Tense end of season looms for Wonga
THIS weekend is a crucial footballing one for Wonga chief executive Errol Damelin and his private equity-backed company.
The online short-term loan provider is shirt sponsor for Hearts of Midlothian, the Scottish club that is contesting an all-Edinburgh cup final derby against rivals Hibernian.
Wonga is also shirt sponsor in England for Blackpool, who are taking on West Ham United in the Championship play-off at Wembley with hopes of returning to the lucrative Premiership at the first time of asking.
South African-born Damelin has decided to attend the Hearts match at Hampden Park, the first game he’s ever been to in Scotland, with his two children.
It is the first time the two Edinburgh clubs have met in the Scottish Cup Final since 1896 and makes a welcome change from the more usual dominance of the Glasgow clubs.
Meanwhile one suspects that 42 year-old Damelin, who recently raised $95,000 by running a marathon for charity, will also be taking a keen interest in the result of another game taking place this weekend, the European Champions’ League Cup Final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. If Chelsea win the match, that will have the consequence of knocking Tottenham Hotspur out of the fourth English place for next season’s competition.
As an avid Spurs fan, Damelin is naturally hoping for a Bayern victory.