Just who is the man behind the approach by a UK consortium to explore a potential takeover of West Ham?
Philip Beard was a founding partner of Air Miles International in the nineties which helped make his name.
He played a leading role in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and was the marketing and sponsorship director during London’s Olympic bid.
He quit London 2012 shortly after they were awarded the Olympics and Paralympics to become the chief executive at The O2, formerly the Millennium Dome, and was instrumental in helping turn the arena into the world’s most successful concert and music venue.
Latterly, Beard was chairman of AEG Sport and Sponsorship where he was charged with developing the company’s sporting interests across Europe.
In 2011 he was appointed CEO of QPR following the takeover by Tony Fernandes later quitting in 2015 after allegedly feeling marginalised by the promotion of Les Ferdinand to the post of director of football at the West London Club.
Beard was also a non-executive director of England Boxing where he chaired the commercial sub-committee.
He is now a business consultant advising a variety of companies on business structure, strategy and investment he claims on his own Linkedin page.
He is an advisor to UK Sepsis Trust and last month was appointed as a non-executive director of Technology Minerals Ltd, a battery metals and recycling specialist.
Beard himself is not an uber-rich multi-millionaire to fund a takeover himself but is most likely a frontman in an attempt to raise money from investors for a potential takeover bid. Since the approach was back in February and there has been no proof of funds in the last five months one has to wonder how serious this approach is and whether they can raise money to make a serious formal bid.
The club receives many approaches on a regular basis but unless proof of funds can be provided they cannot progress to any kind of due diligence process.
We obviously need succession planning to continue on our path. Davids and Karren can’t go on forever – but I’m sure that they will want to see continuity of outlook when handing over the reins. A financial takeover by some money people may be in their best financial interests but they are not at West Ham as an investment group alone. They care and want to see they club uphold the name and heritage of West Ham United. Of course, they will also want to see the fruits of their labour and if somebody has to make money out of lending to the club or facilitating loans to the club, why should it not be them?
Phil Beard looks to be a man in search of a project. OK if he’s lining up people of a like mind to Davids and Karren. If he’s just an arranger for finance companies – he’s the wrong type for us.
COYI
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