The super-casino: have City already missed out on a jackpot?January 31st, 2007

If City are famous for winning “cups for cock-ups” it might now be time to order a bigger trophy cabinet.

With SportCity set to benefit from the £265m super-casino development, the club’s sale of its one remaining landholding, Reebok City, could prove to be a very costly mistake.

At some point between May 2004 and May 2005, Manchester City Property Limited - a wholly-owned subsiduary of Manchester City PLC - sold Reebok City to a unnamed buyer and leased it back from them. At December’s AGM, chief executive Alistair Mackintosh revealed that the buyers were London-based investors, but didn’t say how much it was sold for.

I’ve been told by a reliable source that City borrowed money from the council to help fund the refurbishment of CoMS, and Reebok City was sold to pay this debt. MCPL’s accounts reveal it was sold “at market value”. But now the market has changed - bigtime.

Although the official proposals don’t detail exactly where the casino complex will be built, judging from the photos below it looks like it will sit right next to Reebok City:


(Click on images for full-size pictures)

But the new casino is just part of a massive redevelopment of the area around CoMS, which is expected to send property values through the roof.

Last July Harrow Estates paid an “eight figure sum” for the 44-acre CIBA Speciality Chemicals site near SportCity on New Ashton Road (details here). The firm expects the final market value will reach £200million.

In 2005 the City Council announced plans for a £500m redevelopment of the Bradford Road Triangle area and according to these Council minutes looks like it owns up to 50% of the CIBA site.

The question now is how much City can benefit from all of this. Certainly the prospect of lucrative corporate packages and extra concerts and events at CoMS should boost income for the club, though it looks like it will be at least three years before we will see any benefit.

But whether it will lead to a takeover and a further cash injection is still unclear.

Last month I wrote this story, after discovering that an American billionaire has been in talks with City about a potential takeover. I speculated that the American might be Philip Anschutz, the man who took Beckham to America and who owns the Millenium Dome. I haven’t had any confirmation that Anschutz is the man in the picture, so the evidence remains circumstantial.

Although there will have to be a bidding process to find a developer for the casino, it is widely believed that it will be won by Kerzner International, which was named as the preferred operator for the Manchester casino in 2004. Kerzner has close ties with Anschutz’s AEG, and would have been the developer for the casino at the Millenium Dome (link).

So far City’s share price at Plus Markets remains unchanged, but with John Wardle now forced to dip into his own pocket to fund a transfer today (which will no doubt be added to City’s debt), the need for new investment seems more pressing than ever.

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~ Although Manchester was the 16-1 outsider at bookmakers Paddy Power, and left many people crying “foul”, yesterday’s decision shouldn’t come as a complete shock.

Last year Manchester City Council hired consultants Europe Economics to write a report on where the super-casino should be located. The firm, which has a former member of the 10 Downing Street Policy Unit, a former senior DTI official and two former employees of the government’s favourite management consultants, KPMG, listed as senior staff, produced a report that appeared to strongly favour Manchester. Yesterday its website claimed that the firm had played a “significant part” in Manchester’s bid.

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~ In researching this piece I was reminded of what a small world the business community is. Harrow Estates is owned by property tycoon Steve Morgan, a former bricklayer who is ranked 153rd in the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of £425m (BBC profile). Its finance director is Ashley Lewis, who was a director at City until 2005, representing the Boler family’s 18.75% stake in the club.

In 2004 Morgan failed in a £70m bid to buy Liverpool FC. Although it’s possible that he could turn his attentions to City, his interest in Liverpool probably stemmed from the potential to redevelop Anfield. As City have no property to develop it seems unlikely that he would have much interest in our club.

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~ The casino decision brought out the odd funny comment on talkboards. Irish Blue at Citymancs believes the new complex should be called “Casino Royle”, while a poster at MEN reckons that there’ll now be “two big sheds for losers” at Eastlands. I know the joke is at our expense, but sometimes you still have to laugh.

The knives are out for Pearce

The row over the vacant England Under 21 manager’s job is turning ugly - and suggests there is more going on than concern over losing Pearce for the odd few days this season.

First there was this report in The Guardian revealing that Wardle and Mackintosh held a three-hour meeting on Friday night to discuss the situation. Next was Pearce’s announcement after the Southampton game that he had accepted the job, followed by club’s official statement two hours later stating they hadn’t given him permission. If all this is bad enough, the story that appeared in the Daily Mail late last night was absolute dynamite.

The paper quoted a “senior City source” who revealed that not only was the club opposed to Pearce taking charge of friendlies, but they would not allow Pearce to do any scouting of Under 21 players during the season either. But it was the claims further down the story that make you question whether Pearce has a future at City:

It is understood City feel the ex-England captain’s ego has got the better of him and he believes himself to be a more capable coach than he really is.

