The dilemma for football clubs and fans in the modern era

[Cyclops]

Decades ago most clubs were owned by local business men. Gradually, as TV money has flooded in, overseas investors looking to make a buck have bought into clubs. Some have been successful; others, a disaster.

A prime case is Portsmouth. After a string of foreign owners (one of whom didn't even exist) and flirting with extinction the club was bought by the fans - although the majority of the shares are held by just a few. Attendances have held up 15K+ and this season Pompey are in the running for an automatic promotion place.

The downside is that the money is simply not there to make much more progress up the leagues.

Now an American billionaire has expressed an interest in buying the club. Assuming he passes the ownership tests, should the club (ie the fans) cautiously welcome him in the interests of making their club more successful?

If Cardiff was a 'community club', how would our fans react to such an approach?

The billionaire is a former Walt Disney Corporation chairman. Let's hope, for the fans, it isn't a Mickey Mouse bid.

[BlueWales]

Decades ago most clubs were owned by local business men. Gradually, as TV money has flooded in, overseas investors looking to make a buck have bought into clubs. Some have been successful; others, a disaster.

A prime case is Portsmouth. After a string of foreign owners (one of whom didn't even exist) and flirting with extinction the club was bought by the fans - although the majority of the shares are held by just a few. Attendances have held up 15K+ and this season Pompey are in the running for an automatic promotion place.

The downside is that the money is simply not there to make much more progress up the leagues.

Now an American billionaire has expressed an interest in buying the club. Assuming he passes the ownership tests, should the club (ie the fans) cautiously welcome him in the interests of making their club more successful?

If Cardiff was a 'community club', how would our fans react to such an approach?

The billionaire is a former Walt Disney Corporation chairman. Let's hope, for the fans, it isn't a Mickey Mouse bid.

Otherwise Pompey will be Donald Ducked.

[qccfc]

Decades ago most clubs were owned by local business men. Gradually, as TV money has flooded in, overseas investors looking to make a buck have bought into clubs. Some have been successful; others, a disaster.

A prime case is Portsmouth. After a string of foreign owners (one of whom didn't even exist) and flirting with extinction the club was bought by the fans - although the majority of the shares are held by just a few. Attendances have held up 15K+ and this season Pompey are in the running for an automatic promotion place.

The downside is that the money is simply not there to make much more progress up the leagues.

Now an American billionaire has expressed an interest in buying the club. Assuming he passes the ownership tests, should the club (ie the fans) cautiously welcome him in the interests of making their club more successful?

If Cardiff was a 'community club', how would our fans react to such an approach?

The billionaire is a former Walt Disney Corporation chairman. Let's hope, for the fans, it isn't a Mickey Mouse bid.

As time passes fans turn on the community owners, believing they are holding back fund to help them progress, fans do not understand the fact that players wages eat all the turnover of a club. As seen by the fact that Cardiff fans regularly accuse Tan of pocketing money, and clawing back debts.

When new investment looks close some fans will hope they will take the club forward, and accuse the trust of holding the club back if they block this investment.

Fans of all clubs live in a short term world, and all football fans want the glory of aiming for the top, even if it is not really in the long term interest of the club. If fans wanted community they could support their local parks team.

[TH63]

I've got a book at home about Michael Eisner's time at Disney which is titled "DisneyWar The battle for the magic kingdom".
An interesting read which would make a good film in its own right.

I'm surprised blue Matt isn't all over this thread

[blue matt]

I know someone involved in the pompey trust, right from the start a few of the trust members were hawking around shares to try and attract " outside " investment, as they knew that as it stood, they wouldnt have enough money to push on from a struggling 4th Div ( in old money ) team, some of them are happy being the big fish in the little pond

This guy i know has had countless arguments with others over it, he has accused them of just trying to earn a few quid by selling the club

it really is a catch 22 situation

[itkman]

I'm surprised blue Matt isn't all over this thread

He'll be along as soon as he's found his hot dog.

Edit : Ah, he's found it.

[TH63]

He'll be along as soon as he's found his hot dog.

Edit : Ah, he's found it.

Told you

[Cyclops]

Doesn't the Pompey situation highlight the potential problems facing Club trusts?

Why do they exist? If they owned clubs, they couldn't make a financial fist of it. Can they only hope to be a minority pressure group to whom owners throw an occasional crumb? If they aspire to a place on the club board, does their voice really count. And if they sell their shares in a club (for a substantial profit) they are accused of being Judases.

I'd like to know Warnock's take on Club trusts. He must have seen a few in action....

[Colonel Cærdiffi]

Probably a Feathers For Justice activist.

[surge]

If Charlie Brooker was writing a Black Mirror episode about football there would be a complete split between the clubs where the fans are seen as a key part of the club but they potter around in the small leagues and clubs where a billionaire pumps in sums the town/city couldn't ever imagine and they win countless trophies. The only times the fans are mentioned in the latter group is when the billionaire leaves and fans are suddenly asked to play their part until the next billionaire enters and fans can be ignored again.

There has to be some elements taken from the German model (the real German model and not the red bull farce) where fans are a genuine cornerstone to their clubs. Perhaps based on what Swansea did successfully for a while where 20% remains fan owned in order to reign in the type of behaviour that Man City owners demonstrate and Arsenal fans demand.

[the other bob wilson]

If Charlie Brooker was writing a Black Mirror episode about football there would be a complete split between the clubs where the fans are seen as a key part of the club but they potter around in the small leagues and clubs where a billionaire pumps in sums the town/city couldn't ever imagine and they win countless trophies. The only times the fans are mentioned in the latter group is when the billionaire leaves and fans are suddenly asked to play their part until the next billionaire enters and fans can be ignored again.

There has to be some elements taken from the German model (the real German model and not the red bull farce) where fans are a genuine cornerstone to their clubs. Perhaps based on what Swansea did successfully for a while where 20% remains fan owned in order to reign in the type of behaviour that Man City owners demonstrate and Arsenal fans demand.

Good post .

[OurManFlint II]

Decades ago most clubs were owned by local business men. Gradually, as TV money has flooded in, overseas investors looking to make a buck have bought into clubs. Some have been successful; others, a disaster.

A prime case is Portsmouth. After a string of foreign owners (one of whom didn't even exist) and flirting with extinction the club was bought by the fans - although the majority of the shares are held by just a few. Attendances have held up 15K+ and this season Pompey are in the running for an automatic promotion place.

The downside is that the money is simply not there to make much more progress up the leagues.

Now an American billionaire has expressed an interest in buying the club. Assuming he passes the ownership tests, should the club (ie the fans) cautiously welcome him in the interests of making their club more successful?

If Cardiff was a 'community club', how would our fans react to such an approach?

The billionaire is a former Walt Disney Corporation chairman. Let's hope, for the fans, it isn't a Mickey Mouse bid.

Many British owners f**ked up and even closed clubs then and now, don't think this is exclusively a foreign owner thing.