Ebbsfleet Utd, écht van de fans...!

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Op donderdag 2 augustus 2007 23:08 schreef Ordinair het volgende:
Het is een tof idee.. Maar een club met zoveel mensen runnen is onmogelijk..

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Voetbalsite koopt voetbalclub

De Britse site MyFootballClub wil voetbalclubs kopen. Financiers zijn de meer dan 50.000 leden. Een eerste overnamekandidaat heeft zich gemeld.

MyFootBallClub maakt gebruik van de kracht van de massa. De leden hebben ondertussen een bedrag van zo'n twee miljoen euro verzameld.

Leden kunnen op de site stemmen op de club die ze zouden willen overnemen. Meest populaire overnamekandidaat is Leeds United. Die club is echter, voor zover bekend, niet geïnteresseerd in een overname.

Een club die wél wil worden overgenomen, is Halifax Town. Volgens New Media Age zou deze vereniging, die in geldnood verkeert, de site hebben benaderd. Halifax Town is de eerste club die interesse heeft in een deal met MyFootBallClub.

Wie lid wordt van MyFootBallClub is niet alleen geldschieter. De leden hebben, als ze eigenaar zijn van een club, een stem in het beleid van een vereniging. Dit alles gebeurt via de website, volgens het ‘web 2.0'-principe. Leden hebben bijvoorbeeld invloed op transfers en de selectie van het team.

Oprichter van de site is oud-sportjournalist Will Brooks. Hij vindt de site zelf ‘een revolutionair concept'. In Het Verenigd Koninkrijk bestaat de nodige scepsis over de site. De voorzitter van Cambridge United, dat nummer drie staat op het verlanglijstje van fans, noemt het concept onwerkbaar. Tegen The Indepent zei hij dat hij bang is dat mensen van rivaliserende clubs een belang zullen kopen.

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Website agrees Ebbsfleet takeover
By Alex Perry and John Sinnott

Fans' community website MyFootballClub has agreed a deal to take over Blue Square Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United. The 20,000 MyFootballClub members have each paid £35 to provide a £700,000 takeover pot and they will all own an equal share in the club. Members will have a vote on transfers as well as player selection and all major decisions.

"We are united in believing this is a great opportunity," Ebbsfleet chairman Jason Botley told BBC Sport. "This extra finance and support will enable our club to progress."

The deal is expected to be completed in a few weeks after a due diligence process and the website will purchase a 51% controlling stake, while also having the option to buy the club outright in the future. The takeover is a landmark for English football, given the website's stated intention of involving the members so radically in the running of the club, particularly with team selection. After the takeover goes through the current board will stay in place, as will manager Liam Daish, although his title will change to head coach.

Daish insisted that he was happy for fans to have an input on team matters. "Picking 11 players and formations isn't a precise science and luck often plays its part," stated the Ebbsfleet boss. "During and after matches, Ebbsfleet supporters often give me their opinion on which players should or shouldn't start games. Now they can have their say. My job won't change that much.

"As a club, we'll select the starting 11 players and formation together. But just as before, what goes on at the training ground and in the dressing room on the day of the match is down to me. It's the supporters' money that finances this club and pays my wages and those of the players. So there's a good argument for them having a say in what players they want to see."

Ebbsfleet were formerly Gravesend and Northfleet but the club's name was changed in May in a bid to tap into the regeneration of the area. They are currently ninth in the Blue Square Premier, six points off a play-off place for entry to the Football League. And Ebbsfleet's push for a spot in League Two will receive a boost as some of the funds raised by MyFootballClub members will be available in the January transfer window. MyFootballClub members will be given the option to vote on who the club should buy.

Daish added that he was fully behind the radical model for the club. "We all agree we need something extra to take us to the next step," he said. "As a football fan, I think the MyFootballClub idea is fantastic. As the coach, I look forward to the challenge of working with thousands of members to produce a winning team. My assistant Alan Kimble and myself are 100% committed to making this work."

Since the website's launch in April, 50,000 members have signed up, with 20,000 of those paying the registration fee. The membership subscription is paid annually so new members can join and become owners at any time, adding to the club's finances. MyFootballClub was approached by nine clubs and looked into seven of those before opting to take over Ebbsfleet.

The Financial Services Authority has approved the setting up of the MyFootballClub Trust to safeguard members' interests in the eventuality of the club running into financial difficulties.

"The MyFootballClub ownership model is an innovative way of funding a lower league club," said Dan Jones, partner at Deloitte and editor of the Annual Review of Football Finance. Reports of having raised over £700,000 in 11 weeks suggests it is viable too. Deloitte has been following its progress with interest and we're now looking forward to offering our experience in football finance to assist with advice and guidance during the due diligence process."

MyFootballClub creator Will Brooks added: "We hope that MyFootballClub members and Ebbsfleet supporters will join forces and make the football club more sustainable and successful." Jessica McQueen, Ebbsfleet United Supporters' Trust chair commented: "Being a Trust, our members understand the MyFootballClub concept immediately. We very much look forward to working with the MyFootballClub members for the benefit of Ebbsfleet United."

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Dear Suijk

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.

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.

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Op dinsdag 13 november 2007 10:55 schreef MaxPower het volgende:
godver wat ben je snel BS... wilde het ook net posten.

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Op zaterdag 17 november 2007 01:33 schreef pfaf het volgende:
Een Australische krant riep gisteren haar lezers op om ook lid te worden! Benieuwd of dat nog een stormloop oplevert. Zijn toch een miljoen lezers.