Fan Ownership

It would work. I suspect theres already a few clubs who are set up similar lower down the leagues.

 

It would work in terms of owning it, but I don’t believe one club have been successful in any footballing measure under it.

 

Prefer us to budget to not lose £3 million.

Barnsley FC fans football club meeting 1
Alan Bloore takes the stand and votes himself acting chairman until he can secure the position of chairman for life.

Barnsley FC fans football club meeting 2
No idea, I'm balled off with it already and I'm down the pub.

 

Depends what you quantify success as really.

 

Fan ownership usually starts off well and unravels into pathetic infighting within a couple of seasons. I’ve not seen too many success stories over the years.

 

It wouldn't be easy, but it could certainly be done.

The two obvious hurdles are financial. One, how to find sufficient money to buy the thing (no doubt at a premium seeing how our owners are all about return) in the first place, and two, creating a reserve fund to assist with unforeseen hits that a rich billionaire could absorb much more easily.

10,000 fans owning a club doesn't mean every single one makes day to day decisions. Owners own. They don't have to be involved in operations and the existing infrastructure could (and should) largely remain to allow transition.

Into that structure, some fans with good business acumen would likely need to be appointed as directors that are then answerable to the shareholders, the fans.

Its just an alternatively financed business structure. And it would likely work better than the years we were very much lacking in direction with just a handful of directors who largely left running of the club to a general manager.

 

Always said this.

Nothing has ever convinced me it's not doable. The entire model we work to is to make it so no one has to put any money in. So why are people that don't care in charge of that?

 

Exeter are about the best one.

They'd be punching above their weight if they ever got into League One, and this is with the windfall of selling a few decent youth players in the last few years.

I agree with you that the fans shouldn't own it. Much as I'd love a £500 share or something just to say I've got it.

 

Must admit forgot about Exeter, Wycombe also I believe are probably best example and TBH I think this would be about as far as a fan owned club could get

 

Loko - is that what you’ve heard Patrick Cryne sold for?

 

It reminds me of "direct democracy" and referendum - you still need to put someone in charge to make decisions - or you make decisions based on a vote on everyone who has a stake, no fan is going to vote to sell our best players - or buy cheap alternatives - club would be bust in 2 years.

 

It would immediately kill our club whereas at the minute we’re a profitable concern in the best 2nd tier league in Europe. With a bit of luck and a little bit more tactical nous we could have been out of the bottom 3 which has got to be the aim until january.
I can’t see some grumbly old blokes with their pit pensions steering our club anywhere but the abyss of doom.

 

Didn't know about Wycombe! You learn something every day!

 

are wimbledon and Pompey fan owned?

 

Portsmouth sold to a former Disney CEO.

 

Reightio

 

I only know cos Ainsworth turned Lincoln down because the consortium announced they were going to release more cash after a vote.