Comments on: Premier League Ownership: Foreign Hands in English Pies?

By: Rob Blanchette

Rob Blanchette — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:35:11 +0000

Spot on Sarah! When we were a PLC it was a complete ball ache. They would interfere at every junction..much easier to have a board of a few who decide on matters. The PLC was a bit of a disaster

By: blissbubbley

blissbubbley — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:21:04 +0000

In the beginning I was a little dubious about the Glazers (mainly because at the time I was a United shareholder – and before you ask it was like about 20 shares given to me as a birthday present and I never had a say) and I held onto my shares for as long as possible. Admittedly I knew that eventually I would get bought out but I stood my ground and awaited my little cheque in the post.

I admit my dubiousness (if that’s not a word it should be!) was mainly because of having to sell my shares, I liked having a teeny tiny part of the club. Then I realised of all the investors it really wasn’t so bad. I like the fact that they don’t interfere and decide who we should buy/sell etc, although I wonder if that will change when Sir Alex retires… I hope not.

I think the Super League is just a matter of time… who knows the clubs could be talking about it right now…

By: maserati4200

maserati4200 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:10:29 +0000

Great post, Neil.

The fantasy (and debt) is unsustainable, without doubt.

By: Neil

Neil — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:01:51 +0000

Simon Kuper wrote a very good article in the FT a couple of weeks back on the football business model: here it is http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/fd77a01c-aa07-11de-a3ce-00144feabdc0.html
The title is “Football abandons the fantasy that it is a business”.

By: maserati4200

maserati4200 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:56:12 +0000

No!

Never!!

I’m amazed!!!

Knock me down with a feather!!!!

By: Rob Blanchette

Rob Blanchette — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:50:22 +0000

CHELSKI!!!!!!!!!

By: Rob Blanchette

Rob Blanchette — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:40:53 +0000

Doesnt matter if youre English or Russian or Alien. All football club owners at this end of the game want to make a buck…some are more conscientious than others, but like all business someone has to pay the bills and someone makes the dollars. If we had 20 English owners in the Prem we would have just as many foreign players and coaches, and they would jump at the chance of a Super League..there would be little sentiment for the English game to remain if someone waved a massive cheque in their faces.

By: glamorousdiss

glamorousdiss — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:40:20 +0000

Actually if the owners of these foreign clubs all combine to pull out their clubs from their respective FAs, then technically they COULD create the European Super League. Because what you get at the core is club owners who combine to have a mini-league of their own across Europe. Except it wouldn’t be so mini. It’s be the money-league.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:26:27 +0000

No, in terms of leaning towards something like the European Super League which Rob wrote about. Taking big money, big clubs out of England….

By: maserati4200

maserati4200 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:09:05 +0000

The following are just idle and mischevious thoughts, which have no foundation whatsoever…

If one is being cynical, one could speculate that the in-flow of certain foreign “investment” into certain clubs provides a convenient means whereby said “investment” could, in some cases, be “laundered”.

By: Neil

Neil — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:56:57 +0000

Katie, I’m not sure what you mean by “allowing the English game to become more international”. Do you mean in terms of players, playing style?

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:46:20 +0000

Do you trust that in their quest for profit foreign owners wouldn’t be more susceptible to allowing the English game to become more international? The need for profit is universal, but does nationality of owners play into other motivation?
I don’t know. I left that for commentator debate.

By: Rob Blanchette

Rob Blanchette — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:42:51 +0000

Im one of the few Mancs that has no preference on who owns my club. When the Edwards family owned United, their agenda was the same as the Glazers, so who matters who gets the profits at the end of the day? The only prerequisite i insist on is that the manager gets backed with a decent transfer budget..bout £20-30 million a year. After that fat old Malcolm can take his cut..i couldnt care if he came from Tulsa or Timbuktu