Gareth Bale makes takeover approach to buy former Premier League club from unpopular owner following Plymouth links
GARETH BALE wants to buy hometown club Cardiff.
The
3
Cardiff is the subject of takeover interest from local lad Gareth Bale
Credit: Getty
3
It follows Bale having links with Plymouth
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Bale's group sent a letter of intent to Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan last month, which was rejected.
But it is believed the desire to acquire the club, relegated from the Championship, remains strong.
The 35-year-old was born in Cardiff and his uncle Chris Pike played for the Welsh club as a
striker
between 1989 and 1993.
Bale, who had a glittering career for Southampton, Tottenham, Real
Madrid
and LAFC as well as for the Dragons, had been linked with a takeover at Plymouth.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
He led his country to their first World Cup since 1958 as well as appearing at two Euros finals, including the incredible run to the 2016 semi-finals.
Bale is also Wales' most-capped player on 111 caps and record goalscorer after netting 41 times.
He did not play for
Cardiff
but the ex-forward did have talks with the club in 2022 after he left Real.
Instead, Bale went to LAFC before he officially retired in January 2023.
Most read in Football
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
Bale's potential investment in Cardiff comes just weeks after ex-Spurs and Real team-mate
Wales
rivals Swansea.
Cardiff appointed Brian Barry-Murphy this week ahead of their first campaign in the third tier since 2003.
Watch hilarious moment Gareth Bale's golf ball stolen by a DOG as baffled Real Madrid legend watches on
After Omer Riza was sacked in April,
Wales
star Aaron Ramsey was interim boss for three games.
But Bale's close pal is set for a move to continue his playing career in Mexico.
3
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Galway humble St Pats with first half blitz
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Galway United 3 St. Patrick's Athletic 1 St. Patrick's Athletic's disappointing season reached a nadir in Galway, when they were humbled by a less celebrated but more effective side on the night. Two unforced errors in the first eleven minutes sealed their fate. However, all metrics would have favoured the home team who were in charge physically and territorially in a bruising opening 30 minutes for the visitors. Pat's were caught cold with the first. Evan Watts was able to lash a kickout 80 yards that Ed McCarthy picked up on the edge of the box, turned, shot and scored before Joe Redmond or Tom Grivosti could recover. There was further dysfunction for the second. Joseph Anang was a long way from home when he tried to deliver long. Instead, he smashed it straight off David Hurley who picked it up in his own half on the right and curled beautifully into an empty net. United kept their foot down and would have hoped for more joy, except for some good scrambling from Anang and errant finishing. There were some flashes of the underlying excellence of the away team. Mason Melia brought the best from Watts before Simon Power beat him in the corner. When Rob Slevin extended the lead again to 3-1 shortly after, it was no less than his side deserved. Pat's improved after the break. Power was prominent on the right. Sean Hoare and Jamie Lennon reasserted some control. The latter even came close from the edge of the area. The Pat's bench were up in arms, thinking the impressive Melia was wrongly denied a penalty at a time that could really mattered. Hoare, Chris Forrester and Brandon Kavanagh all came off the bench in a bid to salvage something. There was plenty of possession, some neat interplay but few chances. Kavanagh, who has broken Galway hearts before with a free-kick when with Bray, lined up a few dangerous free-kicks from the edge of the box. The second drew a second incredible save from the Welsh youngster who then pulled off another cracking stop from Hoare. The heroics gave Stephen Kenny an out to point out the heroics of the 'keeper. However, he is seasoned enough to know that the problems run deeper with his side and he has a job on to turn it around in time for Derry on Monday. GALWAY UNITED: Watts; Esua, Buckley, Slevin, Cunningham (Burns 81); Hurley (McCormack 90), Borden (Walsh 90), Byrne, Hickey, McCarthy (Brouder 90); Dyer (Shaw 70) ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Anang; Sjoberg (Kavanagh 70), Redmond, Grivosti (Hoare 45), McLelland; Elbouzedi, Lennon, Baggley (Carty 82), Power; Melia, Keena (Forrester 70) Ref: R Harvey
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Michael Noonan's brilliant double helps leaders Shamrock Rovers to comfortable win over bottom side Cork City
That gap now stands at 11 points following an utterly dominant display against the rock bottom Leesiders, who proved no match for a Rovers side who are in frightening form having made it eight wins from their last nine here. Rovers were ruthless, racing into a three-goal lead inside the opening half hour with 16-year-old Michael Noonan bagging a brace in between Roberto Lopes' bullet header, as Rory Gaffney added the fourth shortly after the restart to copper-fasten the three points. A consolation from Cork's Alex Nolan proved too little too late for Ger Nash's visitors, who suffered the same scoreline as their last trip to Tallaght in April. Presumably with one eye on Monday's trip to Dalymount Park, Bradley opted for six changes as Cork native Josh Honohan, Aaron Greene and Graham Burke dropped to the bench while trio Darragh Nugent, Matt Healy and Lee Grace were rested entirely. The Hoops boss was in turn able to bring in Noonan, Gaffney, Dan Cleary, Danny Mandroiu, Danny Grant and John O'Sullivan, such depth in a squad that it's almost scary. It took only six minutes for the hosts to take the lead in front of the 4,355-strong crowd. A fine through ball from ex-Ireland U-21 cap Mandroiu put Noonan through inside the box. The teenager still had a lot of work to do through with Cork pair Darragh Crowley and Freddie Anderson hot on his heels, but the Dubliner cleverly skipped past both of them, cut back inside and snuck his shot underneath Tein Troost. The Cork 'keeper may feel he should have done better to keep the tame effort out, but the hosts didn't care Noonan's sixth goal of the year put Rovers in the driving seat early on. Nash's charges came back soon after as some nice link up play between Malik Dijksteel and Djenairo Daniels saw the latter force a good save out of Hoops number one Ed McGinty, but