Turks insist: We can turn Fulham around

Leo Spall|And Simon Bahceli|Evening Standard|In Nicosia

13 April 2012

The Turkish business group seeking to buy Fulham today outlined their ambitious plans for the club. Members of the consortium, led by the millionaire Falyali brothers, met with directors and toured Craven Cottage and the Motspur Park training ground this week.

Speaking publicly about their bid for the first time, 34-year-old Halil Falyali said from his base in northern Cyprus: "It's true we are planning to buy the club. My brother met the chairman [Mohamed Fayed] and financial director [Andy Ambler] to discuss a deal.

"The club are not doing well at the moment, but we will turn it around."

The Falyali brothers' spokesman said: "The brothers offered £85m, and negotiations have been going on ever since."

Talks about their investment in Fulham started about a month ago and the figures involved appear to be much higher than first thought.

The younger of the two brothers, 29-year-old Husnu, has been conducting negotiations and was photographed with his solicitor and bodyguard at Motspur Park.

Any deal would be controversial, not least because the Falyalis have amassed their fortune in a state which does not have international recognition following the 1974 invasion of Cyprus by Turkey. Among their associates is Asil Nadir, the runaway Polly Peck tycoon, although yesterday he denied being part of their bid.

The brothers are originally from Paphos but moved to Famagusta after the invasion. They claim to have made their money from a combination of businesses, including online gambling, construction and petroleum.

They also own 14 casinos, mainly in northern Cyprus. Their construction company, CMC, carries out work in Cyprus, Italy and the Far East.

The brothers spend their lives travelling between their Famagusta HQ, Britain and France, and make around three extended trips to London each year. Hasnu reportedly flew in for their tour of Craven Cottage on a private jet.

Fayed was furious that news of their talks leaked out and a Fulham spokesman issued a categorical denial that the 75-year-old had put the club up for sale.

However, Falyali lawyer Timur Rustem said a deal was still possible. He said: "There is no formal deal at this stage. However, we are considering where to go from here." If the consortium are as serious as they say then that will not be the end of the matter.

In the usual way that prospective new owners attempt to win over the fans before any takeover, Halil Falyali has already mentioned bringing in high profile players.

His spokesman also made the apparently obligatory claim that the brothers are both longstanding Fulham fans.

How much money they would have available for the club is unclear, but they would need a great deal.

Fayed has invested more than £100m since taking over in 1997 and made expensive signings such as Edwin van der Sar and Steve Marlet along the way.

But he has had to downgrade his ambition to make Fulham the Manchester United of the South in the last two years and curtailed his transfer spending.

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Turks insist: We can turn Fulham around

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