Stephen Bettis, the CEO of Sheffield United, has been discussing a variety of Blades-related topics this evening.
Football Heaven on Radio Sheffield was able to speak with Bettis for an hour, and United supporters were invited to submit many questions.
Obviously, Bettis had a lot to occupy her time with all the activities taking place at the club. Including the abortive takeover attempt by Dozy Mmobuosi, a Nigerian businessman.
Mmobuosi even placed a deposit and composed a massive song and dance about owning United. However, no agreement was reached, and the Nigerian is currently having issues with US officials.
Furthermore, Bettis did not hold back while criticizing Mmobuosi and other football clubs that employ such strategies.
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.