that was as good as it got for the visitors in a opening half to forget. It wasn't long before Bradley's men stepped it up another gear and on 26 minutes, they had their second. Dylan Watts stepped up to take a free-kick from the left-hand side and put it on a plate for Lopes, as the captain's bullet header gave Troost no chance. It was the Cape Verde defender's second goal of the season, and first since the sides last met in Tallaght, another 4-1 triumph for the Hoops. But barely 180 seconds later, it went from bad to worse for the visitors and their travelling fans. Full-back Trevor Clarke, on just his second start of the season, slotted Noonan through on goal on the left flank, after the forward made a superb run from deep. The Ireland U-19 striker kept his cool and dinked it past Troost for his fifth goal in his last six appearances. On the stroke of half-time, Milan Mbeng's cross almost saw Daniels convert at the back post but the former Dutch underage cap was too late to convert at the back post. If the first half was one to forget for Cork City, then the second began in the same fashion as just four minutes after the restart, the hosts had their fourth. It was all of Cork's own making, as a loose pass allowed Mandroiu to pick up the ball and release Gaffney with a textbook through ball. The Galway man charged forward and picked his spot, slotting it low to Troost's left for his fifth of the season. Rovers were cruising. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Recent Ireland U-21 debutant Cathal O'Sullivan, who is being closely tracked by Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest and is expected to depart Turner's Cross this summer, saw a good effort saved by McGinty, who had been a bystander for the majority up to the hour mark. Cleary saw his header sail inches wide moments later, before substitute Nolan pulled back a consolation back on 69 minutes after a fine through ball from Greg Bolger. Having been reduced to silence for much of the night, at least the travelling support had something to shout about, but it was far too little, too late. The contest had been settled long before. All eyes turn towards Monday to see if Bradley's men can extend that lead out to 14 points with a win at Bohs. Andy Farrell's Lions may have kicked off their 2025 campaign in Dublin 4, but in Dublin 24, this 2025 title race took its latest step towards an increasingly likely ending. Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Cleary, Lopes (Honohan 46), C O'Sullivan; Clarke (Kovalevskis 46), Watts (O'Neill 53), J O'Sullivan, Grant (McEneff 73); Mandroiu (Barrett 53); Noonan, Gaffney. Cork City: Troost; Mbeng (Nevin 61), Anderson, Nelson (Lyons 46), Crowley; O'Sullivan (Nolan 65), Bolger, McLaughlin, Fitzpatrick; Dijksteel (Murray 46), Daniels (Maguire 61).
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Conor McGregor's bid to take over football club ‘respectfully declined'
'[The club] is a safe space for all, especially for women, girls, and families.' A football club has said they have 'respectfully declined' a take over offer from Conor McGregor. Hartlepool United Football Club, who are based in the North East of England have been the subject of takeover rumours for months. Speculation McGregor was going to buy the club intensified recently when he followed them on social media. Now, the company behind the club, the Herd International Group, have issued a statement revealing that they turned down an offer from a 'high-profile' individual. Conor McGregor News in 90 Seconds - June 20th 'As the directors and board members of Herd Group, we want to speak openly and clearly in light of recent speculation,' the statement began. 'We were offered the opportunity to involve a high-profile individual whose values and public behaviour we believe do not align with the spirit of Hartlepool United Football Club. 'We respectfully, but firmly declined.' The club said that while others in the local community might feel that the person's association with them would 'represent a path forward' they don't share that view and 'never will.' 'Hartlepool United is a club rooted in community. It is a safe space for all, especially for women, girls, and families who proudly support this club and this town,' the statement continued. "Our commitment is to preserve and strengthen that identity - not compromise it. We remain fully committed to completing the takeover and investing in the future of Hartlepool United - not just as a football club, but as a central part of the community. "We believe in the potential of this town, and we stand ready to help it grow with integrity. unity, and purpose. Thank you for your trust and continued support. Herd Group." The ex-UFC fighter has expressed previous interest in purchasing football clubs, including Chelsea F.C. More recently, he expressed interest in purchasing two League of Ireland clubs. His Crumlin pub, the Black Forge Inn, has its own football squad, in which McGregor spontaneously lines out for. Last week he was caught on camera punching a partygoer to the ground at a nightclub in Ibiza. Footage obtained by the Sun appears to show the Dubliner hitting a person twice during the incident in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The 36-year-old is seen in conversation with a man before putting his arm around his shoulders and then hitting him with his left hand while holding a glass of alcohol in his right. The former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion then takes another shot as the man stumbles to leave the reveller on the floor. According to reports, McGregor carried on partying at the venue while the man who had been punched was thrown out. The incident followed a boozy day session for McGregor who had earlier been pictured dancing with former glamour model Katie Price. Last year, a jury found McGregor civilly liable for raping Nikita Hand at a hotel room in Dublin in 2018. During the trial, Ms Hand testified she had been 'brutally raped and battered' by McGregor and at one point thought she was going to die and never see her young daughter again. They also heard evidence that a tampon was wedged so far inside her vagina it needed to be removed with a forceps in the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit of the Rotunda Hospital, where she presented in a terrified state the following day. The court was shown photos of Ms Hand's badly bruised body, taken by Gardaí two days after the events in the hotel. In January, a judge ordered McGregor to pay Nikita Hand €100,000 of her €250,000 damages and €200,000 of her expected €1.3m legal costs.
