What makes a good Premier League owner?
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe / Manchester United
When I've interviewed Sir Jim Ratcliffe, I said, 'What was your first Manchester United game?' And he didn't know. If you're a football fan of any club, you absolutely know what your first game was.
I'm not sure I really believe that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the great big Manchester United fan he says he is, because we know when he was in London he went to Chelsea, we know before he bought United he was making overtures to Barcelona.
Manchester United ownership
Most Manchester United fans have not liked the owners or decision makers for the entirety of the Glazer ownership, which you might find odd, but I can back it up with all the receipts.
Fan ownership models
I've completely changed my opinion on the Barcelona 'socios' model. I like that an unscrupulous owner cannot buy it, but unfortunately, you can still have an unscrupulous club president who can promise a load of things that are going to happen. Fans buy the lie.
Premier League ownership
I'd be amazed if we had fan ownership in the Premier League. I would be astounded.
Premier League ownership models
About half of the Premier League clubs, 10 of them, are owned either by US billionaires or combinations of US billionaires and US funds.
Fan culture and success
Success is the only barometer of what a successful club looks like for a lot of football fans. I see it and it frustrates me because a club like Manchester United is so turbulent and there's extreme overreactions to every win or defeat.
Bundesliga 50+1 rule
The 50 plus one model in the Bundesliga has cons and drawbacks too. Who is going to take on Bayern Munich with their enormous head start, commercial might, and guaranteed entry into the Champions League?
Club investment strategy
Investment is essential, otherwise you are just sitting there as an absentee landlord counting the money. What are you doing with this thing that I, the fan, care so much about?
Liverpool ownership (FSG)
FSG is a really complicated beast that for a lot of its lifetime, or certainly our experience of it in this country, we've treated as just John W. Henry because we need a face and a name.
