WATCH: Perth Glory owner Tony Sage speaks exclusively to 7NEWS, says he didn’t see Jim Aylward’s split character coming

Bonnie RaynorThe West Australian
VideoTony Sage speaks exclusively to Basil Zempilas on the failed bid to sell 80% of the Perth Glory to LFE.

Tony Sage has spoken exclusively to 7NEWS following today’s news of the failed bid to sell 80 per cent of the Perth Glory to the London Football Exchange.

A statement from Football Federation Australia today confirmed the potential sale of the A-League club to the controversial cryptocurrency company was off, with Sage saying he didn’t see the deal falling through.

“I never saw it coming,” Sage told Basil Zempilas on Tuesday night.

“My business acumen is very good but if you go off all of my statements and what I said, is exactly the way I run my mining companies.

“We came to some sort of agreement, subject to DD (due diligence). I went to London, did my DD and made up my own mind.”

Read more...

When asked why the he took so long to see the cracks in the deal, Sage insisted it came down to thorough processes.

“Why? DD,” Sage said frankly.

“I was there only on Saturday, so the deal was leaked which it shouldn’t have been.

Camera IconCredit: 7NEWS, Tony Sage speaks exclusively to 7NEWS.

“As soon as we went through the questionnaire that we had for the LFE, it was obvious in my mind, that it wouldn’t go ahead and I told the FFA yesterday.”

Details have emerged the crypto-currency entrepreneur behind the company, Jim Aylward, is being sued for $2.2million for “fraudulent misrepresentations”.

But the 59-year-old refused to refer to Aylward as a dodgy character.

“Dodgy (is) not the word, colourful I would use,” he said.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

“He’s actually a wonderful personality but I had no idea behind the scenes that he had a different name and he had a background like that until Sunday last week.”

Sage insists he isn’t trying to remove himself from the Perth Glory ownership to detach himself entirely, rather he needs the financial assistance to keep up with the changing landscape of the competition.

“I’ve always said I want a partner. The way the A-League is going, the way the new owners will own the league, there may not be a salary cap and I won’t be able to keep up with the rest of the competition.

“I don’t want to sell the club but I do want to bring in a partner who will take the financial burden off me.

“Absolutely (the club has a future).

“I’m not going anywhere and I was never going anywhere if the LFE took a percentage interest as well. I was going to remain Chairman.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails