One emerging problem with the "benefactor model" of club ownership is "what happens next?"
Blackburn Rovers have struggled with this problem since their 1990s benefactor, steel magnate Jack
Walker, died in 2000. And current owners Venky's are not, yet anyway, the solution. Walker, who
famously took Rovers to/bought the 1995 Premier League title, made some post-benefactor plans,
forming the "Jack Walker Settlement" (JWS), a trust based in the Jersey tax haven, where he lived
from 1974, when his riches attracted taxes which the great benefactor was.
Of all the people that have come to encircle modern football in recent years, few have received
the levels of vituperation that players' agents have. It often feels as if nothing good comes from
their involvement in the game, but this hasn't stopped their influence expanding dramatically in
recent years and it seems more likely than not that this sphere of influence will continue to grow
as contractual matters between players and clubs become more and more complex.
Liverpool FC's owner and chairman, John W Henry and Tom Werner, have today admitted that they
didn't know anything about the Merseyside club before taking over, although they knew about
United.
"Very little," replied Henry when asked of his knowledge of the Premier League. "We
knew virtually nothing about Liverpool Football Club nor EPL.
Mansfield Town have a new CEO, a 29-year-old who has a politics degree and has previously worked
for some big fashion brands. Succeeding Steve Barker, the previous CEO, who has now moved on to a
new role with Stags chairman John Radford's company, the new appointee is keen to start working
with local businesses, increase gates, work with the fans you know, the usual stuff.
There are a number of articles out there quoting Reading's Shane Long at £20M, and that's a
little amazing. Shane Long - worth around £5M? That monetary figure came from Reading Chairman
John Madejski, who was asked how much Shane was worth, and he mentioned the figure of £20M. We're
sure that John would love [.
I'm not sure if you've had the displeasure of coming across Antoine Zammit, a rabid Liverpool
fan behind Empire of the Kop. Local lad Antoine, from Malta, doesn't like RoM very much.
Their anger arises from the t-shirt sold at Mancunia Merchandise, which has the words of the
chant we sing to celebrate our success in Europe.
That may very well be too loaded a question to ask, or perhaps it is being asked in ignorance
given recent fan violence between Lions and QPR supporters, but in the interests of venturing forth
from conventional stereotypes, it is a matter worth exploring at least superficially. This query
originates from watching the recent match between Millwall and Preston North End at the New Den and
observing those featured in the stands.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
What's the cost of cursing into a camera? Two games, as it turns out, even if your name is Wayne
Rooney.
The English FA upheld Rooney's two-game suspension after the Manchester United striker directed
profanities at an on-field camera in United's 4-2 defeat of West Ham on Saturday.
