“It’s all well-and-good having a democracy where everybody has a say; but if people are too thick, and too stupid, that there opinion shouldn’t even count, then it’s not a very good idea at all…”
“Too true!”, I thought, as I watched Lorenzo from Shipwrecked – a spatty reality television show on Channel 4 (for those who don’t know it) – provide the unlikely source of my inspiration for this piece.
Hardly Socrates, is Lorenzo – a punk-haired and arrogant chap, his comments made up of imprecise English – but I liked the fact that I found myself in agreement with someone so obscure and uninfluential. Indeed, inspiration can come from the most improbable of sources, at the most improbable of times… just ask Albert Einstein (crikey I sound very conceited).
Little did Lorenzo know the significance of his comments, however, in relation to the world of football. His comments – you see – were broadcast in the days following the announcement that Ebbsfleet United, a little-known football club currently residing in the Blue Square Premier League, are to be taken over by MyFootballClub.co.uk, a consortium made up of fans wishing to purchase the club. In short, members pay a registration and administration fee and, in return, they are entitled to an equal share in the club. Members will have their say in certain decisions surrounding the running of the club, by means of an online voting system.
The concept is, at first glance, an interesting idea. At a time when the notion freedom of speech – at least in the UK – is as prominent as it ever has been; and the power of the internet has led to both the enhanced revolution and globalisation of communication channels (just look at the fact that I am even writing this blog). The concept of people power is high in favour right now, even if the cynic that I am knows it’s far from as simple as that sounds. I will not elaborate on that now but I’m sure you all understand what I mean.
Back to MyFootballClub’s takeover… The irony and reality – as backed up by our friend, Lorenzo – is that the majority of people that are naïve enough to believe that an operation such as this could actually function successfully, or that their say will actually represent a force, are also unlikely to have informed opinions on something like the business of football. Put another way, if such miraculous errors can be made by so-called knowledgeable and experienced businessmen at football clubs such as Leeds United (and any other club, for that matter), then goodness knows what carnage lies in store for a club that is, ultimately, governed by 20,000 ‘anybodys’. If – that is – that it is actually governed by them.
So, let’s assume it is… What perils lie in store for the organisation, and why is it that I think it cannot work?
For a start, let us be clear that running a football club is a complicated thing. Indeed, we are talking about the running of a considerably-sized business where, ordinarily, a significant number of people would be employed on a full-time basis to oversee executive decisions on all matters, including those of most intricate nature. How, then, will it be possible for all 20,000 members to be available to have their say, and come to decisions upon each and every matter? With this in mind, how can they maintain competitive as a business?
Martin Samuel wrote a good article in The Times (not dissimilar to this one), where he used the following example:
“Will MyFootballClub make the minutiae of every proposed transfer available to its members to better inform their decision? If so, there will be heightened risk of failure as rival clubs know exactly what bid or financial package needs to be matched. If not, the members will be voting in the dark. It is an insane way to operate.”
I agree with Samuel, entirely… and this is just one of many examples. As he says, it’s an insane way to operate… in fact, it’s an impossible way to operate. Impossible – that is – to succeed without compromising the core democratic principle. Consequently, it is important to consider that, in order to make this club operational – let alone successful – then there will have to be times when the entire democratic concept is compromised as someone will have to enforce a decision.
Then there is the problem of internal unhappiness. Let me explain what happened at Barcelona:
Joan Laporta led an organisation called ‘Elefant Blau’ to club presidency in 2003. The group opposed the current management and, although Laporta publicly fronted the group, they prided themselves as a team of ‘equals’. By 2005, however, Laporta faced the resignation of five members of the club's board of directors, including that of right-hand man, Sandro Rosell. As far as I understand, Rosell and company became unhappy with the autocratic manner in which Laporta ran his so-called democracy.
Now I’m not saying I disagree with the overall concept of a democracy, it’s just that I think it is practically very difficult, and I am aware that – as in the case of Barca – there will always be a decision that needs to be taken, and not everyone will agree.
This is all getting a bit intense. Back to Ebbsfleet and whether or not MyFootballClub actually intend to govern by absolute democracy…
As far as I know, this is not the case and, as a result, I think it’s fair to say I am being a little idealistic and unfair in my criticism. Ebbsfleet will, in fact, operate as a normal club but a number of eventual decisions will be passed on to members in what is, ultimately, a series of polls. ‘Absolute democracy’ is not the plan. Instead – and according to Wikipedia – the idea is to pass on “many of the decisions usually made by the manager” on to the members.
Even so, if the organisation only wants to be semi-democratic, then I would argue that it isn’t really run by the members at all and is nothing more than a bit of fun, in which case I suppose I have no problem with that, on one hand… but people should not be stupid enough to think they are running the show, and be aware that the time and money they spend on subscription and voting is unlikely to result in any radical changes to the club, especially none of those that they envisage.
Let me finish by saying that, as a venture, I appreciate the idea and I commend the people behind MyFootballClub in their attempt to create something new. No doubt, the publicity will be good, and the money made as a result of the subscriptions and ensuing sponsorship deals will be beneficial to the club. Good for them! However, it is difficult to see it as anything more than a gimmick… at least for now. Unless, of course, they revert to rule by absolute democracy… in which case it will almost definitely fail.
“Too true!”, I thought, as I watched Lorenzo from Shipwrecked – a spatty reality television show on Channel 4 (for those who don’t know it) – provide the unlikely source of my inspiration for this piece.
