Football Food For Thought / Dan Fitch / 17 February 2009 / 1

Spurs fans all remember Ramon Vega as the error-prone defensive liability that cost them clean sheets and points. But did you know that Ramon Vega is now an extremely successful businessman and potential buyer of Portsmouth Football Club? Dan Fitch reveals all.

If you ask a Spurs fan to name the worst player they've seen turn out for the club, then you may have to wait a while for the answer.

The delay would be the result of the befuddled Tottenham supporter being spoilt for choice. How do you compare talents as meagre as those of Paolo Tramezzani and Andy Booth? Was it Dean Austin, Gary Doherty or Kevin Scott that caused the most calamities in defence?

Despite the vastness of the list of potential candidates, I'd bet that one name that would make it near to the top, would be the former Tottenham centre-back Ramon Vega.

Signed for a then whopping fee of £3.75 million, Vega was a disaster waiting to happen every week. No matter how many goals were created by the genius of David Ginola, you could bank on Vega making an error at the other end to cancel it out.

Vega played in an era when Premier League central defenders of below average ability, didn't earn enough during their career to retire to Barbados at 35. Having quit the game in 2003, Vega moved into the world of business, where he proved to be far more successful than in his days on the football field.

It has recently emerged that Vega is heading up a bid to buy Portsmouth. As far as potential chairmen go, you would think that having someone in charge who has actually been involved with the game and understands it, would be ideal. However, in practice this has not always proved to be the case.

Look at Franny Lee at Manchester City. Here was one of City's greatest ever players, who had made millions making bog rolls. Adored by the fans, Lee was welcomed back as a conquering hero when he ousted the unpopular Peter Swales. What could possibly go wrong?

Well this was Manchester City, for a start. Something had to go wrong. Most new chairmen like to bring in a new manager and Lee was no different. Brian Horton was sacked by Lee and was replaced by Alan Ball.

Ball managed to get City relegated in his first season, which was hardly surprising given that he had done likewise at almost every other side he'd taken charge of. The squeaky-voiced World Cup winner quit shortly into his second season, after which things went from bad to worse, as a succession of managers came and went, before City were eventually relegated to the third tier of English football.

Sometimes it's better for an outsider to come in to a club and look objectively for the best manager. Franny Lee appointed his old mate Alan Ball, despite the fact that he had achieved little in his time as a manager that would suggest that he could be a success. If Vega took over Portsmouth, let's hope he doesn't look amongst his old team-mates for a new manager. I don't think the appointment of Colin Calderwood is exactly what they need to get out of their current plight.

Pompey fans will of course remember the consequences of the last time they had an old pro become their chairman. Terry Venables' time as the director of football and then chairman of Portsmouth, coincided with the reign of Terry Fenwick as manager. Fenwick played under Venables at QPR and was quickly signed by Tottenham, when El Tel took over there.

One would also hope that Vega would show more commitment to his responsibilities at Portsmouth than Venables, who was rarely seen at Fratton Park and then combined his duties with the job of coaching Australia.

Vega certainly couldn't do a worse job financially. Having bought the club for £1, Venables' company Vencorp received a performance bonus of £300,000 and he eventually sold his controlling interest for a six-figure sum. As seems to be the way with most companies he's been involved with, Tel Boy left Portsmouth in serious financial trouble.

The talk of a Portsmouth takeover will do nothing to speed along the appointment of a new boss. Avraam Grant is [3.25], with Sven at [4.4] and Paul Hart at [4.5]. It could be that Hart is given the job until the end of the season, especially if he can mastermind more results like the 2-0 win over Manchester City.

Portsmouth are now [4.8] to be relegated this season. With Tony Adams in charge, this looked a certainty. The decisions that will be made over the next few weeks will have huge consequences for the future of Portsmouth.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(1)

1. Charlie (View from the Terraces) | 20 February 2009

   New name for mix - Javier Aguirre. The Mexican is a free agent after leaving Atletico Madrid. He's got experience of managing a club on a similar scale to Portsmouth at Osasuna - taking the club to the Champions League on a shoe string budget. And he wants to work in the Premiership. Surely he is the perfect candidate?

   You read all about him on View from the Terraces.

   Cheers,

   Charlie

:

:

:

?

: