June 3 - Dubai-based forwarder GAC's sponsorship of English football club Crystal Palace was secure this week when the club was saved from liquidation at the 11th hour by a fans' takeover which took a full three months to negotiate.

The drama of the Bank Holiday ultimatum and the setting of a strict deadline added to the tension but the 'brinkmanship' tactics paid off and got the deal done. The fan-led consortium, CPFC 2010, who came to the rescue in the hour of need, know that owning a football club these days is an especially costly business. And needs very deep pockets as well as loyalty.

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