Baffling times at Notts County as money men snare the oldest club in the world

English Football League / Paul Moon / 03 October 2009 / 1 Comments

"Straight away Eriksson proved he has no understanding of lower league football when he signed 34-year old Sol Campbell on a five-year contract worth £10m. His immediate departure was both a salutary lesson and a lucky escape. It represented idiocy and suicide in the same breath and because the new investors sanctioned this it proved their lack of knowledge regarding football matters."

Paul Moon is all worked up again! But what's caught his ire? That very confusing situation at Meadow Lane

How many football supporters know who is the oldest professional football team in the world? My guess is very few! The answer is Notts County, formed in 1862. They have a hallowed place in the history of our game and are a jewel in our football crown. Royal status should be bestowed.

The club has now been sold to a special acquisition vehicle called Munto Finance and they have taken complete control in the running of the club. These represent a consortium of businessmen based from the Middle East including the noted families of Shafi and Hyat. Curiously other partners include a former Prime Minister of Pakistan - Dr Moeen Qureshi and a governor of the State Bank of Pakistan - Shaki Ullah Durrani.

It is with deep regret that this club has now decided to sell its soul to person or persons unknown for a quick fix - or is it? Looking at the detail the investment appears real. Munto will invest an undisclosed but substantial amount over the next five years and if they fail an irrevocable bank guarantee will pay the difference. These are not loans. This proposal fulfils the Football League Regulations.

Questions and doubts abound however. Why would a company throw tens of millions of pounds into a bottomless pit? Ex-chairman John Armstrong-Holmes alarmed supporters when he said that Munto Finance merely wanted to restore the fortunes of the World's oldest league club. But if something appears too good to be true it usually is! Anyone would welcome measured investment but the investors behind Munto Finance need to show themselves. I await ratification of the 'fit and proper persons test'.

County have appeared in two FA Cup finals, losing in 1891 before winning in 1894 but are most famous for having the record for the number of times they have moved between divisions with 12 promotions and 15 relegations. After years in the doldrums no one could begrudge their loyal fans a day in the sun after their turgid history. The danger is that a surge of money with no aftercare could leave them crippled. Dissolution could follow!

Sven-Göran Eriksson has joined the club as Director of Football and already he is proving to be a worry and even a little mad! Without ever meeting his employers he claim he is there for the 'project' and not the money.

Straight away he proved he has no understanding of lower league football when he signed 34-year old Sol Campbell on a five-year contract worth £10m. His immediate departure was both a salutary lesson and a lucky escape. It represented idiocy and suicide in the same breath and because the new investors sanctioned this it proved their lack of knowledge regarding football matters. This provides a real cause for concern!

Meadow Lane is not Rome and definitely not the place for peacock preening! Eriksson will leave the club long before the duration of his five-year contract expires for a more glamorous job. Of course the supporters hear talk of League Two to the Premier League and they salivate but the chances of this happening are virtually zero under present thinking. Calamity awaits.

A cold realisation is desperately needed despite the new money. Replace pie in the sky with structure, find a training ground, build an academy and sort a scouting system. Forget signing on aged stars and sign upwardly mobile players who want to win. Engage honesty, passion, desire and guile and ditch the short cut approach, it rarely works.

These are exciting times in Nottingham but there remain many questions. Does this episode spell disaster or fabulous success? Who are those clandestine backers from the Middle East? What is their caper? What is it they really want? Why Notts County? It is puzzling.

Betfair prices have reacted dramatically to these events and installed The Magpies as red hot favourites: Notts County [2.86] Bournemouth [5.1] Rotherham [8.0] Rochdale [14.5] Shrewsbury [15.0] Dag and Red [20.0] Bradford [23.0] Chesterfield [32] Bar [36.0].

Comments (1)

1. Member of the Brian Clough fan club | 04 October 2009

   As a Nottingham boy I wholeheartedly agree with this article. I am angry that a club with the history of the County can be misled by these so called saviours.
   If they truly beleived that they could resurrect this club then Erikson would be the last person on the list,I hated every minute he was in charge of the English national team, he has no direction and any ideal of how the the english game should be played not to mention the enormous salary he was on was scandalous. Mark my words he will not be there in 12 months time .
   If money is no object then It does very much suprise me why Munto Finance have invested in a league two club , there is no sentiment in business and people should see through this. If this is a genuine attempt to restore our oldest club then the only way forward is to appoint an established Manager at the helm and work hard through the Ranks and with sufficient investments I am sure the rewards would be fulfilled.