Sheffield United CEO Stephen Bettis has been speaking about a range of subjects Blades related this evening.
Radio Sheffield’s Football Heaven managed to get an hour with Bettis, with United fans encouraged to send in a number of questions.
Of course, with so much going on at the club, there was plenty for Bettis to get stuck into. Including the failed takeover from Nigerian businessman, Dozy Mmobuosi.
Mmobuosi made a huge song and dance about becoming United owner and even paid a deposit. But no deal ever went ahead, with the Nigerian is now in trouble with authorities over in the USA.
And speaking about Mmobuosi and others who try similar tactics with football clubs, Bettis pulled no punches.
Stephen Bettis on ‘con-men’ like Dozy Mmobuosi and failed Sheffield United takeover
Speaking to Football Heaven on the issue with Mmobuosi, Bettis didn’t hold back on what he thought of the situation.
“I have to be careful what I say and I don’t want to direct it towards a certain individual but what I will say is, when you look at people who are purported to do what this person has done, they’re conmen. They’re very good at convincing people of their situation and wealth and financial standing,” Bettis said.
“That’s what a conman is and that’s what he did. The information that was given to us, the proof of financial standing, he had companies floating on the US stock exchange and it takes a hell of a lot of work and checks from the US stock exchange to even let him be floating on there, it gives you a level of comfort that this guy is real. Ultimately, if conmen are trying to do it, they’re very good at trying to do it and that’s where we got to. The reference to conmen is not towards him, it’s towards the principle of it.”
A lucky escape for Sheffield United
When you look back at this situation, it’s one you simply have to breathe a huge sigh of relief over and thank god for the EFL’s fit and proper person checks being in place.
The fact Mmobuosi even went and did interviews with the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Darren Lewis, shows how far he was willing to push things to get this deal done.
In the end, it mattered little as he never had the funds to buy United.
For all Prince Abdullah’s faults and the fact he remains a divisive owner of sorts, it could have been a lot worse.
Bettis, as you can tell from this interview, is clearly not impressed with what went down.
The post 'They're con-men': Stephen Bettis shares blunt verdict on Dozy Mmobuosi's failed Sheffield United takeover appeared first on Sheffield United News.