Sunday 6th May 2007 is set to be the worst day in the 88 year history of Leeds United Football Club. The club (barring a miracle) will drop out of the top 2 tiers of English for the first time...ever. The club, who have the 11th largest football stadium in England, are the only professional football team in the city. With such a huge fan base, its hard to see why the club have not been snapped up as an investment by one of the money men currently invading football. Leeds, unlike other major cities, has only one club.
The club also has one of the most efficient Youth development Programs in the world. Without fail they produce talented players every year, and still we see no major investor. The main problem could be the reluctance to work with the current chairman Ken Bates. He has a history straight through the press that has tainted his prestige throughout the country, and is widely believe to be the sole reason, investors are not willing to do company with the club.
But lets step away from the con's, and start looking at the pro's. If an investor came in wanting to turn the club, he would only need to buy back the assets and clear what is left of the debt. The possible Leeds United have to make money is phenomenal, match days can attract 40000 population to the stadium, and if the club was thriving maybe even duplicate that. With that in mind, an investor, willing to invest in the clubs long term hereafter could absolutely see the dividends paid back. The you have got the merchandise sales. Leeds United has over 1mil population following the club in the city and even more spread out over the country. That is a lot of people, and in most cases more than American football teams can muster together. If a big investor was to step in now, buy the club, all its assets back, possible revamp Elland Road, then by the time Leeds get back to the Premiership, they would be virtually self sufficient, with the Chairman then only need to supply realistic transfer budgets to reach achievable goals.
This is the best time to invest in the club, what are they waiting for?
Leeds Need a Fresh Start