The Ebsfleet Factor...the fans take control

13th November 2007...a day which will forever be marked in football history, for this was the day upon which the internet made more real an impact on the football World than could ever be imagined. This was the date when website 'MyFootballClub', agreed a deal in principle to purchase the North Kent football club Ebsfleet United FC (formerly known as Gravesend & Northfleet FC) of the Blue Square Premier League (formerly the 'Football Conference') using money generated solely from equal annual subscription fees from over 27,000 members Worldwide.

The theory adopted by 'MyFooballClub' is that of a not-for-profit company, or more formally, an 'Industrial and Provident Society' (essentially a legal vehicle to enable a business to be run without being allowed to invest for profit). These 27,000 members, hailing from over 70 different countries from around the World, each pay an annual subscription fee of £35 to keep the Club operational, in return, each having an equal say in all of the traditional 'boardroom-level' decisions, including transfer dealings, team selections and staff appointments.

Now, regardless of the investment, and whilst enjoying higher average attendances, and relative success, Ebbsfleet United (like a majority of lower and non-league football clubs) are still in a precarious financial situation, and the fickle nature of football fans is obviously open to even more abuse when your collective Chairman is probably not even a supporter of the team in the first place! So yes, the model has obvious flaws, in that continuous investment from the same, or increasing numbers is required on an annual basis to ensure the bills can be paid, and to actually progress to the next level, even greater financial commitment is required, and there is a propensity for people playing Chairman to get bored of the 'game' after a year.

On the flip side, it provides true supporters, and those with a real passion for involvement in football (perhaps bigger than their wallets will ever be!) a unique opportunity to become manager, director and chairman of a professional Club, and this sense of power and control is something the average fan would never have been able to contemplate without this kind of financial model.

Now, how is this applicable to Speedway?

Well, this financial model is obviously portable, and can be transferred to any other sport (in fact, it has already been used for this purpose in other countries), and whilst the 'pot' of Speedway fans is significantly lower than that of, for example, football, my opinion remains that, in parallel, the operational costs are far lower, and the existing supporters would possibly be more motivated to continue their investment after the first year. Also, taking a more holistic view of the situation in the UK, the sport is effectively on its knees, in need of massive reform from the top down, and a move of this type to allow a large pool of fans to control a Club could provide the Sport with the kind of huge kick it needs to fall into the 21st Century, all the while generating much needed publicity.

So, with the above in mind, the big question for this month's poll is.....If TSR or any other not-for-profit organisation were to create a similar financial model to 'MyFootballClub' with the intention of buying and controlling a Speedway Club, would this be of interest. We are not focusing on whether this would be the right move for Speedway, but actually whether this would be of interest to you, the supporter, dependent of course upon the level of investment required.

I am expecting this emotive topic to generate a big response!

Sherif