Tranmere Rovers
Christmas is coming
Tranmere crest
By David Sindall
December 2 2025
Not that I’m religious, as an agnostic Buddhist lapsed catholic, I think it’s fair to say that the religious dimension of Crimbo left my building many years ago. This year though it’s different. This year Christmas comes with a promise. No, I haven’t discovered Jesus, and I doubt if he would come to us from City, I am talking about new ownership.
As a kid Christmas morning always started early. I think the earliest me and my siblings got out of bed was about 4am. Presents opened by 4:30, selection box opened by 5am, vomiting started by 5:05. I suspect my Mum and Dad probably didn’t get to bed much before 3am, and having us wake them an hour later must have been as joyful as a 0-0 draw. It happened like that for many years, and even now, as I approach my mid 60s, the memories of the excitement of 25th December is fresh.
This year we have the tantalising prospect of the takeover being completed ‘by Christmas’. Now the ‘by’ bit is a moveable feast and some might argue that this means in time for Crimbo Eve. Personally, looking at the way Christmas works these days, I would imagine this probably means by Friday 19th, which is effectively the end of the last working week before everybody downs tools. I reckon this year there will be a skeleton staff on duty from 22nd. It’s the time of year when solicitors offices revert to voicemail, when getting anything meaningful done, is impossible. Optimistically we are also in the process of having a new bathroom installed. The work will be finished by Christmas, but I am pessimistic. At the very least I expect the sound track of something dripping to haunt my Christmas dreams, albeit at my age that’s not unusual.
Obviously, buying a football club is much less complicated than having a new bathroom installed, according to the people who are doing our job. Yet it’s still been suggested that the takeover of our club will be complete by Christmas. If memory serves me correctly the same timeline was given last year and then we got into a moveable timetable. It seems to me that Mark and Nicola need to stop talking about deadlines and learn from the civil service.
Civil service timelines have much greater flexibility. Instead of festive dates they use calendar dates. Something will be finished by ‘the early autumn’, the ‘end of Spring’, ‘the summer’. All of these timelines have the added advantage of being open to interpretation. That’s why you can have an ‘autumn statement’ delivered at the end of November. Yet, I suspect, the next deadline we will be given will be either the end of the financial year. That would be 5th April. Then there is the end of the football season, which is 2nd May by league fixtures.
Clearly if this happens Crimbo morning will be a bit of a damp squib. We will rush downstairs to open our emails only to find that Father Christmas did not leave a box with shiny new owners but, instead, an out of office reply saying
‘try again next year’. Yet, if I remember my school RE lessons correctly, this is a time of year for hope and joy. Could it be that we are celebrating a new shower, fantastic underfloor heating and only the usual dripping sounds. As for the takeover of the club….well?
All views expressed are personal
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02/12/2025 08:49
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But which Christmas?
2028? or 2029?
Don't get hopes up to then have a go at MP because it's not completed by a certain timeframe.
Quote:Glasgow Super White
'The takeover will be completed by Christmas'
But which Christmas?
2028? or 2029?
2056
There is none to be made from us for at least 3-5 years after some infrastructure changes for me.
Quote:DevonExile
Could that be some of his former city friends? The whole phrase venture capitalist fills me with foreboding. Whatever produces a quick buck is likely to be the only priority. MP has consistently claimed a sense of stewardship in the club. Only time will tell if those words are more reliable than previously signalled take over dates
They are an American firm. I've seen the proposal "pamphlet" , it basically looks like it's being used as a tax opportunity.
[www.ccvgroup.com]
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Quote:Matt34
If they took over, would Tranmere players be allowed to use that "cutting edge tech" and "data"?
Its actually written in the proposal, it will assist with
"Improved player trading strategy to optimise scouting , player development & performance"
Still think the Trust owning the club is a better option and one which may come to pass.
We would kiss goodbye to our club as a FL club for a very significant time if we were a trust owned side.
Quote:The trust running the club what will they use for money to not only purchase it but to run it on a day to day basis even in the very unlikely event of them being given it for nothing remember we are a 4th tier loss making club. You may think its a better option but its not going to happen not a chance .Zint
I’ll believe it when it’s all done and dusted, which will be no time soon.
Still think the Trust owning the club is a better option and one which may come to pass.
Quote:Zint
I’ll believe it when it’s all done and dusted, which will be no time soon.
Still think the Trust owning the club is a better option and one which may come to pass.
The trust can't even run a beer tent in the car park or build a shed! What they going to do if they fall out with an investor take their half of Prenton Park down and put it up at Walacre on match days?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:12:03:05:39:11 by Bored rover.
Quote:Bored roverQuote:Zint
I’ll believe it when it’s all done and dusted, which will be no time soon.
Still think the Trust owning the club is a better option and one which may come to pass.
The trust can't even run a beer tent in the car park or build a shed! What they going to do if they fall out with an investor take their half of Prenton Park down and put it up at Walacre on match days?
Well wide of the mark with that comment. Showing a typical level of ignorance.
We need a new owner, a real fat cat,
If he doesn't have ten million, then a million will do,
If he doesn't have a million, then God bless who?
Quote:ZintQuote:Bored roverQuote:Zint
I’ll believe it when it’s all done and dusted, which will be no time soon.
Still think the Trust owning the club is a better option and one which may come to pass.
The trust can't even run a beer tent in the car park or build a shed! What they going to do if they fall out with an investor take their half of Prenton Park down and put it up at Walacre on match days?
Well wide of the mark with that comment. Showing a typical level of ignorance.
Because fan park is a bustling hive if activity each match-day, oh wait....
Whatever the whos and whyfors of who said what and sent bills for which when if they can't project manage and collab a simple construction project with a modest build budget they sure as hell can't manage and run a league 2 football club
Quote:Loyden1
Bit of contempt on here for trust again , well done for their efforts in collecting and distributing almost 100 food parcels to people in need on wirral
Yes, they need some respect for putting effort in where others can’t be ar$ed going that extra mile to try to make things better.
Quote:Bored roverQuote:Ignorance is bliss, or in your case your default.ZintQuote:Bored roverQuote:Zint
I’ll believe it when it’s all done and dusted, which will be no time soon.
Still think the Trust owning the club is a better option and one which may come to pass.
The trust can't even run a beer tent in the car park or build a shed! What they going to do if they fall out with an investor take their half of Prenton Park down and put it up at Walacre on match days?
Well wide of the mark with that comment. Showing a typical level of ignorance.
Because fan park is a bustling hive if activity each match-day, oh wait....
Whatever the whos and whyfors of who said what and sent bills for which when if they can't project manage and collab a simple construction project with a modest build budget they sure as hell can't manage and run a league 2 football club
The show goes on.
