02 Nov 2016 22:51:57
Ends any info on this Chinese takeover? Tbh I'm a little disheartened by it if true. I like d the fact we weren't all about money and mercenaries. We were doing it our own way, Swiss owned. If we are bought out I hope we keep our values.

{Ed002's Note - Since China opened up it has thrown a massive potential market in to the mix for professional sports (not just football, but there are other growth sports as well) and a number of Chinese companies see the potential for significant income form the game. Chinese money is already flooding through football with ownership and/or investment in clubs as diverse as Inter Milan, Espanyol, Den Haag, Milan, Sochaux, Aston Villa, Milan, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague and significantly, City Football Group. City of course owns Manchester City, New York City, Yokohama F Marino and Melbourne City - and are looking to expand in to China and South America. For years the professional game in China was under a cloud of corruption (including match-fixing) and the Chinese, and to be fair FIFA, have worked very hard to resolve the issues. The game is on the up there and they have the money to pretty much do what they want. They now a shift will be coming in Europe and I would expect to see further investment in European sides - there is one organization looking hard at Germany and another already successful in buying in to Italy. They of course have to work within certain legal ownership frameworks and that will restrict investment in certain countries. Do not be surprised to see another English side be taken over by Chinese owners in the not too distant future (let me suggest Lander might look to Southampton as a viable option since their preferred choice is gone. Meanwhile, the profile of the game at home is increasing and the market to be tapped significant. I spent several months in Hong Kong working in both 1988 and again in 1990 and it was clear then that the mainland needed a step change and it could get leverage over so much - since then that has happened. Six months working out of Beijing in 2005 (until they pretty much forced me out) showed that changes were happening - since then I understand from colleagues who do visit that it has moved on a lot.

In terms of my personal view:

The Chinese are intent on cleaning up their act and want to promote sport within a nation that has only recently fully opened their doors to the outside world. There is a significant shift in wealth to the Far East and in particular China. They will invest and build in their own leagues and they will go to other parts of the world to learn. Chelsea has lost one player to China and has had an approach about a second. Other players from the EPL will follow with at least one Manchester City and at least one Liverpool player having opportunities in China for next season that have not been taken up - but in the longer term they will cherry pick and then look to grow. This then leads to potential movement of players within the consortia (as Udinese has done with Watford) and that is something we will see more of but there are pleanty of walls in the way based on (a) convenience, and (b) potential abuse of national or international FFP rules. They will learn from the mistakes of others and they will soon be looking to add coaching capabilities by recruiting from other leagues. It is progress - like it or not.}

The coming years will see lots of changes. You know about the pan-European breakaway proposals, well there is going to be a counter-proposal backed by UEFA to try and save their own skin which is soon to be tabled (at the end of August to the "elite" clubs and in December to everyone else). There will be more global City Football Group style collectives appearing. There will be growth in China. And so it goes.}

1.) 03 Nov 2016
03 Nov 2016 07:46:44
Wow, ed, brilliant reply. Thanks!

2.) 03 Nov 2016
03 Nov 2016 17:09:41
Cheers ed, great response. it may well be progress and it's the way the world is going. Everything just keeps getting bigger and more global, more and more money, less and less heart and soul.

3.) 07 Nov 2016
07 Nov 2016 15:06:38
China has already stated through its Premier (leader) not league! - that it would like to host the 2026 / or 2030 world cup - and is busy cleaning up its game but also investing widely in a more competitive league.

China won't want to get wiped out in the first rounds as sports excellence is a very highly held political status for China - plus Russia have a world cup too - so why can't we prevails.

Large businesses with excess capital / lent at very easy rates from Gov controlled banks - have been 'encouraged' to invest to make the league more competitive. So the Chinese investment up and to 2030 is going to be strong - however - after this date - if say China gets humiliated by getting pasted in the group stages because they have not earned through competition their starting place in the finals or if the investment situation changes and money is not so cheap and easy - then this could all come down pretty quickly once the world cup is done.

So take the Chinese investment with a big dose of forward planning for 2027 or 2031 as the tide may well go out then.

FU2.