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Posts from the ‘Football Finance’ Category

Jun 9

Plan B

Why do we need an EPL ‘B League’?  An argument that I found rational suggested reinstatement of a more coherent ‘Reserves League’.  This debate appears on-going after FA chairman Greg Dyke announced the publication of his controversial report on the future of the England national team, which has angered Football League clubs

If I read it right, inserting a new league below/combined with the Conference would create another level that County would need to overcome in a desire to return to Football League status.  The pyramid has served us so well for years, why this need for a sudden change, that only Brendan Rogers at Liverpool have I heard support the initiative.  If a combined solution, surely the ‘playing field would not be level’ with the differential between revenues of EPL and lower league/non-league enterprises.

The 72 English Football League clubs have rejected a proposal by the Football Association for the B teams of Premier League sides to play in the lower divisions.  It might be a structure that has been incorporated in other countries – but again I have to say why change here?  Does it really afford an opportunity for reserve players to be better prepared resulting in a more competitive National squad?

A more favoured section of the report appears the indication that it is time to revisit the synthetic surface in certain stadia as a playing surface.

The Football Association has now sanctioned the use of 3G artificial pitches in the FA Cup from next season.  Prior,  such surfaces couldn’t be used after the First Round Proper under the FA’s current rules. The decision to allow third generation surfaces from 2014-15 will be welcomed by clubs who rely on their more sustainable running costs.  They have been favoured to get more usage, community engagement and thus more monies in.

An additional, somewhat humorous anecdote (at least if it’s not your club!) is that maybe the centre circle and penalty spots  may be more durable and prevent the sort of theft experienced at Blyth Spartans.

 

Feb 1

Leeds, Leeds, Leeds

The name repeated three times and justifiably so.  The Club, with recent events, offer a comedy three times the butt of humour of any other club possibly.  Just what is going on at this once famous Club?

A potential, new majority shareholder (circa 75%), Italian in origin,  may have had a role in suggesting one of their nationals sit alongside then Manager, Brian McDermott.  Constructive dismissal and certainly undermining authority in my book.  Then McDermott is announced as having left the Club 24 hours before kick-off against Huddersfield Town. I’m guessing the mid-week article in which he spoke about the need for the right investors didn’t do him any favours.  “Leeds must be owned ‘by right people’ says in-limbo McDermott” read the headline in the Yorkshire Post.

Far be it for me to suggest the Management should be censored.  The Harry Hill lookalike, despite recent results, appears to have the fans onside.  They chanted his name for the 90 minutes. Did he pick the Team – who knows? In the morning of the game, SKY Sports reported two different people picked two different teams.  One, McDermott’s assistant, Nigel Gibbs and one that same proposed bench-warming Italian.  The former took final control of the team orchestrating a 5-1 victory at ER.  The latter allegedly taking a seat in the Stand and recording player notes on pages with illustrations of each Leeds footballer.

Rumours suggest this Italian investor was the only suitor to come up with quick cash.  But there is more than a possibility that the new Investor(s) will be referred and have concerns to pass the ‘fit and proper’ person. I’m guessing “We are Leeds, Leeds, Leeds” will be whispered until the debacle ends!

Dec 27

What’s in a name?

The debate is topical – with focus on Asian owners.  I reported earlier in S’PORT about the lack of empathy in the Malaysian one changing the historic identity of Cardiff as ‘Bluebirds’.  More recently, the Owner at Hull City has requested a name change to ‘Hull Tigers’ apparently to maximize marketing and merchandising value.  I’m the first to appreciate heritage and thought a compromise could have been Hull City Tigers.  In fact a solution first aired on TALKsport.  I was taken to task by a young vociferous upstart, saying how would I like it if we became Stockport County Hatters.  Well that option wouldn’t have bothered me.  I retorted better than a former proposed ‘County Cobras’. Allegedly the Club’s worst sponsorship deal with a success fee only remuneration dependant on amount of Cobra Lager consumed in North West.  I was informed it was single figures of crates in a season – this before Cobra established itself in the UK.  The County Cobras quip was no doubt over his head – long before he supported our Club.

Fan ownership is gaining momentum.  Surprisingly as though its never materialised before at Stockport! I’ll always remain positive about supporters engagement but when I see the new Board at the Stockport County Co-operative I suspect hidden agendas by some.  Indeed, one source supposedly ‘in the know’ expects a rival bid from ‘same old faces’ (and manager) may derail the white knights from China.  I would genuinely be interested if a part-share arrangement can’t result would the true County fans want the supporters to try and run the Club again – or let the Chinese Consortium have a go?

Nov 3

Sacre bleu

A stereotypical curse associated with French people – when actually they never use it.  A bit like the guaranteed onions around the necks, striped sweat shirts and berets – somethings only non-French people think is typical of France.  Anyway now that I’ve got your attention let’s talk about football in France.  PSG as an outside bet on Champions League – No – we’re talking strikes, and believe me this population knows how to mount a strike!

Clubs in the Country are threatening to strike unless they are declared exempt from the 75%, so-called “super tax” on anyone earning more than one million euros in a given year.  The Tax, which would in fact be a liability of the clubs rather than the players, could cost 44M for the relevant two years period.  Government ministers say it is only fair to apply the tax to football clubs in the same way as any companies whose employees earn more than a million euros face that same levy.

The death of French football?

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