Reservations about Pearce’s long-term future at City already exist at the club after a period of months that have seen his team’s performances vary from the satisfactory to the unacceptable.

Quite how Pearce will feel when he reads those words is anybody’s guess. But the double whammy of being denied the England role and the board briefing against him might be enough for the patriotic Pearce to pack his bags.

The “senior City source” Sportsmail spoke to is probably director Dennis Tueart, who represents shareholder David Makin and who has a long history of briefing the press on the board’s behalf. In his autobiography, Joe Royle reveals how he was offered the City job by Tueart when Frank Clark was still manager. According to Clark’s autobiography, Kicking With Both Feet, Clark only found out he was to be sacked after talking to a journalist from, curiously enough, the Daily Mail, who broke the story.

Recent events certainly make you wonder whether the board are now seriously questioning Pearce’s position. Earlier today I was informed that a sports psychologist has been brought it to work with the team. I haven’t yet established who was behind the appointment, or whether it has Pearce’s full blessing. But there’s a suggestion that history may be repeating itself.

In his autobiography, Royle complained about Tueart’s interference in team matters. In Royle’s last season, Tueart was spending up to four lunchtimes a week at the Carrington training complex where he “aired his thoughts and opinions to players and staff”. On a day Royle took off to support his wife, who was undergoing chemotherapy, Tueart appointed fitness coach Juan Carlos Osario. Royle sent him back to the US, and in an end-of-season meeting in a Rusholme curry house, told chairman David Bernstein that he didn’t want Tueart at the training ground the following season. Four days later Royle was sacked.

Earlier today, the odds on Pearce being the next Premiership manager to leave were slashed from 10-1 to 3-1 at Oddschecker.

That, and the end of the transfer window on Wednesday, could make this a very eventful week.

Reaction, stats & ratings: City 3 Southampton 1

We’re in the 5th round and there’s at least six clubs from outside the Premiership still in it.

One more victory and it will be the first time since 1967-68 that we’ve reached the quarter-finals for two consecutive seasons (details here).

With the new Wembley just needing the safety certificate to host the final, even the thought of hearing us chant “Wem-ber-ley, Wem-ber-ley” is enough to make me tingle.

Here are the numbers for the 5th round draw, which will be held at 1.30pm today.

1 Arsenal or Bolton
2 Watford
3 Bristol City or Middlesbrough
4 Chelsea
5 Ipswich
6 Tottenham
7 Plymouth
8 Reading
9 Derby
10 Manchester City
11 Preston
12 Manchester United
13 Blackpool or Norwich
14 Blackburn
15 West Bromwich Albion
16 Fulham

~ Pearce’s post-match interview
~ Getty Images photos

Match stats

The stats (below) are compiled from the live commentary and differ slightly from Sky’s stats here:

Match reports

Manchester City 3 Southampton 1 (MEN)
City were grateful for his (Barton’s) efforts as they collected a deserved victory that looked unlikely when Nicky Weaver gifted Southampton the lead, the hosts eventually coasting home thanks to efforts from Darius Vassell and DaMarcus Beasley either side of Barton’s strike.

City stirring memories of 1981 (Telegraph)
Three games could yet prove to be a million miles, but with almost half of the Premiership now having to wait until next season for the chance of FA Cup glory, this victory over Southampton may actually be the start of something if City find favour in today’s fifth-round draw.

Row over Pearce Under-21 job mars City’s day (Independent)
Pearce’s announcement came as news to club officials, whose fears about the manager’s ability to combine the twin roles have not been eased by conversations with the FA director of football development, Sir Trevor Brooking, over the weekend.

City exploit Bale blunder and Ireland’s resources (Guardian)
Pearce had praise for Barton and suggested he should be in the next England squad but it was the tidy, less extrovert player alongside Barton, Stephen Ireland, who threw subtle light on a humdrum occasion. The victory belonged to Ireland more than England.

Pearce suffers in patriot games (Times)
In declaring himself ready and available to serve his country once more, Stuart Pearce appears to have spoken too soon. The Manchester City manager announced after his team’s comfortable victory over Southampton that he would be taking charge of the England Under-21 side for the next six months, but by doing so the former England captain incurred the wrath of his employers.

Player ratings

Ratings come from (in order): Spindash, zandvoort blue, rascal, Father Dougal MaGuire (Bluemoon) and the MEN.

