and sports nut like Kennedy he couldn't be happier right now. His rugby team, Sale Sharks, are the champions of rugby's Zurich Premiership. The sun is shining on Cheshire, where he lives, and he's in the midst of shoring up his bid for Ultraframe, a business desperately in need of a turnaround job. Conservatories has proved a tough market for the Clitheroe-based company and it has lost £335m in the first six months of this year. Yet here was a business that was valued at more than £3600m less than six years ago but has lost money for the past two years as, supposedly, spending on big-ticket home improvements has dived.
 
But first of all there's a deal to be done. As we spoke the negotiations were at a delicate stage. There was still a private equity player sniffing around, but when it saw the interim figures it called it a day. But for a man with a frighteningly firm handshake and an imposing presence you also know for certain Kennedy won't be screwed around by anyone.
 
He'd had firm commitments from the board for his 30p a share offer and from 40 per cent of shareholders. But while shares have traded at a price slightly higher than he's offering, there's always the possibility of a hedge fund sniffing around looking to block his path. In this case it was Mellon HBV Alternative Strategies - building on its 11 per cent stake and attempting to construct a deal that can extract a higher price from Kennedy's Latium Group or tempt the other shareholders by underwriting a rights issue and refinancing.
 
Kennedy is ably partnered in these negotiations by Stuart Lees, well known in these parts as a deal junkie from his time as a head of corporate finance with Arthur Andersen. As the chief executive of Latium Plastics, one of the parts of the home improvement business owned by Kennedy, he's one of a number of lieutenants to whom Kennedy is fiercely loyal - through good times and bad - and who he intends to help become wealthy as well as wise.
 
And like the other chapters in Kennedy's tale you can always expect the unexpected.
 
He's spent a life in the home improvement business. After ditching early plans to be a civil engineer, he began selling kitchens at Farouche Cuisines, which was sold in 1988 netting him £31m.
 
He went into double glazing but his first venture went into liquidation in 1992. Learning from that he bought Weatherseal Holdings from the receiver for £350,000 and has never looked back. Everest, one of the top names in double glazing, was sold by Kennedy in 2003 to a management buyout team in a £363m deal, three years after he had bought it for £347m. His other home improvement companies include Weatherseal Windows and Space Kitchens & Bedrooms.
 
He is happy to integrate the businesses horizontally, expand into Europe and believes that Wenland and Ultraframe will fit well together.
 
But he's been diversifying his interests of late. A chance conversation in Knutsford Wine Bar led him to apply for a phone licence and he built Genesis, a telecommunications business, selling his mobile phones business to Dixons for £331m.
 
The constant in all of this is capacity to build and invest in businesses and, as he is fond of saying, he's in it to win. He now has an empire that spans 13 companies with a combined turnover of £3600m. He runs each one as a separate entity, not as a group with calls on working capital. "It makes the chief executives impotent," he says with typical steel. "Really we're hands-on investors, rather than operators. That's how we can afford to run businesses that span retail to manufacturing and direct sales. It doesn't matter what the market is, but I do have the know-how to motivate.
 
"Stuart Lees has a bright mind and has a capable mind but he's also having to learn the new role and understand how to run a business day to day. How to make 25 decisions a day and get 20 of them correct.
 
"We saw the same thing in rugby, we look at the business and make it happen. But you have to get the right chief executive. In all the businesses I've been involved in we will turn things round if we work with the chief executive, direct them and make them better.
 
"Businesses fail because of a lack of control, decisions aren't made and management neglect the minutiae."
 
At this point in our conversation he speaks candidly, openly and directly to Niels de Vos, the chief executive of Sale Sharks, who is also present. "Niels was a three out of ten when he started, now he's a seven," he says.
 
That assessment may be helped by the fact that Sale Sharks are the Zurich Premiership champions, but both Kennedy and de Vos maintain that progress off the pitch has been noticeable. "We're not in sport to make money, but we are in sport to give us something exciting for the community and that doesn't require a benefactor," says Kennedy. "It's got to be financially self-sustaining. Now it will pay its own way on a day-to-day basis and pay down some of the debt. If it grows successfully then there could be something we can be very proud of."
 
It's been a hard slog that has cost Kennedy £330m, not least because the experiment of combining a top-flight rugby club with a declining football club, Stockport County, was a disaster. County have plummeted through the divisions since it was bought by Kennedy's company Cheshire Sport. Now he has secured the Edgely Park stadium for the Sharks, sold the club to the fans and they pay rent to stay at the ground.
 
