English football regulator won’t ban owners for geopolitical reasons, says Government April 25, 2022 A new independent regulator for English football will not seek to prevent takeovers or force out owners on the basis of geopolitical issues, the Government has confirmed. The regulator will have power to implement tougher tests on prospective club buyers to “root out unsuitable owners”, the official response to last year’s Fan Led Review of [...]
Chelsea bidders told they must commit to keeping control of club for 10 years April 25, 2022 The three shortlisted bidders in the sale of Chelsea Football Club have been told they must commit to holding a majority stake for at least 10 years, according to reports. The requirement is set to be a legally binding part of any agreement to purchase the Premier League team from sanctioned owner Roman Abramovich, Sky [...]
English football to get independent regulator to oversee finances, Government confirms April 25, 2022 The Government will today confirm plans to introduce an independent regulator for English football to oversee the game’s finances and prevent more clubs from going bust. It will have legal powers to investigate and sanction teams, and will also be tasked with drawing up and operating tougher tests for anyone wanting to own English clubs. [...]
Clarets’ glass looking half full as Sean Dyche gamble continues to pay off for Burnley April 24, 2022 As far as gambles go, Burnley’s jettisoning of Sean Dyche 10 days ago was a huge one. Dyche was more than just their manager; he was the Premier League’s longest serving boss and the man who had done more than anyone else to turn the Clarets into an established top-flight presence. When that status remained [...]
Manchester United confirm appointment of Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag as next manager April 21, 2022 Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag as their next manager on a three-year contract. Ten Hag, who has led Ajax to two domestic league and cup doubles and a Champions League semi-final, is due to take over at Old Trafford in the summer. “It is a great honour [...]
Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams bankroll Sir Martin Broughton-led bid for Chelsea April 21, 2022 Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and tennis superstar Serena Williams are helping to bankroll the Sir Martin Broughton-led bid for Chelsea. Hamilton, who has previously said he supported the club’s London rivals Arsenal, and 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams are among the backers of the only British-led consortium in the running, Mark Kleinman first reported [...]
Ed Warner: The higher the price for Chelsea, the sooner their new owners will feel the strain April 21, 2022 Unless the media have been blindsided by a canny investment bank, it seems that there are no sovereign wealth funds or squillionaires left in the running to buy Chelsea. No Musk, Bezos, Chinese tech magnate or gas-rich autocracy. The three remaining bidders, as reported, are all consortia. Let the game theory commence. The selling bank, [...]
Arsenal have reconnected with fans this season but on-field slump threatens to undo good work April 20, 2022 Since the dark days of lockdown, Arsenal have been engaged in a major branding exercise aimed at reconnecting with supporters. Club staff have conducted thousands of interviews with fans in the UK and overseas, particularly in Los Angeles and Shanghai, in an attempt to gauge what they had been doing right and where they had [...]
Trevor Steven: Why Erik ten Hag can be Manchester United’s answer to Jurgen Klopp April 19, 2022 Manchester United have made the right choice if they have identified Erik ten Hag as their next manager – but they will have to give the current Ajax coach complete and unwavering support. United need someone to rebuild the first team from scratch with clear ideas and a philosophy. Ten Hag has long been a [...]
George Osborne weighs in on Boehly’s £2.5bn bid for Chelsea April 17, 2022 Former Chancellor George Osborne is aiding Todd Boehly’s bid to buy Chelsea FC as the sales process continues to heat up. It is understood Osborne will be helping the part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team for the £2.5bn snap up of the London club. Osborne works for the boutique investment firm Robey Warshaw, which is advising [...]