Weaver: 6, 6, 6, 5, 6, (av: 5.8)
Poor decision to come for challenge that led to opener but otherwise nothing to be critical over. (MEN)
Nothing to do really, could have done better with the Soton goal. (zandvoort blue)
Bad mistake for their goal. Nothing else to do. (rascal)
Nothing to do but the goal we conceded was pre-knee injury Weaver. Any more showings like that then SP will find it easier to put Issaksson in. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Richards: 7, 7, 7, 7, 6, (av: 6.8)
Quiet day for the youngster whose attacking verve tends to be neutered by three at back system. (MEN)
Strong as an ox….got the better of Bale when he roamed forward. (zandvoort blue)
Strong and showed Bale what a Premiership challenge is about. (rascal)
Solid. Kept a supposedly £10m 17-year-old quiet. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Dunne: 8, 9, 8, 8, 9, (av: 8.4)
The game’s outstanding player. Rose to and won every challenge. (MEN)
Immense, cleared up and won everything. His pass for the third was fantastic. (zandvoort blue)
Superb. (rascal)
Solid as ever. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Distin: 7, 7, 8, 8, 6, (av: 7.2)
Not quite as prominent as the skipper but still got through his fair share of useful work at the back. (MEN)
Tidy game, not really tested. (zandvoort blue)
Class. (rascal)
Solid as ever. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Beasley: 7, 6.5, 7, 7, 6, (av: 6.7)
Had done precious little before he took his chance with coolness. (MEN)
Missing in the first half as he’s not a defensive player, but looks a good player going forward. Took the goal well. (zandvoort blue)
Did well. Took his goal well. (rascal)
Better option that Jordan and Distin. Was pacy and the touch for the goal was superb, pleased for him and hope he can get a run now. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Barton (Hamann 86): 8, 8, 8, 8, 7, (av: 7.8)
Took his goal with great aplomb. Energy was wonderful but some of his passing was askew. (MEN)
Bossed the midfield and at times is the only player looking to make space. But again poor setpieces. (zandvoort blue)
All over the place. (rascal)
Nice to see him back and if he plays well again next week then Stevie Mac has got to include in the squad for the Spain game. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Dabo: 6, 5.5, 8, 8, 6, (av: 6.7)
Steady effort again from the defensive midfielder who even managed the odd foray forward. (MEN)
Laboured on the ball, tries to turn players in his own third of the pitch putting himself into trouble. (zandvoort blue)
Gives the likes of Ireland a platform to play. (rascal)
Oooozed class. Is the main reason why Barton and Ireland are playing so well. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Ireland: 9, 8, 9, 10, 8, (av: 8.8)
He should be put on the ball as much as possible. Far too good for Championship midfield. (MEN)
Vision to pick a pass and linked up well with Barton. (zandvoort blue)
The people who say we need creativity, this is the man. Wonderful. (rascal)
10 might be 1 point too high but I love this guy. Passing was excellent, through ball to Barton was quality and the guy can tackle and put himself about. We have some player on our hands here. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Trabelsi: 7, 7, 7, 7, 6, (av: 6.8)
Started well and exposed some frailties in Gareth Bale’s defensive abilities but then faded. (MEN)
Deceptive, looks a class act but today blew hot and cold. Mistimed his control but won the ball back for our equalizer. (zandvoort blue)
Impressive at times. (rascal)
Showing his form that I liked when he first came, in other words. Back to his best. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Vassell (Abdoun 89): 7, 8, 9, 9, 7, (av: 8.0)
Scored vital equaliser and then contributed plenty of toil and sweat. (MEN)
Non-stop running, and how did he squeeze that shot in for the goal? City fans appreciate a trier who gives 100%. (zandvoort blue)
Never stopped, deserved his goal. (rascal)
Awesome, runs his bollocks off and again showed that when he has no time to think he can score. Amazing what a bit of confidence can do. (Father Dougal MaGuire)
Samaras (Miller 76): 6, 6, 7, 7, 6, (av: 6.4)
Again something of a curate’s egg from the Greek who looked classy at times and confused at others. (MEN)
At times looked lazy, too predictable on the left, you know he’s going to cut inside. Poor miss at 0-0 which then resulted in Soton’s goal from the breakaway. (zandvoort blue)
Worked hard ( how does someone look lazy?). Always a threat. (rascal)
Should have done better with the shot that led to their goal but he has just come back into the side and hope he can get a run now. (Father Dougal MaGuire)

Subs:
Miller (Samaras 76): 6, - , - , - , 6, (av: 6.0)
strength and pace unsettled tired Saints. (MEN)
Hamann (Barton 86)
Abdoun (Vassell 89)

Subs not used:
Isaksson, Corradi.

Meat Pie

For something totally unrelated to City but interesting anyway, click the Meat Pie button on the top right.

A new one was added on Monday.

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Entry Filed under: Features