Takeover Rumours

I don't think the expectation is that Bradfordians would be the ones buying the magic beans.

I read it that they would be tapping into the crypto community and attracting them to support and invest in a crypto project. Streaming income, NFTs, merchandise, whatever. I don't think the potential for this should be underestimated. A new virtual set of supporters.

There's nowhere near enough info yet for anyone to judge their intentions, their level of funding, their integrity. I'm still not convinced we're their #1 target or if this is a publicity stunt.

Be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

We won't be ahead of the curve, the curve started started at least 18 months ago when it comes to using NFT and crypto to generate incomes in football so we would be nowhere near being the "first".

 

But it’s not as if this has suddenly come upon us we have been in the same position for most of our existence in fact we had to rely on fellow clubs voting us back in on one occasion and only a few seasons ago we were under a far worse threat until Parky came along and a year or two later we were on the cusp of the championship. As I said earlier we have to use the money we do have a lot better instead of non existing monies we don’t

 

If these prospective new owners do have access to enough money to buy the club, but Rupp turns them down because he feels the business model would put the very existence of the club at peril going forward. I'd have far more respect for him than I currently do. He wouldn't just have taken the money and run, which is more than can be said for the previous owners. Who did just that despite the numerous times that they said it was about more than just the money.

I have zero confidence in the EFL preventing a sale on grounds that what they're planning could threaten the club's future standing. As long as new owners aren't criminals or previously bankrupt, the EFL doesn't appear to have any protections against something like this happening.

 

Yes I accept this could work for a premiership club but the trouble is these people think all they have to do is come in spend a few Bob and there we will be in the top league
But we all know getting out of this league is hard enough never mind the ones above. And as soon as they realise they will be off leaving the club in the mire

 

Good post. Folk are too quick to comment on the NFT element and say "it won't work"

It's interesting that there has been very little discussion about the other element of their proposal - the stronger use of analytics to aid decision making.

 

I honestly think if Rupp gets his money back - let alone makes a profit, he won't give a shit who he sells to.

 

In other words, back where they started...

 

Park in scared of change and having lack of ambition shocker.

 

But is the point to sell NFTs to legacy fans like Man City are doing?

I think its about creating a common cause for their tech community to get behind, and generate additional income from them from multiple sources, both in the real and virtual world.

 

Agree, all the crypto and NFT stuff is a distraction, I'm much more worried about the stuff where they talk about gaining an edge by outspending everyone else and how the profits from our success will enable them to fund the acquisition of other clubs.

 

Getting fans who complained about season tickets going up £50 to then invest in magic beans is a task I'm glad I don't have to undertake.

 

Its speculation, isn't it? I.e investment type speculation. A combination of existing fans and then crypto fans around the world, take a punt on this thing taking off and the value of the club and therefore any digital tokens associated with it, will increase in value. They wouldn't be just selling to existing fans and in fact, I think our existing fans would be the edge case for who they'd target. They'd be selling a vision of taking a club in League 2 to the championship or beyond, and giving digital investors an opportunity to buy into that plan, literally, by way of an investment. At least, thats how I understand it.

Think of it in terms of 'shares' rather than tokens. They'd be targeting crypto investors who want to speculate about buying into unique growth plan from the outset. And the fact that this is a first for the game in this country will open up other commercial avenues too. Dont kid yourself, crypto is only going to get bigger and bigger - both generally, and in terms of the role it plays in football.

 

Don't think you understand my point.

What I'm saying wouldn't work at all for a premier club.

Im suggesting that a tech community see an opportunity to get behind a project together, to bring their new world to disrupt an established old world, with an unfashionable club at a low level, be that us, stevenage, whoever.

And none of us have enough understanding of these people or their plans to state they'd walk away at the first hint of failure, like you're doing. Maybe they will, maybe they won't.

 

I agree. What makes it an attractive proposition is the potential for growth, Premier League clubs have nowhere to grow into and they significant downside because if you drop out, then the value of the club is only going to drop. We have significant growth potential and we have the stadium and fan base to sustain championship/premiership football. The value of the club can’t really drop, unless we go down and with anything like competent management and healthy budget, that ain’t happening. So there’s only really an upside. 10m gets this club into the championship over 2-3 years I think, and from there, if your revenues really take off, you can achieve anything.

 

I think the idea is that NFTs or whatever will generate supplemental income.
I don't think club will suddenly stop selling physical merchandise like shirts etc.
The club's digital presence is certainly and area that could be improved and monetised with a bit of foresight and imagination.
The healthy ifollow ticket sales during lockdown show many fans aren't the luddites some would believe.
Ifollow itself could be vastly improved.
Perhaps it could be an opportunity to develop an 'in house' alternative.

 

Been going since 1959 so endless years of seeking reinstatement to DIV 4 after finishing in the bottom four was how it used to be with crowds literally in the hundreds .So yes I’ve seen far worse.

 

Bitcoin is becoming a recognised and used currency, any buy out will be in sterling regardless. City will used as a marketing and some degrees promotional tool to promote the use of alternative 'new currency within the sporting / football secture. We should be embarrassing the opertunity. The money behind these investors will be hugh.