Doctoroncall

From the DT today on MCOs (multi club ownership): It’s a booming alternative transfer market with huge implications and yet it has gone largely unnoticed by the majority of football supporters. So what explains this trend, and should fans be worried? Simon Leaf, who is a partner at legal firm Mishcon de Reya, which has advised clubs on their MCO structures, says that it is “almost a development on” from the situation in South America two decades ago, when agents began owning the economic rights to players, most famously Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tévez. Rather than having agents owning players or clubs you now have clubs owning clubs, and there are multiple benefits that can bring,” Leaf says. These include reducing costs by centralising resources and expertise in key staffing areas, notably scouting and data analytics to optimise player recruitment and development, with MCOs potentially able to develop global academies across entire regions through a handful of clubs. “It is actually cheaper to buy a club in Europe than to pay £30 million for a young player,” says Stephens, who says that you can then “house multiple talented young players, control playing style and development minutes, ensuring they are prepared to play at the appropriate level” This pooling and internal movement of players clearly has huge potential upsides in minimising what are often astronomical agents’ fees, as well as dealing with local immigration rules, such as the UK’s post-Brexit ban on bringing in players under the age of 18. At a commercial level, shared sponsorship deals and unified merchandise platforms across diverse regions are also estimated to enhance income by up to 30 per cent. Multiple concerns have been raised, however. Fans (more commonly outside of England’s dominant Premier League) fear their club potentially becoming a lower-order concern within a structure that might ultimately be about maximising the “mother” club. There is also the fear of lost identity – would Leeds United fans want their club rebranded if Red Bull ramps up its investment? – and the potential loss of proximity to an owner. While certain collaborations may make sense on a practical level, is that compatible with the emotional one-club mindset of so many football followers? Fans at Nice, Troyes and Strasbourg, respectively linked via their owners to Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, have all protested in recent years. “Fans [from clubs] at the top of the model are not so bothered, but lower down they are,” says Niamh O’Mahony, chief operating officer at Football Supporters Europe. Strasbourg supporters wrote a stinging letter in 2023, outlining their fears over the “senseless” recruitment and “over exposition” of very young players. “Fans don’t relate to their team at the moment,” they said, warning that the MCOs risked reducing most clubs “to a simple objective of developing young players and helping the few clubs at the top of the pyramid.” For regulators such as Uefa, the major concern relates to potential conflicts of interest. The Uefa rule book says that no one may be simultaneously involved “in any capacity” in the management, administration or sporting performance of another club in the same competition. There is a lot more to the article, around ownership and player trading.

Buying in these academy kids at inflated prices would have happened regardless of the multi-club status. I don’t think you should conflate the two issues here. SR have certainly messed up and been round the houses in trying to improve the recruitment process, which has cost Saints big money on inappropriate transfers before it was set up properly, but the overall concept should save money and help identify more appropriate players from a wider range of clubs than before.

I know SR have been trying to implement a change in structure since they had bought the clubs but there have been many iterations on the ‘before Feb 25’, and that has sapped goodwill and confidence in what they are doing now. after 25 Feb does seem different but you cannot blame folks to wait and see before actually seeing improvement.

He will no longer be the youngest coach in the division. Ryan Mason (32) has joined WBA.

Rumours that Man United are interested (I think most positions are open at old Trafford 👀) Amorim having lost faith in current no1 and unconvincing performance in last match from their no 2. Also West Ham supposedly interested.

25 players (ex U21 players) in a squad for the championship. That’s approximately six players to go before considering any transfers in with KWP, Lallana and Lumley out of contract. I can’t see much being spent, unless Fernandes and Dibling go for big money. All about trimming the squad and ‘young, energetic players with great potential’ coming in like Quarshie.

…at Championship level and above! just to finish off your sentence. 👀

Data and the collection are not the problem, it’s the interpretation of it which is.

Also have Lawrence (22 this year) and Awe (21) as centre backs.

Poor attitude is difficult to overcome. let’s hope with Still and Spors, they can rebuild the squad and remove those not required or interested. Hoping together, they are the real deal.

Nothing on Physio room about an injury. Scored some important goals and created plenty when getting promoted. Let’s see if he has the same appetite this time, just a question of attitude I’d guess.

Yes, It will be interesting to see what happens now. I cannot help think not much will be spent, relying on WS nous as manager to get the best out of a collection of u21 graduates (like Robinson), those that remain from the large squad and a few unknowns and PL loans.

I think not managed in the Championship before has been debunked, even today. He’s obviously has the experience and nous of being a manager/coach so is suitable. Only a question of whether he is the right fit for us and that is always the hard part. Something that Spors will no doubt have gauged when considering him and others for the job.

Will Still and the U24 side is the first team.

Cleverley is not managing a side. There could be many reasons for him to be there, including scouting or meeting associates. it will be interesting to see where he goes. Another ‘Man Utd product’ along the lines of McKenna rather than Rooney!

Probably a few people there that may not solely watch the game, but have a chance to talk and connect.

Although Adkin’s team was competitive for the automatic places all the way through the season. Some thought the title possible achievement which was missed. Martin’s team wasn’t competitive enough for the automatic places which some thought possible with the squad we had. In the end Saints went up and it all went downhill rapidly. different eras, different preparedness.

When did Cooper take over at Forest the season they went up? Thought it was a couple of months into the season when they were in the relegation zone.

Wasn’t there bizarrely, some interest for Sugawara a month or so ago? Maybe has cooled after a little research.

Got to be Newcastle as Eddie Howe should have been our manager and this is what it would have been like if he managed us.

And also fans from Reims.

Forever the Strawman, never the Steelman.

I don’t see anything you provided to indicate Staplewood is better. No evidence given that Coventry’s ground is a lower spec or smaller. I haven’t seen the cost figures or ROI, you didn’t quote any, besides if more money has been spent (and wasted???) at Staplewood it doesn’t mean its anymore fit for purpose than Sky Blue Lodge. If by stating better you mean spent more money, then for clarity it would be better to say that rather than give the impression you are aware of what each training ground provides.

What makes Saints training ground better?

Well it’s not going to Pezzolano, who I’m sure was on someone’s list. Watford have beaten us to him 🤪