09 Jul 2017 09:33:13
Good morning,
Quick question Ed002 if you're about.

Do you think VVD and Keita will sign by the end of the weekend? Joke.

I recall you mentioned that with the new TV deal with BT in place, a number of foreign owners would possibly look to sell come 2017. Are FSG actively looking for buyers?

Do you also see more investment from China? Looking to buy premier league clubs etc.

Cheers.

{Ed002's Note - The problem is that due to the stupidity of the Brexit vote the pound is worth zip at the moment - which makes a great time to buy if you have foreign funds but a rotton time to sell if the owners are not keeping the money in GBP.

Since China opened up it has thrown a massive potential market in to the mix for professional sports (not just football, but there are other growth sports as well) and a number of Chinese companies see the potential for significant income form the game. Chinese money is already flooding through football with ownership and/or investment in clubs as diverse as Inter Milan, Espanyol, Den Haag, Milan, Sochaux, Aston Villa, Milan, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague and significantly, City Football Group. City Football Group of course owns or npart owns Manchester City, New York City, Yokohama F Marino, Atlético Torque, Atletico Venezuela and Melbourne City - and are looking to expand in to China and further in South America. 20% of the group is Chinese owned. For years the professional game in China was under a cloud of corruption (including match-fixing) and the Chinese, and to be fair FIFA, have worked very hard to resolve the issues. The game is on the up there and they have the money to pretty much do what they want, and this involves taking a mix of players to play in China - there are high profile players at high-profile English sides that are being offered significant financial rewards for moving to China. There is now a shift coming in Europe and I would expect to see further investment in European sides - there is one organization looking hard at Germany and another already successful in buying in to Italy. They of course have to work within certain legal ownership frameworks and that will restrict investment in certain countries. Do not be surprised to see another English side be taken over by Chinese owners in the not too distant future (let me suggest Lander might look to complete the deal for Southampton soon). Meanwhile, the profile of the game at home is increasing and the market to be tapped significant. I spent several months in Hong Kong working in both 1988 and again in 1990 and it was clear then that the mainland needed a step change and it could get leverage over so much - since then that has happened. Six months working out of Beijing in 2005 (until they pretty much forced me out) showed that changes were happening - since then I understand from colleagues who do visit that it has moved on a lot.

In terms of my personal view:

The Chinese are intent on cleaning up their act and want to promote sport within a nation that has only recently fully opened their doors to the outside world. There is a significant shift in wealth to the Far East and in particular China. They will invest and build in their own leagues and they will go to other parts of the world to learn. Chelsea has lost a couple of players to China and has had an approach about a another. Other players from the EPL have followed and there will be more - although the Chinese authorities are now bringing in restrictions to make it more manageable - but in the longer term the Chinese will cherry pick and then look to grow. This then leads to potential movement of players within the consortia (as Udinese has done with Watford) and that is something we will see more of but there are pleanty of walls in the way based on (a) convenience, and (b) potential abuse of national or international FFP rules. They will learn from the mistakes of others and they will soon be looking to add coaching capabilities by recruiting from other leagues. It is progress - like it or not.}

There will be more global City Football Group style collectives appearing. There will be growth in China. And so it goes.}


1.) 09 Jul 2017
09 Jul 2017 10:25:16
Really interesting.

I didn't realise how involved the City foootball group are.

Thank you for the detailed response, as always.

Cheers
Nicky.


2.) 09 Jul 2017
09 Jul 2017 11:27:15
Correct me if I'm wrong ed but I remember reading that potentially a Chinese under 21 team or in that region are joining the lower tiers of the German league to help develop them and gain experience.

{Ed002's Note - It is not quite like that but there is a recent agreement that will see a connection between the countries and there has been a recent youth tournament - I don't know what happened.}


3.) 09 Jul 2017
09 Jul 2017 12:11:09
Wonder if any of these football collectives are planning on making Liverpool FC their flagship, we all know that there's only maybe 10 clubs in the world with as big or bigger fan bases than us.


4.) 09 Jul 2017
09 Jul 2017 13:00:16
Nice read Ed02 many thanks.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}


5.) 09 Jul 2017
09 Jul 2017 17:18:45
Eds, I read something about the Chinese government making it more difficult for companies to invest in things like football cubs abroad recently, something to do with reducing the flow of money out of the country and to combat money laundering. Is this correct? I also heard something about some players finding it difficult to get their money out of China, is that true do you know?

{Ed002's Note - It is true that the Government want to regulate the amount being spent - but remember in some cases this is Government money. I don't know about the players. We had to prove that we were not money laundering back in the day and that we were not hiding money away. Nowadays (starting in 2006 which was after I left) there are many western backs in China so I doubt it is much of an issue.}


6.) 09 Jul 2017
09 Jul 2017 18:00:18
Thanks ed, you've lived some life haven't you, I bet you're a bloody interesting chap to have a pint with.


7.) 09 Jul 2017
09 Jul 2017 20:20:33
I'm not sure why but I'm under the impression ed002 is female I seem to recall reading it at some point but I could be wrong? But so many posters seem to refer to ed002 as male? So which is it ed002?

{Ed002's Note - For the right money I can be anything you want.}


8.) 09 Jul 2017
09 Jul 2017 22:20:57
Thats a top secret here.

One of the most interesrting topics open for discusaion anytime.

Cheers.


9.) 10 Jul 2017
10 Jul 2017 02:39:46
The sharkpod makes her sound like an 70s East German olympic sprinter (no offence ma'am)


10.) 10 Jul 2017
10 Jul 2017 10:35:38
I reckon Ed002 is a female former KGB spy, far too many secret contacts to just be muggle like the rest of us.


11.) 10 Jul 2017
10 Jul 2017 12:45:19
It was a joke made by Ed1 to seed a rumour that Ed2 is a "she". That has long been disproved. Although, there are days you might think it's "that time of the month" with Ed2 :-) . On the other hand, who can blame the man?