Often Partisan

Trials and Tribulations

It was confirmed yesterday that Carson Yeung had lost the latest round in his ongoing court saga, as Deputy Judge Alan Wright threw out his appeal to have his case switched from the District Court to the High Courts.

Joyce Man of the South China Morning Post reported that Deputy Judge Alan Wright said:

“I am satisfied that the purpose of these proceedings is to attempt to disrupt the forthcoming trial and is an abuse of the process of this court.”

The article goes on to confirm that Judge Wright had taken the delays that had already occurred into his ruling, with Oriental Daily confirming that the Judge also ordered Carson to pay the costs of his “frivolous” case.

In my eyes at least, this is a clear indication that Carson’s chances do not look good when the real thing comes along. It appears that there is a real sense that the case needs to be heard now and I get the impression from all that I have read that the Judge has properly rebuked Carson’s attempts to move the case and delay it further.

Kevin Zervos SC, who is Director of Public Prosecutions and is soon to step up to become a judge was quoted in the SCMP as saying that there had been

“a degree of procrastination and delay”

which indicates to me that he’s as anxious as the Blues fans are to get the case sorted. Zervos has made his name in the former colony over the last year or two as someone who is looking to clamp down on corruption and I’ve often thought that his case was his chance to nail a “big shot” prior to him moving on.

As it stands, there is nothing now stopping the trial from going ahead in the District Court (which oddly enough is about a block down the road from BIH HQ in Harbour Road, Wan Chai) on April 29. I am cautious enough to never say never – the last two years have shown that nothing is simple and if there is a way to delay it further I fully expect Carson to try to utilise that.

Where does that leave Blues? Well, at the moment nothing has changed but the hope should be that finally we may see and end to the circus surrounding Carson since his arrest. The court case won’t be quick – it’s scheduled for 25 days which would take it through until the end of May if it was completed on time – of course, there may be more time needed in court and thus it could well be June before we see anything like a verdict and/or sentence.

In the meantime BIH have engaged a company called KTC Partners CPA Ltd to review the internal control of the company and it will be their job to determine if Carson’s legal problems cause an issue with regards to the running of BIH – which is one of the remaining obstacles left that BIH have to dismantle prior to the stock exchange allowing the shares to be relisted. Should KTC Partners be able to demonstrate that Carson’s legal woes aren’t affecting the company negatively, then I would suggest Carson will remain in place until a verdict is reached.

Should Carson be found guilty, he will automatically fail the owners and directors test set by the Football League and I would think the FL would demand that a) he steps down from the board of BCFC and BIH, and b) sells his shareholding in BIH on pain of sanctions against the club. However, as previously mentioned that verdict isn’t likely to be reached until the end of May at least which means barring a sale of the club Carson will probably remain in control until then at least.

The obvious solution to the mess that the club finds itself in is the sale of the club. However, unlike Mr Nursey of the Mirror I am not confident of any takeover in the near future, and my sources indicate that talk of a Far Eastern consortium being close to buying the firm is wide of the mark. It seems that like Carson and his trial, we’re going to have to see what April and May bring us.

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53 Responses to “Trials and Tribulations”

  • Nicholas says:

    Domm domm dum dum dada dada…

    You couldn’t write it could you. Being blue is never dull, that’s for sure…

    Personally, I am prepared for more twists and turns to come. Oh well, see you at Palace!

  • Nicholas says:

    Oh, and thanks for all your work, Almajir!

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    … and what would us as fans do, or the Blues Trust, of interested suitors do if he didn’t accede to FL demands and thus clearly acted against the best interested of BCFC?

  • mark says:

    what if carson is not found guilty….

    • Adam says:

      I’ve been waiting for someone else to point this out!!!! I said exactly the same in November when the trial got put back…. What if hes actually not guilty & needed the time to substantiate his defence?!?!?!?

      Give it a month or 2 and I’m sure there will be much more in the news about it.
      KRO

  • Mark Y says:

    One big change that has occurred over recent months has been evidenced by a determined attempt to resolve the various aspects of poor corporate governance that has blighted BIH. The appointment of KTC Partners is further positive move to enable the shares to be re-listed and also for a sale to be possible even if CY is convicted.

  • Agent McLeish says:

    If anyone is interested in seeing where the BIHL offices are, well take a look. Looks like a swanky area that must be costing a few HK dollars. Wait – is that a courier standing outside next to the van waiting to deliver the latest request for information from the Blues Trust?
    http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Harbour+Road,+Wan+Chai&ll=22.280758,114.175646&spn=0.012648,0.022724&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=Harbour+Rd,+Hong+Kong&gl=uk&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=22.280758,114.175646&panoid=3KrjQVzJ1wpYIYMH-s8Dng&cbp=12,29.79,,0,-2.12

  • Mickey07 says:

    Mayor the other day in a blog you done you said we have only got 51 odd days to sell the club???now your saying we will have to wait and see??make your mind up.

    • almajir says:

      No, Mickey, you need to learn to read.

      Let’s compare:

      With the regulatory stuff that needs to be done prior to a sale even if a fee was agreed right this second it would be a push to get it completed before the end of April – thus it’s not beyond the realms of imagination to wonder if a sale will be actually be completed by the end of May or even June – and then the attendant worry whether Blues will run out of cash by then

      (from this article)

      Where does that say we have 51 days to sell the club? If anything, it says that a sale won’t be completed for a while yet.

