I can't claim credit for this idea, it came from a poster on the Org who, subsequently, has been banned. I thought I would bring it to a wider audience.
The proposal is simple. To raise the £100m necessary, 50,000 fans need to chip in £2,000 each to buy a single share in the club. 49% of the club is then given, free of charge, to an investor willing to commit a net £20m a year to purchasing players for each of the next 5 years, whilst funding the day to day running of the club.
How would the fans find 2k to buy their stake? Well on mortgage, this would cost no more than £8 per month! £8 a month to own a stake in the club and to save that club from imminent demise? I'm in!
And who would take the 49% stake? Well Sullivan seems to have something similar in mind and I'm sure there are wealthier investors than him who would be prepared to commit!
Pie in the sky? Well better pie in the sky than the piss in the wind that all the other offers seem to amount to!
And they say you haven't got a sense of humour!!
ReplyDeleteis lonza a bitch or what?
ReplyDeleteLoza mate, Loza. It's an anagram but that is probably over your head!
ReplyDeleteMarty! How's things? I'm serious mate! I've got my two grand in cash! You can afford it! ironsfan proposed it. OSP sold his market pitch so must have some money despite all the children! Bill must be rolling in it, he's sold up in England and moved to Spain - and he isn't wasting money on San Miguel! Irons Germany is a pro golfer in Germany, he must have some dosh! Aycliffe can steal from the collection plate. Jason must be able to chip in 2,000 dollars. There must be 50,000 cockney wide boys who have made good!
ReplyDeleteI'd find the money by hook or by crook.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd better get organising Fanno, because this may be the only way forward.
I'm trying to raise interest in a members buy out at my golf club, that's 500 mainly professional members at £10,000 each, well within the capacity of most of them. If that's proving fraught with problems imagine an AGM with 50,000 West Ham experts wanting their voice to be heard. My experience on the Org. suggests that many Hammers can't say "good morning" without being abusive and as for free speech.........
ReplyDeleteI would be willing to invest ten times the sum you've mentioned, but the business plan would not involve Mr. Gold or Mr. Sullivan.
There are more West Ham fans in the media and showbusiness than any other team and I'm surprised a viable consortium has not emerged. That I think is the only viable way of attracting supporters cash, a group of wealthy individuals who we all feel have the club at heart.
There is also of course the small matter of the owners wanting an unreasonably high price the club. The only way they are going to realise that sort of sum is to asset strip the club. Happy Christmas everyone.
I guess you may have to work on making this happen without your mate 'flappers', Fanno. He may have difficulty working up that amount.
ReplyDeleteHonourable idea HF but you of all people should know that 50,000 fans would not be in agreement over issues!!
ReplyDeleteYou imagine it first find 50,000 West Ham fans to effectively throw away £2k to buy the club... then what about investment?
You really reckon that someone would pay £20m a year, plus running costs for 49%?
Then who makes the decisions?
You, Me? One of your friends from 'the Org'...
It would be a disaster - I for one want a model sale boat and my mate wants Champions League in 5 years...
This is not a new idea and has been floating around for a while and honestly think you are joking with this post, but the problem isn't raising £100m as supposedly Intermarket have offered that, but meeting the ransom over the club that this bunch of bastards are holding out for.
The better we do on the pitch, the more they want so it's a good job we're not top ten really of we'd be back to BG's value of £230m again...
It won't happen because it doesn't suit er... the men in suits who won't be able to see an earner in it but for my part I think it would be a wonderful solution if it could be competently administered.
ReplyDeleteI have often read well-written pieces from long-term supporters of teams such as Man City deeply disillusioned and convinced that their team has lost its soul and this would be one regaining it. And not just any team - it would be one of the most loved and respected teams in Britain reversing a very sorry trend toward Sky and prawn sandwiches.
I would be in - and so would my son if I lent him the money so that's three - so we only need another 47,997 good ol' geysers.
Sorry to be the naysayer, but I think it would all go down the pan - just like Ebbsfleet United.
ReplyDeleteThis is all I want for my club at the moment:
ReplyDelete1) to not go into administration
2) to not get relegated
3) to not get taken over by the filthy rich.
Then I'll be content.
I'd even be happy with a relegation scrap rather than mid-table mediocrity and meaningless games. Battling for survival is even more exciting than playing for a cup.
All the objections are, of course, perfectly reasonable. It wasn't my idea remember! The share purchased for £2,000 would be a non voting share as I envisage it, like preference shares. Who would make up the Board? Well, I would allow the preference share holders to vote on nominations put forward by a merchant bank appointed to represent their interests. Trevor Brooking would be a permanent member of the Board, if he would accept the position, and so would Tony Carr, as a reward for his outstanding contribution to the club. That would act as some sort of guarantee that the club's heritage and soul is represented at Board level.
ReplyDeleteHow would we find 50,000 participants? Yep, we would need some high profile people to front it. Like I said, maybe pie in the sky but I'm happy to fly a steak and kidney kite and see how people react!