The Richest Football Club in the World.

My father in law is a Manchester City fan. I remember a comment of his a few years ago when Manchester United were referred to on TV as ‘the biggest club in the world’. ‘Blimey! said Bill, I remember when they weren’t even the biggest club in Manchester!’

Even in the late 60′s and early 70′s City tasted league glory, FA cup and league cup wins as well as a European Trophy. However in the last 35 years they have become the perennial under achievers of English football, at one stage dropping to the third tier of the game, only getting out via the play offs.

All of a sudden though City have become not only the biggest club in Manchester again, they can now lay claim to be the richest football club in the world. To put this in some perspective, the owner of Chelsea Roman Abramovich has a personal fortune of around £20 billion. The consortium which has taken over at City has combined wealth of around 25 times that total.

They have already smashed the English transfer record by signing Brazilian  Robinho from Real Madrid for £32 million and others including Christiano Ronaldo are in their sights.

City will therefore buy the Premiership title and no doubt the Champions League in the coming years providing everything goes according to the script and the Arab owners don’t get bored.

It’s not good for competition. It’s not good for football. The working man’s game is now the plaything of international playboys and ego maniacs.

Does anyone know of one of these characters with Dumbarton connections?

Helensburgh Again

The ‘quaintly named’ 8) Phil Worms has been in touch with a link to a further article on the Helensburgh’s Got Talent story (see below), this time from the Independent. It was my intention to feature the article but meanwhile the Indie’s website seems to be experiencing problems. I will cover it if the article becomes available again.

Thanks to Phil anyway who doesn’t seem quite the nutcase I took him for and in our exchange of emails seems to be a good humoured and well balanced individual (who thankfully doesn’t hold a grudge!).