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ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » IN flooding the beautiful game with their multi-billions, the super-rich may end up drowning it for good, says JEZ DAVISON
SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 marked the day when the face of football changed forever.
The Abu Dhabi United Group's ã210m purchase of Manchester City was the moment when the beautiful game became the preserve of the super-rich.
It seems no longer feasible for a multi-millionaire to run a football club that can challenge for the Premiership title or major European honours. The billionaire - or even trillionaire - is now the defining symbol of a sport that used to be synonymous with the humble working man.
My father spoke recently of his sadness at the game's descent into money madness. He used to stand on the terraces of Sunderland's former Roker Park - like his father before him - and as soon as the referee's whistle brought the game to a close, would start counting down the days until the next fixture. Now this devout football fanatic derives more pleasure from watching under-funded sports such as athletics, where winning is everything to the participants and the prize-money a bonus.
As well as killing the passion of the average football fan, the super-rich have also become a dangerous de-stabilising force on the modern-day business that is the beautiful game.
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley and Toon "messiah" Kevin Keegan both resigned because they felt they had no control over player transfers. Manchester City's former billionaire owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, was little more than one year into a grandiose 10-year plan before he sold out to the Abu Dhabi consortium, while Everton chairman Bill Kenwright is actively seeking a wealthy foreign investor to allow the club to compete on the pitch. Meanwhile, Circus Newcastle has become a headline-writer's dream, with even the players admitting the club is in turmoil.
Against this frenetic backdrop, Boro fans have reasons to be thankful. Led by a charismatic chairman, Steve Gibson, who has kept faith with his young manager, the club is building foundations on which an assault on the Premiership's top six is a realistic goal. Abu Dhabi's wealth may be helping the Premiership attract the cream of the world's footballing talent, but at what price?
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