Strictly star tangos with Carmarthenshire business plan

FORMER wild man of soccer Robbie Savage has been tangoing on down to Llanelli whenever a heavy Strictly Come Dancing schedule will allow.

 

The 39-times capped Five Live radio presenter and former Welsh professional footballer is pursuing business ventures in Carmarthenshire including a hotel and restaurant at separate locations.

Council Leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “The wonderfully charismatic Robbie Savage has kept in touch since telling me of his plans. I have to confess I will be following Strictly when I am able and, as Bruce Forsyth might say, ‘he’s my favourite’ for the enthusiasm he has shown for Carmarthenshire.”

“It was so encouraging to hear his group had so much faith in the county after seeing all the tremendous regeneration that has and is been achieved throughout Carmarthenshire that they wanted to exploit potential investment opportunities.”

The would be Lord of the Dance said he was “tremendously excited” about his business plans.

Robbie is one of a consortium of leading professional footballers who have teamed up with Llanelli businessman Tony Quaglia, from Pwll, a former Wales equipment manager and sports nuitrionist who has also worked with a number of top soccer clubs including Manchester City.

He said: “Tony is one of my best friends. I have a bad habit of turning up on his doorstep an unearthly hours but he will always have lobster or something specially prepared for me. His sauces and Italian cooking are legendary in the soccer world.

“Over recent years Quags – as I have always known him – has got me interested in all the exciting things happening in Carmarthenshire. We have big plans to be part of it all.

“It is early days but I have had meetings with chief officers and the Leader of the Council, Mrs Gravell, and she and they have been enthusiastic and encouraging about our ambition.

“I have danced myself into a corner on progressing the plans recently because of Strictly but will be getting back onto the swing as soon as I am able.

“As well as concentrating on my dance steps at the moment my thoughts are very much with my mate Quags who is undergoing a series of major surgery procedures at this time. But he is being courageously positive and we are are not letting anything impact on our future plans.”

Robbie gained notoriety for his no nonsense playing style and in 2008 the Daily Mail labeled him as the dirtiest player in Premier League history – based on numbers of yellow cards he received.

Wrexham born, he was signed straight from school by Alex Fergusson at Manchester United as an apprentice trainee striker and went on to play for Crewe Alexandria, Leicester, Birmingham, Blackburn Rovers, Derby and Wales.

Earlier this year Robbie appeared on Question of Sport with Llanelli’s World Championship 400-metre gold medal hurdler David Greene and told him of his business plans.

Robbie, married with two children, appears on the first of two Strictly’s programmes this weekend on Friday night with his partner Ola Jordan. There is no public vote until next week.

On one of his sojourns into Llanelli, Robbie was give a civic reception by Llanelli Town Council and handed over signed autobiographies.