Sir John Hall, miner extraordinaire and Shopping Centre creator many years invited us to take the train to Newcastle and buy his soccer club. We met his partner Mr Freddie Shepherd who when we asked some pointed questions like economic viability told us ‘ son you can’t put lipstick on a pig ‘
The deal never happened and we looked at a lesser price tag club later, the rival Sunderland. Both clubs have incredible diehard supporters who deserve victory and whose fantastic fan base fill St James Park and City of Light every time they play. Both clubs have now changed hands and both clubs have now very big bucks behind each goal. These bucks they are going to need because Soccer Club ownership is not a business model. Ownership is essentially an Own goal , a soccer term for putting the ball into your own net, self harm in a sports form.
Success comes ( probably ) by having the best players, the best players demand high salaries , the players assemble in big squads for risk of injury and the gate receipts never pay the wage bill Supposedly the real money comes from TV rights but some of those payers are seeking an exit and for the whistle to blow. Ultimately there can only be one winner and the winners according to ABBA take it all. That’s very true and as it’s only a game great luck plays it’s hand and the best don’t always win. Added to the teams wages you need great stadia but the cost of that is highly prohibitive, ask Chelsea who abandoned their £1billion stadium.
Yet sensible big bucks continue to flow into the game of ownership. Barcelona know the economics having recently some very Messi business unable to afford to pay his wages as he fled to France to join the club owned by gas rich Qatar who stage the next World Cup. The fact is ownership is a statement and Newcastle is a real brand name in Soccer. We wish the new owners every success but big bucks will not be a guarantee for that, one has to buy a washing machine. Leicester and Brentford are recent reminders that lesser bucks can win.
Meantime I would love to see a Newcastle v Sunderland FA Cup Final which both Geordie fans would relish. This Tyne Wear Derby named after the Rivers that flow by them last met in the first round of the FA Cup in 1888, yes 133 years ago. Sunderland won by 2 goals that day, Newcastle have never forgotten and want revenge. Soccer is not for Investors, ownership is an own goal, but it’s romance and we love Roy of the Rovers and Champions. Good luck to the dream makers and look out for big names in Newcastle soon.
qbitblogger 