The future of the Western Sydney Wanderers has taken a dramatic turn with reports that English giants Manchester City are interested in buying a stake of the A-League’s newest and franchise – or perhaps the entire team – for the sum of $15 million.
This is just days after an audacious bid by the Penrith Panthers to form some kind of Western Sydney ‘Superclub’ were knocked back, so is this bid by Manchester City any different?
Well, simply put, yes. And in so many ways.
For starters, the money would be coming from a football background. For the longest time there have been members in both the football and rugby league camps who steadfastly oppose the other.
I am not one of those people, nor do I assume the powerbrokers from Penrith were. But I am certain a sizeable chunk of Wanderers fans would have had issue with the roots of where this new money was coming from.
It’s a small point yes, but not pissing off your fans should be considered in any business decision.
City recently collaborated with the New York Yankees to form the newest MLS entity, New York City FC.
It’s clear that Sheikh Mansour, Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the other high-level staff members in Manchester clearly see the club’s future in a global brand, stretching well beyond simply having fans in every corner of the globe.
The Australian market is one that is steadily growing and one that would give the club a strong foothold in Asia. Not to mention the many impressionable young fans who have yet to choose an English team to support.
Wanderers chaiman Lyall Gorman told SBS earlier this month, “If someone came and put $20 million on the table today, and in the view of the FFA it wasn’t the right mix, and someone put 15 on the table, or 10, who were seen to be the right mix, then dollars won’t be the only criteria in transitioning the ownership of the club,”
And although it is still just a thought and stretch very little beyond rumours and whispers, this in my mind would be a landmark deal for Australian football.
International ownerships have worked out favourably for the A-League in the past, and the pulling power that Manchester City would have would not only strengthen Wanderers, but the league as a whole.
Although, you’d have to imagine that the RBB would be slightly miffed at being bought out by a team that wears sky blue.
bp2
Guest
Sorry, but i was around to see Sydney Olympic up sticks and move to the Shire in order to fatten itself up for a takeover by Leeds United many moons ago. It all fell apart when Leeds went bankrupt and almost spelt the end of Olympic as well. It is bad enough for a club not to be owned by the community (i understand that it is a business these days much to my chagrin), but why should some superpower on the other side of the world own our club. They have no interest in what we stand for. Why do we want to be a part of Man City's global brand? We have our own brand that is being built quite nicely thank you very much. Lets also just say that the other clubs are not carrying the Wanderers, if you look at their financial performance in their FIRST YEAR it was not as if they were bleeding the FFA dry. In fact they performed ahead of expectations - look at the financials rather than the hype. The FFA will actually stand to make a nice profit off the sale as well, which by your logic will then mean that the Wanderers will be carrying the other clubs? I understand that they have to stand on their own two feet but you have to ensure the safest possible grounding for them before they start to walk on their own. If it takes an extra 6 months to find the right buyer then so be it. Keep it in the hands of owners who will respect it, rather than see it as a merger or acquisition on a balance sheet.
Bondy
Guest
Great news Lads , Gallas could very well be the signing of the "Winter" a energetic central defender who can also play in the midfield if needed, he will take immediate control of the defensive line could be MVFC's best ever buy and he only needs to play once a week not up to three in Europe. Great to see Zullo back in Australia too.
ChrisUK
Guest
Note the careful wording of that.
ChrisUK
Guest
That was not the case with NYCFC. It was Manchester City who were behind it, not the owners.
ChrisUK
Guest
City absolutely denied that NYCFC would operate that way. No reason to assume anything in Australia would be different.
ChrisUK
Guest
If there's one thing City are good at, it's community work. They're outstanding at that, and if you look at City in the Community you'll see what I mean. Now I know nothing of your club, and cannot remotely comment on whether something like them would be good or bad for you. But just because City have squillionaire owners please don't imagine that they have no local interest or knowledge. They have been outstanding in that area.
ChrisUK
Guest
Creating a brand globally. As mentioned, City bought the NYFC franchise recently, and they will be a mirror club of Manchester City. If you go to their website and go to the City one, they're identical. By the way, note that it was Manchester City themselves who bought that franchise, not City's owners. It's legally important. So there are a few elements to that; it creates a revenue stream which helps Manchester City with FFP for one thing, and that's important because City will be the lead club because of the scale and power of the Premier League. Khaldoon Mubarak has said before that whilst they have a large number of business investments, it is City that gets attention everywhere they go in the world. So in business terms it's a halo product anyway. To do something similar in Australia, particularly if it is created in the image of Manchester City enhances that substantially.
ChrisUK
Guest
I used to love/hate Tiatto. Fine player. Nutter.
ChrisUK
Guest
Well said. City's owners are anything but just throwing money at every problem. The development of the club off the field is quite, quite extraordinary.
ChrisUK
Guest
I'm a member of a few of them too, and City fans are incredibly happy with the owners. Indeed, it's ironic that these owners have paid more attention to the history and culture of the club than any of their predecessors in my lifetime. To suggest in any way whatsoever that there's unhappiness amongst City fans is total and utter nonsense. I am quite certain that you could find some who are, you always can, but most? Absolutely, definitely, 100% not. It is an entirely untrue assertion.
mariner kurt
Guest
WSW im stuned by the amount of negativity this is bringing, what this will provide your club is a stable future. mariners would kill to have this finacial backing. but then WSW you have not gone through the hard times. try living on the knifes edge for 8 years, and then tell me about your moral hang-ups
Jukes
Guest
Another bit of BREAKING NEWS. Adelaide United look poised to sign Michael Zullo from Utrecht. This is going to be an AMAZING season.
Seb Vettel
Guest
I hate Man City. But this is what the A-league needs, it will quicken up the process of producing better academies and honing the young forgotten talent in Australia. I would rather see some Germans come in, as they are leading the way at the moment with how they have set up their academies and Football clubs. Any influence would be great to make this league better and the Aussie players better. Aus and Nz need all the help they can get.
midfielder
Guest
Fuss Awesome
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Off topic but important BREAKING NEWS Several reputable football sources in Europe, including Sky Italia, are reporting that "William Gallas is set to join Australian club Melbourne Victory" Gallas played 19 games in the EPL last season with Tottenham.
pete4
Guest
All part of the negotiation process. Man City also completely denied any interest in buying an MLS club. Several months later guess what... http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1264701/manchester-city-denies-it-is-in-talks-to-buy-queens-mls-franchise?cc=3436
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Haha! I'm a sport lover, not a code lover!
Samual Johnson
Guest
Your no United fan, more like just a Gloryhunter who probably has never set foot in England let alone Lancashire.
Jukes
Guest
Lets just say its in every clubs interest that the hand over is done properly and to the right owners. More than happy for the FFA to hand over to the right owners. The initial time frame given from the FFA was 3 years. More than likely it will be well before that time.
AZ_RBB
Guest
this just in..... MANCHESTER City have issued a complete denial of ever showing interest in buying Western Sydney Wanderers. Dismissing media reports of the past two days, which claimed City had sought the prospectus being issued to potential bidders, a City spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph that the club had "no interest whatsoever" in buying the Wanderers, as Football Federation Australia seeks a $15m buyer for the nascent club. “Contrary to media reports in Australia, Manchester City Football Club has expressed no interest whatsoever in the purchase of any stake in the Western Sydney Wanderers. "Also contrary to reports, the club has not requested, nor has it received, any 50-page information document about the sale. The matter is not under consideration.” thats the end of that i guess.....