Hardly Socrates, is Lorenzo – a punk-haired and arrogant chap, his comments made up of imprecise English – but I liked the fact that I found myself in agreement with someone so obscure and uninfluential. Indeed, inspiration can come from the most improbable of sources, at the most improbable of times… just ask Albert Einstein (crikey I sound very conceited).
Little did Lorenzo know the significance of his comments, however, in relation to the world of football. His comments – you see – were broadcast in the days following the announcement that Ebbsfleet United, a little-known football club currently residing in the Blue Square Premier League, are to be taken over by MyFootballClub.co.uk, a consortium made up of fans wishing to purchase the club. In short, members pay a registration and administration fee and, in return, they are entitled to an equal share in the club. Members will have their say in certain decisions surrounding the running of the club, by means of an online voting system.
The concept is, at first glance, an interesting idea. At a time when the notion freedom of speech – at least in the UK – is as prominent as it ever has been; and the power of the internet has led to both the enhanced revolution and globalisation of communication channels (just look at the fact that I am even writing this blog). The concept of people power is high in favour right now, even if the cynic that I am knows it’s far from as simple as that sounds. I will not elaborate on that now but I’m sure you all understand what I mean.
Back to MyFootballClub’s takeover… The irony and reality – as backed up by our friend, Lorenzo – is that the majority of people that are naïve enough to believe that an operation such as this could actually function successfully, or that their say will actually represent a force, are also unlikely to have informed opinions on something like the business of football. Put another way, if such miraculous errors can be made by so-called knowledgeable and experienced businessmen at football clubs such as Leeds United (and any other club, for that matter), then goodness knows what carnage lies in store for a club that is, ultimately, governed by 20,000 ‘anybodys’. If – that is – that it is actually governed by them.
So, let’s assume it is… What perils lie in store for the organisation, and why is it that I think it cannot work?
For a start, let us be clear that running a football club is a complicated thing. Indeed, we are talking about the running of a considerably-sized business where, ordinarily, a significant number of people would be employed on a full-time basis to oversee executive decisions on all matters, including those of most intricate nature. How, then, will it be possible for all 20,000 members to be available to have their say, and come to decisions upon each and every matter? With this in mind, how can they maintain competitive as a business?
Martin Samuel wrote a good article in The Times (not dissimilar to this one), where he used the following example:
“Will MyFootballClub make the minutiae of every proposed transfer available to its members to better inform their decision? If so, there will be heightened risk of failure as rival clubs know exactly what bid or financial package needs to be matched. If not, the members will be voting in the dark. It is an insane way to operate.”
I agree with Samuel, entirely… and this is just one of many examples. As he says, it’s an insane way to operate… in fact, it’s an impossible way to operate. Impossible – that is – to succeed without compromising the core democratic principle. Consequently, it is important to consider that, in order to make this club operational – let alone successful – then there will have to be times when the entire democratic concept is compromised as someone will have to enforce a decision.
Then there is the problem of internal unhappiness. Let me explain what happened at Barcelona:
Joan Laporta led an organisation called ‘Elefant Blau’ to club presidency in 2003. The group opposed the current management and, although Laporta publicly fronted the group, they prided themselves as a team of ‘equals’. By 2005, however, Laporta faced the resignation of five members of the club's board of directors, including that of right-hand man, Sandro Rosell. As far as I understand, Rosell and company became unhappy with the autocratic manner in which Laporta ran his so-called democracy.
Now I’m not saying I disagree with the overall concept of a democracy, it’s just that I think it is practically very difficult, and I am aware that – as in the case of Barca – there will always be a decision that needs to be taken, and not everyone will agree.
This is all getting a bit intense. Back to Ebbsfleet and whether or not MyFootballClub actually intend to govern by absolute democracy…
As far as I know, this is not the case and, as a result, I think it’s fair to say I am being a little idealistic and unfair in my criticism. Ebbsfleet will, in fact, operate as a normal club but a number of eventual decisions will be passed on to members in what is, ultimately, a series of polls. ‘Absolute democracy’ is not the plan. Instead – and according to Wikipedia – the idea is to pass on “many of the decisions usually made by the manager” on to the members.
Even so, if the organisation only wants to be semi-democratic, then I would argue that it isn’t really run by the members at all and is nothing more than a bit of fun, in which case I suppose I have no problem with that, on one hand… but people should not be stupid enough to think they are running the show, and be aware that the time and money they spend on subscription and voting is unlikely to result in any radical changes to the club, especially none of those that they envisage.
Let me finish by saying that, as a venture, I appreciate the idea and I commend the people behind MyFootballClub in their attempt to create something new. No doubt, the publicity will be good, and the money made as a result of the subscriptions and ensuing sponsorship deals will be beneficial to the club. Good for them! However, it is difficult to see it as anything more than a gimmick… at least for now. Unless, of course, they revert to rule by absolute democracy… in which case it will almost definitely fail.
1 comment:
Lighten up my friend, this is a good thing, if nothing else it might just work...
Don't think the idea is for the fans to do everything from making the tea to washing the kit, far from it.
I believe the suggestion is that the full time staff (including the existing manager) to put key decisions in a multiple choice form to the 'owners'.
This gives them control of the questions and answers - hardly handing over full on control to a cast of thousands. Meanwhile the cast of thousands are involved and for their £35 have a new outlet for their footballing passion.
Love the blog, thanks for the message the other day and keep in touch.
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