So we’ve seen it all before. It’s a growing trend that is unfortunately an unwelcome fashion accessory. Talk of so-called wealthy businessmen wanting to take over football clubs will rumble on and on – blah blah blah!
And that now takes me to our beloved Coventry City. Has our old mate Joe Dhinsa’s well-publicised soap opera style failed takeover damaged the reputation of Coventry’s hard working Asian business community? Local analysts think so. They predict it will hit them well hard in the pocket for five years. Surely not?
It would be silly to say that traditional Asian ventures such as newsagents, cash and carry stores, taxi firms, specialist clothing manufacturers, curry houses, GP surgeries, computing and engineering firms, will all suffer following Mr Dhinsa’s antics. Coventry has always had a very proud tradition of successful Asian entrepunuers and will continue to do so. In fact, I want to see all Cov businesses - Asian, black and white, big and small, do well..
So why be put off with Asian businesses just because of one person? Lets get one thing straight. Asians seem to know how to run their newsagents, cash and carries, curry houses, clothing stores, etc properly but when it comes down to controlling a football club they simply haven’t got a clue. Harsh words maybe but its true. And before you jump in and say that I’m being extremely prejudice towards Asians, I am an Asian born and bred in Cov – and very proud of it!
And here’s the proof of the pudding. You only have to look at near-neighbours Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers to see how they nearly got sucker-punched and swollen up by Asian businessmen.
Brum were relegated to the then called Division Three in season 1988/89 for the first time. Chairman Ken Wheldon announced that he was selling his controlling interest to the Kumar Brothers for £1.6 million. But disaster struck in 1992 when the Blue noses, the other team that hates the Vile, was placed in the hands of the receiver as the Kumars’ textile business collapsed. Local businessman Jack Wiseman came to the rescue.
Further up the road, the Bhatti Brothers of Allied Properties sucked Wolves dry and on the brink of extinction (did I really care at the time – no!). Three consecutive relegations dumped them, bankrupt, in Division Four in 1986. The Bhatti’s did a runner back to their adopted home of Saudi Arabia, leaving the club hanging by a thread and three sides of the decaying stadium condemned
Now you see the West Midland connection. We don’t want to see this happening to the Sky Blues. We don’t want another Kumar or Bhatti destroying this club. Never. Incidentally, if Kumar or Bhatti are reading this then you are more than welcome to dismantle that team in Aston.
Cov people need to support Cov businesses. Cov businesses need to support each other. Cov Asian businesses will never suffer because we need them. Why they need to suffer because of one Mr Dhinsa. Dhinsa may be a Cov lad but his business is in Reading and not in Cov. We have a great Asian community in Cov, which many are hard working folks just like their white and black counterparts. Lets all stick together and make Cov a great business centre. Cov welcome businesses from all sections of the community.