"It was a great plan and it didn't work. We didn't think through the consequences of Stockport County failing on the field. We thought we'd sprinkle a bit of stardust and things would just work. It didn't and they then continued on a downward spiral," Kennedy reflects.
 
But the Sharks have gone from strength to strength. Aside from the silverware, the club is just about profitable on turnover of £38.7m, with rising player salaries and medical bills accounting for the biggest costs.
 
The short-term plan is to develop Edgely Park and hope that attendances can creep up to the 15,000 mark, which would put Sharks closer to pacesetting rival Leicester's 16,500.
 
But de Vos has even greater ambitions to move the club to Manchester, indeed they would have played the prestigious European Cup semi-final at the City of Manchester stadium had they got through. "I could see a future for Sale Sharks being based at Sport City. The endgame is for a state-of-the-art facility with 20,000 people cheering on the national champions. The people will come if we build it," he says.

[Trigger1985]

Many think that behind the Maddie tragedy in Portugal, big money was at the core, with extremely circumspect Real Estate shenanigans going on.

Well here we have a major "influencer" now attempting to profit from a Rangers club that seems to have been purposely destroyed. The opposite of "pump and dump"...

Yes it is the same man:


BRIAN KENNEDY was last night on the verge of joining up with Paul Murray to force through a joint bid to buy Rangers.
Record Sport can exclusively reveal the pair spent yesterday locked in all-day talks, attempting to thrash out the terms of a coalition they believe can rescue the club from the brink of oblivion.
And their salvage mission looks set to be done WITHOUT any financial backing from London finance firm Ticketus who have been cut out of the proposed partnership.
In fact, this possible 11th-hour alliance has been privately discussed since late last week when Murray, right, travelled south to meet Kennedy, above right, at his home for key negotiations, which also included top executives from Ticketus.
It is our understanding that during those talks Ticketus – who bankrolled Craig Whyte’s regime – chose not to sign off on the terms of an initial agreement with Murray which would have seen them claw back only £10m of a £27m debt if the Blue Knights won control of Rangers.
And now Ticketus look set to join the queue with the rest of the club’s creditors and await the offer of a CVA from the proposed Murray-Kennedy merger.
Kennedy and Murray have enjoyed a positive relationship ever since they first emerged as rival bidders, shortly after Whyte tipped the club into administration in February.
And Sale Sharks owner Kennedy has spent the last two days back in Scotland in almost constant dialogue with Murray as, together, they attempt to work out a solution to the crisis engulfing Rangers.
A final round of talks was going on late last night as Kennedy met other members of Murray’s consortium.
And barring any unexpected hitches they look set to officially join forces today.
It’s understood they have already indicated to the club’s administrators Duff and Phelps that they are preparing to table a new combined offer within the next 24 hours.
They believe that by teaming up they will have enough financial muscle to land a knock-out haymaker on the chin of their only remaining rival, American truck tycoon Bill Miller.
Miller insisted in a bullish release last Friday that he would be wiring a £500,000 exclusivity fee to the
administrators first thing on Monday morning. But the money did not arrive.
And Miller’s entire Newco manifesto – which included a demand that the club would not face any further football sanctions – was then dealt a massive blow just a few hours later when it was announced the SFA had hammered Rangers with a 12-month ban from the transfer market.
There are suspicions Miller’s resolve may now be crumbling on the back of the latest brutal penalties dished out to the stricken club.
But former Ibrox director Murray’s determination to drag a rescue deal over the line has never diminished, even though he has privately described this takeover saga as the most complex and exhausting process of his entire career.
The details of Kennedy’s partnership with the Blue Knights are as yet unclear.
Both parties want to save the club from liquidation and to exit administration with a CVA.
But there will certainly be some other fundamental issues to address.
While Murray had based his business plan on a future shares issue, Kennedy is not believed to favour any form of fan ownership.
In fact, the single-minded Kennedy is wary of getting involved in consortiums of any kind, having once quipped that ‘a camel is a horse built by committee’.
But the Edinburgh-born millionaire has also consistently stated that he would return to the table to buy Rangers if the club was in danger of losing its fight for survival.
And this morning he and Murray could hold the key to keeping Rangers alive.

Users' Comments (278)

[Guest]

Trigger. Can you copy and put the last two posts in the Kennedy putting in a bid for Rangers thread please. I will then delete these in here. This is about the Panorama programme and Andy Redwoods interviews etc. Thank you.

ETA please add links to those articles.

This thread......

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[Woofer]

Re: BK - Be careful there`s nothing libellous - remember the forthcoming case. Havn`t there already been warnings?

Trigger - do you still pull the fastest milkcart in the West?