|
|
Post by Robin van Bergkamp on Jul 21, 2012 11:40:02 GMT
We've touched on this subject before but never had a major discussion on it and an article on Football FanCast stirred my interest in it as did the thread on Carlos Vela by JJSB. While investment has helped many a club, there are also occasions as with Portsmouth where foreign ownership may not necessarily bode well for the welfare of a football club. Foreign owners rarely have much affinity with clubs they own. As in all walks of life, there are exceptions but essentially investing in a football club has it's advantages for a foreign owner. Our case is a prime example. I gather that in the Bundesliga and please correct me if I'm wrong, the fans it is who are the owners of the clubs. Foreign ownership of clubs has also meant that the money matters in football have spiralled out of proportion and indeed recognition. It has meant that success could be bought and not just by a natural course of reinvestment. This surely is detrimental to the future of the sport so unless this is brought under control, should we fear that the worse may yet come? Is it perhaps time to change the principles of ownership that should apply to football clubs and in fact do this the world over so no imbalance exists that could upset the level playing field that we used to recognise in the game. What say you friends? Enjoy your weekend  |
|
|
|
Post by Jayramfootball on Jul 21, 2012 11:53:25 GMT
There is nothing wrong with foreign ownership IMO.
The problem comes from two areas:
1) owners that run football club for profit - football is our national sport and should be accessible to the masses. We are now in a situation where only the well off can afford to go, and are fast getting to a position where only the well off can afford to even watch it on TV. A total disgrace.
2) Only money earned by the club should be allowed into the game. The external investment is killing the game by driving prices even higher, both for players and tickets.
Everyone can see this, but greed currently rules the day.
When fans once again rule the day, we'll be in the right place.
|
|
|
|
Post by tufnelltoughie on Jul 21, 2012 13:02:39 GMT
Sadly foreign ownership is inevitable and in some cases beneficial e.g Man C and Chelsea, not however in our case.
The remedy is however drastic. The only way to deter the likes of Kroenke is to hit him where it hurts i.e in the pocket.
The fans do have the ultimate sanction of not turning up to games but that is too drastic for most and even then TV money is the holy grail.
The Man U fans protests against the Glazer's did not achieve much ultimately.
We need a sanction against errant owners that doesn't cut our nose off to spite our face.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bergkamp a Dutch master on Jul 21, 2012 13:19:05 GMT
In principle there should be nothing wrong (UK businessmen always owned clubs since the days of yore). However - some doubtful types have bankrupted clubs in their self-interest, or worse poured hundreds of millions in, in search of glory - and created havoc in pushing transfer fees and wages into dreamland. Mostly - I don't approve.
|
|
|
|
Post by pneawf on Jul 21, 2012 13:20:13 GMT
Clubs should be run by fans.
Every penny generated from ticket sales should be evenly distributed amongst all clubs in that division. Sponsorship should be spent on facilities, not transfers or wages.
Clubs should be run by democratically elected bodies decided upon by ticket buyers alone.
|
|
|
|
Post by Robin van Bergkamp on Jul 21, 2012 14:45:58 GMT
Just to take this discussion a little further I think there should be a cap on wages and transfer fees. Perhaps the latter more applicable to clubs within a single league. That way small clubs can still benefit from funds which they need and EPL clubs for instance will not bankrupt themselves in having to pay silly sums. This is only a gist of it. I'm sure the debate could be further developed.
|
|
|
|
Post by pneawf on Jul 21, 2012 14:50:11 GMT
Just to take this discussion a little further I think there should be a cap on wages and transfer fees. Perhaps the latter more applicable to clubs within a single league. That way small clubs can still benefit from funds which they need and EPL clubs for instance will not bankrupt themselves in having to pay silly sums. This is only a gist of it. I'm sure the debate could be further developed. This would make the Champions League a problem if some countries did not introduce one, or made it too high. If Uefa capped every Division 1 at XXXX and Division 2 at XXX etc, then fair enough. But, I predict some clubs would find ways to cheat the system. While Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Bayern, etc, can spend almost without care, then only they can win things. I prefered waking on the 1st day of the season in the 70s and genuinely believing almost anyone could win the league.... |
|
|
|
Post by Robin van Bergkamp on Jul 21, 2012 14:58:51 GMT
Gosh the thought of a level playing field takes me back to the days when there was a lot more hair on my head  It would be so good to see the sport revised as such but it would take a group of brave souls to do that. |
|
|
|
Post by Bergkamp a Dutch master on Aug 2, 2012 9:35:35 GMT
.
|
|
