midfielder
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/russian-set-to-buy-sydney-fc/2008/11/28/1227491826225.html
Russian set to buy Sydney FC
Michael Cockerill
November 29, 2008
FRANK LOWY is ready to sell his share in Sydney FC - and the deal could happen as early as next month.
Russian businessman David Traktovenko, who has been a minority shareholder for the past three years, is the likely new owner of the club - possibly in a partnership with another investor, described by one source as "somebody with an impeccable reputation who has been involved in another sport".
It is understood the change of ownership could be confirmed within a fortnight, depending on the progress of negotiations, which might also result in Lowy retaining a small stakeholding until the club's long-term future is secure.
Lowy, who is also the chairman of Football Federation Australia, has never accepted the view that he was caught in a conflict of interest, but he has also made it clear over the past year that he would be willing to sell the club to the right buyer, at the right time.
Lowy has majority control of the club through a family trust, his stake having increased steadily in recent years. Traktovenko is believed to hold a 22 per cent stake, making him the club's only other significant shareholder following the much-publicised departure of property developer Peter Turnbull - who has since become a major shareholder at Central Coast Mariners - midway through last year.
Traktovenko, who is represented on the Sydney FC board by his son-in-law, Scott Barlow, has coveted a majority stake in the A-League club since selling out of Russian side Zenit St Petersburg for $US36 million in 2006. Traktovenko lives in St Petersburg but has a house in Mosman and is a regular visitor to Sydney, where he reopened discussions with Lowy about buying the club this week.
Two months ago, there were suggestions Traktovenko was considering starting up a new franchise in western Sydney, but Barlow told the Herald at the time: "As for the second [western] Sydney franchise, we hear the same rumours as everyone else, about who's trying to get together a consortium. But as I said, our view at the moment is we're staying with Sydney FC."
While the future of coach John Kosmina is bound to become the subject of increased speculation if there is a change of ownership, it's believed Traktovenko is mindful of maintaining stability and has a positive view of the work done by the coaching staff.
Meanwhile, incoming A-League club Gold Coast United yesterday confirmed five new signings for the inaugural season - defenders Steve Pantelidis (Melbourne Victory), Daniel Piorkowski (Newcastle Jets) and Kristian Rees (Adelaide City), and midfielders Zenon Caravella and Steve Fitzsimmons (uncontracted). Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg is on an overseas scouting mission, where he will look at players in Brazil, England and the Netherlands.
- Sydney United may have never won a championship, but the former NSL club's reputation as a conveyor belt of talent was underlined last night when it celebrated its 50th anniversary by naming its greatest-ever team.
Now playing in the NSW Premier League, Sydney United continue to provide players for the future - young defender Antony Golec was on the bench for Sydney FC last night - but it is players from the past who were honoured, among them 12 Socceroos. The 17-man team, coached by Branko Culina, is:
Goalkeepers: Ron Corry, Zeljko Kalac. Defenders: Wally Savor, Vedran Rozic, Mirko Susa, Velimir Kupresak, Tony Popovic. Midfielders: Eduardo Massey, Zarko Odzakov, Marijan Kovacic, Ivan Petkovic, Maurice Sullivan. Strikers: Graham Arnold, Robbie Slater, Atti Abonyi, Manis Lamond, Ante Milicic.
Russian set to buy Sydney FC
Michael Cockerill
November 29, 2008
FRANK LOWY is ready to sell his share in Sydney FC - and the deal could happen as early as next month.
Russian businessman David Traktovenko, who has been a minority shareholder for the past three years, is the likely new owner of the club - possibly in a partnership with another investor, described by one source as "somebody with an impeccable reputation who has been involved in another sport".
It is understood the change of ownership could be confirmed within a fortnight, depending on the progress of negotiations, which might also result in Lowy retaining a small stakeholding until the club's long-term future is secure.
Lowy, who is also the chairman of Football Federation Australia, has never accepted the view that he was caught in a conflict of interest, but he has also made it clear over the past year that he would be willing to sell the club to the right buyer, at the right time.
Lowy has majority control of the club through a family trust, his stake having increased steadily in recent years. Traktovenko is believed to hold a 22 per cent stake, making him the club's only other significant shareholder following the much-publicised departure of property developer Peter Turnbull - who has since become a major shareholder at Central Coast Mariners - midway through last year.
Traktovenko, who is represented on the Sydney FC board by his son-in-law, Scott Barlow, has coveted a majority stake in the A-League club since selling out of Russian side Zenit St Petersburg for $US36 million in 2006. Traktovenko lives in St Petersburg but has a house in Mosman and is a regular visitor to Sydney, where he reopened discussions with Lowy about buying the club this week.
Two months ago, there were suggestions Traktovenko was considering starting up a new franchise in western Sydney, but Barlow told the Herald at the time: "As for the second [western] Sydney franchise, we hear the same rumours as everyone else, about who's trying to get together a consortium. But as I said, our view at the moment is we're staying with Sydney FC."
While the future of coach John Kosmina is bound to become the subject of increased speculation if there is a change of ownership, it's believed Traktovenko is mindful of maintaining stability and has a positive view of the work done by the coaching staff.
Meanwhile, incoming A-League club Gold Coast United yesterday confirmed five new signings for the inaugural season - defenders Steve Pantelidis (Melbourne Victory), Daniel Piorkowski (Newcastle Jets) and Kristian Rees (Adelaide City), and midfielders Zenon Caravella and Steve Fitzsimmons (uncontracted). Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg is on an overseas scouting mission, where he will look at players in Brazil, England and the Netherlands.
- Sydney United may have never won a championship, but the former NSL club's reputation as a conveyor belt of talent was underlined last night when it celebrated its 50th anniversary by naming its greatest-ever team.
Now playing in the NSW Premier League, Sydney United continue to provide players for the future - young defender Antony Golec was on the bench for Sydney FC last night - but it is players from the past who were honoured, among them 12 Socceroos. The 17-man team, coached by Branko Culina, is:
Goalkeepers: Ron Corry, Zeljko Kalac. Defenders: Wally Savor, Vedran Rozic, Mirko Susa, Velimir Kupresak, Tony Popovic. Midfielders: Eduardo Massey, Zarko Odzakov, Marijan Kovacic, Ivan Petkovic, Maurice Sullivan. Strikers: Graham Arnold, Robbie Slater, Atti Abonyi, Manis Lamond, Ante Milicic.
