I am a nobleman in England

"The Southampton Club is going bankrupt?"

Arthur's fingers trembled slightly and looked at Jerry as usual and asked.

"Yes, since they were relegated to the English Championship in 2005, their finances have been unable to make ends meet. Players either left or were sold off. The losses were serious. This year, it was because of the club management reorganization violation that they were relegated to League One again. They have reached the brink of bankruptcy. .

We reported a few days ago, boss, didn’t you see?"Jerry explained casually, and asked with some confusion.

"No, I've been busy in London these few days, and I don't even have time to read the newspaper." Arthur shook his head directly, pretending to be puzzled and asked: "Isn't it a black shop? Why are you suddenly going bankrupt?"

He just pays attention to the financial market. What time does he have to watch sports reports. Besides, he is not the kind of predecessor who can die for football. He can only be regarded as a pseudo-fan for football. Several superstars and some giant clubs can distinguish the five major leagues and the Champions League and European Cup.Some detailed knowledge of football is inherited from the memory of the predecessor.

Southampton Football Club, formerly known as St Mary YMA, is a professional football club in Southampton, the port city of Hampshire in the southeast of England. Nicknamed "The Saints", it was established in November 1885. The home stadium, Xiaogu Stadium, was used for more than 100 years. Relocated to St. Mary's Stadium in 2001.

For the Saints Southampton Club, Arthur certainly knows it. After all, it is a famous "black shop" and is famous at home and abroad for selling his own youth players...

Ahem, of course, if you compare it with Porto, a synonym for a European black shop, then Saint Southampton is definitely a model in the conscience shop of the Premier League, after all, the products produced by Saints must be boutiques.

Most of the players and coaches who left the Santa Maria Stadium played an important role in the new club.For example, it was sold to Tottenham’s Grand Saint Bell for 14.7 million Euros. Arthur clearly remembers that Bell later joined Real Madrid with a record transfer fee of 101 million Euros.

As everyone knows, Southampton’s youth training may be the best in England, and many talented players have come out from here.

However, the biggest fatal flaw is that it can train people but cannot keep them. In fact, this is also a common problem in many small and medium clubs, as is Southampton.Faced with the digging of financially stronger teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham, the Saints may only choose to be a black shop and try to sell their players for a good price. This is also the origin of the reputation of the Premier League black shop.

The main reason why Arthur became interested in Southampton is its youth training system, which is definitely a treasure trove.

"It has been relegated to League One. Players have left and switched to other places. Southampton can't stop it at all. Coupled with the chaos of the management, the Southampton club is already in chaos."

Jerry shook his head and explained dubiously, "I heard that the shareholders of Southampton are now looking for buyers who are willing to take over, hoping to get rid of this loss-making black hole. Once bankruptcy is declared, Southampton will be in custody. By then , These shareholders will suffer even greater losses."

Football club financial custody is generally due to the club's board of directors announced that it is unable to repay the debt, and there is no new board to take over, the Premier League committee will take over the team and restrict the transfer of such teams.

In this way, this team cannot have any additional expenses.If no one takes over the team at the end of the season, the team will be demoted.In England, it is generally only downgraded by one level. The devaluation of the team due to the relegation of the team will basically repay the debt by selling some more players, and a new board will take over.

If Southampton, who has already been downgraded to League One, is downgraded again, I am afraid it will really be over.

Hearing this, Arthur's eyes couldn't help but squinted. There was a gleam in his eyes. He looked at Jerry and asked, "Do you know how much they are going to sell?"

After asking this sentence, everyone at the table couldn't help but froze, and then turned their eyes to their young boss.

And Jerry, who seemed to have thought of something, looked at Arthur with extremely bright eyes, and said: "There is no clear price, but shareholders have revealed the meaning of the sale. However, according to the current situation in Southampton, it is definitely not too Gui, if you have any ideas, boss, I will ask reporters from our newspaper to inquire in private for this afternoon’s interview."

"Hehe, if it's cheap, how about you say I bought it?" Arthur looked at the crowd with bright eyes and asked with a smile.

"Boss, no matter how cheap it is, it will cost tens of millions of pounds. And Southampton will still play in the League this year. Even if everything goes well, it will be promoted to the Championship next year. Football is a very money-burning sport. The ownership of some football clubs is very dangerous. Business. Boss, you have to consider the risks involved."

Tom White looked at the obviously moved young boss and hurriedly reminded him.

The influence of the Premier League in the world is indeed increasing, and the copyrights of the Premier League have also been sold at sky-high prices. Most people would think that the commercial value of Premier League clubs will also increase.But this idea is too naive.

In the Premier League, there are not as many super-rich people as you think, burning money like Chelsea’s Abramovich.It is getting more and more difficult to make a lot of money by operating a Premier League club.In the money-burning football arena, injecting capital into Premier League clubs is not a profitable business for investors.

What's more, the League One teams that are two levels lower are completely losing money. Without investing money to strengthen their forces, it is impossible to enter the Premier League from the lower leagues.

"It does not necessarily need so much capital, and the youth training in Southampton is the best in the Premier League. It has huge potential and is definitely a treasure trove of talents. As long as it is given time, even if there is no additional investment, it can be promoted to the UK by youth training players. crown.

As long as they return to the English Championship, each team’s annual basic share is nearly £3 million in broadcast share, plus box office revenue, player trading, business development, and good management. If you don’t rush into the Premier League, you can achieve a balance of payments. , And even profit."

Jerry Fuller has a completely different opinion from Tom. As the head of the newspaper, his analysis is more professional and in place, and he can see the potential and value of Southampton.

Of course, if the boss really has the ability to buy the Southampton Club, for the Southern Daily Echo based in Hampshire, it will undoubtedly get the biggest news source, which is the owner’s industry. Naturally, it is first-hand news.

Listening to the completely different opinions of the two subordinates, Arthur just smiled indifferently. What they said made sense, but Arthur had his own ideas, and it was not that others could just say a few words to change the left and right.

"Hehe, it's a bit too early to say that, Jerry, let me ask you about the club's offer. If the price is too high, I can't help it even if I intend to buy Southampton."

"Okay, boss." Jerry agreed immediately.

The others in the room watched all this in silence, but they had a new understanding of the boss's financial resources. After all, who can afford to play football is not worth billions.

Many rich people or consortia like to buy football clubs. Many fans are envious. After all, it must be a very cool thing to be able to play a realistic version of football managers. However, in fact, these rich people or consortia who buy clubs are not really right. Football is the only way to make money if you really love or like these clubs. Of course, making money is the goal of most people, but making money is only the ultimate goal of investing in football. Different routes are the same. The way to make money with football is not the only way. In many cases, making money is not the only way. purpose.

What Arthur values ​​football is the soft power and personal influence it can bring.

Football is an important way to effectively improve personal soft power. No matter how insignificant and unknown people were before, as long as they become the boss of an old club, it is undoubtedly an important means to enhance personal image.

Especially the topic attribute that comes with football is definitely a marketing tool to increase popularity and influence!

As the football emperor Beckenbauer once said: "It is not football that rolls on the green field, but gold." Don't think that football is invested for love, maybe there is, but that is only the most insignificant part. .

Fame and fortune, Arthur, the declining nobleman, the most needed thing, football may be easy for him to get, how could he not be tempted, not to mention that although the Saint Southampton is now on the street, its fame and history are both It's real!