OVER the last decade the list of new owners of football clubs in Britain has grown longer.
Overseas ownership has become much more prevalent as super-rich individuals, who have until now enjoyed the show from the stalls, have decided they want a front-row seat in the directors’ box.
Some seem to arrive without consideration for profit and loss. No budget to meet and no shareholders to answer to.
When Roman Abramovich took control at Chelsea, the astronomical numbers associated with his empire and the mind-blowing figures reputed to be available to his manager had us believing that it was all but over for the other big guns and that for the foreseeable future the English and European game would be sky blue.
It has not quite worked out like that and although they have had their moments the Russian’s interest in the club has cooled in comparison to the heady heights of 2003 when he bought it from Ken Bates.
More recently Manchester City have been taken over amidst the same hype and the same talk of the kind of bottomless pit that would guarantee world domination. When he took over, Abu Dhabi businessman Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan must have understood some of what would be required to break into the top four, never mind usurp his new neighbours over at Old Trafford. His advisors must have witnessed Chelsea attempt and mostly fail at the same game and yet he still took it on.
The inequality that clubs with this sort of funding creates has another side. Paying huge sums for players redistributes wealth among those other clubs who have players worth selling. There is a trickle effect that whilst creating inflation in fees and wages, it also feeds other smaller clubs down the food chain.
Owners have different motivations for becoming involved with football clubs. Some do it for the glamour and kudos, others because it’s the club they support and they can afford it. Most, though, certainly don’t do it hoping to make a profit.
It must be a thankless task. In the minds of supporters there is always something more they could do, more cash that they could find. There seems to be very little sympathy for owners. “You bought the ticket, it’s your responsibility, shut up and pay up!” is the attitude.
I’ve been lucky to have worked with brilliant owners: John Madejski, Martin George, Jonathan and Sir Jack Hayward, Theo Paphitis and John Boyle. The relationship between manager and owner or chairman is a crucial factor in any job being successful.
Good chairmen know when to squeeze and when to back off. They know how to challenge their manager without making unrealistic demands of him. They know when and how to exert influence without interfering in the manager’s thought processes or decisions.
Communication is the key. Managers s hould have nothing to hide and nothing to fear in being transparent. Chairmen and owners are invariably people who have been hugely successful in their own fields and who by extension must have some expertise to offer.
No manager can be afraid of listening to their opinions and most are open to ideas. Any manager who has a good understanding with the owner has much more chance of exerting an influence over him if he needs to. If any manager wants more in his playing budget, or if he wants to sign a player, for example, there is a greater likelihood that he will get a sympathetic ear if he has a close working relationship with his boss.
Over the years there have been several owners who look, at least from the outside, like a manager’s dream (which should not be mistaken for a supporters’ dream).
Sir David Murray, pictured, Steve Gibson and the late Eddie Thompson have been chairmen who have been passionate about their clubs while allowing their managers to manage. They have been strong on their manager’s behalf and they have been loyal to them. Managers also have to be prepared to challenge owners on behalf of supporters. They have a responsibility to push their luck. They have to do it, however, in the full knowledge of the facts. The manager’s expectations also have to be realistic.
Rangers may soon have new owners and they will be hard pushed to better Sir David’s performance. I hope it happens as a strong Rangers in Europe can only benefit the Scottish co- efficient and the flagging reputation of our game. Whoever comes in at Ibrox should be prepared for excitement, on and off the pitch. There is never a dull moment at the Old Firm, as the new proprietors will soon find out.
©2010 The Herald
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