Moderators: Beheerders, Fanmasters
Voetbalclub kopen, heel simpel ... zoek 50.000 mensen die 35 pond willen betalen en koop hiermee 51 % van de aandelen van een club. Hiermee kun je vervolgens de club besturen zoals dat normaal alleen in computerspelletjes kan.
Daar is ie dan...Wie maakt er even een apart topic voor?
50,000 members is the starting point. This generates a Purchase Fund of £1.375million, which will be enough to buy a lower league club and buy players. New members will be able to join after the takeover, to help the club grow.
1. As soon MyFootballClub has received membership fees from 50,000, the process of identifying the best club to purchase on behalf of its members will begin.
2. Due diligence will begin with the club with most votes, and so on until the most suitable and feasible club is identified.
3. MyFootballClub will use the money raised by membership fees to purchase this football club. All shares purchased will be given to the club's Industrial and Provident Society. MyFootballClub members own this Industrial and Provident Society, and therefore own an equal share and have an equal say in the running of the football club.
Criteria for choosing the club
* 51% or more of the football club shares can be bought with the Purchase Fund.
* There is none, or a manageable debt.
* The club has the potential to reach the Premiership.
Website MyFootballClub has achieved its target of recruiting 50,000 fans - only three months after launching its bid to take over a football club.
Four clubs have already approached the website, which will now collect £35 from each member towards a £1.4m takeover fund to buy a club.
Members will have the right to vote on all major decisions affecting the club.
"There has been much takeover talk but this has caught the fans' imagination," creator Will Brooks told BBC Sport.
"The website has received over £100,000 in six hours."
A new fan base of tens of thousands will greatly enhance a club's prospects
Currently, Leeds is the club members would most like to take over, followed by Cambridge United, Nottingham Forest, Accrington Stanley, Barnet and Brighton.
After reaching the milestone of 50,000 members, Brooks has now set his sights on surpassing Barcelona's 155,000 membership base.
Brooks added: "In three months, over 50,000 have registered with MyFootballClub and now hundreds are becoming members every day. In time, we could match Barcelona's 155,000 owners."
Four clubs - from the Football League and the Conference - have been in touch with Brooks to explore the possibility of being taken over by the website.
"To be in a position where clubs are now coming to us is quite an endorsement," said Brooks.
"A new fan base of tens of thousands will greatly enhance the club's prospects.
"On top of money from the MyFootballClub members, there will also be a significant boost in ticket and merchandise sales, as well as the potential for more lucrative sponsorship and television deals."
Barcelona's fans vote on who will be the club's president every four years but Brooks' vision for any club taken over by MyFootballClub offers supporters a more radical model of involvement.
"The football club will be run in an extremely prudent manner, with all the requisite personnel and expertise at every level," he revealed.
"Club employees will brief members and all major decisions - on and off the pitch - will be put to the members' vote."
Over the last three months the website has negotiated a sponsorship deal with EA Sports and brought in former Fulham managing director Michael Fiddy to provide legal advice.
The Financial Services Authority has also approved the setting up of the MyFootballClub Trust to safeguard members' interests.
"Members will own the football club through the MyFootballClub Trust," said Brooks. "Every member has one share in the Trust and therefore one vote."
MyFootballClub has agreed a deal in principle to purchase a controlling stake in Ebbsfleet United FC. Placed 9th in the Conference, Ebbsfleet United FC is one promotion from reaching the Football League for the first time in its history.
Own the club, pick the team
Members will own the club through the MyFootballClub Trust. You will vote on team selection, player transfers and on major club decisions. Join thousands of other football fans and take part in the challenge of guiding a club up the football leagues.
The football club selection process
In all, MyFootballClub was approached by nine football club owners, and we approached several others. Getting to know one club and meeting the personalities involved is a process that can take several weeks. In three months, we took a close look at seven clubs. Confidentiality means we cannot disclose details of any of these discussions.
Of the seven football clubs considered, the MyFootballClub team believes that Ebbsfleet United FC present a unique opportunity. Here is some background to the deal and the football club:
Price
We have been able to structure a deal so that the up front payment is relatively small (to allow investment in the squad), with a further staged payment due 12 months after takeover. The club will also have a small amount of debt, which will need to be repaid or refinanced 3 years after takeover.
Only when due diligence is complete can further details be released.
Current Directors and club staff
For continuity, all club staff will remain. Directors will become non-executive Directors and will continue their roles at the club.
The manager
Liam Daish's title will change from Manager to Head Coach, in recognition of the unique role he will perform. Liam's backroom staff, including assistant Alan Kimble, will remain.
Liam Daish commented, "As a football fan, I think the MyFootballClub idea is fantastic. And as the coach, I look forward to the challenge of working with thousands of members to produce a winning team. Alan Kimble and myself are 100% committed to making this work."
Division
Playing in the Conference National, MyFootballClub members across the UK will have the opportunity of going to watch Ebbsfleet United matches. This would not have been the case with a club in a regional division.
Promotion to the Football League is one of the great prizes in English football, and the Conference also has a Wembley play-off final. The division enjoys a similar amount of TV and press coverage as Division Two.
Ground
Stonebridge Road was built in 1946 and has a capacity of 5,248 of which approximately 4,000 is standing. The club has a 17-year lease to play there the with a peppercorn rent. Plans are ongoing to build and move to a new stadium in the vicinity.
So as well as offering something for the traditionalist, there is also the prospect of a new stadium in the future.
Club sponsor
Eurostar is the club's main sponsor. The club is in the first season of a three-year deal. The club will receive monies in year two and three.
Location and transport
Ebbsfleet United FC is in northwest Kent and enjoys good transport links. By car it is junction 2 on the M25. And Northfleet station (a 5 minute walk to the ground) is 55 minutes from Charing Cross, London. Gravesend Station is also near by.
Ebbsfleet International Station, on the Eurostar line, opens on 19 November. It's approximately 500m from the Stonebridge Road ground. A high speed 15-minute domestic service from St Pancras will be introduced in 2009.
Come and join MyFootballClub members discussing this news on the forums now.
Thank you,
The MyFootballClub Team
FAQ“What if the club goes into debt - will I be liable or have to pay anything?”
No you won’t. The club will be a limited company. So if the club incurs debt which cannot be met from the club's own resources, MyFootballClub members would not be liable for that debt.
Over 27,000 MyFootballClub members have raised over £1,000,000. They are one week away from buying a 75% stake in Ebbsfleet United Football Club.
Become a member today and be part of this historic takeover.
You will get the opportunity to authorise the takeover of a football club that is three points off the play-off positions with the prospect of a Wembley final.
