It is crystal clear that we need at least one quality striker and probably two. It is also clear that the club's finances are in a state of disarray. I truly believe that the door is open this year for a top 4 finish with the right signings but equally fear that the club could struggle if Upson and Parker are sold and no significant reinforcements are secured before the transfer window closes. I have a simple idea for squaring the circle.
Working on the basis of a fan base of 40,000 salaried adults, I propose a bond scheme with an entry level of £250 and no ceiling, with funds generated used to buy players with significant resale potential. Under the terms of the scheme, the players would belong to the club but, when sold, the resale value would be returned entirely to the bond holders. This would give the fans an opportunity to INVEST in the club and put their money where their mouths are. If 40,000 committed just £500 each to the scheme, £20,000,000 would be generated overnight. This money would not be a gift but a genuine investment in the crazy transfer market that currently operates providing it is invested wisely.
I keep hearing, "In Zola, Nani and Clarke we trust", well lets test the truth of that statement. I have a grand to invest. Had it been invested in the purchase of Bellyache, I would have shown a 42% return over two and a bit years whilst helping the club I love at the same time. Had it been invested in Behrami, assuming a full recovery, I would anticipate a 400% return should he be sold in the next three or four years. The risk to the club would be zero as the bondholders would have no rights to enforce any sale - even if some suddenly fancied us becoming a selling club to generate a quick return on their money. That, I believe, should get around any "Third Party Ownership" issues. However, each player signed under the scheme would have a "Release Fee" which, if matched, would trigger a sale, so preventing the club from rejecting silly offers. In the case of Behrami, for example, I would have set that figure at £12m when we signed him.
Details would need to be fine tuned. For example, to make the package attractive to investors, I would set a maximum age of 26 on any player signed under the bond scheme. Meanwhile, for each year that the club retains the player, 20% would be paid back to the bond scheme, with this money claimed back by the club in the event of a profitable sale.
It has to be worth a go doesn't it?
I believe that is pretty much how Barcelona is run
ReplyDeleteAnd they have just won the Champions League!
ReplyDeleteProbably the worst idea I have EVER heard! lol
ReplyDeleteIt would collapse within a month!
I honestly think it's time to face up to facts! We're NOT getting any strikers!
As we are, we are just not attractive enough! Even WITH Zola at the reigns!
It's time to kiss another season goodbye!
Why exactly Matt? Wouldn't you be prepared to stump up £500?
ReplyDeleteHi :)
ReplyDeleteI would happily stump up £500!
BUT...
I Made a similar post on a different forum and was sharply shot down in flames! lol!
It was kindly pointed out that if we did that a lot of people would expect a say in who was purchased and a lot of us can't even agree in a forum, can you imagine us trying to agree for real on transfer targets?
lol
Bond scheme - I'm sure I have heard that before somewhere! Barca are run on a membership basis with well over 100,000 members each paying about £100 (£10,000,000 total) - most of this is invested into their youth academy (which is almost as good as ours!) Where they get the majority of their money from is private business when their fans get to vote for the club President. The only reason it would not work at West Ham is because we do not have 3 or 4 very rich people who are fans and want to run the club - just a bunch of owners who are boracic!
ReplyDeleteJust a thought.
ReplyDeleteWould this not be third party ownership?
Good idea if we could make it work,
i'd give it a punt.
I think that's a good idea. We have to do something rather than lose good players. I would rather put that amount of money there than in a bank. I don't trust the banks any more, with my money anyway. Don't forget that the club was started once by fellas who worked together & wanted to play football. It is the peoples game. Here is an article that talks in that direction.It mentions Real Madrid & Barcelona at the bottom of the page. I don't agree with Schechter. Why wouldn't the fans have a financial interest in their club & still remain loyal supporters? Sometimes good things do come from seemingly crazy ideas Hammersfan.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/05/
football-finance
The terms of the scheme would not empower bond holders to make the decision on who is bought. Just like shareholders in a Plc company, operational decisions are entrusted to the managers employed torun the club. Simples.
ReplyDeleteYeah like I said, I already suggested it over on West Ham Til I Die and even if there was a clause that stopped the stakeholders from having any say over transfers, I'm sure there is a law somewhere that prevents companies in our financial situation with the owners from accepting any additional "investment".
ReplyDeleteMatt
£500 each!
ReplyDeleteyou seem to forget west ham fans are mostly pikeys
There is nothing to prevent any company raising finance providing there is full disclosure. The bonds would have a first charge entitlement fixed against the players purchased with the money; this would secure the investment for the bond holders. Obviously existing creditors would have to agree to the scheme but why would they object - the club receives a free loan of £20m worth of talent!
ReplyDeletelol talk 'til the cows come home this wont happen!
ReplyDeleteProbably not because people lack vision. Why shouldn't it work?
ReplyDeleteInvesiting in a company that is 'in the hands of creditors' is no simple feat! In fact, it's very difficult to do!
ReplyDeleteIt's nowhere near as simple as investing in a normal company!
And then there is always the fact that in effect these players would belong to us as a third party! And we don't wanna go there again! lol
CB Holdings are not in the hands of creditors - if they were, we would be starting the season on minus 15 points my friend. Keep up!
ReplyDeleteit'd be bolshevism in weeks, a fig leaf of a democratically run club till Nani pitches up with an ice pick in the back of his head and Duxburry whips off the latex mask to reveal Stalin
ReplyDeleteLOL I fancy Duxbury is more of a National Socialist - Goebbels!
ReplyDeleteI'm nit saying we ARE in the hands of creditors, I was using it as an example.
ReplyDeleteBut it won't be long until we are though!
Straumur will undoubtedly have a clause in their deal with the creditors that any investment will need to be ok'd by them first! And if that happens it will be very hard to invest!
Cheer up Matt, according to Duxbury everything in the garden is rosy!
ReplyDeleteLol, that's ok then! He would never lie would he! lol!
ReplyDeleteNever ever ever ever Tevez ever mate!
ReplyDeleteLol for all we know, all could be very rosy! We could be just about to sign 2 world class strikers and about to be sold to the ilumati! lol
ReplyDeleteI've heard a whisper about Torres, Tevez, Ronaldo and Messi actually. Nani has negotiated a play now, pay later deal on the basis of Brown pumping ten trillion into the club that won England the World Cup after Labour win the next election!
ReplyDeleteWell if THAT happens,I WILL invest :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like we are being linked to Julio Baptista from Roma now too! YAWN!!!
ReplyDeleteYep saw that. As unlikely as half a dozen other suggestions. Di Michele anybody?
ReplyDeleteEven he would do right now! Better than nothing! lol
ReplyDelete