Post by leicesterlass on Oct 6, 2006 13:52:55 GMT -1
Milan: 50/50 chance I'll takeover Foxes
MILAN MANDARIC today described his chances of buying Leicester City as '50/50'.
The former Pompey chairman could even be at The Walkers Stadium by December.
Mandaric has already had discussions with the midlands club.
The 68-year-old has declined approaches from League One sides Bournemouth and Millwall.
But he has aspirations to buy a Championship club he feels he can turn into an established Premiership outfit – the trick he performed at Pompey.
Mandaric, on a break in Cyprus after resigning as Pompey chairman 10 days ago, told The News: 'If I go back into British football, Leicester would be on my radar.
'They are a good club. They have been in the Premier League for six of the past 10 seasons. They have a nice stadium and good support levels. Even last season they averaged more than 20,000.
'On a scale of one to 10, it's an eight I will be back in English football.
'On the same scale, it would be an eight or a nine that I would go to a Championship club.
'I would say it's 50/50 Leicester. I'm not ruling it out. But there are a lot of things to unfold.
'I'm 68 years old and still want to do it. I want to repeat the experience I had at Portsmouth somewhere else.
'The club I went to would have to be right for me. And I would have to be right for them.
'It would have to be the perfect fit both ways – that's exactly what happened at Pompey, where the supporters always trusted me and never suspected me of a different agenda. They knew I was honest.
'But nothing is there yet. I'm still resting after the emotion of leaving Pompey. I want to be left alone for the moment, and people respect that.
'Am I ready for a new challenge yet? No I'm not ready.
'The earliest I could get involved is before the January transfer window – to have half-a-year in readiness for the following year. If it wasn't then, it would be at the start of next season.'
The reaction of Pompey fans to Mandaric's next step provides his only doubts.
He said: 'If I have any second thoughts, it's because I wonder if Pompey fans would forgive me.
'But there's nothing to forgive. I have done the job for the club's wonderful supporters. So I should be free to go somewhere else.
'I've had some fantastic letters from Pompey fans wishing me all the best in whatever I do next.'
Both Bournemouth and Millwall want Mandaric (right).
He said: 'Bournemouth are a nice club, and the people are nice, but I don't think it's quite right for me.
'I understand there isn't much love between Pompey and Millwall fans, so I couldn't go there.'
Mandaric will watch Pompey next when they visit Chelsea in 15 days.
MILAN MANDARIC today described his chances of buying Leicester City as '50/50'.
The former Pompey chairman could even be at The Walkers Stadium by December.
Mandaric has already had discussions with the midlands club.
The 68-year-old has declined approaches from League One sides Bournemouth and Millwall.
But he has aspirations to buy a Championship club he feels he can turn into an established Premiership outfit – the trick he performed at Pompey.
Mandaric, on a break in Cyprus after resigning as Pompey chairman 10 days ago, told The News: 'If I go back into British football, Leicester would be on my radar.
'They are a good club. They have been in the Premier League for six of the past 10 seasons. They have a nice stadium and good support levels. Even last season they averaged more than 20,000.
'On a scale of one to 10, it's an eight I will be back in English football.
'On the same scale, it would be an eight or a nine that I would go to a Championship club.
'I would say it's 50/50 Leicester. I'm not ruling it out. But there are a lot of things to unfold.
'I'm 68 years old and still want to do it. I want to repeat the experience I had at Portsmouth somewhere else.
'The club I went to would have to be right for me. And I would have to be right for them.
'It would have to be the perfect fit both ways – that's exactly what happened at Pompey, where the supporters always trusted me and never suspected me of a different agenda. They knew I was honest.
'But nothing is there yet. I'm still resting after the emotion of leaving Pompey. I want to be left alone for the moment, and people respect that.
'Am I ready for a new challenge yet? No I'm not ready.
'The earliest I could get involved is before the January transfer window – to have half-a-year in readiness for the following year. If it wasn't then, it would be at the start of next season.'
The reaction of Pompey fans to Mandaric's next step provides his only doubts.
He said: 'If I have any second thoughts, it's because I wonder if Pompey fans would forgive me.
'But there's nothing to forgive. I have done the job for the club's wonderful supporters. So I should be free to go somewhere else.
'I've had some fantastic letters from Pompey fans wishing me all the best in whatever I do next.'
Both Bournemouth and Millwall want Mandaric (right).
He said: 'Bournemouth are a nice club, and the people are nice, but I don't think it's quite right for me.
'I understand there isn't much love between Pompey and Millwall fans, so I couldn't go there.'
Mandaric will watch Pompey next when they visit Chelsea in 15 days.