      There is no question in my mind that Blues absolutely have to have new investment or new owners within the next three months if the club is to continue

      (from the same article)

      three months /= 51 days Mickey.

      From this article

      It seems that like Carson and his trial, we’re going to have to see what April and May bring us.

      Means that what happens in the next two months is important (which is absolutely consistent).

  • sutton apex says:

    lets hope when last set of accounts are released someone will buy us – al cant you persuade the american buying coventry !! i always thought we would be better to go down to division 1 and then more buyers interested – lee clark cant win either way poor bloke

  • Marky mark says:

    Well done Carson. upset the judge before your case as even started, not a good move. It would appear patience has run out and his day of reckoning draws closer.

    Rumours are rife of a takeover, events seem to be moving a little faster now the barriers are being removed.

    I to share you’re lack of confidence AJ, but at least the train is moving !

  • Paul Carter want's shooting he says:

    There is another alternative which I didn’t want to talk about that the shareholders of BIH or whoever it is that own BCFC decide to get some of their money back by selling St Andrews for real estate.

    I didn’t even want to bring this up as an alternative and hope Dan comes back with some reason why this couldn’t happen.

    I think if they are able to they might as a way to recoup losses.

  • Paul Carter want's shooting he says:

    But could it happen Dan? That’s what I’m asking? Is it a possibility? Something that could happen?

    Say the major shareholders put it forward as a way of getting some money back and the smaller shareholders who probably don’t even know who we are say ‘Oh yeah I wouldn’t mind getting my money back actually so I’ll vote for that’ so the proposal carried.

    Could our ground be sold? Is it remotely possible?

  • Paul Carter want's shooting he says:

    That makes me shudder.

    Especially when you take into account how readily Pannu has taken such a massive wage. Hardly the actions of someone who cares about the club.

    If it means them making their money back I bet they’ve spoken about it.

  • James says:

    This may seem like a stupid question so I apologise in advance,

    but what happens if he is found innocent? Surely his cashflow situation would become a whole lot better?

  • Paul Carter want's shooting he says:

    Is his best mate and practising Hong Kong lawyer Pannu still over there? He was over there at the same time as Carses last court appearance too but he’s not working on Carsons defence. Oh no. He is over there on club business dontcha know.

  • Godsavetheblues says:

    It must all end in may, so we can all enjoy the summer. Its just like being hassled by a annoying wasp!! I prey it all ends in our favour…..

  • dave mann says:

    innocent or guilty, casn flow or no cash flow, i particuly dont give a dam\\\\
    i just wont him and his mates out of our club by the end off june at the latest
    so we can get on with rebuilding this club and stop making it the laughing
    stock of football in this country.
    new owners or administration is better than what weve got now.IMO .KRO.

  • Oldbluenose says:

    Almajir;, This current situation of ownership is extremeley worying indeed, !!.

    Can you forsee, the other ” owners/shareholders, taking matters into their own hands at all, ?.

  • dave mann says:

    they aint got the bottle mate! KRO.

  • skareggae72 says:

    Good on the judge for spotting these constant delay & diversion tactics & bringing a full stop to them,hopefully this is the judge who will be taking the case through to its final conclusion,whatever that is,hopefully it is a quick & precise verdict & we can all move on-the longer this goes on the club continues to spiral downwards.

  • Trevorston says:

    I understand HSBC have a fixed and floating charge which would include the ground.

  • DoctorD says:

    Al — the announcement from BIHL that you mention refers to “draft financial statements” being released by the end of April. Will these statements tells us anything we don’t already know from the published accounts?

  • bluenoserob says:

    wouldnt it be great if we could just talk about the football , you know ,players , the next game , future signings that kind of thing
    ……….maybe one day …..KRO

  • Tony says:

    No Prime real estate in Small Heath

  • AndyP says:

    With the city centre expanding the way it is for instance east side,and with HS 2 development on the horizon very close to St Andrews it’s not beyond belief that small Heath is prime area.

  • tamuffblue says:

    The Guardian article just states what ALL bluenoses av known all along – end of !!!!!!!!

  • carlos says:

    Must just add well done to the clubs financial officer for standing his ground in what sounds like quite provocative circumstances. Do we know who this refers to almajir as he deserves some credit.

  • mac says:

    It looks to me as if Pannu has got some sort of commision deal. Didn’t Paladini say they had agreed a price and hoe much they had to pay Pannu?

    The more that comes out the sadder I get

  • Marky mark says:

    There are a lot of lies going around,
    and some of them are true !

    When a liar tells the truth he will never be believed !

    ?

  • prewarblue says:

    You can tell some people are lying,,,,,,,when they open their mouths,,,,,,a conman usually runs and hides where he cannot be reached or ignores anything requesting information regarding what he has done,,,,,,,sound familiar ?

  • Agent McLeish says:

    Well done to The Guardian for asking the pertinent questions based on investigative journalism that seems to have been lacking locally over the past year or so. Let’s hope The Mail can pick this up and lead to uncover the truth that lies beneath.

  • Agent McLeish says:

    Oh, I forgot to ask – If the Guardian story is proven, would this breach Football League rules?

  • mark says:

    returning to football Blues striker Akwasi Asante has joined Shrewsbury Town on a youth loan deal until the end of the season.


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