The SIG Column – 4 May

Fans are suspicious of the influx of foreign investors targeting
British football clubs in recent months. Drew Barrand, head of media at Sport
Industry Group, explains why these fears are unfounded…

If we didn’t know it before then we certainly do now. British sports
fans have an ever so slightly unattractive xenophobic streak running through
them.

Maybe it’s the fact that we’re an island and consequently have a subconscious
desire to remain separated from the rest. Or perhaps it’s that much famed ‘the
world’s against us’ British stiff upper lip that we cultivate so proudly. But,
whatever the reason, we don’t like foreigners messing with our stuff.

Never has this point been so obvious as in the last few months with the
suspicious reaction of the majority to the influx of foreign takeover bids for
British football clubs.

All sorts of accusations of hidden agenda have been levelled at those pesky
foreigners who are seeking to take control of our beloved game.

From the suspicious – ‘they want to get rid of the promotion and relegation
system’ – to the downright abusive – ‘they’re too stupid to understand how to
run our clubs’ – pretty much every pondering on the subject has concluded with
the supposed negative impact of football’s latest money men.

Now far be it for me to suggest that the multitude is wrong but surely it’s
worth considering the other side of the coin?

Firstly, whatever the motives, this new trend has increased the finances
coming into British clubs. More money means more affluent clubs which leads to
better players and improved stadium facilities – can’t really see the downside
for fans there.

Secondly, despite accusations against this point, entrepreneur investors are
not naïve in the ways of business. British football has become attractive to
foreign interest not because they want to throw their money away on a whim
taking the club down with it but because it’s finally getting to the point where
investment in football makes sound financial sense.

In the main clubs are better run, don’t fritter their millions away as they
did in the 90’s, and are now well on their way to being managed like proper
businesses as they should be.

There is a reason why entrepreneurs are multi-millionaire businessmen and
it’s not because they throw money at unworkable business models.

Finally, and this is the crucial sticking point, foreign investors have been
accused of not understanding the traditional values of British football and will
not safeguard against corruption of the emotional side of the sport. In short,
there is a belief that it’s all about the money and nothing about the game.

Not to be naïve but I find this argument hard to swallow. Yes, investment is
about making money and quite rightly, investors look at how best to achieve this
when they consider a club takeover.

However, they also realise that what makes the club a commercial proposition
is the emotional investment in it by fans and it would take an unprecedented
move of stupidity for their goal to be to corrupt this. The FA Premier League is
now a championship watched avidly in every corner of the world and just because
investors are not from the UK does not mean that they haven’t been immersed in
the emotional values of British football.

For me, the view that the foreign invasion are filled with the desire to
destroy the traditions and values of British football appears to be a conclusion
borne out of an aversion to change and a suspicion of external influence.

Surely an investor with a desire to make a club work properly as a business
is a better proposition than one whose heart is ruling his head. It’s that
scenario that has ruined many a club in the past that boardrooms should be more
afraid of, not those who come armed with a workable business plan and the money
to make it succeed.